If you were stranded on a deseret island...yes, deseret...

A few years ago for Thanksgiving, traveled to southern Utah and had Thanksgiving with my dad's side of our family in Norman Rockwell fashion. It has become one of my most favorite Thanksgivings ever. One particular event from the trip will be forever ingrained in my memory...and though at the time not everyone was enjoying it (Kelli and Kerri), I think now we can all look back and say it was worth it!

Scott decided that we (Scottie, Mattie, Brookie, Kelli and Kerri) should all ride down in the same car...a very small car, with a very NOT so roomy back seat. It took us about five hours to get to Cedar City that evening (normally a 3.5 hour drive). In order to keep our sanity Scott suggested we play a game..."If you were stranded on a deseret island..." Yes, that is what he said, and we all had a good laugh!

Kelli recently blogged about being stranded on said island and requested that the Russell children (who are not so much children anymore...at least not little children) answer the questions...here you go Kell Bell.

1. If I could medal in an Olympic event it would be women's downhill skiing. Those are some of the toughest chics I've ever seen, and I'd like to not have a fear of speeding down a mountain at mach ten.

2. If I was stranded on a deserted island I'd take...I don't remember my answer, but no one can top Kelli's answer...Jesus...she is a smarty pants...what, with his ability to turn water into wine.

3. Straws, yes straws, the kind that you drink through, are my most irrational fear.

4. I'd rather use public transportation than drive my own car.

5. I am: Brooke

6. I should really be: a better student.

7. One of my favorite things in all the world is: the north shore of Oahu.

peace+love

School...above the average

Yesterday I got tests back from both of my classes...and I'm somewhat happy to report that I'm above the average in both my classes...on the test scores anyway. However, that is not saying much since the averages were not all that high, and I didn't score that high above the average.

I'm not here to complain though. I did far better on both tests than I deserved to and now I know exactly how I need to study for biology. Chemistry, on the other hand, is going to be struggled through on a "read and pray" tactic, as I'm still unsure of how to study for his test. Although, via process of elimination, I know that how I studied for this first test is NOT the right way.

And in case you're wondering, these minor set backs due to these "not so stellar" grades, has not diminished my enjoyment of school, though it has shaken my confidence in my ability to be successful. But I still love it and I'll continue to keep plugging away!

That Year

on this day in history...

1801-The electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron was broken by the House of Representatives who elected Jefferson president.

1897 -The PTA was off to a start: The National Congress of Mothers was organized in Washington, DC by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst. The group later changed its name to the National Congress of Parents and Teachers or the NPTA with local groups known as the PTA (Parent-Teacher Associations). The first State Congress of the NPTA was organized in New York in 1897. And one of the first major projects the PTA worked on was the extension of kindergartens to the elementary school grades.

1904-Madame Butterfly premiered in Milan

1925 - The New Yorker is published for the first time. The New Yorker is a weekly magazine with a focus on the cultural life of New York City.

1933 -For you Sunday comic fans: Blondie and Dagwood got hitched: Blondie Boopadoop, the title role and flapper in the comic strip, "Blondie", married Dagwood Bumstead. The marriage took place three years after Chic Young’s popular strip first debuted in U.S. newspapers. Later, "Blondie" became a hit on radio, television and in films, as well.

1962 -Star of "Stand and Deliver" and La Bamba was born: Lou Diamond Phillips

1963- Basketball great (and Baseball wanna be...seriously...I have his minor league card) Michael Jordan was born.

1970- Joni Mitchell performs her final concert at Royal Albert Hall

1971-Carl Yastrzemski signed a three-year contract for $500,000. At the time, it was said to be the largest amount of money paid to any player in the history of the game.

1976- One of my most favorite Paul Simon songs was a chart topper: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon

1979-Brooke Lee Russell was born in Provo, UT

1983-U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1984-Jump by Van Halen topped the chart

1989-U.S.S.R. performs nuclear test at Semipalitinsk, Eastern Kazakhstan U.S.S.R

1995-Federal judge allows lawsuit claiming U.S. tobacco makers knew nicotine was addictive and manipulated its levels to keep customers hooked

1996-In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.

2000 – Microsoft released the next version of the Windows Operating system in Windows 2000. Also known at Windows NT 5.0, it was the beginning of merging the NT and 9x versions. Of course, the companion was Windows ME, which didn’t do too well. The end result streamlined the two OS into Windows XP.

2003-Walloped by a blizzard that drops more than 20 inches of snow in Times Square, several Broadway shows cancel performances.

2006– A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Phillipines; the official death toll is set at 1,126.

2009 – Conchita Citron, female Chilean bullfighter dies.

2010-Lindsey Vonn wins gold in the w omen's downhill event at Vancouver.


Wow...this was a big day for history!

Guilty Pleasures that I WILL admit to...

please see earlier post...two previous I believe...for an explanation.

listening to "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo.

getting take out on a Friday night and staying in by myself...all the while telling everyone else that I'm busy.

watching Grey's Anatomy...although I've been slacking in this area lately. (Aubry, perhaps Thursday should be Rubio's night...and a little GA and PP...just a thought)

Quentin Tarantino movies...esp Kill Bill Vol I&II

Coffee Ice Cream

that is all...that I'm willing to fess up to! :)

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's day.
I LOVE Valentine's day.
I always have.
I love getting Valentine's.
I love giving Valentine's. When I was in elementary school my mom (who I love) helped me create a real mailbox from cardboard to hold all my Valentine's from kids in my class.
I love that the day is all about love.
I don't have a significant other right now.
I'm not dating anyone, but I've never really thought that is what this day is about.
Sometimes I think it is a day that Hallmark invented to sell cards, but you can read all about the historical aspects of Valentine's day.
I think it's a nice reminder of all that I love...

my family
my friends
my favorite restaurants
my iPod
my Converse shoes
candy
smiles
sunny days
music
a relaxing Saturday evening
my beliefs
my knowledge
school
a roof over my head
and many other things that I'm not going to list because I think you get the idea.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

My sister Kelli called me out for not posting that often, but I've been doing pretty much weekly posts since the 2010 started...however, I will respond to her throw down...

1. I am hoping my Valentine's day this year includes, wearing a red tie

2. My biggest guilty pleasure is too inappropriate to say on my blog ;)

3. I am most proud of being a member of the Russell family.

4. If I could choose one outfit to live in it would be brown corduroys, gray, laceless Converse and my green Ireland t-shirt.

5. People are the reason that I enjoy my life so much.

6. I would rather go to school than work.

7. I love my iPod more than my phone . (This was Kelli's but I would have to agree...I'm not a very materialistic person, but I do love my iPod and my red Camelbak water bottle).

BEST. STORY. EVER

So below is my sister Kerri's most recent blog post. I would just give you the link to check out her blog but it is private and this story MUST be shared. I have been laughing about it since I first read it and am still wiping away tears. I love my sister so much...and not just for this story but because she is one of the kindest most genuine people I know.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

funniest thing that has happened to me in a long time

So i was telling my mom this story and i didn't realize how funny it was until i actually was telling somebody. the story had me in tears, and i don't usually cry when i laugh. my mom was also in tears however, she does cry when she laughs.

THE STORY:

on Monday we had a ward FHE. the activity was roller skating. ya totally sweet. me and my roommate dressed up in tight spandex pants and were able to stretch them over our skates, we looked awesome. anyway so we are just having a grand only time skating around the track, but I'm really not so good at skating. we crash a few times trying to go under each others legs, we definitely supplied the entertainment for the night. then i see my roommate talking to a boy she likes but they weren't skating so i decided to go get them to skate. i skated over and as i was nearing the step up that goes off the track i decided to jump. FAIL. i jumped and when i landed i fell flat on my butt. they thought it was so funny and so did i. but it gets better. later i saw a boy from my fhe group who I've known all year, he's a cool kid. DISCLAIMER: he is paralyzed from the waist down. anyway i decided to go get him to skate with me. he is sitting by the bishop and counselor. i skate toward him, and as i am nearing the step up i decide to try and jump again. he sees me coming so he puts his hand out to help me. That's perfect now i wont fall. wrong. i grabbed his hand as i jumped, then as i fell i didn't let go of his hand and i pulled him right out of his chair. yes that is right. the poor helpless kid couldn't really do much since i had a hold of his working limbs. so helplessly he just fell onto the floor with me. i couldn't stop laughing and neither could he. the bishop on the other hand looked at me like i had just caused WWIII or something.

well folks that's my story, hope you enjoyed

your friend

Kerri

Help Wanted...and perhaps a box of conversation hearts as well

Well, I'm now in week something or other of school...three or four...it's been almost a month. I still love it. I never want to nod off during class...I can't say the same for my days at SUU...and I am fascinated by all the information that I'm learning...except for the math. I am STILL horrible at it and have the hardest time grasping concepts. For example...the concept of conversion factors...I don't get it and I don't understand why we do it. I think it is just to deter the masses from becoming scientists! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...incidentally, I'm looking for a tutor for chemistry...specifically the numbers side of things...if you know of ANYONE that would be willing to help, who is qualified to help...PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'm thinking about two hours a week. That would be awesome. Thank you. Moving on.

I'm not sure what exactly to move on to, however, as school is my life right now. I continue to learn in school. And I have not lost my motivation for my end goal. I will be known as nurse Brooke in about three years from now. I don't want to skip chemistry all together...what I really want is to actually understand the concepts that I'm struggling with. I want to be able to explain them to others in a way that others can understand. I want to not feel as if my head is going to explode while I'm working out equations on my test. I know it's possible...I still have plenty of room in my brain...I just need make some more of those synaptic connections...forget a love connection, in spite of the looming "day of love". I need knowledge...and perhaps a small box of conversation hearts. Because who doesn't love a good box of conversation hearts. But also, who doesn't love being intelligent and smart?! HELLO! I want to be the next Einstein. Or have a head the size of BF Skinner! So for all you intelligent, math/science oriented folks out there...give me a shout...ring me, or leave a comment. I need help!

An Education

School continues to kick my trash, but I'm loving it. Well, it's more like working 40 hours a week and going to school is kicking my trash...I've even been forced to give up a large portion of my social life...how will I ever make it?!

Seriously folks...I feel like I'm going to just fall asleep where I stand, or rather sit at this moment...but I've learned that when we do give up certain things, especially things we love and cherish, we are often granted other...blessings, in their stead. Today I realized one of the great blessings that I have been given since going back to school.

Each day as I sit in my chemistry class and the universe is deconstructed before my eyes at a molecular level...whether I am actually grasping what the professor is saying about anions and cations, (I really am, I promise...well I think...Monday's test will tell) I find continual, inarguable and solid reaffirmation of the existence of God; that He is truly the "Master of the Universe". My testimony of His omniscience, his intricate knowledge of each of his creations, His intimate knowledge of me, of each of us...is solidified. Learning about the structure of table salt, and the breakdown of an atom and it's electron shells, subshells, and orbitals are just a handful of examples that God is intelligent...that He is truly ALL knowing. He does know us. He knows His universe. He created all His worlds without end through natural law. I'm so grateful for this reaffirmation. It is something that I've always believed, but to see it at it's most basic level is truly awe-inspiring. I'm so grateful for the knowledge I have of this gospel and for a brain that works and for professors who are teaching me exactly how my brain works.