Strange Observation

Ok, how many of you out there remember your first kiss?  I'll be honest, I only remember mine very vaguely.  What about when you were new to kissing?  Ok, got that image/idea in your head?  Follow me a little bit here.  

So, before you ever have kissed anyone (at least girls, from what I've heard) you have one idea in your mind what kissing someone is like.  You get that idea from watching movies with the perfect moment and from fairy tales (I don't know where guys get their ideas about kissing).  Then you actually kiss someone and it's so not what you expected.  It's not that it's bad (ok, first kisses suck, but besides that).  Kissing is just different than what you thought it was like before you actually did it.  

Today I decided that that's like a lot of things in life.  You come into a situation with certain expectations, and almost always you're wrong.  It doesn't mean that things are going to turn out badly just because you didn't quite understand before you were thrust into something new.  Yep, I just used a kissing metaphor.  What of it?

And, to celebrate the topic, a kissing scene from the movie Becoming Jane.

Glee

I know Sarah has already posted about this, but we don't have that large of an overlap in readership.  Glee is a new tv show that will be released in the fall. 

Before we talk about the plot and premise, let's just explore the genius of this marketing.  The creators have made a show that can definitely pick up some of that High School Musical crowd, but appeals to a much larger audience.  And they've released the pilot months before the show begins on tv (in the fall).  It is already hugely popular.  They've let the internet and word of mouth do their advertising and it's working.  I heard about this from dozens of people before I watched it and now I'm telling everyone I know to watch it.  I'm just a part of the chain here.  Also, the song from the end of the pilot episode is currently the number three download on itunes (I definitely bought it, it's a fabulous cover of a Journey song).  According to press releases each episode will include four musical numbers.  That's more built in money for the network.  People who watch the show will buy the songs adding to the revenue.  Now, on to the basic premise of the show.

 

The glee club in a high school got cancelled so a teacher who really cares volunteers to pay the fee and keep the club going.  He holds tryouts and gets together quite the motley crew.  He has a controlling wife who is a delightfully hateable character.  There are fabulous stereotypes of the traditional high school characters and adoringly quirky characters.  The kids in the club have fabulous voices and can really belt it out.  I don't want to reveal too much, but I definitely recommend checking out this show.  It's worth it. 

The Weekend in Review

This extended weekend was absolutely fabulous.  I got a lot of chill time and a lot of play time.  Here's how it went.

Friday and Saturday I did a lot of relaxing and reading.  I read the rest of the required chapter books for children's lit (a biography of Lincoln, Tiger Tiger, Corner of the Universe, The Devil's Arithmetic, and finished Heir apparent).  I went to the library and checked out all 34 picture books I needed for my project in children's lit and read those.  I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" on Saturday night and all around had a good amount of chill time. 

Sunday I of course went to church and between church and home I wrote six missionary letters (Brady, Cody, Sean Ryan Layton, Brock, Tyler, and the Schlerf).  I tried a new recipe that turned out delicious and had dinner with Sean and Jaimie (mile high enchilada pie).  After ward prayer I played games with the 77 boys and Randi and Alex for awhile then went to play hearts with Travis and his friends Seth and Abe (who are fairly hysterical).  I actually finished Tiger, Tiger late that night and then slept in a bit the next morning.

Memorial Day is a great thing, right?  I went to Abe and Seth's ward picnic and hung out with a girl from my class and a girl from my ward.  We played ultimate frisbee in the pool that's over there and had an all around great time.  My skin got a lot of color which may be my favorite part of the weekend.  I took a quick nap when I got home then pulled myself together for the ward party.  We went to the Bishop's and had some great food, played Bocci ball, chatted, and played Wii.  Also majorly successful.  As soon as I got home I went to Ashley's and hung out with Ashley, Tresa, and Randi.  We watched Jon and Kate plus 8 so that we could see the major drama (I won't take the time to explain it here, just pick up a tabloid next time you're at the grocery counter).  

I know my life might sound a little too boring, but I am absolutely loving it right now.  

Right before I left for school (actually the last weekend before) I dragged the whole family (with metaphorical kicking and literal screaming) for family pictures.  It was painful and challenging, but we got some that turned out alright.  Back row is my oldest sister Heather, me, my other older sister Laurel, and my younger sister Donna.  My dad is holding my nephew Gabe (now age 4) and Mom is holding my niece Destiny (now age 5) and my baby brother Glenn.  Most of the family looks a lot different now.

New Year's Resolutions - Another Update

I am the worst blogger ever.  The worst part about this is that I feel like I have interesting things to say, but I'm just not saying them right now.  In all fairness, life has slowed down significantly for the summer.  Things are still moving, but there are less classes, less homework, and less social life.  I know, I really need to work on that social life part.  I decided, though, that it was time to give you all a little update on my New Year's Resolutions again.  For the purpose of, you know, keeping me honest.

1. Stop spelling out swears when I want to say them
gone. at least for now, this doesn't happen anymore (though sometimes when I'm talking about the neighbor's cat, I get upset and I'm tempted
2. Stop saying piss
also hasn't happened for quite awhile.  I slipped up once about a month or so ago, but I can't expect perfection. 
3. Stop saying douche bag and douche canoe
Done and done.  I rarely feel tempted unless I'm talking to my friends about guys acting like idiots, jerks, or both
4. Stop judging people
I'm making major progress here.  I'm talking about a whole heck of a lot of progress.  This isn't something like the others, though, where I can just eliminate something from my vocabulary and then I'm out of the habit.  Oh no, it's much more difficult than that and I work at it every single day. 
5. Write in my journal at least once a week, preferably more (in a word document)
I wrote in my journal today.  The last entry before then was March 10th.  Failure much?
6. Read more for fun

Does it count if the novels I'm reading for class are fun so I'm reading them way ahead of time?  Also I read The Hunger Games which was absolutely fabulous.  Summer is giving me a lot of time for reading (but that is damaging my social life a bit)

Well, folks, there it is all plain and simple.  I'm making progress on my resolutions which is saying something cosidering I have never made any before.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  I don't think I'll leave you with a picture today.  I apologize. 

What I Saw and What I Learned

This morning I had a nice slow morning.  I woke up and laid in my bed reading for awhile (homework reading, but it was a good book).  I then moved to my desk and did some other homework, still in my pajamas, with the window open and the lovely spring breeze blowing in my face.  A little later I decided it was time to make my bed and left my desk.  I heard yelling and profanities outside my window.  I decided to look through the blinds because I really wanted to know what was going on (call me nosey if you like).

What I saw: 

A man that worked for a plumbing company was out  by his truck screaming.  He had parallel parked on the wrong side of the street (so he was facing the wrong direction).  He was screaming and yelling at the University Parking Enforcement guy that had just finished attaching the ticket to his windshield.  The plumber yelled that he had only been there for 10 *freaking* minutes and didn't give a *dang* if it was his job to enforce parking.  The conversation went on and resulted in the plumber crumpling up the ticket, throwing it on the ground, and then picking it up and speeding away while the parking guy got his license plate number.  As I have already stated, the yelling wasn't very friendly.  It was the profanity that first startled me enough to look out my window.

What I learned:

I thought about this incident for the rest of the morning and early afternoon.  And then I though about my own life.  How often have I knowingly done something wrong only to be dissatisfied and even angry with the results of my actions.  A lot.  Sometimes, it's been simple things like speeding or hitting a sibling.  Other times, it's been more serious.  I've been through a lot of periods in my life where I haven't read the scriptures every day.  I know that it's a commandment that we do it.  I have been personally blessed by reading the scriptures daily.  Still, when I'm at a point in my life when I'm choosing not to read, I'm frustrated with how messy my life is, how much of a shambles.  From now on, I'm going to try not to be like the plumber, angry at others (and even God) for the mistakes I knowingly make.  I will of course try to do the right things.  If that doesn't always happen (and let's be real, it won't always happen), I hope I can remember to take responsibility. 

Just thought I'd share a little wisdom, or at least thoughtfulness.

This is what I read this morning.  Not a great read, but not bad.  TERRIBLE cover art. 

My Mother

It's mother's day, so I'm gonna go ahead and blog about my Mom.  Don't pretend you weren't expecting it.  

1.  My mom and I are really good friends.  

2. I tell her everything (and I mean everything).

3. We generally get irritated by the other members of my family at the same time. 

4. During Christmas break my freshman year at BYU we watched the whole VH1 ANTM marathon.  For about 7 days straight.

5. We really like to watch reality TV together including almost anything on Bravo, HGTV, and Food Network.  Our favorite by far is survivor.

6. We go grocery shopping together.  This is usually an all day event. 

7. Sometimes we play with the boys (my dad and Glenn).

8. She talks to me on the phone several times a day.

9. Sometimes when I'm rambling she just full on stops paying attention.  It is annoying.

10. We're a good match for driving.  I hate riding and she hates driving.  She doesn't care if I listen to music or books on tape so long as she can sleep.

11. We are great nappers.

12. She lets me sit in her nest even though I'm a grown up adult.

13. Sometimes she lets me be pathetic and just cry when I'm being a girl.

14. She'll let me tell her my secrets and she doesn't tell dad.

15. My mom's always cold and I'm always warm so she'll put her cold hands on my neck etc which is beneficial to both of us.

16. We get crazy redecorating ideas together that don't happen because Dad finds out.

My mom is pretty fantastic.  And Happy Mother's Day to all the other Mom's out there.

This picture is when I dropped Mom off at the airport after our roadtrip to Provo the summer before sophomore year. 

I Think About You in the Summertime

It is summer.  The weather makes me think spring, but it's warm enough that I can lay out in the sun.  I am already a closer to the normal color I should be.  Laurel would be happy.  I am the worst blogger ever, but you already know that.  Ok, back to the point.  Summertime.  I'm kind of loving it.  I have some classes.  Bowling (love it), children's literature (love it), foundations of education (tolerate it), and school health for elementary teachers (don't like the idea of it, but love the class discussion).  Here's the main problem with summer.  Sarah and me hung out a lot during fall and winter, plus some other friends that have since left.  And now I get out of class and do a lot of nothing.  This whole weekend, I've done nothing (but to be fair, I was sick).  So, I mostly hope Sarah comes back soon so I can get the heck out of my house.  I'm sorry, this post is the second most boring post in the history of posts.  

Oh, one more thing.  Sarah has gotten me all excited about football season.  Thing is, at this point it looks like it may be just me and Sarah for the games again.  We'll see.  Here's hoping for a better season for this guy. 

(com'on guys, it's Max Hall!)

P.S.  Got a letter from Cody yesterday. HOORAY!

P.P.S. Who knows what song lyrics the title of this post comes from?  No cheating.