A Song That Makes Me Fall Asleep: Still, Still, Still

Remember that time I started doing that music challenge thing? I know. I hardly do either. I think this post will be day 10 or something like that (in what's supposed to be 30 consecutive days), but I do what I want. This is my blog. Sometimes I blog about 4 times in one day because I feel like it and I think that posts that are totally unrelated should not be all shoved together just because they're on the same day (though posts don't have to have a single topic; some of my favorite posts to read are the ones that briefly address many things).

Anyway, back to the point. A song that makes me fall asleep. I like the song Still, Still, Still and I love Christmas music. This version of the song is from the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas piano solos book. Chris Doxey played this song (I think, forgive me if I'm wrong) at the ward Christmas musical fireside. He's extremely talented and I offered (mostly jokingly) to pay him to play lullabies for me so I can fall asleep. How great and peaceful is this song, though. I'll admit that most any soft piano solo will have me dozing (in a good way).

Lovely

I already posted this on my Facebook a little earlier, but I loved it. It's quite intriguing/beautiful.

No, I'm not turning into an emo kid (unlike Steph...).

Sports Related

You look like a homeless person...

Especially when you haven't shaved either. So here is a present for you.

Because as much as I hate to admit it and as much as Sarah will not be my friend again because I said this. You have the capacity to look pretty dang good.

But I still hate the Pats....

Go Colts!

Travel

Confession: I judge people that look cute when they travel. I'm not talking about the people who can wear sweatpants and throw their hair in a knot and still manage to look lovely just because that person is a lovely person. I'm talking about the people who wear legitimate outfits and sometimes dresses and even high heels. Unless you are going somewhere/meeting someone immediately after you get off the plane, there's really no need for that. Just put on some sweats, wear last night's makeup, and be miserable with the rest of us.

Also, I'm home.

Christmas Cheer

Aunt Chris posted this on her Facebook. I normally have a 1 minute limit for watching YouTube videos, but I loved this one. I hope you enjoy.

I Want to Go Home

Apparently Gabe misses my dad (the kids call him Pops or Pop Pop). This morning he was sad so he wrote this letter. By the way they only live about 3 miles away.

Translation: "Gabriel haven't seen Pop Pop in two hundred years. From Gabriel."

Oh, and he's in kindergarten.

Love Triangles

Anyone that ever reads this blog ever knows that I love to read. I'll give pretty much anything a try at least once, but.... I hate reading about love triangles. I hate watching movies about love triangles. That's not to say that I don't like the books or movies or whatever in and of themselves, but love triangles stress me out.



It seems like no matter what happens in the story and even if it has a happy ending then somebody is left sad and I still have a little ache in my heart and I hate that. I like a clean happy ending or whatever, not a messy achy sad thing. That's for real life.

P.S. I don't normally like little anime type drawings, but this is the best I could find of the three of them all together, so whatevs.

The Dying of the Light

I don't normally like poems, but I really loved this one when I read it in Matched.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rage at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

-Dylan Thomas

Cookie Girl

Cookie girls, oh cookie girls.
Definition: girls that deliver cookies (or other baked goods) to guys in hopes for increased attention.

Location: usually areas with a high density Mormon population.

Do you know any cookie girls? Have you ever been a cookie girl? What's have you given as a cookie girl? I actually want answers to this if you're willing. Details are awesome, but not required.

Caroline

Meet Caroline.

She's Sarah's BFF.

She's been staying with me this week.

She's been a good sport.

She's been a great friend.

She hung out with me even when my friends are awkward.

She ate my food. I love when people eat my food.

She is unfailingly kind.

She leaves on a mission soon to Moscow, Russia. :) :(

I usually LOVE to have my apartment to myself, but I'm glad I've had the company this week.

Thanksgiving and Etc.

Caroline and I are watching The Derby Stallion right now. It's awful. I'm not just saying that. It seems like a Lifetime movie that was made in 1993, not something that was made in 2005. Confession: Zac Efron is still attractive in this movie.

I wish I had a header for my blog. Maybe with some pictures or something with me and my friends or who knows, but I wish I had one.

I was lucky enough to have a great friend (Britt) offer me a place to go for Thanksgiving. At first I thought that maybe I would just stay home by myself and chill and possibly grab some Denny's for dinner. Then I realized that that would be supremely depressing and went to Britt's Mom's house with her and Kyle and her old roommate Nadia. Turned out to be such a fun time. It's so kind that there are people who will let other people invade on their family time for the holidays.

Caroline (she's been staying with me for the past couple days) went Black Friday shopping with me at midnight. It was crazy and she was such a good sport and I bought a tv online and some movies and a crockpot and a little food processor and it was awesome. I've also been doing some online shopping with the amazon.com deals and stuff.

I miss my family right now. They're crazy and obnoxious and irritating as all get out, but they're my family and I love and miss them.

Tomorrow is the Holy War. I'm SO pumped. I made two dozen chocolate peanut butter cupcakes (even though one dozen got eaten tonight) and two crockpots full of taco soup. Good football needs good food. Also, BYU basketball almost gave me a heart attack today, but we won and then I just had palpitations.

Fantastic Times

Good things that have happened:

• BYU vs. USU basketball game. Despite the fact that their fans were kind of rude there, we pulled out the win and it was a fun, intense game.
• Waiting in line for an watching Harry Potter with Sarah, Britt, Kyle, and Caroline. Freaking great. Want to watch again (Sarah? Britt? anyone else in?). I think I secretly love waiting in line for long periods of time. It's kind of fun (when you have other people to be with you).
• Opening of graduation present: SARAH AND I ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD AND THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER! Five nights and six days between the two parks and we get to pick the dates. I'm so stoked. Thanks to all who made this possible (I'm not positive who all is involved but I think Laurel came up with the idea and both sets of parents contributed).
  
• Craft night with Britt and Sarah (we made candle holders and ornaments. They are lovely and crafting is so soothing).
• BYU vs. New Mexico football game. We basically trashed them and somehow ended up with front row seats for most of the last quarter which was awesome and I loved it and next is the Utah game. I'll admit that I was complaining for awhile because I was freezing to death.
  
• SDSU nearly beat Utah. We killed SDSU. WE HAVE A CHANCE! I just need the Cougars to play well next weekend.
• Right after the football game was a basketball game against the Chicago State Cougars. Our seats weren't great, but we completely destroyed them. I was impressed when some of our fans started clapping for the other team's good plays. Way to be classy.
• I started decorating for Christmas today! So far I have my tree up and a bell mural thing on my wall and some tinsel garland and one of the twins put up a nativity. We'll see what else I can pull out in the next couple days. Love it.
• Soon is Thanksgiving. I haven't decided what I'm doing yet, but I get a break. Yes!

My Boys

All weekend (at least since Friday night's amazing basketball game) I've been mentally preparing a blog post about "my boys," namely Jimmer, Jackson, Noah, Jake Heaps, Luke Ashworth, JJ, and so on. Then came last night.

We've been having a competition in my ward between the guys and the girls. The girls won by a hair so the guys had to serve us dinner - that was the deal. They put this beautiful dinner together and did it up right. Every single girl in the ward (all those that came anyway) was treated like a queen.

The boys who decided to valet park our cars, those are my boys.

The boys who escorted each and every girl to her seat on an arm, those are my boys.

The boys who slid in chairs and took our coats, those are my boys.

The boys who cooked and served a delicious meal, who gave personalized invitations complete with live music, who wrote beautiful letters of appreciation and gratitude for each girl individually, who planned the whole outstanding event...

Those are my boys.

I'm hoping to be able to get a picture from last night and post it here. Watch for it.

Don't worry sports guys, I still love you too and you did a bang up job this weekend and it was absolutely awesome.

Epic Day of Epicness

Can we please address how awesome today was?

• School was great today even though the kids were wild.
• It started flurrying and Sarah and I got really excited (the kids didn't really care).
• We listened to Christmas music on the way home.
• Then I went to Sarah's and we got silly about Harry Potter silly bandz. She gave me some.
• I came home to a package on my doorstep: new TiVo courtesy of Laurel (it records two channels at once and is paid for for life and is pretty awesome even though I haven't set it up yet.
• Glee tonight.
• I can nap if I want to.

The Weekend in Review

The good:

1. Thursday: Inception with Sarah, Vampire Diaries with Sarah, and watching the Backstreet Boys on Oprah (TiVo'd so we didn't have to watch the whole episode).

2. Basketball vs. BYU-Hawaii (exhibition game) in which we dominated and had a grand old time and of course saw our dang awesome team and got stoked for the season (except Jackson Emery didn't play which was sad).

3. Eating some of these with Sarah and Mike.

4. Watching That Thing You Do (ok, so I slept through half because I was tired).

5. Dang awesome football game vs. UNLV on Saturday including seats all the way at the top of the east bleachers and completely dominating UNLV (55 - 7).

(picture stolen from Sarah)

6. Productive time before getting ready and going to wait in line.

(picture stolen from Sarah)

7. For Divine Comedy with Sarah, Britt, and Kyle! (which was hilarious I think).

The bad:

1. The Colts lost to the Eagles today.

2. Probably because of this. :(

It Works and I'm Dumb

I was out the other day shopping for playground equipment for my class. Naturally I went to the dollar store to pick up some cheap jump ropes. I was at the checkout stand when I saw this:

Except it wasn't just a regular dollar store, it was the Dollar Tree so I actually saw this:

I have, of course, seen the ads on tv and wondered if such a thing worked, but I was never willing to pay the price and find out. When I saw the $1 version I figured why not go ahead and try it out, and I did. That night I tried it out on my calf and my thigh. Not the quickest process in the world, but I definitely got smooth legs (though I'll admit I only really did one patch on each because it takes quite awhile). I thought it seemed pretty good, though, as a maintenance type of tool if you're already shaved or something.

Since this fancy schmancy tool (which essentially is a sticker of fine grained sand paper attached to the little pink holder) seemed to work I tried my armpits next. It worked, but my skin there is more sensitive. I didn't break out or anything or even get red, but my pores were all burn-y when I lotioned and took a shower (not in that order).

Fast forward to last night when I decided I would try it on my upper lip (with the little baby one of course). I've been waxing for years so my skin on my upper lip is not particularly sensitive. I usually get red, but it dies down by the morning after (sometimes quicker). Stupid, stupid, STUPID! I wasn't super persistant to get all the hair because it started to burn and then Laurel suggested aloe. Mistake number two which made it burn worse. All of this resulted in me going to school today with a red upper lip. You can ask Sarah. I'm pretty sure I looked like a fool. Luckily, though, the redness did go down some in the night.

Still feels painful and kind of chapped, though...

A Song That I Can Dance To: The Macarena

Ok, so probably not what the music challenge meant, but I do what I want and I chose a song that I know the dance to. I was in elementary school when this came out and I remember having a ward event on a ranch and my dad taught the primary kids this dance. If you know my dad at all, this is even more bizarre.

Apparently if you dance to the Macarena you are dancing your way into a healthier life:

Now, I love the Macarena, Electric Slide, and Cotton-Eyed Joe as much as the rest Mormon girl, but really I love to dance to something with a good, heavy hitting bass and a quick beat (hip hop, of course).

Halloween

I have a confession to make. Halloween freaks me out a little bit. I don't think that devils or witches or ghosts wander free. It's nothing like that. Really it's all about the masks and not knowing who people are just by glancing. That really stresses me out! Don't get me wrong, I think dressing up is fun and I love the unique and bizarre costumes and all. I guess it's just me being a baby or something. My strange fear was especially heightened at the Alpine Village Halloween dance party (yeah...). There were plenty of people (guys, I'm guessing) in their creepy masks, but it wasn't just the creepy ones that got me. There was this short little awkward guy in an Iron Man mask that stressed me out like nobody's business. Throw in the crazy Halloween lighting and oy, creepy. Pretty much any full face mask gets my pulse racing a little bit, but definitely the ones like this picture are the worst.

Westmore

Yesterday I started my second practicum at Westmore Elementary School in Orem. The cooperating teacher is essentially magic. I don't know how she does it, but she's a super star. Yesterday there were about 11 people in her class to observe her teach, she'd gotten back from vacation at 3am that morning, and somehow still managed to pull off a fantastic amount of teaching. I was reeling just from watching.

Not to mention I'm partners with Sarah, who (whom?) I just love so it's a good time. And the school provided us with a "treasure box" full of things we might need like tissues, band-aids, post-its, highlighters, pens, white board markers, tape, glue, crayons, etc. Then when we came in this morning there was a desk set up for us with two chairs, name cards, candy, and our treasure box. Seriously, our cooperating teacher is better than yours.

Today we went on a walking field trip with the other fourth grade class. Essentially we had about 60 people (most children) walking a mile in the snow to a theater to watch a play. The play was kind of cute, but a little weird in my opinion. Some of the kids were wild, some hated the walk, I know at least one adult took a little nap in the middle of the play. Then we walked back and had lunch and math and recess and that was pretty much it.

I'm learning all the kids' names finally. I know I've only been there since yesterday, but they tell us to learn all the names the first day (which I definitely failed at doing). Tomorrow we're going to sit down and plan out all of our assignments and the other stuff we have to get done before we go back to college.

The kids were introduced to their historical fiction unit today. One of their book options was this one:

I remember reading it when I was in fifth grade. I remember loving it (even though historical fiction isn't usually my cup of tea), and now I just want to read it again. Maybe after I finish Chains and get it back to Sarah I'll work on this one.

P.S. BYU basketball starting tonight? Yes please and yum.

Welcome back Nick Martineau. Mmm.

Food Network

I love the FoodNetwork. If I could be real life friends with a channel, it would totally be the food network. Not only are there spectacular shows like Chopped and Challenge, but the personalities are fantastic. Adam Gertler, Alton Brown, Ted (who doesn't get a last name because he's just Ted), Duff, Bobby Flay. Then there are the wicked judges like Alex Guarnaschelli and Amanda Freitag that give you someone to hate. Yes, I am in love with this channel.

A Song That I Know All the Words To: Makes Me Ill

Who didn't love N*SYNC back in the day? No Strings Attached was basically awesome. And who would have thought that Justin Timberlake would turn out to be a giant superstar and that the one guy would play a Greek? Go figure.

That being said, I always loved this song. Particularly the part at the beginning that is fast and slightly rap-like. Some of my friends seem to be amazed when the realized I can still sing the whole thing. Now I need to go listen to some more nostalgia inducing things...like Aaron's Party...again.

What I Do With My Life

Do you know what I do with my life?

Homework.

Classes.

Lectures.

Church.

Chill with Sarah on weekends.

BYU football.

Pray for basketball season.

More homework.

Write to-do lists.

Make myself feel like I finish my to-do lists because I cross stuff out and move it to other days.

The end.

Edit: want.

What Did I Just Watch?

I got really excited when I heard JK Rowling was going to be on Oprah. I set it up to TiVo and finally got time to watch it today. The title of the episode was "Oprah and JK Rowling in Scotland." The title of the episode should have been "Rich Women Talk About How Great it is to be Rich While Drinking Tea and Sometimes Life is Hard."

Boo and disappointment.

Life Lately

I printed my 4+ years of livejournal, am having it bound, and shipped to my house all for about 12 bucks. I really did use it as my journal for that time in my life and even though it's super angsty, it will be helpful to have.

School is both busy and not busy. I don't know how to explain so I won't.

I love the smell of fire on my clothes.

My friends and I in the elementary education program started a new blog called Teachers Read Books for posting reviews, recommendations, events, etc.

Steph sometimes makes me feel a little worthless because she is super motivated.

JK Rowling is going to be on Oprah on Friday. I'm TiVo-ing it.

Today we were assigned "mentees" in the elementary education program. Basically they're the little baby frosh that are still freaked out by the prospect and might want to ask someone questions. I like that I'll get to be the authority on something.

My job is essentially the easiest thing in the world. Today I got paid for an hour of doing absolutely nothing.

I'm FHE mom now (I don't know if I said that yet) and it stresses me out more than it should. I want everyone to love every activity. I know that can't happen, but whatevs.

I realized by the time I get home for Christmas, Tori will be about 11 months old. That's freaking me out. She won't know me at all. I'm trying to convince either her mom or my mom to video chat with me so I can see her. She's still fat.

The BYU football team is pretty bad this year. I'll still cheer as loud as possible and be proud of my boys, it's just a building year.

I'm ready for basketball season.

Football Fight

Today the BYU v FSU game was on some crap network (ESPN-U) that no one really gets around here unless they pay for a sports package. So BYUSA teamed up with Cougar United to hold a party in the Wilk (the student building with the food court and stuff for those of you that don't go to BYU) for people to gather and watch the game. There was some hot dogs and lemonade and a ton of people and a big screen and happiness. Problem is, there was this one FSU fan. Homeboy was being pretty obnoxious and standing to clap while the rest of us were sad when BYU was not doing so hot. May I just remind you that this was on the BYU campus? Yeah, what a jerk. Shortly thereafter BYU made some great play and people pointed and hollered at the FSU fan and one BYU fan ran up and yelled something really close to the douche. Well, Mr. Idiot FSU fan decided to stand up and do a little chest push on harmless, but celebratory BYU guy. Event staff came over as the two guys yelled at each other and a little bit more pushing happened. The whole ballroom full of people stopped watching the game and started watching for a fight. I hoped someone would throw a punch because, hey, who doesn't like a good fight? It all simmered down, though event staff stayed close to those two guys.

Oh, and we did lose. It was pretty sad.

On a happier note this is hilarious to me. STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING! I did warn you. I know some of you that read this are good nice people that aren't so wicked as I am.

Sidenote: miss him.

A Song That Reminds Me of an Event: God Bless the USA

My sister was a clogger in our little home town. They always performed at the county fair and of course we watched. I don't remember how old I was, but one year during the performance they stopped to pay devotion to America the way small towns do by playing this song. It's the first time I can clearly remember feeling a little choked up about America and what we have. Weird, I guess, in that hall with hay on the floor and the smell of the pigs, cows, and sheep wafting around me. I still get choked up most of the time when I hear this song. Go America!

Remember

I hope my friends don't think I'm copying them by doing this post, but it seems wrong to let this day pass without blogging about what I remember.

I was in seventh grade living about 40 miles from the Pentagon. School had already started because it was the east coast. We started getting tiny bits of gossipy information from the kids that had cell phones then. Then parents started flooding the hall ways. The teachers wouldn't explain what was going on and we really wanted to know. My mom picked me up just before lunch and we went back to my grandmother's house where we were staying for a month or two. We watched the news all night (and, I'm ashamed to say, watched and hoped for school in our county to be cancelled the next day like most of the surrounding counties). Once it got dark we went to the fence and held candles. Most of the neighbors did the same thing. There were about a million vigils to hold and people to pray for.

A lot of the messages I've seen posted about 9/11 today seem to be trying to get across a political point (about the war, about the mosque, etc.). For once can we just remember how it was that day just to remember? We could learn something from how we acted that day. We all became Americans and stopped battling each other for once.

I say this because I mean it, not to be trite: I will always remember.

Swimsuit Fail

Tonight I went to the pool on campus to swim with some friends. As soon as we left the locker room and entered the actual pool area I was told I would need to put on a shirt if I was going to swim there. My swimsuit is a v-neck which is apparently a big no no in BYU pools. I'm no skankity skank or anything and I would never say that my swimsuit was revealing (ugly, yes) and was kind of baffled. I had to chuckle a little and congratulate BYU on actually enforcing their honor code this time, but I'm still thrown for a loop. I didn't pitch a fit or even get upset, I just went home.

I guess I'll be buying a new swimsuit sooner rather than later.

A Thousand Things Have Happened

Short and fast updates on my life unless I get all long-winded.

Laurel (my older sister) showed up at my apartment as a surprise Thursday evening. Super awesome. She's here until Tuesday.

The Cougars won yesterday. Go team. I may even be coming around to the whole two QB idea.

The game was so hot I almost died of heat and death.

It was pretty hot here again today, but now there is beautiful wind outside of my window that I am loving.

I didn't have to sit by anyone that I hate at the football game.

I got a new calling. I'm now an FHE mom. I'm good with that.

With Laurel's help I cleared my closet and drawers of all the clothes I have (had) that didn't fit or I didn't like. Three full trash bags are headed for DI.

Did I ever mention anything about my new roommates? They are so nice. I don't even mean that in a sarcastic way. They are actually so nice. Not to mention they are clean.

School is already kicking my trash. I feel like I'm constantly going and going and going without enough time to even breathe and catch up.

The idea of student teaching and graduating freaks me out.

I miss seeing the milestones as Tori grows up (not to mention the other kids).

A bunch of the cool el ed people went to our old teacher's wedding reception.

Oh, and did I mention Laurel is here? :D

A Song That Reminds Me of Somewhere: Don't Take the Girl

For those of you that don't know, I grew up in a tiny town called Luray, VA. The population has now grown to a whopping 4,871 people. It's a little country town with lots of farms, an old main street, a great little league, awful pay for teachers, and everyone knowing everyone else. It holds true to it's country-ness and most of the people there prefer country music to most other types. I don't even remember the first time I heard this song. It seems like I just always knew it. Now every time it comes on the radio in the car, whichever member of my family is hearing it (usually Mom or Laurel) will call me and just hold the phone to the speaker - even if I don't answer.

A Song That Makes Me Think of Someone: Curtis Lowe

I was home for awhile this summer and loved it sometimes. My 5 year old nephew Gabe sang this to me while we were waiting for the rest of the family in the gym parking lot. It's by Lynyrd Skynyrd and the real version can be found here.
By the way, excuse the poor camera skills, I didn't want him to know I was filming.

What I've Been Reading pt. 3

First let me start off with a question. I plan on continuing my reading for pleasure even though the school year has started. Should I continue to post these reviews or should I just keep it to myself? Let me know. Also, a disclaimer: I didn't read as much at the end of the summer because I had friends and things to do and a working TiVo (and no, I don't regularly do that stupid capitalization thing but that's how it is for TiVo). *Note: I tried to do pictures, I did but then blogger didn't upload them and I got irritated so I'm not doing them.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: A good, fun read, of course. It's not Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe or anything, but it's a good solid C.S. Lewis book with a good moral and connections to Christianity. I really think everyone should have read all of the Narnia books by now. I re-read this in preparation for the movie that's coming out soon (that might suck).

Honey Baby Sweetheart: Another Deb Caletti book. This was the one that won awards and this was the one that I liked the least. It feels too forced into the teenage drama rather than like a real story unfolding. Maybe I just haven't had enough life experiences to quite get it, but I didn't love this book.

Unwind: This freaked me out. Basically it's another dystopian novel wherein the pro-life pro-choice debate has been settled. The agreement reached is that from conception to age 13 you can't do anything to chidren. From age 13 to 18 you have the option of having your children "unwound." Basically it's almost like being killed except every part of the child must live on in some way (transplants, giving limbs to those that have lost them, etc). What would you do if you found out you were going to be unwound? I did like this book. The whole dystopian thing is really working for me right now.

The Time Traveler's Wife: A decent story that moved too slow at times. I was told before I read it that the ending was sad so I just expected the worst the whole time. I found myself getting frustrated with the characters. Also, this is kind of rough (meaning too explicit for me) when it comes to sex. After the tragic part of the ending, the other part of the ending before the real ending really made me mad. Not a great read, but I've read worse.

The Cross Gardener: Sarah had borrowed this from Marci. It was written by her cousin or uncle or somebody related to her. It's a quick read and a nice uplifting story that made me cry several times. It takes place very close to the place I grew up in Virginia and the descriptions of the weather and the sites and the scenery there as well as details about places I've been or lived really got to me in this one and made me connect.

Mockingjay: No spoiler alerts because I'm not going to say anything. Basically, if you're reading the Hunger Games series you're going to read this third and final installment and if you're not, you're not. It's too new for me to post any plot details. I did love it, though.

A Great and Terrible Beauty: I've read this a few times before. It's a good fantasy novel that I first got into in high school. Basically some girls in Victorian (I think) England discover magic and it's pretty awesome. They're at boarding school in this one. There's an attractive gypsy boy involved and of course some evil to battle. I do love some good young adult fantasy. The second in this trilogy is pretty good, and the third wasn't that great (I only read it once, I should probably do so again).

That is all. Again, please comment and let me know if I should keep posting these book blogs.

A Song That Makes Me Sad: You Are My Sunshine

Apparently as a child I used to cry when my parents would sing this to me. I don't remember this at all because I was really little and had no good reason. Now this song makes me think of the fact that childhood is past and I can't go back. Don't get me wrong, I love some things about being an adult and semi on my own and I love being at college and growing up, but sometimes I am sad for the times when I was small enough to be held in someone's lap.

Good thing this song doesn't always make me sad! This is one of my favorite actors in one of my most favorite movies when the girl that wants him is trying to figure out what instrument he plays. Such a good scene (start at about 59 seconds in if you just want the song).

Weird Dreams

So, last night I had one of the weirdest and most upsetting dreams. This girl:

and this girl:

kept switching back and forth between each other (meaning in the dream they were the same person but sometimes the person was Sarah and looked like Sarah and sometimes the person was Heather and looked like Heather). This person was getting married and the wedding was super weird. At the beginning it was Sarah and her wedding was like a musical (complete with costume changes) and was happening in the Manavu chapel. I wasn't part of the wedding party, but I was doing a lot of helping out, especially when in her first costume of the wedding the sheer black fabric showed her hot pink bra and underpants and I went to help her cover up.

Later it was Heather and the wedding was almost over I think and was moving more towards the ending which would be the temple ceremony. For some reason there was a big fight over who was driving her there and it was dramatic and kept getting on my nerves.

Then the person was Sarah again and I was helping her dress into her actual white wedding dress. Finally the wedding was over and everyone was shaking hands and everything except Sarah's parents weren't her parents, they were Marci's parents. Ok, that's confusing: Mark and Margaret were Sarah's parents at her wedding.

During this whole thing I was a little bit cold and a little bit anxious and kept waking up and freaking out.

Also, I did pick that particular picture of Sarah and me because my hair is so great in there.

A Song That Makes Me Happy: Wannabe

Sure, there are tons of songs that make me happy, but this one came on my shuffle while I was dancing around and straightening my hair today. Do you know the feeling when you get all giggly and are trying to speak or sing at the same time but you just laugh instead? That's what happened. It could be that I'm giddy like a kid at Christmas because I went bike shopping today and have narrowed it down to two (more on that when I actually purchase next week).

When I was a kid my sister got the Spice Girls cd for Christmas one year. That same year we got a trampoline and it was awesome. We jumped ALL the time. There were about a million games to play as four girls with a trampoline (and a little brother too small to really get on). We played a version of dodge ball with the neighbor kids. We tried new tricks. For awhile we got really into playing with this giant ball of my brother's (the kind you use for crab soccer) while on the trampoline. There were many summer nights spent sleeping on the trampoline (which is NOT a good idea in the east where it's humid and the dew gathers and runs into the pile the four of you have inevitably ended up in and then all of you are wet). Like most activities jumping on the trampoline was much more awesome when done to music. Our favorites were Backstreet Boys, Barenaked Ladies, Coolio, Mariah Carey (Fantasy anyone?), and Spice Girls. It was such an incredible couple of summers.

Besides all that, the song is just so much fun. It makes absolutely zero sense, of course. I definitely know all the words. And let's not forget that this happened on Halloween sophomore year.

(yeah, my camera was bad at dates for awhile until Sarah fixed it)

Least Favorite Song: Sweet Escape

I pretty much just find Gwen Stefani completely obnoxious almost all of the time and this song with all the "woohoos" and repetition makes me change want to jump off a cliff.

Freshman year we used to go to dance parties basically all the time. It's a lot easier to go to a lot of dance parties when you're a freshman because the on campus ones are fair game (without being creepy). Apparently being at BYU means that not all dances can just play a steady stream of hip-hop with the occasional techno beat mixed in. Not to mention BYUSA outlawed "Walk It Out" at all dances they sponsored (which was most of them). All of that combined together means I heard this terrible song way too often. I usually used it as my cue to go get some water or a crappy cookie from the snack table.

All of my complaining aside, I loved freshman year. It wasn't without it's problems and definitely had plenty of drama, but I think life was simpler then. I know that sounds cliche and kind of stupid to say about a time that was just over two years ago, but I knew where I was going then. I had three more years in college and knew where I would be. Now all of a sudden I'm a senior and have next to no idea what I want to do with my life come April.

Potassium 2.0

I got my blood level checked yesterday and my potassium level hasn't even changed from before the infusion a couple weeks ago. This means I get to go back tomorrow for another potassium infusion with even more potassium which means even more time chillin' in the hospital. Last time they told me 3-4 hours and I was there just over 5. This time they told me at least 5 hours.

On a different note, I spent a lot of time today reorganizing my bedroom and doing all the little clean out the drawers type of stuff as well as this great project. It's not perfect yet but it's a work in progress.

My Favorite Song: Any Given Day

Who really can name just a single favorite song? That's awful. I really don't like this one. One of my most favorite songs is Any Given Day by Carbon Leaf. I've loved it basically forever.

Something about this part of the lyrics:

I window shop for you in my mind
A flannel shirt at the five and dime
A lether coat cut big city style
Boots from plastic crocodile
A pinecone dipped in glitter glue
A penny 1942
A necklace with a cheap green stone
Barefeet, cold sand. Chill to the bone

resonates with me for some reason. It just seems like he's picking out the real gifts that mean something even though they're probably cheap. I just love it.

When I listen to this song I often think of the small main street in my hometown that still has a sign for a real five and dime that isn't there anymore. I'm glad in some ways that I don't live in such a small town with such limited options anymore, but I do miss it sometimes. Things like the fair and the tiny schools and the slow speed limit and the little mountains of Virginia surrounding that little town in the valley just make me happy. Now that my family lives in Northern Virginia in a town that isn't really a town (just a county) and really only exists because the interstate goes through it, I miss those small town charms.

Music Whatsit

Ok. I'm giving in. I'm going to do the music challenge, but it will be a little different from Sarah's and Britt's style (but still similar). You'll see (it's not a big surprise or anything, but I don't feel like typing out my explanation when it's not even that big a deal). Anyway, in case you're interested here's the thirty day list.

Note: if anyone can please figure out and tell me what the default font is in blogger I will be your best friend.

"It's the 30 day music challenge. Everyday for the next 30 days I'm going to dedicate a post to a certain song, according to this list:"

Day 1 - Your favorite song

Day 2 - Your least favorite song

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy

Day 4 - A song that makes you sad

Day 5 - A song that reminds you of someone

Day 6 - A song that reminds you of somewhere

Day 7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Day 8 - A song that you know all the words to

Day 9 - A song that you can dance to

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

Day 11 - A song from your favorite band

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you're angry

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you're happy

Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad

Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

Potassium Infusion

If I already talked to you (Sarah) you probably want to skip this post because it will be boring for you.

Because of my issues with almost passing out and ending up in the emergency room I went to see a doctor and have been getting some blood work done to figure out what's wrong. Turns out my potassium is pretty low. Lucky me, I had the beautiful opportunity to go get a potassium infusion (meaning an iv dosage of potassium) over the course of just over five hours.

I got to the hospital and was put in a room next to a middle aged guy and his wife. He was watching Family Feud and then Loony Toons and his wife bought him Sensuous Sandwich for lunch.

Apparently my doctor had the potassium mixed abnormally strong so it had to be mixed with that saline stuff that they give you to hydrate you or when you go to the emergency room or whatever. The straight potassium without the saline being pumped in at the same time (yep, I got two pumps) burned my veins like fire (it happened at the end when they thought there was already enough saline in there so that it wouldn't hurt. They fixed it shortly thereafter.

I watched a lot of daytime television during my visit. Let's Make a Deal (Wayne Brady, not Monty Hall), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Inside Edition, Family Feud, Grounded for Life,...I think that's it. I also texted Sarah to death. Poor Sarah.

They ordered me a lunch in the hospital since I was there forever. Hospital food is not good. It was some sort of chicken turnover with gravy and veggies and milk. Milk just like in elementary school which gave me a chuckle.

It was kind of sad to see some of the other people in there getting chemo/radiation. The middle aged guy with his wife and the tall bald guy that was no older than me and the sad sick old people. My problems were small in comparison (even though I was in there for a longer period of time than most).

Moral of the story: my potassium is hopefully better now and I hope I never have to do that again even though everyone was extremely kind and the nurses were awesome. Sorry for no picture.

Quick Story

I wish I had an awesome picture of Gabe to go with this post, but i don't. Sorry. Hopefully my plethora of pictures in my last post helps make up for it. I just wanted to share a story that my sister told me about Gabe. Gabe LOVES Jesus. I mean it, more than any other little kid I've ever seen.

He walked into Wal*Mart with his mom and saw two ladies fully veiled. Not just head coverings, but the whole shebang. Immediately Gabe turned to his mother with awe, "Mom look! The shepherds!" She was confused and trying to get him to stop pointing and asked what he meant. "You know, Mom, the shepherds! They traveled a far far way to see the baby Jesus!"

Hilarious, and touching.

I Broke My Face

Once upon a time (July 19th) Sarah and I were going to see my favorite band Carbon Leaf at this tiny little venue in good old SLC.

During the opening act I started not feeling too well so I went to sit on a bench outside. Then I thought I might throw up so I headed to the bathroom. On the way across the parking lot I almost passed out. I tried to catch myself on a planter (you know, a thing that has plants in it), but in my woozy state I missed and hit my face instead. It was bleeding pretty bad. Someone went and found Sarah who drove me to insta-care. In case you didn't know, insta-care is crappy and told me immediately they couldn't do anything and because could have hurt my head i got transported in an ambulance to the emergency room.

Possible head injury means backboard, neck brace, and being taped down.

I was confused and delirious at this point so I smiled for my mom. This was after they had cut off one of my favorite shirts (Reading is Cool, Paperbacks are Hot) and my only white cami. that is my unhooked green bra that you see in the picture.

I had road rash and basically split the top part of my left nostril from the bottom part. Oh, and I busted my tooth and had to get a filling (a few days later) and still have a gum issue right now. It's kind of...pushed back from where i busted my mouth pretty good.

After many hours without, I finally got some pain medication (dilaudid for the win), the ER doctor told me he couldn't do my stitches, we waited for a plastic surgeon, and he pumped my face full of novocain (or something like it that hurt like the dickens going in) and stitched me up. 20+ stitches in all, both inside and outside my nose. Sarah held my hand.

When I woke up the next day I looked and felt like hammered dog s*** (that's a phrase my dad loves to use).

I thought I might get better with time, but sometimes things just get uglier and uglier. People kept telling me I didn't look that bad. Sometimes I just wanted people to say "Ooh. You look nasty."

I think that yellow eye makeup may be in next season. Anyone with me? (Note: I took most of these pictures myself shortly after waking up so my mom could get progress on my face).

I eventually did start to look better, but the stitches were still itching my face off.

But then I got the stitches out!

As of now I still have a kind of swollen lump on one side of my nose, but it doesn't look bad. the only problem is something with the scar tissue is making my smile weird. Maybe I'll take a picture and blog about that soon. Or just post a picture. It's a really awful smile.

I just want you to know that Sarah is amazing. Everyone should have a friend like her. I fell just before 8pm and Sarah stayed in the ER with me until after 2am. Like I said, she held my hand during the novocain shots and the stitches, and she only left when I almost threw up. Then almost three weeks later she spent another several hours in the ER with me. There is no way for me to ever show my gratitude to her adequately or to ever repay her for what she did.

The Wooten Team

My sister's husband has been working on adopting her two kids from her previous marriage. Even though this wasn't complete (until about yesterday) the two kids (being 5 and 6) went ahead and called themselves by his last name.

Now, Destiny was in kindergarten this past year. And let me tell you, if there ever was a reason to use the "b" word her teacher was it. The lady just wasn't nice or accommodating in any way (which I thought was required to be a kindergarten teacher). She refused to call Destiny by her preferred name (Destiny Wooten) and instead called her by my sister's ex-husband's name (Destiny Pope). I don't know why it was such a big deal to this teacher if the 6 year old called herself by her for all intents and purposes daddy's last name. So, when the adoption paper finally came in the mail and all had gone through and the birth certificates now list my sister's husband as the father Destiny had one thought, "Mom, can we take this to Ms. Shuppin and show her that my last name is Wooten?" Man, I love that girl.

(No picture this post, but plenty are coming soon. Don't you worry.)

New Goal

Starting today (which has been a success so far) if I can stop doing this:

Then I get to buy myself this:

When it comes out on DVD August 31st.

Wish me luck. I'll need it.

What I've Been Reading pt. 2

*Note: if you think you've already seen this post, you have. I was having some irritated technical difficulties.

You're all lucky because now that I'm back to blogging from a computer I'm going to include pictures with this post. You love me.

The Prince of Mist: Let's be real about this. I thought it was going to be about a slightly friendly ghost that needs something figured out. Turns out there's a scary clown AND no happy resolution where the demon/ghost thing dies. Sorry to spoil it, but I had to stay up all night to finish it hoping that the thing wouldn't get me. I was home alone and had to call my sister I was so scared. I'm a baby.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming: I REALLY liked this book. It's similar to the book Story of a Girl that I mentioned in my previous book post because it's one of those find yourself, coming of age stories, but I liked this one much better. Sure the love story part is predictable, but the point of the plot is NOT what you think when you pick it up. I also like the bits of romantic history and advice given by different character voices spread between the main story. I liked it so much I read another of her books (which you'll find at the end of this post). Note: the language in this book isn't always clean, but I'm not ultra sensitive to that.

Carpe Diem: I did not expect to like this book. The first couple of chapters are BORING. However, there's a purpose to the boringness. Vassar Spore is a high school student taking AP and advanced AP classes to try and be the best, the smartest, and get into Vassar (surprise surprise). A twist and a change of plans leads her reluctantly to the adventure of her life. I ended up loving this story and the real growth of the character. Some of the situations seem a little far fetched, but it's fiction for a reason, right?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: I read this book on the recommendation of my children's lit teacher a year ago (I read it this summer, he recommended it a year ago). It's one of the first books that's ever been considered for both the Newberry and Caldecott awards. The story is told though both text and pictures. The concept and differentness is the main reason I gave it a look. I didn't fall in love with the story (part of that is because it's aimed at much younger people), but the concept is kind of really genius. Give it a try, if you're curious. Don't be intimidated by the size of the book. I read it in just a few hours.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox: I picked this book up because of the cover. It looked intriguing. As soon as I realized that it was another future gone wrong/weird (dystopian) novels I was so excited. Jenna is a girl waking up from a long coma after a devastating car crash and she can't remember anything. Eventually her memories start coming back and she figures out (with the help and hints of those around her) what really happened during that long stay in darkness. This is another book that I really really liked. Sidenote: I know that I give a lot of positive reviews, but I really like to read and rarely really and truly dislike a book).

The Compound: Yes, another in the near future book. There's been a nuclear attack. Luckily Eli's dad is rich and has built a self-sustaining compound for his family (which they will have to stay in for 15 years (if memory serves)). Unluckily, Eli's grandmother and twin brother Eddy are left outside. Time passes, food starts to go bad, and things start to go wrong. Eli's father's back up plan is unthinkable and Eli gets super angsty about what he's really doing with his life and who he really is. Finally, he discovers a secret that changes everything. Just read this. It's so so good. It's one of my most highly recommended on this list.

The Wizard Test: A book aimed at slightly younger kids, but still a good read. To be a wizard in this community is definitely not desireable. After passing (failing?) the test of wizard-hood the main character (who's name I can't remember right this second) has even more trouble trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. A decent, quick read.

The UnNameables: I did not like this book when I started. I even told Sarah that it was boring and I wasn't sure I would finish it. It did start a little slow, but eventually picked up and I found myself putting off other tasks and events to finish it. Basic plotline: a group of people live on an island secluded off the mainland and everything must have a purpose and be named for that purpose. An orphan with a secret passion and a wandering goatman (I'm thinking he was probably a faun in the style of Narnia) don't quite fit in with the community and unsettle the islands careful system.

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye: See! I told you I would come back to this author. This book was perhaps a little more unrealistic than even The Secret Life of Prince Charming, but isn't that what fiction is for? To take us out of our world into a made up world and hopefully maybe make us think while doing so? I enjoyed this book, once again, and have just picked up another by the same author. The real question is, what would you do with 2.5 million dollars?

**Another note: If anyone can recommend any dystopian novels to me I'd be very interested (or any books for that matter.