Oprah.....er i mean Hope's favorite things! (2012 edition)

For those of you who do not watch Oprah (me being one of those), I will give you a little background. At the end of every Year, (don't quote me on this, she might not still do it) Oprah spends a whole show giving away her favorite things of that year to every single audience member. If you want a little taste of what it's like here ya go.

yes. If you are rich enough, you can make grown men cry at will.

So it's time for (drumroll please)

Hope's Favorite Things!!!!!!! 

*note: I will not actually give you any of these things, but I WILL give you a digital picture as a speacial treat for your eyes.

Favorite thing of 2012 #1: 

Turkey Bacon club on Sourdough bread with no Mayonnaise from the Blue Line Deli at BYU!



                           
How many omnivores do we have out there? Then you'll love this Hope-modified Blue Line classic! By far the most ordered sandwich at BYU, with reduced fat thanks to the exclusion of mayo! AND I can pay for it with my meal card so it's super convenient! Come down to BYU, and I may ACTAULLY buy you this favorite thing (due to the fact that I have to spend a certain quota by the end of the sememster) 

Favorite thing of 2012 #2: 

How many times has this happened to YOU? you're sitting in your dorm room at 10:45 P.M. thinking all you're homework's done when you realalize "Ah! I have to write a paper/ check my email/ submit my response on digital dialoge/ other school related activity that can only be compleated online?" Which is when you remember that your parents aren't letting you have a computer this semster.

Well. Have no fear. You MAY think that you have to walk all the way to the library (15 min. ) when in fact, you can zip on over to the tanner building computer lab! (9 min)!!! this is why my second favorite thing of 2012 is

The Tanner Building Computer Lab!



Favorite thing of 2012 #3: 

Tuacan's productions of Hairspray and Aladdin!

Sorry, you're too late to see them, but rest assured they were FANTASTIC!



Favorite thing of 2012 #4 

This one came early in the year. January 6th in fact!
(super drum roll)
......

Manicure/pedicures!!!!

Want a relaxing, luxurious, typically nice-smelling afternoon in your choice of color? I strongly recommend a mani-pedi to get the job done! 


Although I may not recommend going with me, as I laugh loudly when anyone touches my toes.

Favorite Thing of 2012 #5

Heritage tours!

A 3 week trip from Utah to New York and Back. You stop at all the church history sights, spend about 8 hours on a bus (per day), and have the time of your life (with the best people you'll ever meet!) strongly recommended for graduated high school seniors



Favorite Thing of 2012 #6 

NEW BABY NEPHEWS!!

I'm sorry, but these cannot typically be purchased at local convenience stores. they're a very rare, and very costly gift. Fortunately for me, I don't care If I have to change a few diapers because they're so dang cute! 



Need I say more?

Favorite thing of 2012 #7 

New York, New York

 

Strongly recommended. Will live there someday
Broadway play Spiderman....Also highly recommended 

Favorite thing of 2012 #8 

Graduating from High School.


 Not that I didn't love High School. In fact, I ADORED high school (for the most part), but it was a bitter sweet time to move on. I recommend this, but only one per lifetime.

Favorite thing of 2012 #9 
Starting College!
 love love love love love love college.



Favorite thing of 2012 #10: 

Always the best.
At the Top of my List.
with a hip hip hooray, and a shish boom bah.
My friends and family.
Old and new, young and wrinkly,  bald or flowy blue hair, I LOVE them, and if Oprah knew them, they would be her favorite things too.

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                   -_____________________________________ <----------Photo of YOU here


Happy new year!

What's up, Doc?

The deed is done.

I was overwhelMED with what seeMED like an unwelcoMED obligation. But now, the DOCumentation is done. I may not have been DOCile, but I was taMED.

Explanation: I'm putting in my papers to go on a mission for the Mormon church, and part of that process requires that I get a doctor to sign off on a bunch of things to basically state I am healthy. It should be one question with two check boxes, right?

 HEALTHY Yes ___  No__ 

But instead, it consists of a bunch of words that I may or may not understand, and most definitely can't pronounce.

Quick Question: when was the last time you had your amylace tested?

You get the picture. So here's the story.

CHAPTER 1 

Urine Luck 

Upon arrival (well... like 40 minutes after my arrival, when they actually brought me to the doctor) They asked me if I could give them a urine sample. As I had just gone to the bathroom, I then proceeded to drink about four tons of water from the tap via little paper cups that hold up for 1.5 uses.....water starts to kind of taste bad after a while

CHAPTER 2

Weight For Me

I'm not sure how this slipped through the cracks of my blog subjects, but I have recently finished an intense three week food cleanse. Bottom line, "cleanse" is not "diet" and my doctor rounded my weight UP on the missionary sheet.

CHAPTER 3 

Taking Shots.....Mormon Style 

You know that you're in for a treat when the person giving you shots is less than a month older than you are, and keeps dropping the needle. How did I know how old she was? It was her birthday today. Granted, I should cut her some birthday slack, but it still made me a little antsy that it took her 40 seconds to successfully open a band-aid. She gave me a flu shot, and  TB test (yes, this requires a needle) that I have to get read in 48-72 hours (so if you happen to be a doctor.....) I'm not really sure if she did it right, but until my arm goes numb and develops a weird bump I'm going to assume yes. The main complaint was that there were no colored band-aids. Shot-giving blasphemy.

CHAPTER 4 

a faint smell of blood 

Now we're getting to the good stuff. AFTER I had gotten two needles poked into me that I didn't expect, I was informed that I would have to get my blood drawn. 

This was not a happy moment.

I went obediently down to the chamber of horror, which was cleverly disguised as a health lab. The masquerade went so far as to dare to play Christmas music in the waiting room.What kind of sick (no pun intended) place was this?

When my name was called and I entered the room of doom, I saw the nurse.

Real conversation between HOPE and NURSE

NURSE: Hello! I'm the one who's going to draw you today

HOPE: Are you a good artist?

NURSE: ????

I guess my humor is lost on people who make others cry for a living. Or maybe laughing makes veins constrict.

I kid, she was actually very pleasant. And when she couldn't find a vein, the girl she brought in to help her was equally pleasant.

Apparently, I have veins so small that they have to use a baby needle on me. and not baby as in "small" baby as in the same needle they use on actual babies. No wonder they cry so much, that thing takes forever to draw blood!

somewhere in this 40 minute---yes FORTY MINUTE endeavor, when they were poking around for a vein, I started to feel very woooooooooooosy, and my vision did a little of this


and I thought that I might  but as there was no prince charming to catch me, I decided to tell them to take the needle out of my arm instead. which they promptly did, and then layed me down while I fought nausea.

When I was recovered, the second nurse tried again, trying to pin down my "roll-y veins" and when she finally finally got one, I made her tell me the story of her first kiss, which was actually quite funny.


And they all drove woozily ever homeward,
                                                                      Then End. 

baby, baby, baby.

JUST IN case you're wondering, this is what we do during Christmas break.


That is all.

Ways I procrastinate studying for finals......in limerick form

H. Potter just sits on the shelf,
I'm cringing, restraining myself.
and try as I might
I can't go the night
without reading of Dobby the elf.

selections of fruit in a bowl.
distract me from reaching my goal
I eat nine or ten,
neglecting me pen
if I fail, I fail while full.

my nephews cry into the night
and I'm trying my best to sleep tight
But I'm never repelled
when they need to be held.
So I hope what i'm doing is right

watching a movie sounds fun
but i know that i'm under the gun
if it's christmas in theme,
and my head's all a-dream
can it hurt if I put in just one?

my room is quite messy it's true,
but i can't waste my time sorting shoes,
then again, can it hurt,
if I vacuum up dirt ?
it may kick my old studying blues.

too lazy to go for a jog
but my brain is all up in a fog.
I need to waste time
so I'll think of some rhymes
and then post it for views on my blog.

FINALly.

It's the final countdown for the final finals.

well, not the FINAL final finals, as those will come years in the future, but rather the first final finals. finally.

Sadly, all of my teachers opted to do their jobs this year, and give finals that individually make me queasy, and cumulatively almost paralyze me.

Not only that, but I also have a few major papers due in addition to the finals. that's right. in addition. as in, "not subtraction but --------"

I thought that it would be nice of you to help me study for my tests, as I don't have a study buddy. you will? you're the best! O.k. here we go.









you're supposed to ask me the question, and I'll answer.








not feeling talkative? O.k. well how about this. how about instead we play........(cue the neon lights and obnoxious show host).......are you smarter than a college freshman?!? (applause) Alright round one:

social dance:

The "cuddle" is a move from which dance learned this semester?

1.foxtrot
2. cha cha
3. waltz
4. swing
5. none of the above. it's what you do when it's cold outside.



and the answer is........4!!!! yes, the cuddle is an actual dance move from the popular genre of swing!

Civilization 1 (aka the pen and the sword): 
mark the most correct answer

1. women should not be allowed in the military
2. women should be allowed to sign up voluntarily for the draft, and to be on the front lines of war as long as they so desire and pass a skills and fitness test
3. women should be allowed in the military but not in the draft
4. women should make up 50% or more of the army, and fight on the front lines of war
5. women are part magnetic, and attract bullets. therefore they should not be allowed to be in artillery combat


the answer for this one is (yes, there is a right answer)...........2! And i just spent the past two days writing a ten page paper supporting this.....ok, fine I suppose it's an opinion.

Social Sciences 
the most common place to randomly meet a lot of people is

1. the library
2. your dorm lobby
3. snooping about the upperclassmen housing
4. the food lines at the Wilk
5. false. because it hurts to walk in high heels.

the answer is..................5!.........O.k. actually it's four, but when I take tests at the testing center, I feel like that happens a lot with the multiple choice questions. they totally talk about something unrelated and then are correct. now days I just bubble in BEAD CAB BAD BED over and over again. surprisingly, I'm not doing too BAD.

o.k. enough trivia for today. so, are YOU smarter than a college freshman?

regardless of how you answered the questions, the answers is probably yes, because I, at least, am running on about 4 hours of sleep, and a lot of aca-dreneline. you know, that adrenaline rush that comes when finals arrive?

well, until next time, my scholarly chums, I'll be here if you need me. just decaying away at the same spot in the library.....

maybe slip me some food once in a while. or at least water my plant.




And also, I got a new phone so if you could text me your number that would be great (I have the same number, just a new phone)
 

Back in Black

 I'm dreaming of a black friday
When I can show off what I bought
where the deals shine
and shoppers whine
'bout parking...way across the lot

I'm dreaming of black Friday
with every credit card I swipe
may your bags be heavy, not light
and may all your purchases fit right.

Tis' the season. And I mean seasoning on apple pie. The holly is hung by the chimney with care, the radio station is playing twelve different renditions of "the twelve days of Christmas," and college students are raiding the D.I. for ugly Christmas sweaters.

Of course, to start the season off right, you must first get through black Friday successfully.



You're probably wondering......actually you're probably not wondering but I'm going to tell you anyway, what I think about black Friday starting on Thursday this year.

Blasphemy.

I'm going to go ahead and pretend like it started today because for me, it did.

Now, my parents did a first-rate job at protecting me from the world of black Friday. I must admit that I didn't know such a thing existed until about 2 years ago. This was probably in an effort to avoid 1:00 A.M. doorbusters with an enthusiastic shopper-daughter. Well played mom and dad.

But I have since realized that the early early morning is not the time to go anyway. Which brings us to our Black Friday tips.

1. Don't go for those "early bird specials." (unless, of course, you want electronics. In that case, you might as well spend thanksgiving camped out, honey.)---Go at a time when most of the crazies have come, raided, and left with a few "disturbing the peace" tickets. This means about 3:00 P.M.

YOU: what??? most of the goods will be gone by then

ME: Stores plan pretty well for Black Friday. I'm talking major stocking up. they have enough clothes to replace them regularly and By 3:00 the crazies have been escorted off the premises, the teenagers who stayed up all night are taking naps, and the 3-year old needs lunch, removing stroller-mom from the scene.

3:00 is prime time, my friends.

2. The mall. The mall is your best friend today, I promise. Too many other people try to go to individual stores. If the store doesn't have what they came for, they feel like they can't leave without buying something because it will feel like they wasted a lot of time to go to that specific store (which it did.)  =  fewer things for you at said store  =  mall is best option.  


3. Let's try to avoid participating in this




              

 









let's try to show a little decorum, people.

4. avoiding the cart people.

you know the ones.

the ones who look like this
 
with their big pleading eyes. And you start to think that maybe you DO need poor quality, neon green hair extensions.

STOP! do not get sucked in to the 500 lotion/phone case/ decorative candy carts at the mall! you need to walk straight ahead, eyes forward, with a sense of purpose. these mall cart merchants can smell hesitancy.

5. gift cards.
Hit the places where you have gift cards first, because, hey. You have to spend money there anyway, right? It's also an opportune time to break out those gift cards with 60 cents left on them. You just have to ask if you can buy something with the money on the card, and then pay the rest with cash.

Today is the day to do it because there is no way the cashier will ever remember you after seeing an army of well-dressed shoppers coming in all day, and s/he won't have the energy left to give you the stink eye.

6. listen to Christmas music whenever possible. It helps curb the anger toward people who can't decide if they're a size 2,4,6,8,10, or 12, and therefore feel the need to take the whole pile to the dressing room.


Yes, my friends, the unofficial holiday celebrating violence, selfishness, and buying for yourself when you promised to buy for others.

but if you're going to do it, do it right. 

Hey baby, lets cuddle.

Love is difficult thing.

Poets try to capture it in stanzas, directors in the course of a two hour movie, and writers fill volumes with definitions of love and what it encompasses. I have recently found myself learning the ways of true love, and am about to add my contribution to the artistic society, by trying to capture it in one little blog post. Nay, a single question. 

Would you be upset if the one you loved peed on you at 2 in the morning? 

If the answer is yes, it's not true love. 

also, spit up, dirty diapers, and screaming fall into this category. 

Who do I love that frequently spits milk and formula on my cute sweaters? someone very special indeed. two someones in fact. 

that's right, my baby nephews John-John and Brig. 

wait, wait, wait. I know what you're thinking. That I have finally joined the realms of true blogging, which is to say----> women with too much time on their hands bragging about their families. 

EX: Mark just did the cutest thing today. he said "Gala!" It was so cute! usually he just says "ga" and occasionally, its "lala" but he just expanded his vocabulary! I think it means mama, but Jace insists it's dada. We'll see. I'll update you tomorrow on any changes on "gala." It won't be long before it's "laga" or even "mama!" 

yeah. don't worry about that.  I may be baby-love struck, but I promise that my blog will stay collegically sane.  No promises about when I have my own babe, but that won't be for quite a while. 

So basically my nephews are my little cuddle bugs, which is rare because....well.......I'd say that I could count the number of boys I've ever cuddled with on one hand, but that would imply that there had been at least one. Not really sure how to feel about that whole situation. Must research farther. 

O.k. I'm a little bit tempted to go on for 897520 pages about how cute B and the J-man are, but you can see for yourselves. 

Baby

Babies

Babies babies babies babies

los chicos conmigo 

Enough said. 

On an unrelated topic, I have a new temptation. At the Tanner building cafe, there is a sign above the cash register that says "we accept all forms of payment." I am incredibly tempted to try and barter with something crazy like hair elastics. I find a million hair elastics on the ground at the BYU, and I'm sure that if I started picking them up, I would have more than enough to buy a turkey bacon club with no mayo. 

Regardless of the explicit sign however, I'm 80% sure that they would just laugh nervously and clarify that it has to be a type of standardized money. Of course, I would just return with spanish pesos. If they specified American money then I would have to resort to using 930 pennies and so on. I guess weeks and weeks of tests/papers/quizzes has turned me into a little bit of a rebel. 

But hey, I like to live on the wild side, baby. 

Why didn't the chicken cross the road?

come here.

a little closer.

a liiiiiiiiiiiiiittle closer.

good.

I am about to tell you the secret that all college bachelors secretly wonder about. how to slyly cuddle with a girl.

Rewind to Saturday afternoon. Day date.

Things you will need in order to slyly cuddle with a girl.

1. one Subaru

2. Four people besides you and your date

3. a date

4. optional: two chickens.

Plan of attack: carpool in the Subaru with the aforementioned friends. this will make a total of 6 people. Note: if you want to be the cuddler, do not drive, otherwise you and your date will occupy the front two seats. Next move: get in as the last couple, thus ensuring that the seat is helplessly squished, and that you need to put your arm around your date to "make more room." or "be more comfortable" or something to that effect. Note: The chickens are important in this plan, because with them occupying the rear of the car, there is no talk of "well someone can sit in the back to make more room...." Finally: drive for a loooooooong time up a beautiful autumn canyon, ensuring significant cuddalige.

yes. this is a true story. Yes. there were chickens. two live chickens and two dead ones (rotisserie style)

inevitable question: Why were there two live chickens on this date?

Because we wanted to make the chickens cross the road of course!

we named them HENrietta and Alexis (not really sure where Alexis came from), and they were quite the life of the picnic. Once we got up to the scenic bench/outlook area, we took the chickens out of their box, and my date, who apparently knows how to tie a noose knot (he assures me that it was for boys scouts) knotted a makeshift leash around their feet.

The rest of the date was really fun, but unfortunately, and for future reference, Chickens will NOT cross the road. even if it's completely void of cars. They don't really like to be leashed-about, and will therefore likely poop on you if you try to lead them (luckily that wasn't my date.) Also, chickens will not hesitate to be cannibals if you accidentally drop some rotisserie style meat on the ground.

All in all, it was a very fun/unique date. My first official date with an RM,and I didn't even hyperventilate.

toward the end of the date, all of the guys were trying to figure out what to do with Henrietta and Alexis. There was talk of a mysterious farmer uncle, a animal activist mother, and the good ole' wild. Luckily the girls were dropped off before the final plans were made, I was going to follow up and ask what happened to our dear hen-ish friends, but I was too chicken.

 

fresh-MEN

gone are the days of high school.

gone are the days of waiting to be asked out by boys who think a "date" is hanging out at a mutual friend's house.

Gone are the days of boys.

Here are the days of men.

fresh men.

Exhibit A.  

I hadn't had anything to eat or drink in approximately 8 or so hours because I was trying to finish a major paper for one of my classes. I was almost finished when fate cued a certain boy to text me and ask if he could meet me at the library to study for a big test. In light of the fact that the test was the next morning I said "Of course" and waited by the computers.

pause.

On paper this doesn't sound like your typical damsel-in-distress situation, but let me reemphasize that I hadn't had ANYTHING to eat or drink for 8 hours.

un-pause.

When he arrived I started to get a Huge stomachache.

Re-pause.

Note that it wasn't butterflies or anything cutesy-romantic like that, It was a major I-think-I-might-have-appendicitis-stomachache.

Re-un-pause.

So this wonderful Gentleman asked me if I was feeling alright, and if he could do anything for me. I told him that I hadn't eaten in a long time, but that I wanted to study anyway because the test was tomorrow. He asked if I was sure yatta-yatta, and with the assurance that I was, he said o.k, but he had to go to the bathroom first. I laid my head on the table while he was gone, and when he came back, he had not gone to the bathroom but (drumroll please)

 to the vending machine and had bought me a Gardetto's/orange juice "dinner" instead!


i know! please save all "awwww!"s until after the presentation.

Exhibit B. 

The rooftop ballroom story.

Once upon a time, it was an ordinary day in social dance. Class had just ended, and one of the nicest guys in my class came up and asked "have a lot of boys already asked to be your partner for the foxtrot test?" --------------I should probably mention that everyone gets to choose their partner, so a guy can dance with twenty girls who all want him as their partner, and dance with a twenty-first girl if he wants HER to be the partner he has for HIS test.--------------- Only one other boy had asked me to be his partner, so he asked  if he could be my partner/ we could practice the next day/ 3:00 was good for me.

The the next day I met him at the WILK, but due to a lack of available floor space, we decided to practice......ON THE ROOF. No, your eyes are not deceiving you, We went up to a roof, turned on some Michael Buble/Bruno Mars and foxtrotted to our heart's content.

And he later got me involved at BYU/SA which meant free dance tickets, and they all lived happily ever after as dance partners for the rest of their days.
 

Exhibit C. 

Extra Extra! Hot off the press! This happened TODAY.

I was standing in line at the Subway cart, contemplating the actual health facts of 9 grain honey oat bread, when a gentleman tapped me on the shoulder. -----background information : there is a subway express restaurant  and a subway express CART, both of which offer the same food at the same price, but people for some reason think that the cart is less legitimate than the restaurant, and so the line is always shorter.----- and said "is there any difference between this line and (gesturing to the restaurant line) that one?"

ME: this one is shorter

HIM: but no other differences?

ME: the people in this line are smarter

HIM: sweet! I'm Michael by the way

ME: I'm Hope

MICHAEL: that's such a great name, where are you from?

ME: Salt Lake City. Not very exotic. where are you from?

MICHAEL: North Carolina

insert more small talk

MICHAEL: so did you play any sports in High School

ME: tennis

MICHAEL: Really?? I've been wanting to play for so long, we should play sometime!

ME yeah, that sounds way fun!

MICHAEL: Can I have your number so that we can go hit?

insert small talk, an interruption of ordering lunch, and more small talk

MICHAEL: so where are you eating? would you like to come eat with me and my friends?

needless to say, I ate with him and all of his sophomore friends who are in a BAND called "the fellows", and one of them gave me a massage. (I know I know, but I figure he was really nice/attractive/funny, and you don't turn down a free massage)

So basically this guy "fellows"-shipped me into his group of friends regardless of the fact that I'm a freshman, and I'm going to their concert.


There are many more examples of Fresh-men down here at the Y, and I can't wait to meet others! The best part of all is that as I get older, I'm only going to meet sopho-MORE!!!!  


 

tanner building business

The Tanner building. a.k.a the Business building at BYU.

so what business do I have going there? (sorry, couldn't resist)

Let's start at the very beginning (that's a very good place to start.) You walk in and the faint smell of chlorine jump-starts a memory of

1. when you were a kid and went swimming all the time at one of those awesome beyond awesome kid pools with crazy water toys that really aren't that fun, but look super impressive







2. when you were in middle school, and went to the local pool hang-out during the summer because it was the only cool place you could walk to

3. the high school swimming pool where you either went to practice, or went to watch meets because the guy/girl you secretly liked was on the swim team.......(let's be honest. everyone was either ON the swim team or liked someone on it at one point. must be something in the chlorine.... )

whichever era of life you most miss.

Why does the business building smell faintly of chlorine you ask? because there are circular fountains on every floor!!!!!

o.k. not cool enough for a full five exclamation points, but no other building here has fountains, so it's pretty refreshing.

next come the stairs.

Thinking of working out today? you can either go to the gym, go on a run, or walk up the tanner building stairs. seriously. pretty sure I get my cardio for the day just going up those babies.

Next is the hidden computer lab.

Are you tired of going to the library only to find that all of the computers are taken? (pretend you are for a second) Well. there is a computer lab on the second floor of the Tanner building, and it always has open computers! it's quiet, it's not freshman infested, and you actually have cellphone reception!

O.k. here comes debatably the best aspect of the business building. Well dressed men.

let me say that again.

well. dressed. men.

not well dressed boys, not adequately dressed teens. well dressed men. men in suits, men in ties, men in BOWties, men in khakis, men in shiny shoes, men with briefcases, men with swoopy hair and festive sweater vests...... muchas guapos muchachos.

And they're all really nice-- I don't think I've ever opened a door for myself while in that building.

Granted, they're all 24, but it gives me hope that boys can eventually grow up to be well-dressed, polite, school-oriented citizens. (a claim I had been beginning to lose faith in.)

The last reason why the tanner building is awesome is the cafe.

the. cafe.

Oh yes. I practically live there. 90% of the money on my meal card goes to this quaint little cafe on the bottom floor, where the sandwich makers and I are on a first-name, know-the-order basis. As soon as I get to the counter to order, Megan has already started making my turkey-bacon-club-on-sourdough-with-no-mayo sandwich to-go. And on the way out, I grab a bag of  cookies and cream Chex mix as the tanner building cafe is the ONLY place on campus that sells it. 540 calories of bliss, my friends. Bliss.

So why do I frequent, nay practically LIVE at the tanner building?

Well that's kind of my business.    

a "spark" of fun

flashback.

2000......

1990........

1980.......

1970........

1960........

1950!!!!!

let's hop to the bop. skip to the bip. rock to the roll. dudes and dudettes it's fifties time!!!

O.k. let me give you a little bit of background information. So last week was homecoming week and every day had an event. Tuesday was the "opening ceremonies" (of which I have already written.) It was  also Hike and light the Y. (also written about.)

Wednesday was a blue foam party which looked like this

yes, my friends. It was smurf turf up on that track. To this day I'm still a tint bluer than is humanly normal. 

Thursday was the BYU spectacular. O.K. guilty. I didn't go. But this was only because it cost moneys.

 next.  

Friday was the dance. --scratch that. danceS. There was a 20's dance (formal) a 50's dance (semi-formal) and an 80's dance (casual.) as you can probably guess, I went to 50's dance. 

well actually, I set up, photographed, cleaned up and attended the 50's dance. I know what you're thinking. "photographed? well then where are the pictures?" 

Answer: still in my camera. 

Longer answer: still in my camera, but I'll put some up as soon as I figure out how. 

I know what else you're thinking. (or will be in about four seconds) "well who did you go with?" Well I'm not going to go through the whole ordeal with you, but let us just be clear that it WAS an ordeal that involved five different gentlemen, but I only went with one.

 his name is Ben. 

AND it was his birthday. so, you know. no pressure or anything. 

It was a blast! and the venue was IN-CRED-I-BLE! honestly. check it out. 

right?!?!? 

i'm going to go off on a little tangent for a second because this is my new favorite place in the history of my favorite places. It's a returaunt called Spark, and it like a mormon bar and returaunt. seriously. They serve a ton of non-alcoholic cocktails and fancy shmancy food. Goal # 1 for this year = go on a date to this returaunt. O.k. now back to your regularly schedualed program. 

let's just say that was one of the best dances I've ever been to. Most of my friends went to the 80's dance but man did they miss out! The DJ played a mix between fifties and modern music, and there were --wait for it-----------------free cupcakes (but more on that later.) 

let's start with the lipstick. 

So I love wearing lipstick buuuuuuuuuut there's never really an occasion. 

So I love any excuse to wear it. 

and this. 

was one.  

alright. 

now we're going to skip over the next little bit (insert fast forwarding noises.) So I took my lipstick-ed self and my date to the totally awesome restaraunt mentioned and photographed above where we boogie-d and woogie-d all night long......or until 11:00 when we helped clean up, and each got to take home 30 free cupcakes because they ordered too many. how's that for birthday cake? we then got dropped off at our seperate dorms which meant no awkward doorstep scene at building 9. can Life get better? I submit that it cannot. 

good ridDANCE to normal weekends! 

 

Y? because I spider there.

Eating a quick lunch alone in my dorm room. Scrolling through the latest paper requirements on my roommate's computer, and listening to Katy Perry blaring from the running track that is right outside my window. This was the moment of two realizations.

1. "I kissed a girl" is not a very uplifting song, and someone is neglecting their duty to monitor the track songs, and 

2. This alone-ness is saddening.  

My busy schedule has left me somewhat socially crippled as I try to catch a few quiet moments in my dorm room  to do homework. Also, since I have apparently become a hermit, people haven't really invited me to things lately. I have become that one girl in the room who only comes out for meal times, and no one's quite sure what she looks like. 

well. 

I decided that my hermit-ude ends today. Therefore I dragged my hall-mate to the "homecoming opening ceremonies" this morning at 11:00 A.M. which turned out to be pretty fun. especially since we sat with our ward, and let's be honest. I have the rockin'est ward at BYU. 

Then I went to class (yada yada) and spent not one but TWO--count them TWO hours rehearsing my midterm with my Honors Civ. group. --------o.k. granted, it was kind of forced social interaction, but I think I still get points for the two hours thing. 

My next dynamic move was to go to the BYU/SA office. this is right up my alley because I always loved student government, but alas, I never reached the level of awesomeness where one actually gets voted into office. Here, with the help of a gentleman who took me to ballroom dance on a roof (story to come), we pulled some strings and BAM I get to help with the homecoming dance. So not only do I get to serve, but I don't have to pay for a ticket. Sweet! 

Lastly, I went straight from my last class to "light the Y"

Explanation: light the Y is a BYU tradition where students hike up to the giant Y on the mountain and screw in lightbulbs that light up the outline. 

after sufficient huffing and puffing (death by switchbacks), guess what we (I say "we" because I went with a friend = social points.) found?!?!?! 

have you guessed?  well you're wrong. it was a tarantula!! And guess what I did?

(not the actual tarantula, for visual purposes only) 

for those of you who guessed "eat it"- please seek professional counseling. no, I picked it up and held it! surprisingly it wasn't beyond a 6 on the scary-ness level. I'm not saying it will become a regular habit (heebie-jeebies)  but I decided that -since tarantulas aren't poisonous- it would be my healthy dose of overcoming fear for the week. If you would like photographic evidence, I will put it up here was soon as I figure out how.
 ok, figured it out. 

I then proceeded to light the Y and such, but now that you've heard the tarantula bit, everything else will seem really dull. 

so the end. 

except not really. 

because the scariest element of today is that I can get a date into the dance for free too, and I have no one to ask. Help!!!!!! 

 . 

sudokoo-coo criminal

Here it is. a scandalizing peek into the third floor Taylor hall girl's bathroom.

brace yourself. 

O.k, o.k. it's not really that exciting. But it WAS the scene of a crime today.A crime against what, you ask? Humanity. the laws of nature. the very rules which govern our lives and keeps the rhythm of the universe in motion. that's right. Sudoku.

Let me qualify this statement with a little bitta background knowledge. Every week one of the hall advisers for the dorm makes a cutesy-wootsty "Taylor Toilet Reader." That lists the activities for the week, a spiritual quote, a comic strip, and a cross word or something. ----not to fear, my germ-conscious readers. They are safely slipped in and out of a paper protector that hangs on the door.

anyways.

This little reader is everyone's skim milk edition of the newspaper, and every Monday, girls can't wait to rush to the lavatory.

o.k. yes, an exaggeration, but I've really been feeling the no-comics blues lately.

So THIS week, instead of the 8 letter by 8 letter word search (the words are usually things like byu, week, class, and other lengthy nouns) there was a Sudoku puzzle.

let me rephrase that.

There was a Sudoku puzzle!!!!!!

but alas! what is this? some Taylor hall chick has filled it in?? unthinkable! First of all, who brings a pencil with them when they go to the bathroom? yuck. secondly, who completes 7/8ths of the puzzle and then leaves the remaining three squares blank? you couldn't figure out what the last three number were?!?!?!

as you can see, this had me very upset. So the next time I had to go to the bathroom, I went to a different stall, in a different hall and guess what? same thing! same penciled-in numbers! same three blank squares! what kind of sick criminal was I dealing with?!

In a Sherlock Holmes moment I traveled from stall to stall hoping for some sign of humanity, some sign that this cereal Sodukuist had a heart. but woe is me, I ended up empty handed.

One thing is for sure. next Monday I am going to the bathroom at the crack of dawn, because for this week at least, I have been out-numbered.


(for your enjoyment.)

bands and a-band-onment. (see numbers 6 and 7)

I have been officially initiated into college.

You may be asking - the last month doesn't count becauuuuuuse.......?

because I hadn't had a few key experiences that validate a college status. As of last night I fulfilled the last one, and BAM! college student. the requirements are as follows

1. Sleep somewhere other than your dorm room. 

see post about squaw peak.

2. Eat ice cream and cheeze-its for dinner.  

 check.

3. Be the recipient of a cheesy pick up line. 

also check. If you are a boy, this requirement is that you have to USE  a cheesy pick up line. If you'd like some options feel free to borrow
- If I were Peter Pan, you'd be my happy thought
-Are you tired? because you've been running through my mind all day
-Your beauty just blinded me so I'm going to need your name and number for insurance reasons
- I'm glad I have a library card, because I'm checking you out
-Are you a parking ticket? because you've got FINE written all over you.

please note that none of these are effective. use at your own risk.

4. Have your day brightened when a random guy gives you a flower. 

o.k. not a requirement, but it was definitely a plus.

5. take a test at the testing center. 

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. and yet, check.

6. Have your room at the parent's house completely refurbished and transformed as if you're never coming home again. 

In my case, this includes the addition of three new pieces of significant furniture. Baby twins, and the mama. A.k.a my sister and her boys. So my ex-living space is now decorated with binkies, changing tables, hand sanitizer, diapers, and onesies with monkeys on the bum.

7. Go to a concert. 

This is the one. the last requirement that has -within the last 24 hours- been fulfilled  I went to a massive concert that showcased
the wombats 
Imagine dragons 
shrink the giant 
Awolnation 
the used 
dead sara 
neon trees 
and group love 

If you are not familiar with most of these bands...........

It's ok.

neither was I.

But out of these I recommend the Wombats, Imagine Dragons, Group love, and Neon Trees. Although If you would like to discuss the pros and cons, you may have to raise your voice a few decibels as my ears have recently aged thirty or so years.

To get the full experience we were usually in the VERY front at the VERY center right next to the stage, and let me just say that I could have done without bathing in other people's sweat, getting tossed around like a rag doll, and having my poor feet enthusiastically stomped on.

On the upside, we met, talked to, and gave most of the bands hugs. (of which I have had a shortage at college)

So now I feel legit. A real college student. I can lift my head up high when I swipe my meal card. I am no longer living in a world where I go home all the time, eat my mom's food, walk the dog, hang out with my family, and drive around Salt Lake.

.....................dang.



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