15 Things

It's been fifteen days since I last updated, and I'm too tired to have much to say, but here are the events of the last two weeks.

1. Finals suck.
2. Finishing finals isn't so bad though, particularly when the last one is on blackboard and way easier than you expected.
3. Planned packing is for wimps. Just dump whatever is lying around in your room into a suitcase and go... if it's out an available you probably use it, so why not bring it.
4. Flying it Christmas is a party, airlines are incompetent, everyone is cranky, and if you're lucky you'll fall and remove that precious layer of skin on your knee caps.
5. Kimbob (the Korean version of sushi) is amazing.
6. Chinese meat cleaning procedures are not.
7. China isn't nearly as dirty as you would expect, I'm constantly amazed with the streets and how clean they are, Europe was never this clean.
8. The metro in China is also way cleaner, faster, punctual, cleaner, and I never had a hairy smelly man stick his arm pit in my face. Win.
9. There are some really really cool things to see in China, they're cool in miniature, but I really want to see them in full size too.
10. I don't really like Hong Kong. I had high hopes for the city, I've read about it in books, but it just didn't measure up... it was dirty like a European city, with none of the perks. Shenzen was much better.
11. Number 9 again, but this time for the world... we visited two miniature attractions, the first one showing the highlights of China, and the second showing highlights of the world... when I grow up I want to be a professional traveler.
12. I'm not exactly sure where Christmas break went... all I know is it was all too fast.
13. Going to the orphanage tomorrow, should be good. Those kids need all the lovin' then can get.
14. Also going to pick up my dress and more pearls. Yay.
15. I'm tired. the end.

A Semester in Quotes

This actually proved to be a rather amusing semester... so I have quite a few good ones for you, mostly from Christian History. Enjoy.

These are five measure phrases. Avoid the Natural Man!
~ Dr. Don

There's a lesson for all of you, when choosing friends look at their net worth.
~Sister Black

He saw Jesus and was like, "No big deal, I've read about ya'"
~Bro. Gaskill

Now me, I'm all about priestcraft, go buy my books!
~Bro. Gaskill

Ladies, imagine some guy comes and tells you God said you were to marry him. You'd tell him to go to the University of Utah.
~Bro. Gaskill

Well, If you're going to restart polygamy, Ken and Barbie should do it.
~Bro. Gaskil

I don't know, when I was dating I always used the Songs of Solomon as my ideal for women to go out with.
~Bro. Gaskill

Maybe it's Satan making me say that, but I like him.
~Bro. Gaskill

It's like negotiating with the North Koreans, it never works.
~Dr. Thorpe

She's a lot like Martha Stewart, and we all know what we think of Martha Stewart, we just can't say it in class.
~Dr. Fredricson

STELLA
~The tradition must continue

It's like in Sense and Sensibility...
~Dr.Clayton

Edna Mode.
~Danielle

Dangit, I always thought I had good gay-dar.
~Kris Tina

Because I love you.
~Megan

Baby, it's cold outside.

Really, men are just like dogs. All we want is to be petted in morally chaste and appropriate ways.
~Sean

Confession

Today I entered the BYU football stadium for the first time in my college career.

I only have three semesters left here.

I entered the stadium only to get to the band hall to watch a recital.

Go ponder that one for a while...

Wow... just Wow...

Here's a conversation I heard while walking on campus today:

Guy 1: You know I don't think Twilight can be all that bad...
Guy 2: *derisive snort* how so?
G1: Well, one of my friends told me that one of her friends was reading twilight and was impressed with the morals and the good ideals it taught and realized Stephanie Meyer was mormon, so she looked into the church, took the discussions and got baptized.
G2: Wow.

All I want to know is what version of Twilight this girl read...

Twilight... morals... *barf*

He always opens a window

That's the last half of one of my favorite quotes from The Sound of Music. This thanksgiving it is the very thing I am most thankful for. This semester has been a rough one. Classes were hard, dating was... thrilling... and nothing seemed to be working. I spent a looooooooooooong time on my knees for most of September and October fighting through ideas about double majors, careers in music, and just general questions about what to do after I graduate. The more I prayed the more frustrated I got, because with every idea I came up with nothing seemed to fit, and every time I thought I had constructed my fool proof answer, I discovered I still had nothing to go on. With each idea that didn't work out I became more upset and more miserable. It was like I was doing everything I could think of, but I was still falling short.
Finally on fast Sunday at the beginning of this month I decided I would just listen, and just wait for answers. I listened all through church, I listened as I drove a good friend to the airport, I listened as I visited a friend in Salt Lake, and finally as I was about to leave Salt Lake I felt like I needed to go to Temple Square. I drove over, and decided just to walk around. As I was walking I ran into some sister missionaries and talked to them. While we were talking one of the sisters looked at me and said "you should go on a mission" I gave her my usual excuses that I didn't feel it was for me, and didn't really want to go. Suddenly as we were talking it hit me, and I wanted to go more than anything I've ever wanted in my life.
So, I'm planning on putting in mission papers at the end of next semester. I couldn't be more excited. I'm terrified at the idea of leaving for a year and a half, I'm nervous about a lot of things but I know this is the right choice.
This year for thanksgiving I am incredibly thankful for prayer, and I'm also thankful for all the "no's" I got. Without all of those no's I'm not sure I would have recognized the need to serve. Things in the weeks since deciding to serve have fallen into place. This semester is still probably my hardest yet, but it's all okay now. Some questions are still unresolved, but I feel more settled and at peace than I've felt in months.
May you and all those around you have a marvelous Thanksgiving. Remember to take time to think about what you are most grateful!

Tallying up a day

For those of you who wonder why you never see me, here's a list of a few things I did today:

Wrote 2 papers.
Went to 4 classes.
Cried twice (today wasn't exactly the best day).
Attended 2 rehearsals for a total of 3 hours.
Practiced 5 hours.
Ran errands for 2 hours.
Went to FHE for 1 hour.
Avoided life with Amber for 1 hour.
Ranted against an evil TA and teacher twice.
Had an awesome roommate tell me life goes on twice.
Fought with my internet for one hour at 4:30 am.
Wished I had more time to go running 4 times.
Read my scriptures, text books, and a news article on something I don't even remember now.
Walked to campus twice.
Drove to Campus once.
Scheduled more rehearsals.
Slept, not enough.

Are you exhausted? Cause I sure am.

For all you book worms...

One of my teachers referenced this sight in class. I finally looked it up, and thought you all might get a kick out of my favorites. So, here are some classics that have been summarized to within an inch of their lives.

My first favorite goes to Shakespeare, because he's awesome:

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo
Oh, Juliet!
Juliet
Oh, Romeo!
Romeo
Oh, Juliet!
Juliet
Oh, Romeo!
Romeo
Oh, Juliet! (dies)
Juliet
Oh, Romeo!......Romeo?......Dangit.

THE END

And now for one of my favorite books from high school:
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller

Reverend Parris
Abigail Williams, you and your friends are in trouble, unless you can shift the blame to someone else.
Abigail Williams
She did it! He did it! They did it! Everybody but us did it!
Judge Danforth
Ah, now we are getting somewhere.
(Everybody gets hanged, which just goes to show how evil McCarthyism is.)

THE END

But my very favorite goes to Dante:

Inferno

Some woman puts Dante through Hell.

THE END

*snicker* Have an awesome weekend.
Oh and for anyone who wants to read more of these (I promise they won't disappoint)http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/classics.shtml.

And finally, a note to those who park near me, if you can't fit your car into one space I may begin resorting to other parking tactics:

But I figured...

That's my new favorite phrase. Probably because it seems to be an excuse for doing exactly what you want regardless of other advice/instruction.
For instance:
"I know the sign says your office is closed right now but I figured since the door was unlocked..."
"I know I had to do those questions for our study group, but I figured that my partner had it all covered..."
"I had to cancel, but I figured that you could make time later..."
"I know my LSAT and grades aren't high enough, but I figured..."

On a less snarky note, I'm taking my last test before Thanksgiving this afternoon. Let the celebrating begin! From here till Thanksgiving, it's just me, the practice rooms and my flute. Sooooo excited!

Not Stressed... Not Stressed...

If you say it enough it's true right. All I want is to not have this happen when I get to the testing center:



On a non related note, day light savings really sucks this year. It's never bothered me before, but tonight when I left the HFAC at 6 and it was dark I was less than amused. Have no fear, I've worked out a solution to my problem. I'm just going to make sure to stay in the HFAC until nine every night and then when I leave and it's dark, I won't be irritated, because it's supposed to be dark at 9pm. Bring it on day light savings.

Clearly I'm Missing Out

True story, this really happened:

Setting: After masterclass, seated at a table in the library working on a paper for Pedagogy.

Random Kid: Hey, I'm taking a survery, it'll only take two minutes, do you mind?
Me: No, go for it.
RK:This is a survey about dating and the library. First, are you in a relationship or single?
Me: Single *dating, the library... right... That's my first choice for a hott date*
RK: Where in the library would you go to meet guys?
Me: Ummm, the third floor? I usually just come here to study. *there are really people who come here to pick up dates? Who does that?! Last time I brought a boy here is was to make sure he kept his hands to himself...*
RK: How would you show a guy you wanted him to ask you out if you were at the library?
Me: Ummm... I don't know, make eye contact? *Honestly, the library is for studying, that's why I come here, is that really such a novel concept?*
RK: Thanks for your time!

Needless to say I've been left with a lot to ponder. Clearly I'm not getting everything I should out of my BYU Library experience.



"What can I do, my dear, to catch your ear
I love you madly, madly Madam Librarian...Marian"