Mighty Midge - Melting in El Mirage

Last year I spent the summer in Alaska. Can't believe that was a whole year ago! Well, this year I'm living with my grandparents in El Mirage, Arizona! Talk about one extreme climate to the next. It's been great so far and surprisingly, I love the heat!

So my best friend is getting married. It's been killing me having to wait to post it! Beaves is getting married and I'm the Maid of Honor! I'm excited with the planning and coordinating for an August wedding.

Keep checking for more details about the wedding!

Laundry Day

Dearest Laundry,
        I hate you.

Ode to BYU Reading Days

Today is the first day of Reading Days. Two days where BYU students basically get the day off to study for finals. Do we really use them to study? ... Good question. Let's take a look at BYU's daily newspaper, The Daily Universe.

Are reading days for reading?

BYU sets aside two days for exam preparation, but students don't always use the day for what its intended

by David Lake

BYU sets reading days as a time for students to go to review sessions and prepare for their finals. Rather than studying during reading days, Stephanie Lee has decided to jump out of a plane.

Reading days offer students a great deal of time for exam preparation, but many students choose to disregard the invitation to study for other pursuits. Some students use it as a day to rest and recharge, while others use it as a chance to play.

Previous to this semester, Lee, an economics major from Calgary, Alberta, used reading days in the conventional manner. She slept in, attended review sessions and set up study groups to get ready for exam time. This semester, she and her roommate found a Groupon deal for 50 percent off on skydiving.

Chris Bunker

The Daily Universe takes an inside look at what students do during reading days.

“This is probably the first time I’ve made plans to do something other than study on reading days,” Lee said.

Lee isn’t the first BYU student to go skydiving during reading days. Last year a group of her friends went skydiving and this year they are going paragliding. Lee believes the lack of holidays in the second half of the winter semester contribute to students’ desires to go out and have adventures.

“Especially in winter semester, your reading days are really the first break from school you’ve had in a couple of months,” Lee said. “When the weather starts getting nicer you really want to take advantage of being outside, and the last thing you want to do is study.”

Whitney Hanks, a senior studying linguistics, said she believes students use reading days for fun because BYU doesn’t offer a spring break. While other people go out and do crazy things, she prefers to use reading day for reading non-academic material.

“I kind of like the chance to read a book for fun that’s not a school book,” Hanks said.

While other students are out playing, Brad Nichols, a student from Lindon studying accounting, tries to spend as much time as he can studying during reading days. While his roommates try to put in about four hours of studying, Nichols nearly doubles that number, doing seven to eight hours of studying each day during reading days. Rather than staying at home and watching people around him go out and play, Nichols finds a study room on campus and gets to work.

“Most of the time I just get a study group and we’ll study pretty much the whole time together,” Nichols said. “I guess it makes it easier.”

Trevor Bateman, an economics major from Colville, Wash., has spent every winter semester reading day on the golf course since coming to BYU. While Bateman enjoys his time on the golf course, he would rather either substitute reading days for a spring break or cancel reading days altogether.

“I personally would be OK with cutting down reading days and having finals right after classes,” Bateman said.


So what did I do today? I slept in until 11:30, went with Beaves to get her hair cut, watched a movie, and went to work. I had intentions of studying at work today. But now it is nearly 7:30PM and I have completed 5 questions for my New Testament Study Guide. But, Hey! I feel more productive than the girl that went skydiving today so I think I'm in good shape ;). 

Krispy Kreme Guy

I finally did something that is worthy of making my "Stepping Out of the Ordinary 2012" page!

This past Sunday my best friend, Sarah realized she forgot all of her research materials in South Jordan at her grandparents house. Unfortunately she needed the research for her class the next day! So at 12:30am we decided to make our sojourn to South Jordan. (It's only 30 minutes from us, no big deal at all.) So I'm driving us up and we get back into Provo at about 1:30am. I look over at Sarah and asked her if she wanted to eat anything. I mean... we just drove for an hour. I definitely think that's deserving of a cheeseburger! But being the responsible adult Sarah is, she replied, "Well everything that's open at 1:30 in the morning I shouldn't be eating at 1:30 in the morning..." So naturally I proposed that we go to Krispy Kreme.

We pull up to the drive through and tell the guy that we need a couple minutes. After about three seconds of deliberation we decide that we only want two doughnuts. So I start my order and ask the guy at the drive through for two doughnuts... to which he replied, "Seriously? ... It's 1:30 in the morning and you only want two doughnuts?" I retorted with, "Yupp, that's all I want." He then asked at least two more times if I wanted more doughnuts. Sarah and I were laughing so hard we could barely contain ourselves. Why? I think it mostly had to do with the fact that it was nearly two in the morning! So while we're pulling up to the window, I look at Sarah and say, "Sarah! If this guy is cute, I should totally give him my number!" She screamed, "DO IT!" We get up to the window and I give him my card. He gives me the receipt that I need to sign and Sarah keeps telling me to put my number on the bottom but I'm too chicken so I can't do it. I give him back the receipt and he gives me a box of doughnuts and says, "Alright ladies, I gave you six doughnuts for the price of two. Just don't tell anyone! Have a great night!" At this point Sarah is inches from punching me in the arm for not giving him my number haha. I pull out of the Krispy Kreme and stop at the stop sign. Sarah is yelling at me to turn around so we sit in the car for literally ten minutes deciding what to say when we go back through the drive through! We came to a conclusion and I turned the car around! We get up to the intercom and he asks us how many doughnuts we want and that's when the following conversation transpires:

"Hey! It's David right?!," I said.
"Yeah it is!," says David.
"Well, David, we just came through here and I realized that I forgot to give you my phone number. I was wondering if you wanted it!" (my silky suave reply!)
"Oh you forgot, huh?!"
"Yeah! I did!" I said.
"Haha, well why don't you pull up to the window?"

Sarah and I are laughing so hard at this point that I'm pretty sure Beaves has pee on the front seats of her car! We pull up to the window and I hand him the receipt that has my number and name on the back of it. He says my name is pretty and then tells me he's glad I remembered to give him my number. We say goodbye and Sarah and I pull away screaming and feeling like we're invincible. (This is why we shouldn't be allowed out of the house after midnight haha).

As we're driving home David actually texted me! We screamed so loud I swear you could have heard us outside of the car. The next day David and I continued a pretty lengthy conversation and I think we might go on a date sometime next week. Needless to say - it was the funniest night of my life and I'm so proud of myself for actually turning around and giving my number out haha.

Story of My Life

You know it's been one of those days when you sit down on the toilet and forget to pull your pants down... Please tell me I'm not the only one that's done this.

New favorite song of the week: "Call Me Maybe" (yes, the song is way preppy and way pop. Don't judge me.)

The music video is literally the story of my life. Check it out!

New Advancements

Today I realized that I am at the close of my Sophomore year in college. This means I have two years left to do an Internship, research with a professor on campus, take the GRE and apply to Graduate School. Talk about an anxiety attack. I'm looking into Marriage and Family Therapy programs around... well the whole U.S. to be honest. Because I'm such a freak about organization I started a dorky Excel spreadsheet with all of my findings. The last category (among average GPA and admittance rate) is "Distance to Nearest Beach." Gotta love college.

Top Picks for MFT programs right now include: Brigham Young University (that would be so nice just to stay here... especially because tuition is literally one-fourth of the cost of everywhere else), Syracuse University in New York, University of Miami in Florida, and Utah State University in Logan. I'm looking into schools in Virginia because it's my favorite place in the U.S.! I'm also looking into programs in Arizona as well. We'll see. I just feel like... at the moment nothing feels right except New York. Weird huh? Never thought I would end up there!

I feel as though this is happening so fast. But I guess that's what happens when you grow up. I'm not quite ready to leave the little bubble of Provo, Utah and venture out into the world. I guess it's good that I have two more years left.

Unfortunately I don't have anything funny to report - or philosophical. Maybe next time! Wish me luck on the Grad School Search!

Isn't it Ironic

The awkward moment when the guy you like is interested in your best friend.

I can't fall asleep so I wanted to watch a movie. The only thing in my bedroom was He's Just Not That Into You. Oh, the irony.

I decided to watch Lord of the Rings instead. Great conditioning.

On tomorrow's agenda: search for local convents.

My feelings would best be described through a hilarious clip of He's Just Not That Into You:

Single Awareness Day Photo Shoot

Singledom

That awkward moment when you realize you have unresolved feelings for one of your best guy friends... Who happens to have a girlfriend.

I hate Single Awareness Month.

Why Are Your Pants Down?

I have to preface this post with: I believe this is the most inappropriate post I've ever written. However, I am pleased to say that it is at the expense of my best friend. I apologize ahead of time if this post creates offense in any way.

Brittany and I are going through a One Tree Hill phase. It's pretty hard core. We can't get homework done or go to sleep without watching at least two episodes... I believe that's called an addiction.

It is now two in the morning and me and Brittany just finished watching another episode. She was getting off my bed and made the most contorted face I've ever seen on her. She then proceeded to explain that her bruise hurt so bad she had to fart. We were laughing so hard that we couldn't breathe! I finally looked down at her on the ground and her pants were down around her ankles! I didn't know what to do so I just laughed even harder while asking her what in the heck her pants were doing. She told me she wanted to look at the bruise on her knee and justified her action by saying, "I couldn't pull my pants up because they were too skinny so I had to pull them down!" The funny thing was that she immediately told me I had to blog about this and said, "You're such a good writer, people are going to feel as though they were in your bedroom and saw my pants around my ankles!... At least I had underwear on." At two thirty in the morning I desperately hope I have conveyed this event to its full hilarity.

Goodnight World. May your dreams be filled with fully clothed people.

New Music

I've started building up my musical library. I just bought Lungs by Florence and the Machine and a Grace Potter & the Nocturnals album. Definitely my new favorite albums. Florence and the Machine is very creative. I would dare to say that some of her songs are on the same caliber of depressing as Evanescence but she does it better in my opinion. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals is awesome. I feel like their sound is a revival of oldies rock/blues with an urban edge. I could be way of base, but that's how I would describe it.

Nothing like good music to start off the weekend :).

Configuring...

So Brittany and I are watching One Tree Hill and brooke and luke were about to kiss when all of a sudden my computer logs off with no warning! Brittany screams, "what the...! Why does your computer always start configuring at the freakin most inconvenient time!" I just thought that was hilarious :)

My Trip to the ER

So the past few days have been... interesting to say the least. Sunday night I had to go to the Emergency Room because of a high fever... I kinda couldn't stop shaking. It was scary! So Brittany drove me to the ER and we met my dad there. Sarah and Ayne (my roommates) stayed in the waiting room while I underwent tests. Of course they shoved me in the most ugly room in the whole hospital! They walls looked like tortillas. They made me put on this hospital robe that came down to my ankles (let me tell you, they are a lot shorter in the movies!) My back was also completely exposed! Luckily they let me keep my pajama pants on! All in all... it was the most immodest thing I've ever worn, haha. They made me pee in a cup. They took some blood... which is my least favorite of all the medical tests. They gagged me with a strep test. They set up an IV with saline that made me have to pee 70 times an hour. And I had to take a catscan. That was not pleasant. They shot radioactive fluid into my veins. I could hear it fizzing as it went in! It made my whole body feel like it was on fire! Not exactly a pleasant sensation.

All in all... the tests came back fine. I'm not pregnant (HAHA!! That's really funny :). I don't have mono or strep. No appendicitis. No... nothing. Which is weird because I still feel like crap. But what can you do? I've enjoyed excused absences and watching Lord of the Rings. I guess I can't complain!

Here's a video I've recently discovered with my roommates. I think it is absolutely hilarious and hope you find it the same :)

Where's The Beef?

I went to the grocery store really late tonight with Beaves. We went through the check out, got home, washed produce, put away non-perishables and then realized I was missing my beef! I looked at Beaves and said, "Where's the Beef?!" Haha! I thought it was funny. For those of you that don't know the context for which to find this hilarious, take a look at this commercial:

Also, quote of the day: "He drives a weeney Jeep!"

The Life of a Clutz

Today I dropped my phone three times, my ID card once, my pen and bible once each, nearly ate pavement walking up a flight of stairs, and managed to get deodorant marks all over my work shirt... All before 11:00AM. This is a pretty average day for me. I'm a little concerned about how the rest of today will go...

And Thus It Begins

Tomorrow is the first day of the new semester. I can't say I'm enthused. It's exciting to be in new classes... I just don't want them to start yet.

As a last who-rah Sabrina, Brittany, and I had quite the fun girls night last night :). It was filled with mud masks, foot scrub and girly magazines!

My birthday is in four days! Can't wait to spend it with my best friends in Idaho :)

Stepping Out of Ordinary

Last year I set a goal for myself to believe in fairy tales again - to believe that dreams can come true. Through this resolution I have discovered an odd truth. I don't doubt that fairy tale endings or fairy tale beginnings can happen in real life. But there is a majority of us that never have this luxury occur. We are the majority leading extraordinarily ordinary lives. We dream of fairy tales and share with our children. We never stray too far off the already travelled road. We live for the next reality TV series to renew our despair for human race. What can we truly expect? How can we carve originality through the thick of mundaneness? I say to the majority - we don't have to stay ordinary! Live a little! Change your major to something you actually like. Take a painting class because it's what you've always wanted to do. Sing in a public place at a socially unacceptable time because you just can't keep it in. Dye your hair blue because you're just that awesome. Delete your Facebook account because you know that you couldn't care less about the conceited, self-centeredness of the "friends" you haven't had a real conversation with in years. Skinny dip in the ocean. Make a "That's what she said," joke in front of your boss. Become your own boss! Run through the streets in your underwear. Dare to be different. Dare to swim against the current for the sole reason that you're strong enough to do it! Dare to be extraordinary. This is my resolution - to step out of the ordinary.

Happy 2012!

Christmas Family Photos

There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters?

My sisters and I are just a little crazy sometimes. Last night I finally decided to start writing down the funny things that happen during our day. This is what I've got so far:

Ju: Tor! I can't reach my shampoo!

Jigs: Ju, you're supposed to be stretching every day!
Ju: So are you!
Jigs: No I'm not, ju!
Ju: Yeah ya is!!!!

New Jeans

I recently went shopping with my Nana. I found myself two pairs of new jeans. So I go back to my aunt's house to try them on again... la dee da... and what do you know? They definitely were a lot longer than I remember them being in the store.

It's a belittling day when you realize you're too short for your short-cut jeans. ... That about sums up my last two days.