What a Monday. Seriously, this has been one insane start of a week. To start off, when I woke up there was a note slipped under my door from the Hall Advisor saying that the main water line for my hall and Chipman hall broke and consequently we have no water. Fortunately for me I showered last night, but this morning I did have to wash my face and brush my teeth with water from a 2-day old water bottle. I've felt somewhat gross all day long. (Sidenote and probably more than you really want to know, because of the lack of any water at all and my rush to get to work and classes, I didn't go to the bathroom until 11:15.)
My computers class totally freaks me out! The professor moves so fast and if I don't pay attention 100 percent of the time, I lose her and have no idea what's going on. Tonight after work I'm headed to the Mac lab to finish up the homework assignment for Wednesday and hopefully things will make a little bit more sense, but judging from how things have gone so far, my hopes are low.
Oh, I forgot my ID card so I haven't been able to buy anything to eat today because I can't use my meal plan without my ID card, so I'm frustrated and hungry. Good grief Charlie Brown. So, I'm hoping tonight goes better than today and that I will be able to use my toilet. Sorry for the rant--I know reading someone else's complaints is actually pretty boring, so I apologize. Wish me a better evening!
1.22.2007
1.18.2007
American Heritage
So this semester I'm taking the infamous American Heritage class and I went into the class with a mixture of reviews. Some people absolutely loathed it and think it's the worst class to come to BYU while others told me I'd love it and that it was amazing. I like history, especially American History, so I went into the first day of lecture with a high degree of optimism. I was not disappointed! I think I'll love this class! As mentioned earlier, I love history and I find American history completely fascinating. Secondly, I think it will be a unique and uplifting experience to view American history through a Gospel-oriented lens. Spiritual principles and Church doctrine are an active part of the curriculum and basically the whole point of the course anyway. And as icing on the cake, my professor is Matthew Holland, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's son--so cool! (On the first day of lecture he was showing some Powerpoint slides of his family and I did a double take, thinking, "hey, I know who he is!").
We have the traditional American Heritage textbook (Our Founding Heritage), a James Madison biography, and a small book called "Just and Holy Principles," which is a compilation of thoughts of prophets and apostles regarding the founding of America and its history since. In the teacher supplement we also have a bunch of historical readings that complement the subjects taught in the lab and the lecture. It's so cool! I'm loving it!
This week we've been focusing more on the European history leading up to the creation of the United States and more specifically on Columbus and his critical role in the "discovery" of the Western Hemisphere. I like learning about Columbus from this perspective because for all my high school years, I learned an extremely bias version of the Columbus saga. My history teacher my sophomore year, (and I really do love this teacher and consider her one of my favorites and most intellectually stimulating), vehemently hated Columbus and essentially indoctrinated her students against him. We read multiple articles and excerpts of how horrible he was and how he didn't deserve the honor and merit we give him today. In American Heritage however, I appreciate how the subject matter isn't sugarcoated, but it's put into a more spiritual context. Yes, Columbus didn't do good things once he arrived in the Americas, but nonetheless, he was guided by the Spirit to help open up the way to the New World and he was crucial in laying the foundations for the Restoration.
I love how the professor frequently brings in Gospel doctrine and he makes clear connections between history and scripture, making it easier to see Providence in the world's unfolding history. This class will definitely require a lot of time and work, but I think it will be worth it. This isn't supposed to be a breeze-by class, but I think that if I actively apply myself and soak in the material, I won't have a frustrating time.
Well, that's all I really have to say about American Heritage thus far. We'll see how the rest of the semester goes!
*Oh and also, I might be able to take an orchestra class for non-majors, that way I can play still, but not have to be with so many people who are more serious about it and better than I am! Yay!!*
We have the traditional American Heritage textbook (Our Founding Heritage), a James Madison biography, and a small book called "Just and Holy Principles," which is a compilation of thoughts of prophets and apostles regarding the founding of America and its history since. In the teacher supplement we also have a bunch of historical readings that complement the subjects taught in the lab and the lecture. It's so cool! I'm loving it!
This week we've been focusing more on the European history leading up to the creation of the United States and more specifically on Columbus and his critical role in the "discovery" of the Western Hemisphere. I like learning about Columbus from this perspective because for all my high school years, I learned an extremely bias version of the Columbus saga. My history teacher my sophomore year, (and I really do love this teacher and consider her one of my favorites and most intellectually stimulating), vehemently hated Columbus and essentially indoctrinated her students against him. We read multiple articles and excerpts of how horrible he was and how he didn't deserve the honor and merit we give him today. In American Heritage however, I appreciate how the subject matter isn't sugarcoated, but it's put into a more spiritual context. Yes, Columbus didn't do good things once he arrived in the Americas, but nonetheless, he was guided by the Spirit to help open up the way to the New World and he was crucial in laying the foundations for the Restoration.
I love how the professor frequently brings in Gospel doctrine and he makes clear connections between history and scripture, making it easier to see Providence in the world's unfolding history. This class will definitely require a lot of time and work, but I think it will be worth it. This isn't supposed to be a breeze-by class, but I think that if I actively apply myself and soak in the material, I won't have a frustrating time.
Well, that's all I really have to say about American Heritage thus far. We'll see how the rest of the semester goes!
*Oh and also, I might be able to take an orchestra class for non-majors, that way I can play still, but not have to be with so many people who are more serious about it and better than I am! Yay!!*
1.11.2007
100 Things About Charlotte
Well, following in the blog posts of others, I am going to make a list of 100 things about me. So here goes!
1. This school year is my first away from home and I'm loving it!
2. Despite my excitement about being at college, I do love being at home even more and I had a hard time going back to real life. I've always been more prone to getting homesick--sometimes it just gets you down.
3. My love for staying at home borders hermitage.
4. I like to go out and do things with friends, but I'm not usually the one to initiate it.
5. I have an intense passion for books, reading, and writing. (I was reading Nancy Drew books when I entered the first grade and it expanded exponentially from there)
6. I want to write a book someday.
7. When things turn drastically from how I expect them to go, I have a tendency to freak out.
8. I am a Relief Society teacher in my ward.
9. I love movies and I usually prefer to watch movies at home in my pajamas, however going out to movies is always a fun occasion!
10. I love mint ice cream and the fact that the vending machines at school have ice cream sandwiches with mint ice cream in between two brownie-like cookies is always a huge temptation.
11. I think dating is definitely fun, but will be glad when I don't have to anymore.
12. I'm always afraid to get too emotionally attached to someone (most times in a dating setting) because once I do, I'm scared I'll get hurt.
13. I hate January.
14. February and March aren't far behind.
15. My favorite months on the other hand are October through December.
16. I don't mind mundane work.
17. I've had a job since I was 16.
18. I hate loud noises and chaos.
19. I hadn't gone to Disney World until I was 18. Over spring break last March, I went to Florida with my best friend and her aunt and uncle took us on an all-expense paid, 2-day trip to Disney World--it was so cool. I want to live in Cinderella's castle now.
20. I hope to study abroad in London.
21. Athletics are not the first thing I'd opt to do, but I actually am willingto do it. It is really dependent on the person I'm doing it with and less so on what we're actually doing.
22. I like individual athletics way better than team sports because in individual sports, no one else is depending on you, like ice skating.
23. I play the violin, but haven't taken lessons in a very long time. I haven't really played my violin since I got to school and I miss it a lot.
24. I also play the piano, but whenever I play, it's usually just for accompaniment or goofing off.
25. I love a clean bathroom and will compulsively clean the bathroom whenever I feel the need.
26. I love Target and think that Wal Mart is a horrible place--I only go to Wal Mart when absolutely necessary.
27. For Christmas I got a library stamp that says "From the library of Charlotte J. Wood" in fancy letters with a fancy "W" monogram and I love it. I spent a good portion of Sunday night stamping my books.
28. I love brushing my hair.
29. Especially since I've gotten to school, my cell phone is an extra appendage and I think I'd go crazy without it--it's my lifeline to the rest of the world.
30. I've never felt the need to question the truthfulness of the Gospel.
31. Since I've been in college, my appetite for vegetables has surprisingly increased.
32. When I was in 5th grade, some mean kids called me BLC: Big Lip Charlotte. It scarred me and it took me a long time to recover from that. Fifth graders are not nice at all.
33. I take French and am somewhat proficient at reading and writing (I think the only way for me to become proficient at speaking is if I live in France), however it's not my favorite.
34. Timm made and gave me a wand like Harry Potter's for Christmas; it's just about the coolest thing ever.
35. I'm not outgoing, but once I get to know people, my personality shines through a lot more.
36. I love shopping for books and usually do it alone or in a situation where someone isn't just with me, but doing their own shopping. I don't like having people wait for me.
37. I don't want to date with or marry someone too much like myself--I'd go insane!
38. I find it frustrating when people won't talk to you, especially when you're trying really hard to make conversation.
38. I didn't find a good and steady group of friends until halfway through my sophomore year in high school. For years I floated from group to group without any real best friend.
39. My best friend Rachelle is the kind of friend I know I'll be friends with forever.
40. I'm really impatient and frequently wish I could fast forward time and be in the next part of my life. I don't know why, but I definitely have to check myself on that sometimes.
41. I like the start of a new semester because everything is new and you get to start with a clean slate: new professors, new classes, new schedule.
42. I don't like to cry in front of most people and I'm not a pretty crier.
43. I don't like to sleep in too late because then I feel like I've missed out on half my day. That's one reason I dislike afternoon church and most definitely prefer morning.
44. I don't mind public speaking.
45. I love learning and I've never not wanted to go to school (given I do experience moments when I'm sick of it, but as a general rule I like school!).
46. I talk in a funny voice with my family that we don't usually let others hear. :) It's pretty strange.
47. I have a tendency to speed and the first time I ever got pulled over by a cop, I was given a $120 fine and 4 points off my license unless I sent it in. Then it was "only" $85 and 2 points. Good grief.
48. When I was 17 and a junior in high school I hit a pedestrian. It was actually a minor accident and it was deemed to not be my fault, but all the same, I was pretty traumatized for a while.
49. I love it when my friends serve missions and I love writing them letters.
50. Getting mail is one of the most exciting things and I look forward to it everyday.
51. In general I'm not a fan of babysitting, but when I love the kid I love to do it!
52. I need my solitude to recharge my batteries and to give me some thinking time and some time to just relax. Sometimes that's interpreted wrong and people get hurt when really it's just a personal need and has little to nothing to do with any specific person.
53. I like road trips and would much rather drive than fly. Also, I had no memory of flying on a plane until the music department at school flew to NYC for a spring break trip my sophomore year of high school.
54. I love shoes and being short makes it so that I can wear tall shoes and not be too tall. I like to date guys taller than I am and fortunately that's not hard!
55. Summer is my least favorite season and autumn is my most favorite. Summer is way too hot, whereas fall is pretty and crisp and you get to start wearing cute fall clothes.
56. I love wearing skirts and have quite a vast skirt wardrobe.
57. I have a pink iPod mini and I love it! I listen to it all the time on campus--it's definitely good company when you only have a few minutes to get from here to there.
58. I love shopping for new clothes, especially at the Gap Outlet where you can buy really good jeans and really cute clothes for way cheaper than in the actual store.
59. I don't pretend to like things just to impress. I've always thought that was pointless because then people aren't really knowing you.
60. I love rain and think it's the best weather, followed closely by snow and cloudy weather. Wind is the worst kind of weather and is actually tied with searing heat.
61. More so when I was younger (around 14 or 15), I had a significant fear of being kidnapped. Right around Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping, we were painting the exterior of our house and there was scaffolding right outside my bedroom windows. Totally freaked out, I booby trapped my room by tying down the windows with yellow curling ribbon (I wrapped the ribbon around the foot of my bed to make it more taut) and putting marbles on the carpet. After a few days of stifling heat because the windows were closed and the summer heat was stuck in my room, I gave up the attempt. I haven't had a freak out like that since.
62. I love Harry Potter and have a special love for listening to the Harry Potter books on CD. Jim Dale is an awesome reader!! Because I've listened to the books so much, I am very well versed in the events and intricacies of Harry Potter. I wish I went to Hogwarts.
63. My dad was born in Edmunton, Canada and I've visited Alberta many times.
64. My parents are some of my best friends. I've never been embarrassed by them and talk to them about basically everything.
65. I find satisfaction in making lists so I can cross things off--sometimes it's the only way I maintain my sanity when juggling schoolwork!
66. I like doing the dishes.
67. When I worked at Washington Mutual I would go over to the Safeway next door almost everyday and get a grande hot chocolate for $2.69.
68. I love the lights at Temple Square around Christmastime.
69. I don't really have a preference of which temple I get married in.
70. When my little sister and I were little we'd play "The Little Mermaid" and me being the older sister I am, always got to be Ariel myself. I would make Emily be the "blue one" (we couldn't remember her name). For years Emily played along with this and I always got my way in this games and games similar to the Little Mermaid.
71. I hate it when I have heavy things to carry around campus.
72. My fingernails don't grow straight like most people's. They kind of fan out and so to keep them from looking too weird, I keep them relatively short.
73. I love dancing movies. Whether it be a hip hop movie, a ballroom movie, a ballet movie, I love it. I especially like movies where they combine traditional, classical dancing with hip hop--so cool!!
74. I love sending mail, but don't do it as often as I'd like. My lack of time and mailing budget make it harder to do sometimes.
75. I love coats and right now I have two primary coats: a red peacoat for dressier outfits (it comes with a way cute belt) and a brown puffy coat that's super warm.
76. I like to be in charge and be in control. I'm good at giving out directions and making plans--I'm definitely a planner. (I think I get that from my Mom!)
77. I love firefighters. Besides the fact that their jobs have a degree of nobility and courage-appeal attached, many of them are ridiculously good looking. Once when I went into downtown Denver to go to the library, I was driving back and took a wrong turn on this side street. As I turned into this street there was a Denver Fire Department firetruck turning out and being the person I am, I smile and wave while trying to contain my bubbling enthusiasm. The street actually led to this creepy warehouse with scary foreign workers and so I start to make a U-turn. I go up on this slope and then the wheels of my dinky little Rabbit get stuck in some old, overgrown railroad tracks I didn't see. I got out of the car and looked at my situation and a wave of panic swept over me when I realized I wouldn't be able to get out by myself and there was no way I was about to go over to the warehouse. As I'm about to make a call to someone, I see the firetruck come back!!! With the Hallelujah chorus ringing in my head, at least five firemen spill out of the truck and say "Hey do you need some help?" Um heck yes you can help me!! Then with their super hot muscle strength, they pushed my Rabbit out of the railroad tracks and they all smiled and waved as they made sure I got out okay. I get weak in the knees just thinking about it!
78. When my brother was a Cub Scout he had to help make a meal for one of his merit badges, so he assisted Dad in grilling some burgers. When we sat down to eat dinner, he said "So how do you like my buns?" Ha ha! Now I call him Hot Buns because he has some hot buns! I'm not allowed to call him that in front of his friends though.
79. I love making brownies and have not had too much success with making chocolate chip cookies.
80. I love my digital camera and have fun documenting my life through photos.
81. In the past few months, I've had the urge to document everything that goes on in my life so I can look back on my life with greater recollection and clarity and for my children. Blogging does some of that for me, but I need to be better at writing it down in journals.
82. One of my first weeks as a teller the summer before my junior year, I was doing a transaction and when I ask for the cash to deposit, this lady unbuttons and unzips her pants, takes an ATM envelope OUT OF HER UNDERWEAR and hands me the cash inside. (It was somewhat limp and kind of damp--shudder). Then she leaves her pants unzipped for the rest of the transaction. I have never looked at a computer so hard in my life. Being a teller gave me many funny stories!
83. My school colors elementary through high school were blue and gold.
84. I love shoes where you can see my socks like Mary Janes
85. I love the smell of Soft Scrub and Clorox--it's so clean!
86. I'm not a fan of talking on the phone, but I do it a lot anyway.
87. I like it when people get to the point instead of hedging around it, trying to segue into the real meat of the discussion. Be frank and get to the point!! It saves so much time!!
88. I love light and warm light at that. I hate fluorescent light and in my dorm room, always opt to have my two cute lamps on instead of the glaring fluorescent on. Light makes me feel safe and cozy. It helps keep me optimistic.
89. I love to dance, especially in the kitchen while I clean the dishes! (Hip hop music is the some of the best for dancing in my opinion).
90. My taste in music is very eclectic and I love to make mixes because that way you look forward to every song.
91. I love Sudoku even though I'm frequently made fun of because of it (the mocking mostly comes from family! Ha ha!)
92. I always like to have a nail file with me because I hate it when you really need one but don't have one.
93. I get migraines and because of that I always carry Exedrin or Firocet with me just in case.
94. I believe the Tide Pen to be one of the single most amazing inventions since sliced bread. It really is magic!!
95. I love bundling up in blankets and hoodies because I love the weight of it. I also like it when the covers in my bed are heavy because it just feels so good!
96. I love singing along to CDs but usually don't do it unless I'm alone or with trusted friends and family. ;)
97. I think I'm pretty optimistic and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
98. I love the FoxTrot comics and think they're absolutely hilarious!! Jason's math stuff is my favorite and sometimes it freaks me out because I actually understand what he's talking about. I hate math but I can do it.
99. I love office supplies and love to organize my space. I have fun figuring out ways to make my workspace and living space more efficient--a challenge when living in the dorms!!
100. I love playing games of all kinds. I like strategy games like Spades, Contract Rummy, and Canasta (even though I've only played the latter once) and also quick games like Nertz, Taboo, and Catch Phrase. I like board games like Life and Clue and creative games like Cranium (and the newest version Cranium Pop Five) and Scattergories.
1. This school year is my first away from home and I'm loving it!
2. Despite my excitement about being at college, I do love being at home even more and I had a hard time going back to real life. I've always been more prone to getting homesick--sometimes it just gets you down.
3. My love for staying at home borders hermitage.
4. I like to go out and do things with friends, but I'm not usually the one to initiate it.
5. I have an intense passion for books, reading, and writing. (I was reading Nancy Drew books when I entered the first grade and it expanded exponentially from there)
6. I want to write a book someday.
7. When things turn drastically from how I expect them to go, I have a tendency to freak out.
8. I am a Relief Society teacher in my ward.
9. I love movies and I usually prefer to watch movies at home in my pajamas, however going out to movies is always a fun occasion!
10. I love mint ice cream and the fact that the vending machines at school have ice cream sandwiches with mint ice cream in between two brownie-like cookies is always a huge temptation.
11. I think dating is definitely fun, but will be glad when I don't have to anymore.
12. I'm always afraid to get too emotionally attached to someone (most times in a dating setting) because once I do, I'm scared I'll get hurt.
13. I hate January.
14. February and March aren't far behind.
15. My favorite months on the other hand are October through December.
16. I don't mind mundane work.
17. I've had a job since I was 16.
18. I hate loud noises and chaos.
19. I hadn't gone to Disney World until I was 18. Over spring break last March, I went to Florida with my best friend and her aunt and uncle took us on an all-expense paid, 2-day trip to Disney World--it was so cool. I want to live in Cinderella's castle now.
20. I hope to study abroad in London.
21. Athletics are not the first thing I'd opt to do, but I actually am willingto do it. It is really dependent on the person I'm doing it with and less so on what we're actually doing.
22. I like individual athletics way better than team sports because in individual sports, no one else is depending on you, like ice skating.
23. I play the violin, but haven't taken lessons in a very long time. I haven't really played my violin since I got to school and I miss it a lot.
24. I also play the piano, but whenever I play, it's usually just for accompaniment or goofing off.
25. I love a clean bathroom and will compulsively clean the bathroom whenever I feel the need.
26. I love Target and think that Wal Mart is a horrible place--I only go to Wal Mart when absolutely necessary.
27. For Christmas I got a library stamp that says "From the library of Charlotte J. Wood" in fancy letters with a fancy "W" monogram and I love it. I spent a good portion of Sunday night stamping my books.
28. I love brushing my hair.
29. Especially since I've gotten to school, my cell phone is an extra appendage and I think I'd go crazy without it--it's my lifeline to the rest of the world.
30. I've never felt the need to question the truthfulness of the Gospel.
31. Since I've been in college, my appetite for vegetables has surprisingly increased.
32. When I was in 5th grade, some mean kids called me BLC: Big Lip Charlotte. It scarred me and it took me a long time to recover from that. Fifth graders are not nice at all.
33. I take French and am somewhat proficient at reading and writing (I think the only way for me to become proficient at speaking is if I live in France), however it's not my favorite.
34. Timm made and gave me a wand like Harry Potter's for Christmas; it's just about the coolest thing ever.
35. I'm not outgoing, but once I get to know people, my personality shines through a lot more.
36. I love shopping for books and usually do it alone or in a situation where someone isn't just with me, but doing their own shopping. I don't like having people wait for me.
37. I don't want to date with or marry someone too much like myself--I'd go insane!
38. I find it frustrating when people won't talk to you, especially when you're trying really hard to make conversation.
38. I didn't find a good and steady group of friends until halfway through my sophomore year in high school. For years I floated from group to group without any real best friend.
39. My best friend Rachelle is the kind of friend I know I'll be friends with forever.
40. I'm really impatient and frequently wish I could fast forward time and be in the next part of my life. I don't know why, but I definitely have to check myself on that sometimes.
41. I like the start of a new semester because everything is new and you get to start with a clean slate: new professors, new classes, new schedule.
42. I don't like to cry in front of most people and I'm not a pretty crier.
43. I don't like to sleep in too late because then I feel like I've missed out on half my day. That's one reason I dislike afternoon church and most definitely prefer morning.
44. I don't mind public speaking.
45. I love learning and I've never not wanted to go to school (given I do experience moments when I'm sick of it, but as a general rule I like school!).
46. I talk in a funny voice with my family that we don't usually let others hear. :) It's pretty strange.
47. I have a tendency to speed and the first time I ever got pulled over by a cop, I was given a $120 fine and 4 points off my license unless I sent it in. Then it was "only" $85 and 2 points. Good grief.
48. When I was 17 and a junior in high school I hit a pedestrian. It was actually a minor accident and it was deemed to not be my fault, but all the same, I was pretty traumatized for a while.
49. I love it when my friends serve missions and I love writing them letters.
50. Getting mail is one of the most exciting things and I look forward to it everyday.
51. In general I'm not a fan of babysitting, but when I love the kid I love to do it!
52. I need my solitude to recharge my batteries and to give me some thinking time and some time to just relax. Sometimes that's interpreted wrong and people get hurt when really it's just a personal need and has little to nothing to do with any specific person.
53. I like road trips and would much rather drive than fly. Also, I had no memory of flying on a plane until the music department at school flew to NYC for a spring break trip my sophomore year of high school.
54. I love shoes and being short makes it so that I can wear tall shoes and not be too tall. I like to date guys taller than I am and fortunately that's not hard!
55. Summer is my least favorite season and autumn is my most favorite. Summer is way too hot, whereas fall is pretty and crisp and you get to start wearing cute fall clothes.
56. I love wearing skirts and have quite a vast skirt wardrobe.
57. I have a pink iPod mini and I love it! I listen to it all the time on campus--it's definitely good company when you only have a few minutes to get from here to there.
58. I love shopping for new clothes, especially at the Gap Outlet where you can buy really good jeans and really cute clothes for way cheaper than in the actual store.
59. I don't pretend to like things just to impress. I've always thought that was pointless because then people aren't really knowing you.
60. I love rain and think it's the best weather, followed closely by snow and cloudy weather. Wind is the worst kind of weather and is actually tied with searing heat.
61. More so when I was younger (around 14 or 15), I had a significant fear of being kidnapped. Right around Elizabeth Smart's kidnapping, we were painting the exterior of our house and there was scaffolding right outside my bedroom windows. Totally freaked out, I booby trapped my room by tying down the windows with yellow curling ribbon (I wrapped the ribbon around the foot of my bed to make it more taut) and putting marbles on the carpet. After a few days of stifling heat because the windows were closed and the summer heat was stuck in my room, I gave up the attempt. I haven't had a freak out like that since.
62. I love Harry Potter and have a special love for listening to the Harry Potter books on CD. Jim Dale is an awesome reader!! Because I've listened to the books so much, I am very well versed in the events and intricacies of Harry Potter. I wish I went to Hogwarts.
63. My dad was born in Edmunton, Canada and I've visited Alberta many times.
64. My parents are some of my best friends. I've never been embarrassed by them and talk to them about basically everything.
65. I find satisfaction in making lists so I can cross things off--sometimes it's the only way I maintain my sanity when juggling schoolwork!
66. I like doing the dishes.
67. When I worked at Washington Mutual I would go over to the Safeway next door almost everyday and get a grande hot chocolate for $2.69.
68. I love the lights at Temple Square around Christmastime.
69. I don't really have a preference of which temple I get married in.
70. When my little sister and I were little we'd play "The Little Mermaid" and me being the older sister I am, always got to be Ariel myself. I would make Emily be the "blue one" (we couldn't remember her name). For years Emily played along with this and I always got my way in this games and games similar to the Little Mermaid.
71. I hate it when I have heavy things to carry around campus.
72. My fingernails don't grow straight like most people's. They kind of fan out and so to keep them from looking too weird, I keep them relatively short.
73. I love dancing movies. Whether it be a hip hop movie, a ballroom movie, a ballet movie, I love it. I especially like movies where they combine traditional, classical dancing with hip hop--so cool!!
74. I love sending mail, but don't do it as often as I'd like. My lack of time and mailing budget make it harder to do sometimes.
75. I love coats and right now I have two primary coats: a red peacoat for dressier outfits (it comes with a way cute belt) and a brown puffy coat that's super warm.
76. I like to be in charge and be in control. I'm good at giving out directions and making plans--I'm definitely a planner. (I think I get that from my Mom!)
77. I love firefighters. Besides the fact that their jobs have a degree of nobility and courage-appeal attached, many of them are ridiculously good looking. Once when I went into downtown Denver to go to the library, I was driving back and took a wrong turn on this side street. As I turned into this street there was a Denver Fire Department firetruck turning out and being the person I am, I smile and wave while trying to contain my bubbling enthusiasm. The street actually led to this creepy warehouse with scary foreign workers and so I start to make a U-turn. I go up on this slope and then the wheels of my dinky little Rabbit get stuck in some old, overgrown railroad tracks I didn't see. I got out of the car and looked at my situation and a wave of panic swept over me when I realized I wouldn't be able to get out by myself and there was no way I was about to go over to the warehouse. As I'm about to make a call to someone, I see the firetruck come back!!! With the Hallelujah chorus ringing in my head, at least five firemen spill out of the truck and say "Hey do you need some help?" Um heck yes you can help me!! Then with their super hot muscle strength, they pushed my Rabbit out of the railroad tracks and they all smiled and waved as they made sure I got out okay. I get weak in the knees just thinking about it!
78. When my brother was a Cub Scout he had to help make a meal for one of his merit badges, so he assisted Dad in grilling some burgers. When we sat down to eat dinner, he said "So how do you like my buns?" Ha ha! Now I call him Hot Buns because he has some hot buns! I'm not allowed to call him that in front of his friends though.
79. I love making brownies and have not had too much success with making chocolate chip cookies.
80. I love my digital camera and have fun documenting my life through photos.
81. In the past few months, I've had the urge to document everything that goes on in my life so I can look back on my life with greater recollection and clarity and for my children. Blogging does some of that for me, but I need to be better at writing it down in journals.
82. One of my first weeks as a teller the summer before my junior year, I was doing a transaction and when I ask for the cash to deposit, this lady unbuttons and unzips her pants, takes an ATM envelope OUT OF HER UNDERWEAR and hands me the cash inside. (It was somewhat limp and kind of damp--shudder). Then she leaves her pants unzipped for the rest of the transaction. I have never looked at a computer so hard in my life. Being a teller gave me many funny stories!
83. My school colors elementary through high school were blue and gold.
84. I love shoes where you can see my socks like Mary Janes
85. I love the smell of Soft Scrub and Clorox--it's so clean!
86. I'm not a fan of talking on the phone, but I do it a lot anyway.
87. I like it when people get to the point instead of hedging around it, trying to segue into the real meat of the discussion. Be frank and get to the point!! It saves so much time!!
88. I love light and warm light at that. I hate fluorescent light and in my dorm room, always opt to have my two cute lamps on instead of the glaring fluorescent on. Light makes me feel safe and cozy. It helps keep me optimistic.
89. I love to dance, especially in the kitchen while I clean the dishes! (Hip hop music is the some of the best for dancing in my opinion).
90. My taste in music is very eclectic and I love to make mixes because that way you look forward to every song.
91. I love Sudoku even though I'm frequently made fun of because of it (the mocking mostly comes from family! Ha ha!)
92. I always like to have a nail file with me because I hate it when you really need one but don't have one.
93. I get migraines and because of that I always carry Exedrin or Firocet with me just in case.
94. I believe the Tide Pen to be one of the single most amazing inventions since sliced bread. It really is magic!!
95. I love bundling up in blankets and hoodies because I love the weight of it. I also like it when the covers in my bed are heavy because it just feels so good!
96. I love singing along to CDs but usually don't do it unless I'm alone or with trusted friends and family. ;)
97. I think I'm pretty optimistic and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
98. I love the FoxTrot comics and think they're absolutely hilarious!! Jason's math stuff is my favorite and sometimes it freaks me out because I actually understand what he's talking about. I hate math but I can do it.
99. I love office supplies and love to organize my space. I have fun figuring out ways to make my workspace and living space more efficient--a challenge when living in the dorms!!
100. I love playing games of all kinds. I like strategy games like Spades, Contract Rummy, and Canasta (even though I've only played the latter once) and also quick games like Nertz, Taboo, and Catch Phrase. I like board games like Life and Clue and creative games like Cranium (and the newest version Cranium Pop Five) and Scattergories.
New Semester
The new semester started on Monday and I'm pretty excited about my classes this semester. I already have loads of homework, but since I'm feeling motivated right now I'm handling it all okay. So this semester I'm taking American Heritage and I'm actually really excited for this class! The people I've talked to either love it or hate it--there's few people in between. I had my lab this morning and my TA is really nice and I don't think she'll be SO hard on grading. Also, I don't think I'll loathe French this semester--score!! I'm taking French 202 from Michelle's husband and judging from the first day of class last Tuesday, I think I'll actually like it this semester. (French 201 definitely scarred me--I hated it). The only class I'm more nervous about and I'm not sure if I'll like it or not is my print publishing class. I think it will be a cool class and the material will definitely be useful, but the teacher is one of those computer whizzes who flies by everything and leaves the students in the dust. Plus, this is all done on Macs and don't get me wrong, I love a Mac, but I've never actually used one on a regular basis before. Also, the fact that all the assignments are Mac-based means that I'll have to do all my homework for that class in the Mac lab rather than at home on my own computer. Not so much of a difficulty as much of an inconvenience.
Surprisingly my social life picked up pretty fast (not something I was anticipating). Katelyn and I are committed to eating better this semester and Katelyn also scheduled time for us to go and work out in the RB. I'm glad I have a friend who's proactive like that because if left to my own devices I wouldn't do it. She also makes me go to the Cannon Center to have "real" meals. Granted Cannon Center food is by no means very tasty, but I guess it is better than grabbing whatever is available in the vending machines. Also, my second day back I got a call from last semseter's blind date (the brother of my old seminary teacher) and now I have a date for Friday--not a bad way to start out the semseter!
I'm trying hard not to play "Last week at this time I was . . . " game because it just depresses me. I had so much fun over break watching movies, sleeping in, watching favorite TV shows, and being snowed in with my family and even though it's not like they're having a bunch of fun without me, it's still not fun to suddenly be back in Provo. The transition was better than I thought it would be and I hung out at Jessie's and Timm's the other night and it was definitely fun to see them after three weeks! (Michelle I need to see you more this semester!! However, with my lack of vehicular transportation, it is somewhat more difficult.) I'm still playing the "What I'm Looking Forward To" game and right now I'm looking forward to: the new episode of "The Office" tonight, my date tomorrow night, the long weekend, the 4-hour season premier of 24 on Sunday and Monday (2 hours on Sunday night and 2 hours on Monday night), maybe going to see The Fray in concert at the end of the month, goofing off with my dorm friends, having weekly movie nights with Katelyn (a good way to get a break from homework), and the "American Idol" auditions. I just re-read that and realized that a good chunk of what I'm looking forward to is TV shows--good grief.
Well, I'm actually in the middle of composing my "100 things about me" post because I thought it was way cool what everyone else was doing, and hopefully I can finish that soon. See I usually work on it at school, but the pictures I want to post are on my computer in my room and I don't think to work on that while I'm working on homework. (Blogging is a good way to pass the time when work is insufferably slow) Hey, I just realized January is almost halfway through--yay!!!
Surprisingly my social life picked up pretty fast (not something I was anticipating). Katelyn and I are committed to eating better this semester and Katelyn also scheduled time for us to go and work out in the RB. I'm glad I have a friend who's proactive like that because if left to my own devices I wouldn't do it. She also makes me go to the Cannon Center to have "real" meals. Granted Cannon Center food is by no means very tasty, but I guess it is better than grabbing whatever is available in the vending machines. Also, my second day back I got a call from last semseter's blind date (the brother of my old seminary teacher) and now I have a date for Friday--not a bad way to start out the semseter!
I'm trying hard not to play "Last week at this time I was . . . " game because it just depresses me. I had so much fun over break watching movies, sleeping in, watching favorite TV shows, and being snowed in with my family and even though it's not like they're having a bunch of fun without me, it's still not fun to suddenly be back in Provo. The transition was better than I thought it would be and I hung out at Jessie's and Timm's the other night and it was definitely fun to see them after three weeks! (Michelle I need to see you more this semester!! However, with my lack of vehicular transportation, it is somewhat more difficult.) I'm still playing the "What I'm Looking Forward To" game and right now I'm looking forward to: the new episode of "The Office" tonight, my date tomorrow night, the long weekend, the 4-hour season premier of 24 on Sunday and Monday (2 hours on Sunday night and 2 hours on Monday night), maybe going to see The Fray in concert at the end of the month, goofing off with my dorm friends, having weekly movie nights with Katelyn (a good way to get a break from homework), and the "American Idol" auditions. I just re-read that and realized that a good chunk of what I'm looking forward to is TV shows--good grief.
Well, I'm actually in the middle of composing my "100 things about me" post because I thought it was way cool what everyone else was doing, and hopefully I can finish that soon. See I usually work on it at school, but the pictures I want to post are on my computer in my room and I don't think to work on that while I'm working on homework. (Blogging is a good way to pass the time when work is insufferably slow) Hey, I just realized January is almost halfway through--yay!!!
1.03.2007
Ready Set Go!!
Okay, so I've definitely taken a blogging hiatus and resolve to be a bit better. I went on break a couple of weeks ago and so I'm currently writing from my favorite Colorado. Getting back was quite the ordeal which involved phone calls from the parents at 6:30 a.m., multiple more phone calls regarding flights, last minute rides to the airport, car rides, and a spastic frantic rush to get my things packed and to check out of the dorm. Good grief. What ended up happening was DIA closed until Friday at noon (which I think turned into Saturday) and so if I flew, I wouldn't be able to fly in until Sunday night--blark. I turned my sights toward finding a ride home and after finding leads with a random girl whose mother knows my mom to Mark and Robin Youngquist, I finally snagged a ride with some people from back home who were picking up their daughter for Christmas. I got home Thursday night (however I might have made it home earlier if they hadn't decided to stop in Grand Junction for two hours while they looked for a Chik-Fil-A--good grief).
Christmas festivities were successful. We had a bunch of people over for Christmas Eve and had our big, fancy dinner that night and then on Christmas Day, we stayed in our pajamas and watched movies, napped, and ate junk food all day--total score. The day after Christmas, my cousin from Stirling, Alberta in Canada came down to stay for the week and we had a fun time shopping (which included runs to the Gap Outlet, Target, TJ Maxx, JC Penney's, and my favorite: Borders), watching movies, and playing games. We had another large snow storm on Wednesday and Thursday, rendering us once again snowed in (except this time I was snowed-in rather than snowed-out). Mom made banana chocolate chip bars, we rented the entire second season of The Office and contented ourselves with sleeping in, lounging around, watching TV, and playing more games. I'm a huge fan of getting snowed in!!
New Year's was uneventful and I am of the personal opinion that New Year's does not merit the level of celebration it receives. I mean, first of all, who would want to start off their New Year with a hangover? Seriously. Secondly, the "ball dropping" in NCY is totally pointless. It's not even dropped--it's lowered and I just don't understand the hype around New Year's. For me it's the beginning of my least favorite month and my least favorite part of the year. I'm trying to play the "What I'm Looking Forward To" game, to a little success.
Let me recap this year:
Goods
Christmas festivities were successful. We had a bunch of people over for Christmas Eve and had our big, fancy dinner that night and then on Christmas Day, we stayed in our pajamas and watched movies, napped, and ate junk food all day--total score. The day after Christmas, my cousin from Stirling, Alberta in Canada came down to stay for the week and we had a fun time shopping (which included runs to the Gap Outlet, Target, TJ Maxx, JC Penney's, and my favorite: Borders), watching movies, and playing games. We had another large snow storm on Wednesday and Thursday, rendering us once again snowed in (except this time I was snowed-in rather than snowed-out). Mom made banana chocolate chip bars, we rented the entire second season of The Office and contented ourselves with sleeping in, lounging around, watching TV, and playing more games. I'm a huge fan of getting snowed in!!
New Year's was uneventful and I am of the personal opinion that New Year's does not merit the level of celebration it receives. I mean, first of all, who would want to start off their New Year with a hangover? Seriously. Secondly, the "ball dropping" in NCY is totally pointless. It's not even dropped--it's lowered and I just don't understand the hype around New Year's. For me it's the beginning of my least favorite month and my least favorite part of the year. I'm trying to play the "What I'm Looking Forward To" game, to a little success.
Let me recap this year:
Goods
- Graduating from high school
- Successfully finishing my first semester at college (I ended with three As, one A-, and one B+, a 3.78 GPA in all)
- Making the transition from living at home to living in the dorms with little trauma.
- Working as a teller over the summer and saving needed money.
- Buying my second semester textbooks before I left for break for only $175--amazing.
- Now that I don't live at home all the time, the kids are always nice to me.
- Making really good new friends at the Y
Not-So-Goods
- Having to cram all my stuff into a tiny dorm room (the space is growing less and less)
- Having to adjust myself to the 85-degree thermostat courtesy of my Southern California roommate).
- Missing my family and not being up-to-date with everything that goes on back in CO.
- I find I have little to no time for a leisurely read
- Not having a car while at school--bummer.
So, last year was definitely a good one I believe--my not-so-goods were few and minor!! It's weird looking back on 2006 and all that happened; I don't think I could have predicted most of it. I've changed a lot, but it's not a bad change, it's more of a growing up change. I'm still Charlotte, but I think about things differently and over this past year, I've re-evaluated what's important and what I can let slide. I think the best way to describe it is that I've grown up a lot.
I wonder what 2007 holds in store for me. What will happen? Who will enter my life for the first time and who will make a reappearance? What will I do? How will I change? I look forward to this year because I think a lot will happen (a lot happens in every year) and the uncertainty doesn't scare me, but I'm excited to see where things go. So, here I am (almost) ready to dive into real life again. Ready . . . Set . . . GO!!!!
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