stupid internet

So, the internet has been out again since last Thursday. This is ridiculous. I have much to post from my weekend, but can't because all my pictures are on my laptop. Perhaps I'll load some picutres onto my USB drive and post from campus (like I'm doing now). This whole no-internet thing is getting really old.

it's a matter of principle

In Physical Science today we had a clicker quiz (that's just where you click in your answers with a remote--the quiz is on the PowerPoint slide), and the question read: If the earth's crust floats on top of the interior of the earth, what does that say about the density of the interior of the crust? The answer to that question is that the interior of the earth is more dense than the crust; hence, the crust floats. The correct answer on the slide read: "more denser." I purposely answered incorrectly because I wasn't about to answer a question with "more denser." As an editor, grammarain, and logophile, it's just a matter of principle.

Easter

I just love Easter! Today has been a really great day and I've really felt the Spirit. Last week I bought this book at the Bookstore called The Infinite Atonement, and I was reading it more today. It is so good! Some favorite insights so far are:

"Like a skilled magician, Satan's every move is to divert our attention and dilute our focus from the primary object at hand, namely Christ's atoning sacrifice, in hopes we will turn exclusively to doctrines of secondary and far lesser import."

Quoting Elder McConkie: "The atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life. But if we are to have faith like that of Enoch and Elijah, we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived."

Speaking of the incomprehensibility of the atonement: "Our inability to 'know it all,' however, does not absolve the need (nor should it diminish our desire) to know what is 'knowable.' Perhaps by so evaluating the knowable, we push and probe and occasionally penetrate the infinite."

And I'm only on page 24.

So basically, this book is amazing and I can't wait to make it through all 335 pages. I think that any time is an opportune time to reflect on and apply the atonement, but Easter is an especially special time for such thought. So, take time to think about Christ and the atonement, and have an excellent Easter!

severed

So I've felt completely severed from the world because since Thursday, the internet in our apartment has been out. You don't realize how depedent you are on the internet until it's not available anymore. There were multiple times over the weekend when I just wanted to look something up quickly and couldn't, plus I had some homework and articles that required the use of the World Wide Web. Our internet still isn't fixed (and who knows why the internet company is taking so dang long to fix the internet for an entire building . . .), but I'm able to get on the internet at work and on campus, so that's nice. In one way, it's nice to not be able to get on the internet because then I can't waste time on facebook, but seriously, I need the internet for so many things. Good grief.

So anyway, I had a really good weekend! On Friday I skipped Physical Science lecture and went shopping at the mall instead. :) After our shopping excursion, Katelyn and I indulged in a couple of Gilmore Girls episodes, and then I hiked up by the temple to my friend Brooke's house for a 24 Friday marathon. We've been doing this for a couple of months now and it's such a great way to kick off a weekend. She lives in a house owned by her roommate's parents and it's really nice, and so we have 24 marathons where we watch an entire disc of 24 complete with pizza and other TV junkie treats. Sometimes we do it Friday afternoon, sometimes Friday night, but always on Fridays (unless one of us is out of town or something) and always a whole disc. It's just great. So, we did that Friday afternoon/evening, and then I went on a date with my pal Brennen. We went to Divine Comedy (a BYU comedy show), Pudding on the Rice (not my fave), and then back to my apartment where we watched Ocean's 11 with Katelyn and her man-friend Matt.

Saturday, though, was great! I woke up and headed up to campus late morning to do some homework and practice my violin. After I got back, Katelyn and I went grocery shopping, and then spent some more time watching Gilmore Girls. I did a little bit of homework later and then I had date with this guy Josh. I met him at a dessert night last month hosted by a mutual friend; at the dessert night we had lots of fun talking and he ended up asking me for my number. After 3 weeks (yes 3 weeks), he finally called and we went out on Saturday. It was so much fun! We went to Subzero for ice cream, I Am Legend at the dollar theater, back to his apartment for an episode of The Office, and then over to my apartment where we ate cupcakes and watched About a Boy with Katelyn and man-friend Matt. I had a blast and I'm thinking there will be a second date. It's fun to go on a date with someone you're actually interested in instead of on a blind date or with a friend.

Now it's Tuesday and I can hardly believe it, but Elder Scott came and gave the devotional on campus today, and it was really good. It was all about making the Atonement your life's foundation and how an understanding of the Atonement can change everything for you and can make you the happiest. It was really inspiring and edifying and now I can't wait until conference in a few weeks! Tonight I need to get my ecclesiastical endorsement and then American Idol. Life isn't so incredibly exciting, but it's pretty good nonetheless! (And let's hope my internet will finally work).

the natural thing to do on 3/13

So, what do you do in the Physics Department on March 13--3/13?? Make pies for Pi Day tomorrow of course--3/14. You make 45 pies. 45. Yes, I'm not kidding. 45. I'm really tired.

American Idol=Guilty TV Pleasure

So basically, I'm a huge fan of American Idol. It's silly, it's fun, and it gives me needed breaks in my week. I've already accepted the fact that I'm a TV junkie to some degree, but I figure I'm past the denial phase, and now I can work on acceptance . . . okay, accepted. So, last night was the first night with the Top 12, and I honestly wasn't too impressed. Oh well, hopefully next week will be an improvement. So, my favorite contestant: David Archuleta all the way. He is 17 and from Murray, UT, and probably one of the cutest 17 year old guys ever, and his voice is pretty much amazing. I think I really like him because he actually does have a really good voice, he's a humble guy, and he kind of reminds me of my brother in facial expressions and just the little boy look little Archuleta has going on.




Maybe I'm the only one seeing the resemblance; let me know what you think.

So, last night David's performance wasn't so hot, but I'm pretty sure he has a strong enough fan base to get him through to next week's round. I'm totally voting for Archuleta, and yes, I do actually vote. I figure, it's better to just admit it than try to hide it. :) We'll find out tonight who gets the boot, and it better not be David. I'll have to find out from my friend Katie because alas, I have class from 7-9. What does orchestra think it's doing interfering with my American Idol? Ha, just kidding.

funk

This week has just been really weird for me. I can't quite place my finger on it, but I've been really thrown off; I don't know if it's the time change, the fact that I forgot my glasses at home and my mom had to overnight them to me, the fact that I've spent hours and hours within the past two days reading "Great Expectations" for British Lit compelling me to take the morning off of work to read, the fact that I woke up late today, or what. But whatever it is, this week is just weird. I woke up late this morning (I'm blaming it on the time change), and then spent 3 hours reading "Great Expectations," which I still didn't finish for class. It feels like a Monday, but thank goodness it's a Tuesday. Everything just seems slightly off today.

My violin lesson was kind of funny today. I was only able to practice once since my last lesson, and so I was kind of dreading today because I knew my teacher would be able to tell; that's usually what happened. However, I played an etude where intonation was the focal point, and last week it didn't go so well, so I was worried about this week. He said it sounded so much better than last week, and told me to keep up the good work. When I played my concerto, he thanked me for practicing, and he said he could really hear a difference. Huh . . . I just went along with it. I almost said something at the beginning of the lesson about my lack of practicing, but decided that teachers don't want apologies so I wouldn't give one. Oh the power of pretending!

I'm chilling out a bit tonight. I've already done the reading and homework for tomorrow, so currently I'm watching American Idol, and I plan to either run outside or go work out at the gym, and start studying for my British Lit test that's on Thursday. I hope this week starts un-weirding itself because it's really throwing me off.

self-created vacation

So, it's been longer between posts than I would have liked, but I'll skip the apologies because they're boring and it's my blog so I don't have to apologize if I don't want to. :) So, the biggest thing that happened with me last week was going home!! I thought that Emily's musical ("Brigadoon") was excuse enough to go home for a few days, and it was so worth it! I flew out Thursday night and got to spend 3 days at home, flying back into Salt Lake late Sunday night. Pretty much it was amazing and I loved every minute. I brought my camera with me, intent on documenting my self-created vacation through photo, and then I realized that I left my memory card in my printer in Provo. So, no pictures. My words will have to suffice.

So . . .

Friday, I spent most of the day with my mom and grandma. We went to Target and had fun watching Gilmore Girls and making homemade Oreos (which are SO delicious!!). That night I went to Emily's show and it was SO good!! The performance overall was just really amazing; the chorus was strong, the dancing was cute, the songs sounded great, and the costumes were absolutely fabulous!! (Mom was the costume designer again and made it amazing!) Emily was in the chorus for the most part, but did a miraculous job as the dumped fiancee, Jane. She looked so pretty and I'm so proud! Also, one of the leads--the guy who played Charlie--was so incredibly dreamy. He made kilts look manly and I have the biggest crush on him (as does every other female who has seen the show)!

Saturday was a day more devoted to seeing friends. I had about four or five people wanting to hang out with me in the three days I was home, and so I thought I'd consolidate that and have a few people over on Saturday afternoon when Mom and Emily were at the matinee and Dad was out doing stuff all afternoon. So, I had my friends Rachelle, Cheyne, and Tori over to play some Guitar Hero and DDR (including a Disney version of DDR--so cool!). So, that was a good opportunity to see friends and have a good time, without anything really encroaching on my family time :) That night, Mom and Dad were both at the musical, so John, Sarah, and our next door neighbor (a.k.a. my surrogate brother) Nick had the night to ourselves. We ended up ordering Dominoes pizza and watching "The Incredibles." It was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with just my little siblings--we had lots of fun!

The time change really threw me off on Sunday. I hate losing an hour. Anyway, we all went to church in the morning, came back, took naps, and then headed off to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner. I knew that this weekend was a crazy and tiring weekend for everybody, and so I didn't really want anyone to go all out for the big Sunday dinner; what was important to me was just spending time with my family. However, Mom and Grandma pulled off the traditional Sunday dinner of roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, popovers, and Boston Cream Pie. Mmmm!!!! After dinner, I had to head out to the airport, which was not exactly something I was looking forward to, but the goodbyes weren't nearly as bad as they were last time I left home, and you'll all be glad to know that I haven't imploded into a vat of boiling, homesick tears, but rather I'm functioning quite normally. :)

So, the weekend was basically amazing; it was a needed break, and it was just so great to spend time with my family, and to see Emily in her musical. I love feeling so connected with my family, and I love that I love to spend time with them.

flying solo

I think it's a blessing and a curse to have a solitary nature; I've always been content with staying at home, having a peaceful night in. When I was in high school, I spent many a Friday night at home with my family eating popcorn for dinner and watching the newest movie from NetFlix. This tendency to stay in didn't leave me once I came to college and before I had real friends last year, I spent many a Friday night eating Wendy's, cleaning my room, and watching a movie on my computer. (In the dorms it was much more pathetic than it is in an actual apartment). I was completely content with that arrangement, and once Katelyn and I became best friends, we'd stay in together at least as much as we'd go out. Even if we'd go out to dinner, we'd often go back to the dorms and crowd around a tiny computer screen watching a Blockbuster rental. This year, things haven't changed too much in the recluse regard; Katelyn and I are usually happy to make ramen for dinner and watch an entire disc of Gilmore Girls. Sometimes though, my lack of social initiative means I can lose out on great socializing; I usually need to be asked to do something, otherwise, I'll probably just stay in. Actually, this semester I have been more social, but tonight I find myself alone. Point being, I'm good at being by myself, and most of the time enjoy it--not all of the time--but most of the time.

So, with Katelyn leading a particularly flirty, date-filled, and social life this semester, roommates who take full advantage of all the activities on campus, and no male companion of my own at the moment, on nights like tonight, I'm sure glad I have a knack for entertaining myself. When Katelyn's date picked her up around 7 tonight, I contemplated for a moment about what I should do with a night all to myself . . .




. . . after a quick walk to the Creamery I returned with eggs, butter, and mint chocolate chip ice cream, and proceeded to make brownies while watching Harry Potter on ABC Family.

Mmm--chocolate!

Cooling brownies!

Ridiculous broken lazy susan door that our landlord already had to fix once. We should probably call him soon (it only broke again a few days ago).

So, I turned on the TV to watch the movie, whipped up a batch of homemade brownies, typed up a paper for grammar (it's supposed to be a group project, but one girl couldn't meet today because she goes skiing every weekend. The assignment is due Monday. Good grief.) Anyway, here is more documentation of my Saturday night in:

So, we'll see how the rest of my night goes. I'll probably finish watching HP, read some out of the new Ensign, read some more of The Aeneid for class on Monday, and wait up for Katelyn. Are you good at being by yourself? Am I weird for my reclusive nature? Sometimes I wonder.