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.

jumbled miscellany

I meant to post that last post Sunday night, but didn't. I meant to post more this week, but didn't. I mean to write more on almost all of the following bullet points, but won't.

• 4 tests this week=intellectual breakdown
• Monday: Physical Science, 87 percent, wanted to get it out of the way
• Tuesday: Living Prophets, 91 percent, easy peezy lemon squeezy
• Wednesday: Civ, don't know what I got, was worried, but actually feel pretty good about it
• Thursday: Grammar, don't know what I got, feel pretty good about it, diagrammed my heart out in the testing center
• New favorite artists: Josh Kelley, Jon McLaughlin, Kate Nash
• Wonderful spring-ish weather this week
• worked out twice so far this week, wanted to work out more--need to step up my work out game
• bought Drano today to unclog disgustingly clogged sink; will hardcore clean the bathroom tomorrow
• signed fall housing contract today
• To Jessie: My original housing plans for fall fell through, leaving me with no one to live with. My so awesome and cool friends Erica and Katie wanted me to live with them, so I said yes, but they'd already picked a place to live, which is really fine with me; I'm not too picky. I'll be living with Erica and Katie in . . . The Colony. Because I love you, I will endure your mocking.
• not-so-great violin lesson because of lack of practicing in the past 2 weeks--need to step up my game on that too
• 1 week from this very moment, I'll be back home in Denver for the weekend to see Emily's musical. Can't wait.
• Good mail from Kristi: way cute ribbon and a thank you note--a great way to end my week last week
• Good mail from Jill: cute thank you note for a CD I sent
• weekend plans: 24 marathon with Brooke tomorrow night, practice violin, group project for grammar, working out, being cool

And finally:

• This was in the Daily Universe a few days ago. We have a copy of it on our fridge.
• Chill out
  
  My name is Nathan. You have probably seen me standing outside wearing my cloak. Until recently it was my habit to stand around and sing in between classes to amuse myself. It struck me as a fairly harmless activity that, while a bit unusual, was nevertheless rather mundane. Furthermore, I had gotten only pleasant comments from the passers by.
  
  Imagine my surprise, then, when I was stopped by a policeman who had gotten a call from someone about me. He told me it was well within my rights as a BYU student to stand outside in the cold and sing in between classes. I found the incident amusing and, though I thought the whole matter a little strange, continued my singing. What I found less amusing was the police officer stopping by approximately a week later to tell me that I had to stop, that I was disturbing the peace, and that I would be issued a citation if I continued. Needless to say, I no longer sing outside at BYU.
  
  Why am I going to the trouble of writing this? Because I find the whole incident greatly troubling. First, it seems wrong for a student at BYU to be stopped from doing something D&C 25:12 calls a prayer. More than that, however, I am disturbed by the way in which my singing was handled. I am bothered by the fact that whoever had something against my singing called the police instead of heeding the advice in D&C 42:88 to talk to me by myself.
  
  I am also bothered by the fact that BYU police seem to value the appeasement of a small but vocal minority over any actual laws or rules (which, I remind the reader, I was specifically told I was not breaking). And I'm also somewhat bothered by the fact that this whole incident has worked to support the valuing of conformity over tolerance. In short, I think that some BYU students need to chill and I think that the BYU police need to grow a spine.
  
  Nathan Langford
  River Falls, Wisc.
  

a cupcake sunday

So, Friday was Katelyn's 20th birthday, and so we celebrated all weekend! It was a blast, and I am so not ready to go back to school in the morning--ew. Anyway, here's a recap of the weekend.

On Friday (her actual birthday):



A trip to Smart Cookie.


Chocolate fudge cookies with Mint Chocolate Chip Dreyer's ice cream--yum.


My first experience with Indian food.

I just realized I got no pictures from Saturday, which is totally lame, but I'll still tell you what we did. We went up to Salt Lake with the intention of going to the Gateway Museum where's there's a children's exhibit that involves Sesame Street characters teaching about how the body works; alas, we got up there about an hour and a half after we wanted, and so we didn't go to the museum. The major goal however, was to make it to the new cupcake store, So Cupcake. It's the cutest little store in the more ghetto end of Salt Lake. They make a huge variety of cupcakes and the cupcakes are so delicious! It's locally owned, just opened a few weeks ago, and the owners built it for their daughter, who suffers from celebral palsy. The daughter, Selena, was at the store when we went, and so we all sat down and talked to her for a while. She's really smart! She reads a bunch (and by reading I mean she's read "The Life of Pi" and "The Zen of Falling in Love"--holy molies!) She told us all that she was so glad that we are her friends, and interacting with her was truly a blessing. If you can ever make it up to So Cupcake, you should totally go, and on Saturdays, Selena is there all day. I bought two chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted. It was a way fun evening!

Sunday, we had another cupcake oriented party, and had a bunch of people over for cupcakes and socializing. First, however, this is what happens when you have to walk home in the pouring rain:


It was so nice when we walked to church, and then afterward, it was pouring outside. Now, I know this is not an attractive picture of me, but this is what we looked like when we walked in the door. Good grief.


Katelyn decided to make lemon snowball cupcakes for her birthday, and she had to whip the eggs on her own. Ha we all took shifts whipping really fast :)

I helped by filling the cupcake cups with the batter. Note my dumb wavy hair after it dried after the rain.
And then the power went out . . . when the second batch of cupcakes were still in the oven . . . the batch Katelyn was going to make into lemon filled snowballs. This is my dubious face as I speculate whether or not the cupcakes that are in the oven will make it.

Fortunately, all turned out well, we had a great turn out, and I was just so excited that Katelyn is my friend! Happy birthday pal!

just weird

So, last night after orchestra, I was packing up my stuff, getting ready to leave, and all of a sudden I hear our second chair, singing--yes singing--the music we'd just finished playing, complete with grace notes and trills. Weird. I seriously wonder if he has friends--he's so odd. He does this all the time, and I just don't get it. Our first chair wasn't there last night, and so he got to tune the orchestra, and he directed it like he was the conductor or something . . . weird.

Second order of weirdness:



And yes, that is Randy Jackson.

Love and Kisses

So, today is Valentine's Day and I love Valentine's Day! It's a day that is placed right in the middle of a not-so-stellar time of year, and it alleviates much of the gloom induced by January. There are hearts everywhere and pink and red and flowers, and good love music. I know people who hate the pressure of Valentine's Day, but I just see it as a chance to have some fun and let those you love know you love them. I also know a few people who don't like Valentine's Day because they're not dating anyone or married or whatever, and all I have to say to that is, "Since when is Valentine's Day only about love in your romantic relationships?" I'm not in a relationship, but in no way does that prevent me from expressing love to my parents, my siblings, my roommates, and my friends. I just don't see the big deal--have fun with Valentine's Day! So, here's what I'm going to do with Valentine's Day on my blog this year:

L is for laughing

• I love to laugh with my family.
• I love to laugh with Katelyn about the awkward moments we experience throughout out days.
• I love to laugh when I watch The Office.
• I love to laugh with Brooke about the vast amounts of nothing surrounding our jobs at the Physics Department.
• I love to laugh out loud when I read books.
• I love to laugh at witty song lyrics.
• I love to laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
• I love to laugh at stupid things.
• I love to laugh when my brother John laughs.
• I love to laugh when not-so-good things happen because then it helps me see things in perspective.

O is for outside

• I love going outside when there's just a slight breeze.
• I love going outside when it smells like summer.
• I love going outside in the rain with an umbrella.
• I love going outside in the mountains.
• I love eating dinner outside during the summer.
• I love taking walks outside.
• I love how I feel when I successfully step outside my comfort, thus expanding my comfort zone.
• I love the air outside when it snows.
• I love looking outside when I'm cozy inside.
• I love looking pretty on the outside, because it helps me feel better on the inside.

V is for vivre

• I love living with purpose.
• I love living in happiness.
• I love living with friends.
• I love living in close contact with my family.
• I love living in a place where I can learn.
• I love living in the Gospel.
• I love living close to a Target.
• I love living in an age where I can blog and connect with people all over the country.
• I love living in the latter days.
• I love living in opportunity.

E is for energy

• I love having energy to have a life outside of school.
• I love having energy to dance.
• I love having energy to learn.
• I love having energy to support others, especially when their needs are greater than mine.
• I love having energy to run.
• I love having energy to persevere through writing tedious articles.
• I love having energy to think of silly ways to make my friends and family laugh.
• I love having energy to practice my violin.
• I love having energy to shop :)
• I love having energy to love to my life!
  

Bruises, Wally Ball, and Poetry

The past week has been crazy busy, I can hardly know where to begin. Thursday night I went with two of my friends to the Music, Dance, Theater Showcase. It was a really good show and fun for a break. I got to get dressed up, and was able to spend some good time with Erica and Katie, whom I will be living with next year! Friday, in the midst of Valentine cookie making and chick flick watching, I got some needed homework time in, which did include reading huge chunks of Plato's The Republic for my civ class. It's a good thing to read and actually relatively interesting, but being assigned to read it in the space of a week and a half is a little extreme I think. I read what I can and then SparkNote the rest. Saturday morning I got up early and headed up to campus to study for a few hours (and only after I went over to Katie's to study for a British Lit test did I realize I completely spaced the leadership broadcast and I was pretty disappointed). Katelyn and I went sledding with a couple of boys we know, and finished up that with hot chocolate at Denny's. Then our apartment went out to Thai Ruby's for dinner to celebrate Stacy's birthday, and then Katelyn and I went on blind dates that her friend Tyler set us up on. I've been on so many blind dates, and so this was old hat for me. I had fun though! My date was nice, but no real love connection ;) Haha! There were probably six or seven different couples, and we all went to the RB to play some wally ball, which is basically volleyball in a racket ball court, and the ball can bounce anywhere off the walls; it's a game much more suited for my lack of coordination, because as long as I hit the ball, it doesn't really matter where it goes because it can hit just about anything and count. My forearms did get pretty bruised though. Once I decided to accept my lack of athleticism and play anyway, sports have been much more do-able for me.

Yesterday was kind of a crazy day because I had class, work, a study group in the middle of work, practicing violin after work, studying, dinner, FHE (which I had to go to because of my calling--I've been really trying hard not to moan and groan about it), studying, going over to Katie's to study, going back home and studying, and then bed. I have a British Lit test this afternoon, and I really have no idea how it will go. I'm hoping for the best and studying as much as I can. Our unit is Romanticism, and most of that is poetry, of which I'm not the biggest fan. (I do admit though, I am a huge fan of Keats!).

I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. I get to start making my valentine's tonight (because I won't have to study for a scary British Lit exam :) ) and Thursday is Valentine's Day! I have a special dinner I'm making, but I'll have to do a separate post about that. This weekend I have fun plans with friends, plus it's a three day weekend because of Presidents' Day! So, all in all, life is good, I'm happy, I'm not dying of homesickness, school is plugging along, and I'm definitely keeping myself busy!

***And I'd like to publically declare that the Office office supplies from Michelle are amazing, and I use them all the time. The fun surprise Valentine's package from Jessie was also so amazing--Katelyn and I love the heart satchels, and I love love love the frame!***

***Oh, and I'd also like to publically declare that the writers' strike is coming to a close! For all you fellow TV junkies out there, rejoice with me!***

beautiful to me

In my British Lit class, we were reading Keats and discussing how "beauty is truth, and truth is beauty," how beauty is subjective, and how beauty can be a representation of perfection. We asked the questions, "Would you stay in a moment of perfection forever, or would you proceed on to reality?" "Is something perfect and beautiful if it's a moment frozen in time, forever in laughter or anticipation?" I was thinking, and I thought of this picture taken over break. I would go back to this moment in a heartbeat, but not forever. My mom, my sisters, and me, all together, our joking and laughing captured in a moment forever. It's the perfection of the moment and the fact that things aren't always like that, that give this picture value. Some may view this and think nothing of it, may see it as just some girls laughing. But to me, this moment is perfection--this image is beautiful to me.

the ultimate care package

So, had I received a package with this hilarious, yet creepy image a couple of weeks ago, it would have made me laugh and then cry for homesickness, but thankfully, now that the pangs of homesickness have subsided for the most part, this package just made me laugh. Inside was a most amazing Valentine's Day care package. Here is what I found inside:



A large assortment of goodies, including Reese's peanut butter hearts, homemade divinity, and a giant banana chocolate chip bar heart. Also included was a $10 McDonald's gift card from Jacquelyn to use for soft serve ice cream runs, two way cute heart dishtowels, and a super, super cute heart shaped plate with red polka dots.


Mom sent the cutest dress that I will wear tomorrow with a 3/4 sleeved shirt underneath, and leggings. My Shade shirt I bought a couple weeks ago was also included in the package.

Razor blades and tampons were also included--I hate spending my limited funds on boring things like that, so it's great when someone else buys them for me!

Super cute Valentine candy candles--I'll probably keep them for display for a while :)


Grandma included her cute red purse I've always liked. As she told me today, "Charlotte, I just have too many purses. It's embarrassing."


Tucked in with the other goodies was this amazing ad for these amazing pants . . . well, they're not really that amazing. Mom even filled in the order form for me; apparently I'm signed up for 3 pairs of lilac pants, 2 pairs of lime pants, and an assortment of other attractive colors . . . thanks Mom. ;)And this is the best part: Scarecrow. He was a Happy Meal toy from many moons ago and we all wondered what in the world this was doing in a children's meal, because it's just so incredibly frightening. Its arms and legs move, its head can turn all the way around, and its eyes close. We hide it around the house for others to find. He managed to sneak his way into the Reese's bag, with some help from my mother.

So, pretty much this was the best package ever. I was visited with laughter, cuteness, clothes, and a small degree of Scarecrow horror. What could top that?