Weekend Update

So Last Saturday, Feb 20. We had Ward Prom. Unless you brought you boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance, everyone got paired up with someone else in the ward. I know it sounds Like Ward and Prom are two words that should never used in the same sentence. It was a actually a lot of fun. My date and I drove up the canyon to Aspen Ridge. We had lots of time to talk. We talked about school and music, and movies. On our way up the Canyon it started snowing quite a bit. Alright, I'd qualify it as a border line blizzard.
Dinner was a lot of fun and yummy. They had a little salad bar, and rolls, and potatoes, and hot vegetables and ham. We sat by a lot of our friends so we had a good time chatting while we ate.

My friend Richie got invited by a friend of a friend of someone in the ward. We had to recruit guys because we have so many more girls in the ward than men. He completely surprised during dinner. I was walking over to our table after we had gone through the food line and Richie jumped out right in front of me. He almost gave me a heart attack but it was good to see him.
After that the Dance Started. They played a bunch of music but there were 10 slow songs. After dinner we all had dance cards to fill up so everybody had a partner to dance with for those slow dances. I got 6-7 of my slots filled. I could have been more proactive. I just sat talking with friends at my table and I still got dance partners. Sadly when my date and I were actually supposed to dance, he went out to help dig cars out of the now but i danced with my friend Josh. Nobody specified the rules of the Dance Card so my friend Justine and I were each others #7 dance and we did a beatiful interpretive dance to Everything I do, I do it for You. Classic

The dance was a lot of fun. I got to dance to Footloose, and I did the Macarena for the first time since Elementary School.

Other High Points of My Week:

I started and finished THE LAST SONG by Nicholas Sparks, still not a giant fan of his work

We had a guest speaker/lecturer in my my Childhood Language Disorders Class.

I decided to volunteer to play my violin in Church. I'm a bit excited for that!!!

I had some old guy yell and swear at me at work. I couldn't do what he wanted me to so he was really angry . Perhaps Even Livid. That's really a personal goal of mine every week though, see if I can make at least one customer really mad.

That's all for now. Maybe I'll feel ambitious enough to write a review of the Sparks novel.

Next up: Language Testing my Miss Izzy Skizzy (aka Isabel)
I also just started the book THE LOVELY BONES. I read the first chapter and I'm already disturbed. We'll see how the rest of the story goes.

Olympic Trivia

This blew my mind. I thought it was the neatest thing I've ever heard.
This is Magda Julin

Magda Julin was a daughter of the French music producer Edouard Mauroy. The family moved to Sweden when Magda Julin was 7 years old. She only participated once in World Championships in figure skating and came in only in 6th place. Her victory at the Olympics 1920 (in Antwerp Belgium) was therefore a big surprise. She also won three times the Swedish championships and twice the Nordic championships.

When Magda Julin won her Olympic gold medal in 1920 she was already 3 months pregnant.

Valentine's Day.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

For this reason loving involves commitment. We are not automatic lovers of self, others, world, or God. Love does not just happen . . . Love is a choice -- not simply, or necessarily, a rational choice, but rather a willingness to be present to others without pretense or guile. Love is a conversion to humanity -- a willingness to participate with others in the healing of a broken world and broken lives. Love is the choice to experience life as a member of the human family, a partner in the dance of life, rather than as an alien in the world or as a deity above the world, aloof and apart from human flesh.

I hope everyone got to see something or see someone they love this weekend. Love wears many masks. You can love in many ways and on many levels. But here a few more things about love of which i am certain:

There is a difference between falling in love and experiencing love.
Everyone deserves to be loved no matter how flawed or imperfect they may be.
You should never Love Somebody with the idea that you are going to change them.
Love is beautiful but it isn't easy, It can be hard
Love may be wonderful but it doesn't take away the stress and obligations of Life.
Love is selfless
Love requires Patience and Sacrifice
Real Love is Unconditional

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

Eye of the Beholder

For lack of attention a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day ~Evelyn Underhill

I love beautiful things. Things that make me stop and take a second look, things that keep me thinking or demand consideration, things that make me cry, things that grab that extra moment of my time. That is how I measure Beauty.

I really like Stargazers!!! They delicate and vibrant at the same time

There are many pieces of Art that I like, but Starry Starry Night is astounding.

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

To Me Words are Some of the most Powerful things in the world. Words can be gorgeous and lovely and kind and charming and enticing. Words can also be demeaning and hurtful and scarring.

I love any type of creative talent. Its fascinating to me to see what people engineer from nothing but an idea in their head. Seeing people display their talent touches me. It gives me something to admire and enjoy. It also is a great motivation to me. It makes me want to improve myself and do something productive and effective with my time. It gives me the push i need to set goals for myself and to work on my own talents. In short, more often than not it makes me want to be better.

This clip is from the movie Chicago and it makes complete sense in context of the story. I think Its just a pure work of genius. Its clever and brilliant and really just fun.

So what I'm trying to say in a long winded way is that Life is full of good and beautiful things. It all is just a matter of perspective. Its up to us to find the good along with the bad each day.

Stranger than Fiction.

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

So I know this sounds really lame. I began to love reading and book in particular while watching Wishbone when I was little. Ever since I was introduced to the exciting, fantastic world of literature, I've really enjoyed reading. Granted I don't read as much as I should, but when I start a book I do kind of become obsessive. My mother has had to tell me more than once to put my book down. That happened quite a lot while I was reading Harry Potter. =-)

I know this sounds cliche, but I really like that books create a whole new world with new people to meet and places to visit. You can actually learn so much about anything your heart desires, you just have to pick the right book. Reading has also helped me learn about myself, the type of person I am, and what I'm interested in. I love discovering characters that I really like and that I relate to. There are characters I'm drawn to, and that I want to be more like, and there are certain characters I just really hate. I've also discovered that my favorite type of books are mysteries. I guess I have a very logical, pragmatic mind like my dad. I love sorting through details and studying the plot to figure out why and how certain things happened.

I really loved Encyclopedia Brown when I was little. When I was older I went through a wicked Mary Higgins Clark phase. I still really like her stories. I've recently read this book called The Cases That Haunt Us, written by FBI profiler John Douglas. In it he takes apart famous unsolved crimes like Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Zodiak Killer and the Jon Bennet Ramsey murder. He walks you through the events the crime, scrutinizes and analyzes the available evidence and offers his insights and opinions about possible suspects. Kind of Morbid, I know, but I've learned I find this type of book Fascinating. I just finished Wednesdays Letters and I am in the middle of PS I Love You.

I am a big advocate of reading. I want to set a realistic goal for myself and read one non school book a month at least. I also have this secret desire to join a book club.

Without a Song Or Dance What are We.

Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentation, laughter — to all these music gives voice, but in such a way that we are transported from the world of unrest to a world of peace, and see reality in a new way.

I love music. I love everything about it. I love playing music, I love listening to music. Music has a subtle power over me and a permanent home in my heart. I have been surrounded by music my entire life. Music lessons have taught me if nothing else determination. Music and has given me confidence and taught me how to work, and to stretch myself and to reach goals. I have fond memories of performing when I was little. I was probably one of the most shy children you will ever meet. I remember crying through my first violin recital and my teacher getting up to play with me. I remember singing "Grandpa Tell me Bout the Good old Days" at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, and singing Save the Last Dance with my sisters at their 60th. I remember competing at State Solo and Ensemble in High School, and playing countless duets in Church with Erin and Jordan. And who Can forget our stint into Bluegrass. What can I say? Its sort of like a rite of passage in our family. I met two of my best friends because I was involved in Orchestra. Even after High School we are still as close as ever and love getting together.

I love how music can capture a moment perfectly. There are songs that are sweet, songs that make you want to cry. There are songs that make you want to dance, and songs that just make you smile. Music is very much capable of telling a story from beginning to end and bringing you through and turbulent emotional ride in the process. I dare anybody to listen to One Day More or Defying Gravity without your having your heart start to race. These songs are deep and enticing and pretty much perfection. To Me there is nothing closer true beauty and loveliness than hearing Yo Yo Ma play Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 or Franz Liszt playing his La Campanella.

Music helps me unwind and relax and clear my mind. Music helps can make things better when everything goes wrong. When I get to play my violin and piano, however horrible it may sound, it always allows me to escape and to forget about school, and deadlines, and stress.

Music has been my playmate, my lover, and my crying towel. ~Buffy Sainte-Marie

Here are the 9 loves of my Life

The first thing in my life that I am in Love with and that I am the most grateful for is my family. I've realized how how much support they give me and all the smiles that they cause. I realized they are probably what makes me the happiest. More specifically these little munchkins will always brighten my day no matter what is happening.



Mr. Jake, what can I say. He's 9 and he acts like he's in college sometimes. He is really into tanks, weapons, military history. He loves Germany and is taking German lessons. He loves to stump you with trivia. He takes this all to seriously, but he likes to challenge you to basketball shooting contests. I love that I can make him roll his eyes when we talk about sports. He is a great big brother. There's so much to love about this good good kid.
Miss Olivia. She's adorable and should probably be not just in a beauty pageant but also winning it. . She giggles and its infectious. I love her look that she gives with her big chocolate brown eyes right before she starts to laugh. She has the most awesome long hair I've ever seen. She is such a help with India. She's like a second mommy. She is a dancer, and probably the fastest runner her age. She's like a cheetah.



Faye is also just beautiful. She has wicked big blue eyes. I love hearing her talk about her kittens. She will ask you the funniest questions and just be so matter of fact about everything. Faye is a smart girl with a great curiosity. She likes to know about everything. She's also got major guts. She is an extreme little girl. She does dance lessons, she loves Rhino rides, and has he own snow mobile.

Tristan is the most charming 4 year old you will ever meet. He says the sweetest things. It is not uncommon to hear I love you several times a day. He has a very intense personality. He can make up the most bizarre hilarious stories you have ever heard right of the top of his head. He loves Jack and Scarlett, but he also thinks he's an adult. He loves to be where the party is. He loves Eggnog. Hearing him sing Tomorrow from Annie or So What by Pink would make anybody smile.


Miss Isabel. She is the sweetest little girl. Her smile just melts your heart. She loves to snuggle and she's like your own personal cuddly pet. She just likes to relax and hang out with you. She loves getting one on one attention, like playing with dominos, and she always wants to be involved in whatever game is going on at the moment. She loves playing I Spy though I'm not sure she understands the rules. She is not afraid to enjoy her chocolate treats. That's my girl.


Jack-Jackie Chan Man. He is just the sweetest little boy. He has the cutest little voice. I remember when he was littler he'd always ask What's that? What you doing? He love his toy Rocket. He makes me laugh when he tells his mom that he wants to eat yogurt as part of his dinner and then he only ends up eating one bite. He's always running to keep up with his big brother Tristan. He's very active and always either in or on something, just exploring.

Miss India. She is still very much attached to her mom. She is also adorable just like her sisters. She has electric blue eyeballs, and her crooked little smile is priceless. She is just learning to talk and jabbers all of the time. She loves puppies. Its amazing to see her eyes widen and her face light up when she gets excited about something. I'm actually making progress with her. She's getting more comfortable around me. She'll give me Five and yesterday she gave me a kiss on the cheek for the first time.

Bianca. Bianca. First thing I love about this girl, besides her ginormous beautiful blue eyes, her cheekies, and her dimples is her name. We gave the kid so many nicknames before she was even born. Beyonce, Binaca. Biankadonk. mostly we just call her B now. I love how easily you can get her to laugh. She's got personality like no other. She's already mimics her mom saying "no" or "nuh-uh". She loves to play and be chased around just as much as she loves her "babies" and toys. I miss her little puppy/squeaky mouse noises she makes. I wish she lived closer.Miss Scarlett is just the tiniest most gorgeous baby doll. My sister calls her their little princess.
I just hope she can survive the two monkey men she has for older brothers.

I Thought I Knew What Love Meant.

In honor of Valentine's Day: Enjoy!!!

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. ~Victor Hugo

Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day

Love is when all you care about is that one person no one could hurt you more and yet no one can make you happier

Love is when they gaze into your eyes and it warms your heart

Love - a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker

I learned the real meaning of love. Love is absolute loyalty. People fade, looks fade, but loyalty never fades. You can depend so much on certain people, you can set your watch by them. And that's love, even if it doesn't seem very exciting. ~Sylvester Stallone

Love, true love, is that which can give the most without asking or demanding anything in return.
~Mazie Hammond

So now, What can I say I love about my Life?
That's for another time. . . stay tuned.

Aggies!

So Saturday I drove up to Logan to Visit my friends who are at USU. The trip was really fun and it was nice change to leave Provo. Saturday Night we decided to go to the basketball game against San Jose.

The game was interesting. . but definitely a good time. The start of our good fortune/karma happened before the game even started. I was with Luke and Wayne. Luke is a student at USU so he gets into the game for free. Wayne and I were in line to buy tickets for the game when a very very kind soul gave us two of his tickets. He gave them to us for free. I guess they were extra and he didn't have as many people as he had counted on coming to the game.

Then, I got to learn how to do the Scotsman correctly. The fight song starts out with a low horn that sounds like a cow. Then you sing the song twice through.
"Show me the Sotsman who doesn't love the thistle
Show me the Englishman who doesn't like the rose
Show me the true blooded Aggie from Utah
Who doesn't love the spot where the sagebrush grows"
The first time through you raise your hands up in the air and move them left to right. They call this "herding the cows." Then the second time through you have this arm action going on that they call "milking the cows"

The actual game was pretty exciting. The score kept close enough to make the game interesting. We all know that blow out games, as great as they are, can be boring. The Aggies really pushed forward and crushed San Jose in the second half. The Aggies made some amazing 3 point shots-nothing but net. I've discovered the USU crowd is very passionate about their basketball. There was yelling and taunting like you wouldn't believe.

Everytime San Jose had the ball the USU crowd would make this long sustained annoying high pitched "ahh sound" just to be distracting. Whenever San Jose would make a mistake or lose possession of the ball the Aggies would yell "YOu Suck". During San Jose's foul shots the Aggies would incessantly chant "you will miss it" "you will miss it'. And if San Jose did miss it and tried for their second free throw they would yell "we were right" We were right". If they weren't chanting they were making these freaky jungle bird noises just to shake up the other team. The first time it happened I kind of jumped out of my seat. I felt like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
One of the highlights of the game was this guy that was at least 300 pounds sitting behind one of the baskets wearing a scuba mask and no shirt. I was disturbed.

Half time was fun. The Golden Girls came and danced to Love Shack. They are all between 50 (maybe 60) and 95 years young. Between them they had about 500 children and 1200 great grandchildren. The oldest lady there was 93 and freaking did a solo at the end of the song and went down into the splits. They also presented Coach Stew Morrill with a plaque to celebrate 5o0 career wins. That's dang impressive!!

he game really was fun especially since The Aggies beat San Jose by 20 points. Lets just say its a game I'm not going to forget anytime soon.