I Love Lists...

I really do.

There's just something amazing about having a column of things to do and then crossing each item off one by one. (I like to add things to my list that I've already done, just so I can cross them off.) December is a favorite month for me, because I get to write lots of lists, and they're usually fun ones, instead of depressing ones that only list all the different homework assignments I have.

So here is a list of all the lists I will make next month:

• Things to Do Over Christmas Break
• Books to Read Over Christmas Break
• Movies to Watch Over Christmas Break
• Things I Accomplished in 2009 That I Didn't Even Know I Was Capable of Doing
• Things I've Learned in 2009
• New Year's Resolutions for 2010

(Eventually, as each list becomes a reality, there'll be a link to it on this post.)

What's on your list today?

Thankful For...

• The Old Man Upstairs. He really, really cares about me. I like his Church a lot too! I believe it's true, because I'm a better person because of it. :)
• My fam. They care too. All the meals at A&W testify that it is true. Because R-O-O-T-B-E-E-R-F-L-O-A-T spells LOVE better than any other way I know.
• My five (we'll say seven) roommates. Oh, my roommates! They are my best friends and my sisters. Four of us have been through the best and worst times of our lives together--for almost FOUR YEARS. One is married and one is on a mission. Our two newer roommates are more than we could've hoped for. All seven of these ladies are strong, beautiful women, and they've helped me become who I am today (which is sooooo much better than four years ago). I love you Traci, Ashlie, Cortnie, Megan, Erica, Abbie, and Allie!!!
• For my friends. I could try to name them all, but I'm just so popular that it would be impossible. HAHA. No, I'm kidding. It's just, when I name my friends, I want to name all the wonderful things they've done for me, and that's what is impossible to do. But to Kelli, Mike, Joe, Katy, Jessika, and the goofballs back in Orem. To Garett, my new best friend. To my Mentoring posse (Kelsie, Lauren, Dan, Ted, and Tyler). I love ya! I really do.
• School. I am grateful for that too. Especially basketball games. I have a testimony of the Aggie basketball team. As I've sung the fight song and the Scotsman, I've felt the Spectrum Spirit testifying to me they are true. I'm grateful for stupid English inside jokes, for all my English major friends (Kayce, Rachel, Bonnie, Lindsie, Amy, Bobbijo), for the smell of fresh paper, the feel of new notebooks, and the crispness of words traced with a beautiful new pen. Despite the crappy, drafty, box-elder bug infested building, rickety desks, dirty carpets, smelly bathrooms, the nearly boy-less English program, a stack of books higher than my knee (see below),

(Seriously? How is that fair?)

I have learned a lot. Though, now that I think about it, what I learned did not occur in the classroom, which leads me to say that I'm thankful for

• Life. You are a bummer sometimes, giving me so much homework that sleep is just a mere memory, resulting in me getting really sick, and throwing things (people) at me that make me act like an awkward person, (and don't even get me started on the snow!!)... But, Life, you've opened my eyes, and you've opened my heart, and my mouth, and my hands, and my arms. So, even though I have no idea what I want to do with you, I'm a better, fuller, friendlier, more open and open-minded, more loving, more trusting, kinder, and happier person because of you.
• You. I may not know you, but you matter. You matter to our Heavenly Father and you matter to me. You make a difference in this world, for better or for worse. Hopefully for the better! And if not, you can always change. Choose a smile over a frown, a hug over a punch, and service over apathy. Why? Because a smile has more healing power than you can ever know. Because a hug can change people's hearts. Because an act of service can save a life.

I know,

because smiles, hugs, and service have saved mine.

And I'm thankful for that!

Happy Thanksgiving!

R.I.P.

Remember my phone? Indestructible Clark?

Well, that little situation of him falling out of my pocket while I was on the balcony repeated itself today, but Little Clark gave up the ghost on the icy asphalt below. Poor little guy!

Serves me right for being late to FHE.

I Think My Destiny Is...

To be awkward.

To think about awkward things.

To be plagued with awkward things.

To say awkward things.

To feel awkward.

To look awkward.

To laugh awkwardly.

To smile awkwardly.

Not to mention all the agonizing I will do later

because of all my awkwardness.

And yet.... because I know

I will just consistently be awkward,

my awkwardness will cease to have meaning.

Kind of like the word awkward has ceased to have meaning,

because I have said it so many times.

(I even think "awkward" has an awkward spelling.

I mean, really?

Two W's and a K?

It just looks funny!)

There's no particular reason for this post.

I'm not hiding anything. It's just one of those things

you think about, and you say,

"Yeah, that's me. Not much I can do about that."

Yet, In Retrospect...

It wasn't that fun at all.

Monday night's fun was more in the

unexpectedness,

But after last night (Tuesday)...

No more.

Nope.

Not gonna happen.

Because tonight's goodbye told me

I can't handle it right now.

I hate goodbyes.

Oh Boy...

HAHAHAHA!!!

Wow.

I just don't know what to think sometimes....

But,

I would say last night was fun.

Yep.

:)

(I think Cody would classify this as vague. He would be right.)

Can I Get a Huzzah?

I got past yesterday! I got all the urgent homework done and submitted.

AND I watched an episode of Glee! (I'm so hopelessly behind. School and life....well, it's been a nightmare.)

Today, I will do more homework. I got up and made my roommate breakfast before she had to take the Praxis, and then I went back to bed. I don't know what it is about early morning naps, but they always seem to have the best dreams. Like, seriously, the best dreams. :)

Waking up from them is the worst.

It's like somebody said, "Here's the fuzziest, warmest sweater on earth--the most perfectly warmed mug of hot cocoa--the best, lovingest, squeeziest, most delightful hug that lifts you off your feet--a slice of richly frosted chocolate fudge-y cake--an hour of gut-wrenching laughter--a spoon and a jar of no-calorie peanut butter that tastes just like the real thing--the most perfectly written book--David Archuleta serenading you with his dulcet voice--a brand-new pair of Utah State sweatpants--new, fresh, beautiful mail--the cutest text message in the world--"

...waited for you to open your arms...

...then took it all away and said, "Just kidding."

Seriously. That's what the dream gods told me. And they laughed.

I bet you're thinking, "Well, now, that couldn't get any worse."

Oh.

It could.

That magical dream was wrenched away from me, and I woke up to see it snowing.

I bet you're crying with me right now.

Thank you. Misery loves company.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry...

is what I'm chanting to myself this morning.

It's 6:47, don'tcha know.

I've been up around 5:30 or 6:00 for the last three mornings.

I think.

It all kinda blurs together after awhile.

So much homework.

So much reading.

So much writing.

And all before Thanksgiving break.

When I come back

there will be

So much homework.

So much reading.

So much writing.

But you know what makes it worthwhile?

The peaceful time I get to spend...

praying

and

studying my scriptures

(I say "my," because once you start studying

and really paying attention,

well, the scriptures really do become your own)

before I do my homework.

I think it helps me not be crazy.

And not cry.

And not throw things.

And not cry.

And not think mean things in my head.

And not cry.

(I fail this one almost every day.)

This post is kind of sad. I'm feeling kind of sad.

I predict a sad kind of week.

Melancholy mixed with a little despondency.

Sorry.

(Apology to Cody for being vague. See below for vague details.)

I'm being vague. I feel vague.

I think it's because admitting the specifics

(happy or sad)

makes me feel

VULNERABLE

and I don't like it.

So I'll end here and wish you

Happy Weekend!!

(with no melancholy or despondency)

11:11...

I believe in wishing on 11:11.

After years of wishing, a wish finally

came true for the

first time

this year

I won't tell you what it was,

but

it was magnificent!

Tonight

is November 11

also known as 11/11

Wishes are especially powerful

when you wish at

11:11 on 11/11

So just imagine

how amazing the

wish you make

on November 11, 2011

will be!!

What will you wish for?

(Don't tell, though, because it won't come true!)

I Miss...

Drawing sometimes.

I drew this today for my roommate.

What do you think?

Ode to...

My favorite foods (as listed here).

Well. No. It can't really be an ode, because it's not poetry. But it is poetry! I mean, the food is poetry in my mouth, but this post is not.

I guess you could call it a tribute. A tribute to the poetry that is the delight that is the mingling of the tingling that is Diet Coke and the melting of Cheddar Jalapeno (how do you do the little squiggly above the "n"?) Cheetos upon my tongue. 

Did you get that?

So I've always loved Diet Coke, but it wasn't until Kelsey inspired me with her public dedication (I think I may have even Googled the exact same image! Oh my!) to that beloved beverage that I thought, "Well hey! I love it too, and I have a testimony of the truthfulness of its deliciousness, above all that I ever before tasted. And it is desirable above all other cola products, so I want others to partake of it also."

I know that Diet Coke is real. I don't think it, I know. I've tasted it for myself. I also know that Cheddar Jalapeno (for reals, how do you do the squiggly?) Cheetos are true, as far as they are munched correctly. And by that, I mean you need to buy the big family sized bag and down the whole thing in one evening. 

And if you don't know this for yourself, well, you need to find out. 

Because, obviously, you are missing something essential in your life.

Amen.

Yummy-Yum-Yum...

My favorite foods are:

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