Title of Show

Have I ever told you how much I hate titles? Cause I do.
I don't like writing them and I don't like analyzing their meaning or hypothesizing what the theme of the poem will be from reading those few short words. Ya know, I wouldn't mind writing essays and papers half so much if they didn't make you put a darned title at the top. And most teachers will insist that it be more than "Reaction Paper #2", but I just can't be creative under pressure like that - so I tend to just follow a similar pattern each time which is [One Word Theme: Descriptive Phrase]. All essays in high school followed this pattern, producing such gems as "Honour: Restoring Certainty in Relationships" and "Tolerance: Learning to Appreciate Opposing Views". I tried to get creative this year for a paper I wrote and came up with "A Contemplation in Regurgitation" - it kind of has a nice ring, right?

Anyways, what I'm getting to (whilst trying to tie it into school so that I can post it on my college blog) is that you should all be really appreciative of the awesome titles of my blog posts. Cause they're cool. And they take me a really long time to think of and/or search for.

And yes, Julie, the last one was from Altar Boyz.

Church Rulez

We had our Stake Conference this past weekend, which was thoroughly enjoyable; we've got a lot of good stake members who have a lot of wise things to say. For that matter, I love our weekly devotionals, as well. As much as I appreciate their pearls of wisdom, though, it's these gems from the pulpit that I want to draw attention to:

• "We have lots of cookies for you, cause we want to feed you spiritually, then we want to feed you physically. Then we want you to flirt." (Everybody left promptly after taking their cookies - I think the fun is taken out of it once it becomes a stake assignment.)
• Our Stake President, President Barron, once wielded a legit sword from the pulpit. And he talks like a stereotypical Californian surfer. It makes his talks even more entertaining to listen to. (To use a Bonnie Doon Stake term, he is definitely the one with the "pizazz".)
• "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" - Harry Potter is just so spiri'chal.
• In the introduction to his talk, a young man pulled out a ring box and said he wanted to take this opportunity to do something big and "she knows who she is". It was just a joke, but we were all still a little tense. Oh, YSA wards.
• Someone referred to us as "solid [illegitimate children] of the Lord". (I know, I'm making this blog little more PG here.) We can't figure out what he meant by it, but we're all darned sure that's what we heard.
• President Barron wanted to do an anonymous Q and A in stake conference, so he gave us all his cell number so that we could text him questions.
• Elaine S. Dalton, as part of an object lesson, peeled an actual potato from the pulpit at devotional.

And some people think church is boring.

Children Will Listen*

I love psychology.
From Introduction to Psychology - Ninth Edition, Chapter 6, under 'Social Learning':

"Why do we imitate? Other people's behavior often provides information. Did you ever have this experience? You tell your parents you want to do something because "everyone else" is doing it. They scream, "If everyone else were jumping off a cliff, would you do it, too?" Well, let's think about it. If literally everyone were jumping off a cliff, maybe they have a reason! Maybe you're in great danger where you are, and it would be safer to jump. Maybe if you jump, you won't fall very far, and you'll land on something soft. If everyone is doing it, you should at least consider the possibility that they know something you don't."

Thank you James W. Kalat!

*Before anyone asks, it's from Into the Woods.

As I Recall It Ended Much Too Soon - Oh What a Week!

Oh my heavens, this was the probably the best week here, thus far. So let me touch on, if I may (and I may, because it's my blog, dang-nab-it), some of the highlights of the week.

I was able to get all the troubles with my bank account resolved. I won't go into the boring details, but it was quite a burden off my shoulders to know that I still had funds available to me.

I woke up Wednesday morning to a cute, encouraging note in my bathroom drawer from my roommate. (Thanks, Allisyn!) Later that night, I went with her to another apartment lounge to watch the season premier of Psych. I'd never seen the show before, but I found it quite enjoyable and definitely enjoyed the company.

On Thursday, I went on a date to the 10-pin bowling alley in the MC building. I have only ever been 10-pin bowling once before, but I think I like it better. It's easier to hold the balls with holes in my short, chubby fingers.

Friday lunch brought another lunch date with a young man in my ward. Free (for me, anyways) food is always welcome!

Brianne's birthday was on Friday, so we went out as an apartment to celebrate at Neilson's Frozen Custard for dinner. We don't often do a ton all together, so it was exciting to be able to spend time with all of them.

I went to a haunted straw maze on Friday night. It was super well done and too much fun. Three of us got separated from the rest of the group and we were in there for a good 40 minutes longer than everybody else. Eventually the dressed up workers had seen us wandering back and forth so many times that they just broke character and told us which way we needed to go. It was fantastic.

On Saturday, as an apartment, we had our own Super Saturday. I love crafting! We all bought wood letters corresponding to the first letters of our names which we then painted and decorated and hung on our living room wall. Later, we watched The Swan Princess and made Bead Pets. (That was nostalgic. I remember Julie teaching me as a little girl how to make the bead geckos.)

For a few of her music classes, Camille had to go to the Paul Jacobs organ concert and asked if I wanted to go with her. To be honest, I was expecting to be a little bored, but I was pleasantly surprised. This guy was really talented and there were times when, had I not been watching him myself, you could not have convinced me that all that music was coming from a single musician on a single instrument. Very enjoyable.
On a side note, every time I talk to Camille, I am just more and more surprised at how alike we are and how well we get along. It's really very lucky. She keeps me sane, sometimes.

It was also very good to skype with Mom and Courtney this week. Thinking I'd be getting my phone fixed sooner rather than later, I kept putting it off (I get so frustrated with the awful internet connection here, and I can actually phone them), but it was so nice to hear from them both again.

So, I definitely enjoyed this week. Here's hoping we can make it a 2 week streak!

My Pulse is Rushing, My Head is Reeling

For the most part, there is a wonderful Spirit here on campus that fills me with peace.
There have been moments, though, that have made my heart race in the past month.

• Praying in Class - Oh my heavens. I volunteered to give the opening prayer in my English class and, upon sitting down, my heart was pounding. I've been part of the church for over 18 years - shouldn't I be used to public prayer by now?
• Bikes on Campus - There are sign all over stating that "bike speed is walking speed". I don't know if cyclists are going a tad fast or if I have sorely underestimated the ability of speed walkers today. Either way, it has taken great control on my part to maintain any kind of movement when they whiz past me; I fear for my well-being just a little.
• Speaking in Class - Again, this shouldn't be a big deal, but it takes all my reserves of strength to get my blood pressure back to normal after being called on to speak.
• The Bearded Repairman - The first time he had to come to our apartment, I was alone in the house and he'd come to fix a sink that I had no idea there was a problem with. I was sure it was all just a ruse to catch unsuspecting, defenseless females unawares - I mean, no one has facial hair at BYU-I, so he's got to be sketchy, right? - and I was planning my escape route when he left just as peaceably as he'd come.
  
• Leading the Music in Church - I got a new calling. And it's the same one that I had in Highlands. For some reason, though, I had some sort of stage fright about it, today, being so flustered I even ended the hymn and sat down before completing the fourth verse of The Spirit of God.
• The Fire Alarm During Relief Society - Okay, really only the initial noise was frightening, because I happened to be sitting right underneath the fire bell. But the alarm was actually semi-legit; we were all told to go home before the third block had even started.

Just some points of mild note - gotta love the moments of excitement that intersperse all the calm of homework and studying!

I Galloped Through the Snow in Eleven Below...

I'm just saying.