This Made Me Giggle

"I have a lot of other great qualities as well"

Have a Great Day.

Ghostbusters on the Intrepid

I watched the Ghostbusters on the Intrepid!!!!!!!!

Beautiful.

The Ghostbusters were there!

What a setting for a movie!!!!

The deck was full of awesome helicopters...

and jets!

It was packed.

The screen fell over mid-movie!

...it was actually pretty funny.

Beautiful skyline view!

Really, what an amazing experience!

Where else in the world can you watch Ghostbusters on a WWII Aircraft Carrier with such a beautiful view?

Complete AWESOMENESS.

Youth Conference

I ran away from my unpaid internship for three days and volunteered as a counselor for a mock EFY for kids here in New York who would never be able to afford an actual program.

We had training Sunday night--two hours of "love the kids," "lay down the law," and "love the kids." That was it.

Tuesday we showed up early at a university campus in Queens. The kids were already crowding restlessly around one small door--the only thing that separated them from the air conditioning and World Cup game just inside the front room.

Five hours later and we almost had everyone checked in. There were so many youth that showed up without registering, many of the leaders were afraid they'd run out of beds. But they had an open arms policy, and wouldn't turn anyone away.

I had already forgotten all of my so called "training" as the "youth," the tall scary youth, surrounded me. What was I supposed to say when they're shorts were too short? How was I supposed to address vulgar language? Am I really supposed to just take their cell phones and ipods if they brought them?

It was like pulling teeth to get my kids to move anywhere. However, when evening hit they somehow gained a whole bunch of energy, and they went everywhere. About half the building tried to sneak out the first night!

One of the kids in my group didn't speak any English, as he had just moved here from the Dominican Republic four months ago!

I couldn't believe how little the kids knew about the church. "What's a convert?" "What are those brothers' names? Oh, Cain and who?"

They even clapped after every testimony (a reverent and spiritual declaration of one's belief's).

The kid behind me at one of the meetings laughed and said, "Only in New York." And then joined the crowd with whoops and hollers of his own.

The theme was "Be Strong and of a Good Courage."

If I walked pass some of these kids on the street, I'm sure they would have scared the wits out of me. I thought I was the one that needed strength and courage, not them.

Out of the nearly 400 people there, I was one of 5 blonde people.

But let me tell you, I wish our U.S. culture consisted of dancing like that!

The got Brad Wilcox to come!

(A BYU professor and high profile motivational speaker for youth.)

And Sister Dalton!

(The General Young Women President of the LDS church.)

One of the youth stood up at the end to share her thoughts on the conference experience. She said that youth conference meant a lot to her (something that us tired counselors had struggled to see over the past three days). She said she had just graduated from high school and was feeling lost in her life. Her father had said some pretty unkind things about her at her graduation, and the spout resulted in a fight where her father said he never wanted to see her again. During her senior year her mother had been in and out of the hospital, and she bore that responsibility. To the hospital at 11pm, back at 6am, high school, homework, and a cleaning business just to keep her family together. This girl was 17 years old and keeping her family together. And then the father has the nerve to rag on her and tell her to get out of his house.

Sure, these kids were rough on the edges, and some of them were down right delinquents, but I can't imagine, I can't even imagine what they go through on a daily basis.

I wish I could say they all left feeling loved.

I only hope they all left feeling something.

I have so many more stories and memories from this incredible experience.

It wasn't anything like what I expected (or what EFY in Provo, Utah would ever amount to), but it was a wonderful experience.

And while I still believe the doctrine of the church is the same all around the world, I have come to believe the culture of the church is very different.

Here's what the missionaries from Queens, New York have to say about that:

Masterpiece Theater

I've had this theme music stuck in my head for ages.

Ahh, the memories.

And the retro furniture.

A Tribute to Fatherhood

I love my dad.

Happy Fathers' Day.

Here are some more caring fathers:

Are You Achin' for Some Bacon?

If only every Saturday morning began with a breakfast of pancakes like these!

Check out the pictures on this guy's Pancake Blog.

Also, this made me laugh out loud, and I needed to share...

Movie Ratings

Movies I saw last week:

Prince of Persia
Story: Entertaining
Characters: Inconsistent, but funny
Humor: Cheesy
Jake Gyllenhaal: Attractive
Overall: B+



The Glass Bottom Boat
Clothing: Hilarious
Male Attitudes: No, Thank You
Futuristic Appliances: Scary
Animals: Cute
Overall: A-



The Postman Always Rings Twice
Moral: Murder is Bad
Cat: Dead as a Doornail
Acting: Dramatic
Story: Predictable
Overall: B-



The Thin Man
Marital Relationship: Enviable
Clothing: Fabulous(ly entertaining)
Humor: Witty
Characters: Strong
Overall: A

A Saturday in the Park

Here's what we saw in Central Park this weekend!

I'm a Big Girl in the Big City

I've decided I like this.

Cute Dog Rides Turtle

Why is this so funny?!

Them Guys Got Moves

A guy was playing Bad Romance by Lady Gaga in the subway last night.

Not sure which is better, a muscular black dude breaking out in song with his guitar or the moves these guys came up with:

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

*sigh* ...A much needed laugh this evening. :)

Film Shoot

I got to go with the National Geographic Television crew and help out with their film shoot on a documentary about 9/11.

The nice police officers that hung out with me for the morning took me back to a restricted area so that I could take these pictures:

Where the Twin Towers used to be.

Ground zero.

Behind me and to the right is the Freedom Tower. It's being built to commemorate the Twin Towers.

Our next stop for the film shoot was the fire station that was the first to arrive on scene when the towers collapsed.

Cheesy, I know. The firefighters were trying to get me to pole dance...this was the best I could come up with.

Wearing the Captain's hat.

The department actually got called to fight a fire while we were there.

Next stop, everywhere else!

Carrying all of the bags (oh, the many times I have carried camera bags...) around the city.

The blind guy with the dog is a major character in the documentary we were filming. He was on the 71st floor of one of the towers when it went down. His dog guided him out amid the chaos.

I love the cool gadget our photog used in this shot. He attached the camera to a monopod, and then plugged these goggles into the camera. He can see the shot through the goggles! So cool!

We filmed close to where a lot of Law and Order film crews work.

Law and Order--pure awesomeness!

The producer asked me to be in the documentary! Here I am being "comforted" while looking over the Hudson. That guy is a "real actor." haha!

I also had a close up scene in another part.

Mostly, I just run though a lot of shots in a "scared and hurried fashion."

Watch National Geographic Channel on Sept. 11 of this year and you might see me!

er, at least you'll see my feet a lot!

I had to catch a taxi home from the shoot. My first taxi all by myself!

Entertainment 4

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Uninformant
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

And... make sure when you give instructions to your cake decorator, you remind them not to write the instructions ON the cake! ...or accidently put scissors in the cake!

These are stories and test questions accumulated by music teachers in the state of Missouri:
Refrain means don't do it. A refrain in music is the part you better not try to sing.
A virtuoso is a musician with real high morals.
John Sebastian Bach died from 1750 to the present.
Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was rather large.
Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling him. I guess he could not hear so good. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died from this.
Henry Purcell is a well known composer few people have ever heard of.
Aaron Copland is one of your most famous contemporary composers. It is unusual to be contemporary. Most composers do not live until they are dead.
An opera is a song of bigly size.

Music sung by two people at the same time is called a duel.

Most authorities agree that music of antiquity was written long ago.

My favorite composer is Opus.
A harp is a nude piano.
A tuba is much larger than its name.
Instruments come in many sizes, shapes and orchestras.

A bassoon looks like nothing I have ever heard.
Last month I found out how a clarinet works by taking it apart. I both found out and got in trouble.

A contra-bassoon is like a bassoon, only more so.
Tubas are a bit too much.

Just about any animal skin can be stretched over a frame to make a pleasant sound once the animal is removed.
Q - Is the saxophone a brass or a woodwind instrument?
A - Yes.

Entertainment 1

Entertainment 2

Entertainment 3

Entertainment 3

More fun...

And even more fun!...

Conan vs. Jay

Have you been following the most recent scandal at NBC?
Well, most of the nation has.

And here's what Conan O'Brien thinks about it!



*****NBC removed this video from Hulu and all known YouTube posts. A friend of mine luckily downloaded the video before NBC removed it, and you can watch it on my link to his Facebook.

Entertainment 2

If you're really in the mood for a chuckle, check out these videos too!

Entertainment

Although I often have things that draw me away from this blog (e.g. finals, homework, actual people to converse with), I figured you have all the time in the world, and surely you must pine away in front of your computer waiting for me to post again and again and again. Because this must be the case, I thought I'd give you something to occupy your time while I am busy doing other things (e.g. finals, homework, actually conversing with people).
Waste some time! Enjoy! ...I did. :)

















Thank you YouTube! What would we do without you?...

From Sand to Masterpiece--Incredible

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

These videos made my night.

You must watch them in there entirety.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

Love Happens

I just saw this movie at the dollar theater:



I liked it. Even shed a few tears. :) Recommended.

I've been thinking a lot about love lately; and I have a variety thoughts to express on the subject, but I just don't think I'll get to them all tonight. Maybe eventually--in time.

I don't even know where to begin. Well, maybe for once I can just write as I used to on this blog--senseless ramblings, unfiltered jabber.

I spoke with a male friend tonight on the phone for nearly two hours. We're just friends, well, good acquaintances. And he asked me a lot of questions about my relationship with Travis. I've told that story so many times--some recounts include "these" details, others "those," and some none at all. But rarely do the words I say truly tell the story. No body really wants to hear that story.

Honestly, I don't mind talking with people about my dating life, both past and present. I don't mind, but I rarely get through such conversations without a churning stomach and nasty after-flavor. There is no need for apologies by those who bring up the topic, sometimes I really do need the talk. The problem is, I want someONE to tell my stories to. Male or Female, really, either will do. I just need a real friend, a best friend. You know, the "bosom buddy" type. I enjoy my friends and acquaintances, but I'm tired of pretending.

Do I pretend all the time? No, I don't think so. But I know I pretend often enough I confuse even myself about who I really am inside. I had a four-hour conversation a few weeks ago with the same young man mentioned above. During this conversation I let myself out a little. It's not like I divulged some deep dark secret, I only became really excited about Plato, Oedipus, and Freud. I really enjoyed myself throughout the conversation, but after a few days of thinking, I kicked myself for it. I felt so ridiculously nerdy for explaining the entire back-story of Oedipus Rex, and I felt like an overall dork for babbling so long to someone who is practically a stranger to me. He plays football and runs for Student Body President--so, he probably has an entourage of attractive women. I wonder what type of man would be interested in me.

I love love. There is something magical about it. But at this point in my life, it's easier to look the other way. I wouldn't say I'm bitter. And I've even quenched the loneliness I felt before by filling my life with many wonderful things. Yet, in spite of my rebellious attitude--planning the next ten years of my life as though I were single--there is a small grain of something inside me that says this it is so very wrong of me to picture myself alone.

Do you believe in true love? How about "meant to be" or "the one"?

Why is love seen as a cliche in today's world?

* * *

I just received a card from Gma S. in the mail. We've have this exchange going on for the past little while where I call her and then she "responds" by writing and mailing me a letter/card. It's very sweet. I love hand-written snail-mail. One day, since we're on the topic of love, I want someone to snail-mail me love letters one day.

This is written on the front of the card:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In her note, my Gma writes about a grandmother's love. She says that, like God's love, we have an boundless capacity to love. So what is love? Does this scripture depict Godly love? Is this what we should mean every time we say "I love you"?

Love to me:

-Inside Jokes
-Peace
-Hugs that consume my whole body and fill me with giddiness
-Forgiveness
-A confidant
-Sharing
-Imperfections
-Road trips
-Family
-Good food
-Understanding
-Selflessness
-Putting you before me
-Respect
-Caressing
-A pedestal
-Late nights filled with "I love you"s
-Unconditional
-Safe
-Letting go of expectations
-Never giving up
-Honor
-Deep conversations
-Tenderness
-Thought
-Romance
-Frozen chocolate
-Kindness
-Best friend
-Complementing and complimenting
-Passion
-Star gazing
-Honesty
-Meaning what you say
-Saying nice things
-Babies
-Patience
-Humility
-Dancing
-Working things out
-Giggling
-Kisses
-Communication
-Secrets with, not from
-Lazy Saturday mornings in bed
-Agreeing to disagree
-Eternity
-Red roses
-God
-Bryan Adams
-Gentlemen