Masterpiece Theater

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

Ahh, the memories.

And the retro furniture.

Apollo Theater

We went to amateur night. It was AWESOME! I heard MJ and his brothers started out at Apollo Theater once upon a time, and many other great artists as well.

The performances were amazing. AND we had a dance party in the isles during intermission!

(Although I think the black women on the other row were getting a kick out of our massive group of white dancers...)

Here's a bit of the gang hobnobbing with peoples and performers after the show.

SO. GOOD.

I'm a Big Girl in the Big City

I've decided I like this.

Repeat

Have you ever listened to a song on repeat for so long you shouldn't like it anymore...but still do?

Here is my song for this week:



Thanks Katy for introducing me to this wonderful tune!



What songs do you think are repeat worthy?

Country Feelin'

For those who don't know me real well, you've got to understand I'm not much of a country music gal. It's not that I don't like it; I'm just not a "fan." But today, this song sang my soul. Enjoy.

For those of you who are country fans, any recommendations to try and sway my fanhood? :)

I Hope You Dance

Today was a dance-in-your-room-when-no-one-is-looking day.
Dancing makes me happy.

Happiness

hehe. This makes me smile.

FireFlies

Jai Ho

The Answers that Nobody Sticks Around For:

"What's Up?" --a question so flippantly asked. Well, here's the answer that nobody sticks around long enough to hear:

Finals are done--thankfully. For a bit there, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through. But I did. And here I am. Actually, there is a small chance (once again) that I can get my first 4.0 here at BYU. A few of my classes are a real tossup (like always) as to whether they'll be "A"s or "A-"s. Keep your fingers crossed.
Some of my professors have really ticked me off this finals time though. I don't understand how they can spend an entire semester teaching (or not teaching) one thing, and then harshly grade a final that had to do with entirely different things!!
It's funny, at the beginning of this semester I looked over everything that I would have to do until I reached the point that I am at now; and I may have shed a tear or two at all that was expected of me during 'Fall semester 2008.' I told myself "if I can survive this, it'll be a real accomplishment." I don't like giving myself a pat on the back; but I must say "I'm a survivor." It's funny I guess, because in pure hindsight bias the semester wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. But then again, call me Dante because it was a real trip through Hell. I'm not sure why that's funny. I guess the semester was just so good and so bad at the same time that I'm not sure how to feel about it. Either way, it's in my past. And soon I will not only put this semester to bed, but the entire year of 2008.

I had a real burst of future hopes yesterday. I watched several dance movies and they always get me going. I have really big plans for next summer! I want to take hip-hop lessons and maybe ballroom, guitar lessons, write and read a ton, get my ASL interpreting certification, get a random job, maybe take classes, and stay at home with my family! It's gonna be a great summer.
But before I even get to next summer, I'm really looking forward to next semester too. I'm not really sure if I'm going to be able to handle everything I'm signed up for though. I actually had a dream about it last night. The whole night I struggled with decisions of what to participate in and what not to. A lot of my anxiety stems from my new job as Technical Director of the Daily News on Fridays. I just don't think that it fits in my schedule. And even more than that, when I pray about it I keep feeling like I need to decline the position. The answer seems so obvious on paper, but I just worry that withdrawing will give me a bad reputation in the news room, and I don't want to lose a skill that I think is fun either. But seriously, I'm signed up for 17 credits and two part-time jobs! Yeah, I know, I'm crazy. I'm so excited for all of my classes, and the first thing that I would drop would be directing. It's sad, but I think I'm just going to have to get the guts up to say something. As far as the classes that I hope to keep: Living Prophets, Intro to Guitar, Intro to Latin Ballroom Dance, Intro to Standard Ballroom Dance, Media History & Philosophy, Television News Production, British Literary History 1, and Creative Writing. I can't wait!

In looking to the future, I can't help but often wonder where my life will be in five years. I see a lot of my friends going off and getting married, starting their families. I'm also making a lot of new friends who got married before I even met them. Being at BYU, and reaching the ripe "old" age of twenty, the favorite topic of conversation among most people I know is :
"Who are you dating?"
"How's your dating life?"
"We're trying to get pregnant."
"You guys are going to get married, I know it."
"I'm sorry your social life sucks."
"I'm engaged!"
"I'm pregnant!"
"Have you guys kissed yet?"
"Being single is good...I guess."
I tried picturing myself with kids. I can see it--ten years from now! Last night, as I lay in bed, I realized that I had never even pictured myself in a wedding dress. I imagined a reception setting a few times, and it was kinda hard to put myself in the bride's shoes. Even harder was to find someone to stand in for the groom. I kind of have a 'crush,' or as I like to say "I'm minutely interested" in a guy in my ward right now. I really don't think that he is interested in the slightest, and my own interest is waning, but my mom says not to slam the door of my heart on him yet. She thinks that I should give him next semester; I'm giving him the first month--tops. Honestly, I don't want him (or anyone else for that matter) to "fall madly in love with me" and want to marry me next semester. I just want a really good friend for now. Maybe even merge into boyfriend. But for now, I'm so incredibly single (as usual) that it's not even funny. It's a good think I like being single some of the time, or else I might go crazy over it (like some people I know...).
Right now, I'm not even near the person that I'd like to be when I get married and start a family. Let's just say, I have a lot of goals for next year; a lot of areas for improvement.

Karma and I have had a really good experience visiting teaching this semester. One of our teachees has really opened up to us and really seems to depend on us a lot for emotional support. I really hope that we can be everything that she needs.

Oh! I found some new songs that I really like: Fred Jones, Part 2--Ben Folds, Fix You--Coldplay, and X & Y--Coldplay. Some of Avril Lavigne's songs have really hit the mark these past few weeks.
And, of course, my "Most Often Played" Playlist still holds most of my overplayed favorites.

Hmm...I think that's pretty much it for now. Thanks for asking.

How are you?

An Overview

So, once again I'm supposed to be studying, but I'm not. I have so much to talk about that I don't even know where to begin. I'll start from now and move backwards and we'll see how far I get in the little time I have.

First of all, I went on a blind date last night. Anyone who knows me very well at all knows how much I absolutely abhor blind dates. Every blind date I've ever been on (minor disclaimer: I've technically only been on 5 blind dates) ends messy or simply ends absolutely (although my experience with Aaron C. ended messy 10+ dates later...nonetheless, it still wasn't the most pleasant experience). However, I must say, last night I was quite pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed myself. Now, as another disclaimer, it wasn't the best date that I have ever been on, but I couldn't have expected any more for a first date. Congratulations Dan. No fireworks, but fabulous fun. Honestly, I don't really know why I typically have a hard time with first dates. Probably because I hate being restricted to insignificant small talk and you can't go very much beyond that in a first date, let alone a blind date. Dan R. did a very good job attempting to get to know me and keeping conversation going. Heaven knows how much I can babble when I am familiar with someone, but I always have a hard time with conversation initially. He almost had my defensive shell completely cracked before the night was through. I was a little taken back at how gentlemanly he behaved. Even though Mike M. and I have been on over 25 dates and I've been out with other guys in my ward, etc. since my Mike B. episode back in march, Mike B. was the last time I can remember being driven anywhere in particular with a guy. And he didn't open the door... Because it has been so long, and I haven't been in a position that allows the male race a chance to defend their unbecoming behavior, I couldn't help but smile when I realized that Dan R. had this absolutely necessary value. And he didn't lose it throughout the remainder of the evening, but instead proved himself again and again.
Throughout the week I have been praying that he would be strong enough to counter my conversation flaw and that I wouldn't judge him too quickly one way or the other. My prayers were answered.
Conclusion: Besides my inability to be myself entirely (which is unquestionably expected for me on first/blind dates...most of the time), I'd have to say that the only bad thing about the whole night is that I lost my watch (oh, and my lack of self-confidence didn't permit me to admit that although I love music, I can't name a singly song or band for the life of me. I have a theory as for why that is...but we'll save that for another day). I’d say I’d be good for a second date—definitely.

Work has been crazy recently. As for my actual tasks at work, I’ve been quite unaccomplished lately because of my inefficiencies. Lack of sleep, unnecessary drama, and too much stress has been messing with my abilities lately. I don’t think that I will ever work full time and go to school full time again. Summer term I’ll still be full time for both, but I don’t think that it will be too bad. I’m not planning on having the same social life that I have this term, and if I stay focused and get more sleep I should be able to survive until fall—just to start things all over again (which I’m a little worried about, by-the-way).
I started anchoring news this week and I’ve also begun work on a feature story, but I haven’t been as good at it as I’d hoped. I’m recording all of my “attempts,” so when I become famous and give lectures at Capital Theater (reference to the Terry Gross lecture I went to!) I can also play my beginning bloopers.
Mostly, my problems stem from co-workers currently. I thought that I had gotten away from co-worker problems by quitting my last job (even though I loved it!). Just thinking about my last job brings back all of those nauseating feelings all over again, and although my current job could never possibly get as bad as my previous experience, I don’t even want a mole hill. Just to give you a small recap, my co-worker/supervisor N.I. has something going on in her life that I think is causing rippling effects in the way she associates and behaves. She is 15 years older than me, but sometimes she doesn’t act like it. She’s gotten my other co-worker K.H. in such a tizzy about the church, K.H. has questioned her testimony altogether. I’m spent late nights and long workdays trying to reason with her, but ultimately the decision is hers. Don't get me wrong, we are really good friends, but I just think that the whole thing is simply silly. Why do things have to be so dramatic? While I am a girl, and I do understand some drama, I truly believe there is far too much unnecessary tragedy in life.

I went to the temple again this week. (Sadly I missed last week, but I realized after being highly tempted to pass up this week too, that I’m going to spite Satan and not miss again). The temple worker had multiple pierced ears and I was really confused about her ability to work at the temple in such a state. The temple is my escape from the world, but it was still there… the church is perfect, the members aren’t. Coincidentally, while reading this month’s first presidency message, I realized that although many people believe the words of the prophets to be flexible and interpretable, they simply aren’t. The word of God is what it is…

I am so glad for this term to be over this week! Once again, I don’t believe I will be successful at obtaining my desired 4.0, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t try again…and again. Sometimes I wish that I didn’t have to work and take classes at the same time, and sometimes I wish that I didn’t have to take classes and work at the same time, but all too often, I’m really glad I’m so blessed to be able to manage both.

I went to a pool party today. I really wasn’t planning on going. The only reason I mention it is because I’m now sun burnt. Eh. It was bound to happen.

Everyone has told me my desire to double major is crazy and impossible; that is, everyone except for my mom. I really think that I’d like to try for it. Aim for the heavens…at worst, you’re going to reach the stars. If I have to settle for an English minor, I will. But for now it’s going to be a major.
I don’t really know how my future is going to pan out. I can put my mission papers in a year from now, but I don’t know if a mission is in my cards. Although I become discouraged about guys frequently, I truly know that marriage is in my future. Now, how soon that card is played is an entirely different story. As always I question my future balance of career and family, but I know that everything will work out. I know that I’m being watched over. And I also know that there are great plans for me in both my career and family if I can faithfully follow God’s guiding hand.

Well, my studies call. The hard part is that I don’t actually have any particular assignments. Just extra credit stuff and massive amounts of finals prep. I’ll try and shpeal again soon.