Monday, January 17, 2004 (cause it's really still Monday in my opinion)

I love life so much, and life loves me so much too. I think I just had one of the best nights of all time. My stomach hurts from laughing so much. Seriously, it hurts a lot.

Lindsay, Adrien, Dan, Mark, Eric, Mike, Landon, and I went to this chinese buffet in downtown provo. The food was . . . eh, not dragon inn, but I think what was the most fun about dinner was getting on the bus, leaving campus, and talking.

When we got back Mike and I convinced everyone to play Apples to Apples. This game is the best game ever invented by man. It was sooooooooooo much fun. We played for hours, and I think I almost wet myself. Seriously, I am in the best mood ever.

As for earlier in the day: I went to Tomassitos to get pizza with Mark, Adrien, Mike, Eric, and John-John. Then I burned Adrien a CD. I saw Ocean's 11 for the first time with Mike, Eric, and John-John, and it was really good. I loved it. I have been seeing so many good movies lately. The other night Eric, Mark, Brian D., and I went and saw Saints and Soldiers, and it was pretty good. I highly recommend it, which is strange because I normally don't like those types of movies. But anyway.

Good times. Yesterday my lesson went so well. Seriously, life loves me, and I love it.

All I have left to say is "Choir Boys" "Chorus Girls" and "The South"

P.S. Last chance to take the How well do you know me? Quiz before I post results and commentary tomorrow.

You Know You're Addicted to Xanga When...

1. If you can't access the site, you have a minor freak out - and a major case of hitting reload. (Can't count the number of times I have yelled at the "oops looks like you've found a bug" screen.)
2. You've been recognized in real live by a fellow xanga-er (I have been recognized by at least 10 xangans . . . in fact I met the following people first on xanga and then in real life: Mormonboy, Sonarbison, Coco_Isaccs, MissEgyptology, CookieRek211, hyperdoll, Fadgst, LeeHae, moonlight_dreams, HollyVanGogh, and FlyingBurritoBrother12. My apologies if I have left anyone off the list [I know there's two more, I just can't remember who- sorry.])
3. You have put more time into xanga than all your assignments for the semester. (this is sad.)
4. You're jealous of people who have more friends and / or comments than you. (this is even more sad, yet still true)
5. You have written a really great, solid post - only to be disappointed by the lack of good comments. (abso-freaking-lutely)
6. You've deleted a post a few minutes (or hours) after you've written it, because it seemed lame in retro spect. (can't count the number of times)
7. You have gotten mean anonymous comments (bonus points for figuring out who it was via their IP) (Again, many times, and I have figured it out via their IP on sitemeter, which is bonus!.)
8. You have an additional, secret journal that hardly anyone knows about. (yep. I have three xanga's total.)
9. You check for comments, and when you don't see any new ones you check again. (yep. I do the same thing with e-mails too. No new messages? Click again just in case)
10. When you check again, there is a new comment. (This happens more often than you would think.)

I think I might have a new favorite movie. Sometimes I say things like that and it's an exaggeration, but this time I really mean it. I just watched A Beautiful Mind for the first time. I can't get over it. I can't tell you how much I loved it or how much I was affected by it. It was just so beautiful.

Here is this guy with a legitimate problem- a psycological condition in his mind, and he masters it. Why? Why should he have to master it? If his delusions are real to him; if they are possible solutions to a problem; if they are ways for him to meet legitmate needs that he has or once had, then why should he master them? To us it is a little more obvious, but to him? He did not choose his delusions, but he chose to conquer them without even knowing that he could or that he should. (I doubt I'm making sense to you, but to me this is a major epiphany). And all throughout- the support of his wife. And then his speech at the end about her.

That is what an eternal companionship is. That is love. That is beauty.

I am in a very chippur mood. And by chippur I really mean chipper. As in cheerful and in lively spirits, probably excessively so. Figure Drawing days are always fun. It makes me feel like I am growing. Also, I got to work with metal last night. Despite the frustrating time of my 3D class (6 to 9 pm), I do enjoy getting to work with cool machines. I am making a round, stained glass candle holder thingy I designed.

Perhaps adding to my chipperness is a lack of sleep. I was really sleepy earlier today, but now I am wide awake despite not taking a nap. Some would call this slap happiness. I also got a new perscription of glasses that came in the mail, so I can see farther. Yippee. I also had a big lightbulb go off after talking to a brilliant friend of mine (she attributes her smartness to being female, and I would agree [as a side note perhaps pertaining to a recent whYunderground article]).

Did you know that I am also brilliant? I offered an answer in art history and the professor said "Brilliant!" really emphatically.

Because I am beginning to loose coherence, I am going to end this post.

Oh. P.S. The How well do you know me? Quizes are yielding interesting results. It's interesting to see how people perceive me (from my brother to my xanga friends to my high school friends.) *resists urge to spout off on psycological mysteries* Did you know that psycology has been luring me lately like an evil tempation? It is making me think that I want to do something with it, when I really hate it. I need to stop looking at the world in a psycoannalitical way, because it's making me pscho.

Everyone should take the How well do you know me? quiz. It's a great way to find things out about me you may not have known, and it's also a great way to show everyone else how well you do know me.

I have had an amazing past few days. I don't know why, but second semester has turned out to be so much more fun than first semester. I feel so much happier and better about myself just in general.

Anyway . . . Sunday I met all the new people *cough hot girl* at Church. Then later that day I was playing Civilization III when I heard Mark's voice in the hallway. Mark, however, was one of the people who wasn't coming back this semester. Didn't come back. He was in Chicago at his house, and yet I was hearing his voice. So I pop my head in the hallway, and there he is!!! So I run over and find out that if everything works out Mark will be back this semester . I was really excited because we were really starting to have some good times *cough dead deer* and I am happy to see them continue.

Mark, Mike, Eric, and Brian D then hung out for a few hours catching up and swapping stories until visiting hours. Lindsay was going to come over here, but we wanted it to surprise them later that night when we made cookies, so Eric and I went over to V Hall to keep them over there. I had a fun time chatting with Adrienne, and . . . AND . . . I am very proud of myself because I kept the secret the whole time!!! I was so good!

So as planned, Mike, Eric, Lindsay, Adrienne, and I went to go make cookies, and out pops Mark yAy! It's a big party (although Lindsay and Adrienne seemed like they only cared about Mark . . . jk) It turned out to be a great night.

Monday night Mike made his cookies again and they were orgasmically good. I hung out all night with Mark, Mike, Eric, and Brian again, and it was probably the most fun I have had since . . . since the Ward Temple Trip. I think the cookies were laced with something because we were really really . . . Highppy *clears throat* I mean Happy. Either that or it was the orange juice. Orange juice is the drink of the gods, or so I have declared. We watched Jame Bond: Die Another Day, which was a good movie.

Alright. Now I am going to stop procrastinating my work. Maybe. *forces self away from computer*

Mark is back

Tomorrow when I feel less lazy I will turn this post into a real post that tells you about my amazing as [insert word here that is not a utah word but that is not a dirty word either] Sunday. Perhaps if I get really motivated I will explain in a protected post my new obsession with Jesse's Girl and why it is going to get me in trouble.

Those of you who donated to help Tsunami victims this past week, good for you. I found something on another person's site that I thought was interesting. It lists the charities helping Tsunami victims and tells you what percentage actually ends up with the victims. Read about it here.

On another note . . . Today was good. I finished my laundry, hung out with some guys on the floor, and then ate way more than I should have. (so much so that I skipped dinner). Mike, Eric, Brian D, and I started a game of Lord of the Rings Risk. We paused it to run errands at the Bookstore, which makes me feel like I accomplished so much today . Then we finished the game. The end.

(In retrospect, this post feels somewhat pointless. eh, I'm bored. Also, I did have a point I wanted to get to, but as I write it, it sounds really . . . stupid. I am going to write it anyway, but alas, you will not read it. bwahahaha.)

"Jessie is a friend, yeah
I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed
That ain't hard to define
Jessie's got himself a girl
And I want to make her mine

And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body
I just know it
Yeah 'n' he's holding her in his arms
Late, late at night

You know, I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that? . . ." (Rick Springfield)

Heck fricken yes I'm all about the old school music Lily. *glares at self intensely for using the phrase Heck fricken yes*

I feel somewhat lazy because I am still in my pajamas- but I'm doing my laundry. It snowed even more, and I need to buy snow pants. We had another snowball fight on Thursday night, this time with Adam, Josh, Brent, Jordan, and myself vs. Lisa, Judi, Britney, and James H. It was far more intense than wednesday night. James is a beast. He launched me 10 feet once with a side tackle. I can't count the number of times I was whitewashed, but I think Lisa and Judi got it more. It was a fierce fight, and I think we won despite James' many tackles.

Yesterday I got some very good news, and so I took the opportunity to go to the Temple as a way of saying thanks. It was not a life-changing temple experience with angels and lightning, but it was a nice chance for me to be in a place set apart and above the world. It was a time to think, pray, and serve my God and our ancestors. I am so grateful to have a temple so close where I can go anytime. Chicago was set up so that you needed an appointment and your own names. Here you just show up and get started. The Temple is such a blessing. It brings the power of God down from heaven and blesses the people around it and the people who attend it. I have been personally blessed by the Temple prayers.

After I went to the Temple I ate dinner with Kristie and Julia and then watched Hook with Zundel and Adison.

Week number one is over, and I look forward to week two. I can't wait for figure drawing on tuesday. Meanwhile I have 60 small sketches to be working on by thursday.

P.S. Is it bad that I am drinking a gallon of orange juice every two to three days by myself. I think I am seriously addicted to it.

P.P.S. A protected post explains yesterday's excited/dramatic post.

Today we celebrate. Today we rejoice in the miracles of God and in His divine hand. God does not sleep. He is active in our lives and in the best interest of His children. I cannot express my joy in seeing the mountains he has moved on behalf of my brother Jonathan.

2 Kings 6:15-17

"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an [enemy] host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, 'Alas, my master! how shall we do?' And he answered, 'Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

Judges 7:2-9

 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

9 ¶ And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

I love this snow! We have like a foot of it. It's great. It makes me feel more at home. Definately had a fun snowball fight last night.

My classes this semester are surprisingly better than last semester despite a sucky schedule. Figure Drawing is going to be wonderful. I know I will grow in this class-- allready have grown in today's 3 hours of it. I think it will give me the challenge I am craving. I will gladly wake up at 7 for this class. I would wake up at 4 if I had to- I wouldn't do that for just any class.

Sculpture is unfortunately Monday 5-7 and Weds 6-9, which overlaps with visiting hours. And I'm not a night person. Aside from that, the class will be good.

Art History is now twice a week instead of once a week for 3 hours. The teacher is very passionate about the class, and I have lots of friends in that class (including coco_isaacs). I look forward to that class very much. I also have tons of friends in my American Heritage class- more than half my floor, and also Elizabeth Zippi. It was really nice to catch up with her.

Physical Science . . the teacher is a little wacky. But the class is very basic, so I'll survive it.

Book of Mormon . . . this class is more challenging than my first semester Book of Mormon class, so I think I will do better. (I rebeled a lot in the last class because I didn't like the way it was taught. Ask me about my grades and I will tell you about them- it's very ironic and some of you will laugh). I don't like how the religion teachers are so arrogant- or at least how this teacher is so stuck up and . . . hard to stomach. I am forcing myself to deal with it anyway because there are things I need to learn, and he can teach me.

I think that's my schedule in a nutshell. As for life . . . I like it better this week than the end of last semester. I have been having so much fun with friends this week. I may not like the art program, but I still love BYU. I get to go to the temple tomorrow on my own because I want to- it's not so easy to do that in Boston.

Well with that, I'm off. I think there was something else I wanted to write about, but I forgot. Oh well.