Rehearsal

Rehearsal today was boring. The "appliances" basically got kicked out of the dance. So for the majority of the time we sat in back and ate popcorn from a huge trash bag.


Yes, rehearsal was very boring. Until Rob filled in for one of the napkins...




Sorry the quality of these videos is so poor...I only had my cell phone. I did not anticipate such hilarity.

What makes you happy?

Today work was very slow, so with my time I started making a list of things that make me happy. I will include a portion of my list.

• Companionships that sing hymns in harmony with each other
• Receiving international mail
• Meeting new people I can just tell are going to become my good friends
• Speaking with someone I admire
• Seeing something ordinary in a new, extraordinary light
• 7pm on summer evenings
• Running into old friends
• When difficult concepts finally click
• Making hard decisions and feeling good about the outcome
• Finding a new favorite
• The feeling after facing a fear
• Realizing I've adopted some qualities of the people I admire
  
• Being called by nicknames
• Laughing. Laughing hard.
• Accomplishing something I've worked hard for/seeing someone I love accomplish something they have worked hard for

Well this is only a portion of my list. And now, dear Readers, I am calling on you. What makes you happy? Please leave a comment. I don't care who you are-you don't have to leave your name if you don't want to, but I just want to know. What makes you happy? It can be something simple like "chocolate" or something more complex. Please?

Once upon a time...before I grew up.

...we found this cool design in the snow. Because it's been so snowy lately I was reminded of this. It was a pretty cool anomaly.

Lovin' Cousins

I feel that my blogs have been consisting solely of pictures lately but that's okay because people like pictures, right?....right. Anyway, I like this picture of me and Colin. It was taken over Christmas break. I was having a pretty bad day; I wasn't in the greatest mood at all. Aunt Lorre was over and I was telling her all my woes and sorrows when Colin turned around and said, "And you just wanted to give up, didn't you?" Yes, I certainly did want to give up, but Colin was just so cute and he came over and gave me a big hug.

And...my eyes look a little creepy.

The Wedding.

One of my favorite pictures.

My brother...he's Asian

I am writing an essay right now but I think it's time for a little break. So I'll write a blog to keep me in the writing flow.

This is Mark (the one on the left).

He is one of my best friends. The intent of this blog is to itemize why he is so great.

1. He is Asian, and it's rubbing off on me.
2. He writes me funny stories such as Ethan Chex and Heroic Herbert.
3. He taught me that it is okay to be disruptive in class.
4. He taught me how to really laugh and have fun.
5. I think his writing style rubbed off on me a little bit but that's okay because:
6. Mark is hilarious.
7. He walks me to lunch dates I am nervous about.
8. He listens to my problems and helps me see the humor in every situation.
9. He plays the guitar and sings and he is incredibly smart. Probably the smartest person (besides my dad and brother) that I have ever met.
10. He puts up with us.

So I guess a few of those items are a little silly but I am really so grateful for the amazing friend that Mark is!

A misunderstanding

A few years ago, I was at a rehearsal for a show when Abby came up to me and said, "Nat! Grace is going to die in one year!". This was shocking. Grace is my darling little cousin who I just love. She was probably about three at the time. I had no idea she was sick. She had had acid reflux as a baby, but I thought she was pretty healthy. "What?!" I exclaimed. "Grace is dying? Why?" "I don't know" Abby replied. "But Taylor just told Karly and I that Grace has death in one year" (Taylor is Grace's older brother).

Now you can imagine that I was a bit distraught. So I ran over to Karly and this conversation took place.
Me: Karly, Grace is dying? What's going on?
Karly [giving me a funny look]: No, Grace isn't dying. Taylor told us that she's deaf in one ear.
Abby: What? Deaf in one ear? Oh...I thought Taylor said 'death in one year'!

It was a funny misunderstanding. I am happy to report that Grace is alive and well and as cute as ever.

I should not be blogging right now

So I'm in the middle of writing an essay, which, by the way, I am loving researching. I'm writing on the topic "home can be a Heaven on Earth" because it's something I firmly believe. However, my essay is awful. But I'm learning really good stuff.

Anyway I just have a random commentary on work at the MTC. I can't lie to you; sometimes I am not in the best mood at work. I deal with a lot of missionaries. But recently I noticed something: when missionaries come up to me and are in a really fantastic mood, I treat them differently. I am more happy, talkative, and upbeat. SO I decided to do a little experiment. I started treating every missionary as if I already knew that they were in a terrific mood. It works. I'm happier, and I think I have more positive interactions with those around me.

Just a thought.

So here's the question

Should I put up with this oppressive ringing in my ears and the sea sick feeling or should I take my medication, be able to walk in a straight line, and have to desperately fight off sleep for the next ten hours?