Urgh.

So... I've pretty much royally screwed up the whole NaBloPoMo thing this month. It's not really a HUGE deal, since I did it pretty successfully this May and can therefore keep my participant sticker up. Better luck in 2010, I guess?

Anyway, Christmas was lovely, as I expected, and break has been going fairly well so far! :) I've gotten to see lots of old friends who I missed tremendously, and this next week I'll get to see more of them. Hopefully today I will start doing some recording with a friend of mine, but I'm mainly excited because I get to see him again!

In some weirder news, today I walked around our old house, which I lived in from age 5 until I left for school this past August. My family moved to a different neighborhood while I was away, so it's been kind of odd. Our new house already feels like home, however, and the old one just felt really... surreal. Everything looks smaller without our furniture, and it was also kind of like when you go back to your first grade classrooms and realize that everything was really, really little. Only I haven't gotten taller. The house just felt weirdly small anyway, and my whole life there kind of felt like an odd dream, even if that sounds super cliché. It also brought back the memory of moving in when I was about five years old, and I remembered picking my old room for Madelyn and I, because I thought it looked "pinker." Both rooms were white. :)

Another thing- my mom is making me these two really pretty skirts that I found a cool pattern for. I'm super psyched to wear them once they're done. I love clothes...

That's all for right now, I guess.

Christmas Eve...

This was most interesting and culturally enriching Christmas Eve I've had in a long time, if not ever. It starts with me getting up and eating cornflakes, and it ends with our yearly tradition of bread and cheese (Mary and Joseph style) on the living room floor. The interesting part comes in between these. :)

Yesterday the ward missionaries came over. One is from Tonga and the other is from Chicago. They were there to make a test call, since the Tongan elder is making his annual phone call from our house today. Anyway, they ended up staying at our house most of the day, playing ping-pong in the backyard and serenading us on the guitar and the ukulele. Our Tongan elder even played us a song he wrote for his girlfriend.

My family is really good friends with a Mexican family in our ward, and I didn't know this until last night, but it's a Mexican tradition to make tamales on Christmas Eve. After having their boys over the whole day to hang out with my little brother, they invited us over to learn to make tamales. We ended up making dozens and dozens of tamales with them and taking them home with us. We even got to speak a little Spanish. :)

Christmas Eve ended with the usual tradition. We read the Christmas story in the Bible and sang "Silent Night," complete with random harmonies everyone made up on the spot (this is normal at my house). We stayed up and talked a while, I wrapped my present for Madelyn, and then I went to sleep.

Bless the Card!

Today I am reading a cute story called The Romance of A Christmas Card. You should all pick it up, or read it on Google Books here, if you have the time. It's about a lady who designs a Christmas card that affects a bunch of people's lives for good. At the end of the book, all the main characters exclaim in a state of Christmassy content, "Bless the card!"

It reminds me of how, for my job, I get to design a Christmas card next year. When I told my friend Greta, the first thing that came to her mind was "Bless the card!" :P We both had to read this book earlier for our history class.

Anyway, Merry Christmas, and hopefully I'll have a more interesting post tomorrow!

And this is the last of the three!

I am finally home for Christmas and having a lovely time seeing all my family! My grandma had a Christmas party last night, which was really fun. My sister and I played Mele Kalikimaka with her on the ukulele while I harmonized. It was great to see a lot of my relatives and friends of the family. :)

So I am posting three times today. :P

Stuff.

Okay. I am about a full three days behind.

(continued in next post)

Still more...

In other news, yesterday I gave Sam a bag shaped like a taco for Christmas and he loves it, which made me really happy. :) Also, I Skyped Charné yesterday and told her about life since Tuesday, which was fun. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME.

My Grandma Nora is having a Christmas party on Monday night! I can't wait to see her, since it's been such a long time. She's definitely one of the most prevalent influences in my life. :)

Anyway, for the party the family and everyone are all doing something musical. I think I'm going to arrange a piece and sing it or something. :)

ADKFHLSJ;AKSD

I never know what to title my posts. Today I am STILL in Provo and I don't come home until tomorrow morning. So I get to think of ways to use up my time. I already passed my cleaning check. I think now I'm going to finish Mansfield Park, since I started watching a decent version on Hulu yesterday night. I also found out that we DON'T have to take down our Christmas decorations, thank goodness! I like having Christmas up as long as possible. :P

This post is kind of for yesterday. I shall continue in the next possssssst...

Okay...

I tweaked the time on this post, because I don't feel like today is really over yet. Today I went to the Joshua James Christmas show with my friend Sam and then he came over and we made cookies, worked on our song that we're writing, acted goofy, and hung out until 1:30ish. :) It's been a nice end to the day.

Comments

MADELYN COMMENTED ON A ZILLION POSTS!!!!!

(I love you like a sistah, sistah.)

Hi.

I am in the library right now. I am going to go do my project. Talk to y'all laytah.

I think it's sad that now that I'm in college, I've created the label "stress. " It will probably appear on a lot of posts in the future. :(

It's been a good day.

If unproductive.

Today I got up and eventually went to campus and ate lunch at the Cannon Center with Charné and Marissa. Then I went to the actual campus and hung out with Greta for a long time, walked home, and am working on my project.

So I am going to do that...

Yup.

Peace and Blessings.

I forgot to post yesterday. AGAIN.

Okay, so yesterday I went to church and everything was really slushy, so my feet got all wet. In church, I played the organ, since I'm the ward organist. However, this was our last Sunday with our callings, so it was the LAST DAY of that calling. :(

Later I went home, researched random things on my computer, did some work, talked to my family, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

Oh! Something funny happened last night! One of my friends came over to my apartment because he wanted to hear my music, and afterward, he, Charné, Marissa, and I were talking. We told him about how we sometimes spy on people from our top-floor window and stuff. Anyway, he left later and Charné went to take the trash out. A while afterward, Marissa and I were looking out the window to see where she was when we noticed a group of people to the side. We were looking for Charné among them when we realized our friend was there, and he looked just as I wondered aloud if it was him!!!

Marissa and I went down behind the windowsill like little kids when suddenly we heard a snowball hit our window. We popped back up and he and another friend were throwing snowballs at us! We cracked up and made faces; I fell off the couch, I was laughing so hard. Charné came up again later and they were still throwing snowballs at us, so we opened a window and yelled at them a bit from it. Eventually we waved goodbye. :)

Cosas

Hi. This post has to be kind of quick, because I have a lot to do this evening.

I really, really, REALLY wish I could go see NightNight at Velour tonight, but I can't. Because I procrastinated myself into a terrible pit of destruction and the only way out is to finish this crazy project.

So. Today I went to the mall with Charné, procrastinating some more. I smelled perfumes. I'm still in love with GAP's Heaven. Not only is it what I would smell like if I were bottled, it is my favorite color. So we are perfect for each other.

In related news, I'm not really in love with the mall in Provo and I will probably end up doing any real shopping at quirky indie stores from now on. Which is way cooler anyway.

My life is a liiiiittle bit scattered right now. I don't really know what I should do. I think I'm going to fast tomorrow.

CRAP!

I forgot to post yesterday! So here is what I did, I guess, and I'll post twice today??

Anyway, I went in for training at my job in the TMA office (WHICH I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT!!!) and learned a lot about InDesign and how fun and amazing that office is! I'm so psyched to start work there. I'm going to get to do all these awesome design projects all year. I think I'm going to learn a lot, which is what I'm looking forward to the most.

Later, after that, Charné and I went on an adventure and got lost on the bus system until we got to the post office in Provo (which, thankfully, was where we were headed). There, we got a very important letter my mom sent to me which the postman, for some reason, thought I needed to sign for. Anyway, it was this big stupid mishap. We rode back to campus after that, and I went to the Student Employment Office and finally got hired OFFICIALLY. Maybe I can get paid before Christmas. That would be amazing, because then I could get everyone amazing presents.

After that, I walked home through the snow with the best intentions of being productive. And then I got home and just... wasn't. :/

Later, Charné, Marissa (our kind of adopted roommate) and I all went to a farewell party for two guys in our ward who are leaving on their missions soon. It was really fun. :)

We got home around two in the morning. And then I knocked out.

In a few random pieces of news:

I think I've finished my song in G... but I'm kind of afraid that it will say too much.

I love the Weepies. I LOVE them.

I can't wait to come home and feel the sun and see all the people I miss!

Last Day of Classes!

Today was the last day of the semester, as the title denotes. I went to all my classes and whatnot. Yep.

In more interesting news, today I went to the Sloan Speech Showcase with Greta, which was way fun, and later she and I and our friend Caitlin all went to Five Guys Burgers or something together. The burgers are HUGE, which is why all my fries ended up in my fridge. Anyway, those were the highlights of my day. :)

Blah

It's been a good day, kind of. Finals and final projects are eating me alive. I think I'm getting sick, too, and on top of all this, it's FRIGID outside. Augh.

Still, it's good to remember that I'm going home soon and that everything is going to work out all right. Anyway, I have to go make a PowerPoint and write some stuff for my classes tomorrow.

BLAM! I have this awesome job.

Today I got up and trained for a job I'm taking once winter semester starts. I'm going to hold two positions- the first is what's called the Fulton Secretary, which means I keep track of and organize applications and such for the Fulton Grants. The other is the actual TMA Assistant- I'll be designing cards, posters, etc. for the department throughout the year. I'm really excited to start and I think this will really develop my creativity, design-wise. :)

In other good news, I made a really great friend today, the snow is still here, and BYU's Got Talent is tomorrow!

SNOW!

It keeps snowing, and I love it! :) My friend and I were walking around campus today and it looks so different! This should be a great week!

Sunday...sundaysundaysunday.

Only a very select group of people will get that reference.

Like, Madelyn.

I need to organize my ideas. I think I'm going to do the list thing again. That's always fun.

1. Today is Sunday and IT SNOWED!!!! That is- it's snowed before, but this time it's sticking, and it's deep, and it's unbelievably gorgeous!

2. Yesterday, our ward had an activity and we rode the train to Salt Lake City and walked around temple square together! It was so pretty to see all the lights, spend time with friends, and get to know some of those people better. (I feel like I don't go to those activities enough)

3. Tomorrow, a great band called NightNight is playing at my favorite music venue: Velour! I can't wait to see them play!

4. If anyone feels like obliging me for Christmas, I'm in love with these boots. Click here for the link.

5. I'm writing my next This I Believe about serendipity... and sort of finding something good when you're at an ultimate low. It should be good. :)

I guess that's all for now!

Hi.

Blah blah blah blah blah.

(post)

Sorry. :(

Technically...

It's the next day already. In fact, it's 12:51 tomorrow right now. Forgive me that my days end later than most do.

Anyway, today my bit of service didn't really happen. :( I'm pretty disappointed with myself. It's just been kind of a busy one.

ACTUALLY, I think I did do a kind of service today, but I don't think it's blog-worthy. Ask me if you want to know more, I guess.

I really need to sleep, since I'm doing SERIOUS service in the morning with Rural Housing Development. I'm so excited!

Piano=Service (in more cases than not)

Since I might be home later tonight (and I don't really have anything better to do, I've decided to post in the morning. Today, my act of service is accompanying one of my best friends for a musical number he is doing. It's "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide" and we arranged it ourselves over the past few days! I'm really excited to play for him and serve while doing something I'm good at. :)

On the Second Day of Christmas...

Today, my random act of service was exceedingly random. I'm not even sure it counts as service. Therefore, after I post this, I'm going to do the dishes in our apartment (hopefully before my roommate gets home).

Here's what happened:

Around 4ish, I went to the library to check my email for updates about a job I'm getting hired for (hooray!). There weren't any, so a while later, I left the library, planning to walk home. However, as I was walking toward the entrance, I heard, "Emily Brown!" coming from somewhere. I looked around lamely and then saw two of my friends who really like my music! :)

We started talking and I told them about how I'm writing a new song. They wanted to hear it, so we walked back to their dorm and I played it and a few other things for them. It was really fun and a nice way to do "service" for someone. Though I'm not positive it counts, as I mentioned before.

As a random aside, I love Christmas so much. My roommate and I are decorating our apartment with lights and snowflakes and other Christmassy stuff. It's so pretty. Pictures soon to follow!

NaBloPoMo and This I Believe

Hey, everyone! I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) for the month of December (and CHRISTMAS!!!). It's my goal this month to do something specific and good for someone every day, so you'll be hearing about that a lot, I guess. In fact, that should continue after December. :) It just so happens that the theme for the month is "Mitzvah," which, according to Wikipedia, refers to 620 commandments in traditional Judaism. However, the word also means "an act of human kindness," which goes right along with what I hope to do.

Anyway, for my first post, I've decided to put up my most recent This I Believe essay. Enjoy!

Thicker Than Water

I have a personal mandate from the universe which is literally in my blood.

I learned this as a senior in high school, when I donated blood for the first time. I have O-Negative blood, which means I can donate to any other blood type. I'm what's called a universal donor.

We'd known about the blood drive for a few weeks. I was seventeen, so I could officially donate by then. The only thing holding me back was my own fear. It creeped me out that the nurse might dig around in my arm for a vein, or that I might pass out if I hadn't eaten enough. My dad, who is a giant at 6'4" and the last person you'd expect to freak out, faints when he gives blood.

I went anyway, of course, and missed my Spanish class fifth period less-than-grudgingly. Some friends and I walked over to the gym at our school and waited in line. I was terrified, to say the least. Waiting in the queue with my friends, I kept saying out loud how unafraid I was, as if it would help me feel better. Eventually I went into a booth where a lady pricked my finger and found out that I'm not anemic. Shortly after that, I was sitting in a chair with blood flowing out of my arm.

Despite my thin, deep veins, the nurse had found my vein without a hitch. The needle didn't hurt. I wasn't passing out. I was just talking to the nurse about vacations I'd taken, and suddenly I was drinking water and eating cookies before going back to class.

Donating blood, however, wasn't successful because I evaded pain or because I managed to stay conscious the entire time. Donating blood is simply a form of service, something I can to do keep someone else from dying, or worse, from the immeasurable grief of losing a loved one.

Just as I was afraid to open a vein for a dying patient, I believe that it's hard to find room in my schedule, my home, or my heart for serving other people. It can appear inconvenient, time-consuming, and downright frightening. Yet, in the long run, I believe that when I give up part of me for the sake of someone else, I am doing my part as a member of the human race.

I believe we're all universal donors of a different kind: we have the power to donate our time, our love, and ourselves in the service of another person. In our blood, which we share, we have an infinitely more unifying factor than inherited antigens or whatever it is that makes a blood type singular. We share our humanity. This brotherhood and sisterhood is our mandate from the universe to do everything we can for one another. I believe in giving my blood and my life to someone else, because every person's blood and life are equally important as my own. Every human bleeds red. There is no one on this earth who doesn't need to be loved. I believe our blood unites us. I believe in being a universal donor.