Ring in the new

It's awfully quiet. The hall light lends a little warmth to the apartment, while the stove light sets something of a mood. The fridge kicks off. Wow, it's even quieter than before. This isn't where I want to be. And the sad part is I don't know where I DO want to be. Just not here. I don't really care about what's happening on this episode of NCIS. I'm tired of checking my watch to see if I can justify just going to bed and skipping the "festivities." For someone who knows a lot of people, it seems like I don't. I'm not sure what it is about me, but I don't think I really stick. People remember people that talk loud or walk loud or dress loud or act loud. I talk not so much or so loud, I don't strive to be the center of attention, and in being the nice person who talks to everyone, it sometimes feel like I'm not talking to anyone at all. Am I homesick? Do I just lack the courage to walk 50 yards and peek in at a party? There's probably enough people there I won't even be noticed. I'll go in just a minute. I've been saying that since 8:30. I'm sure time will pass quickly once I get there. Arrive in time to mingle a little, not so early that I run out of people to talk to, countdown, go home. Empty apartments. I got used to it over the summer. It was pretty nice, too. But getting used to it didn't mean I had a life. And as much of a social life I had last year, I haven't seemed to do much this year in improving it. I know, most of my friends are still at home for the holidays. I usually would be. Even that was not as fun last year. No fun to be stuck behind when all your friends have moved on to "real" life. By the way, this couch is ridiculously static-y. I feel like a 3 year old towhead whose hair is sticking straight up. Or out. I'm mustering my courage. I've got a bottle of bubbly... that could help. (Don't worry, it's non-alcoholic of course). A Christmas gift from work. It's just that I haven't had anyone to share it with since I got it. And alcohol or no, you should never drink alone. Ireland showed me that-- it's a social thing. Doesn't matter if it's water, juice, or icky-smelling beer, it's a social thing. So I really can't open my bubbly yet. I think if I sit here typing long enough I'll get sick of my own company and leave just to get away from myself. Which, true, is what I need to do. And right now I feel a little more like I want to. Gotta fix the face. And the hair. I put my cute shirt on today just so I could wear it to this party tonight and look good. It's a great color and it's got a slenderizing effect. Can't beat that. My hair even turned out good this morning! I should go brush up. Must fix my eyes. 90 minutes. I think I can handle 90 minutes of a party. Well, plus the post-midnight events. I wonder if the band is still playing? Ok, I'm going to stop and go get ready. I am more than ready to welcome in a new year, and hopefully some new possibilities. 2008 was great: I graduated, got a real job, made an internationally performing dance team, and made some friends along the way. But divide that by 12 months and it seems a little short. This year I'll shoot for five cool things to remember.

Just noticed my quote of the day. It'll be gone later, so here it is. That's what I'm gonna go do.

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

(We got him to pose early for a picture)

Happy day for Christmas! I really can't believe that it's 10 days away. I remember growing up the sheer anticipation for that day... it totally built up for weeks and days that never seemed to end! Now it rushes in and rushes out like a breath of warm air in the wintery cold. In just a few days I will be back in Missouri with my family, and maybe I'll see a few of my old friends too. They are few and far between now, scattered around with busy lives, husbands, jobs, etc. It's amazing what a few years time will do! I remember coming back for Christmas my freshman year of college-- I'd gotten used to living with girls that smelled good and I realized for the first time that my house smelled distinctly of "boy." Chad was on his mission and we talked to him for a while. When missionaries are out the day mostly revolves around that beloved phone call. I think I take my brothers for granted a little too much these days; I should call them more often. Especially Chad. We got really close after his mission, going through similar experiences and sometimes being the only ones there for each other. LOL... those are stories for another day though.

One of my most memorable Christmases was back in Pennsylvania (and regrettably, I don't think I've ever written the story down before!). My four brothers were just a bit curious
to peek into the living room on Christmas mornings, and my parents were no fools. I must have been quite young-- maybe eight or nine-- the year this happened. Like always, we gathered in my parents' bedroom as early as we were allowed. Six a.m. seemed to be the perpetual compromise time. Back in those days I couldn't hardly stay in bed that long to wait to start Christmas! We came in our pajamas and crazy hair, impatiently waiting for Dad to fish out his trusty white sweatshirt and trying to convince Mom that she didn't need to look great for the day yet. We lined up in age order, youngest to oldest, and Mom led us out to the living room. She would always go in front, make us stop while she turned on the lights, then let us run in. This year she led us up, then stopped. In the dark house it was hard to tell what Santa had left in the living room. Once she turned on the hall light, we realized why it was so hard-- the entire entry had been covered over with dynamite paper! (Perks of having a dad who makes dynamite and randomly had two huge rolls of dynamite paper wrap.) We kids stood there for a good couple of seconds, completely befuddled by this turn of events. Mom and Dad played it off great, telling us Santa had wanted to make sure no one peeked at the presents. I wonder which one of them came up with the idea in the first place; I bet they were like kids as they put it up, relishing in playing a practical joke on their kids. Finally, we tore a hole in the paper to climb through and enjoyed our Christmas gifts.

I actually left out my favorite part of Christmas in that story. The best thing about Christmas in my family happens shortly after goading our parents and right before the processional march down the hall. We gather around my parents' bed and begin the day with a prayer. I'm not sure why, but Christmas mornings in their room feel different, even though we're usually in there for less than 10 minutes. (Ok, it's a little longer if you count the time it takes to get everybody in there and ready to pray). They way I remember it, the room feels very close, warm, and homey, like the cornerstrings of our hearts are gathered together for a few moments in a brief shadow of heaven on earth. Quiet blankets the room-- not just quiet, but true peace-- as we gather and acknowledge the real reason for Christmas. I'm really happy that I get to spend a few more Christmases at home as a grownup, because I never appreciated those moments as much as I do each year I get older.


These pictures are from an evening of ugly sweaters and turtlenecks, eggnog, and mistletoe-- an event termed Turtlenog by some creative people in the ward. Christmas is about family, but in college it's also about friends, or roommates that are as great as family. Besides, who doesn't like a little nogging and snogging? (Just because I called myself a grownup doesn't mean I always have to act like one. )

Merry Christmas!

Broom Hockey Pictures

Just in case you thought I was joking... welcome to the Processing Center!!

Broom Hockey-- brooms v. mops

Yes, I am playing barefoot. What you don't see in these pictures are the cold flurries that start up halfway through our game. Feet of steel.

Our ref wanted to throw his penalty flag

I happily volunterred to give him an opportunity to do so.

By far, the best action shot ever. Check out my dinky broom!

This is what the other team looked like as I made my line drive off the toss.

We made a mess.

Party in the House

[Disclaimer: I meant to post this on Thursday the 4th, when this event happened. I haven't changed anything because it sounds better in the present tense.]

Today for work we played field hockey in the grassy area north of the ASB… the field between the ASB and the Marriott center. Armed with brooms (our team) versus the sticks with paper “brooms” on the end, we faced off at the plunger, which marked the center field. Goals were the lovely Caution: Wet Floor signs. It was a pretty small field. Of course I wore my heels today… so after about 2 plays I ditched my shoes and hose. The grass was pretty cold. It got colder once wet flurries started falling. Our team won by 2 points—3-1. I had an awesome play at center field once the ref ( our division financial controller, Duane) threw the soccer ball. He threw it up and I had traded a teammate for a full-size broom. I raised it up and totally connected for a line drive to the goal. Sadly, the goalie (Leahmary) deflected it, but what a hit!

Someone took pictures of us… hopefully I can get my hands on some for ya. But yes, it was flurrying outside as I was running around barefoot swinging my broom. My feet were prickly numb as I walked back in. Don’t worry, I didn’t put my shoes on until I had thawed and cleaned my feet. Yes, I walked barefoot into the ASB. This is why Pres. Samuelson works on the 3^rd floor and we work in the basement. But, that is also where the party is always at.

December

I think I need to practice writing more creative titles. You know what I don't get, I don't get blogging. Not in the sense that I do it, to kinda update my family/friends about my life-- I don't get the bloggers that write something so incredible that hundreds of people read the blog daily and comment on it, etc. What's so special about what they write? And what are all those people doing who revolve their lives around reading other people's stories? It makes you wonder.

Clearly I don't have anything very profound to say tonight. I should mention how wonderful Thanksgiving was, spending a few days with my family in Missouri. I could handle an eternity of that, I think. Especially if we got to go shopping together! We went to the dollar store again this year to get gifts for the little boys, and it's always fun to see if there are fun toys that the "big" kids might like... and they make great spoof gifts! I also gifted myself a little early-- new boots, new purse, and new jeans. Really though, just the purse was a splurge, as the boots are good for winter church/work wear, and I've been needing new jeans for several months. Oh yes, I can rationalize with the best of them. Purses? Who doesn't need another purse or two? :)

Well, the evening has drawn nigh and probably well beyond that. Rest well, this cold December night.

Dilemma

So, as might be apparent from my last post, I experienced a "slight" setback in my dating life... if that phrase even begins to describe the situation. (Some might argue that moratorium is a more fitting word). Either way, I'm in a sticky situation right now. As of today I am the proud owner of two EXCELLENT tickets to Christmas Around the World for the Saturday evening show, and I have absolutely no idea who to invite. Chad, my rusty trusty tag-along is married and off in Nebraska. The guy I had planned to ask... well that would be the proverbial fish that inspired me to stop fishing. There are several other stellar guys in the ward but I'm not sure how much they would appreciate being dragged on a semi-random first date to a dance concert where I know everyone and everything that is happening. And to cap it off, any remaining friends I have, old standbys I could call on, well, they're all in the show! The irony. It will be interesting to see what I figure out for that ticket.....

So here is another interesting thought. I ran across Bethanie's blog and saw this nifty thing called Wordle there. Basically it is a word collage that you can create from your blog, random text, etc. I decided to see what my blog would look like in a wordle. The two biggest words on the page? Fish and fishing. Have I not sufficiently expressed my love of dance? My devotion to the art that never dies or wanes, no matter how much my limbs fight me? What about my great interest in music? Painting, drawing, photography? Seriously, dance was one of the smallest words on the page. Be warned-- there may be a very substantial posting in the future extolling the many MANY virtues of dance.

Life is an adventure. I got looking really cute today (I know, pride goeth before the fall) but really, I did look cute! I was looking forward to FHE tonight, partly because we have an awesome group and partly because I could interact with an individual who I'm trying to be friends with (and ONLY friends). Maybe I just wanted to look good so he could see what he was missing out on, as I chatted perfectly happily with my friends. I wore my nice corduroy pants with my baby-doll blouse, did my hair with my 3-barrel waver, and put on my fun black necklace. FHE was canceled tonight. Let me just suggest that there are a few downsides to working with all women... no guy will get the chance to appreciate my masterpiece of me today! By the time I see a guy tonight I will have changed into my running clothes for our evening run. Those are a VERY different kind of cute, if they are cute at all. *Sigh*

Here's a happy story-- I'm going home for Thanksgiving!! I haven't gone home for Thanksgiving since I came to college, so I am super excited to see the family and eat lots of food with them! We have lots of adults so we can play fun games; we have more girls so we can go shopping; we have four-wheelers that most definitely need to be driven! I had a lot of friends ask earlier in the year if I was ever coming back to Missouri... this will be a fast trip but we'll see if I can't visit some old friends there too.

From how this post started off it might seem like I am not satisfied with life right now. While there are some challenges I wish didn't have to happen, I am truly loving life and so grateful for the blessings I've experienced these past few months. I live in a fabulous ward with friendly, spiritual people that I continually enjoy getting to know better. I am on two fantastic dance companies that allow me to refine my skills and continue performing (which makes me so happy! I love the dance stage!). My roommates this year are great gals-- all returned missionaries, and all examples to me in many ways. I have grown so much these past few months, and a lot of that has been from their stellar examples. My testimony of the Saviour has deepened more than I could have thought, and I have felt the very real power of prayer and scripture study in my life. I have a great job working in an uplifting environment with great people. I get to continue my studies while I work, which makes me so thankful to have gotten this job. And, best of all, I have a HUGE family that loves me! I get to visit my adorable nephew, talk with my parents and brothers, and best of all I get to see them all in about 52 hours. (Haha, there's a randomly accurate guess for ya'll who think I'm not so hot on math). The road is always full of pot-holes and puddles, but the journey is so worth it.

Fishing Part 2-- Knowing when to release

Sometimes fishing just doesn't pan out. That's when you reel in the line, pack up the tackle box, and head home, albeit empty-handed. Some days are just better for fishing than others.

Fishing Part 1-- Bait the hook

So, I've decided to take up fishing. I've had a tendency in the past to feel the bite and yank the rod, thus almost always losing the fish. However, given the relaxing (hah!) and enjoyable (sometimes) nature of fishing, I have decided to refine my skills.

Step 1-- Bait the hook

Baiting the hook is probably the hardest part of fishing. You have to take into account so many factors: location, conditions, desired fish, etc. For some fish a wriggling worm does the trick off the bat. Those suckers latch on immediately, but they also tend to get off the hook too. In their eagerness for that shapely worm, they chomp all the wriggling goodness out and don't realize that there is more to the worm than its wiggling.

Other fish require shiny lures. A sparkly bit of brass or tin grabs their eye, and after a cursory investigation they take the line. These fish know that they want that sparkly thing and won't let go very easily.

Fly fishing is arguable one of the better ways to fish. Flies have movement like the worms and capture the eye like the lures. Simple, gentle flicks of the wrist propel the fly over the water, grabbing and keeping the attention of the fish. You can't let the fly linger too long or the fish will get suspicious and won't bite. It requires a delicate balance to move the fly enough to keep the interest of the fish, without making the fly seem schizophrenic and fake. Fortunately, fish aren't always the brightest creatures, so you can make up for some frantic flicking with a gentle, restrained approach.

I have decided to develop my fly fishing technique, as that type of fishing yields some pretty incredible fish. Tonight I baited my hook, selecting a friendly, happy fly, which hopefully comes across as appealing to all fish, though it is intended for one. A few well-placed flicks will hopefully get the desired fish interested and attuned.

Besides working on my fishing tonight, I also played in my intramural volleyball game. We lost... again. But we had so much fun! We are going into tournament play soon and hopefully since we're moving down a little in the division ranks we will actually beat an opponent, not just get really close to beating them. I had some good moments, one involving the splits, although I don't think we got the point in the end. Another good moment that wasn't so good was when I punched my teammate in the face. I didn't mean to. We both went for the ball and at the last second I realized it, but I couldn't stop. So I didn't really swing hard for the ball, but my momentum carried me into him. My head bonked him, probably in the stomach because it was soft for me, and apparently one of my hands hit his face. Kinda hard. I don't think he'll have a shiner, but he did have to sit out and his eye was all red for a few minutes. Behold, the importance of calling the ball, lest you take out your tallest team member.

And, in fishing, the importance of being earnest.

--Sonnet (Untitled)-- 3-11-07

Like ribbons-- wide and swirling swaths of light
That capture moving rhythms-- colour-filled
Expressions-- budding, bursting full and bright
With pulsing life force vibrant, pure, distilled
Into a figure: nature's fairest rose.
A blossom crowned with glory-- filled with fame
That bridges ages past to those more close--
As petals bend to trumpet loud the name
Amidst the crowd. A moment passes-- hush--
With tender homage paid by rev'rent lips
Caressing nature-- springtime's gentlest blush
Arrayed-- a fragrance breathed in hearty sips.
It stands majestic, proud and tall in bloom
So frail, yet strong-- one rose can fill a room.

Rollercoasters

Well I don't have a whole lot of new things to add this week, but I felt like I should say something. Work continues to go well, dance is also keeping me busy, our intramural volleyball team keeps losing but has tons of fun doing so, and life keeps rolling on. It's been a rough week, actually, playing the waiting game and drawing a blank, but I'm hoping that something will change soon-- either my feelings or their actions. (Haha, that is vague. It will stay vague.) BYU won its last home game today-- WOOT!!-- and I took up the stands with my ward this time, as my group ditched out for the game. Fun times! I need to keep getting out and making friends. I forget that sometimes, but they are so awesome and friendly so it all works out in the end. Wow, this is almost as jumbled as some of my journal entries!! I'm working hard to keep a peaceful spirit with and be patient and calm. That seems to be my current challenge. I'm determined to try, though. Well, this should probably end soon for the sake of all involved. LOL

Live well and pray often :)

Treasure Troll

Yes, this was my Halloween costume. Treasure troll! You can't see it, but I even had the belly button jewel.

Yes, this is my hair. Yes, it is standing straight up. Yes, there is something under there (a cup!). Yes, I sprayed it purple (EEK!!!!)

Pretty much the hair made the costume. I'll have to find a full-body shot to post, but really, the hair is where it's at. I can't believe I let someone spray it purple!!!! It washed out great, though, and only suffers from the nasty layers of hairspray and ratting that went into the do. It felt VILE to touch and my hair still hates me and feels quite damaged. Time for a haircut.... any suggestions?

Happy Halloween!

Perhaps it's strange to usher out a lovely fall month with people dressed in crazy costumes hoarding stashes of candy, but what a fun day Halloween can be! I will be posting pictures soon (of South Dakota AND Halloween) so you can all see my crazy costume. Ok, so the costume was boring. But the hair? Hands down I won any contest. All I will say is it involved a cup, hairspray, lots of ratting, and purple hairspray. And glitter. And I spent about half of a movie tonight washing it out. Yes, folks, stay tuned for those pictures!

PS-- thanks for your comments on that last funny post about readership. I think you're all FABULOUS!

Reduced Readership

So I'm not sure who (if anyone besides me) actually reads what I post. I know I check back a few times during the week to make sure what I wrote last is as brilliant as I thought it was the first time. :) Nor am I entirely certain that I want to increase my readership, but that's neither here nor there.

So, I attended a financial aid conference in South Dakota last week. Actually, it's been a whole week since I've been home. Wow, time flies. I have reported on the conference 3 times now, and I have to say it feels cool to be a professional and offering my thoughts on what we do and what ideas I had from the conference. I've never sought out a career or really seen myself as one of the super career women, but I also give my best to whatever I do, so it's not too surprising. Probably the coolest thing for me is being respected as a peer amongst people who have been doing this much longer than I have and who are also much older than I am. Definitely a new experience.

In other news, I'm still running 4 times a week, averaging 2.25 miles each night. Tonight we ran our long run to Provo Towne Center mall, which is about 4.3 miles. Ok, well it IS 4.3 miles. I made it all the way down without walking once, and I made a lot of the second leg back without walking. I'm not the greatest long distance runner. It feels so good to be in shape, though, and this has definitely trimmed me up, especially now that I'm not dancing as often. My Saturdays I spend dancing still: always a tap dance rehearsal in the morning, and once a month I dance the whole livelong day! I just need to work on my memory at this point. Last night I replaced my run with a vigorous game of intramural volleyball. We lost, but it was so much fun! It might have helped that a certain friend was there as well. :D The only sad part of the night was when I dived for a ball and my pants got a hole burned in the knee.... my own knee has a corresponding burn with black flecks in it. Lovely. Good game, though.

This post really is all over the place! I took my first practice test for the GRE today. I need some practice. It was the diagnostic test to help you determine what you need to work on. Let's just say that 4 years without math has diminished my quantitative reasoning skills. I'll have to find a willing tutor somewhere I suppose. My analogies and antonyms were a little weak, too, but I can work that one out on my own.

Well, life hasn't changed all too much, but it is going great still. There's lots of great moments each day, little as they are. And who knows-- perhaps one day soon I'll have more exciting news to share. Hey, it could happen!

A Quick Thought

Well, with being out of town for my business trip and trying to get caught up afterwards, I haven't had much time to update my blog. However, I ran across an old poem I wrote that I wanted to share, so here it is. I'll update about my life soon, promise.

"Untitled-- 3/15/07"

I came to a sign today
Pompously presiding over a large
Crossroads.
Bold letters and arrows
Clamoured for attention-- for followers--
Yet each path looked the same...
At first.
I read the signs to see the paths
My little life could take--
Each one so appealing yet so
Daunting.
I pondered for a while,
There amongst the signs,
Confident I could handle
Whatever I encountered.
The call of the road
Tugged at me, so
I began to walk.

The Perfect Day

This Friday was the perfect day. Forget that I didn't eat breakfast or lunch... not in the conventional manner... forget that I was busy at work all day and really just wanted to be home asleep... forget that I had lots of things to do after work in a very short time frame: Friday was FANTASTIC.

Work was going well-- one of the counselors who I assist with questions about financial aid had gotten me a Jamba (that was breakfast), we got some great peanut butter M&M's in training meeting (that was lunch), and I was getting caught up and organized with my work load. As the afternoon drew on I was getting a little tired of being at work and wishing I could leave to run my errands. After working through a complex situation, I saw that I had unread mail in my inbox. I went to open it and see what new messages had arrived. There, amongst some financial aid updates and staff division reminders, was a message about Clog America Auditions 2008-09. I had auditioned for this group about two weeks previously. They perform American Folkdance at international festivals. I opened the message, hoping this one would contain the audition results. I skimmed through the first few lines until I saw- "audition list at the bottom of the message." I immediately scrolled down, anxious to check for my name. In years past, for other groups, this has usually been a painful process, checking and double-checking only to realize my name really wasn't included. Like the others, this was listed in alphabetical order. First I saw my friend's name, Tina, who I performed with two years ago on a folk dance team. I went down a few more names and suddenly, I stopped. My name was on the list. IT WAS!!!!! There, in beautiful black type was my name! Member of Clog America for 2008-09, participant in the tour to Europe!

I jumped up to go tell my best friend at work, Brittany. On the way I went past another co-worker, Katherine. I paused and said "guess what!" and of course she guessed right on! She was so excited, I was almost surprised. She suggested I ring the cowbell to tell our office. Usually I'm not a fan of ringing the cowbell because everyone really does gather for it, but this time I rang it with vigor. A few heads appeared, but not all. I rang it a second time even harder, probably annoying people, but hey, this was urgent news. They all gathered expectantly, probably wondering why I had such a cheesy grin pasted on my face. I shared my good news and they were all so happy for me! I really appreciate their support. I went back to my desk, giddily talking with my cubicle-mate. It settled in a little bit as I sat and realize the enormity of the moment. I've been trying since I started BYU folkdance in 2004 to be a member of the international tour team. It was extremely disappointing when that never happened, and I spent a while overcoming that and learning to trust in the Lord and His plan. Now, although I thought those chances had passed, I am a member of an international folk dance group that will tour Europe this summer (the itinerary isn't set yet) representing the United States of America, and my beliefs as well. I cried just a teeny bit as this all hit me. I finally made it. You would cry too if it happened to you.

Now, after that excitement, work kinda flew by for the rest of the day. I left a few minutes before five and ran to the mall to get a shirt, because I had gotten asked to Homecoming (and I needed to "amend" my dress). A good friend, David, from freshman year, invited me to the Homecoming dance this year! I love dances, and it's always great to go with friends. My roommate Kristen and I had hurried out Monday between my work and FHE to look for dresses. We were extremely successful on that trip, but mine needed some additional alteration to be modest. When I first went to get a shirt they were sold out of my size, but a shipment came in the next day (which also happened to be Friday and the very day I needed it by), and I was able to pick it up. I hurried home, started curling my hair, and I was only about 10 minutes late for my date. He was fabulously patient as I finished my hair and got dressed. Thankfully my friends downstairs-- Cami, Amy, Emily, and Jen-- wanted to see the dress and they came up to help me finish getting ready. They saved me! Dinner and the dance was great, and we had such a fun evening at the "Enchanted" Homecoming dance. It was honestly the perfect end to a perfect day.


These verses talk about spiritual blessings, but I think they apply just as well my situation and the temporal blessings I received this week.

D&C 58:2-4

2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

Pearls

So today I went and got a free strand of freshwater pearls--- some promotional thing from Goldsmith Jewelers. Now this is significant for two reasons.

#1: I love jewelry! I don't know why, but I really like nice jewelery, and even jewelery that looks nice but didn't cost an arm and a leg. With seven brothers I sometimes wonder how I turned out so very feminine, but I'm not complaining. My husband might though, if/when I get married.

#2: Pearls are uniquely beautiful. That probably sounds so cliche, but trust me, it's a deeper statement than it appears to be. Most pearls bought and worn by the average gal are cultured pearls, meaning they force the oysters to make pearls. They "feed" the oyster a round object, causing them to create a perfectly round pearl. Since this promotional offer was giving away a free strand of pearls I figured they would be in this category-- just as beautiful as other pearls, but less impressive because they are "man-made." I pulled out my strand to admire it, and found that these pearls aren't perfect! They don't match perfectly in roundness or size, or even color, though of course they are extremely similar. Many are more oblong than spherical, and they show a subtle variation in overall size and shade.

What an incredible animal an oyster is! Who else would take an annoying bit of sand, rubber, or any small foreign object and coat it with pearlescent beauty? We prize those creations, sometimes with an extravagant price tag. Lately, I've been working hard to smooth out some rough edges with a friend-- an absolutely fabulous gal, but we just have different ways of seeing the world. It can get really stressful trying to create good conditions and consciously do things to improve the relationship, but I realized that it doesn't have to be like that. Just like an oyster patiently and carefully coating the problem to make a precious gem, I too can add layer by layer to create a beautiful friendship. With a little practice that will become a way of living, not just a temporary behaviour change. And I imagine that someone will value those pearls we make far beyond the ones the oysters make.

May we all be a little more oyster-like.

Please Pass the Chef

So, I am a HUGE fan of Indian food. I'm not sure why I got hooked on it, but one day I went out to Bombay House and came back a convert (to Indian food-- the Hindu thing is too complex). I'll get random cravings for that delectable dish of spices, which then urges me to hunt up recipes and gush over pictures of fantastic foods. Once or twice I tried to convert the recipes into actual meals, but I never had the success I was looking for. The garbanzo bean curry I tried to replicate was good, but it wasn't anything like the dish that inspired my attempt.

Anyways, I've been craving a good chicken tikka masala for the past few weeks, and I finally picked up a few things at the store (namely the main spice of garam masala) to test out. I checked out two recipes and decided to give them a shot. So last night, as I was bored and contemplating what to do with my night, I decided to try and make my tikka masala.

WOW! What a rousing success! I used some elements from both recipes and adjusted the spices a little (to taste of course) based on what I had on hand, but it turned out SUPERBLY! It seriously smelled like an Indian restaurant in our hot hot kitchen, and the only thing missing was the traditional jasmine rice. By the way, jasmine rice is a very aromatic grain of rice, not just a fancy name for regular rice. I totally recommend it for Indian dishes. My roommate Brygn turned on some Indian music and I seriously jumped and danced around the apartment for about 5 minutes-- that's how excited I was for my fabulous dinner!


Well, I've decided that the next time I fix this I'm going to use the individual spices, not the pre-blended mix in curry powder. I think that should get the flavor spot on. However, my version made an extremely passable imitation, which received compliments from several individuals. I was actually as surprised as they were at the final product! And let me just say, eating the leftovers today.... I felt like I'd gone to Bombay House the night before and brought home my doggie bag of goodness.

I've decided my next culinary adventure with Indian food will be tikka saag. It's the same general idea of tikka masala, but it uses spinach. YUM! And maybe I'll give naan a shot-- the traditional Indian flatbread. Once you start, the fun don't stop!

Check out this link for some great International Recipes .

Dance Dance!

This is me flying across the world. Pretty much I love performing and dancing, and I've always had a secret dream to be a performer on stage for ... well however I long I could be there. It's absolutely wonderful to me that I've been able to get so much stage time, especially now when most people I know are starting to slide off into the grind of real life.

I am a member of Foot Poetry, a local tap dance company made of people who just love to get together and tap! We make beautiful noise with our feet and have a blast at our Saturday morning rehearsals, breakin' it down to some Funky Town grooves. (PS I am looking for a shiny disco costume, if anyone has connections.) Right now we are preparing for a show in January-- still waiting to hear back about our November possibility-- where we will be in the spotlight at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo! Save January 17th in your calendars, friends, because this array of footwork will blow your socks off! I am hoping to stage a choreography two friends and I came up with in our tap class for this performance. It's a classy little number to Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young," and it leans towards the old, smooth tap style. You also won't want to miss a great a capella number I'm in with some other incredible rhythmists. More or less, we tap out a train. Really, we use different tap rhythms and combinations to make it sound like a train is leaving the station and heading down the tracks. Talk about some talented feet (and choreographers!).

Another group that I'm hoping to be a part of this year is Clog America. It's a Utah company that performs American folk dances, primarily representing the US at international festivals. Last Saturday they held auditions for this year's tour team, and the jury is still out for now on who is going and who is not. For what it's worth, I think the audition went tremendously well! You always leave an audition knowing you could have done better at this thing or that, but even so I know I did a good job... the best job I could do.

It was pretty nerve-wracking the night before the audition. My last audition before that was almost a year ago and while it was a good experience, it didn't turn out the way I had hoped. But I realized, it doesn't matter how every other audition turned out, for good or not. Every time I go out there and try for something new, I truly grow within myself. Somethings are meant to be, and others are not. Before I let my pre-audition nerves get the best of me, I reminded myself that no panel of judges can deny 18 years of practice, work, and patience-- the ingredients that make me the dance (and person) I am right now.

Dance is always inside of me, begging to come out. It will always be like that. I'm not sure if this chance to dance and see the world is going to open for me, but for that Saturday, those precious 5 hours of sweat, pain, and adrenaline, were a precious gift. I am a dancer. My greatest joy is found between the audience and the spotlights in that moment where spirits connect and performance becomes mutual sharing. It's an amazing feeling that I find difficult to describe. Perhaps this picture does it more justice. There's just something different about me when I dance.

Still Got the Touch

So today I had my first test as a post-graduate... I gotta say, I've still got the touch! Of course, I'm sure it helps that I only have to study for this one class, in which case I really should have gotten 100%, but I do have a life, so that accounts for some missed questions here and there. It's been refreshing to have my Maya Art and Culture class so far, mostly because I love learning and also because it gives me a mental break during my days! Their religion and art are so fascinating, both in content and depth. Here's a little taste of it, just so you can see what you could be learning too.

Mi Media Naranja

Busco mi media naranja. Todos que quieren applicar pueden preguntarme si quiero pasar tiempo con ellos. Me encanta que tengo bastante buenamigos, pero tambien espero el hombre que sea mejor que suenos. Un dia, un dia......

Care and Keeping of Feet

So, in my line of hobby, feet are vitally essential. They usually are rather calloused, which any dancer will agree is important for avoiding blisters and the like. Naturally, they look a little less than attractive, but overall I'm quite satisfied with my feet. I probably should paint my toenails more often to disguise the state of my feet, but I'd rather spend that time dancing. Suffice it to say that from the ankle down, my feet are a lovely conglomeration of scars and callouses, in dire need of some TLC.

My heels have not escaped the fate of my feet, and they too bear lovely callouses and lines from the wide variety of shoes and straps rubbing against them. They've been getting better, after a round of ill-fitting shoes that quite literally rubbed them the wrong way, and I had hopes of them returning to a semi-normal state. Unfortunately, a 4.3 mile run on Thursday night sealed their fate. For some reason my heels tend to wear out the backs of my shoes, these current ones being no exception. I could tell that some excess rubbing was going on during the run, but I decided to take advantage of our halfway point and readjust my sock to help absorb some of the friction. The back of my sock and shoe showed a vibrant shade of red as I took my shoe off. Yes, in the first 2 miles or so my shoes had gouged/rubbed away not one but two blister-like areas. And, of course, I discovered this at the halfway mark (Provo Towne Center Mall), meaning my shoes had at least 2 more miles to keep working that magic. The return trip actually wasn't too bad, but my foot didn't get any better for that continued friction.

So, after this lovely run, I decided I probably should retire those shoes, even though they are pretty good, with the exception of the gouging backs.... I wore my ANCIENT Asics from high school track days-- which, I should add , have never given me this worn-out heel issue-- for my Saturday dance audition, and decided that the next time I bought shoes I would invest in some trusty Asics. Now, here is true inspiration at its finest.

A friend in my new ward, Eimi (pronounced Amy) announced at ward prayer that she had a free pair of running shoes in size 8, if anyone was interested. I raised my hand and she came to talk to me. Turns out, after she got back from her mission, she was really needed running shoes and had prayed to be able to get some. She went and bought some one day, and then a few days later her mom showed up with a free, barely used pair of shoes. Asics. I'm so thankful that she decided to share her blessing, because I now own a free pair of new Asics... exactly the shoe I wanted!

I wasn't praying for shoes, I wasn't even praying for a miracle or a sign that the Lord loved me. At church I'd had another warm confirmation of how the Lord is mindful of me and aware of my concerns, cares, and desires. But this extra blessing, from a simple announcement at Ward Prayer really surprised me and touched me. The Lord cares about my poor feet! And if He cares about that, He most certainly cares about the bigger things in my life that I'm seeking. Not many people can put their testimony into words, and mine came in a box today.

It reminds of me of a song, "Simple Gifts."

"Simple Gifts" by Elder Joseph Brackett (1848)

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

One Saturday Night

One Saturday night is all it takes to get started blogging, I suppose. While I'm not sure how much will change as I update this, I hope it will inspire me (and ya'll) to consider life in a new way. Or maybe it will just help you keep up-to-date on my life.