"Signals are like nuts: mixed is better. Who wants all the same kind, right?"
-Olive Snook (from Pushing Daisies)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Moving Club
Not only am I in the "Trip of the Month Club," I am also in a club called "Let's move at least once a year!" I have been a member of this club since 2000, (earlier if you count my mission) though, I did not pay my membership dues in 2005. Here is a list of my participation, counting my mission (I just checked with the club president and he said it is okay to count my mission):
Jun 1998 - Aug 1998: MTC
Aug 1998: California for two weeks
Aug 1998 - Jan 1999: Babahoyo, Ecuador
Jan 1999 - Mar 1999: Portoviejo, Ecuador
Mar 1999 - Sep 1999: Ancon, Ecuador
Sep 1999 - Dec 1999: Manta, Ecuador
Jan 2000 - Apr 2000: Stadium Terrace
May 2000 - Aug 2000: Cleveland (I lived in two apartments this in these 3 months so I got bonus points here)
Aug 2000 - Apr 2001: Stadium Terrace
Apr 2001 - Aug 2001: Cleveland
Aug 2001 - Apr 2001: Foxwood House
Apr 2002 - April 2003: Condo on 3rd West
Apr 2003 - Aug 2003: The Sienna
Aug 2003 - May 2004: I can't remember the name of the apartment complex but I lived there with Jacqueline
May 2004 - May 2006: Park Lakes (I made it TWO whole years here!!)
May 2006 - May 2007: Archstone
May 2007 - Jun 2008: Condos on Holly Hall
Jun 2008 - Jul 2008: with Heather Jones
Jul 2008 - Jul 2009: By Provo Cemetery
Even though I missed 2005, there are 19 places on that list! 19 places in 10 1/2 years more than qualifies me for the club.
And now, like a faithful club member, I am moving again. I am moving this time up to the Riverwoods part of town in Provo. I'm excited about this move. Although my apartment will be smaller, it fixed everything I don't like about my current place including: no good place to run, only one full bathroom, cheap covered parking, no outside storage. Still moving is a pain, and this is certainly a club I hope to get out of very soon.
Jun 1998 - Aug 1998: MTC
Aug 1998: California for two weeks
Aug 1998 - Jan 1999: Babahoyo, Ecuador
Jan 1999 - Mar 1999: Portoviejo, Ecuador
Mar 1999 - Sep 1999: Ancon, Ecuador
Sep 1999 - Dec 1999: Manta, Ecuador
Jan 2000 - Apr 2000: Stadium Terrace
May 2000 - Aug 2000: Cleveland (I lived in two apartments this in these 3 months so I got bonus points here)
Aug 2000 - Apr 2001: Stadium Terrace
Apr 2001 - Aug 2001: Cleveland
Aug 2001 - Apr 2001: Foxwood House
Apr 2002 - April 2003: Condo on 3rd West
Apr 2003 - Aug 2003: The Sienna
Aug 2003 - May 2004: I can't remember the name of the apartment complex but I lived there with Jacqueline
May 2004 - May 2006: Park Lakes (I made it TWO whole years here!!)
May 2006 - May 2007: Archstone
May 2007 - Jun 2008: Condos on Holly Hall
Jun 2008 - Jul 2008: with Heather Jones
Jul 2008 - Jul 2009: By Provo Cemetery
Even though I missed 2005, there are 19 places on that list! 19 places in 10 1/2 years more than qualifies me for the club.
And now, like a faithful club member, I am moving again. I am moving this time up to the Riverwoods part of town in Provo. I'm excited about this move. Although my apartment will be smaller, it fixed everything I don't like about my current place including: no good place to run, only one full bathroom, cheap covered parking, no outside storage. Still moving is a pain, and this is certainly a club I hope to get out of very soon.
A Surprising Definition
So, I'm having trouble sleeping tonight, so I thought I'd finally add to my pathetic blog, as I promised Kristin I would. Here's an experience I had at a conference in Portland a couple of weeks ago:
On the first day of the conference, I saw a girl, a graduate student, from BYU also attending the conference. I went to up to talk to her and we had been chatting for a while when one of the meeting rooms let out and a few of my friends from Rice exited. They saw me, and so came over to chat with us. I introduced the student to my friends. Somehow, we started talking about BYU, and the student said to the group, "I always tell people that even though I go to BYU, I'm not a 'Utah Mormon.'" My Rice friends, of course, had no idea what she meant by that and said so. "They don't know what that means." And so when she was asked what she meant, she stammered out something about drinking caffeine. She had no qualms about drinking caffeine, even though it's not sold on campus, and therefore not a Utah Mormon.
Later I thought about it, and I decided that, unfortunately, just by the way she spoke in that conversation, she most definitely was a "Utah Mormon" (if you will, though I don't really like that term). To me, being a "Utah Mormon" has nothing to do with drinking caffeine or watching R rated movies, or even jogging on Sunday. It means that you have absolutely no idea what it is like to live outside of Utah. Don't you know that outside of Utah, those who are not members of our church, don't really know what a Mormon is? They don't know what we believe, they only have some vague idea that we might have multiple wives or don't smoke. Many people have never met a Mormon. And certainly, they have no idea what it means to be a "Utah Mormon." I think that some one who believes that everyone is familiar with the term "Utah Mormon" is one, by the very definition, no matter what he or she will or will not drink.
For the record, I later asked this student where she was from. Kayesville. That did not surprise me at all.
On the first day of the conference, I saw a girl, a graduate student, from BYU also attending the conference. I went to up to talk to her and we had been chatting for a while when one of the meeting rooms let out and a few of my friends from Rice exited. They saw me, and so came over to chat with us. I introduced the student to my friends. Somehow, we started talking about BYU, and the student said to the group, "I always tell people that even though I go to BYU, I'm not a 'Utah Mormon.'" My Rice friends, of course, had no idea what she meant by that and said so. "They don't know what that means." And so when she was asked what she meant, she stammered out something about drinking caffeine. She had no qualms about drinking caffeine, even though it's not sold on campus, and therefore not a Utah Mormon.
Later I thought about it, and I decided that, unfortunately, just by the way she spoke in that conversation, she most definitely was a "Utah Mormon" (if you will, though I don't really like that term). To me, being a "Utah Mormon" has nothing to do with drinking caffeine or watching R rated movies, or even jogging on Sunday. It means that you have absolutely no idea what it is like to live outside of Utah. Don't you know that outside of Utah, those who are not members of our church, don't really know what a Mormon is? They don't know what we believe, they only have some vague idea that we might have multiple wives or don't smoke. Many people have never met a Mormon. And certainly, they have no idea what it means to be a "Utah Mormon." I think that some one who believes that everyone is familiar with the term "Utah Mormon" is one, by the very definition, no matter what he or she will or will not drink.
For the record, I later asked this student where she was from. Kayesville. That did not surprise me at all.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Remember?
Do you remember back in high school? There was that shy, kind of homely girl in the band who had a crush on Jared. She confided in me and I felt sad for her. She was nice , but I knew that there was no way he would ever think of her that way. Why does that always happen to the nice girls? I'm with Anne, I'd much rather be pretty than smart.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thanks
This was recently told to me by someone trying to make me feel better: "You are reasonably pretty. If we put you in a nice dress and give you a $500 haircut, you'd be a 9." I don't think I'll be going to that person for help anymore.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
On My Own
I love living by myself. No really, I love it. This is the first time in my life that I have ever lived in anywhere by myself and it is wonderful. Sometime I wonder if this glorious feeling I have every time I realize I'm on my own isn't due the fact that the pain is over. Like when you have a really bad toothache and finally it is fixed, the feeling of no pain is one of the most remarkable feelings ever to be felt. I don't want to be mean to anyone, but I've had roommates like that toothache. Now that the pain is healed, well, gone at least, it just feels marvelous.
To celebrate, I've compiled a list of things that make me happy. Just me. Things that make me happy when I am all alone.
1. Reading. I love reading. I love becoming a part of another story and I love reading out loud and sharing the stories I love with others. I love all kinds of books. And I love libraries and bookstores.
2. Music. I love learning about new artists and I love music with beautiful lyrics or unique sounds. I just started a notebook of lyrics that I find particularly nice. I love going to concerts and hearing live the songs that I love. I think one of the greatest experiences of my life was the Loreena McKennitt Concert. I never wanted it to end. I guess music lyrics can be listed under this category.
3. Baseball. I love watching baseball. and football actually. I like watching sports and I love watching sport teams from Ohio. Especially the Cleveland Indians. Go Tribe!
4. Traveling. I love to travel and visit new places. To see new things.
5. Art. I love going to art museums. Especially museums that are predominantly paintings. Beautiful things just fill my heart. Another favorite experience is when Alan and I went to New York and went to the MOMA. What a beautiful museum.
6. Crafts. Necklaces, origami, stamping, making cards. I love it! There is just something about being crafty.
7. Playing games (of course). But only with people who also like playing games. Since this is a list of things I like alone, I must admit I enjoy playing games alone too. Some video games, solitare, against imaginary opponents. I love it. (Though admittedly I enjoy games with people more).
8. Running and playing tennis. Although I forget this a lot. Something in me resists exercise at times, but I do love to run. I guess I can add to this list roller blading and biking. But I've never been one who likes to really pushing myself to hurt. I am more a slow and steady kind of athlete.
9. Swimming and going to the beach. I love the ocean and water. There is something wonderful about being submerged in water.
10. Hiking. Oh yes, the walker that I am, I love walking in nature.
11. Finding funny things. My most recent favorite is Kristin's Demitri Martin quotes and the PhD comics: www.phdcomics.com. I love laughing. (Again I love laughing with people more than alone, but alone is better than not laughing). The other night I was reading a few of those PhD comics and I was literally crying I was laughing so hard at some of them. I guess getting the PhD is not a complete waste if it gives me new things to laugh at.
12. Planning and making lists. I am a dork. I even like balancing my checkbook. Adding, listing, planning, I find these things strangely satisfying.
13. Cooking and Baking. I am in love with this new cookbook that Krystl told me about: Eating Well Serves Two. It has quick and simple recipes in small portions. Even without the cookbook, I get a lot of pleasure out of the time I spend in the kitchen.
That's the list for now. I am an independent woman and I love it.
To celebrate, I've compiled a list of things that make me happy. Just me. Things that make me happy when I am all alone.
1. Reading. I love reading. I love becoming a part of another story and I love reading out loud and sharing the stories I love with others. I love all kinds of books. And I love libraries and bookstores.
2. Music. I love learning about new artists and I love music with beautiful lyrics or unique sounds. I just started a notebook of lyrics that I find particularly nice. I love going to concerts and hearing live the songs that I love. I think one of the greatest experiences of my life was the Loreena McKennitt Concert. I never wanted it to end. I guess music lyrics can be listed under this category.
3. Baseball. I love watching baseball. and football actually. I like watching sports and I love watching sport teams from Ohio. Especially the Cleveland Indians. Go Tribe!
4. Traveling. I love to travel and visit new places. To see new things.
5. Art. I love going to art museums. Especially museums that are predominantly paintings. Beautiful things just fill my heart. Another favorite experience is when Alan and I went to New York and went to the MOMA. What a beautiful museum.
6. Crafts. Necklaces, origami, stamping, making cards. I love it! There is just something about being crafty.
7. Playing games (of course). But only with people who also like playing games. Since this is a list of things I like alone, I must admit I enjoy playing games alone too. Some video games, solitare, against imaginary opponents. I love it. (Though admittedly I enjoy games with people more).
8. Running and playing tennis. Although I forget this a lot. Something in me resists exercise at times, but I do love to run. I guess I can add to this list roller blading and biking. But I've never been one who likes to really pushing myself to hurt. I am more a slow and steady kind of athlete.
9. Swimming and going to the beach. I love the ocean and water. There is something wonderful about being submerged in water.
10. Hiking. Oh yes, the walker that I am, I love walking in nature.
11. Finding funny things. My most recent favorite is Kristin's Demitri Martin quotes and the PhD comics: www.phdcomics.com. I love laughing. (Again I love laughing with people more than alone, but alone is better than not laughing). The other night I was reading a few of those PhD comics and I was literally crying I was laughing so hard at some of them. I guess getting the PhD is not a complete waste if it gives me new things to laugh at.
12. Planning and making lists. I am a dork. I even like balancing my checkbook. Adding, listing, planning, I find these things strangely satisfying.
13. Cooking and Baking. I am in love with this new cookbook that Krystl told me about: Eating Well Serves Two. It has quick and simple recipes in small portions. Even without the cookbook, I get a lot of pleasure out of the time I spend in the kitchen.
That's the list for now. I am an independent woman and I love it.
Monday, April 14, 2008
100 Things I Want To Do
I started this in my head in college and on paper in January, 2006. I did write some pre-2006 things on the list since they were genuinely things I have always wanted to do. I added to this today and now it is done (the ones in orange with dates I have already done):
1. paint a picture 17 May 2008
2. go hang gliding
3. put one foot on either side of the equator
4. go sky diving 16 Apr 2005
5. go to Disney World with my own family (husband and/or kids)
6. milk a cow
7. see a professional football game
8. memorize all the US presidents
9. memorize the family proclamation 26 Mar 2006
10. pay for the next car at a toll booth
11. go to a sit down restaurant alone
12. win something at a sporting event
13. run a marathon 20 Sep 2003
14. skinny dip
15. ride a bicycle built for two
16. learn to juggle
17. see the great wall of China
18. see the Taj Mahal
19. sit in first class 22 Dec 2007
20. get my hair cornrowed 28 Dec 2005
21. get a doctorate 14 May 2008
22. ride in a helicopter
23. ride in a hot air balloon
24. eat a turkey leg 21 Feb 2007
25. go to Australia (do the bridge climb in Sydney)
26. kiss the blarney stone and see the River Shannon May 2005
27. witness a miracle 24 Jul 2004
28. learn to say “I Love You” in 10 languages
29. fill out at least half of my 15 generation family tree
30. be a cool aunt
31. volunteer in a hospital or library
32. do a pullup
33. get married
34. write a love letter
35. receive a love letter
36. own a house with a secret passage or a secret room
37. reach the peak of mount kilimanjaro
38. visit all 50 states
39. have a boyfriend on valentine’s day
40. talk to hermana freire again
41. get a massage 8 Jun 2006
42. see Michaelangelo’s Pieta
43. visit the Eifffel Tower
44. become a “runner”
45. go up the down escalator 29 May 2006
46. see a baseball game in Fenway Park
47. send flowers to a friend for no reason
48. cross the international date line
49. visit the galapagos islands
50. make out in the front seat of a pickup truck 25 Apr 2007
51. organize my photos
52. write my autobiography
53. jog across the Golden Gate Bridge 21 May 2004
54. weigh what my driver’s license says I weigh
55. type up my patriarchal blessing 5 Jan 2006
56. type or or digitize my mini-tapes
57. beat a date at the movie game
58. run a 5K in under 25 minutes
59. learn to play Bach’s 13th invention
60. go back to Ecuador
61. participate in a “Messiah” or “Sound of Music” sing along
62. participate in a race in a foreign country
63. go bowling with the gutter bumpers up 21 Jul 2007
64. see the blue bonnets in near College Station, Texas 12 Apr 2008
65. hike monchu piccu
66. go cross country skiing
67. find and transfer a geo bug
68. visit the tunnels in Houston downtown 31 Jul 2007
69. catch a fish
70. research a name to take to the temple
71. own a pair of heelys 10 May 2008
72. build a bear at Build-A-Bear
73. read all of the books on my book list
74. take a long road trip alone
75. eat at moe’s (in Portland)
76. see the northern lights
77. go to mexico city
78. go to graceland
79. go to the country music hall of fame and grand ole opry
80. write my wishes book
81. scrapbook my vacations
82. go to malmo, sweden
83. be a generous giver
84. visit (go inside) at least 100 temples
85. stay good friends with someone even if we don’t live in the same city
86. read the scriptures everyday for a year
87. memorize the articles of faith
88. own a car with a sunroof
89. drive down the coastal highway in California
90. be able to play the hymns in church
91. be able to play “when you say nothing at all” on the guitar
92. stay in a Disney World/Land hotel
93. get at least 50 stamps in my national parks passport
94. be a mom
95. go to the tate museum of modern art in london
96. finish a marathon with my mom
97. own a large print set of scriptures 14 May 2008
98. plant a garden
99. see someone baptized that I introduced to the church (not as a missionary)
100. get my scuba certification
One I stole from Krystl:
101. get good and kissed out of the blue
Other things that aren’t completely within my control:
102. have a wikipedia page
103. see the Cleveland Indians win the world series
1. paint a picture 17 May 2008
2. go hang gliding
3. put one foot on either side of the equator
4. go sky diving 16 Apr 2005
5. go to Disney World with my own family (husband and/or kids)
6. milk a cow
7. see a professional football game
8. memorize all the US presidents
9. memorize the family proclamation 26 Mar 2006
10. pay for the next car at a toll booth
11. go to a sit down restaurant alone
12. win something at a sporting event
13. run a marathon 20 Sep 2003
14. skinny dip
15. ride a bicycle built for two
16. learn to juggle
17. see the great wall of China
18. see the Taj Mahal
19. sit in first class 22 Dec 2007
20. get my hair cornrowed 28 Dec 2005
21. get a doctorate 14 May 2008
22. ride in a helicopter
23. ride in a hot air balloon
24. eat a turkey leg 21 Feb 2007
25. go to Australia (do the bridge climb in Sydney)
26. kiss the blarney stone and see the River Shannon May 2005
27. witness a miracle 24 Jul 2004
28. learn to say “I Love You” in 10 languages
29. fill out at least half of my 15 generation family tree
30. be a cool aunt
31. volunteer in a hospital or library
32. do a pullup
33. get married
34. write a love letter
35. receive a love letter
36. own a house with a secret passage or a secret room
37. reach the peak of mount kilimanjaro
38. visit all 50 states
39. have a boyfriend on valentine’s day
40. talk to hermana freire again
41. get a massage 8 Jun 2006
42. see Michaelangelo’s Pieta
43. visit the Eifffel Tower
44. become a “runner”
45. go up the down escalator 29 May 2006
46. see a baseball game in Fenway Park
47. send flowers to a friend for no reason
48. cross the international date line
49. visit the galapagos islands
50. make out in the front seat of a pickup truck 25 Apr 2007
51. organize my photos
52. write my autobiography
53. jog across the Golden Gate Bridge 21 May 2004
54. weigh what my driver’s license says I weigh
55. type up my patriarchal blessing 5 Jan 2006
56. type or or digitize my mini-tapes
57. beat a date at the movie game
58. run a 5K in under 25 minutes
59. learn to play Bach’s 13th invention
60. go back to Ecuador
61. participate in a “Messiah” or “Sound of Music” sing along
62. participate in a race in a foreign country
63. go bowling with the gutter bumpers up 21 Jul 2007
64. see the blue bonnets in near College Station, Texas 12 Apr 2008
65. hike monchu piccu
66. go cross country skiing
67. find and transfer a geo bug
68. visit the tunnels in Houston downtown 31 Jul 2007
69. catch a fish
70. research a name to take to the temple
71. own a pair of heelys 10 May 2008
72. build a bear at Build-A-Bear
73. read all of the books on my book list
74. take a long road trip alone
75. eat at moe’s (in Portland)
76. see the northern lights
77. go to mexico city
78. go to graceland
79. go to the country music hall of fame and grand ole opry
80. write my wishes book
81. scrapbook my vacations
82. go to malmo, sweden
83. be a generous giver
84. visit (go inside) at least 100 temples
85. stay good friends with someone even if we don’t live in the same city
86. read the scriptures everyday for a year
87. memorize the articles of faith
88. own a car with a sunroof
89. drive down the coastal highway in California
90. be able to play the hymns in church
91. be able to play “when you say nothing at all” on the guitar
92. stay in a Disney World/Land hotel
93. get at least 50 stamps in my national parks passport
94. be a mom
95. go to the tate museum of modern art in london
96. finish a marathon with my mom
97. own a large print set of scriptures 14 May 2008
98. plant a garden
99. see someone baptized that I introduced to the church (not as a missionary)
100. get my scuba certification
One I stole from Krystl:
101. get good and kissed out of the blue
Other things that aren’t completely within my control:
102. have a wikipedia page
103. see the Cleveland Indians win the world series
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
