So the shuttle company that I take to the airport has a policy that if you don’t make your flight, they will refund you. Apparently that means that they pick up their customers at a ridiculous time and get them to the airport a full 3 hours in advance! I might understand a little bit better the three hours if this was LAX and traffic had to be accounted for and the ridiculously long security lines. But this is SLC, I have never had to wait more than 20 minutes for security and I have flown in and out of here quite a few times. Anyway, I thought I would write a short blog about my first year of college while I sit here and wait.
Being at BYU this past year has felt kind of like an extended EFY or something. I went to devotionals and church and the temple and had religion classes from teachers that had taught EFY many times before. It didn’t start feeling like I lived there until the very end and then I got to pack it all up and leave. I guess college is a bit like EFY though, only without counselors and a “strict” bedtime. I got up and went to classes, came home and did some work. Then, on weekends mostly, I stayed out till the wee hours of the morning playing. It was a sweet deal.
It’s a bit surreal to have all my stuff packed up and to be going home for an extended period of time. I mean, I leave for Germany in two weeks, but that feels more like a trip than moving somewhere. Cory helped me move all my junk to some random storage room at the place where I’m living next year. And in that random storage room it will stay till the end of August.
I am a bit surprised at the amount of stuff that I have. I am bringing home three suitcases! Granted, I had to pack for LA weather, and Berlin weather, which are vastly different. Then I had to pack for normal stuff, and for nice events for my Dad’s campaign. At least I didn’t have to pack all my winter jackets. Then all the stuff that is staying here, it’s quite a bit. The sad thing is that I use it all.
I have been blessed to have made some really great friends. I am really going to miss them this summer and all our fun times. But it’s only a few short months before its back to school. By the way, I’m taking four English classes next semester! Welcome to the wonderful world of the English major. Also next year Sydney joins me at BYU along with some other wonderful girls from home. That is going to be a super lot of fun!
One thing I will not miss at all is Provo. We thought the valley was bad with nothing to do late at night, try Provo with the BYU honor code. It was so stupid, you have to have members of the opposite sex out of the apartment by midnight. I know that sounds late to some of you, but it’s not and it was a pain. Think of it this way, you had to be starting a movie by 10, most people don't even start planning the evening till 9 or 9:30 and most students were up till 2am on regular school nights. The honor code is a good thing overall, I know that, but sometimes it really got in the way.
Los Angeles here I come!!!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
A Weekend With Ashley
This past weekend my lovely sister came for a visit. We just had way too much fun. She arrived on Friday and we went over to the bookstore where we bought some fun and (at least on my part) much needed clothes. Then we went to dinner where the waiter was, I believe, flirting with one or both of us. Then we went to the Orem Hale Center Theater and got to see "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". It was soooo good!!! A good amount of the actors had a great deal of talent and everything was just amazing. I love the theatre.
Saturday morning we left bright and early, 8am, to go see Conference in SLC. It was pretty cool to be in the conference center, though I think it has magical powers to make you fall asleep. I was paying such good attention, then all of a sudden I was down, trying to keep my eyelids open. Afterwards we went to the new Deseret Book store that was supposed to be amazing, but it really wasn't all that amazing. The best part was the yummie candy we bought that lasted throughout the weekend. Then we went to Kings English, the best bookstore ever, and bought some books and chatted with the fun workers. We got some lunch then headed to our favorite place, the Down East Clearence center. That place is amazing. I got a $45 jacket for $10. I love it! That evening we stayed in and watched "The Invention of Lying" which was suprisingly good. We were expecting a superficial movie and got one, but with meaningful undertones and religious commentery.
Sunday was conference and Easter. We made a very yummy breakfast of eggs, bacon, fruit, and muffins from the store. Pretty much the day consisted of watching conference, with a break where we went for a walk down the Provo river. For dinner we had some awsome leek and potato soup which I am so buying again sometime.
Monday was MUSE!!!!! I went to class and the gym, then we met up and grabbed some subway and headed back to SLC. That was an amazing concert! Ashley has pictures otherwise I would put them up. I really just don't have words to describe the awsomeness.
Then Ashley went home.
The End.
Saturday morning we left bright and early, 8am, to go see Conference in SLC. It was pretty cool to be in the conference center, though I think it has magical powers to make you fall asleep. I was paying such good attention, then all of a sudden I was down, trying to keep my eyelids open. Afterwards we went to the new Deseret Book store that was supposed to be amazing, but it really wasn't all that amazing. The best part was the yummie candy we bought that lasted throughout the weekend. Then we went to Kings English, the best bookstore ever, and bought some books and chatted with the fun workers. We got some lunch then headed to our favorite place, the Down East Clearence center. That place is amazing. I got a $45 jacket for $10. I love it! That evening we stayed in and watched "The Invention of Lying" which was suprisingly good. We were expecting a superficial movie and got one, but with meaningful undertones and religious commentery.
Sunday was conference and Easter. We made a very yummy breakfast of eggs, bacon, fruit, and muffins from the store. Pretty much the day consisted of watching conference, with a break where we went for a walk down the Provo river. For dinner we had some awsome leek and potato soup which I am so buying again sometime.
Monday was MUSE!!!!! I went to class and the gym, then we met up and grabbed some subway and headed back to SLC. That was an amazing concert! Ashley has pictures otherwise I would put them up. I really just don't have words to describe the awsomeness.
Then Ashley went home.
The End.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Dinner Game
I am taking a French and Italian cinema class this semester. It has had it's ups and downs but this will forever be one of my favorite French films. It is called The Dinner Game
The story: A group of well off, country club going Frenchmen have a weekly dinner where they each must bring an idiot. The goal is to bring the most ridiculous person ever. For example, one of these men is bringing a boomerang collector/player. The main character, Pierre Brochant, is bringing someone that a friend met on a train, François Pignon. This "idiot" makes matchstick models of various monuments and bridges. Not only does he make them, but he shows them to everyone and loves to talk about them.
As these two have not met in person, Brochant is going to have Pignon over for a drink before the dinner. But, they end up staying at Brochant's house and many events unfold. Pingnon just makes everything worse, but he doesn't realize it. I appologize for being bad at summaries. Here is the trailer (sub out "idiot" for "jerk" cuz it makes more sense in American)
It is just absolutly hilarious! You all should watch it. Thats an order!
The story: A group of well off, country club going Frenchmen have a weekly dinner where they each must bring an idiot. The goal is to bring the most ridiculous person ever. For example, one of these men is bringing a boomerang collector/player. The main character, Pierre Brochant, is bringing someone that a friend met on a train, François Pignon. This "idiot" makes matchstick models of various monuments and bridges. Not only does he make them, but he shows them to everyone and loves to talk about them.
As these two have not met in person, Brochant is going to have Pignon over for a drink before the dinner. But, they end up staying at Brochant's house and many events unfold. Pingnon just makes everything worse, but he doesn't realize it. I appologize for being bad at summaries. Here is the trailer (sub out "idiot" for "jerk" cuz it makes more sense in American)
It is just absolutly hilarious! You all should watch it. Thats an order!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Charles
Well as I was in the shower yesterday, I was doing some thinking (because as you all know, the best thinking happens in the bathroom). For some reason Charlton Heston's name came to my mind. Not him, just his name, and I got to thinking about how odd a name that is and how you can never call him just Charlton because that's a weird name, you have to call him Charlton Heston because then it at least doesn't sound so weird.
That led to me thinking about the name Charles and how in American, that sounds terrible. The 'r' is just so rounded and silly, like when the British try to say 'world' in an american accent. Really, I don't like the name Charles, no offense to any Charles out there, I have nothing against Charles, just the name and the Ch so close to the r.
That being said, Charles in a British accent is perfectly acceptable because they completly cut out the R sound. "Cha-ls" That is an OK name right there.
The moral of the story: only name a child Charles if you will be living in Britain.
That led to me thinking about the name Charles and how in American, that sounds terrible. The 'r' is just so rounded and silly, like when the British try to say 'world' in an american accent. Really, I don't like the name Charles, no offense to any Charles out there, I have nothing against Charles, just the name and the Ch so close to the r.
That being said, Charles in a British accent is perfectly acceptable because they completly cut out the R sound. "Cha-ls" That is an OK name right there.
The moral of the story: only name a child Charles if you will be living in Britain.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
St. Patricks Day
This is the first year that I have been mildly creeped out by St. Patricks day. In grade school, it was fun. Everyone wears green and most people go all out. In High school, they usually gave us free dress if you were wearing a significant amount of green, so everyone wore green. But then in college, not everyone participates and it turns creepy. It's like a bunch of people just happened to wear green all on the same day.
Nobody really even knows what St. Patricks day is anyway. My Religion teacher went on a mini rant about why he was wearing Orange in stead of green and I didn't exactly understand it as most of the class didn't because nobody understands St. Patricks day. I looked it up and it really doesn't have that great of a history. It used to just be a saint's day, then they made it a feast day in the 1600s, and now it just celebrates Irish culture. WE AREN'T EVEN IRISH!!! we are Americans, get over it.
btw, the Irish and Italian flags are exactly the same, but don't let an Irishman or Italian catch you saying that.
Nobody really even knows what St. Patricks day is anyway. My Religion teacher went on a mini rant about why he was wearing Orange in stead of green and I didn't exactly understand it as most of the class didn't because nobody understands St. Patricks day. I looked it up and it really doesn't have that great of a history. It used to just be a saint's day, then they made it a feast day in the 1600s, and now it just celebrates Irish culture. WE AREN'T EVEN IRISH!!! we are Americans, get over it.
btw, the Irish and Italian flags are exactly the same, but don't let an Irishman or Italian catch you saying that.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Rant on Books
I was speaking with my lovely friend Ashley today and something that has been bugging me for a while came up.
Where is the genre between YA fiction and adult fiction? You go into the bookstore and you have three options for fiction books: childrens, YA, and fiction. I enjoy my YA novels, they are fun times, but sometimes the whole teen angst thing gets really annoying. So then you think "ok, I'll go pick out a book over here" and you search around through all the many many books int the fiction section and find something that looks interesting. Then you start reading it and it's just too much. Take "Time Traveler's Wife" for example. It's a great book, but there is soo much sex! Or you end up with a novel that belongs in an AP Literature class.
Now, that being said, there is also a lot of crap in the YA section, I will admit to the need to be careful about any book you read. Really though, are sex, drugs, and rock and roll the only things that people ever think about? Because that appears the be the only thing people will write about. Where is our modern day Jane Austen? Dickens? CS Lewis? Where is the section of books meant for college age students? Where the protaganist is somewhere between the ages of 18 and 28? I want to read about a protagonist that I can relate to. I can still have fun with the HS freshman and the chick in Austenland is around 30. But that isn't the freshman in college. Seriously, that could be a really interesting genre. If I had a desire to write, I would write about college simply because nobody else seems to do that.
Where is the genre between YA fiction and adult fiction? You go into the bookstore and you have three options for fiction books: childrens, YA, and fiction. I enjoy my YA novels, they are fun times, but sometimes the whole teen angst thing gets really annoying. So then you think "ok, I'll go pick out a book over here" and you search around through all the many many books int the fiction section and find something that looks interesting. Then you start reading it and it's just too much. Take "Time Traveler's Wife" for example. It's a great book, but there is soo much sex! Or you end up with a novel that belongs in an AP Literature class.
Now, that being said, there is also a lot of crap in the YA section, I will admit to the need to be careful about any book you read. Really though, are sex, drugs, and rock and roll the only things that people ever think about? Because that appears the be the only thing people will write about. Where is our modern day Jane Austen? Dickens? CS Lewis? Where is the section of books meant for college age students? Where the protaganist is somewhere between the ages of 18 and 28? I want to read about a protagonist that I can relate to. I can still have fun with the HS freshman and the chick in Austenland is around 30. But that isn't the freshman in college. Seriously, that could be a really interesting genre. If I had a desire to write, I would write about college simply because nobody else seems to do that.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
I should be studying but...
I was reading my mother's post (http://mrsbenning.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html) about her parents anniversary and my dad and that got me thinking about all of the relationships around me. For the most part, all of the husband/wife teams I see are absolutly perfect for each other. True, there are some that are less than stellar, but I can't think of a single unhealthy relationship that I have been a witness too. I am truly amazed at these couples.
For example, my mother mentioned how when her mom was living with us and her dad was still at his house, he would come by on almost a daily basis just to say 'hi' to his girl. I heard them quarrel quite a bit, but I knew without a doubt that they loved each other more than anything in the world. He was far from a prince charming (no offense Grandpa), but that didn't matter to her becuase he loved her.
Then there are my grandparents on the other side. Nana is Grandpa Fritz's second wife (the first having passed away many years ago). She is nowhere close to being an evil stepmother. In fact, I distinctly remember when I found out that she wasn't my biological grandmother. Nobody ever mentioned it and I got very confused. They do all kinds of things together and they are always happy.
However, the couple I see the most is my very own parents. I am so blessed to have them as parents. I cannot remember them ever actually fighting. I was talking with my roommates about this, and apparently its not the norm as I always thought it was. I always thought parental fights only lived on TV in dramatized situations. No, parents fight. My parents disagree, then one of them gives in. As a little girl who never fell asleep in her own bed, I remember distinctly my parents praying before bed. They have always put the Lord first and I think thats part of the trick. They draw closer to Him and love each other and that has created such a tight bond.
Whenever I think of how perfect a dad my dad is, I wonder where in the world am I going to find somebody to be to my children what he was to me. And do I have the strength to do everything my mom has done? (I could do an entire post on my perfect parents, but I'll save that for mothers/fathers day) I am only 19, this isn't a pressing matter right now (not even a little bit) but I have a tendency to overthink and overplan and look very far ahead. Also I go to BYU where most people either are married, engaged, or going on a mission.
For example, my mother mentioned how when her mom was living with us and her dad was still at his house, he would come by on almost a daily basis just to say 'hi' to his girl. I heard them quarrel quite a bit, but I knew without a doubt that they loved each other more than anything in the world. He was far from a prince charming (no offense Grandpa), but that didn't matter to her becuase he loved her.
Then there are my grandparents on the other side. Nana is Grandpa Fritz's second wife (the first having passed away many years ago). She is nowhere close to being an evil stepmother. In fact, I distinctly remember when I found out that she wasn't my biological grandmother. Nobody ever mentioned it and I got very confused. They do all kinds of things together and they are always happy.
However, the couple I see the most is my very own parents. I am so blessed to have them as parents. I cannot remember them ever actually fighting. I was talking with my roommates about this, and apparently its not the norm as I always thought it was. I always thought parental fights only lived on TV in dramatized situations. No, parents fight. My parents disagree, then one of them gives in. As a little girl who never fell asleep in her own bed, I remember distinctly my parents praying before bed. They have always put the Lord first and I think thats part of the trick. They draw closer to Him and love each other and that has created such a tight bond.
Whenever I think of how perfect a dad my dad is, I wonder where in the world am I going to find somebody to be to my children what he was to me. And do I have the strength to do everything my mom has done? (I could do an entire post on my perfect parents, but I'll save that for mothers/fathers day) I am only 19, this isn't a pressing matter right now (not even a little bit) but I have a tendency to overthink and overplan and look very far ahead. Also I go to BYU where most people either are married, engaged, or going on a mission.
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