Ice Cream Changes

I sat in my little cubicle and giggled my way through this video. I'm liking Hank a little more now. Not that I didn't like him before...

Also, I finally saw The Fighter and was seriously happy that this is the role for which Christian Bale got his Oscar. Very well deserved. What a sad story! Although it does end on a happy note, it's such a hard thing to watch. All of the actors did an amazing job. The cinematography was equally amazing. Just a really well-made film.

Another also, I caved in a read The Hunger Games series last week. Just as everyone has said, the first book was the best one of the bunch. However, unlike what everyone said, I really enjoyed the whole series. I like how it ended, though it was pretty rushed (I always wonder if authors just get tired of writing, so they put on a band aid kind of ending and leave it at that). Though the series was depressing and the situation was just awful, the story was great and enthralling. I couldn't put it down, though I was glad to get to the end.

Not Too Bad

We've been in Spring Training for work this week. All full-time and regular part-time staff meet in a conference room where we receive training on some old stuff that we've been neglecting and new stuff that we'll have to implement. It's not as boring as it sounds, and it's exactly as boring as it sounds. I haven't been hating it, actually, which surprises me. Some of the information is too familiar to be interesting, whereas the new stuff gets all of our attention and we're all asking questions and getting involved. And, of course, it's all helpful information to give us the tools we need in order to assist our students and help them be successful.

There are some new things we're gonna be putting into practice that will totally help students (though some of these things are not very fair and will make our jobs a little more... interesting--thank you, Congress). And a few things that will make our jobs easier (yay for automated systems). But there was one thing in particular we learned about and will be implementing coming this Summer semester that will not make our students happy. To be honest, I think it's an extremely fair way of doing the Pell Grants for the Summer, but I know there will be students who will think it's extremely unfair and we'll hear about it, I'm sure. Thank you, Congress, for making our jobs enjoyable.

One plus of Spring Training: a break from the everyday, answering the same questions all day long. Another plus: lunch is provided. Big plus: earning prizes, such as "1/2 Hour Off" coupons, candy, and Food Service Meal Vouchers. Biggest plus: we've been finishing our sessions about an hour and a half early, and so we've been allowed to leave an hour and a half early. (Today, we were off by 11:45!!) Best news from Spring Training: we're gonna try out 10-4's in June and July. Woo Hoo! An extra day a week off. Of course that means working from 7 to 6 four days a week, and coordinating with the other counselors, so possibly not being able to pick which day I get, but I'm OK with that if it means I get an entire day off. Hallelujah.

So, I know this post is boring and I'm sure no one will read it, but now it's done, so deal with it.

90's Music is Cool

Jana made a new CD mix called "Belt it Out" or something along those lines... Basically it's a mix of songs you can't help but sing along to at the top of your lungs. It was fun to listen (and sing) to this mix on our grocery shopping trip/car cleaning outing today.

It inspired me to make a mix of the songs I loved in high school. Yeah. The rough part was picking just one song by the artists/bands I loved in the days of my youth. Here's a taste:

• "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
• "The New Pollution" by Beck
• "Brick" by Ben Folds Five
• "All The Small Things" by Blink 182
• "Oops! I Did It Again" by Britney Spears
• "Lovefool" by The Cardigans
• "Tub Thumping" by Chumbawamba
• "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child
• "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry
• "Inside Out" by Eve 6
• "The Way" by Fastball
• "The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim
• "Killing Me Softly" by The Fugees
• "Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls
• "If Only" by Hanson
• "Pardon Me" by Incubus
• "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai
• "You Were Meant For Me" by Jewel
• "Nookie" by Limp Bizkit
• "Ray Of Light" by Madonna
• "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia
• "Sunday Morning" by No Doubt
• "Hypnotize" by Notorious BIG
• "Pretty Fly" by Offspring
• "Blurry" by Puddle of Mudd
• "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin
• "I Want You" by Savage Garden
• "Walking on the Sun" by Smash Mouth
• "Say You'll Be There" by Spice Girls
• "Fly " by Sugar Ray
• "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind
• "No Scrubs" by TLC
• "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers
• "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith
• "All Mixed Up" by 311

I limited myself to picking songs that were released during the years I was in high school (1996-2000). Believe it or not, this really is just a taste. My list is almost 8 hours long. I'm pretty excited about this. Some of these songs I haven't listened to in years, some of them are still favorites I listen to over and over again. Music makes me happy.

QPR

Life is strangely coincidental at times, is it not?

I just finished reading a book by John Green called Looking For Alaska.

Yesterday, I had a one-on-one session on the Keys to Happiness.

Today, I attended a presentation on suicide prevention.

Hmm... Maybe the universe is telling me something?

My lovely friend Julia is writing a book. I'm super proud of her. Most people only talk about wanting to write a book. A lot of those people only think about it. Some of them put pen to paper (so to speak) but only write for a little while before putting the notebook back on the shelf (so to speak). A very few actually finish writing the book, and one of those few is my Julia friend. She's finished it and is in the re-writing, editing, rearranging process right now! Yay for Julia and her awesome progress!

To get the word out to people that she's accomplishing this amazing goal, she started a Writing Blog a little while ago. On this writing blog of hers, Julia is having a bookshelf photo contest. Check out her blog by following this link to the contest. And, if you feel so inclined, participate!

The Best Worst Poem

I won a free pizza from the Parlor for this poem (though I think a lot of that had to do with the way John Pugh read it rather than how I wrote it; then again, the poem is pretty awful). It's called...

"You Are"

You are the light.

Our love is brighter than

the sun and the moon and the stars.

You are the music.

Our love is more melodious than

Beethoven and the Beatles and Bono.

You are the water.

Our love is stronger than

rivers and waterfalls and oceans.

You are the fire.

Our love is hotter than

bombs and fireworks and wood-burning stoves.

You are the story.

Our love will last longer than

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and Ron and Hermione, and Anne and Gilbert.

Rescue Me!

You don't know how long I've been
Watching the lantern dim,
Starved of oxygen,
So give me your hand,
And let's jump out the window.

W.O.W.

The Hurt Locker. Wow.

This movie totally deserved all of the hype it got. It's brilliantly written, beautifully shot (if that's even possible for a movie about war and bombs), and beyond heartfelt. Not usually the kind of praise you give to a story set in dusty, dry Iraq with soldiers sent to detonate or defuse bombs, with explosions and deaths and all that comes with war.

Amazing. See it.

PS Anthony Mackie is hot.

"How much better is thy love than wine!"

My wonderful Heather sister let me borrow (practically forced into my hands) a book she loves and has been telling me to read for about a year now--and of which she got a copy for Christmas--called These Is My Words by Nancy E Turner. It's the fictional diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, her life on the Arizona Territories from 1881-1901.

I love this book for so many different reasons. The style in which it is written is just absolutely perfect for the story it is telling. All of the beautifully crafted metaphors--not really hidden but, rather, well-placed--and the parallels and foreshadowings are woven together in a way that make the story feel more realistic than forced--the mark of a great novel. The language is colorful and it breathes! It's the language of an uneducated young woman as she grows up, learning what she can from books and the people around her; it changes as she does. The characters are so deep and real and full of life. I grew to love them as my own family and I became too attached, as I always do.

Oh, my emotions were jerked all over the place! (Well, it may also have had something to do with the fact that I had PMS.) Anyway, there were many passages that tugged at my heartstrings and I cried in places and laughed in others, felt love and gentleness, and hardness and meanness. One of my favorite passages (probably because I can relate to it all too well) was the following, found on page 152:

"Sometimes I feel like a tree on a hill, at the place where all the wind blows and the hail hits the hardest. All the people I love are down the side aways, sheltered under a great rock, and I am out of the fold, standing alone in the sun and the snow. I feel like I am not part of the rest somehow, although they welcome me and are kind. I see my family as they sit together and it is like they have a certain way between them that is beyond me. I wonder if other folks ever feel included yet alone. Maybe I am getting addled living out here on the ranch."

I think I felt an immediate kinship with Sarah only because of her name (it's even spelled right). But as I read more and more, I know I felt something connecting me to this character, and when I read this passage, it was confirmed. I'm always watching my loved ones, wondering why in the world they keep welcoming me, and feeling like I don't really belong. I go about my business because it needs to be done, and I can't stop comparing myself to "Savannah."

But Sarah is so strong. She lived through some of the meanest, toughest things that could ever happen to a person. She's smart and brave and protects the people she loves. She aches and cries when her heart is broken, and she's muddled and confused about love. She's such a wonderful, complex character. One of my absolute favorites ever written.

Oh, and she writes my new favorite curse: "Low down dirty ornery rotten skunk of a cussed mule-headed soldier!" (106)

Heather, why didn't you tell me to read this sooner? Now I'm going to have to buy a copy for myself. I want to read it again right now!

Finished watching the entire series of Daria again.

"How much money to do you have?"

*silence*

"Trent?"

"I don't have any money, so I said nothing."

Genius.

Also finished watching the first season of Lost again.

This show is crazy.

It's fun to watch again, knowing what's going to happen.

I forgot about the Hurley Bird.

And Sawyer's glasses.

Hanson

(Hanson has Ugly Sweater parties too!)

Just watched this clip and giggled a lot. These guys are funny. I forgot (for a second) how much I loved watching their interviews. They were always so stupid. Except for "the middle one" who always got too serious. (Well, he just didn't talk at all in this particular clip.)

But not this time. This time he was silly along with "the youngest one" (with whom I will always be in love--swoon).

"when you crochet i feel mesmerized and proud"

I'm almost done with Aunt Becky's blanket. Finally! It's taken me a lot longer than it should have to get it finished, but I'm almost there and I'm glad to be able to send it her way. I hope she loves it. I think it's turned out very beautiful, but then again, I'm always a little biased about my creations. You tell me: what do you think?

Another creation: bikinis. Yes, crocheted bikinis. Here's one I did for Lindsay. I've done another for Becca, and I have one more on the way for Kelsie. (Better late than never, right?)

I'm pretty pleased with myself, I'm not gonna lie. Both of these projects have turned out better than I'd hoped, so YAY!

A little promo: if you like what you see and you'd like to see something made especially for you, just get a hold of me and order away!

(Check it out: Sufjan feels "mesmerized and proud")

On a different note, I'm getting things going for Tyler and Karina's slideshow for their reception. I can now move on to this project since I finally got Mom and Dad's slideshow done! I'm excited about what I'll be able to create for Ty and Nina. I hope it'll be wonderful.

Lastly, what is it about movies that makes me want to sit in front of my TV or computer for hours at a time? Here I am, blogging as a break from crocheting, but all the while watching The Two Towers as if I haven't seen it enough! I love movies.

Time for a new post...

But what should I post? hmm...

Well, first I suppose I should say that my side-business, crochet, is doing pretty well, thanks to a co-worker. She ordered four blankets before Christmas and has ordered three more since. (Don't worry, Aunt Becky. Yours will be done soon, I promise!) Happily, I've also completed my first crocheted bikini. It was a hit, of course, and will be repeated many, many times, I am sure. (Becca's next! And Kelsie's will get to her...late, but better late than never!)

Second, I'm happy to say that I'm helping my Julia friend. She's written a book and I'm currently editing. Yay for using the skills I learned in college!

Third, oh, how I wish I was doing both of these things as my only jobs. I mean, really. I love to read and don't mind editing. And we all know how much of my spare time is spent crocheting. I'd love to turn these hobbies into a way to make a living, but alas! They don't pay enough to scrape by as I build up clientele. Sad. Oh, so sad.

Fourth, believe it or not, I'm contemplating moving out of Utah, seriously considering going home to California. Not 100% sure that's where I'll be, but I'm planning on the move by the end of the year. I could very possibly change my mind and stay, but at this particular moment in time, I can't wait to get out of here. Thanks to Rachel's suggestions, I'm now also considering Rhode Island. Believe it or not. Couldn't you see me in Providence? The thought makes me smile.

Fifth, I love rice and beans. But I don't think I could live on them forever, so it's a good thing I have a job to pay for the things I need and the things I want. I don't HAVE to eat rice a beans. I have a choice. And that's lovely.

The end.

I will refrain from a play-by-play of the last few weeks. Also from a "what I did on my Christmas vacation" essay. I'll even refrain from wishing you all a Happy New Year.... wait...

Anyway, I just wanted to thank my family for their love and silliness and companionship. I'm so blessed not only to have been born into the best family on the face of earth, but also to have had three of my siblings find three of the coolest people in the world as their companions. My brothers and sisters are pretty freakin' amazing, and Travis, Britney, and Karina are perfect fits and I love them all so much. I can't wait to see the kinds of people Marie and Jana will find. I'm sure they'll be just as awesome. And my parents... well, basically they're the best. The end.

On another note...

I've been thinking a lot about where I am in my life, quite literally. My location (Provo, Utah) is all well and good... for a while. I think I'm over it, though. I need to move on. I need to find somewhere new. I need to find a new job, something I'll like better than where I am, and get the heck outta here. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean leaving Utah, though saying that doesn't mean I'll be staying here, either. I feel a little like I'm stuck, though, and I don't like it.

I've been reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho for the second time. I remembered loving it, but I didn't remember exactly why. I mean, I remembered the basic story, but now that I'm reading it again, I'm remembering why I loved the story so much. I need to follow the omens. I need to make decisions for myself. I can't stand still. It was kinda OK for me to be "stagnate" when I first moved out here while I gained Utah residency. But now that I've graduated, I feel like Provo isn't the place for me anymore. And I feel like I should still be progressing, reaching toward something... but what?

I'm venting. That's what a blog is for, right?

Any ideas? (locations, professions, what-to-do-next)

*sigh*

Homemade Christmas

(This photo really has nothing to do with the post. I just wanted to show off my family's gingerbread houses: the Three Little Pigs, complete with the Big Bad Wolf.)

I'm super excited for Christmas morning. I haven't been this excited about the gift part of Christmas in a long, long time.

"Why, Sarah, are you so excited?" you might ask. I'll tell you: we (my siblings and I) decided to go homemade this year. We allowed $10 for supplies, but the gift itself has to be homemade.

I can't wait to see how creative we all are. I know what some of these gifts are going to be, and I can't wait to see how the receiver reacts. I was talking to Uncle Matt the other day, and he suggested we have a camera recording the gift unwrapping, since it's sure to be classic. I think we'll have to set up a tripod.

The only downside to all of this is that Heather and Travis and the kids won't be there (and this makes me oh so sad). For this reason alone, we'll definitely have a camera recording our reactions. I can only encourage the Rasmussen's to do the same!

The idea was so great to me, I decided to do homemade friend gifts, too. They're getting my delicious pumpkin cookies (with the recipe, cuz these cookies are so delicious, everyone will want to bake them) and a crocheted something (scarf, hat, ornament...I haven't for sure decided yet).

Best part: the money I saved by going homemade for family and friends was donated to a family my nephew personally knows who is in real need. I'm so super happy and excited about this Christmas!

My Year in Status

There's only so many times I can look through the Guidelines and Handbooks for my new job. I've taken to bringing my laptop with me to work. When I've finished going through the papers for the day, I pull out my true love, Mr. MacBook Pro, and play. Today, I was messing around on Facebook (today? ha! everyday...) and I came across a post by a friend called "My Year in Status." I'm sure they've had this application for years and I just haven't noticed, but it caught my eye this year and I thought, "Why not? I'm bored!" Here's My Year in Status:

I must say, the application picked some pretty great status updates from my profile. I had completely forgotten about the amazing outfits I'd seen on campus this year, the crazy Doppelganger week, trying to read 'the Third Policeman,' ... good times!

Happy

I'm so grateful for Sundays and for my sisters. I had a bit of a whirlwind kind of week, and by Sunday I was completely wiped out! Not that it was a bad week. On the contrary, it was a very, very good week! Just very, very busy: meeting new people, spending time with friends, dancing, playing games, visiting teaching, going to the temple, working, seeing family, celebrating marriages, etc. BUT it was nice to go to church, come back home and rest, and then head over to Marie's apartment to listen to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional while making delicious cookies and eating chips and salsa, and then to spend the rest of the evening watching some family Christmas classics: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and "The Muppet Christmas Carol." Seriously one of the best nights in a long time. And I've had these things running through my head ever since:

"You're a foul one, Mister Grinch,

"You're a nasty wasty skunk,

"Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mister Grinch,

"The three words that describe you are as follows, and I quote, 'Stink, Stank, Stunk!'"

"For behold! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

(Every time I read this passage in Luke 2, I hear Linus's voice!)

"'Tis the season to be jolly and joyous

"With a burst of pleasure we feel it arrive

"'Tis the season when the saints can employ us

"To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive!"

I hope you're all getting in the Spirit of the Season as well! Do something fun, give some service, spend time with family and friends, and sing along to the carols!!!

I'm not much of a fan of LDS literature. Not that it's bad. I'm sure some of it is really great. My parents read some of it, my friends, my family have read a lot of these books. I'm happy that they like them. Personally, I find them a little preachy, almost as if they're forcing doctrine, trying to disguise it or sugar-coat it, and I find it hard to swallow.

I have had a change of heart.

Well, about one book, anyway. I recently finished reading The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell. What an amazing book. Ferrell opened my eyes and my heart to aspects of the Atonement that I hadn't thought about before. What he teaches about forgiveness, what it means to truly forgive, what it feels like to let go of sin... it's just incredible.

I've noticed a change in myself since finishing this book. I see people in a different light. I see myself in a different light. Christ has already atoned for all sins. He's taken upon Himself all transgression, all pain, all temptation and suffering. And by denying someone (or myself) true and full forgiveness, it's as if I'm telling Christ that His atonement wasn't enough to make me feel better.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone.

And maybe I should read more LDS literature. If it's like this, I think I could handle it.

Still don't know if I can handle LDS fiction, though...... I'm probably being too prideful. haha

Thanksgiving Morning

It's 8am on Thanksgiving Day. I woke up on Marie's tiny couch to the sound of the shower running. My turn next. I get a phone call from Jana. "I'm looking at tickets at Jordan Landing. We can reserve seats to 'Harry Potter' for 5:35. Does that work?" I notice while talking with Jana that my voice is scratchy and worry I'm getting a cold, but then remember Marie and I were laughing pretty hard last night before falling asleep. Remembering why we were laughing makes me smile and shake my head. I pull out my computer and start goofing around on Facebook. Check my email. Read a blog or two. My head and back are achey. (This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep and/or when you sleep on a love seat.) I read a few "thankful" status updates and posts, and think of the day ahead of me.

I get to spend some time with my parents (who have come from California), sisters, brother-in-law and niece and nephews before heading over to the grandparent's house to be with aunts and uncles and cousins as well. We'll eat way too much food, because way too much as been prepared. We'll talk and laugh and have a good ol' time. We'll clean and put the leftovers away--save them for tomorrow when we'll get together again to build gingerbread houses. My sisters and I, and probably some other family members, will go see 'Harry Potter.' We'll completely enjoy the movie (I know this, because I've already seen it) and then go back to Grandma's for pie, which we'll also completely enjoy. We'll spend most of the day talking over each other and laughing. Possibly an occasional and very short disagreement, but no real fighting or angry words. We like being together.

I'm so thankful that we love each other and like spending time together. Today is gonna be a great day. I only wish my brothers and their girls were here. Oh, and that we had some doughnuts from Doughnuts to Go.

This is my official Thanksgiving post:

I'm so thankful for my family. They're my rock.

I'm so thankful for my friends. They keep me sane.

I'm thankful for Facebook and Blogger. Yes, I really am.

I'm thankful for my job, even though I've been complaining. It's a good job and at least I have one!

I'm thankful for my new ward. I'm still very new there and I don't really know anyone, but I enjoy being there and feeling the Spirit. And I'm glad to not be in a singles ward anymore. I needed this change, I needed old people and babies and teens and parents and the Primary Sacrament Program. Sad to be in a family ward alone, but not sad to be in a family ward.

I'm thankful for the gospel. It's everything.

I'm thankful for my Savior, who's birth we will be celebrating shortly by getting together with family and friends, giving gifts, eating goodies, singing songs, and telling stories. While we do these things, I hope we will keep Him in our thoughts.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!