tuesday's christmas song

The Christmas song today is a crowd favorite. The Carpenters are usually not my cup of tea from January through October. But, for two special months, I love them as my mother and all teens from the seventies do.
This is their rendition of sleigh ride. It's always been one of my favorites. So, indulge my friends in the sultry croonings of Karen and Richard Carpenter.

this holiday...

I will now start to give a Holiday Song of the day. And the song will be in my player. 
Today's song "Last Christmas" by WHAM! This is a great song. Me and Jenna were discussing it's verities last night. It's an upbeat Christmas song with a slightly vindictive and bitter lyric about past loves, that finishes sweetly with hope tinged with, once again, vindictiveness .


Welcome back from your Thanksgiving Holiday travels. I hate coming home from holidays. This holiday was grand. 
My madre came all the way to Provo on Tuesday to get me (because remember how we were going to have the worst storm in 30 years? What a crock.). 
Wednesday night I went to my good friend Erika's house for a small gathering. It was quite fun. 
Thursday was Thanksgiving (hoo-rah!). We spent it in Heber this year. My Grandma Hicken makes the world's best mashed potatoes. And the mashed potatoes happen to be my favorite part of the meal. Bonus.

Friday we went to this crazy little movie theatre downtown and saw 

Which was very good (Sean Penn won me over and Naomi Watts has excellent hair), the political agenda just about slaps you in the face tho. There is no attempt to hide the fact that one side of things is being made the villain. Still a really good movie.

Saturday I went to the game. You know what game I'm talking about. And, though I did wear red I can say, with my fairly level head, that Wynn is the most terrible quarter back I've ever seen at the U and Heaps did a wonderful job. He was great. BYU played better in my opinion. But the U did win. The U had a good 4th, and is channeling the "comeback kids" spirit.

Yesterday I went to church at home. I saw my dearest KellTay. Can't wait to be back with her for the Christmas holiday. Also, it snowed all day in the 84121 yesterday. I want it to be like that forever... until February 15. 

So that was my holiday.

 I want to go sledding.

thankful.

*hit the play button on my music player before starting this post. just do it.*
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm headed off to Heber in just a while to have the best Thanksgiving dinner on the planet (fact) but I am just laying in bed now and thinking about all the things I'm grateful for.

• Opportunities. I am amazed at how much lays in front of me, right at my fingertips, and all I have to do is reach out an inch and take it. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to go to school, to do what I want to do, to choose what I want to learn. There are a lot of people in the world who don't have a fraction of the opportunities I have. And I truly am thankful for them.
• Words. And under this heading fall some of the most important things in my life. Books, scripture, the ability to write. The power that the right words have over me is unmatched by anything else in the world.
• London. I will never stop being grateful for the time that I spent there and most especially the people that I met. You changed me! I can still walk down Palace Court and through Hyde Park in my minds eye, and I hope I always will be able to. 
• My family. My mom's wonderful example and friendship. My dad's constant guidance and love. James' quiet strength and constantcy. Jony's good heart and love of life. I adore my family. And Wilson. Wilson is the special boy who everyone loves and who loves everyone. If there is ever a terrible fire, my parents have my permission to save Wils before me. I have longer legs than he does - chances are I'll make it out alive.
• All of the people I've met that have changed my life. I heard a quote - probably at church I think - "We are the sum of the people that we meet." And while I don't think that's all there is to a person, I think it is true. Most of me is from the people I've met. London. Roommates. High School friends. People from Work. Arlen. Bryson. Family. I know I'm who I am today because I knew you. 
• Musica. I love music. I'm going to geek out a little here and say that I love Broadway. It is way more fun to sing than most of the radio. Hymns. Choir songs. Carrie Underwood. Whitney Houston. T Swift. Muse. Fall Out Boy. James Morrison. Enrique. Ingrid. Chicago. Christmas albums. Mo Tab.
• Change. There has been a common thread through many of these things. I am thankful that we don't always stay in the same place. Even if the place is comfortable and pleasant. Change is what makes life interesting, it's what makes meaning and adventure out of the mundane. 

Sorry. That is super long. But I'm feeling sentimental today. I'm thankful for all of these things. I'm thankful for the concept of gratitude. One time, in my first semester of Freshman year, cultivating "an attitude of gratitude" (not my fault that it rhymes so nicely) changed my life. I'm grateful for that. Okay, big one:

• I'm Mormon. For me, this equals Jesus Christ is the biggest part of my life. I am grateful for Him. Words (words, that I rely on, that I love so much) fail me when I try to explain totally why. But it's because I feel His presence "when I'm in my own Gethsemane, He knows that place" and I have learned about his undying, unyielding, complete love for me. I'm His little sister, and my favorite way to think of Him is as an elder brother. A brother that will walk with me all the time, who will sit up with me at night when I'm scared or sad or lonely, who will come with me to the toughest test I have to face because He already has.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope your days is full of thanks too!

And now we get to fully embark on the Christmas season! Hoo-rah!

happy holidays

Let the holidays begin! I am so sorry for everyone who is traveling today.
But...
I think all of this "biggest storm in thirty years" stuff is really cool! I guess it's because I'm safe and warm inside. Since it's Thanksgiving week, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to take that to "I'm grateful that I'm safe and warm inside".
I'm home. In Salt Lake. Listening to Christmas music with a pine scented candle burning and a Christmas tree lit up in the next room. Sound nice? It is.
I'm putting off writing my paper. I write probably 2 sentences and then play a game of hearts, jump on facebook (it's one of my two days this week for facebook), or check my e-mails or my googlereader feed.
I'm so happy today. Work was fine. Toby Bushman, where ever you are, I really hope you get your scholarship. Please never call me again. Mom picked me up after work, we made our tradition Brick Oven Pit stop, and then shopped our way home to the 84121.
Ooooh, it is so intense outside.

FINALLY....

SNOW
SNOW 
SNOW
!!!!

this is the most important movie you will ever see back up in a library

* I will add pictures when I get home*

I am so tired. It was so worth it. I LOVED it, and I know I said "The sixth one is the best one they've made" and if I say it again about the seventh it is just going to look like I think every one is better than the last... (which, with the exception of the surprisingly terrible third, is kind of true)... but it IS. It's the BEST so far. And I can only assume that it's going to get even freaking cooler.

• Disappointments (few)
• They didn't show the sign in front of Lily and James' destroyed house. That is one of my absolute favorite parts of the 7th book and of the series. (someday I'll do a nice fat post about them).
• Harry and Ginny kissed. Ew. Always ew they are so weirdy.
• Harry and Hermione kissed semi-nude. EW. Wrong, stupid, unnecessary. Weird. (A Clue to the people who make this stuff up, if it wasn't in the book, do you really feel the need to add it in to the movie? Don't you think the books did well on their own? No, no, I guess you just know better... Everyone in the world hated that part. I guarantee it.)
• No Dean in the basement of the Malfoy manner.
• Bill Weasley = not hot.
• No Wireless radio show with Lee Jordan and the Twins.

• ... I can't think of the word that is opposite of disappointments right now. But those:
• The very first scene where Harry, Ron, and Hermione (hereafter referred to as "The Trio") are getting ready - like they know exactly whats coming and how serious it is. LOVED.
• It was funny! I love when they accentuate the funny. Specific instances:
•   The polyjuice thing at the very beginning.
•   The haircut thing.
•   The Ron/random "wife" kiss thing.
•   Fred and George are funny I love them - the "Saint-like" part.
•   Ron. Ron is so funny and so sweet.
• Ron's "Like hell!" in the Malfoy manner.
• Similarly, Ron's wipe of Hermione's cheek and his "You're the best with spells, you do it."
• Hermione's actually believable acting 
•   Specifically, the being tortured by Bellatrix.
•   She kind of reminds me of Keira Knightly? 
• Dobby.
•   Jenna = bawling when he died. I thought this was really funny. (Jenna, not death).
• The SUSPENSE. I have read this book, and since I have a crazy memory for books, I remember it well. I still got nervous. Nice work, WB.
• The fact that they all are better actors - ALL OF THEM. (The Trio)
•   The yelling scene before  Ron leaves.
• The amount of direct lines from the books (or... semi-direct)
•   Ron's "Cause we've never done that before" at the beginning. Funny Ron, you are so funny.
•   Ron's first line when he comes back "Are - you - mental?!"
• All the scenes from LONDON
•   I knew EXACTLY where they were in the theatre district. If you didn't notice, they are walking right by that "Ripley's Believe It or Not" museum.
• Kreature (specifically the part where he tries to attack Mundungus with a long fork).
• Creep-tastic Bathilda Bagshot. Niiiiice.
• The retarded dancing scene. I thought it was going to be way dumb, and it was for the first 5 seconds, but then it was just really funny and sweet. They are best friends and Harry was trying to cheer her up. I loved it.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, you may now join Rupert on the "You deserve to be playing this part" team. Bravo. (Except the kiss. You should have protested)

I tried so hard to keep my original pictures in my head and I think I've got most of them. I love Harry Potter! And you stupid idiot kid (basically... the only kid I heartily dislike) are an imbecile for saying "HP 7, not so great" just to get a reaction. My dislike of you increases.

*This is all I can think of at the moment. I may add more. 

final status

okay - DASH whatever else I said earlier about "not being excited" (rubbish). I am so thrilled! And so excited! And having Rio for supper! It's all going to be really good.
See you later.
(I tried to use British colloquialisms. just pretend that it worked mmkay? grazie!)

reasons why today is bomb-diggety

One: Harry Pottah is tonight. (You want to know a secret? I am not overly excited... weird. I don't know where this is coming from. Hm. Maybe I'll get more excited as the day goes on. Updates to follow...) P.S. I am way not going to make it. I am currently at the sacking of Trelawney in book cinco. Still. 
**Successfully excited. YES! Due to the fact that Quasimoto came through for me, and that I am currently listening to my absolute favorite chapter in HP - "Snape's Worst Memory". Love it.**


Two: I have been sleeping for hours and hours every night so I am feeling refreshed and lovely. It's missionary week this week for my work, and we are supposed to observe the hours of missionaries (aka bed at 10:30, up at 6:30.) I am rocking at the going to bed at 10:30 part.


Three: I have decided to not check weather.com several times a day, every day. This is because I get my hopes up for snow, and am always disappointed. "I type in the zip code, I wait impatiently as it loads, and then my breath catches in my chest as I wait for three little words: you've got snow." Unfortunately for me, my life is not like Meg Ryan's life and the precipitation levels do not depend on Tom Hanks being a baller. "If only" (double whammy).Whatever.


Four: I am smoking my homework load. Seriously, I am not behind, and if I keep on top of things especially over Thanksgiving break, I am fancy free and easy for the rest of the semester. suckahwhaaat?


IMPORTANT NOTE: If I check any blogs in the evening, I have nothing to check whilst at work. So, my blog stalking list needs some fattening up. Anyone have a coolie blog they think I would love? Let me know, por favor. Grazie. 


Additional note: I have the cutest writing on my blog for the headers you know? Only it has disappeared for the last week. And then, just now, it is back. What is going on? Anybody? Bueller? 

i hate wind

i absolutely bloody hate wind. oh my gosh. AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
If a nice fat snowstorm comes out of this, I will consider the day not a total irritant. otherwise...
i will continue to hate wind more than any other weather that ever could be. i hate it. it serves absolutely 0 purpose (unless it is bringing a snow storm in. and i'm going to check weather.com and bet that it isn't. it's just blowing because its foul and stupid and to spite me. I HATE WIND.)

baby baby baby oh

*Y'all know, I love the Biebs. But really, really? The boy is sixteen. I will read his biography when he has lived for another decade or six.

finished! Goblet of Fire whaat?

I love it! I will now share some of mi favorite parts. Mostly from the last part cause it's bomb.

Page 43
"What are we doing here? Has something gone wrong?"
"Oh no, Ron," came Fred's voice, very sarcastically. "No, this is exactly where we wanted to end up."
(If you have ever heard Jim Dale say this, you probably think it is one of the funniest things in the world too! Also, Fred is my favorite of the twins. Sad huh?)

Page 216
Moody swept the dead spider off the desk onto the floor.
"Not nice," he said calmly. "Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me."
(I have always loved this part. Ba-BAM!)

Page 354
As he soared upward, as the wind rushed through his hair, as the crowd's faces became mere flesh colored pinpricks below, and the Horntail shrank to the size of a dog, he realized that he had left not only the ground behind, but also his fear.... He was back where he belonged....
...
"Great Scott, he can fly!" yelled Bagman.
(also have always loved. the tension just disappates. genius writing.)

page 407
"He sounds exactly like Moody," said Harry quietly, tucking the letter away again inside his robes. "'Constant vigilance!' You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls...."
(Another one where I seriously L. O. L. ed.)

page 604
"What made you think he'd really stopped supporting Voldemort, Professor?"
Dumbledore held Harry's gaze for a few seconds, and then said, "That, Harry, is a matter between Professor Snape and myself."
(I know what it iiiiis!)

page 665
If ever Harry might have released his wand from shock, it would have been then, but instinct kept him clutching his wand tightly, so that the thread of golden light remained unbroken, even though the thick gray ghost of Cedric Diggory (was it a ghost? it looked so solid) emerged in its entirety from the end of Voldemort's wand, as though it were squeezing itself out of a very narrow tunnel.... and this shade of Cedric stood up, and looked up and down the golden thread of light, and spoke.
"Hold on, Harry," it said.
(I literally teared up here. I love Cedric.)

page 679
At that moment, Harry fully understood for the first time why people said Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared. The look upon Dumbledore's face as he stared down at the unconscious form of Mad-Eye Moody was more terrible than Harry could ever have imagined. There was no benign smile upon Dumbledore's face, no twinkle in the eyes behind the spectacles. There was cold fury in every line of the ancient face; a sense of power radiated from Dubmledore as though he were giving off burning heat.
(Man, Dumbledore is boss.)

page 696
"And he was right -- he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face."
For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes.
(So, not a favorite part, but - WHAT? Why triumph? I don't get it. Anyone have any brilliant thoughts?)

page 708
"You are blinded," Said Dumbledore, his voice rising now, the aura of power around him palpable, his eyes blazing once more, "by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"
(Once again, Dumbledore = most boss)

page 713
"Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready.... if you are prepared...."
"I am," said Snape.
He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely.
(Ba-BAM! Snape is also boss. He is so rad. I have been thinking about this, about how many stories he would have to keep straight and how smart he would have to be to do so etc. yeah, Snape is bomb-diggety.)

page 718
"Knew he was goin' ter come back," said Hagrid, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up at him, shocked. "Known it for years, Harry. Knew he was out there, bidin' his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, n' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able to stop him before he gets a good hold. That's Dumbledore's plan, anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm not too worried."
Hagrid raised his bushy eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on their faces.
"No good sittin' worryin' abou' it," he said. "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did, Harry."
Hagrid's chest swelled as he looked at Harry.
"Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."
Harry smiled back at him. It was the first time he'd smiled in days.
(LOVE.)

page 724
"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make the choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

*pages from the American paper back edition
So, now I will start on numbah 5. I love HP. Can you tell?
P.S. Exactly TWO WEEKS!!

Haiti

Ten months later, and even though we don't hear about it every day there is still a lot of terrible happening in Haiti. There have been widespread outbreaks of cholera and thousands are still homeless. They're far from "in the clear". Keep them still in your prayers and try to help out however you can.

This is Misthaki Pierre, who lost his mother to cholera on October 29. He is now an orphan.


I am so grateful today for how I have been blessed.


[picture from The Big Picture]

room of requirement

sometimes, BYU campus is like Hogwarts. 
Like when I discover a secret bike rack, hidden on the side of the JKB. I have walked past it almost every day for nearly 3 years. And I have never seen it.

*This is not the rack in question. It is on BYU Campus, however.

Only 17 days! And I am not even to the first task yet. Don't worry, I'll do it.

monday at the info desk...

and I have a sneaking suspicion that I wore this very vest last Monday as well. What ev right?
I'm going to schedule a hair cut today (it's been since April. I might have a few split ends).
I read 0 Harry this weekend. Still in book 4. Bad!
I started to Bring It (lean status) this morning. Hoo rah!


That is all except I want it to snow right now. Have a happy Monday. I really like being Mormon.


And oh, my gosh. This woman just sped past me on a Hoveround. I have never seen anyone move that fast in one of those before. It took her less than 10 seconds to cross the ASB lobby.