is this real life?

this should scare you.

Do you ever stop for a second and look at everything happening in your life? Do you ever want to say, "Did that just happen?" And I mean this in a good way of course. I've had a few of these "whoa" moments in the past few days. One was when the devotional speaker was talking about how his grandparents met because the slave ships sailed to America. Then he said (over the pulpit in the BYU-I Center, mind you), "Long live slavery!" I about died.

Then there was last Sunday. Oh the things I could tell! It was like I had a target on my back and God was shooting blessings at me right and left. I almost wanted to say, "Slow down, slow down, I can't carry them all!" Almost everything I read, everything someone said to me, was an answer to prayer. That's what happens when you spend a lot of your time talking to God. He talks right back.

Those of you who know me know that I like to re-read my journals. It helps me make sense of things...Well recently my journal entries from last year at this time have been creepishly similar to the things happening now. It's cuh-razy. I don't know if that's some kind of coincidence or foreshadowing or what, but yeah...journals are cool. End of discussion.

Things I love about life right now: wearing boots and scarves and hats every day, squash for deener, mixed CDs, pregnancy class, Postmodern Literature, none of my roommates playing Christmas music yet, pumpkin frozen yogurt, ward parties, seeing people I know on campus and saying "hi" to them very rambunctiously (I've been told it makes people feel good, so yeah...watch out), saying "rambunctiously" in a sentence, taking naps with the heater on, buying a puffy vest (yes, yes I did), new blonde streaks in my hair (it must be the glare from the snow...), Ye Olde Testament class, 10-page letters to Hermana Bedke, jumping on the furniture in our apartment like a child, triscuits+peanut butter+honey, text messages from TP on the day we've been waiting for for 2 years (like how I say "we," like we're a couple or something?), getting a friend a job (chyeah!), using way too many parenthetical statements.

DUDE. Ok sooooo yeah, life is awesome.

And then there's that Hunger Games trailer.

Sorry, had to.

it's a beautiful day alright

Friday, friday, friday at last.

Today the snowflakes drifted down between science class and nothing. They looked like cotton balls that had been ripped to shreds. Perfect for landing on eyelashes.

I love it when snow gets caught on eyelashes.

This week I have learned a few pretty wonderful things:

Bicycling is better when there's not two inches of snow on the road.

Smoothies are especially tasty after running 3.2 miles (and only 3.2 miles).

Gwyneth Paltrow can sing country music and she has a food blog.

Some people like to trample all over the snow while others like to preserve the pristine-ness of it (like Chelsea Ann). I happen to be in-between.

Just because a box of tomato soup says it is reduced sodium doesn't mean it tastes better.

One of the most beautiful things in the world is a carpet of golden leaves right on top of the blazing white snow.

Blasting this song in the morning is quite amazing.

Sleeping in basketball shorts and a t-shirt, with my fan on and my blankets pulled all the way up to my chin, heater on, it's snowing outside. Perfect temperature control.

The time it takes to fill out mission papers is far too short for my liking.

When my apartment constantly smells like pumpkin, cranberry, and lemon bread, you know there are some lucky guys on this earth who haven't yet met my roommates. Congratulations, mystery men.

People look at you strangely if you say "hi" to them instead of "thank you" when they open the door for you.

Coming home to find Chelsea doing this reminds me of how much I'm gonna miss her come next semester.

Realizing that my job is probably the best job ever and it is because the people I work with..are dang hilarious.

It's a good day when I'm watching the Spanish soap operas inside of the taco bus, while eating carnitas, while the windows steam up, while my soaking wet moccasins get my socks wet, too.

The Merchant of Venice is probably one of Shakespeare's most underrated plays. Drop Romeo and read this, people!

It's Friday.

Tonight: Extravadance. Tomorrow morning: 5K if my calf muscle stops acting like I pulled it....

update: I'm not the one filling out mission papers...Chelsea Ann is. Jus' so ya know.

melancholy monday

{the snow just doesn't know how to ask nicely}

What, you think I can't have a happy/sad day? Well, I can. And I did. But no worries, it was 75% happy, 25% sad. See if you can guess which part of the list goes with which emotion. C'mon, I'm in the mood for games, guys.

1. currently in the library, poppin' gum and listening to Fleet Foxes/Mumford and Sons/Wiretree
   
2. shoes are soaked through because it has been snowing all day and I really need rain boots
3. granola bar for dinner, time for another grocery trip
4. no bike ride today (remember the snow part)
5. zombie-eyed-ness isn't attractive, right? I guess on certain people it could be (like if Paris Hilton was ever in a slasher flick, she could probably pull off zombie and still look semi-good. Which is really twisted if you think about it. I wouldn't want to be known as a "hot zombie." Just sayin'.)
6. early-morning conference talk reading
7. my hair is kinda like Ariel's today (and by that I mean it wasn't frizzy and crazy, but smooth and sane....just forget about the power bangs, people. I would never go there.)
8. wearing a giant scarf that looks like an albino boa constrictor from far away...or...uhh... just a really long scarf....
9. saturday happiness: playing in the leaves
10. best friends are leaving me (CB Scent made a big decision which I dunno if I am allowed to say on this blog...but anyway, you'll find out eventually.)
11. seeing my breath stream out in front of me....oh coldness.
12. not once looking at CNN's website today. The comments section is usually the most entertaining part (seriously, go read it if you need to laugh), but the news part is usually depressing.
13. imagining walking home from the library, my current home, to Apartment 7, my other home with my bed in it, and getting into that bed, and sleeping in it.
14. meetings with Bishop Cramer. Oh man is he funny. I've never laughed so hard in a Bishop's office before.
15. the whiteness of snow against the still-yellow leaves
    
16. writing this post on time for once