leave ballet alone!

I went to the ballet with Wistie this last Friday. The show was really good! They did one that was kind of a tango. It was still ballet, but they had tango costumes and had mixed in a few tango stylings. I really liked it! I liked all of their classic pas de deux.

But then they did a modern number. Ugh holy crow. It was SO weird. I don't even know how to explain it. One of the sections was them in a big black box, and like looking around it, doing weird poses on it without any music at all. Then it went on so they were all randomly on stage looking like they were having a seizure. My favorite part of this was that the music was techno jungle drum music. Then there was another part where random spotlights were lighting up the stage and there was always this one dancer in the back who looked like she was pawing the ground and acting like a horse? Anyway, it all ended with a bang where they were all over the stage once again dancing in their own little world, and without warning, simultaneously the music and lights cut and the dancers collapsed on the floor. The audience was quiet, and then slowly, a few random claps rang out in the auditorium. A few seconds later the lights came back on, and two of the dancers stood up, untied a green sash that was tied around their waist, threw it to the ground, and then the lights cut again. Now we were all really confused and there was dead silence until the ballerinas came to the front and did one quick bow, and the curtain pulled closed. That's how the show ended. I think we were all really confused.

Modernism, leave ballet alone!

You know, if people want to do modern interpretive dance, be my guest. Go do your personal expression and all that, and have fun doing it. I just don't want to watch you do it.

I got my third letter from Ty today!!! Yahoo!!! I wrote him back already. My letters are increasingly gaining in length... Here is the back of the envelope. I drew a picture for him.

It says: "This is Milton. Milton likes you. Too bad Milton is tasty. Happy Thanksgiving, Milton."


Quotes of the Day:

Kellie: "I only have a little bit of time left!"
Me: "Enjoy your time. Enjoy it because it all goes too fast. And pretty soon, you find yourself in front of Brick Oven as he's about to get in the car with his family to go to the MTC. And your last moment together is a stolen hug that was much too quick, and then you try so hard to put it all in your memory- No. Enjoy your time. Because pretty soon, you won't have it."
Wistie: "Haha I am so glad you exist!"
Stephen: "Did you rehearse that?"

and

Stephen: "Wait, get married May 20, 2009?!"
Me: "That's enough time to court someone, propose, and get married."
Kellie: "Yeah, and get pregnant!"

and

Wistie: "Let's kill your roommate!"
Me: "Yes. I've been looking for an excuse!"

and

Ty's companion Elder Larson: "BYOM- Bring your own Mexican"

good friends are crazy

Last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning was so fun.

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gun powder treason and plot.
I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot."

I've decided to start a new tradition. It was just too much fun! Ever since I saw V for Vendetta for the first time, I've watched it on November 5th. Granted, it came out in 2005, so this is only the 4th year I've done it. If you haven't seen the movie, that is a sin. Watch it. It is absolutely fantastic. One of my top favorites.


So Amber, Quinn, and I got together on Tuesday night. First I taught Quinn how to make peanut butter truffles, then we played Guitar Hero a bit, then Amber came over and we talked for a while. Then at midnight, we put the movie on. November 5th. I didn't think about it at the time, but we should have timed it so that when it struck midnight here, Big Ben would have chimed midnight in the movie. And something awesome happens at midnight, but I won't spoil it if you haven't seen it yet.

I plan on doing this every year. You are welcome to join me next November. The more the merrier! What a way to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day than by watching a movie that is somewhat based off the holiday and probably has absolutely no truth behind it whatsoever?


Quotes of the Day:

Survey: "What do you hope to get out of BYU?"
Wistie: "I put 'An education.'"
Me: "Haha how about, 'A husband?'"
Kellie: "That's what I put, but I wrote 'Just kidding' after it."
Me: "I put that too... but I kind of wasn't kidding."

Yellow's for service from morning till night...

"Data Center, this is Allison"

Boooooring. Who wants to be themselves?

I volunteered working for the Poli Sci and Statistics departments at BYU helping with the exit polls yesterday. It was pretty fun. I was there for about an hour and a half yesterday evening. I didn't go out to the polling places and take the surveys. That would have been fun. But I got to stay at "headquarters" on campus and do data entry. I got to wear a fancy head set and sit at a computer. The surveyors would call and give me the answers to people's surveys, then I'd enter that info into the computer so they could get data throughout the day- and try to predict how the election will turn out.

I had imagined that I would be constantly answering the phone and be really busy. But I think I got a total of three calls the whole time, and I'd enter 3-5 surveys per call. So, I made friends with the people around me. We had a good time. We talked about the election mostly. But also about random things.

I wanted to answer the phone with a cool name every time. So I did.

"Good evening, data center, this is Yolanda. You are awesome." That was my favorite. Because the guy I was talking to called me Yolanda.

"Hey you've reached the data center. This is Ruth. What's up?"

"Data center, this is Betty. How is your night going?"

Unfortunately I didn't have more calls because I had more names I wanted to use.

I wish I had had my camera because I wanted to take a picture of me all official donating my time to the election, doing my civic duty and all that. But I went to Costco with my broski and Tristan (I got peanut butter and crackers and Grape Nuts :) I want my Grape Nuts) and didn't have time to go home before I went to campus. So alas, no camera. Oh well. Next time. I'll definitely be doing this again!

In other news...

Prop 8 passed! YAHOO!!!! California, you have renewed my faith in thee!!!

And Nevada went blue. I'm surprised. We've usually been red. I guess Vegas is pulling us down. Curse you, Vegas. You consistently make my life more complicated.

voting

The sad thing about voting early with an absentee ballot... you don't get to wear the really awesome "I voted" sticker all day. Instead, I'm wearing my huge College Republicans sticker. I think that's better anyway. It has an elephant on it.

discoveries

I went to therapy today.

I went to couple's therapy with my husband, Spencer. Yes, the same guy I married a few weeks ago and had children with. We are having problems.

He has his own business, and I am sad because I feel like he isn't involved in our young sons' lives enough. He works too much. He says that I nag him too much- but really I'm just trying to encourage him to play and bond with our sons. I'll buy tickets to the circus, a baseball game, and set up other outings for him do with with them, and with me, and it seems to only make him more mad. He's been staying at work later and later, contributing it to the fact that business is getting really tight.

So, he agreed to see a therapist with me. We went to the rapist- oh, excuse me, therapist- Amanda Lloyd. She got him to agree to come home three times a week by 6:00 PM if I would let him do whatever he pleases. Hmm we'll see how this turns out. The rapist Amanda might be kind of crazy, but we'll just have to trust her advice.

Who needs a wedding ring when you have a name tag you can just wear everywhere? That way guys don't have to do finger checks.

..............................................................................................

Are humans screwing themselves over?

Natural selection. It helps species evolve to adapt to their environment so they can be best equipped to survive. And while we always hear that natural selection is "the strongest survive," they're wrong. Natural selection is simply that species with certain inherited traits are better fit to their environment so they can survive. An example of this is finches. During a drought, the only food left to eat were big shelled nuts. Only the big beaked finches lived through the drought because their beaks were able to crack open the nuts. The smaller beaked ones starved to death, and that trait became pretty much extinct. Therefore, only big beaked finches were left, and they reproduced, making big beaked finch babies- better adapted to the environment.

A thought came to me today while sitting in Biology class while we were talking about this. Humans don't do natural selection. So are we messing with nature? Since all species do it naturally to stay strong and to be best fitted for the environment, the same would be for humans, too, right? But with our medicines and modern technology... everyone is surviving. So are we weakening the human race, or making it harder for us to all survive in the future? Our environment is changing, yet we are not. What will happen to us? The "small beaked" humans are surviving. What will happen to us all in the future?

I thought all of this, then got distracted and bored with it and didn't come up with an answer.

....................................................................................................

Fondus to battement lent... sucks. I am going to be SO SORE tomorrow! Ugh, ballet.

...................................................................................................

I got a new phone! Yes! Amber, being the amazing generous person she is, added me onto her T-Mobile family plan, and this includes unlimited texting! I am SO EXCITED you have no idea! So I'm probably giving my old phone to my mom when I go home for Thanksgiving, and switching strictly to my new number.

(801) 709-8289

Text me! It makes me so happy when I get a message :)

..................................................................................................

Yes. This is dedicated to you, Mom. I was in the Wilk waiting for my ballroom class to start the other day and heard the music come on. I immediately knew what it was, and hastily grabbed my camera to record it for you! They're practicing for Christmas Around the World which I will be going to next month, so maybe I'll sneak in a camera and record the finished version for you. It's even pretty much the same choreography. Hm, maybe I will watch this movie tonight.





Quotes of the Day:

Mom: "Have you heard any more from Ty lately?"
Me: "Yes!!! I got another letter from him Saturday! He's speaking Spanish already!"
Mom: "Well if Eric Veeder can learn Italian, anyone can learn any language."
It has been brought to my attention that Eric actually served in Spain... and speaks Spanish... which makes this quote ever more amusing.

all hallows eve

Happy Halloween! I had a blast yesterday night! I got all dressed up in my can can costume again, and Amber came to pick me up, and we went over to Quinn's house. We took some pictures there, and then went to get sushi for dinner. All dressed up! I was a can can dancer, Amber was a Zoobie, Quinn a cowboy, and Quinn's sister Rachel was a baby. That was a blast. I wanted to go up to a place that I went to with my brother and sister in law once called Yamoto, but we just went down to Damae on Center Street in Provo. Which was fine with me. It was still delicious!

Afterwards we went back to Quinn's house, and we all went around trick or treating. I must say, as an older teenager, you sure get funny reactions from people. Quinn, Amber, and I didn't go all the way up to the door since we weren't really trick or treating. Quinn's sister Rachel was and we were taking her around. We weren't carrying any bags, and weren't expecting candy. We know we're too old for it. But this one lady gave Rachel candy, looked right at us a few feet down from the door, said, "Have a good night" in a way that we knew meant, No candy for you! and closed the door on us. I was like, we weren't asking for candy so you don't have to be so obviously rude. I actually just thought it was really funny. A few people gave us candy anyway. One guy said that you're never too old to eat candy! And one of Quinn's neighbors had carved a huge letter Y in his lawn and painted it. It made me and Amber really happy!


We went up the hill by Amber's house where the really rich people live. One house actually gave out king-sized candy bars. That was awesome. We took one of those- we couldn't pass it up, no matter how old we are.

It was weird to me going around again. I hadn't been trick or treating in about four or five years. It made me think of the next time I'll be going. Probably with my own children! It made me feel older, because that could be happening in reasonable amount of time. Not soon, but in the far seeable future. But for now, I'm a kid enough myself. Hm, maybe if Drew and Christina get going here pretty soon I can go with them to take my neices and nephews around soon... *wink wink* You can tell I really want to be an aunt. Wow this was a total side track. Sorry...

After trick or treating we went back to Quinn's and played "Picksies," where we sprawl the candy out and each take a turn picking a piece of candy for ouselves. This was quite amusing and a lot of fun :) The night ended with me, Amber, and Quinn watching Sleepy Hollow. Not scary, but still mystrious, and weird. I loved it! My mom sent it to me last Halloween, and I still hadn't watched it.

This All Hallows Eve was a great one to remember :)


Quotes of the Day:

Me: "I like it when the kids pass out candy because I don't feel as bad when I take it from them."
Quinn: "Allison takes candy from babies!"

and

Amber: "When I'm rich, I will buy my friends."

and

Amber: "He's a night stocker."
Quinn: "Yeah, I stalk Barbies."
Me: "Can I be a Barbie?"
Amber: "She wants you to stalk her!"

and

Me: "I like that they didn't have to kill him again. He just went peacefully down to Hell."

and

Me: "Crap. Hey, what's my phone number? I don't have it memorized."

and

Bryant: "Let's get a cake and have Cosmo pop out of it in a dodgy outfit."

724

I WANT A LETTER!!!!!!! AHHH!!!!!!!!

:(

I had another one of those "I'm bored so I should call Ty Ty" moments today. Those are the hardest. I was in my room, cleaning up a bit. Those are the times I usually call people. I was thinking, I haven't talked to Tylor in a while. I'll give him a call. And then remembered that I can't. I gave out a small groan and my roommate asked what was wrong. I just told her that I wanted to call Tylor, that's all.

I sent him a package today with his favorite vitamin water, goldfish crackers, and Lindt truffles. I also included a four page letter talking about randomness; stats test, party on Saturday, dance, church, and lots of questions.

The count is Allison-2, Tylor-0.

I want a letter!!!

Quotes of the Day:
Bio TA Leilani: “You had a week and a half window where you had to pick the cherries off the tree. Anytime before that they were gross. Any time after and the Koreans wouldn’t buy them.”

and

Leilani: “Who here is allergic to peanuts? You? Alright! Do you eat peanuts? You don’t? Okay. I was going somewhere with that but I don’t remember. Oh yeah. Food allergies are bad.”

and

Leilani: “If people ate mice I would rather eat that mouse.”

abc it's easy as 123

Guess what I learned in church today!

Obama is not evil, and Hitler was a good leader.

Quote:
"I love reading the letters to the editor. People just usually don't back up their arguments. Like I was reading one the other day, and it was this guy who told a story about his uncle. He said, 'My uncle had a revelation that Hitler was bad before WWII happened. And he just had the same thing about Obama. So no one vote for Obama!' So what? This guy was so stupid. Because first of all, Obama isn't evil. His uncle can't receive revelation for everyone like that. Also, Hitler wasn't that bad. Like, besides the whole Holocaust and everything, he was actually a good leader. He pulled Germany out of a depression!"

Yeah... this was the opening to a girl's talk in Sacrament meeting. I thought that the Bishop's 2nd Counselor was going to jump out of his chair and pull her away from the podium. His face was priceless. I just looked at Megan and couldn't help but laugh. Wow, I love the single's ward.

all your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise

Elder Thatcher is gone. Today is his first full day in the big bad MTC! I'm sure he's doing just fine. Better than that, actually. I bet he's blowing everyone away. I was lucky enough to join him and his family for lunch at Brick Oven that afternoon before they headed off. Side note: Brick Oven pizza is incredible! The crust is sooo amazing. And it's actually a reasonable price. End side note. I felt so fortunate to be invited to lunch with them. It was so nice to see him in his suit and tie, looking all official and missionary-like (minus the name tag and greenie sticker). I told him that he has to keep his sticker and put it on the back of his name tag so he can keep it forever.

I have a secret... I'm a sinner. I stole a hug (with his dad's and his aunt's permission). We were outside Brick Oven, and I was about to walk up to campus, and he was about to get in the car. We stood there, and I knew that this was goodbye. This was it. The moment. We both just stood there for a few seconds not saying anything. Then I put my backpack down and flung my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my back tightly for just a second then pulled away quickly. It wasn't long enough. But then again, would any amount of time have been long enough? So he started backing up toward the car, and I put my bag back on and waved widly. I yelled out with a huge grin on my face, "You are going to do so amazing! And have so much fun! Good luck!" And he yelled back, "Do well in school! You'll have fun, too!" I continued a wave, still smiling, fighting the enormous lump in my throat and twinge behind my eyes, and finally turned away and started walking away.

I just want to say that I am so glad that I'm a good actress when I need to be. At least for a limited amount of time. The second I got to my classroom and saw Amanda sitting there, I burst out in tears and was sobbing for the first 15 minutes of class. Now that was embarrassing. But she prescribed the girl treatment that night: ice cream, brownies, waffles, and pizza.

I wrote my first letter to him last night, and his dad came to pick it up to add to a care package from his family. He'll be getting it tonight at dinner. That should be in just an hour or so. I am actually really excited to be writing him! I'll learn so much about him and be able to see him grow and change in the best ways. If you have any suggestions about letters, or things to do while the missionary is in the MTC, let me know! I get $1 same day delivery for the next two months, so I'm going to be taking full advantage of that. I don't want to always just send candy or cookies, though. Hmm I'll have to start getting creative here!

So I want to clear something up. I bet after reading the last two blog entries you're doubting my claim about my relationship status. I want this to be added officially to the record. I am not waiting. I am single, and I am dating. Yes, I dated Ty for a long time and I was in love with him. But I am not officially waiting. We both have discussed it a lot and have the understanding that there is a likelihood that I will be married by the time he gets home. So I am just here, living life, keeping my mind open to possibilities, and taking opportunities. Ty is my best friend, and he knows me better than anyone. I'm fortunate to have a friendship like that I want to keep it alive by writing him every week, lending my encouragement, and sharing my own spiritual experiences with him. And because of all that, I'm not going to forget him. It may turn out that no one can even come close to comparing with him. If that happens, so be it- I'll be here when he gets back. But, if a new Mr. Perfect comes along, hot dog! He must be incredible! I'm all for that. So currently, Ty is 100% dedicated to the gospel and his heart belongs to the Lord. I'm only having a hard time with it because this is a hard change and a very big adjustment. And yes, my heart is currently stuck in a shoe box under my bed. But I won't let it collect dust. I just need to become comfortable with my new circumstances before I bring it back out and start using it again. I'm grateful for old friends, and new friends, who I have to help me out :) I appreciate them all so much. So, I just wanted to make this very clear. I am not waiting. Ty does not expect me to wait. It's just hard to be here without my best friend. The end.


Quotes of the Day:

Amanda: "I was hoping to use your illness for my benefit."

and

Amanda: "You're speaking in riddles, Eugene. That's not actually a quote. I just added Eugene to make it funny."

and

Me: "We ate a whole pizza!"
Amanda: "No, we didn't. It's dispersed among the other pizzas. How pathetic. We can't even eat a whole medium pizza."
Me: "Well, you weren't hungry, and I'm sick. What do you expect?"
Amanda: "Sorry I failed as the chubby friend in this relationship."

and

Amanda reading Rachel Jane's blog: "I love my life because I work with austic preschoolers."

and

Amanda: "Go to bed."
Me: "In a second. I have to chew out my friend first."
Amanda: "Why don't you just tell him goodbye?"
Me: "You mean tonight or for forever?"
Amanda: "Pick one."

and

Me: "Oh, gosh. You know you're on your way to adulthood when you start getting emotional because your parents gave you money so you can buy groceries."

savor precious last moments

I can't sleep. You know why? I'm a flurry of feelings. You name it, I'm feelin it. Everything...

I got to see my Ty Ty, er, Elder Thatcher, today. He's off to the MTC tomorrow afternoon! I was so excited to see him! He called me this morning when he got to campus (I totally wasn't expecting him yet so I had wet hair and PJs on) and asked if he could come over and say hi. I got dressed and blow dried my hair as quickly as I could. It was all poofy, but that's okay because Ty loves poofy hair the best anyway. So he and his dad, Papa Kevin (long story on the nickname... Something about blue hands and the smurfs), came and got me and we walked up to campus. While we were walking something funny happened. I was just walking by his side, and all of a sudden I see him just reach out toward me, then quickly snatch his hand back and clench the two together. He just started laughing. I looked at him and quickly stuffed my hands in my pockets, realizing what had happened. Then he just turned to me and said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" and I laughed out an answer of yes. I thought this was so funny because it is just second nature to reach out for my hand. It's been that way for so long. Especially when I'm walking a little bit behind him, he almost puts his hand out toward me as a call to come to him. And that's what he did. It was SO tempting to want to do that! It was so hard to just walk next to him. Ah!

So we went and got lunch at the Cougareat, then it was time for me to go to class. Class dragged on for forever today! Finally, 3:30 came, and I walked home thinking of things I could do to pass the time, hopefully making it go faster so I could see Ty again for dinner. But, coincidentally, as I was walking home, I ran into him and his sisters outside the Fieldhouse! I was SO excited! So they came over to see my apartment, and soon the rest of his family joined us. There, they relaxed after a really long day driving 14 hours from Spokane to Provo the night before and walking around campus all morning. They put on a movie and the little girls and I baked waffles together. Oh man. Those girls are so cute. And they love me. Seriously. They are adorable.

Soon they left to go back up to Ty's Aunt Melinda's house, and I finally had time to curl my hair and wait for my friends to come over for dinner- Amber, Wistie, Rachel, Rachel Jane, and Amanda. Papa Kevin came back about an hour later to pick us up, and we headed over to Alpine where a steak dinner was waiting. On the drive I talked with Kevin, which was really nice. I told him since Ty's gone and he doesn't have a college student anymore that he can call and bug, he can call and bug me. After getting there we had fun eating, playing the piano, and just laughing and joking. Ty honored me with one last performance of the song he learned on the piano for me for my birthday- well, as much of it as he could remember. Journey is one of my favorite bands, so he learned "Don't Stop Believin'." It was so much fun having everyone together! Just like old times!


At about 9:3o, the girls, Ty, his dad and I piled back in the van to come back to my apartment for dessert. We had brownies a la mode and spent the next hour and half visiting. Sarah joined us for dessert, and we joked around the whole time, having fun. Sarah and I entertained everyone by singing a few Wicked duets, and I broke the old broom, which was then used as some primitive communication device. Like a tin can telephone. Soon midnight came, and Ty and his dad left me and Rachel at my apartment. Rach stayed with me until about 2 AM, lending comfort, and making sure I was good to go.

It was hard seeing Ty again, and having him be Elder Thatcher and not my Ty Ty. Incredibly hard. Of course, I didn't show it and was extremely happy and cheerful the whole time, because let's face it. This is a happy, cheerful time! The best ever! I am so proud of that boy! But it was weird not having him gently put his arm around my waist when we're standing next to each other, not holding his hand while walking, not walking up behind him and running my nails down his back (okay, I cheated on that one a bit, but it's his favorite!), not hugging him, and not having him randomly pull me into dance moves and dips when I'm trying to cook or do dishes... I really missed that.

I did get the weirdest feeling, though. When I was at Melinda's house, I was chatting and having a good time, but still not feeling 100% happy, you know? There is still some sadness in there. It's sad to have someone you love so much leave, knowing you won't see them or hear their voice for two whole years, no matter how good of a cause it is. But you know I was still having a good time. I was standing in the kitchen, listening on to Rachel and Wistie's conversation when all of a sudden, I got this feeling. It wasn't triggered by anything, and I wasn't thinking about anything remotely close to this. It just came out of nowhere. My mood just lifted up so high, and I felt like this was a party for when he was coming home. And I was so happy. It was indescribable. Like I had actually lived those two years. And for those few moments, everything felt like it was all back in place, like life was just exactly how it should be. Like a big sigh of relief and comfort. After I was able to recognize all of this, and comprehend what I was feeling, and what it was for, the feeling left. But it still left me with an impression of how things could be. It was so weird. I don't know how to explain it.

Well, I get to see him one more time. After dance class he's going to be in the Wilk with his family and we're meeting for lunch. Then he'll be off to the MTC with his family around 12:30 ish and I'll be left there on campus, desperately trying to shove the image of the last time I saw him to my memory so I won't ever forget it...

There were so many good quotes from tonight! But I can't remember them all!!! If you remember, PLEASE let me know!

Quotes of the Day:

Wistie: "He's her ex-boyfriend fiance."

Ty: "This finger is the contract finger, and this one is the certificate finger."

and

Rachel Jane: "Hey! Missionaries can't flirt!"

and

Ty: "Holding hands is just like an extended hand shake, right?"

and

Rachel Jane: "You're brownie can't be touching my brownie in the microwave! It's a missionary brownie!"

and

Rachel Ann: "He's bread. He needs to go away and become toast."
Ty: "But I don't like toast."
Me: "Gasp toast with cinnamon? No, FRENCH toast?"
Ty: "I like French toast!"
Rachel Ann: "Yep. He's going to go away and get better and be French toast."
Me: "He can get BETTER? You mean, better than he is now? Is that possible?"
Rachel Ann: "Yep. And you are going to have to become syrup. That's why you're not locking yourself away. Because you can't put just plain sugar on French toast. You have to go and have fun, grow, and turn into syrup."

and

Me: "Do you think if I ride a motorcycle I'll hear his voice in my head?"
Rachel Ann: "No."
Me: "What if I jump off of a cliff?"
Rachel Ann: "No!"
Me: "How about if I go hiking?"
Rachel Ann: "No way!"
Me: "Don't worry. I'll take Jacob with me."

PICTURES!!!