curiouser & curiouser...

OLD

2011-10-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday.

Ten or so years ago, my birthday would probably have made me feel something like this:

But I'm not a little kid anymore. And I actually feel a little something like this:

I feel like it's important to note that I am having a good day. I have amazing friends that have done their best to make me feel special. And I'm very grateful for that.

BUT...

I just don't understand birthdays anymore. It seems to me that the inevitable descent toward senescence is not exactly something one would enjoy acknowledging, even if only on an annual basis. Of course, we humans, by nature, look for opportunities to flatter ourselves. Birthdays are rife among the masses, but for some reason we find these anniversaries of life to be something to celebrate. I don't really get why being older is an inherently honorable thing.

Regardless, older is what I am. Yes, one year older. What a dirty word, OLDER.

I'm 22 now. A good age, I think. I've never uttered the phrase, "I'm 22" before. It'll take some getting used to, obviously.

But I'm still young, thank goodness.

Thank goodness, indeed. There was a lot I wanted to have accomplished by this point in my life, but meh. I don't mind being unaccomplished. Last week it didn't bother me so much that I hadn't done all the things on my "Before I turn 22" bucket list, and it shouldn't bother me now. Just change it to a 23, and I'm all set for the next 365.

In any case, I am only a day older than I was yesterday. Meaning I haven't changed much in the transition from 21 to 22. Meaning I could write a whole blog post about the insignificance of birthdays or I could follow the pattern set by my 21-year-old self of shrugging my shoulders and going my way rejoicing.

I think I'll choose the latter.

I'm in California.

2011-05-24T18:31:00.001-07:00

NOWAIT! I just got back from California.

Yeah, that's what I meant to say.

I love southern California so. much.
If it were up to me, I would never leave.
{ but nothing is up to me }

Here is a picture of how I feel toward California:

And here's a picture of me actually loving California that much:

Guh. I wish I was still there!

Alas, I'm in Utah.
{ and it's raining }

But! I have plenty more travelling ahead of me.

-- camping & hiking in southern Utah

-- Las Vegas (I think)

-- BFF reunion, part deux: Jarrod Call in Auburn, Washington

-- BFF reunion, part three: Brandon Langford in Portland, Oregon

-- BFF reunion, part one (cont.)* & four: Vance & Logan in Arizona

-- probably some other random trip that I don't even know about yet

I work from home as a writer for an SEO company,

so I'm pretty much free to go where ever I want.

I just have to make sure my work gets done before/while I'm there.

Kind of tedious but hey, what isn't.

I get so anxious during the summer.

It's like the warm weather is my cue to

spend all my money on making memories.

Not a bad investment, if you ask me.

Anyway, if you want to go on a road trip with me,

let me know soon, please.

I'll have to pencil you in,

probably sometime in July.

So, to make a long story even longer,

my 6-day trip to California was wonderful.

Even though I had to deal with some crazy stuff.

And I got pulled over.

(but he was Mormon and graduated from BYU, so he let me off with a warning)

I'm convinced that

California = MICHAELAHAPPY :)

That's all.

*BFF reunion, part I already took place last weekend, in San Diego with Vance Bryce. Seeing him again in Arizona is just a continuation of that reunion.

@radooga_map

2011-05-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

= my new Twitter account.

Follow me, please.

Also, I recently started up a new blog.

http://aaandme.tumblr.com

Unnecessary, perhaps.

But I do a lot of unnecessary things.

ENJOY { life }

UNWELCOME GINGER :(

2011-05-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I have nothing against red hair. Some of my best friends are red heads. My own father is a ginger. This is not meant to be discriminatory or anything like that.

but...

IJUSTDYEDMYHAIRREDANDIHATEIT!!!

Well, let me explain a few things:

First of all, I didn't dye my hair super ginger red. No no, I'm smarter than that. I'm pretty sure no one with Poly blood (however small the percentage may be) could ever pull off RED RED hair. I went for a medium auburn color which, given my dark natural color, should have wielded a red-tinted brown. Also, it should be known that the last time my hair was dyed was in February, so my roots were a little grown out.

THAT BEING SAID,

I tried to dye my hair tonight, and it has become a nightmare. My roots, being fresh growth and never before exposed to dye, latched onto the red color quite nicely. Well, it would have looked nice if the rest of my hair had followed suit. My ends retained the nice red-tinted brown color I was talking about. Which essentially makes my hair a two-toned disaster.

What I'm trying to say is,

no matter where I decide to part my hair,

I've got a ginger stripe.

And I reeeeeeally don't appreciate it.

I've washed my hair a total of four times in the last two hours. I've used six different shampoos/conditioners on it, scrubbed my scalp raw, and even set some laundry detergent on my part in hopes of dimming the color. Alas, to no avail.

It's times like these that I'm glad my hair color fades quickly.

craft monster.

2011-05-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

THAT'S WHAT I AM.

I'm a fan of dedicating things to stuff.

(yes, I know how stupid that sounds)

I dedicated last summer to foreign films and ended up discovering my favorite zombie movie (a Norwegian film called Dead Snow, checkitouttt). I've decided to dedicate this summer to CRAFTS.

A craft a week, that's the goal. So far so good. Granted, I've only been at it for a week. But I got a cool rug out of it (which I'm selling to my friend for $10, by the way). And I'm in the middle of making a piñata for the sick Cinco de Mayo party I'm throwing. After that, I don't really have any ideas... I think I'm going to make a bouquet of paper flowers? I don't know... I'm sure I'll come up with something creative and totally awesome. If I was good at wood-working, I'd totally make this. Alas, another time.

spring time

2011-04-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

It's spring time!, which means the world ought to look like this:

But instead, I see a whole lotta this:

okay, maybe that's a tiny exaggeration...

The point I'm trying to make is that the earth is not treating this season fairly. At least the UTAH part of the earth. It's too cold & blustery to be spring. My seasonal depression is extending into May which is NOT! alright with me. I'm considering resorting to those ancient "Mr. Golden Sun" chants that I loved when I was a toddler.

Life was so much simpler then.

In any case, I have subconsciously confined myself to my apartment during the 'sunshine' hours (for lack of said sunshine). As usual, I thrive during the night hours when the sky is SUPPOSED to be dark, no matter what time of year. Which means I stay up wayyy too late. Which means I sleep during most of the morning (if I even see the morning at all). Which means I was still in bed when my new roommate moved in at noon. SO EMBARRASSING.

Oh yes, part of spring means new roommates. I could go on about my new roommates except for the fact that I don't know them at all. All I know is that Rachel (straight out of the freshman dorms, btw) woke me up this morning (er, afternoon) with a big suitcase and an embarrassed face. I think I was more humiliated than she was, at the time. At least I had cleaned the room the night before. WHEW.

Anyway, spring is (hopefully) on it's way with summer following close behind. As a deadbeat for the summer (no school, no job), I'm sure I will have plenty of time to... I don't know, make crafts and stuff. I've got a summer to do list this year (as is customary). But that will have to wait for another post.

Until next time ♥

self-realization of the day:

2011-04-07T11:53:00.001-07:00

I'm a slow walker because I rarely take advantage of my full stride.

SYMBOLIC, no?

fast food no more.

2011-03-05T11:49:00.001-08:00

Three days till Mardis Gras. Which means I only have that long to gorge myself on McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Sonic, Dairy Queen, and other such establishments. Because after that comes L E N T . I used to hate Lent when I was little, but now that I've grown up and realized what it actually means, I'm a much bigger fan. And any excuse to feel closer to God is a good one, right?

Anyway, in celebration of Lent (which is coming WAY late this year!), I am giving up fast food. That includes any restaurant that doesn't require you to sit at a table in order to dine there. And it also includes take-out stuff. Man, I'm going to save a TON of money in the next month... In addition to the "no fast food" policy, I'm taking on the challenge of reading or listening to at least one General Conference talk every day. Doubling up does NOT count for multiple days (I'd take care of, like, a week just by listening to one session of GC in April).

THOSE ARE THE RULES.

I'm writing this more for myself than for anyone else. Hopefully, now that I have it in writing, I'll actually stick with it. Last Lent was wonderful, and I learned a lot about myself. Fingers crossed that this year will be just as rewarding :)

The Jimmer

2011-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

My life has been taken over by a man I've never met.

He goes by the name of Jimmer Fredette.

And he looks like this:

Recent events, mostly instigated by Mrs. Michelle Peralta, have set fire to the already crazed BYU Cougar basketball fans, myself included. I have homework to do. I have stories to write. I have tests to study for. And all I can do is think about the great James "Jimmer" Taft Fredette. And watch Jimmer videos on ESPN.com. And read sacrilegious comments that put His name (um I mean, his name) into scriptures like the following:

‎"Our Jimmer which art in Provo, Hallowed be thy game. Thy points will come, Thy wins be done at home, as they are on the road. Give us this day our daily 3s. And forgive us our poor fan behavior, as we forgive our rival's fans' ignorance. And lead us not into poor shot selection, but deliver us from losses: For thine is the MWC Championship, and the Final Four, and the championship glory, for ever. Amen."

-- The Lord's Prayer, adapted for a BYU audience by McKay Bushnell --

It's ridiculous. It's obsessive. It's unreasonable. It's HILARIOUS. And it's amazing. I realize people get a little crazy when it comes to spectator sports, but a little school spirit never hurt anyone! It's healthy and it's normal. I don't understand how people could compare this with idol worship. Granted, perhaps I should remove the candles, incense, and dead chickens from my Jimmer shrine; that may be a little excessive...

I just love him so much. I still reflect on the day where Jimmer Fredette, the one and only, came in to Jamba Juice last summer and asked me, Michaela Peringer, to make him a Peanut Butter Mood. And I made it. And I handed it to him. And he was refreshed.

Bless you, Jimmer. May the fervor you've introduced to BYU sports never fade. And may the Michelles of the world realize your greatness and never doubt again. Amen.

Michelle = Mrs. Peralta, NOT Obama's wife lol

NEW

2011-02-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

I made a new blog.

http://begin-at-the-end.blogspot.com/

I'll keep this blog going for ME things. My new one is dedicated to YOU things. Check out the first post, and see how you like it. I hope you do :)

smiling in your sleep

2011-01-25T21:45:00.001-08:00

As I confessed in my last post, I didn't go to school today. 4 day weekend for Miss Michaela. I'm a fan.

I think it might be silly to say I had a great day and to just blog about that, but... well, I had a great day, and I'm going to blog about it.

FIRST, it snowed. Now normally, I hate the snow. BUT! when I get to spend the morning in my pajamas watching the snow fall, it's one of my favorite things. It really is beautiful.

Also, as I have made a tradition on lazy, home-alone days, I cleaned and organized my apartment and bedroom. When I decide to stay home, I tend to feel a bit useless, and in an effort to avoid that feeling, I clean. I cleaned the whole front area, organized the shelves, deep cleaned the whole kitchen, reorganized the furniture in my room, did my laundry, and lit two apple pie scented candles. And I put new light bulbs in my floor lamp for the living room which makes the whole apartment look warmer and more inviting.

And then, I went to meet with my bishopric about a whole mess of things. Apparently, they don't consult each other when assigning callings, and I ended up with two (Relief Society instructor & member of the Sabbath Day Worship Committee [I love BYU and their made up callings, haha]). And since I said yes to both of them and didn't ask questions (like the good girl I am), none of them thought about it until last Sunday when I stood as my name was read. Bishop leaned in to his first counselor and asked, "Doesn't the new girl already have a calling??" WHOOPSIE. Anyway, I was set apart for calling number two today. I wasn't expecting much, just the usual "We bless you to do this calling well" business. But the bishopric member who set me apart gave me the most beautiful blessing, I almost cried. It was long and I was already running late for work, but I didn't care. It was absolutely lovely, and I told him so.

I was on time to my staff meeting at work, and it went by great. Staff meetings are sort of a joke at ILP. It's just a bunch of girls talking about funny stories from that week. Kind of annoying but also awesome because I get paid to sit there and listen to them giggle and talk amongst themselves.

And on my way home from work, this song came up on my Pandora station. I've been listening to it on repeat since I got home.

Dontcha just LOVE days like that??

I DO :)

the tradition continues

2011-01-24T23:46:00.000-08:00

I didn't go to school today, even though I probably should have.

AND I DON'T THINK I'LL GO TOMORROW EITHER.

I have this thing where I just... don't do what I'm supposed to do. And instead, I ONLY do what I want to do. And that usually involves sleep. It's a procrastination issue that I've been dealing with for a veryyyyyyy long time now. And it just seems to be getting worse.

I put myself in these situations, and I can't conceive why. I guess I strive for mediocrity. Or maybe I just like being stressed out.

Who knows...?

In any case, class or no, I'm going to keep up my Tuesday Temple Trip Tradition (say THAT five times fast). And I'm getting set apart in my second calling (in as many weeks) after dinner. AND! you can be sure I'll be attending my weekly staff meeting at work tomorrow night. See, I may be a slacker when it comes to school, but when it comes to my spiritual & financial well-beings, I'm as stalwart as they come.

I should have known better than to sign up for all morning classes. This is going to be an interesting semester...

Thank you, may I have another?

2011-01-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Another quiz post. I apologize to those of you who seek narratives and quotes, like I usually post. I'll be back at it very soon.

But in the meantime:

I am... always running late.
I want... PAUL DELVECCHIO.
I have... a zebra snuggi. And I'm wearing it right now.

I wish... I could just BE SMART without having to try.
I hate... when your party doesn't start because Ke$ha hasn't walked in yet.
I fear... the thought of dying alone. (HEAVY, sorry)
I hear... Elizabeth by Isaac Russell.
I search... with Google, totes.
I wonder... what prompted my crazy dream last night??
I regret... not visiting the Helsinki Finland temple when I had the chance.
I love... the precious few.
I ache... in my shoulders from Maori dance rehearsal.
I always... want to sing along.
I usually... do.
I am not... one to withhold my opinion.
I dance... Polynesian cultural dance. And that's it.
I sing... in an awkward register.
I never... remember names, but
I rarely... forget faces.
I cry... when I'm in the mood to cry.
I am not always... responsible with my time.
I lose... my cell phone at least a few times a day.
I'm confused... as to why men behave the way they do.
I need... to do my homework before my work training session in a few hours.
I should... repaint my nails before I go.

And there you have it.

A special shout out to Rachel for letting me steal this.

In Celebration & Memoriam of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

2011-01-17T22:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

I know I take advantage of a lot of things, and I don't appreciate a lot of the blessings in my life. But I have always loved my home, my country, AMERICA. I'm so grateful to live in a country where, despite histories of prejudice and racism, a man of color is able to stand as our elected executive leader. I love that my home country is one that allows me to vote, regardless of my gender, my religion, or my mixed heritage.

Part of what makes (and has made) this country such a remarkable place is the citizens who stand for what is right and refuse to back down. Dr. King, a reverend from the segregated South, understood that injustice and bigotry are unacceptable. He was willing to do what he knew was right. And with him, a generation of visionaries stood against centuries of hatred and intolerance.

And thank God they did! This country (nay, the world!) is a different and better place now than it was then. The narrow-minded cultures of the past have not been eradicated, but they have been shaken to their cores. People in this country are no longer afraid to stand for justice and love. Racism is no longer the ever-present cloud of hatred that it once was. Now, I can look upon those around me, not as Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Islanders, Asians, or anything else, but as fellow human beings. All because a few choice men and women, and namely Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dreamed of a brighter future.

May your Dream live forever, Dr. King.

Thank you for all you have done for the welfare of this country and its citizens.

God bless you.

an unlikely repertoire

2011-01-16T01:44:00.000-08:00

As you know (if you've been reading my blog or if you know me at all), I play the ukulele. And I love it. Now that I have one to call my own (his name is Akua), I have been practicing a lot more regularly. And now, I am pleased to present you with a list of songs I have learned in the past week and a half :)

-- Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

-- Make Love in This Club by Usher

-- Stephen by Ke$ha

-- After Hours by The Velvet Underground

-- Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus

-- You and I by Ingrid Michaelson

-- Rhythm of Love by The Plain White Ts

-- Butterfly Nets by Bishop Allen

In addition to those, I'm currently working on:

-- Boyz in da Hood by Eazy E

-- All I do is Dream of You from the film Sadie McKee

-- Breakdown by Jack Johnson

-- The Bedroom Intruder Song (if you don't know what that is, click here!)

-- Jump Then Fall by Taylor Swift

-- Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show

There are quite a few songs that I would like to learn someday. But I suppose these will have to do for now. A little bit of everything, just like my normal taste in music. THE PERFECT SET LIST, haha. If you need anyone to perform at a birthday party, wedding, event or gathering of any kind, just give me a holler.

And I take requests. Got any?

a wise suggestion:

2011-01-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

Extraordinary Ordinary People

2011-01-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

“As educated people, as people who are being given the gift of the transformative power of education, you have special responsibilities. You are fortunate that you are in a place here at Brigham Young University that believes that faith and reason go together, that does not see your intellect and your faith as enemies of each other, but sees them as integrally related in what you are.”

- A quote taken from an address given on 13 January 2011 by this classy woman:

If you don't recognize her, that's former US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

And yes, I took this picture.

Dr. Rice gave a powerful and inspiring address today at the Marriott Center for a University Forum. I went so far as to skip class to get a good seat (not that I usually require much of an excuse to skip class, haha). I ended up sitting a couple rows behind the reserved seating. Not bad. And from there, I could see all kinds of celebrities. Well, MORMON celebrities: Elder Gerritt W. Gong (he spoke in General Conference last session), Sister and President Samuelson, the entire General Relief Society presidency. The list goes on ;)

President Cecil O. Samuelson leaning in for a quick word with the lady of the hour.

Anyway, I absolutely loved a lot of what Dr. Rice had to say. She was bold and outspoken, as many ex-politicians are. And some (okay, MOST) of the things she said concerning global economics and politics were just a little too right-wing for me. But she made a lot of great points, and she was a very eloquent, very persuasive speaker.

The above quote was one of my favorites of the day. What a blessing it is to study at a university as prestigious as BYU. I get to learn all I can in my chosen field, AND I'm able to receive a spiritual education, one that I would likely never encounter at another school. What a lucky girl am I.

Another thing I loved about Condie's speech was her emphasis on focusing on the positive. Always a struggle for me, I know that optimism has its benefits, though I sometimes choose to ignore them. Cynicism is just easier sometimes, isn't it? Well, it may be easy, but it's certainly not worth it. Confidence in yourself, in your future, and in your work is vital to success at any level.

I could go on all day about her talk. Let me close with this: Who would have thought that a little black girl growing up in Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights movement would ever come to be what Condoleezza Rice has become? What an wonderful feat, to be who you want to be, no matter what boundaries are set upon you. We can each accomplish so much!

I don't care what political party she belongs to, she's an inspiring woman, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to hear her words and partake of her wisdom.

Just a fraction of the crowd that showed up for Dr. Rice's address

Oh and by the way:

She changed her major three times in college. Wasn't till her senior year that she finally made up her mind. That gives me hope. Thanks for the inspiration, Condie!

For more information, click here.

not much to be said

2011-01-12T20:07:00.001-08:00

You can't add much to a quote like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, what else is there to say?
LIVE SIMPLY & SIMPLY LIVE.

"and go your way rejoicing..."

2011-01-11T15:39:00.001-08:00

"...with tacos."

My Language Structure professor L O V E S tacos. (not that there's anything wrong with that...) I've only had three classes so far, but he seems to bring them up an average of once every 1.2893 minutes.

"Class, the function of a proper noun is to refer to a specific entity rather than things in general. In the sentence, 'John likes tacos,' John is a proper noun. Or if we said, "Their mascot is the Super Taco," then 'Super Taco' would count as a proper noun."

First of all, I don't need a million examples; I remember what a proper noun is. How's about you spend some more time explaining the difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives? And seriously?? I like tacos as much as the next girl, but using the same term in every example (regardless whether it fits with the topic at hand) does NOT help me learn the lesson. It confuses me more.

So please, dear professor, PLEASE stop talking about tacos. It makes very little sense.

...and it makes me hungry...

remember when

2011-01-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

I used to love MySpace. I was all about personalized HTML and public surveys. Well, I'm still all about that stuff.

CASE IN POINT.

1. Why did you create this blog?
Honestly, I just did it because everyone else was doing it. But I grew to actually love it! It's like writing in a journal that everyone can see (perhaps not an appealing thought for some of you, but I've always been somewhat of an open book).

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?
Ones that make me feel a) happy, b) pensive, or c) social. Most of the blogs I stalk, I MEAN "follow", make me laugh. But there are a few that I read because they make me think. I like those ones the best, though they are few and far between. And sometimes a friend will tell me about such-and-such blog post they just wrote, so I'll go read that as to seem friendly and interested.

3. Favorite Make-Up Brand?
MAC, for sure. But I haven't explored many make-up brands. The result of being broke and unemployed.

4. Favorite Clothing Brand?
Hmm, this is a tough one. I don't buy many designer clothes, but the one item of clothing that I covet right now more than anything else is this, The North Face women's denali jacket.

5. Indispensable Make-Up Product?
Ohh, another tough one. I used to be super low-maintenance when it came to make-up, but now it takes me almost fifteen minutes to put my face on. Umm, I think the most important thing for me is mascara. AND! eye liner. (I know, I know... I'm cheating.)

6. Favorite Color?
teal/turquoise

7. Favorite Perfume?
Depends on the season. Right now I'm into my Pink Warm & Cozy all over body spritz. It's perfect for winter.

8. Favorite Film?
What's with the impossibly difficult questions?? I have a list of favorite movies, but my one FAVORITE favorite movie depends on my mood and changes several times daily. Right now, I'd have to say The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's strange, and it'll always be strange. The epitome of timeless.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?
Of course I'd like to visit New Zealand, the home of my ancestors and (more importantly) my family. I've never met some of my relatives that live in New Zealand, and I'd like to head down there to see what they're all about.

10. Would you rather forget to put on mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?
Blush, of course! I tend to layer the mascara pretty thick, so doing only one eye would likely be equally as noticeable as HAVING only one eye.

just one day at a time

2011-01-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

I love Elder D. Todd Christofferson. He's my favorite apostle (if you're allowed to have favorite apostles), and I think he's just so... CLASSY. (That's my word of the year, classy.)

I got to attend a CES fireside last night* where Elder Christofferson spoke about the importance of taking a step back and realizing that a successful life is made of successful DAYS. It's good to plan for the future, but we don't live in the future. We live in the NOW. Learn and grow each day, and eventually you'll find the future you're looking for.

This has been a bit of a struggle for me. I get stressed out really easily, about stupid stuff. I'm always worrying about this thing or the other, and I constantly have to remind myself to slowwwww downnnnn. "There's nothing you can do about it now," I say. "Do what you can, and be happy." Hmm, easier said than done.

I needed this message. I hope everyone will remember, especially during tough times, to focus on just making it through the day. Each day brings us one step closer to our goals, whatever they may be: graduation, marriage, the Celestial kingdom. Take it one day at a time. Celebrate the small achievements. When it comes to righteous endeavors, you can do ANYTHING.

"In reality, there aren't many things in a day that are totally without significance. Even the mundane and repetitious can be tiny but significant building blocks that, in time, establish the discipline and character and order needed to realize our plans and dreams... You'll be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step toward eternal life."

You tell it, D. Todd :)

* I love going to school at BYU-Provo. On Saturday, I went to a basketball game and saw Elder Russell M. Nelson. On Sunday, I went to a CES fireside with Elder Christofferson. APOSTLE OVERLOAD, basically. It's wonderful :)

on unnecessary exposure

2011-01-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

yyyyyyeah, sorry about that last post. you can ignore it if you want. meh, most of you probably have already. it's whatever.

I guess this whole "It's a new year!" thing has kind of gotten to me. In recording my new year's resolutions (err, in ATTEMPTING to record them... Have I mentioned that I'm a bit of a procrastinator?), I've realized a lot about myself. A lot that I want to change. And I suppose the first step in changing yourself is admitting you have a problem...

So that explains that.

MOVING ON!

This isn't my ukulele. But I just got one that looks a lot like this :)

STORYTIME: When I left Utah in August, a good friend of mine agreed to help me take care of putting all my stuff in storage. The day or so after I left, another friend came over and gifted me an ukulele that he had been letting me borrow. Turns out his friend bought him a new one from Hawaii, and he thought I'd appreciate the present. Anyway, friend number one texts me while I'm in Washington, tells me the situation. And I'm super excited! A few days later, I get another text. "I'm SO sorry :(" I guess she fell off the couch and busted my uke. Like, TO'E UP. I was disappointed, and she felt just awful about it. So awful that she bought me a new one a few days ago. She even got a soft case for it so I'll have a way to store it safely. What a dear.

In any case, this is the song (and arrangement) that I've been practicing the most in the three days that I've had my new instrument. I know you're dying to hear it:

Rhythm of Love - The Plain White Ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEnp1SYPpaE

About Me 001.

2011-01-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

I am a compulsive liar.

And that's the truth.

really? already??

2011-01-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

I don't even have homework yet, and I'm already procrastinating...

I tend to take my sweet time when it comes to... well, everything. I'm a super slow walker. I'm always the last one to finish a meal. And I struggle to show up anywhere on time. Granted, these traits might be viewed as character flaws rather than sure signs of procrastination.

I don't think so.

Even as I've been writing this blog entry, I've gone to the bathroom, texted people, checked my Facebook I don't even know how many times... It' impossible for me to NOT procrastinate. It's really a part of who I am. And let me tell you why...

Mehh, maybe later.

New Jersey

2011-01-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about classy skanks (hmm, oxymoron?), but I can't get over the Jersey epidemic in this country. Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious, The Real Housewives of New Jersey... it's the epitome of class vs. trashhh. And, for some reason that I can't understand, I absolutely love it.

So tan. So chemically treated. So fascinating.

How can you not love this??

In the spirit of the new year, I am making a list of resolutions. Like a sort of year-long bucket list. And on that list (somewhere in the -teens, mind you): VISIT NEW JERSEY. I don't know if it'll happen, but how many new year's resolutions ever come true? I think it's a decent goal. And if you've talked to me in the past year, you know how much I am infatuated with the Jersey culture. To go to Atlantic City and Seaside Heights would totally make my life right now.

Ohmagosh, the voice in my head is already talking in a Jersey accent.

OHH-AWW-SIM.

thee end

2011-01-01T14:14:00.001-08:00

o f | 2 0 1 0 !!

bye bye, twenty-ten; won't miss you.

2 0 1 1 ♥

of zombies, airlines, and evenings in.

2010-08-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

I don't think I appreciate my dreams as much as I used to. I do not refer to my dreams and aspirations. I refer to the crazy images and stories of my subconscious. I've dabbled in writing dream journals over the past year, and having read some of my most recent entries in comparison to my first ones I've discovered... nothing. My mind is full of spontaneity and odd ends. EXCEPT! I realize that I have had three dreams in the past two weeks on the topic of zombies. This is highly unusual. True, I may be a bit more interested in zombies than your average Joe. But I think that hardly merits a series of dreams involving the undead. None of these dreams left me afraid when I woke in the morning, and all of them were remembered in elaborate detail. I can only assume I have more zombie dreams locked in the back of my cluttered brain... mmm, BRAINS...

In my preparations for my upcoming intercontinental travels, I have kept an unconscious tally of how many days I have until my departure. As of this morning, my count had decreased to 7. One week until I leave for Moscow. But that number, however monumental I may have thought it, has been increased to 8. A miscommunication between airline and ILP travel coordinator had brought me the wrong information. Thrice. But now, NOW they have the correct travel dates and times. My itinerary will be mailed to me within the work week. I've waited this long, what's another day? But I have been counting down to the 30th since June! To leave on the 31st seems almost a betrayal. Perhaps I won't tell anyone and just wait an extra 24 hours in the airport. Foolish as it sounds, I have seriously considered it.

Also in preparation for my upcoming travels, I have tried to contact several local friends. In an effort to bid a proper farewell, I feel I need to communicate with all of my contacts in the greater Seattle area to let them know I'm leaving. If I don't say goodbye to them, it's as if I never left. At least, that's the round-about way my mind perceives it. But I regret that I am failing miserably in this endeavor. Most of my evenings have been spent in the comfort of my sister's room (which I am sharing with her, but, as she is usually out with friends in the evenings and on weekends, I consider it as much my own), reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and watching re-runs of Jersey Shore and Arrested Development. Not to say this makes for an unpleasant evening. Quite the contrary, in fact. But it does hinder my goal to spend quality time with my friends before I leave for the next four months. I suppose I ought to consider my extra day in the States to be quite valuable, in this regard.

In any case, I'm happy as a clam. Nervous, granted. But happy.

t h e e . e n d .

latest obsession

2010-08-21T23:30:00.001-07:00

Love Like Woe: The Ready Set ♥

on my way.

2010-08-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

I leave Utah in less than 24 hours. I leave America in less than a month.

f r e a k i n g | o u t !

I've been packing the past few days, and it wasn't till today, when I took the heavy bins and duffel bags to the front door that I realized just how much I'm going to miss this place. Not just BYU or Washington but AMERICA. I love it here. I've never really been anywhere else. I talk big about wanting to travel the world and explore different cultures, but really I'm terrified. Russia is literally on the other side of the world. Everything is so different: people dress up to go to McDonald's, you're not supposed to sit on the ground (especially if you're a female, they think it's bad for the ovaries), no one drinks iced beverages!

What am I getting myself into!?

I suppose this will go away with time. I'm just a little scared is all :L

Well, in other news (and on a completely different note), I just learned this arrangment on the ukulele. Check it out :)

Make Love In This Club by Usher

vegas road trip [and other ramblings]

2010-06-28T01:56:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a most perfect road trip :)

My friend Alec had a wedding to go to in St. George, Utah and decided to invite some friends with him and make a weekend out of it. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. One of the most fun weekends of my BYU career. Since St. George is only a couple hours from Las Vegas, we went to see the Strip, too. I had never been to Vegas before, and I was SUPER excited to see what all the hype was about.

Despite the 104 degree weather and extreme sleep deprivation, I had the time of my life.

(^ understatement of the century)

First stop: Las Vegas Temple

(beautiful)

[Left to Right]

Rusty, Alec, Me, Catie

@ Caesar's Palace

Michaela and Alec: Mafia Kingpins

@ New York New York

Catie and Me @ Starbucks :)

After Vegas, we had a wedding to go to. Two hours back on the road to St. George. We went to the wedding and to dinner before we found a motel to stay at. It was a little stressful finding a place and we were all exhausted (I was running on 40+ hours without sleep), so we slept well that night. Sunday brought church and a quick tour of the city.

Michaela, Catie, Michael, Alec, Rusty

@ St. George Temple

Michael is a friend from our ward in Provo. He was randomly driving through St. George with his Dad the same day that we were there. And our paths just happened to cross at the temple, where we both decided to visit before heading back to BYU.

It's a small world after all :)

THAT is a Maori copy of The Book of Mormon

@ the St. George Temple Visitors Center

Rusty, Catie, Michaela, Alec

@ Brigham Young's Winter Home (St. George, Utah)

Rusty taught me how to tie a tie. Because I have little reason to tie a tie on myself (the way he taught me), I decided to learn how to tie a tie on someone else. Catie was my first guinea pig.

Not bad for a first time-er, eh?

Anyway, it goes without saying that I had the time of my life on this trip. And my friends that came bonded in a way that only road trips can afford. Going from the Utah Valley culture to Downtown Las Vegas was a bit of a shock, but I couldn't have asked for a more perfect respite from the "norm" that I've grown used to. I loved every minute of it :)

In other news, work is great, church is great, friends are great. Life is great. I'm watching a special on Animal Planet about Michael Jackson's chimpanzee named Bubbles at 4am, eating a pizza and listening to The Scissor Sisters.

It could be true that college is the best AND worst thing that has ever happened to me.

six months of summer

2010-06-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

[Not quite 500 days, but still.]

I just finished my final, well, FINAL, and it feels great! No more school for six months. HOLLAAAA.

And now I get to start S U M M E R .

I'm probably most relieved I've ever been. I'm so happy to be done with papers, exams, textbooks, weird professors, all of it. I have a summer book list (which I've already started), and I've decided to dedicate this summer to foreign films as well. I guess that's just an excuse for me to sit around and do nothing all day. Whatev. I'll be working at Jamba Juice and Sugar N Spice (a bakery/ice cream place in the BYU food court). It'll be CRAZY busy all day, but hey. It's a job. GET MONEY, GET PAID.

Back to the point: This summer will be the best. Declaration, MADE.

And then comes Europe. I say Europe rather than Russia because I'm 80% sure I'll be going to Ukraine for a while and my grandparents want me to visit them in Prague this September.

Wow, even reading that excites me. Like, I've really never been anywhere. I'm just a budding world traveler, and this is my first real excursion into the world. Kind of a big deal to me.

And this is where the countdown begins. 68 days.

today's to do list:

2010-06-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

01. make cookies for visiting teachies.

02. write research paper.

03. REGISTER WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA.

you know. the usual.

Okay, maybe I exaggerate. But I'm just so excited to go to Russia! Like, SO excited. It's barely starting to sink in, and I can't wait. I'm getting all my medical crap out of the way and filling out all kinds of forms. I can't wait for preparations to be done and to just BE THERE. The thought delights me :)

Something else that sets my heart a-flutter: this research paper I'm about to write will be my LAST writing assignment for the year 2010. True, I'm assisting in writing a narrative for my Grandpa's new book, but I'm getting paid for that, not graded. Being able to come home from work and NOT have to worry about homework is going to feel wonderful.

And! I get cookies tomorrow. A little less exciting, but still worth noting.

FAST-FORWARD, PLEASE?

dear followers:

2010-06-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

001. http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf

I just spent 10 minutes trying to get all the horses to sing together.

I feel like that time was well spent.

002. I've added a playlist of some of my favorite songs/artists. I hope you can find something you like.

003. Learn something new today & tell someone you love them.

THEE END.

bed time.

2010-06-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

It's 10:45pm on a Tuesday, and I am in my room.

This is the earliest I have gone to bed since I got the flu in high school.

I'm proud. And disappointed.

I feel very conflicted.

[I'm not going to make this a habit.]

GOOD NIGHT ♥

and the laziest blogger in the world award goes to...

2010-06-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

[drum roll please]

oh, it's me.

yeah. sorry cyberspace. i'm pretty much the worst when it comes to... well, DOING STUFF. take for example, the fact that it's 1:30 in the morning and i just barely finished writing the final 20 pages of my new testament journal for class. am i waiting for the pages to print? no. am i editing and revising everything to make sure it sounds good for when i turn it in tomorrow morning? not quite. what am i doing?

I'M BLOGGING.

but no worries. this is the last week of class for me. after that, it's smooth sailin' through summer. and then there's Россия. I CAN'T WAIT.

ohlook! an old post that i forgot to publish:

title: [happy spring!]

Spring is finally here, and I'm way excited! Even though it's raining outside right now :( I'm probably the worst Seattle-ite in the world because I hate the rain, but whatever. Judge me all you want. The purpose of rain is two-fold: grow flowers and make rainbows. Other than those two things, I hate it. It messes up my hair, it's usually cold, it ruins my shoes. It's simply awful. But I digress...
I got to go home last week. Seeing my family was wonderful, and hanging out with my friends made me kind of wish I could bring them all back to Utah with me. However pleasant my visit home may have been, it was (for lack of a better word) WEIRD. I don't like the "still in high school" feeling I get when I go back to Washington. I was there for five days, and that was plenty. I'm glad to be back in the 801.
Anyway, I was just reading through my *Confessions, and I felt it was necessary that I revisit my blog and write something. Really, I don't have much to say. I just feel guilty for having not written anything for almost a month. [Jeez, this is pretty much how I start out every journal entry...]

* My Confessions is a recent document that I conjured up after studying St. Augustine's Confessions. It's basically a list of things that I do (or have done) that most people don't know about me. They're not necessarily bad things; number 014 explains why I think I'm a great listener and number 008 talks about how I want to be a hippie. The list really serves no purpose other than to describe those little secrets I keep from the world, secrets I would be happy to share if I thought anyone actually wanted to know.

April f o o l s :)

2010-04-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Today was April fools day.

NO JOKE.

I've never been one to prank people, but I thought I'd give it a shot this year. My roommates and I were the only ones in on it. We got the whole boys half of our apartment complex. Here's a bit of what we did:

If you can't tell from the pictures, all of the cups are filled with water, and some of them have food coloring in them. And we made sure the cups were spread far enough that they couldn't just step over them but were densely packed enough that they couldn't just step through them. We essentially trapped the guys in their apartments. It was super fun getting all this done. And from what I've heard, people seemed to enjoy it. I haven't gotten any negative feedback yet :) The only down-side to it all was the fact that we started at 2am and ended at 5am. I was EXHAUSTED by the time it was over. As soon as we were done, I just grabbed my Snuggie and crashed on the couch. Needless to say, I did not make it to my morning class today.

April Fools Day = s u c c e s s :) [thankgoodness]

I have two jobs...

2010-03-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

...and I need another one.

What's up with that???

I guess this is the average college kid story, yes? Broke, struggling to pass all her classes, dealing with messed up relationships, and yet happy as a clam. Yep, that's me right now. I just got ANOTHER job (though I don't start till the summer). I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going to work come next month. My boss scheduled me for 6 hours a week next semester, and I'm looking for additional employment. And let me tell you, it's just as hard as everyone is making it out to be. I mean, I feel like I'm a pretty qualified young lady; I only apply for jobs that I think I can get. But I guess my interviewers don't feel the same way. I just need to be more assertive, I suppose.

In all seriousness, I really am worried about money right now. I know, join the club, right?

Ugh, whatever. It'll work out. It always does.

And if not... well, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

WARNING: CHANGE OF TOPIC AHEAD!

So I'm making the most amazing meal right now: Cornish game hen with wild rice stuffing. YUMMMMMM... And to think, this time last year I had no idea how to work a stove. Seriously, whenever I cooked for myself I ended up burning something or getting the measurements wrong or SOMETHING. And now look at me, cooking a game hen. And not only cooking it, but STUFFING it, too! Who'da thunk?

Oh my goodness, it is so delicious. I must share the recipe:

Cornish Game Hens with Wild Rice Stuffing
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/3 cup uncooked wild rice
1 cup water
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Cornish game hens
salt to taste
1/4 cup melted butter
>>> Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the almonds, onion, and uncooked wild rice. Saute 5 to 10 minutes. Mix in the water, chicken bouillon cube, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 45 minutes until rice is tender and easily fluffed with a fork.
>>> Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
>>> Season the Cornish game hens inside and out with salt, and stuff with the rice mixture. Place the hens breast side up on a rack in a baking pan. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter.
>>>Cover the baking pan, and cook the hens 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover, and continue cooking 1 hour, or until the hens are no longer pink and the juices run clear.

Cooking for one, I only had one game hen. But I made the same amount of stuffing and just ate the extra as a side dish. And I used one cup of chicken broth instead of water and chicken bouillon. Worked great :)

studying?

2010-03-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

I really should be studying. [story of my life, right now]

Seriously, though. I should.

I've caught so many lucky breaks this semester. Nay, in my entire existence here at BYU! My teachers, this semester especially, are constantly fixing my problems for me. Like, I got 45% on my last Russian test, and my dear teacher (God bless him) is letting me retake the exact same test for full credit because he supposedly "knows" I can do better than that. Well, yeah, if you let me memorize the test questions right before I take the exam, then I'll do fine... You know, I've never been big on the whole "hard work" thing. I mean, I work. I do well. But I don't work hard, I don't do my best. And I don't care as much as I should. I'm so content with mediocrity, it's not even funny. I don't know how I managed to make it into college with this attitude. And I've survived three (almost four) semesters with my GPA fairly intact. How did that happen!? I don't study. I don't do my readings. I don't even buy the books for my classes, oftentimes. And somehow, I pass. I'm not saying this to brag; quite the opposite, in fact. I'm ashamed! I have this silly motto: Cs get degrees. And I live by it. But it works for me! It really does! Today, for example, I took my biology test for which I studied not at all. I got a C+. Now you might think, "C+? That's not something to be proud of..." But to you I would say, "Nay, it is!" Because, you see, the last midterm I took for biology was a few weeks ago; in preparation for that test, I studied for a few hours AND attended a review session with the TA. And how do you think I did on that test? [drum roll please]........ I FAILED IT. Straight up failed. A grade like that in no way represents the time and effort I put into preparing for that test. So please tell me, what motivation have I to study? It's time-consuming. It's not enjoyable. Goodness knows it doesn't improve my grades. So what of it, then? Hmm...

I know, I know. "What a horrible attitude, Michaela! Don't you want to actually learn stuff while you're at college?" Well, yeah. I suppose learning is a good thing. But... I feel like I AM learning. Just not about stuff in class. I've learned more about myself, my friends, the world in my months at college that I ever could have dreamed of learning before I came here. That's valuable, isn't it? And what about the talents I've cultivated? The social skills I've developed? The friendships I've helped to thrive? I feel like I've earned a heck of a lot higher than a C+ with regards to THOSE subjects. And isn't knowing enough about yourself to ensure your own happiness more important to learn about than, say, Aeneis's love affair with Dido? Verily, I say unto you, YEA.

Whew, sorry to spring that on you, dear reader. I just needed a chance to self-validate my laziness. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

PS Lent update: Going strong, thank you very much. I haven't listened to my iPod AT ALL, and I've only missed two days of writing in my journal. I haven't done as well with meatless Fridays, but I'm 3 for 5 (which, considering my carnivorous tendencies, ain't too bad if you ask me). With only a week and a half till Easter, I'd say I'm pretty proud of myself.

what the...?

2010-03-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

Really?

I mean, REALLY?

I don't know why I'm so fascinated with this picture. It's quite odd, yes? I, for one, would love to own a horse-riding black bear.

Just thought it was worth sharing, haha ^_^

TODAY :)

2010-03-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ohmagosh, I am in love with today, and it's not even over yet.

Shall I expound?

I went to Russian class this morning (the ONLY class I will have attended today, more on that later), and I actually understood everything the teacher said. Like, I really knew what my teacher was talking about. If you know me at all, you know that I've been falling madly behind in my Russian class. I was so astounded at my knowledge this morning that I bought myself donuts for breakfast. [please disregard the fact that I buy donuts for breakfast EVERY morning...]

As I was eating breakfast, I inadvertently found myself in the middle of a mob. The BYU vs. Florida game had just started, and they were showing it on the big screen. I found some friends in the crowd to watch the game with. Though I had every intention of going to class at 11:00, I became irreversibly absorbed in the game and ended up skipping my next two classes. We won in double overtime, 99-90. I'm pretty sure I don't have a voice right now. This amazing game ignited my passion for this March Madness season. I'm paying special attention to the teams in my bracket, and I'm way excited to see who makes the Final Four.

K-State is playing right now. I'm definitely following the game on ESPN as I'm typing this.

I walked home in the beautiful sunshine, a most perfect day in Provo. I didn't even have to wear a jacket. And when I got to my apartment, what should I find at my door step but the two Snuggies that I ordered in December! I tore that package open and put on my zebra-printed reverse robe as quickly as I could. You better believe I'm wearing it right now. Granted, I'm a little peeved that it took till springtime for me to get these in the mail, but I don't really care; I friggen LOVE my Snuggies :)

Later today, my dear Korean roommate is receiving her Patriarchal Blessing, and I am honored to be the only person she invited to watch her get it. I'm so excited for her, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the Patriarch. As it so happens, it was about a year and a half ago that this same man gave me my Patriarchal Blessing. I haven't seen him since, and he probably doesn't remember me; but I remember him. I can't wait to take part in this special event. It will be fantastic, I'm sure.

Ahhh, I live for days like these. Days where the sun shines. Days where your team wins. Days where you receive what you've been waiting for. Days when you realize just how lovely your life really is.

I'm going to cut up some strawberries and read The Brothers Karamazov on the lawn.

validation ♥

2010-02-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

watch and be happy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

spiritual journey, much?

2010-02-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm observing Lent this year.

It kind of came as a last minute thing. And I have no idea why I'm doing it. I mean, I haven't been to Mass in over six years. I'm not Catholic anymore. And even when I was, I didn't always observe Lent. This is a bit of a random decision.

But for some reason, I feel like it's absolutely necessary.

I guess we'll see how it goes. Maybe it'll work. Maybe I'll feel closer to God after all this. Or maybe I'll hate myself for giving up listening to my iPod for 40 days.

There's only one way to find out.

Happy Mardis Gras, everybody. Tomorrow comes Ash Wednesday.

[wish me l u c k .]

Well, look at that...

2010-02-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

It has been eight months since my last post. I could have had a baby in that time... I apologize for my apparent lack of concern for you, dear blog-reader. It's not that I don't care.

actually, it probably is because I don't care...

I have a hard time with this whole 'consistency' thing. I'll do better from now on.

P R O M I S E .

Hey, look what I found!

2009-06-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

The following are two blogs that I found from my high school days. I don't remember writing them. It was years ago that I wrote all this, but it's surprising how much these same words could be said of my life the way it is right now.

Title: Remember
Current mood: peaceful
I've always had a pretty good memory for seemingly unimportant things. I remember what car my 7th grade social studies teacher drove, the design on my aunt's front door knob, how much it costs for a bag of cotton balls... completely insubstantial and of no real consequence. It makes sense that I would remember little things about each of you: your birthday, how you like your eggs, how you responded to a question I asked you... I'm not stalking you, I promise; I just remember. I don't know how many times someone has asked me, "how do you remember that, Michaela?" in response to a comment that seems a little more detailed than the average memory would allow one to retain. I never really knew what to say other than "well, I just remember stuff like that." I used to think it carried over from my "remembers everything that I don't need to know" memory, but after some soul-searching, I've figured out the REAL reason:

* I care about you.

Doesn't that make more sense? I honestly and genuinely care about you. I remember your birthday because you're my friend; I know how you like your eggs because I think you're interesting; I recall our conversations because I like talking to you. I don't just pick things out of the air to recall about everyday situations; I actually care about you. Sure, I still have a knack for remembering random stuff, but that doesn't take away from the fact that you mean a lot to me.

It's sad that it's taken me so long to discover this about myself. I truly feel daft for never having taken the time to realize why I'm so observant and cognizant of the people around me. I apologize for letting myself ignore how much I care about you. Above all things, I apologize for never telling you how much you mean to me. I hope I can take immediate steps to fix whatever it is I've done to our relationship by withholding my feelings from you. To all within range of my voice (or wi-fi connection, rather), I proclaim my great affection for you. You're amazing, and you ought to know it. I promise to make you feel special someday soon; you deserve it.

* NOTE TO READER: (Just to be sure, "I care about you" does not equal "I like/am stalking you;" I may be fond of you in some way, but that's the end of that. NO CREEPY BUSINESS.)

Title: Wish
Current mood: calm
I wish I could remember everything. I wish I had known better. I wish I had just let it happen. I wish I didn't have to. I wish I knew your secret. I wish I had said yes. I wish I had an "easy" button. I wish I could explain myself. I wish we had started sooner. I wish I could make you understand. I wish I'd saved up for this. I wish I hadn't hesitated. I wish I'd paid attention. I wish I knew why. I wish I had stood my ground. I wish we'd had the same idea. I wish I had been there for you. I wish I had figured it out by myself. I wish I had read the directions. I wish I'd invited you. I wish we had more time. I wish I wasn't so scared. I wish our plans hadn't fallen through. I wish that day had never ended. I wish I had made my own decision. I wish I had poured my heart out to you. I wish I'd been there for you. I wish I had thought about what I had to lose. I wish I wasn't so bitter. I wish I had something important to tell you. I wish I knew how to say it. I wish I was more like you. I wish I could take you with me. I wish I could come back whenever you need me. I wish you knew how I felt without me having to tell you. I wish I could honestly say "I'll see you later." I wish the period at the end of our sentence could be an ellipsis…

I wish you were here.

FAIL [and a quick recap]

2009-06-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I fail at blogging. I remember thinking that I would be pretty much the best blogger ever and that I would post something at least once a week. And, um... my last post was in March. FAIL.

I've pretty much lived an entire lifetime since then, and I can't believe I've been so selfish as to not even attempt to share that with the world via blog. In the past four months, I've experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life...

I finished the first installment of my BYU career; that in itself is full of blog-worthy material! I went on a road trip to California. I could basically make a whole new blog talking only about the fun I had and the things I learned on that trip. My best friend and I went on a mini-road trip to visit another dear friend who lived in Oregon, and then he got to come up and visit us. I've spent time in Salt Lake City, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and so many more amazing and glorious places. Those were some of the best times of my life. HANDS DOWN.

There have also been not-so-amazing moments. I had to sever relationships with people who don't deserve my company; that's never a pleasant experience. I said goodbye to friends (nay, FAMILY) to whom I never thought I'd grow so close. The friends I made at BYU were the best. Better than the best! I don't know what I did to deserve such great friends who loved me more than I could understand at the time. Even harder than saying goodbye to the friends from BYU was saying goodbye to the one friend who encouraged me to get there in the first place. Sending my best friend on a mission was (and in many ways still is) one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, not simply because I miss him but because he's not here to console me, as he has been for the entirety of our relationship. Little by little, that circle of friends that seemed to form itself around me while I wasn't paying attention has started to break apart. I still tear up to think that the soonest we can be together again is in the year 2011; that seems like such an unattainable destination. I can only hope that my life, as well as theirs, will continue to grow and benefit from the time we spent together, and when the time finally comes when we can reunite, we can do so as better versions of the people we were when we first found each other.

Oh my, that turned into a much different post than I originally planned. But I suppose that's a good thing. I guess a blog is much like a lazy poet's excuse for a journal, and I, being the laziest of poets, could definitely benefit from a good blog post or two...

[more to come...]

006. RAINBOW CAKE.

2009-03-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

Last night was one of the most amazing nights of my adult life and DEFINITELY one of the most memorable. Not because it was an especially unique evening, necessarily...

It was amazing because last night,
I. made. a. RAINBOW CAKE.*

And not just the kind that you buy in a box from the store. Oh no, this was a legit, food-colored, swirly, bright, delicious RAINBOW CAKE!

Check it...

Don't even try to tell me that this cake isn't the friggin' most fantastic cake you've ever seen in your life because I'm pretty sure it is. I mean, look at all that color! I almost want to cry it makes me so happy that such a cake actually existed at one point in time. I think I can die happy knowing that I created something so wonderfully RAINBOW and that so many people were able to appreciate (aka devour) it.

Ooh, life is grand. :)

*In case you don't already know, rainbows are my absolute FAVORITE thing in the world. More than a pair of Converse All-Stars. More than the Symphony chocolate bars with the blue writing on the wrapper. More than Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Carnival season. I love rainbows with a blind determinism rarely seen this side of the 21st century. And I love it!
[DON'T YOU JUDGE ME.]

005. O Sancta Simplicitas!

2009-02-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

I think Aristotle was right when he taught that the world functions in an equilibrium. There are no extremes in the perfect life; just one, big, happy medium. I've never been able to apply a philosophical theory to my life more than I have in the past three weeks...

Week 001. MIDTERMS WEEK:

I was a study robot the entire week. I spent every spare moment in the library, and I skipped out on every non-crucial commitment I'd made. I wrote three papers (for a total of 14 pages) in the space of two days; I studied for and took six midterms before Thursday; I ate only if/when my computer crashed and I had to restart it. I worked so hard that, for the first time, I actually lost myself in my studies. And even though I pretty much wasted my whole life in the library that week, I was so happy! I enjoyed getting everything done and being able to check things off of my To Do List. It was an amazing sensation. And when Friday finally came, I knew I'd earned the right to enjoy myself over the weekend. And a three-day weekend, too! What a great reward for my hard work ^_^

Week 002. WORST. WEEK. EVER.

After a week of studying and taking tests non-stop, I thought I'd be a little more diligent when it came to school. But no. All I did over the course of the week was sleep. Other than Tuesday, there wasn't a day that I woke up before noon. I know that it was probably necessary to catch up on sleep after working so hard, but seriously... over the course of the three day weekend, I'd gotten over 30 hours of sleep. It was NOT necessary for me to skip all of my classes. Neither was it imperative that I stay cooped up in my apartment on Facebook until I had to go to work everyday. I felt like a lazy, non-contributing zero that whole week. Even the weekend was an uneventful disappointment.

Week 003. THE HAPPY MEDIUM.

This week has been among the most amazing weeks in my adult life. And it's not even over yet! I think I've discovered the appropriate balance between hard work and play time. I've gotten all of my homework done; I'm planning ahead for papers that are due in a week or so; I didn't even fall asleep in Astronomy today! Work has been great, too; Riley (the evil Student Manager) has seemed a little less Nazi-ish the past few days, and my co-workers have been pleasantly chipper all this week. I don't know exactly what triggered the change, but I'm so glad that it did.

My life is so beautiful right now.

oh&btw...

Highlight of my week: LOVE YOU LONG TIME
These guys put on the greatest freakin' show. I got to see them in concert on Tuesday. Probably the best show I've ever been to, NO JOKE. I loved it so much. I'll definitely jump at any opportunity to see them again. Maybe MC Oz will freestyle

about me next time... ^_^

004. My Bucket List

2009-02-14T03:53:00.000-08:00

Attend a temple open house.
Break my addiction to Facebook.
Build up a basic piano proficiency.
Buy a house.
Do something nice for someone for no reason at all.
Earn a million dollars.
Express my true appreciation for members of the Armed Forces.
Fall in love.
Fill up a journal.
Find buried treasure.
Fly in a hot air balloon.
Fully understand the American political system.
Get a Bachelor's Degree from an American university.
Get completely lost and find my way back home.
Get in tune with my heritage.
Get married in the temple.
Go dumpster diving and actually make use of the spoils.
Go on a Halloween zombie walk.
Go on a road trip.
Go rainbow chasing.
Go sky diving.
Go surfing.
Go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for Carnival season.
Have a dream and make it come true.
Keep a dream diary.
Learn a foreign language.
Learn how to fully express myself.
Learn to cook.
Learn most of the Primary songs.
Make a college scrapbook.
Make something and give it away.
Make sure my dad knows how much I appreciate him.
Meet someone in a café.
Nurture something until it reaches its full potential.
Overcome my ichthyophobia.
Plant and manage a beautiful garden.
Play mvt. II from Still's Suite for Violin and Piano.
Read all the books on my book list (50 and counting).
Save someone's life.
See a show on Broadway.
Sock mop the kitchen floor.
Spend a day all by myself.
Study abroad.
Take up painting as a hobby.
Visit all 50 states.
Watch the Super Bowl from the stands, dressed up for my favorite team.

003. College

2009-02-14T03:40:00.000-08:00

In all honesty, my college life consists of little more than random study sessions in the library, long hours on Facebook & Stumble, and Friday nights at the bakery; whatever else I can afford to squeeze into my day is a pleasant bonus...

← Brigham Young University
This is where I live, learn, work, and basically spend every moment of my life. I came here to study music, but after much thought and deliberation, I've decided to major in linguistics instead. Rewind one year, and I'd say you're crazy to think I'd ever go to BYU. But here I am, and I love it. I've learned so much already, and I can't wait to see what else waits for me here :)

That's Pica.→
Pica is my Japanese Exchange Student. Well, actually, she's my roommate. We really get along very well, and we share many of the same tendencies. We have a lot in common, and we're able to accept all those silly things that we don't have in common. Pica and I often stay up till the early morning talking about super powers and gospel topics. And then we sleep in till dinner time. That basically describes our life together. What more can I say? We're pretty rad, I know.

← This one is Katherine.
Katherine is one of my apartment buddies; we share a wall. I don't think I'd laugh half as much as I do if I didn't know her. She's basically the funniest, silliest lady I've ever had the good fortune of meeting. She usually comes into my room unannounced and unexpectedly, and she loves to vent her life to me. This works well for me because I'm basically a listening machine. Trouble is I usually don't know what to say after she's done, and I end up making scared faces at her, to which she apologizes and leaves the room. It's a common occurrence, and we've therein developed a pattern of communication by which we're both pleased to abide.

He's Jarrod.→
Jarrod was basically the only person I really knew when I came to Utah. We were good friends back home in Washington, and I think we've only become better friends since we got to college. I don't see him much during the week, but we usually get to spend the weekend together, having wild and crazy adventures all over Provo. Jarrod has introduced me to roughly half of my current entourage, and for that (among other things) I cannot thank him enough.

Though I'm enjoying myself so much more than I could have ever anticipated, I fear that I am suffering from an acute bout of Premature Senioritis. Maybe it will cure itself over the spring/summer when I go back to Washington, but as for right now, I am seriously tempted to drop out of school and run away to New York City. Now, there's no need to send me an angry "DON'T DO IT!" text as soon as you read this; I'm 99.238492389% sure that I'm going to stay in school until I get that degree. I'm just very anxious about the future.
Aren't we all?

Anyway, even though I'm a little confused right now, I'm pretty much having the time of my life. I know I'm not the same person that I was when I first came here in August, and I'm SO thankful for the changes that have been wrought in my life since my attendance at BYU began. Anything I say from now on could only expand upon that point...

LONG STORY SHORT:
LOVES IT.

002. Confessions of a Blog-Virgin

2009-02-14T02:50:00.000-08:00

I've never blogged before, and I don't really know what I'm doing. I think it's supposed to go something like this...

My name is Michaela, and I tend to get a little random... I was born in Seattle, and I lived about 30 minutes from downtown my entire life. I have an indescribable adoration for rainbows and an unnecessarily intense fear of fish. I love doing things that I've never done before, which might explain why my "bucket" list is so extensive. I played the violin in high school, and I really don't want to lose my passion for it, though I find myself doing exactly that. The item in my possession to which I have given the most sentimental value is a The Flea stuffed animal that I sleep with every night. I named my plant Beanstalk, and I water him whenever his branches start to droop; I hope I can keep him alive at least until I graduate from college. When I speak, my grammar isn't that great, but when I write, I like it to be perfect. (Note the absence of all dangling modifiers in this paragraph.) My ethnicity is a pretty healthy mix of European (mostly Dutch) and Polynesian (mostly Maori). I want to say something profound with my dying breath; hopefully someone will be by my death bed with a pen and paper to write it down. I'm utterly enamored by phonetics, politics, and philosophy. I enjoy exploring the edges of my comfort zone and beyond. I've recently taken to napping in public. I don't often tell people what I want to tell them, even though it usually kills me to keep my mouth shut; I kind of have a problem letting people know how I feel about things. I love going to the salon and treating myself to a spa day; I only wish I had the means to fund such an indulgence every now and then. I want to travel to everywhere there is to go, learn about everything there is to know, and attempt to do everything there is to do. And I want to be on the PTA when I grow up.

THEE END.

001. Introduction (cont.)

2009-02-14T01:53:00.001-08:00

JUST KIDDING.

000. Introduction

2009-02-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

I've never blogged before, nor have I had much of a desire to do so. That is, until my roommate decided to create a blog. And since I have to be better than her at everything, I decided to make one, too. And it's going to be bigger, better, and more "followed."

(Take that, Pica)