Boys: Take note of this one.

To the couple sitting in front of me at the Marriott tonight: 

You're cute together; really, you are. I think it's awesome that you chose to spend your Sunday evening together at the patriotic service with your family. I would just like to call to your attention a small issue that affected my family and our ability to enjoy this incredible fireside.

I don't know if you've noticed, but seating at the Marriott is tight. Any building built to seat almost 23,000 people at one time is bound to be a little squishy, and this one is no exception. You probably took note when you sat down that your knees barely fit in the space between you and the next row, so I don't know why you didn't realize that would apply to all the other rows as well, including the one directly behind you. This is what I would like to address. 

You see, I was able to handle the hair flips that tickled my knees; I'll admit that I accidentally did that to the poor boys behind me as well. I was also fine when you put your heads on each others' shoulders and held hands after we stood for the flag. These small issues only barely tapped my already diminished personal bubble, and I can write them off as normal. However, when you, sir, put your arm around her shoulders, you left me a mere inch and a half in which to re-situate. You had to know my knees were there because your entire arm rubbed across the stubble from my not having shaved in the hurry to get to church today. I'll apologize for that slightly uncomfortable moment, but you should know that it was secretly a hint to move your arm back to hand-holding. 

Because you failed to recognize this hint, I was forced to move my knees entirely to one side, which in turn forced my sister to move her knees entirely to one side, resulting in an uncomfortable situation for us all. My brother-in-law would also like you to know that his knees were left with literally nowhere to go. This might not seem like a big deal, and it may not have been had it ended after 5 minutes; unfortunately, you insisted on remaining in "arm around" position for a solid hour. Let me just tell you that my poor legs were complaining by the end of that one, and I'm sure my family members felt the same. 

I am all for love and relationships, especially at the cute stage of life you both are in right now. But please feel free to realize your error tonight and fix it for the future patrons of the Marriott who find themselves behind the two of you. I feel safe in speaking for the entire community of Provo when I say that we will appreciate it. Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Lys.

PS: I hope you never actually read this...

A Playlist

10 points to whoever guesses the theme of this one first!

What Is This Feeling? :: Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter :: Billy Williams

Unwritten :: Natasha Bedingfield

Blank Sheet of Paper :: Tim McGraw

Written in the Stars :: Adam Pascal and Heather Headley

Please Mr. Postman :: the Carpenters *

Love, Me :: Collin Raye

Home :: Michael Buble

Letter to Me :: Brad Paisley

Vanilla Twilight :: Owl City

Don't Write Me Off :: Hugh Grant

Signed, Sealed, Delivered--I'm Yours :: Stevie Wonder

These Words :: Natasha Bedingfield

Radames' Letter :: Adam Pascal

*Honorary Mention for this one. The music video is beyond fabuloso. Please click at least that one link; you won't regret it. :)

This boy...

...is a gem. And that ain't sarcasm. You met him in my last post, but he's even better in person than he is in blog. And he is well-deserving of a pre-mission tribute, so here we go!

Things he's good at: 

• Funky eyebrow faces
• Blogging 
• Hamburger Helper
• Quoting movies (most especially Star Wars and Tangled)
• Avoiding pictures
• Golf (or so I hear)

Things he's great at:

• Espanol
• Compliments
• Guitar, piano, drums...music in general, really.
• Giving talks in church
• Jazz
• Slow dancing

Things he's the BEST at:

• Well-timed texts :)
• Hand massages
• Writing cute songs
• John Petrucci appreciation
• Winning debates, dang it all
• Knowing and understanding me

Naturally, this only scratches the surface. Dare I say I love him? He's certainly my best and closest friend, and I'm going to miss having him around like BYU misses Jimmer. However, he's going to be a fantastic missionary, and I can't wait to hear from him as he serves in that capacity. And now he's on his way, so for a speedy and not completely unrelated wrap-up: 

¡Viva México!

Guest Blogger: Joe!

Like she said, my name is Joe.  I am the aforementioned favorite boy referred to in blog post #2.  For your reference, I'm a musician, student, and soon to be missionary.  I leave for the MTC on Wednesday, and for Mexico City in 3-8 weeks.  Because of this, you won't hear from me again for at least 2 years, so enjoy it while it lasts.


Alyssa and I have been dating since February of 2010, and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.  We like movies and food and when I play guitar/piano/sing for her.  Yeah, I'm a pretty good boyfriend.  Our favorite movie is Tangled, and I can quote and sing the entire movie (and I maybe did when we watched it last night).  He favorite song that I play for her is one that I wrote for her last year called "Same Night Sky".  It's pretty good.

Here is a cute picture of us:

And now I have to go (curfews be darned).  Enjoy the next two years of Alyssa's blog without me.  I sure hope I'll be mentioned... if not, I expect someone to report back to me.  A merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.  Adios.


-Joe

Incoming: Summer

Obvious signs of very summer-y happenings: 

1) Farmer tan lines. Dang.

2) Skeeter bite on the cabeza. Double dang. 

3) Summer Survival Playlist in the making. (This is the best part of summer.)

4) Shorts every day. I even have some that didn't come from the boy's department this year. If you know me, you know that's an accomplishment.

5) Sunsets! I was kidding about the playlist; THIS is the best part of summer.

6) Disintegrating handwriting. And journal entries with more days in between. 

7) Disintegrating bedtimes. Oops.

8) Day trips: hike yesterday, park today, temple tomorrow. 

9) Spontaneity :)

10) New sandals so I won't be stuck in flip-flops every day. 

For some reason, I'm only now feeling like it's really here. A summer day's only successful if I feel like this at the end:

The good news is: so far, so good. :)

Welcome, World!

Okay, so maybe every blogger has had this experience, but I have some exciting news: this very blog (the one you're currently reading) has been seen in the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong! Yeah, that's, like, in China...definitely on the other side of the mundo. And technically, it's been seen twice in the UK. I just feel very proud of my little online "child" of sorts (is it weird to think of your blog as your child?), and I wanted to brag a little. So thanks for hearing me out :)

On another note, I played a piano solo in church today and it went really well. I chose "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" because this month is the same month as the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, and that was the song he requested to be sung by John Taylor while they were held in Carthage Jail. It's also one of my favorite hymns, and this particular arrangement was so beautiful. I don't know about the congregation, but I sure felt like crying. Music is so amazing; don't you agree?

"Minor Pet Peeve" Thursday

We're starting a new tradition on this blog. I don't want to be really negative and complain-y, so this won't happen every Thursday, but I do have some slightly ridiculous pet peeves that I just feel like sharing. Today's minor pet peeve: fickle webcams. 

This computadora of mine has a nifty log-in process where it looks at my face and recognizes me and signs me in sans password. Usually I say hi back and everything; we have a steadily flourishing friendship here. However, it only does this trick if it has exactly the right lighting and angle. Since I recently changed its permanent home, the lighting is different, and it takes much longer to recognize me. It's a pet peeve. 

Fortunately, there's also a fix, but I haven't fixed it yet. It's on my list of things to do, right below #4: blog. Soon we'll be pet peeve-less once again. Fewf!

And since I hate a post without a picture: 

It's the first one this little webcam ever took. Aw cute...

Lucky

You should know that my father happens to be the luckiest man in the world. He probably brings home free stuff on a weekly basis, and I doubt he's ever paid for his own lunch at work. (Maybe I exaggerate a bit, but I'm much closer to accurate than you'd believe.) Part of his luck comes from the fact that he's a buyer for his company and therefore has many people sucking up to him regularly. The other part is the part that I'm convinced I've inherited. 


My first stroke of luck was when I was but a wee little lass (approx. 2 years old). According to my parents, I found a 4-leaf clover in some field. It's in my scrapbook. And according to Wikipedia: 


The four-leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally.^[1] According to legend, each leaf represents something: the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.^[2] It has been estimated that there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover.^[4]


So I'd say that sounds pretty lucky. It's also probably pure luck that I chose to pick that one and toddle it on back to madre y padre. 


Stroke two: my Barbie house. Dad entered me in a drawing at our local grocery store and forgot to tell me about it until they called and said I'd won a Big Wheels car. Because I don't have brothers, and cars are only rarely discussed around here, Dad made a simple request for "possibly a different prize...for a girl?" Lo and behold, I ended up with this beauty: 

The front door (with tacky pet rabbit sticker)

Three rooms, one half bath

Complete with Barbie aerobics videos!

Now skip forward a few years, and picture an online radio contest. I took a survey, more for the purpose of having a say in the music my station played than for the opportunity to win prizes, and then I won the prize! I'd calculate the odds for you, but I just finished my stats class so I'd rather not. But this contest got me some free tix to a concert by The Fray. Naturally, I had recently bought their album, so it was perfect. I bought a t-shirt since I didn't have to pay for tickets; proof below. 

Now cut to this past school year, in an assembly to award a free iPad. Although I can't claim I won this one, I went into the assembly expecting nothing and left with a free t-shirt and the claim of "second place." The process of elimination brought the potential winners down to me and some kid I'd never met, and although I was in the perfect position to win, he got it. :( I really didn't mind, but it did make me question my luck for a small time. 


And today, lovely readers, that doubt ended. After participating in an online Jumpstart session for BYU, we were encouraged to enter into a drawing for one free t-shirt. I thought I'd try it out, just for kicks, and today I received the email and the FB notification that I'd won! WAHOO!

Feels great to be lucky once again. :)

It's been a good weekend.

First of all, my computer's been on my favorite background picture. When it cycles to that one, I just stare at it sometimes because I love it so much. Secondly, I received a homemade quilt from my favorite family (next to my own, of course). Here's to the Jolley's: you're all my best friends! :) And finally, I am the proud owner of a BYU hoodie, which, after years of not owning BYU apparel, is a big deal. Also, I have that cute little book by Elder Holland to add to my reading list this summer. Can't wait! 

In addition, I: hiked in the snow, stayed out until 4 AM for the first time ever, made my favorite galletas with my favorite boy, almost won a game of Mancala against said boy, and officially began summer. What more could I possibly ask for?

On another note, what in the world does this thing mean?

I don't particularly feel like looking it up.

The Beginning

Today seems like a good day to begin a blog...so here I go!


The name's Alyssa, but you can call me Lys if three syllables is too long to say. You could also call me Todd, but don't ask why because it's a long and boring story with absolutely no relevance to this post. I enjoy music, brownies, and fresh flowers. I do not enjoy doing laundry.


I'd put up some pictures with this lovely beginner post, but my camera is broken and has been for about 3 weeks now. I'm waiting for it to come back to me in the mail; guess we'll just have to wait together now...


If there's anything you're dying to know about me, comment (and I'll love you forever). Otherwise, feel free to just join me and you'll hear more than you probably wanted to know to begin with! In the words of Dora, "¡vámonos!"