Live from the HFAC

It's about time for some humor around here. How 'bout some jokes? 

Q: What is the similarity between a grape and an elephant?

A: They're both purple, except for the elephant. 

Q: What's brown and sticky?

A: A stick.

Q: What's big, green, and if it fell out of a tree would kill you?

A: A pool table.

Q: Why did the rapper carry an umbrella?

A: Fo' drizzle.

(Seriously, I just laughed out loud and got weird looks. Oops.)

Q: Where does George Washington keep his armies?

A: Up his sleevies. 

Q: What do you call a psychic midget who has escaped from prison?

A: A small medium at large. 

Q: What did one snowman say to the other?

A: "Does it smell like carrots to you?"

Q: What happened when the butcher backed into the meat grinder?

A: He got a little behind in his work.

Ok, now that I've officially made a fool of myself and scared off the two closest HFAC patrons, I'm going to sign off and head to class. If you're wondering, half of these came from my collection of jokes (like, in my head), and the other half came from Dumb Jokes that are Funny. (Yes, that website exists. Yes, I just spent a third of my free hour on it. Yay for productivity?)

Note: The HFAC is the fine arts building on campus. Just if you're wondering.

Thoughts on a Tuesday evening

There's a certain charm in a bouquet of sunflowers given wrapped in newspaper. 

It's like real world meets fictional paradise. It seems as if this brand of interactions tends to result in a slightly dimmed paradise suddenly forced to submit to the uncompromising real world (I'm thinking Enchanted or Alice in Wonderland here). Ever noticed how imagination goes out the window as you grow up and enter the bill-paying, time-sucking society we live in today? What a crying shame. 


However, sunflowers in newspaper are different. Nothing about the sunflowers is dimmed by being wrapped in newspaper. In fact, they become ever brighter because of their seemingly dull companion. In this situation, real world somehow complements and enhances the beauty of organic perfection. It's the simplicity of it, I think. Big-city meets countryside. Mundane meets inspiring. Ordinary meets "simply extraordinary," said in a British accent.


Remember my dear friend Jen? Her parents and I are good friends because we usually talk for a while when they get home on the evenings I spend with Jen. They are quite possibly the cutest couple ever, and tonight when I arrived at their home I noticed two big bouquets of flowers: one on the table and another on the counter. It's probably a safe bet that they were both from him to her. Adorable under any circumstances. 


And the bouquet on the counter was sunflowers wrapped in newspaper. It's incredibly charming, is it not?


Thanks to that lovely display, I now have a new favorite flower (or rather, way to receive flowers). Consider them added to the ever-growing list of ways to win me over. 

Because pearls and Silly Bandz were made for each other.

There are three important people featured secretly in this picture. Cuz I am all about symbolism. 

1) Pearl earrings=a beloved choir teacher from high school. I owe much to her. She once told our small choir that if we ever thought that nobody in the world would believe in us, she would be somewhere, believing in us. I've never forgotten that. It's a comforting thought even if I've never really felt deserted and hopeless, and I had that extra boost of "belief in me" from her today. 


2) Silly Bandz=that one missionary. I assure you I would never wear one of these dumb fad bracelets if it didn't have a purpose. This one was received at a benefit concert where he played guitar in a somewhat makeshift band. It's technically the only jewelry I have from him, so naturally, it comes out on special occasions. Also, he mentioned multiple times before leaving how he wished he could be with me for my first day at BYU; now it's as if he really was. :)


3) Pearl necklace and ring=Grammie. My grandparents both passed away within a month of each other at the beginning of this year. Although it was a difficult time for my family, we are beginning to see now that everything is as it should be. These pearls were my first choice in the dividing and claiming of her jewelry, and I wear them in hopes of someday achieving the same strong, positive spirit she had. 


I think it's interesting how these particular pieces of jewelry have become my secret support system. It's not like I couldn't have survived my first day at BYU without present family and friends providing ample support. I really wasn't very nervous or worried for today at all, but I was comforted in having these reminders of role models and friends on an important day for me. Silly Bandz and pearls will always go together swimmingly in my book. 

Here's to y'all

Call me crazy, but I think this little square of people is awfully colorful and therefore lovely: 

Unfortunately, I can't make it bigger without having it look terrible. But I just really like the way all those colors look together at this moment. So...good teamwork, everyone! 




Note: I drafted this a week or so ago and saved it for a day when I wouldn't have much time to post. That day is today, but one or maybe two of the icons have changed since then. I still like think it's lovely, but I'm not re-doing the work to copy the picture. That is all. Thank you. 

POTD

(Picture Of The Day)


It's an acronym my mom coined as part of a year-long goal to--get this--take a picture every day. You didn't see that coming, huh? Anyway, because I need to scurry to BYU for another day of sunburns and orientation, I'll leave you with a brief post in the form of an image: 

Nothing warms my heart like sisterly love. 

Keep your ticket stubs

Today was a good day for an expedition, so we went to the zoo. I wore my best peacock shirt, which you'll be privileged to see in the pictures. I didn't have the greatest of cameras (no offense to Jenna's, which I borrowed), but I'm glad I was able to get the pictures I could before the battery died on me. 


I know none of you have ever seen zoo animals before, so I thought you'd like to check some out: 

Elephant

Rhino foot

Rhino hand

Rhino (Note: not real)

Tiger

Lynx

Tiger picture, and a T-rex

Brett (Note: not a zoo animal.)

Giraffes

Llama

Peacock!

The Alyssas, of course

When I told my dad we were going to the zoo today, he jokingly said, "Make sure you keep your ticket stubs; they might not let you back out without them!" (Because he's a gem like that.)


But good news: they let us out without even checking our ticket stubs. So HA. Just another success story!

I just don't get it.

The other day, I was talking to older sister Bri about cupcakes. She doesn't understand the craze. Neither do I, for that matter, but she's dedicated a little more thought to it. In a nutshell:


"Ok, think about it. If you're eating a cupcake, it's because you want cake, right? Well it's too tiny to really satisfy your need for a piece of cake, so then you just eat 3 or 4 or 5, and then you've gone overboard. And they're messy, too. It's never convenient to bite into a cupcake, especially when they pile on all that cutesy frosting, so then it's going up your nose with every bite, and that's just disgusting. It's like cupcake boogers. Why would you want that?"


"Nice rant, Bri."


"I just don't get it."


And now neither do I. If anyone would care to explain (preferably with examples left on my porch, but I'm not too picky), the two of us would adore that. Thank you.

Book + Shirt = Housewarming Party

I have a friend named Sharissa. She just moved out, today. I was on campus, today. It was probably fate. 


OK, no it wasn't; we planned it yesterday. But it just happened to be that I owed her a book and she owed me a shirt. That part might have been fate. 


In any case, I finished all my campus errands (car registration, ID card, textbook purchase, etc.) and ran over to Sharissa's lovely little dorm. I gave her this book: 

Because it was her's (hers?) to begin with. I borrowed it at the very beginning of the summer for some easy reading. And easy reading it certainly was...and that's all I should probably say about it... 


In return, she gave me this shirt: 

Because I did. I survived the swine flu, two years ago. That's probably another story for another time, but this shirt happens to be the story of today. Ain't it a beaut? I especially adore the hand-sewn pig in the corner. Thanks Sharissa!


The exchange made for a lovely housewarming party. Plus also, I enjoyed her view of Y mountain and admired her plates, because every new home deserves a couple good compliments, right? (I just made that up, obviously.) Anyway, if anyone else wants to exchange shirts and books on their first day in a new dorm, just holler. I am so there. 

One Saturday

I ate a BYU brownie. 
I walked campus in wedged sandals. 
I cleaned my bathroom to the sweet sound of Owl City.
And I aspired to be as clever as Shawn Spencer.


(That Saturday was today.)


Some Saturday:
I will eat a brownie from NYC's finest bakery. 
I will take a stroll to the Juilliard practice rooms, possibly in more sensible shoes. 
I will clean my small apartment to the sound of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. 
And I will aspire to be as clever as Shawn Spencer. 


(That's if I choose the dream of insane music study.)


Or, some Saturday:
I will make my own brownies with Mom's recipe.
I will walk around the block, probably with a stroller. 
I will clean our small apartment to the sound of jazz standards. 
And I will aspire to be as clever as Shawn Spencer. 


(That's if I get married quickly because of BYU.)


Or, some Saturday: 
I will half a brownie recipe and eat them all myself. 
I will walk the halls of whatever high school employs me in tall heels, so as to command respect. 
I will clean my house to the sound of calculus rap. 
And I will aspire to be as clever as Shawn Spencer.


(That's if I become a high school math teacher.)
(I won't really listen to calculus rap. Gross.)

Just trying to keep my options open and my priorities straight. How'm I doing?

PS: Sorry for the abundance of self-portraits. These things do happen.

PPS: 10 points to whoever names the movie for "These things do happen!"

Go cougs!

Seriously: so excited for BYU.

Some specific look-forward-to's: 

1) A real math class! I learned plenty in Stats last year, and I'm sure I'll be fine when I have to study it again sometime in my future, but I'd rather work with numbers than words. No real mathematician would probably say this, but there should be one, and only one, right answer. 


2) I've heard the boys on campus are extremely proficient at opening girls' doors. Excited to test this out. 


3) I'll have a backpack with two straps. This may not seem like a big deal, but seeing as how I've had a side bag for 3 years now, I've discovered the misery of unevenly-distributed textbook weight. Can't wait for my right shoulder to finally catch a break.


4) Secular learning in a faith-based environment. How's that for a mouthful? But if anything I've heard from Cougar veterans can be trusted (and it can), there's a different atmosphere in BYU classrooms than you'd find at any other school. And shouldn't there be, when God is essentially helping each student and teacher to learn and to teach? I believe it, and I long to be a part of it. 


5) And finally, daily proximity to the BYU Creamery. Three cheers for ice cream. Need I say more?

This just became a temporary craft blog.

Last week, little sister Tae asked for some help making a tote bag before school starts. She found an easy DIY on a crafty blog (see here), and we bought fabric and got to work. I think it turned out absolutely adorable, and now she has a brand new school bag! And costs to make it were only around $10, if I'm not mistaken. (Read: cheaper than buying a new backpack.) Score one for our team. 

Check it out: 

Yes, we made the flowers as well. 

OK, really Mom made the flowers, but we helped. :)

They match the lining fabric, for added cuteness.

She likes it lotsa:

Heck, I like it lotsa! Do you think, "I helped you make it" would be convincing enough for her to let me borrow it? If so, you just might see me using this lovely on campus in a couple weeks.

Small Shift

Yesterday I was grouchy. 

Today was a better day than yesterday. 

I woke up to Emerson's cute laugh.

I went to a waterfall with a dear friend whom I haven't seen all summer. 

I ate frozen yogurt. Golden Spoon is the way to go, because they serve it for you. Duh. 

I helped clean the house. 

I wrote that one missionary. 

I spent some time in the sun. 

I re-read my favorite chapter of Jane Eyre. 

I went to a movie with dear friends whom I haven't seen much all summer. 

I researched cameras. (Anyone have a compact digital that they love to death?)

I visited Macey's, where you can't go without seeing someone you know.

I ate a panini-wannabe. With cantaloupe on the side.

I planned a temple trip. 

I watered a plant. 

I felt inspired. 

And I decided to love life. 

I'd say that's pretty productive, wouldn't you?

PS: Isn't this cute? I've been dying to show someone.

Adorbs

Readers, I invite you to meet the boy who has stolen my heart:

We have a lot in common: 

He enjoys my watch: 

And I enjoy his looks of adoration: 

You could say we spend every day together, and you'd be correct. 

And clearly, he loves this set-up just as much as I do. Isn't it perfect?
Auntship is wonderful.

Words to live by

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

--Abraham Lincoln--

I read this once in a quote book found on our family bookshelf. It was under the category of "Wisdom." Let's discuss this wisdom for a moment, yes?


I've always been a perfectionist of the self (then again, who isn't?). I enjoy straight lines and centered things as much as the next self-proclaimed OCD-sufferer, but I find them much more satisfying if I'm the straightener or the centerer (which I don't think are actually valid nouns). This started clear back in kindergarten. Since my first days of school, I wanted teacher comments, smiley face stickers, and gold stars in quantities large enough to paper the walls of my room. Nothing felt better to me during my early years of schooling than to see a big "100%" at the top of the test with my name on it. Can you say "over-achiever?" I know I'm over-the-top about this; so sue me.

Enter: junior high. When I read this quote, I was stuck in the very impressionable time of life called the "tween" years. I was just beginning to discover who I could become, and naturally, I fell in love with and memorized Abe's words without trying. (I guess it is only seven words long, so that's no feat to warrant bragging...)

Since that day, I've thought about it many times automatically, as such is the way with brief and easily-recalled bits of memory. It came to me when I felt I had mastered a difficult piano piece, or when I simply didn't want to practice that last 30 minutes. It came to me when I aced a math test, or when I procrastinated studying for one. It came to me when I listened to my parents' advice, or when I knew I'd been disobedient. Are you seeing the pattern? Essentially, it came to me either when I did my best, or when I refused to do my best. It became my undeclared motto. 

Lately, I've wanted nothing more than a phenomenally distinguished blog. Somewhere inside me thinks that this is code for "has hundreds of followers and/or comments."* I know it's not my current reality, nor is this reality likely to occur anytime soon (if ever), yet I long for it still. However, it poses a problem: my ability to succeed in this endeavor depends more on the opinions/decisions of others than it ever has before. For the first time, Abe's little quote bites. I'm a blogger but, by my own standards, I'm not a good one, and I simply don't know how to fix the problem.


I guess that's why they say not to compare yourself to others. I mean, come on: it's utter vanity to want nothing more than mere blog-popularity. What mark of success is it really to say that others like what I do, if I can't say that I like what I do? Clearly, I need to sort out my priorities. I'm sure if I just keep trying, I'll find the satisfaction which eludes me right now. If I'm completely honest with myself, I know that I do enjoy my own blogging, and that's what matters most. I just have to take that to heart already (hint, hint, self).


I think Abe must have been on to something when he left the world with his wise words. They are open to interpretation not only from person to person, but also from one aspect to another within one person's life. I consider myself a decently good daughter, sister, pianist, student, etc... just not blogger. But when I consider what Abe probably meant, I realize that he simply encouraged excellence and self-worth. These, I can strive for, and to heck with everyone else's opinions! 


"Whatever you are, be a good one." Thanks for the motto, Abe. Cheers.




*This is not a desperate cry for more comments or more followers (although I wouldn't mind either one, of course). It is merely one aspect of blog success which I consider from time to time. Promise.

Oops.

Today I fell in love with a song from the 70's. This is definitely a problem. Here's why: 

Do they really look like my type of music? I know I'm judging books by covers here, but goodness gracious, look at them now: 

Definitely a decent branch-out from Michael Bublé and Celine Dion. If you're wondering how they got me, just listen to the piano riff at the beginning of this gem: 

Love, right?!

If you didn't fall in love like I did, that's fine. I won't judge you if you won't judge me. But the next time Movin' 100.7 plays "Hold the Line," I'm blasting it. 

Picture List

In blogging, I enjoy pictures, and I enjoy lists. Let's combine them, shall we?

Things I wish I could get away with wearing: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Does Pinterest count as a source? Cuz I'm claiming it for all these.

Escribir means "to write" in Spanish.

I don't fancy myself a writer. In fact, I've always claimed to hate writing, but having a blog has changed my mind a tad. 


In high school, I had a widely- and well-respected English teacher tell me that he thought for sure I would apply to represent the school as an English Sterling Scholar. I laughed out loud at the very notion; the only writing I did was either for his class (with which I had a slightly-love-but-mostly-just-hate relationship) or in my journal each night. Although I appreciated the compliment, I refused to believe that I could ever enjoy writing enough to "represent."


That was all before I began blogging and writing a missionary this summer. What a blessing it has been to be forced to write! Both of these new challenges have required that I step up my game. I won't claim that my blogging is out-of-this-world-excellent, but I like to think that I can get my thoughts on a (web)page without becoming the blogger everyone hates to read. I also won't brag about my missionary-letter-writing skills, but I've noticed in just the past couple weeks that I feel much more comfortable and sound more like myself than I did at the beginning of this 2-year venture. 


Although I don't have a high school now to "represent," I think I'm gradually learning a crucial life skill: how to represent myself through writing. I've kept a journal since an important seminary lesson in ninth grade, and I have six or seven volumes of adolescent musings and happenings. I used to think that my journals were stellar stuff, but now I think I would find those older editions somewhat boring to read. Nothing really changed except that, as of this summer, I write more thoughts and fewer events. Instead of bulleted lists of occasions, I have more essay-style sentences, paragraphs, and topics. It's quite nice. Sure hope my posterity appreciates all this work. 


I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this rant, but what I can tell you is that when I sat at my computer with no clue as to what I'd choose to blog today, I felt instantly like I just wanted to write. It's the first time I've ever wanted to do that, and I'm considering it a milestone. No more excruciating nights of procrastinating papers, no more boring journals, and most blessedly, no more denying the opportunity to analyze life around me. Writing is definitely a thinking exercise, especially when done with purpose and meaning, so hopefully this new sentiment can help me to see and consider things I would never have given a second glance before now. 


I think I might just go pop open the Martinelli's and celebrate. 

Doing well, thank you.

Yesterday I went to the doctor for a "wellness check." 


Good news: I am well. 


Bad news: Apparently I've never been vaccinated for anything, which means I was basically attacked by nurses with needles yesterday. OK, they were a lot nicer than that makes it sound, but still! I'm a little bit of a wuss, obviously. And maybe I felt lightheaded for the first time in my life. You try surviving 5 shots (and a finger prick) in a 2 minute marathon and NOT get a little teeny bit woozy, k? Comment and lemme know how it goes. 

The aftermath:

At least all the band-aids coordinate, right? I've never worn so much bling in my life. Ha.

26 Things

One thing I would love to have, but I probably will never have: Excellent fashion sense

One thing you will never find in my closet: Whatever's currently fashionable

One thing I would choose if I were having elective surgery: Can they make my hands bigger?

One thing I love about my face: Summer freckles

One thing that I love to do: Teach! 

One thing I would like to change if I could: World peace, all the way.

One thing I would do if I had unlimited money: What's 10% of "unlimited"? Because tithing would be first, of course

One thing I that I will not do again: Procrastinate. (Good one, I know.)

One thing that I would like to do: Attend Juilliard School of Music

One thing I could do without: Vaccinations. I just did for my entire life, didn't I? What changed today, exactly?? (I'm a little sore about today's trip to the doctor...)

One thing I love to smell: Peanut butter. Oh mackerel. 

One thing I would do if I won the lottery: Build a house? I feel like this will never happen, even with my luck.

One thing that infuriates me: Lying

One thing that I love about winter: Wearing boots. I pine for them during summer.

One thing I am addicted to: Pretzel M&M's

One thing I pray for: Missionaries

One thing I wish I had: A Steinway grand

One thing I would do again, regardless of the pain: I feel like I've never been through enough pain for this to even be relevant. I plan on having multiple children, however. And I've heard that can be pretty painful.

One thing that I absolutely hate to do: Laundry. Seriously.

One thing that is weird about me: My joints pop all the time, especially my ankles.

One thing that I need help on: Humility

One thing I find most relaxing: Reading on the deck

One thing that could get me in trouble: Procrastination

One thing that annoys me: Being social for extend periods of time

One thing I dread; therefore, don’t do very often: Travel

One thing that I have learned, but still sometimes forget: Spanish. Ha.

(Borrowed and edited from the survey posted by older sister Briana.)

I love to see the...

...temple.

Yes, this is in honor of Stake Temple Week. 

Yes, I plan to attend the temple this week, come heck or high water.

Yes, I am in love with the SLC temple.

Yes, I absolutely know that the temple has blessed my life and will continue to do so eternally.

Yes, I can tell you more: temples.

(Yes, every sentence in this post contains the word "temple.")

Welcome World, part II

Hello Shams. I see you've visited lately. Thank you. 

And hello, Yuki! Love you and miss you! :)

And a warm welcome to everybody in the states, of course. It's just slightly more difficult to pick out each one of you, as you can probably tell. Welcome anyway!

Success!

You'd think that a family of all girls would really love shopping together, right? 

You'd be wrong. At least about us, you'd be wrong.

My family doesn't actually enjoy shopping at all, as a general rule. We only shop if we need to, and then we buy all our needs all at once. It's exhausting! And that's probably why none of us like it. But today was a good day for shopping. Check it out: 

1 backpack (Zumiez), 3 pair of jeans (Aeropostale and Shopko--who knew right?), and 1 cardi (Old Navy). All bought in the name of college, because I can never buy things in the name of fashion.


Today, I'd say, would be considered a win.

Please, hold your applause.

First off, I'm terribly sorry that the Wednesday Wordle didn't actually come on Wednesday. I sure tried, I assure you. By way of explanation: my computer had it's first ever crucial moment of difficulty and decided to freeze up for a few minutes at about 11:57. I did everything within my power to get that thing posted by midnight, but to no avail. Now I'm in the awkward situation of posting twice in one day. Apparently I fail at blogging. It's fine. 


Now that I've got that off my chest, let's talk about today. 


My friend, Madi, has this exchange student in town from España. His name is Miguel. We took him to BYU today to introduce him to all things Mormon. I believe we sufficiently covered missions, EFY (complete with local examples!), and the idea of large families. That last topic comes with a story.

(Setting: BYU Creamery on Ninth. Note: Please read Miguel with a legit Spanish accent.)

Miguel: Alyssa, um, how many...brothers, sisters...you have?

Lys: I have 4 sisters, and no brothers. It's grand. 

Miguel: Wow!! No brother? 4 sister?? Wow...how does, um, your father...feel about that?

Lys: Well, he doesn't actually mind it at all. He probably never saw it coming, but he enjoys it. He's always said, "I'm swimmin' in women!"

Miguel: Huh? "Swimmin' in women?" Means...?

Lys: *charades* Swimming...in...women, you know, like lots of girls.

Miguel: Oh I get it. *laughs* Funny, funny...

A few minutes later, Miguel notices the group sitting in the next table: 2 boys, 6 girls. 

Miguel: Hey, Alyssa, look! Those 2...swimmin' in women!

I consider the fact that this phrase has become a permanent part of Miguel's English vocabulary my biggest accomplishment for today.