"In a phrase to cut these lips, I love you." Coheed and Cambria

There's something about you that I'm drawn to. You have a kind of melancholy understanding about you. Like a lost boy from Neverland. Like Tootles.

It's your eyes. There's a remarkably beautiful sadness in them. Like you're separated from life. The world is passing you by, and no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to reach it. Your fingertips brush the surface, and no one seems to notice the distance. I did.

I don't want to go to our ward thing tonight. Or I do, but I don't want to go play football, so I won't. I'll sing to the Sptifire Grill and then change and go up and eat some food. Whoo hoo. I'm reading Watership Down right now, hence the picture of the Black Rabbit of Inle.

I had a really really cool experience visiting teaching yesterday. I was alone, because Jenny's in Florida, but it turned out amazing. It's so cool that you can get revelation and give people what they need most of all. I had the coolest time with Jackie and we talked for more than an hour, and it was what we both needed. It was so cool. I'm singing in the Messiah choir too, and so rehearsals for that are always fun. It's really great music, and I feel so blessed that I get to sing it again. The first time I did so wasn't as fun. Last week I went to the Jazz Combos concert because Jenny sings in a jazz combo, and she was really good, besides the fact that the microphone wasn't working. So what we could hear of her was really good. And all of the combos were so good. It was so nice to be able to just sit back and not think about anything but the amazing talent that I was listening to and let the music move me. It was wonderful. I'm excited for Christmas Carol to open, and for everyone to come see it. It's going to be so cool. We're just waiting for the set to be done, so we can actually rehearse with it all. The whole show is just amazing, we have a great cast, the costumes are beautiful, the set is going to be spectacular. It's going to be great. I also can't wait for next semester, to get Crazy For You all together. The tapping is hard, but I'm learning and having so much fun doing so. Next semester's schedule is a little disappointing, but I'm not going to regret it. I finally get to take an English class, I'm taking second semester Russian, Book of Mormon, and Reader's Theatre, where we put on children's productions. But because of the way my schedule works out, I can't fit in any more GE, major, or theatre classes, so I'm taking two dance classes: beginning jazz, and beginning tap. I'll have a head start on that, but I'm excited. I haven't taken a dance class in about three years and I miss it. I want to take ballroom, but they all fill really fast, and I'm not so excited about the attitude that a lot of people have when they sign up that class, that you never know who you'll meet. Ugh. Oh well. It's a good schedule, not too hard but academically satisfying. I can't wait to start writing again. I've been thinking lately, and I think I want to go into editing. It's something I'm really good at, and I enjoy it. Like work for a publishing company or something. That would be great fun. I don't know if I'd like the reporting deal. We'll see. I have a little while. I'm going to audition for the House of Bernarda Alba next semester, and I'm thinking of auditioning for Comic Frenzy, and seeing how that might turn out. I don't know if I could handle all the load that I had this semester though. I'm so ready for Thanksgiving, you don't even know.

Eileen is going to curl my hair for my class tomorrow, because I have a scene for Song Interp that I'm going to be a cheerleader for. Isn't that exciting? I'm in two scenes, and one I'm a cheerleader, and the next I'm in I'm a white pregnant rapper. It's going to be amazing. I'm really excited. I like that class, except for the fact that Hyrum is getting really frustrated because we don't really know what to focus on, because we have to do our scenes, and it gets in the way of our learning the actual music for the show. I'm so excited for the show though, it's going to be so much fun. Yay for Follies. I really should go and get ready, everyone's in a rush to get the food ready and I'm sitting here doing nothing. So love to all, and I'll see you guys over Christmas break. All remember to thank your Heavenly Father for all that He has given you, and for the situations and blessings and challenges that He has the faith in you to give you. Shalom!

"Just so there's no confusion, in spirit prison there probably won't be pineapples." -Jeremy, Sunday School Instructor

Hello to the world! These images didn't upload in the order that I wanted them to, but I'm too tired and lazy to fix it. Aren't we so cute pregnant? I just woke up from a two and a half hour nap, and I'm regaining my strength so that I can go help set up for the banquet tonight. Banquet and ghost stories from this cool story telling guy! Whoo hoo! And I get in free because I'm in theatre council. Good deal. So the guy I just quoted just walked into our house. How strange. He's Jenny and Eileen's home teacher apparently, and I really like his sense of humor. It's very very dry and sarcastic, so you can't really tell if he's being serious or not. I think it's raining.

This is currently my profile picture on Facebook. I know, I started a Facebook. But I deleted my myspace account because I hated it. Facebook is a little better. This was the crazy hair night, but it settled down a little. I like wearing the little poncho. I have the most amazing story to tell you! This is a ransom note that we got last night from our dear friend Brett. I'll include the scriptural references.
As you may have noticed, a certain prized possession of yours has gone missing. This is a mere retaliation. You have been mercilessly holding a certain valued piece of china hostage for nearly 2 months. Our people will no longer stand by actionless. We demand a prisoner trade, but that will not be enough. We simply demand an increase to make up for the time that we have spent lacking. The dishware must needs be returned in a similar state in which it arrived, full. You must realize that we bear you no malice. Our intent is only that justice be served. Your possession will be returned only AFTER receipt of the china plus a full restitution for emotional damages. Alma 60:6, 35 and 36 (but not the first sentence)
"And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state."
"And behold, if you will not do this I come unto you speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must needs be by the sword. Now see that ye fulfill the word of God.
I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country."

This is us in our sexy pose. Vaughn pointed out to me that I look like a Japanese anime character, and I find that I cannot disagree. But is that not BRILLIANT? It was the most amazing ransom note I've ever received. Liz is working hard on a very good response, which we will give with the desired dishware with a tower of rice krispies on it. Along with an invitation to join me and Jenny and Brad on a double date. What fun.

This is Garett being extremely attractive in The Jacket. I tell you, it does something to you. But I just realized that I have to go help with the banquet now, and since I have to walk all the way up to the Hinckley (I was going to describe it as "freakin," but that just seems wrong right next to the word Hinckely), I should probably go. I hope you enjoy these pictures and I hope your lives are going well, as mine generally is. Love to all! Shalom

Oh yeah, and this is us being the Hawmps Hookers. Well, mainly me, showing a bit of leg there. You know you'd pick us up.

"I was going to go to bed early tonight until we decided to get pregnant." -Shanelle Baxter

That statement is not to be taken literally. So this is what we did one Monday night when we were quite bored. Jenny put the squishy in her shirt and she looked absolutely amazing! We walked over to Davey and Brad's to see if Davey was home but only Garret and Brad and this random girl (it was a little awkward) were over. It was funny though because we all walked in holding hands and leading Jenny along. But then we took pictures (which was hard because we were laughing so hard) and then we all decided to get pregnant! So Nelli and I put stars in our shirts (which was also difficult because we had to tie down the little star arms) and started wandering around looking for someone to show our tummies to. Of course, the night that we do something totally crazy is the one night that no one came over. So we tried to think of people that we could go visit and got the amazing idea to go over to Curtis', because he's the sort of person who would totally go along with it. So we waddled over to his apartment and on the way we had a strange encounter with a young man walking down the street. He asked us when we were due and we said around the end of October, about Halloween. He laughed and said "Oh, I'm a little flustered," crossed the street, and started playing the harmonica. How delightful. Upon reaching Curtis' apartment, we found that the only person was home was a roommate that we didn't know. The following conversation ensued.

Us: Hey, is Curtis home?
Roommate: Um, no.
Us: Because he scheduled a yoga session with us at ten tonight.
Roommate (nervous laughter): Curtis doesn't teach yoga!
Us: Well, I mean, since it's with pregnant women, he might be a little embarrassed about it and not like to talk about it.
Roommate (completely didn't believe that we even knew Curtis): Sure. How do you guys know Curtis?
Us: He's our yoga instructor! And he did make up on Jenny for his class.
Roommate: Well, I know he is in a makeup class. Here, I'll call his cell.
awkward silence where Roommate leaves a message on Curtis' phone
Roommate: He's not answering his phone.
Us: Oh wait, he's at rehearsal! How could he schedule a yoga session when he has rehearsal! How inconsiderate! We should go talk to him about it!
So we left, leaving Roommate to doubt our pregnancy. How rude. But really funny. So we went and found Curtis and he came out of rehearsal and died laughing, but as we expected, he went along with it and apologized profusely for missing our appointment. Liz came out too and we made her night, fortunately. She thought it was incredible.
After leaving the Kirkham, we wandered around campus for a while, talking loudly about weird cravings and how many children we've had. Oh, and side note: during our adventures we made sure to get weddings rings and display them wherever we went. We managed to get together with Tim and Curt (different Curt) and Garret, and revealed that they were Curt's children. All of them. As we were all Curt's wives. He was a little weirded out by that, but soon went along with it. What fun guys we have across the street. We ended up going back to Curtis' to schedule another appointment, and he was actually there that time. But Roommate (bless his gullible heart) said to us, "Hey, I'm really sorry for not thinking that you guys were actually pregnant." We did nothing to enlighten him, but I think they got it after us girls and Curtis talked for a while. But then right before we left, Curtis calls out, "So call my secretary, we'll reschedule. I think we'll start with some basics, like breathing exercises and basic postions," and Roommate (same one!) says "Wait, you really do yoga?" I think he got it when we just laughed at him. Poor guy. But I think that was pretty much our evening, except that we all sat around being pregnant for quite some time, just because we could.

So I just had an amazing fabulous reality. I also have many other stories to tell, including the one where we had the amazing lightsaber war that lasted more than an hour, which included blood and many bruises, but that will have to be for another time when I can get the pictures from Jenny. But back to the fabulous reality. Liz and Kyra and I were all sitting on the couch on the porch when Kyra realized that it was curfew so she went to leave. As she was walking down the sidewalk a random guy comes up to her and says, "Hey, where are you going?" She replied that she was going home, and he answered with, "Well, what am I supposed to do then?" She said that he could go make out/cuddle with us on the porch, and he said OK, and walked up the steps and wrapped his arms around us. After asking our names, he continued to embrace us and informed us that his name was Tad and he was from Arizona. Then when our RA came and told him that it was curfew and that he would have to go home, he adopted this weird accent and talked about "where he was from" and how the rules were different there. Then he just walked away. How strange and amazing. I also bounced for Comic Frenzy tonight and that was so much fun. There are a lot of new people but it's still hilarious. What fun.

I was just going to tell one more story, but I completely blanked and forgot what it was. Oh yeah! Last night Liz, Nelli, Jenny and I stayed up till 3 in the morning reading balderdash cards and laughing at what they said. We found the HAWMPS! one and the one with dunkle (orginal HAWMPS! jokes) and so we placed them up on our shrine, which currently consists of: three railroad spikes, one small collection of little BMW bugs, one Santa Barbara candle, one Mr. Potato Head, one stuffed bunny, one broken (alas! but that's another story) Sting, and one Garret's lightsaber. What fun. But we discovered fun words like "whisterpoop" and I finally found out what a hodad really is. It was amazing. And now before I repeat the same thing, I think I'll leave you all to your fun and games and head for bed. I love and miss you all and I hope that your lives are going well. Love to all! Shalom!

Alas, the legend of "Crikey! Look at the size o' that one!" is no more.

I want to dedicate this blog to Steve Irwin, the ever-famous Crocodile Hunter, who died yesterday at the barb of a sting ray. His khaki, risk-ready form will forever be in our hearts.

How sad. But at least he didn't die in a car accident or something. At least he gave his life to the wild...or something like that.
Well, I'm here in beautiful Rexburg, I just got back from my two classes of Tuesday, ready to eat lunch, go to the Devotional and take a nap! I stayed up till one last night, talking with roomies and eating ice cream. It was good times. But I had geology (Natural Disasters) and Russian today, and when I found out that I needed textbooks for Russian, I went to the Bookstore and spent another $127! What fun. I will sure be glad when I can return that one book and get money back for it on Thursday. Liz and I are going to the Rockapella concert on Friday, that's pretty cool. Um, I think some of the bishopric is coming over tonight. Maybe we should make cookies or something.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I tried out for Vocal Union yesterday, and my audition went pretty well. The song that she had to read rhythm from is one that I knew, and was singing just that morning. I told her that. The song went well, but she didn't check my range or anything so I don't know if I'm going to be called back. Which wouldn't really be bad, because here's the thing. If I don't make call-backs, that's all fine and dandy, I'll just concentrate on my Spitfire audition and do that. If I DO get called back, then I have to go tomorrow from 3-5 and then my Spitfire audition at 7. If I do well on Spitfire auditions AND Vocal Union call-backs, then I would much rather do that, because if I stayed in Vocal Union, it completely conflicts with all of the theatre plans I had, and I would much rather be involved in theatre than this choir. So we'll see how it goes.

I'm actually going to go because I am quite hungry, but I love you all and I'll try to post more often so you know what's going on in my life. Love to all! Shalom

"You would not call a man humane for ceasing to set mousetraps if he did so because he believed there were no mice in the house."

I have no real commentary on my life right now. I just wanted to share some excerpts from one of my favorites books. These passages are so insightful and so interesting that I wanted others to know about them. Please enjoy!

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Note from "What Lies Behind the Law"
One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences. When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere mechanical dance of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great mysterious Force rolling on through the centuries and carrying you on its crest. If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the Life-Force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children. The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of the cost. Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?

From "We Have Cause to be Uneasy"
All I am doing is to ask people to face the facts-to understand the questions which Christianity claims to answer. And they are very terrifying facts. I wish it were possible to say something more agreeable. But I must say what I think true. Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run, a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I have been describing, and it is no use at all trying to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay. In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth-only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with, and, in the end, despair. Most of us have got over the pre-war wishful thinking about international politics. It is time we did the same about religion.

My favorite analogy, actually found in the Preface
I hope no reader will suppose that "mere" Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions-as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be)is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and paneling. In plain language, the question should never be: "Do I like that kind of service" but "Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?"
When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house.

I hope I gave you a bit of a thought-provoking moment, and I hope that we can all be kind to one another, even if we don't believe the same thing. Shalom to all the world.

"Something is a-happening behind my face." ~Chico Marx, The Big Store

I just wanted to share the glorious stories that we have created using that wonderful and hilarious game, Mad Libs. Here are our favorites. You can guess which works were substituted.

We decided that if you go to hell, this is what you're going to have to be doing for eternity. You can try it if you want.
How to do that new dance, the Monstrosity
Here's how you do the Monstrosity. Stand with your feet together. Now stamp your right foot 206 times and put your hands on your partner's pinkies. Next, you both skip slowly to the right and bend your clavicles backward. For the next eight counts, both of you meander harshly to the left. Next, you and your partner stand back to back and wiggle your chimney stacks and slap your whips together. Don't forget to keep stamping your right foot. Now, face your partner again, put your fudgesicles together and shout, "spork!" Now, leap backward and repeat the whole thing 3 billion times. If you feel that you can't learn this dance, you can always secrete the next one out.

Everyone should try this. Who needs sheep? I was trying to read it aloud and after "breathe knowingly" I could barely control myself. I think this is my favorite. I could barely breathe from laughing.
How to go to Sleep
If you have trouble falling asleep, you probably have a naked mind. You must learn to relax so that you will have a perturbed mind instead. First, drink a cup of hot shampoo and stretch out on a wispy bed in a harmful position. Then, breathe knowingly and think about something beautiful, such as stubby noodles. Do not think of your frumpy enemies or entertain any other sparkly thoughts. Concentrate on something restful, such as snorkels, which will make your castanet more relaxed, or count imaginary clams jumping over a lugie. Follow these overbearing rules and you will fall into a hoity-toity sleep the minute your bicuspid hits the pillow.

And last but not least, it's eerie how some of these work out. Just picturing some of those weapons made us lose it entirely.
Army Information
If you plan on joining the army, here are some hilarious hints that will help you became a crystal soldier. The army is made up of officers, non-coms, and hedgehogs. You can recognize an officer by the nuclear weapons on his shoulders and the crankshaft on his cap. When you address an officer, always say "quilting bee" and salute grouchily. If you get a putrid haircut, keep your everlasting gobstoppers shined, and see that your doe is clean at all times, you will be a credit to the slogan, "the Army builds scabs." And at roll call, when the fuscia sergeant calls your name, shout "Phooey!" loud and clear. Also, become familiar with basic weapons such as the thirty-calibre rotting meat and the automatic udder. Follow this advice and in no time you'll win the Indulgent Conduct Buoy.

I hope I at least helped crack a smile. Love to all! Shalom

Enjoy each day to the fullest, because in the grand scheme of things, most of the time you're dead.