My Cheeks Hurt From Smiling

I don't know what it is, but I am just so happy. It is getting to be a problem because my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Good things!
We had pie night last Saturday, it was a success. Lots of pie and friends came (i.e. Nick!!)! And then on Martin Luther King Jr. day I got to hang out with Karina May in Salt Lake City. That was a blast! True story, we saw Gilgal gardens and the planetarium and the museum of natural history and Temple Square and the Lion House. It was really fun, so fun.
And then later that night, I got to help out a friend with his homework. You know, anything for a friend. :)
Then we got to observe in a junior high all week. I enjoyed a heck of a lot more then I thought would. I even got to teach! About the Punic Wars! It was soo soo exciting. Like a real teacher. And at the end of this week, the teacher that I was observing told me that I would make a great teacher. I was so flattered. Hence, I couldn't stop smiling today. So flattered. It meant so much to me that she thought that. And we read Icelandic sagas today. Those are always exciting, no joke. So funny and interesting. And in my American Literature class, my teacher tried to remember my name. Now you might wonder why that is smile worthy, but this teacher is just so funny. He caught me waitin for my seat. It's my SEAT, ok? Ha, so the girl that was sitting there in the class before was packing up when I got there sooner than expected. So I didn't want to wait around cause that is AWKWARD. So I left the room for a sec. And ran into the teacher. Haha. That was kinda embarassing, cause I had to explain myself. Oh well. BUT I GOT MY SEAT! That is the point.
And my roommates are hilarious, which, you know, always helps.
Nay is pretty funny too.
It's just a happy week, I guess.

Is This Real Life?!

Sometimes I feel like how the title suggests. This semester is only in its second week and sometimes I wonder if it is really happening like it is. So a couple of my friends just recently got back from their missions. And I knew that they were going to be coming to BYU. And I worried unduly about reacquainting myself with them. Two years is a long time to not be in contact with someone. Well, I wrote them but one sided conversations aren't really fun. Anyways, I worried about what to talk about, what to do (to hug or not, that is the question..), if they even wanted to be friends again in the first place. I tend to worry a lot. Well, the VERY FIRST day of school as I was coming out of work, I ran into one of my friends. One that I worried about. At 7:30 a.m and it was still dark outside. Can you imagine, it just happened like that? Well, it did and we were able to talk and it was completely normal, thank goodness. One down, one more to go. So I emailed this other friend, inviting him to an activity me and my apt is throwing. I added my phone number to the end of the email in case he wanted to call/text.
So.
LAST NIGHT about an hour after I had gone to sleep I got a phone call. I don't know how in the world I heard it or how I was awake enough to say hello, but it was from this other friend! Can you believe it? I couldn't. In the first two weeks of school these things just happened and not in the way I had imagined but somehow they all worked out well. Like, who would have thought?Stuff like this only happens in convenient movies. I am used to having to work (and worry) a lot harder before things happen. Ha, so I am enjoying the relative laissez faire nature of my social life right now. I hope this continues. :)

I remember you. Do you remember me too?

Ah the start of school.

Reconnecting with old friends.

This weekend ROCKED.

Kind of epic, like this. ^ :D

Friday: The Gilliland sisters dropped in for a social call. They also refreshed my Dr. Quinn habit. They are some of the neatest girls that I know. They gave me this fantastic picture of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. I am glad that they know me so well.

Saturday: Karina May!! Here is one of my favorite people that I have met here at BYU. We watched a movie together, like old times. And talked for hours about everything, it seemed like. I love that, being able to talk to someone about anything and everything and the conversation doesn't have to follow rhyme or reason but just flows naturally. It was beautiful and it should happen frequently. ;)

Sunday: The boys of Apt 35! GAH!!! It has been WEEKS, I am telling you, since the last time I had seen these boys. They are like... I don't know, it is so hard to describe. But I am so glad that we are friends and that they understand that I need to see them every so often. I happened to be at another apartment who was hosting a game afternoon and I saw them walk by. I gasped and ran out there to welcome them in my apt. They are like older brothers, favorite cousins, the best home teachers, all rolled into one! We talked for like an hour. And it made my soul light and happy.

All in all, I hope weekends like this happend a lot, because I think that this is what is going to keep me going this semesters, is having awesome friends like this with me always. Frequently.

The Rundown.

Here is what my semester looks like thus far:
SC ED 276R. Translation? Intro to Secondary Education
* FOUR HOURS EVERYDAY. But it is a block. So maybe I will survive. We are starting to visit schools and actually see what happens. I am scared out of my pants. And I am nervous about getting a job. It is an interesting process, let me tell you.
Scand 430. Cultural History of Scandinavia
*BTW: Did you know that people who like in Scandinavian don't call themselves Scandinavians? Ya, it is a word that was first used by Pliny, a Roman historian. And Scandinavian is from 'skad': means dangerous and 'auia': means watery place. Some lazy scribe added the 'n's. Very Interesting, trust me.
Hist 332. Scandinavian History
*Professor Haslam is THE funniest old man on the planet. I was almost in tears during the whole 2 1/2 hrs of class. I did not expect it and I was pleasantly surprised. We saw old fashioned slides of Iceland. It is not the most breathtaking of places.
Engl 293. American Literary History
*Now this is the best of both worlds. I get to read amazing literature while studying american history. I like reading, but I DO NOT like taking apart a text. What rhyme scheme is this? Why did he use this word? What is the etymology of this word? Not really interested. Now what is more interesting is questions what historical events influenced the author to write this text? How did the book influence other events? Now that is interesting stuff! :D
Hist 346. History of Korea.
*This is a complete gamble. I have never ever learned about Eastern history. The teacher is a giant. With a voice to match. I am in awe of him. And he isn't old. For some strange reason I have an image of the Easter Island giant stone heads. It kinda makes sense.
Rel 324. Doctrine and Covenants.
*I finally have a religion class! I have missed class. So excited.
Apparently, I really like short complete sentences. Meh. 18 credits again so no surprise there. Once this block class is over, I will be swimming in time. Sort of. But that is what the weekend for, right? To party!
I got a Carl's Junior burger combo for the first time tonight. I had never been before. Which explains what happened tonight. Me and Nay drive up to the window and I hand the nice lady my card. She gives me my soda and my card back. The car in front of me parked just ahead in line, so I just assumed I should scoot forward too. The girl leans out the window and calls out worriedly "Don't you want your food?!!" Hahahahahha....I couldn't reverse cause there was someone behind me so I got out of my car, went up to the window and took the bag from the girl, walked back to my car in the middle of the drive-thru lane and drive off crying my eyes out because I was laughing so hard. Yah, I have my moments...
Like the time when I was helping the norwegian missionaries teach their lessons. They asked me a nice simple question, a yes or no question. I couldn't for the life of me think of "yes" in norwegian. I said yes (english), si (spanish), da (russian) and finally I got to the simple ja (norwegian). It took awhile. Fortunately, the missionaries are there to learn patience.
I got a super soft blanket for Christmas. Well, sort of for Christmas. My littlest sister got one and it was the softest thing in the world, seriously, I have never felt anything so soft. I kept stealing it. She did not appreciate it. So my grandma took me to the store and bought me one, after Christmas. I am so snuggly, I am like the softest thing in the world. And the best thing in Provo to hug. i.e. me in the blanket and someone hugging me. Like, the best experience ever!! Ha, anyways this should be the end of this somewhat random post...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

*happy sigh*
It is good to be back here in Provo. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and being home, but there is definately something special about coming back to your own place. All my stuff is here and in the right places. My job is here...not that I missed it...but you know, I am attached to the money part. School. It's tomorrow!!! I am so psyched!!! It is going to be so grand.
Another thing about being back in Provo. Believe it or not, I get more stuff done.
Time to be a go-getter again.
Yup. I am excited.
It was super good to see roomies again. I don't care if my new roommate is crazy (please, please, please no!) at least I have other roommates who I know love and care about me.
Anyways, on to the new year!