A Split Soul

Its begun. The long-awaited game between Utah and BYU is underway. But, what am I not there watching the two teams battle it out? Well, answer number one: I'm at work. Answer number two: I don't know who to cheer for.

Every year at this time I'm presented with the greatest moral dilemma. I've been raised all of my life as Ute fan. I remember going to a restaurant in San Diego when I was probably 8 with a bunch of other Ute fans, decked out in red to watch a Ute game. However we couldn't get the channel that the game was one - I remember saying a silent little prayer asking that we could get the needed channel to work. I remember making up Ute cheers with my Dad during basketball season. And I remember moving to Provo , the anti Utah capital of the world, proud of my Ute heritage.

Its not that I feel any less proud or connected to my Utah roots. I love seeing my aunts, uncles and cousins wearing Utah sweatshirts. I love going to Rice Eccles with my Dad to see a Utah football game after walking through the campus listening to my Dad tell me about his college days there ( I even like hearing him tell me about how greatly architected the buildings are).

But there have been some new developments in the past couple of years. Attending BYU has had certain effects on me. Now, I love hearing BYU's fight song (you know, "rise and shout, the cougars are out!"),the colors blue and white have grown on me quite a bit, and I get really defensive when people start trashing BYU. I love my school, its weird quirks and all. I wouldn't go anywhere else. I guess I'm a zoobie.

So, what do I do today? Luckily I'm not a huge sports fan so in reality, its not that important. And, in writing this blogs,I think I've come to the conclusion that its ok for me to be happy for whoever wins! I'm in good company too - there are lots of people with good, solid roots that have fond feelings for BYU too. I bet even Cecil will have a little smile in his heart if Utah wins.

Whew, I'm glad I've got all of this sorted out!

Thanksgiving Eve

Well, Thanksgiving is here and there's no school. I would know because I slept in until 11:30. Not a normal occurance for me but I woke up early with an earache and a sore throat (which I'm contemplating just taking some old, unused amoxicillin for instead of going to the doctor.) Anyway, thats my justification for sleeping so late.

But, apart from sleeping in, there is much more that I'm excited for this Thanksgiving break. I still have to work but that really doesn't bother me. For the most part things are pretty relaxed and there is this unspoken excitement in the air. And on Friday we're going to be listening to ... Christmas music!

What else will be going on during the break that I'm so excited for you ask? I shall tell you.
I'm excited to go up to Grandma Holts house! We're heading up early so we can help out in the kitchen and just "be there" for all the prep work. Then, I hope that when we're there we can watch the Macy's Day Parade, which, in all honesty, isn't that great but having it on means that Thanksgiving is here. My only question is: what will we do without Katie?

Also, I'm of course excited for the cuisine tomorrow. I'm especially excited for cranberry sauce, the first time I had it was a couple of weeks ago. All I can say is wow - I don't know what I was missing! The only sad thing about having cranberry sauce is finding out that (thanks to Biggest Looser) one cup of cranberry sauce has as many grams of sugar as six chocolate doughnuts. I swear, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Other food items I'm excited for include: warm pumpkin pie, yams, and mashed tatters.

Finally, the thing that I'm most excited for is spending an entire day with my family. I can't wait to see everyone tomorrow. A day at the Holts with G&G Holt, Ram's, Nan's and Marie's families is going to be awesome. Playing games, watching movies, gathering around the fire, maybe a little reading. Mmmm. Thats what I'm talking about.

I'm grateful for this fun week!

Who Am I? ... I'm Jean Valjean

I discovered this really amusing site that tells you all of the superficial things you'll ever need to know about yourself. If you've ever done the quizzes in seventeen you'll enjoy it. Here are somethings that I've been wondering about for quite a while (don't worry, not really):

You Are Most Like Scarlett Johansson

“One of the best things for a woman to hear is that she is sexy.”

What modern bombshell are you most like??

I also discovered that I'm only 36% weird, I should wear mauve lip gloss, I'm a "downtown girl", and apparently my famous celebrity kiss would be the upside down spiderman kiss. I don't know how I could have gone on without knowing these things about myself!

I'm It

I got tagged.
Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I hardly ever get to bed before 1:00 am.

2. One of my favorite movies is Titanic. Rose, Jack, and lets not forget Bill Pulman ( you know, the guy with the long hair and the earing who says, " Are you ready to go back to Titanic?") will always have a place in my heart.

3. I sleep with my teddy bear.

4. I was crowned "Miss Shalom" my last year of girls camp.

5. I get excited every night when I think about my oatmeal & brown sugar breakfast the next morning

6. I am the ward greeter

7. I think it would be really exciting to join the Peace Corps


I hearby tag:

Rachel
Becky
Cami
Marie
Meriel
Laurel
Kathy

note: please feel no obligation to follow through with the "tag". my sincerest apologies if you've already done something like this

Score

Last weekend I saw two, yes two, great flicks. For some reason, I always get excited for movies (hence my obsession for the apple trailers site) but then never get around to seeing them. Maybe its because the BYU population is constantly being encouraged to do activities to "get to know each other". I guess sitting quietly in a dark theater doesn't fall into that category.

Anyway, the movies I saw were good in there own different ways. Star Dust, although cheesy and unbelievable at times ( Claire Danes with a British accent? I don't think so), was surprisingly entertaining. If you're looking for a fun, quirky fairytale that makes you smile in the end, this one's for you. And, only a dollar. Perfect.

The other was Dan in Real Life. Even though in the movie I felt sad for Dan a lot of the time, Steve Carell's performance won me over. He may have some of the same idiosycracies in all of his characters, but who doesn't? What I love about him isn't just his ability to make us laugh. Its his ability to, in the important moments, make us feel what he feels. That takes talent.

Its one thing for an actor to be believable; there are lots of actors who are good enough to get the part and play it so the audience doesn't doubt them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that its easy. But, there is another level, a higher level, that only certain actors reach. Its when they draw the audience into their emotional state and let us experience their emotions with them. Its when you can really connect with them both in the happy moments and in the sad moments. Thats what I love about great acting and thats what I loved about Dan in Real life.

Wow. Does that even make sense? Sorry if it doesn't. Maybe it makes more sense when I say it outloud. Nevertheless, it was a great movie and a great performance by good ol' Steve. I definitely recommend it.

Contraband

Confession: I listened to Christmas music last night on Kozy 106.5 , and you know what? ... I loved it!

I can't wait for the holidays. Delicious food, "Lights on", Christmas trees, hot chocolate, sledding and sleepovers at Grandma Holts, Nat King Cole on Christmas morning, Tab choir Christmas music, the Nativity story, feeling warm inside, family. Ok. I have to stop, I'm just getting too excited!

Update

Who: Me
What: A quick update of my life
Why: Not a lot of time. I've been itching to write for over a week. I guess it just hasn't been in the cards.
Where: HBLL (Harold B. Lee Library, BYU campus)
Latest good news: I have "Tracy" (my maroon little Nissan) back. Thanks Dad!
Latest not-so-great news: They've put fake Christmas trees up all around Campus. I think the turkeys feel jipped.
Frustrating: Pants shopping. Curves come with a price.
Feel good/responsible moment(they don't happen very often): Staying home on Friday night to study
Song of the week: "Apologize" by Timbaland
Movie of the week: Stick It
Food of the week: Frozen Yoplait, split pea soup, and Dad's second round of doughnuts
Inspiration: Stake Conference
Goal of the week: "I'm trying to be like Jesus"