Europe

In case you're interested, from May 12- June 13th 2011, this is where you will find me....

I got accepted to BYU's Art History Study Abroad. I can't contain my excitement. Its always been my dream to go to Europe, and now its finally happening! And heck yes... of coarse I will be going to Euro Disney... I knew that working at WDW would really come in handy some day! Looks like dreamcations can come true after all.

Holla back for Awesome Professors yo!!!!

My professors have been in a really good mood lately, gotta love it while it lasts.

This is an excerpt from my Geography of U.S. and Canada class discussion today

" I've always said that B's are for balance. If I balance a job, dating life, church callings, and schoolwork at the same time then I will get a B in a class. Where as those students who get A's... well they're not married for one thing! They don't date, don't have a job, or read their scriptures. B people do." - my professor

Maybe next time I get a B, I won't cry about it to my family over the phone. (which has been known to happen in the past). After all B is for Balanced.

Ps. On a major side note, everyone should know that I had run ins with two local celebrities this week... Carole Mikita and Provo's very own B Money$ Be jealous!

The JKB

The JKB also known as the Jesse Knight Building, seems to be the place where reviews for all of my classes are held, but there is just one problem… the rooms are impossible to find! There are so many staircases and ramps that leave you wondering what floor you’ve actually been led to. It is BYU’s very own labyrinth. I can’t help but look like an idiot in this building; walking in what I think is the right direction only to turn around mid stride and realize I’m headed the wrong way. So naturally I avoid this building, and the embarrassment it brings me, at all costs. You should too if you know what’s good for you.

Beginners Guide to Dating in P Town

So in case you didn't know... Provo is statistically one of the top dating towns in America. (did you know that 60% of statistics are made up on the spot? go figure) There is a science to this so called "P Town" dating. Its more complicated than you might think, and it goes a little something like this...

1. The meet cute. When two people meet for the first time and find some common ground/interest. If the boy is interested we move to step 2.

2. Guy calls girl and and asks her for a group/double date on the weekend. There is some minimal mid week texting involved until they go on the date. Then of course there is the always forever awkward post date hug. Which leads to the next step...

3. The PDT. PDT= Post Date Text (creatively acronymed by my awesome roommate Liz). If the guy really likes the girl he'll text her as soon as the date is over. He'll usually say something like... I had a great time! Thanks! You looked really pretty tonight.... ( multiple girls have gotten this exact same text which shows its a universal male PDT)... which I always find interesting since they were the one who paid for me and I should be thanking them but whatevs I guess. Oh and ps. if you thought I looked pretty you should've told me in person you would've scored big time brownie points! And made the girl blush to boot. If the girl really likes the guy she'll beat him to the PDT. And if she isn't into the guy she probably won't even send one. But don't worry fellas, she may just be unaware of the PDT, so don't loose all hope. For all of you who dated before texting was a big thing, you're probably thinking this sounds ridiculous... but no this is really just how it is.

4. If both parties are interested they'll get together for a small date (aka a walk, frozen yogurt run, study sesh in the library, or walk home from campus together) mid-week relatively soon after their date.

5. Then this will lead to date #2. Possibly a single date or another group date. If date number two goes well, more texting, library time, and movie watching is done... yada yada yada you know where I'm going with this.

These beginning stages are exactly the same every stinking time. I am the first person to say that I hate texting. Boys and girls lets just be adults and call one another! It is so much easier and there is no confusion ( just youtube "boys will be girls" and "boys will be girls: girls night out" and you'll know what I'm talking about- hilarious stuff). Boys let girls know what the plan is. Girls do not like surprise activities on dates! We need to plan our shoes accordingly yo.

So what if you want to get out of this five step process smoothly but the person is just not getting the message. You can't! The girl or guy who wants to escape will inevitably end up being a jerk trying to get out of it. Guys always tell me that they would appreciate a girl who would say to them "thanks but I'm just not interested" so that they don't keep wasting their time or money. But we all know that no one wants to hear "thanks but I'm not interested". haha My sweet mom makes me laugh so hard. She told me the other day that she once said that same sort of thing very kindly to a guy in college. And what did he do? He went home and told all of his roommates what a jerk she was and word spread like wildfire. She never told a guy she wasn't interested again.

So basically since hardly anyone says it like it is anymore. Here's how you tell if someone is not interested

- They let voicemail answer your phone calls.

- Don't respond to your texts until hrs later

- Keep saying no to dates without giving alternate times/days

- Avoid you in places where you usually see one another.

If someone likes you, they'll be all up in your facebook, texts, move their schedule around to make time for you, and seek you out to talk to you in a public setting.

If this ain't happinen then "it" ain't happinen.

Just tellin it like it is as always

College

So a lot of the time I wonder what I am really doing in college. In most of my classes I feel that I learn nothing, am given endless amounts of reading, ridiculous finals, and take dinky attendance quizzes that fill in the gaps.

Today, however, for the first time in 2 years I had a profound moment. I have this amazing professor who actually knows how to hold the attention of the class. Besides the fact that he doesn't use boring power points, utilize blackboard whatsoever, or give any tests/finals he still manges to keep the attendance and attention of his students. We come to class having read the text we discuss it for two or three days then take a simple 10 question quiz and the conglomerate quiz scores comprise our grade. Isn't that what school should be? I feel like it has gotten so technical lately that many teachers can't even function with out a power point.

Back to my profound moment.

We were having a discussion on urban vs. rural areas and folk vs. pop societies. My professor told us to imagine that we'd broken both of our legs and we are lying in the hospital bed. He asked us (without posting in a facebook status that you'd just broke both your legs or sending endless texts to multiple people) you how many people would know that this happened to you? How many people would actually stop what they were doing to come and see you in the hospital?

The interesting part of our discussion is that besides family, not many people would come. We live in such a removed society that people wouldn't even be aware for quite some time as to what happened to you, and if they did know most likely they'd give their schedule the priority and wouldn't want to take the 20 minute drive to the hospital just to visit you. Sure a person may have 700+ facebook friends but what does that even mean? Is it a competition of who knows the most people. In urban societies we have more relationships but less attachment. People who live in pop culture societies tend to feel lonely a lot because while they may have all the facebook friends in the world... how many of their so called "friends" truly care for them.

We compared this scenario to a rural environment. If you broke both your legs your whole town would know. Everyone including your teacher and their dog would be visiting you in the hospital.

So here comes my profound realization. I hate our modern technology and how it has distanced us from what really matters. I can't stand it when people are glued to their iphones 24/7. Like they can't go 5 minutes sitting/waiting in silence just pondering, soaking in their environment, or actually holding a real conversation with a real person.

Facebook, has its good and bad sides but I know it has altered the way that I interact with people for the worse. I hardly ever call my old friends from high school because its just easier to facebook them. I also feel like there is quite the competition to see who has the busiest schedule, and not just necessarily on facebook. I used to feel that if every moment wasn't filled with some sort of scheduled activity or plan I was wasting time. Or that if I sat in my apartment for even two hours with nothing to do I was missing out on some huge party. Whatever happened to free time? We even schedule our fun now, sometimes even weekends in advance. For a long time now I have never felt pressure to have pre-made plans for the weekend. Whatever happens happens. I get annoyed with people who are always looking for a party or the next best thing. Just be happy with where you are and make your own party. My wise sister Katherine taught me that long ago, and I think we have way more fun than those people who drive and hop around to different parties looking for their so called version of a good time. Lame! Lame! Lame!

I'd always thought that I wanted to live in a large city someday but I think I'm changing my mind. We are here on earth for a reason... to experience it! Not live vicariously through electronic devices and search for the next best thing. Maybe living out in the middle of nowhere isn't as bad as it seems. Everything is so much simpler there. Am I the only technophobe that blogs? haha Probably.

Wow, this may be one of my longest rants ever.... sorry :) Peace & Blessings ya'll

This is right about how I feel right now....

STRESS. It is something that I do not handle well, as witnessed by my parents this evening. I think they now know the cause of my heart palpitations that sent me to the ER this fall. I don't like stressful situations and I HATE confrontations. Both of which I was forced to face this evening. I wanted something so badly earlier this spring, and once I got it... it turned out to not be what I expected in the slightest. I don't like letting people down, which is the hardest thing for me to get over, but I know that I will be much happier in the end. I wonder if I will be able to get any sleep at all over this whole situation... and it doesn't help that my first day of classes start at an entirely new school tomorrow! ahhh first day jitters....but looking at that cat above makes a lot of things better

Shoe Me Life

I have many theries about life but my shoe theory is one of my favorites! I believe that if you were to walk around all day only looking at peoples feet you would find that attractive footwear=attractive person. A good dresser is a wonderful thing that is much appreciated and if you have good taste in shoes then the rest of your look will naturally be put together as well.

I'm not saying that I've always had good taste in shoes... everyone makes mistakes right? The basis of the philosophy is as follows...

I love to walk around BYU's campus and looking at guy's feet before looking at thier face. I've become pretty good at finding a shoe and stereotyping the face and personality that goes along with it.

For example... a guy wearing running shoes is most likely wearing simple jeans with a logo sweatshirt, "running" shoes have thier name for a reason, come on now. However, these are probably the nicest and smartest guys on campus.

A guy wearing vans is most likely wearing a plaid shirt or polo paired with a well fitted jean; don't forget the square framed glasses. Sometimes artsy sometimes not, they usually have quite good hair...he's got style, he knows it, but unfortunately thats not a desirable duo.

A guy wearing rectangular long dress shoes is likely to be wearing snug Beatles pants with a preppy sweater or a nice business shirt with a dashing belt. He also doesn't use a back pack, a shoulder bag is more suited to fashion needs. These guys, while they may be overdressed--- I hate to admit... look real fine.

A guy wearing tivas or chacos is a back to nature, tanned arm and leg, rock climbing, guy who most likely has an awesomely technical backpack and an even more high tech water bottle; and from previous experience- these people are really high energy and fun to be friends with. So don't be hate'n on the tivas. Ya hear?

Guys who wear neon high top nike dunks usually have very bold personalities and are ballers. You know, they've developed thier own strut and are all thug-like with thier hoodie shading thier brow and one hand in their pant pocket. I secretly aspire to be like that... which is why my good friend Liz took about 100 pics of me trying to be thug- unfortunately as you can see below...it didn't work out. I guess I'll stick with my mary janes, pearls, and apron which I'm perfectly content with.Take the shoe philosophy for a test drive sometime.

Finals

This week I have...eh.. how you say? - not been myself. Skipped three classes. Did no homework. Watched movies every night of the week instead of writing my 2 eight page papers. Didn't go running... at all. Can you say I lack motivation? At least I'm responsible enough to make it to work. However I did do some math today and discovered I only have one more fall and winter semester to trudge through until I graduate next spring! Can you believe it? Done with school forever? Hallelujah for that! Over and out.

It's Library Time

(Meant to be sung to the tune of "Its Business Time") Its Libraaary.... Its Library Tii- ime! Like I've mentioned before, the fifth floor is purely a social club. I've kept my distance from this awful place for about two weeks now, today was my first return. Mistake? Affirmative. As I sat down at an empty table I was soon en-swarmed by three males... all friends.. all really noisy = highly disruptive and annoying. Not five minutes ago they proceeded to steal a girls cell phone off another table while she was in the bathroom and hid it in the ceiling. When she returned they proceeded to call her number numerous times while it was buzzing and her annoying ringtone kept going off through the ceiling. This continued for a solid five minutes until she finally discovered where it was coming from. I know it sounds like April Fools, but this is only typical for 5th realm. They really are that annoying.... until next library moment

Its Library Time...

I love life... and I'm pretty sure that life loves me because the hilarious things always choose to happen to me. This beautiful red sweatshirt is identical to the one I am wearing right now. I love it! So simple... reminds me of the 90s...Barney's Christmas....no hood to get in the way..... extremely comfortable. I thought I was the only one who wore these anymore but APPARANTLY NOT as a boy just walked into the library wearing this exact same red sweatshirt as the one I am wearing right now. I literally laughed out loud as I saw him...I don't know which is worse, that I was wearing the same thing as this guy or that this guy was wearing the same thing as a girl.

On a new topic... I was thinking about how much I love free samples and thought they they needed to be highlighted on my blog! I love Costco more than some mothers love their children. I'm there at least twice a week. Doing what you might ask? Filling my car with inexpensive gas, buying my weekly dosage of fruit and veggies, ( which can I say that I've started buying mangos and am simply addicted to them... I've already eaten two today... so sue me), scoping out the newest clothing selections, and of coarse SAMPLING!!!!! I love free samples. I lived off of them for eight months while I was in Florida. I am the Queen of free food... If something is free I most likely know about it. Just this week I ate at Tucanos with a free coupon, that is what I call a good deal! I really think that with all my visits combined I have nearly sampled almost every product at Costco... Does Sam's Club have samples... if so I need to hit that up too. I don't abuse the system, samples are there for the customers and if I make the effort to go than I deserve a sample. Free lunch at Costco the Abby way.

Sesame Street Blues

I don't quite know how this happened, but as I was standing at work (not 10 minutes ago) I suddenly realized... What am I wearing? I litterally look like I belong on Sesame Street today. I have my Ernie shoes on (that always make me feel like a cartoon character), bright play dough colors, and a bow in my hair to top it off. It's quite commical I'll admit... but the worst part is I'll be stuck in my Sesame get up for the rest of the day.... so to all the folks who'll see... I hope you enjoy

Time for an Awkward Moment

Shout Out to BYU!!! A university like none other.... Awkward BYU shoutout awarded to guy in the wilk praying over his taco and in the square dancing in tight white pants to "shake your groove thing" In case anyone wants to witness this for themselves he is out there on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 1pm!!! Way to go white spandex boy!

As if my life isn't already a conglomerate of awkward situations, I experienced a truly blog worthy encounter last night. So as of late my life hasn't been anything but hectic...(except for the two hours I wasted yesterday watching a two hour true hollywood story of the entire full house cast, which I actually considered to be quite educational)... anyways...

I was running from one class to a review for my marketing class yesterday and I was late walking in so I conveniently slipped into a seat on the back row as I have anxiety about walking down stairs in front of large groups of people. I sat down and asked the random guy next me a random question about what the TA just said. It was merely a "question seeking an answer" type of question... I think he mistook it as a "hey i want to get to know you so I'm going to ask you a question to start conversation... type of question. Needless to say for the rest of the review he continued to talk to me and tell me stories about things I didn't care to hear at all...I came to review for the test not have creepy older guys pick up on me... And to sum it all up he awkwardly and out of nowhere asks for my number and if he could take me out sometime...
Many problems with this senario
#1. Anyone who asks you out after two minutes of talking to you is mearly only attracted to you superficially...I CLEARLY I'm not attracted to him.
#2. I did not give any signs of interest toward this person... In fact I was quite rude. I believe when he asked for my number I said "ummmmmmmm...... sure"
#3. He has no idea of what kind of person I am, I could be one of those people who wander around campus and the HFAC singing opera and showtunes.
#4. He surely made it a point to get my first and last name...information I deeply regret giving out.
#5. He quite creeplily somehow found where I was in class this morning and decided to sit next to me, as I sat cringing and avoiding eye contact the entire class.
#6. The best part of this is that I don't remember his name or really what he even looks like at this point... maybe that can work to my advantage.

So if anyone wants to be my boyfriend in Marketing at 8 am on tuesdays and thursdays or knows any good body gaurds to protect me from my new stalker... I'd appreciate it.

An Interesting Place

There is really no other place on earth like BYU.... how can I emphasize this... (WARNING!!!! This blog post will be very cynical as I am in one of those moods!!!) So currently I am sitting in the library. Libraries are supposed to be quiet are they not? No... not here on the fifth floor where the students have about as much interest in their studies as they do in helping the homeless or disabled; which = none.

I am supposed to be writing an essay that is due tomorrow but this post just could not wait. I am currently seated next to some of the most obnoxious persons that the library may have ever come in contact with.... lets just call them Sweet Bro and Sweet Girl, because that is exactly what they are. I know anyone who reads this blog already knows the infamous definition of a guy who can coin the name "Sweet Bro" but "Sweet Girl" is a new term, and something that I really can't fully express my frustration with. Sweet Girls wear designer jeans...ALWAYS...Sweet Girls are from California... Sweet Girls wear odd fashions that they think are in style but really.... are they? Sweet Girls only wear brand names.... Sweet Girls talk with Valley Girl accents....Sweet Girls try to fake a Bohemian layed back style of dress but you know that "Sweet Girl" took at least an hour and a half to get ready in the morning and will change her outfit approximately three time throughout the day just for good measure. Most of the "Sweet Bros" and "Sweet Girls" live at Alpine Village. The two characters sitting next to me fit these exact descriptions.

Sweet Bro at my table is currently chonking on his fresh stick of minty gum like a 10 yr old little girl would, and has been continuing to brag for the past hour about how Kristen Bell came to his cabin in Park City this weekend. The "Sweet Girls" at the table continue to ask him about it and are receiving texts from friends saying "OMG I can't believe you met Kristen Bell!!!!!" He is presently showing one of the girls a pic of Kristen Bell he has on his phone with her.

As I look around the room I notice that the 5th floor of the library is filled with this stereo type of people because people at every table are talking "loudly" to one another. The fifth floor is literally like a club. Everyone walks in and already knows each other. "sup bro?" "hey man!" "love you long time" "duuuuddddddeeee" are just the common phrases that I simply refuse to hear anymore!!!

I would readily venture elsewhere but it wouldn't be the first time I've gotten lost in the library! I must say I feel much better venting.... hold that thought... just as I wrote that someone's cell phone went off... I don't think I even need to mention what the ring tone was... If you can think of the most annoying song in the world it will probably fit the bill. I really need to find a new place to study!

BaCk iN tHe SwinG of ThIngS

The beginning of a new year means the beginning of a new semester. I don't do well with change and its alot to handle right now... new apartment, new roommates, new ward, new classes, training for a half marathon, living on an opposite side of provo.... it will take some getting used to.

So much change that I have become very spaztic and forgetful.... for example I only discovered last night that I have no toothpaste at my own apartment.... definitly an essential i would think... and also my new apartment doesn't have any paper towels or napkins (which i need to buy but haven't found the time) which would have come in handy in many situtations yesterday.... like when i was unpacking and realized that my bottle of maple syrup had opened and drenched everything in the same bag as it with maple goodness, or when our garbage dropped gross green goop all over the floor (it honestly looked like toxic hazardass waist), or when my oatmeal overflowed in the micro wave this morning! Has anyone ever had that happen? It drives me crazy when it overflows!!!! ah..... I have never realized how gratefull I am for paper towels.... two gold stars for them.

So far classes have proved to be commical as well. Wanna know what class requires 8 text books, a 10-15 page paper and three tests?....... History of Tourism!!!!!! Come on, that is supposed to be a sleeper class right? New Testement is actually going to be good I can already tell. My professor lived in Jerusalem for five years and he's already talked alot about the sights and history so I'll probably learn alot about it before I go to Israel in May! My Leisure in Comtemporary Society class is just as it sounds... a real bore, its two and a half hours and all we did was watch youtube videos.... easy peasy.

Did I also mention that my new apartment has a beach theme... pictures of paridise and the ocean everywhere!!!!! It makes it even harder to to live in this slurpy!!! (Anyone who has seen Meet the Deedles will appreciate that comment) I was already in warm sunny florida this time last year.... I was not made for snow and cold weather...period The only thing I am looking forward to throughout the remainder of this awful winter is the olympics!!!!! Too bad my dreams of becoming a professional figure skater were crushed over the break as witnessed by my family... so uh hey mom and dad how about those private lessons I've been asking for since I was six. Lesson #1 learn how to stand up on ice with skates on

Back to the Mundane....

So I guess finals made my life a little hectic this week... (a little is a grave understatement) I guess I learned this semester that you can't slack off for three months and try to learn everything in a week.... the end result is not rewarding or enjoyable to say the least... its so unlike me to procrastinate and not care about grades, but I can't explain a lot of a lot of my behavior lately... for example.... For about the past two weeks I have had ipod dance parties by myself in my room... (depressing? strange? what the?... these are all valid questions) my last dance escapade lasted until 2 am. Don't even ask me how that happened!!!!!! I really think I am going insane. I also can't explain why I've been feeling sympathy lately towards our apartment building's ferrel cat AND when ever anyone says anything I seem to turn it into a thats what she said..... Ahhhhh

But now that Christmas Break is here I am back to the same old same old. No more tests, no work, and hopefully no more late night dance parties!!!! I wonder if my roommates wonder what all the ruckus is in my room?

What's going on here???

I don't know what is wrong with me... for three weeks I've been having quickened heartbeats and for the past two days I haven't been able to breath or take deep breaths. Yesterday I went to the ER, if you know me you know I don't do hospitals, until 24 hours ago I never had to have my blood taken. It wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be so I guess that's a plus. But after being in a germ infested hospital for three hours they said they couldn't find anything wrong with me... yet I still feel horrible like a huge textbook is on my chest preventing me from breathing. Today in my living prophets class I couldn't even make it through the opening hymn I was so out of breath. Every time I watch the news someone new has died from swine flu, while I don't have the flu bug I somehow feel that I am next... :( I am freaking myself out... It may be anxiety attacks but I don't have anything to be anxious about and this anxiety attack is lasting almost a whopping 48 hours!!!! All you doctors who are reading this please diagnose me!

Feral Cats, Overalls, and Whistlers

Why is it that every apartment complex I've lived in has been infested with feral cats? I have always been afraid of cats (this isn't a joke). Ever since i saw my cousin get nearly scratched to death by my grandma's scary cat... things just haven't been the same. These cats like to sleep under the stairwells and in the parking garages of every complex I've lived in and scare the living daylights out of me. Yet what puzzles me the most is who is the girl who leaves out the open cans of cat food by the stairwell to lure the cats even closer! College students barely have enough food to feed themselves let alone wild felines! Ugh... on to my next item of business. This week a very strange thing happened while on BYU campus... I saw two, yes two, grown men wearing overalls in the same day. A rare sight, I felt like a was missing out on something...I still haven't figured it out yet. Now onto my last item... Anyone who knows me knows that I do not do well with people who whistle to themselves in public. Lets just say alot of people (oddly enough it's always guys) find it enjoyable to whistle to themselves as they walk around campus in between classes. This week the one that really caught my attention was the tune of the disney classic The Bare Necessities. Why do these people think that everyone wants to listen to their whistling. You'd think they'd get the idea to stop when everyone walking around them stops to scope out who the noise maker is. The only time whistling should be aloud is during the Andy Griffith's Show theme song, and only when done with heart. Maybe if that were whistled on campus, I'd be ok with it.

Halloween!!!!!

We had our annual Wheatley halloween costume party this Saturday. I had to be minnie of coarse. And mom went over the top as usual. But do you want to know something I don't appreciate, people who sing Disney songs on BYU campus. What makes them think that they can sing out loud while walking on campus? I am currently listening to some girl singing Beauty and Beast and Jacob and Son's from the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. These people need to stop with their unwanted public singing, seriously, it is so weird. Only at BYU. I don't care if it is Disney. Please stop singing!!!!! Oh boy.