4 Reasons Why I Love School

After taking a year-long break from school, I could not be happier to be back this semester. It feels like coming home. I felt like a nervous freshie again, anticipating the first day of class and making sure I knew where all my classrooms were. To my surprise, school is better than I remembered.

At school, you know what is expected of you. Where else is every expectation and formula for success laid out in a syllabus? For a stresser like me, syllabi are heavenly.

At school, you can ask whatever questions you want. The (possibly) even better part is that people can usually provide answers. This can of course lead to some "dumb" questions, but hey, get them out in the world. Ask away, my curious friend.

At school, you have a purpose. It's not some abstract concept or lost wandering--you know exactly where you're going and what you're doing. I know what classes I'm taking, and I even know what I'll be taking next semester. I'm getting a degree. I'm networking with professors. I know what's up.

At school, you get to learn everyday. Ok, I realize that there are opportunities to learn everyday without being in school, but it's a little harder. I learned a lot when I was a professional blogger (oh yes, I was a blog writer for a company this last Fall) because I had to write about unfamiliar topics. But otherwise, it's hard to consciously learn things. I love to learn, though, so I love school. It's a given.

These are just a few of my musings about school. Maybe I'll add more later. Stay tuned!

Little Love Notes

There are few things I love more than receiving little love notes. Whether they be emails, cards, or on a napkin, I save every single one. Honestly, I do. The fact that someone would take time to write down something meaningful or kind is so sweet to me. So while I might not (ok, I definitely don't) get love notes that often, sometimes I pretend that when I find quotes that I really enjoy or find inspiring, it's like getting a little love note :) Here are some quotes that I found on Valentine's Day, and I meant to post them earlier, but why not just spread the holiday love out a little longer?

"True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of ones companion."

Gordon B. Hinckley 

"Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."

Fred Babbel 

"It's never a mistake to care for someone. That's always a good thing..."

"Never underestimate the power of true love, for it knows no barriers."

John H. Groberg - 2004 Oct. Gen. Conf

"You may give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."

Glen Wheeler

"Our joy now and forever is inextricably tied to our capacity to love."

John H. Groberg

"Love is never wasted, for its value does not rest upon reciprocity."

Neal A. Maxwell 

"One word frees us of all weight and pain in this life. That word is love."

Sophocles

Love is in the air

This past Sunday, Whitney wanted to get all crafty and make Valentine's Day decorations. So, naturally, we did. We both love to be creative and make things, so this was the perfect project for us to do on a quiet Sunday evening. Whit focused on creating cute paper heart bunting, and I taught myself how to make a tissue paper pom-pom garland. It turned out pretty cute if I say so myself. We also have a "Love is..." wall that is covered with hearts that complete the phrase. My personal favorite is "Love is... Zac Efron." Just saying...

Garland and twinkle lights for Valentine's Day

Here is the tutorial I used to make the garland. It was pretty simple, even though it was my first time to make it.

The Drowsy Chaperone

Today I did my first run-through for packing... let me tell you, it was an experience. When I finally combined all of my clothes and necessities from home, Utah, and summer shopping, it was quite apparent that I have too much. Way way way too much. My mom and I did pretty well on paring down my clothes, although I'm still sure that I'm taking more clothes than anyone else (but I'm ok with that). However, four months worth of shampoo, contact solution, lotion, etc. is very heavy. Yes, I realize I'll probably be able to buy stuff there, but isn't almost just easier to take it? Well, obviously not because it weighs way too much. I packed my suitcase with all my books, toiletries, pants, skirts, and electronics, and it weighed over 70 pounds. The weight limit is 50 pounds. I think there is a slight problem. Not to mention that I was still left with my shoes and all my shirts and jackets to fit in a carry-on duffel. That's a whole nother story. Needless to say, I got a little stressed out about this. Where is the Pelton Packing Magic???? My mom ended up banishing me from anymore packing for the day since I was freaking out so much.

After the packing disaster, I wanted to be cheered up. And what better way is there than to see one of your favorite musical at the Hale Center Theater in Orem?! Answer: there is no better way. My mom and I went to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" and it was fantastic! I had first seen the show in Dallas when the Broadway National Tour came through, and I fell in love with the show. It is absolutely ridiculous and just a whole lotta fun. It's basically a show within a show: You're first introduced to a narrator who lives by himself in an apartment and is obsessed with musical theater. He "feels a little blue," so he puts on a record of his favorite musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone."The plot of the show is of a famous 1920s showgirl Janet Vandergraaff who is leaving the show business to marry Robert Martin. However, they see each other on the wedding day, which is, as we all know, very bad luck. Enter an angry show producer, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, an eccentric European man who puts "the romantics" on every girl alive, a sarcastic butler and his forgetful mistress, a nervous wreck of a Best Man, and a chronically drunk chaperone, and you've got a show!! What is so great is that throughout the show, the narrator comments on scenes and characters like you're watching it together. This may sound kind of annoying, but it's absolutely hilarious. I actually liked this production better than the one in Dallas because of the intimate atmosphere. Of course the Broadway group was incredible, but you lose the "small apartment"- feel on a big stage. At the Hale, it's theater in the round, so you have a small stage in the middle and seats on three sides. This lent really well to the feeling that you were in the narrator's apartment, listening to the record with him. It also provides for some really creative staging and blocking. I loved it. And, as the narrator says, it is better to have loved than left.

Vive le Tour de France!

Little known fact about me: I LOVE THE TOUR DE FRANCE. You might laugh and just think I'm exaggerating about this little hobby of mine, but I'm really not. I have watched every day of this epic month-long race for the past 13 years...since I was 6 years old. It al began when my family lived in northern Spain. We just started watching it since it was relatively local; France was just a few hours from our house, and sometimes the Tour dips down into Spain. Little did we know that the sport of cycling's most prestigious race would become my summer passtime.

I am still to this day a huge Lance Armstrong fan (of his athletic ability and story, not necessarily his personal life...). Confession: From about sixth to eighth grade, I would save every newspaper article about the tour (Lance in particular). Then, I hung them in my locker the next school year. This is how serious it was! My favorite headline was when Lance (or "Lancey," as was my mother's and my preferred nickname for him) won his sixth Tour: "Texas Six-Shooter." Classic. It's been really hard for me to watch the Tour since he stopped cycling, but don't worry, I've pushed through to the next generation of cyclists. However, its always comforting when the amusingly accented announcers Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin say a name of one of the older generation riders still racing: Leipheimer, Hincapie, Vinokourov, Kloden. I'm excited for some of the younger riders too though, especially ones that I feel like I've watched develop over the years since I've begun my spectating ways.

This year's race has been mayhem. Literally, there are very serious crashes everyday that have resulted in race leaders and podium hopefuls dropping out. Yesterday's stage, for instance, had at least three major crashes, including one where a media car knocked two riders off the road! Despicable. I just hope that things will calm down crash-wise. There is still a lot of racing left and I don't think I'll be able to handle any more of my favorites being stuck in a ditch somewhere on the side of a French road.

I know, most of you are thinking that it's just plain weird that I love this race so much. I know it is. I don't even remember the last time I actually rode a bike. But, this is just like I every other sport I like: I don't do it or participate in any way, other than watching. I am an expert spectater, and I'm proud of it.