Friday rain

Right now Becca and I are getting ready for our fake dates. I convinced Becca to text Kyle's twin brother Kirk and ask him to go my friend Chelsea's recital as well. Becca and I have wanted to go on a double date with them since the Murray Chick-Fil-A when Kyle called me Becca's "Kirk." (Becca had been saying how she wished I was there and Kyle commented how we seem to do everything together, hence the twin comparison.)

Here's some photo evidence of mine and Becca's fake twinship. (Possibly more to come.)

In other news, it rained a lot today! It was both awesome and notsome (the opposite of awesome if you didn't already know) because I had to walk to one of the farthest north buildings on campus for a scholarship luncheon. I did get quite wet but I also got an amazing, free lunch out of it. The rain was also super refreshing. I wore my Chacos and for some reason they make me fearless when it comes to stepping in puddles and traipsing across campus. Also, the way it smells before and after it rains is wonderful. Utah rain isn't quite as nice as Wisconsin rain but it's not terrible.

The rest of the day was spent on campus doing various things but perhaps my favorite part of the day was visiting my friend/TA Bradley so he could help me fix my paper for my Utah history class. We worked on the paper for maybe 15 or 20 minutes but I ended up being there for about an hour and a half because we got caught up talking. This is technically the third class we've taken together in the last three semesters; one class we were both students in and the other two he was the TA for. We made a pact that if I win the bracket tournament Professor Fluhman holds, I'll let him in on whatever I choose for my prize. Chances are I'll choose to go out to dinner w/ Fluhman and his awesome wife or to have Family Home Evening with the whole Fluhman family. I'm pretty excited to see if I pull out the win though. We're pretty sure I've got it locked up.

Winning that March Madness bracket challenge will probably make my entire collegiate experience feel  complete. I mean, as complete as it can be without yet having graduated.

Imagine me complexly

I have been on such a John Green kick as of late. Then again, when am I NOT on a John Green kick?

Last night was the date that wins me Chinese food. It was quite lovely and awesome. We made barbecue chicken pizza and ice cream. It was incredible in the "I'm so glad we became friends" way. Conversation was light and easy in the sense that it was seemingly effortless. It was never a stretch to move from topic to topic. And yet, it was anything but surface conversation. It felt genuine and fulfilling. It was pretty much like a night w/ my best friend from last year, making it one of few nights back at school this sophomore year where I truly and completely felt like I relaxed.

All in all: a splendid evening full of great conversation and even better food.

Life is good.

Things are settling down as much as is possible for a college student without an official major and without her closest friends to make life okay. Good thing the postal service exists.

But in the end . . .

the listening exposes you even more than it exposes the people you're trying to listen to.

That's a quote from John Green's "Paper Towns". Look it up, lest you live your life having not read a book that changed my life.

Yesterday, I finally got to talk to the boy I'm taking on a date. He came by while I was brushing my teeth, so that was nice. He agreed to the date. I'm pretty happy about that. I'm also pretty happy that he won't misinterpret my intentions. Lastestly, I'm pretty happy that I won a bet w/ my best friend.

I don't want to bash on relationships because good relationships do exist. HOWEVER, something can be said for going on dates w/ your friends. Because they are awesome.

The Pact

The day before my best friend from back home left to go back to school, we made a pact. [I say my best friend from back home because a) I don't take the word lightly, b) I have a college best friend, and c) I have an all-time best friend who I will most likely never talk to again. I feel the distinction is necessary]

Now, this pact is kind of a big deal. It's not that we weren't social during our freshman year but we both know we could have done more. And so we came up with this: We both must go on at least one date by Halloween. Double bonus points if you ask the boy.

At the time this seemed easy. I was an idiot for thinking that. Here are some stats:

Number of dates I've been on: 3

Number of dates I've been on with boys named Matthew: 3 [Two different Matthews who were roommates]

Number of dates I've been on where I asked the boy: 2

Number of dates I've been on that lasted till 2 AM: 1

Number of dates I've been on where the guy asked me just to ask me and not because we were particularly good friends who knew the company would be enjoyed: 0

As you can tell, I'm not exactly versed in the Utah world of dating. Yet I still thought sophomore year would be different. During the summer I continually had this feeling that dating in general this year would be somehow easier. That I actually would go on dates. Looking back I can't believe I ever thought such a thing.

So now it's almost the middle of October and I have yet to go on a date. I've known since the middle of September that I would have to ask a boy, too. It's really the only way I will fulfill this pact. I really am okay with this. I don't care much what people think of me and I've had my fair share of date rejection [I was rejected twice for the Harry Potter dance last year before finally going on my second date w/ one of the Matthews].

This week I'm going to crank up the searching, really get down to business . . . to defeat the Huns. Or you know, get a date before October 31st.

Wish me luck . . .