Pretzels and cream soda

Yes, I realize I already blogged today but I just experienced something crazy.

I remembered that in the refrigerator remained a single bottle of Sprecher Cream Soda. Usually smells bring people back to a certain time, a certain place. Tonight it was the taste of that cream soda. It tastes like home. The moment I took a sip out of that dark amber bottle, I tasted home. It sounds so weird to say but it's the only way to explain it. (The pretzels I'm eating are only there to be a salty foil to the sweetness of the soda.)

The way we as people relate tastes and smells and how things feel, as in physically feel to the touch, to other places and things . . . It's pretty phenomenal. As I drank this gorgeous amber beverage I couldn't help but marvel at how incredible it is that our minds make such connections day after day and that often we don't even realize it. Human consciousness is remarkable.

Don't jump to any conclusions: basically the last thing I am right now is homesick. Being back in Utah is fantastic and it will only continue to get better, or so I hope/plan. Life may not be perfect but it is better than okay.

As I typed the word "soda" a bunch of different times in this post I remembered a quick conversation Jordan and I had at Ikea last week. I can't quite remember why I said the word "soda" at all but Jordan was very quick to point out how Midwestern/Canadian I sounded what with the whole "really long vowel thing" I often have going on when I speak. If I ever lose that quirk to my speech, I'll be a very unhappy camper.

So I've mentioned The Fault In Our Stars a bunch of times over the past two days and here I go again: Kate is reading it currently! She's two chapters in and liking it very much. She said it pulled her in right away which is always a good thing. It's very different from An Abundance of Katherines, which is the only other John Green book she's read, but that's okay. Katherines is totally a funny and witty and much less serious than TFiOS. Hopefully Kate likes it all the way through! (I think the last time I talked about Katherines was this post . . . Oh boy.)

Last YouTube video I watched: Greg Holden - Home (Live) (Most of you will hear this song and think of that Phillip Phillips guy from American Idol, or I guess of the US women's gymnastics team. And yeah, he sings this song. But Greg is the guy who wrote it! How crazy awesome is that?! I also happen to love Greg's version a million times more. Maybe I'm biased but that's how it goes when one of the guys is a YouTube love and the other guy won American Idol.)

Good-bye home

I am completely finished packing except for the jeans I'm currently wearing which I'll be wearing to work later this afternoon. My suitcase is all packed, though I won't even be bringing it w/ me right away. It's being brought along later thanks to some of my family who is driving out to Utah soon after I leave. I think the hardest part of packing has been deciding what shoes I'm going to wear to the airport. I decided on my new Birkenstocks.

I figured I best write this post now because I plan on going to bed as soon as I get home from work tonight. I'll need as much sleep as I can get because my flight leaves bright and early at 6. I'm not too excited for that but I figure I can sleep a little bit on the plane. Usually I don't sleep on planes but I might be exhausted enough to legitimately nap.

Tomorrow will be a crazy day even once I get to Utah. I'm already trying to cram in some fun along with the job interview I have that afternoon and the cleaning/minor packing I have to do in order to move to my new apartment on Friday. I will definitely sleep very well Thursday night.

So this is it. My last post from Wisconsin until Christmas, or possibly Thanksgiving. It's a possibility but not one I would bet on. We'll see how things go. But anyway, see you soon my lovely Utah friends!

Last YouTube video I watched: An Open Letter to Students Returning to School

Trees

I've spent most of my free time the last two days in the hospital. Rather I've spent the last two days visiting in the hospital. I'm fine myself.

The hospital is surrounded by trees and fields. (We're sticking w/ trees today. You don't even want to get me started on cornfields.) For lack of the better word, it's out in the country. My family has been on the third floor. And boy, there are some incredible views from these third floor windows. I shouldn't love spending all this time in the hospital, and I don't, but I do love looking out the windows at the end of the hallways. Seeing the geography of the land and experiencing all the different greens is not something you get to enjoy all that often. You can see for miles. And what do you see? Trees, trees and more trees; and they're all sorts of green.

Most people are probably familiar with my love for greenery. I make it abundantly clear, probably every day, how Utah doesn't have enough trees. Campus is quite green and even though I spend a lot of time there I don't spend all my time there. Coming home to Wisconsin is always a treat for the sole fact that trees are everywhere. Down every street, in every yard, anywhere you could possibly imagine. I'm pretty sure it's my dad's fault I feel this way about trees. Our yard has at least 15 huge trees, of the maple, ash, locust and cedar varieties I believe. He always made planting trees seem very exciting. Even now when driving he points out the juxtaposition of the land and trees.

I'm honestly struggling to come up with the words to describe how I feel about trees and how the Wisconsin landscapes makes me feel. I'm sure the way I feel about trees is the way others feel about the mountains in Utah. I really do love the mountains. After 3 or so years in Utah, they're still unreal and I legitimately feel surprised every time I walk out of my apartment or out of a building on campus. It's kind of like, "Whoa, look at all that rock. It's just... there. Impending. Constant. Brown and gray."

It's a real shame I'm never at home in fall anymore. That's when the trees are really magical.

Last YouTube video I watched: Karmin - Hello

A summer in review & a countdown to Utah

Days till I am in Utah: 5.

Concerts I hope to attend before school even starts: 1. Since Passion Pit cancelled their show on the 9th I'll suppose I'll have to settle for Iron & Wine instead.

Days left of work: 4. Including today. Sadly I have work this afternoon/evening so my last Saturday at home is way less fun that it should be.

Times I'll have seen Megan before going back: 2. Hopefully. Tomorrow we're supposed to rendezvous for a little nature walk down by the lake.

Days till I see Jordan: no less than 5 but probably/hopefully/maybe no more than 8. We'll see.

Times I've eaten at Out & Out: 2.

Seasons of Grey's Anatomy I've watched: 4 1/2.

Pairs of obnoxious colored pants I now own: 2. Neon yellow and royal blue.

Letters I've sent and received: 3.

Wedding related mail, including announcements and thank you notes, I've received: 4.

Wedding receptions I'll attend in the weeks before school starts: no less than 2 but no more than 4.

Friday Fish Fry dinners I've eaten: 3.

New shoes I've gotten: 2. A beautiful pair of Birkenstocks and also navy blue Rocket Dog flats.

Taco Bell runs I've made by myself: 3.

Text messages Jordan and I have sent and received: I don't think I'm underestimating when I say thousands. (I shouldn't be quite so proud of this as I am.) My life pretty much only consists of going to work and talking to him.

Hours of YouTube I've watched: I dare not even try to estimate. I feel like every summer it increases greatly, though.

Baseball games I attended: 0. This number makes me real sad.

And I suppose that's all for now. I'm going back to my YouTube and my texting and my snacking now. I hope you're all enjoying my blogging every in August. I always do, even if some days it's hard to come up w/ something to write. Basically, the summer has been pretty quality though a little more strange than summers of years gone by. See you soon, Utah kids.

Last YouTube video I watched: The Debt - Julia Nunes

Reunited w/ Margo

Margo is not quite her real name but she goes by many names: Margo, Maggie, Maggie Jo, Marge, Margie. Her real name is Margaret. And she is awesome.

Last night was the first time seeing each other since the second week of June. That really isn't too long, only a month, but it sure felt like a long time. That probably had something to do w/ the fact that she was in Europe visiting all sorts of amazing places, like England, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, France, Holland and I think Austria. So while she toured museums and saw glorious art, I was stuck in Wisconsin putting cream cheese into boxes.


So of course we had to model in the gazebo at the park to commemorate our love. Luckily Chelsea was there for this reunion as well. (She's probably the best model of us all.)

Chelsea goes blue steel

tradition

And yes, Margo and I do have the same Birks. My pants are probably also extremely distracting.

So Margaret and I got to hang out for 2 hours. We hung out at the gazebo and at the playground and then at the pool while a bunch of other people went swimming. We talked about everything under the sun: her trip, my quick summer at home, boys, classes, church, family, clothes, music. It was lovely, as it always is to spend time w/ Margaret.

T-minus 11 days until I return to Utah.

Last YouTube video I watched: Call Me Maybe (Chiptunes cover)

A home of sorts

Since May there has been a serious increase in the number of my freshman friends returning from their missions. Sometimes it feels like every other day another one returns home. I can't help but smile as I see their names change on Facebook with the loss of the title "Elder." I can't help but smile as they make their first posts, proclaiming in some way, "I'M BACK," posts which are inevitably followed by a plethora of welcome back comments and likes from friends and family.

What I'm most excited about though is seeing those guys on campus again. Everywhere I went freshman year I felt like I was always running into someone I knew. The last two years I hardly saw people I knew on campus; this past year that might have had something to do with the fact that I spent nearly all my time in a single building. There was always something so comforting about knowing people on campus and being able to talk with them for even a brief moment. After freshman year literally half the people I knew were suddenly gone. But this next school year hopefully I'll get those little campus moments once again.

Recently my friend Katie wrote a blog post about enjoying time w/ her family before she leaves for a year and a half to Hong Kong. Her post started off with this:

Do you ever have those moments when something is so beautiful that you can't breathe? When your heart is so full and fit to burst that there actually isn't enough room in your chest for air? When you ache with longing, and you aren't quite sure why, but your white-hot joy is tinged with just a shade of grief? When you are reminded of something that feels more like home than anything you've ever experienced, but you can't quite put your finger on what it is? 

Katie is quite the wordsmith, something I've always known but appreciated so much more when I read that. She managed to put into words a few different emotions that are often so hard to explain, especially the emotions directly related to what "home" is. As I saw my friends come home while I was in Utah for spring term I experienced a different version of home. Walking and talking with Jordan was incredibly familiar; we didn't skip a beat. Watching Matthew interact with his old roommates and talking with him one-on-one was so comforting; in so many ways little had changed. But in so many ways a lot had changed as well. We're all different but also the same. Two years changed us but I also think it made us realize even more so how "home" is not the place but the people.

And while those freshman friends make college feel like home, there are plenty of people I met while they were gone that make me feel at home. The boys of Fiery Passion. The girls across the hall in apartment #2. Carson & Kaitlin from Italian. Mckenna. Jeff, and sometimes even his crazy roommates. James, Brooke's husband of almost one year(!) And most recently Cameron for starting Doctor Who night.

In about a year or so I won't be a college student anymore. It's probable that I won't reside in Utah, nor will many of my friends who made it into a home at all, but that's okay. Utah itself isn't all that special. Utah is special because of the people I met and learned to love, people I will always continue to know and love. Without those people Utah would mean nothing to me. The great thing about having met people from all over the United States is the fact that home is wherever we happen to meet again.

I'd also like to mention that this my 300th post on this blog. Incredible. Three hundred posts, some more intricate and thought-provoking than others, that's for sure. I'm not sure if I'll get to 300 more but you never know.

Last YouTube video I watched: Meyers Leonard Highlight Mix

By the numbers: my first week back home

I flew home last Tuesday, the 19th of June. Here's some stuff I've done in the last week.

• Number of things I've eaten from Kopp's: 3. (Cheeseburger, caramel cashew in a waffle cone & onion rings)

• Number of episodes of Grey's Anatomy I've watched: 47. (And counting)

• Number of episodes of Doctor Who I've watched: 0. (I miss DW nights at the Lava Lounge)

• Number of text messages Jordan and I have sent/received: Something exorbitant. (Let's just say I've sent and received more text messages in the last week than in any other week since I've had a phone. Easily)

• Number of times I mowed the lawn: 1.

• Number of new pairs of shoes I've acquired: 1. (Wonderful Birkenstocks)

• Number of times I've run two miles: 3.

• Number of times I've seen my best friend Kate: 1. (It included paninis and raspberry frozen lemonade)

• Number of times I've listened to Brandon Flowers' solo album Flamingo in its entirety: 2. (But this number will be rising quickly)

• Number of fireflies I've seen: 3 (I saw them all last night when I went to close the windows on each of the cars)

• Number of new bands/albums I've listened to: 8.

• Number of days I've written in my journal: Every single one of them.

• Number of slices of delicious thin crust pizza I've eaten: I can't quite remember but it was a lot.

And today was my first day of work. Have no fear, people. Your cream cheese is in safe hands once again. It's interesting to work a full 8 hours again but soon enough it will become all I know.


Last YouTube video I watched: At Or With Me

Running in Wisconsin

It's a heck of a lot easier than running in Utah. I've found that out very quickly. So far I've gone twice, both times around 2 miles. Running 2 miles in Utah, at least for me, kind of sucked. It definitely helps that everything here is green and just beautiful.

There are, however, a lot of hills within a 2 and 3 mile radius of my house it seems. I forgot about that in the time I was gone. Well, that's not true. I definitely remember them because I always thought about them when I went longboarding. I think my biggest issue with them is the fact that I never ran them before. The area around where I live really isn't that hilly, though. Yes, there are mountains literally right there but I don't run by them. There are big hills in Provo but my running routes don't go near them; I don't run nearly far enough to deal with them. (Yet.) Yeah, the Midwest is generally pretty flat, but not all of it. There are hills galore, at least where I live.

But the running itself is as good as it gets for me. Lorraine uses running to problem solve. It's crazy the stuff she can figure out while running; a lot of the time it's complex math equations and computer programming and fancy math stuff in general. She's basically a running mathematic genius. Anyway, that's not how things work for me. I shut my mind off playing sports. I do enough thinking in the rest of my life. Running still doesn't quite let me do that. Maybe someday it will but I'm not counting on it anytime soon.

So the point of this: running in Wisconsin is great. I love being around trees and greenery, in familiar neighborhoods and running past the houses of people I know. It's nice. Well, the running itself isn't all that nice but what I experience while doing the terrible act of running is. If that makes sense.

Last YouTube video I watched: Learn Me Right - Mumford & Sons with Birdy

Summer packing & last adventures

I've spent a little time the past two days putting my clothes and a few other belongings in my now-weathered suitcase. It's been on quite a few trips now, many to and from Utah. The most exciting thing about packing today is the fact that I'll be able to fit my wonderful memory foam pillow and the suitcase won't be over the 50 pound weight limit. I'm very excited about this fact.

Packing is always interesting because it really shows you what things you like/need the most, especially when it comes to clothes. There are some shirts and pants I most definitely need and others that are nice to have but just aren't necessary. I've found that to be the case with a lot of my t-shirts. There are still things at home in my closet so I don't need to bring everything from here. It's hard to decide what to bring and what to leave though since I don't know how I'll feel a month from now and I don't doubt wanting a lot of the things being left behind in my closet in Utah.

Of course some of the hardest things to leave behind are books. I love having a lot of my books here in Utah because they make my room feel like a home. Luckily my brother and I both have all the Harry Potter books or I'd be real sad. This will also give me the opportunity/force me to read books I haven't read before.

Besides packing the last few days have been spent doing awesome stuff with awesome people. Becca and I made Swedish pancakes the other night at, like, eleven. They were delicious of course. Lorraine and Laura came over to enjoy them with us.

Lorraine, Becca and I also went to a birthday party for a friend, though the real purpose was to see Amber. She lived in the same building as us freshman year. Becca and her were also roommates sophomore year. It's always lovely to see Amber and just catch up on life. It's great when we all get together because suddenly all these inside jokes come out that we usually forget about, and then we just laugh really hard and people are confused as to what's so funny.

Thursday afternoon I got lunch with Jeff. We went to Cafe Rio and it was glorious. I seem to always forget how delicious Cafe Rio is until I go again. It was just the two of us which was lovely. We sat for a long time just talking about life and such. We're really good at transitioning between all sorts of topics of conversation. One minute we'll be talking about BYU football or basketball and then we're talking about his roommates' dating lives and then we'll be having some spiritual/churchy conversation. It's great times with Jeff and I'll miss our little hang outs.

Perhaps the best thing of this past week was hanging out with Jordan one last time before I leave. Actually, it is definitely the best thing that happened this past week. He came over yesterday morning and we went to the park and threw around my frisbee for an hour. Then we got shakes at the creamery. It was the first time he had the flavor graham canyon since getting back from his mission so he was super excited and he was not disappointed. We ate our shakes at my apartment and then watched most of the Sweden/England soccer match. At halftime we shared our friends' awkward engagement pictures and had a good laugh. I also shared some of my new music with him. Jordan and I became friends primarily because we loved each other's music, but we stayed friends because we have a lot of other stuff in common as well. Saying good-bye to him was difficult since we've only seen each other a couple times in the past month he's been home but it's all right this time around because we can actually call each other and text each other whenever we want. Fall semester is going to be awesome and we've already made plans for some adventures upon my return to Utah.

So tonight is Mikaela's wedding reception. Lorraine and I will go to that and then visiting SJ's house to have a little fire and to eat s'mores. I'm sleeping over at Sara's house so tomorrow we can go together to see Matthew speak in church. This will be the first, and really the only time, I'll be seeing Matthew this spring. I'm ecstatic. Now that he's home the mail has little meaning anymore. For two years I practically lived for checking the mail, but those days are no more. It's weird to not have that constant anymore, though now that my friends who are girls are going on missions I'll still be writing plenty of letters, that's for sure.

And now a photo tribute to Mikaela and I throughout the years:

I'm pretty sure this is the first picture
Mikaela and I were ever in together

Congratulations on getting married today, Mik! You're awesome and I can't wait to hear about all your married life adventures with Calvin in Colorado.

Last YouTube video I watched: Watsky raps fast

10 things that make home exciting

I took my only exam this morning and now all that's left to do until next Tuesday is have as much fun as seemingly possible. But while I wait for the Germany/Netherlands Euro Cup match to start, here are 10 things that make home an exciting place to be.

1. My orange room.
2. Kopp's custard and burgers and onion rings and fries and Sprecher root beer. I just checked the flavor of the day for when I'll be in Milwaukee on Tuesday. ONE OF THEM IS CARAMEL CASHEW, aka one of the best flavors of all time. (We're stopping on the way home, if that's okay Mom and Dad).
3. The bike path, which I usually use for my longboard but since I won't be bringing it home this summer I think I'll take out my bike instead.
4. Kate and Megan.
5. Chocolate Factory subs.
6. Shopping trips to Bayshore.
7. My home ward and home ward friends, both adults and youth alike.
8. Delicious and wonderful and perfect chocolate chip cookies made by my father.
9. Really anything made by my dad and mom from the America's Test Kitchen.
10. Having a car to at least use some of the time. I miss driving terribly while I'm in Utah.
11. The possibility of Brewers games. (Who are we kidding? There's no way I could stop at just 10 reasons)
12. Dinner out with all my family. It's not so much the fact that I'm with my family but more so the fact that I get free and delicious dinner, though sometimes being with the extended family does make for some great entertainment.
13. Thunderstorms.
14. A nice HD television and comfy leather chair w/ an ottoman.
15. All nine seasons of Seinfeld. At least I think they're still at home; my brother may have taken them to Idaho.
16. The possibility of seeing Imagine Dragons at Summerfest. I'm going to try so hard to make that happen.

So there's 16 reasons instead. It should be a good summer, even though I will be working most of the time, but I take satisfaction knowing if I work all summer I get to come back to Utah and do awesome stuff without needing to work.

Last YouTube video I watched: Superhero - Luke Conard and Landon Austin

Accomplished: spring term

Today is the last day of classes. I am all done with spring term. Time is a crazy thing. When I got home from my last class of "junior" year, I went for a 15 minute run and then I did an ab workout for 15 minutes. There's this really cool app called Nike Training Club that has all sorts of workouts to do that focus on all different things. They last anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes, all depending on what you want to do. While doing my abs I started watching more Euro Cup! (This is what I've been doing every day before the past few days.) Ukraine and Sweden are plying right now. (Carson served his mission in Ukraine so I really hope Sweden wins so I can trash talk him.) I love Sweden. They were the first national team I ever saw play so I will always love the Swedes. Also, they are all very good-looking; well, except maybe Ibrahimovic. If matches were decided on how good-looking the players are, I'm pretty sure Sweden would win unanimously.

But since spring term is over now, not counting exams (I only have one so it hardly counts anyway), I am officially in summer. So I present:

Spring term in Utah (photos I haven't posted yet)

Finding "wetlands" in Provo

Watching Grant be a sea lion

Pondering life in Santa Cruz (This is my favorite
photo from the entire CA trip)

Riding the train to SF between these hooligans

Matching with Stacy

Being Trent's favorite, meaning I always got the front seat

Celebrating Maddie's wedding

Mik's bridal shower type party dealio

This week will bring more awesomeness since I'll probably see Matthew McKay soon(!) and Mikaela's wedding reception is Saturday(!) and the California road trip crew (Grant, Phillip, Emily and Trent) are leaving for Canada to run the Tough Mudder so I'm probably going to hang out w/ those boys one last time before we go our separate ways for the summer. At the very least Trent and I will be getting lunch like old times, and by old times I mean like we did three weeks ago and for most of spring term.

So eight days from now I will be headed home. That'll be lovely.

Last YouTube video I watched: The Green Bean Gelatin Plan

Fly away home

It's once again no longer the actual day but that is okay. I was on the phone w/ my dad for about 40 minutes tonight, getting my flight squared away for coming home. It's going to be a good spring but going home will be good too. I am happy that I decided to stay in Utah for some of spring if only for the nice weather. At home the last few days it's been in the 40s or so. Here it's been in the 70s and 80s. I love getting to wear shorts and sandals all the time.

I've now gone to all of my spring classes and it should be an interesting semester. It won't be particularly easy or difficult, at least it doesn't look that way. I just have to stay on top of reading and such; things will be a-okay.

As per my post of the other day including my want/need for some spring tunes, I think I have found it in the form of Walk Off The Earth, especially in their song Little Boxes.

I think the most exciting part of today, however, was the fact that my roommate Stacy made a delicious banana bread/cake thing. Also, our friend Grant came over and we just shot the breeze. (That's a phrase that needs to make a comeback.)

Last YouTube video I watched: Justin Bieber Boyfriend! Official video parody

Christmas Break: At Home By The Numbers

Number of hours spent in airports or on a plane: more than 9 but less than 10

Number of orange sherbet pushups I've eaten: 3

Number of new hats I got: 2

Number of times I've had deliciously wonderful thin crust pizza: only 1, but by the end of break it'll be at least 3

Number of episodes of White Collar I've watched: 8

Number of times a day I check to see if any grades are posted: 15

Number of times I threw up before 10 am yesterday: You don't want to know

Number of cookies I've eaten: A lot. I probably shouldn't say, thought it's unrelated to the reversals of fortune I endured the other day

Number of hours of CTFxC I've watched: At least 4

Number of hours of other YouTube I've watched: Well, including the 4 or more of CTFxC, it's somewhere along the lines of I've completely lost track and you'd be surprised in the worst way because the number is pretty exorbitant

Number of presents I've wrapped: 0 (This will be changing once I finish this blog post)

Number of tweets I've tweeted: Only 10

Number of days that were made better after @shaycarl responded to me: all of them

Number of views I got on my How I've made Happiness a choice post: 98

Number of dollars I've earned on Sky Burger: $7760.24

Number of dollars I had to shell out to fix my MacBook: 0 (Product defects FTW!)

Number of Christmas presents I bought for myself with my dad's credit card with him looking on: All of them

And I suppose that's enough numbers for now, eh? It was quite fun to think up those things. Not all of them are too Christmasy but meh. I really hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy spending time with your family and thinking of Christ, the real reason for the season. For realsies. Go read from the book of Luke in the Bible now.

Last YouTube video I watched: Wise Men Still Seek Him

How I've made happiness a choice

This has definitely been a theme as of late, but I wholeheartedly believe it. It's been a week since the event that shall not be named and I won't say I'm constantly happy but I'm definitely not constantly sad. And here's how I've done it.

I always choose to listen to happy music. Well, not necessarily happy music but music that focuses on moving on/forward/moving at all. It might not sound like overtly happy music, I tend to like a lot of indie rock/folk rock stuff that has lots of random stringed instruments and piano, but the lyrics bring a clear message: blue skies are coming, if I may quote the wonderful Noah And The Whale. NatW has probably been what I've listened to most, and boy, Charlie Fink sure is magical.

Crying is not an option. There are few things I dislike more than crying, one of those things being crying in front of people. Yes, I understand that crying is therapeutic and really helpful when things are legitimately traumatizing and what not. However, I don't think it holds much weight otherwise. It definitely can relieve some stress but once you're done crying . . . you're kind of back where you started. Also, crying makes my voice get all funny, like I'm losing my voice. I don't like it. Why cry when I can actually make decisions? And start, you know, "moving on."

I thought of things that I love about home. I got stuck in Utah an extra three days and at first I was not happy at all, then I got kind of intrigued by the idea, and then I was very unhappy about it. But I couldn't exactly be sad if I had all these great things to look forward to. For example, driving a car. I went, I believe, just over four months without ever sitting in the driver's seat. Yesterday, my dad let me drive when we picked up the deliciously wonderful thin crust pizza I seriously don't know how I live without when I'm at school. Driving is awesome. So when things were sucky, I just thought about how great it would be to drive a car again. Seriously, it worked.

I wrote on this blog. Some of you might be thinking, "Anna, please stop being so cryptic. What happened? This seems a little passive-aggressive. I'm very confused. When will you go back to writing about random things that are more interesting, like cookies and dating in Utah and music you listen to that no one else does?" Writing all of this stuff has been, not therapeutic per se, but I feel as if it has been really a little bit more, you know, deep. I honestly feel like I've been more personal on this blog in the last week than I have been in a long time. Yeah, I'm not sharing what happened, just because I think it'd be weird to, but I've enjoyed writing about it quite a bit. I like the way I wrote about my thoughts and experiences. When it comes down to it, I write on here for me. It's just a nicety, a bonus, when I find out other people are interested in it as well. So this last week having lots to write about has been awesome, even if it might be repetitive. I figure it's better to get out some of my thoughts and feelings here rather than keep them inside my own head. (Oh, and I really hope none of it has seemed passive-aggressive. The situation sucked but I'm not bitter about it. If it has come across in that way, I assure all of you, my dear readers, that I'm feeling pretty good about things and honestly don't have much anger at all, if any. Frustration, maybe. But no anger.) Basically, writing is good. Insightful. Helpful. And for some reason it's strangely fun to hint at things and have no one really understand where it's all coming from.

I don't think a list of things I've done to be happy would be complete without mentioning how much I watched YouTube, especially the Shaytards. I love me some YouTube. Here's the thing: You've got to find at least a few channels you love more than anything and watch them on a regular basis. Then you'll start to understand. To steal a nice little phrase from Charles & Alli Trippy, the internet killed television. Watching my favorite YouTubers' current and past videos was, and always is, a nice little escape in some ways but it also made me think about life. It always does. And when I think about life, especially after watching the Shaytards, I can't help but think of Joseph B. Wirthlin saying, "Come what may, and love it." Granted, I didn't have an overly horrible week; I really have had worse ones, but it was the kind of week that really got my mind racing. And that quote truly is the best way to describe how I'm sorting through things.

I hope you're all having fantastic Christmas breaks. I've been pretty pleased with mine so far. My dad made the perfect chocolate chip cookies tonight. For realsies. That's the name of the recipe. Add that to the list of reasons I've chosen to be happy, because can you honestly be sad when you have in your hands a glass of cold milk and a warm, crispy on the outside-gooey on the inside cookie? I think not.

Last YouTube video I watched: Ducknappings increase on BYU campus

I love my room: a photo tour

I got home today. It was a relatively smooth journey, not really any complaints to dish out.

One of my favorite parts of home, by far, is getting to sleep in my orange bedroom. And so here's some cool stuff I found in it that I wish I could bring to school with me but would not really serve any purpose.

Yeah, my room is pretty awesome. And did I mention my blue door? Because I have one. There's a big lamp and my framepack in the way of it or I would take a nice picture for all to see.

Basically, home is pretty nice.

And I drew that Calvin and Hobbes picture, just so you know. I love the cover of the "There's Treasure Everywhere" book. So a few years ago I drew it.

Last YouTube video I watched: Forever Yours - Alex Day cover

Finals week

So here's a question: How do you go about writing about things that are really personal even though you don't like writing such personal things on your blog, even though this time you really want to make an exception?

Oh, so you still don't write about them? That's what I thought. I don't think I could ever bring myself to write about legitimately personal situations. Instead, I will continue to hint at various events that happen without ever actually explaining them. So in this case, just know that stuff happened and it's sad and happy in that weird way that only truly bittersweet things can be. Also, go back and read my post on best friends from the beginning of the semester. If I hadn't already written that post already, I'd write it exactly the same right here. (Take that hint to meant that I really need some time with my best friend who happens to be thousands of miles away and who I won't see until June.)

Down to business: it's finals week. I've taken one final so far and it was easy as pie. I'm taking another today that I should dominate. That leaves me with three more to take between today and Thursday. Finals actually run until Friday but on account of how I was supposed to fly home Thursday but due to an incredibly stupid mistake on my part I'm now leaving on Sunday, I'm still getting them done by Thursday. I might not be home but it will still be Christmas break for me. What's even more sucky is that I don't think I have ever wanted to leave Utah more badly than I do right now. I was already super excited to get home, but after the event that I will continue to hint at without explaining, I'm even more disappointed that I have three extra days in Utah. Well, maybe disappointed isn't the right word. Sad isn't even that good of a word to describe how I feel either. It's almost like I feel out of place, like Utah can't offer me anything to help, and it happened so suddenly that my first response is to get out of here as soon as possible and start enjoying the delicious Wisconsin air. I had almost gotten to the point where I was legitimately almost okay with having extra days at school. Almost. But not anymore.

But alas.

I best be preparing to head up to camps now. I've got myself a final to dominate.

Last YouTube video I watched: Books to get as presents

St. Nick

So Wisconsin is full of Germans. I myself am easily over 50% German heritage-wise. It's awesome. Germans are so legit. And here's one reason why: St. Nick coming on the night of December 5th and finding treats the morning of December 6th.

I used to know the whole story of St. Nick and why he comes on the night of the 5th but I no longer remember. We seriously learned it in elementary school. A few times. From what I do remember, kids would leave out their shoes and then the next morning there would be little treats in them. And by little treats I mean candy and other things filled with sugar. Thanks to Wikipedia, I now remember that it has to do with the Feast of Saint Nicholas. I don't think I ever actually learned why he was a big deal and I don't really care to, though I probably should since it is my heritage and all.

And at 20 years old, I am proud to say that St. Nick still comes. And my 23 year-old brother feels the same way. Over the years we've gotten various toys and treats but a few things always stay the same: huge navel oranges and candy from a small candy shop downtown. Since coming to college, another thing has been included: a gourmet caramel apple from Amy's Candy Kitchen. These apples are beastly and easily weight a pound or two. Mine are always covered in dark chocolate and cashews. It is so goodly and delicious.

I'm not writing this to brag. Well, maybe I am a little bit. But basically I just wanted to publicly announce  how awesome my parents are for still doing this stuff. My brother is practically engaged and I'm not exactly a kid anymore myself, yet they still keep it going. It's pretty much the best tradition ever, one that I will totally be using in my own family someday. And somehow every year I never cease to be surprised by how well my parents know me, especially my dad. An additional gift this year is wool socks. In my family, nice winter socks are sought after. It's totally normal, even expected, to get multiple pairs of socks for Christmas. In a package I received back in October, my dad even included a container of chocolate frosting, because I like to participate in the delicious habit of eating frosting with a spoon. Disgusting? Yeah, maybe a little. But so worth it. I don't think I've mentioned my love of eating frosting straight up in years, but my dad is totally on top of things.

Do you guys have any family/heritage/Christmas traditions? As finals approach, I know I will be even more thankful for these little tastes of home. Yeah, I'll be home 10 days from now, but that doesn't stop me from loving having Wisconsin things in Utah.

Last YouTube video I watched: The Biggest Shake-Up in YouTube History: Explained

Doctor Who & being home

I just finished watching the newest episode of Doctor Who and all I can say is, "WHAT THE HECK!" It was crazy in the way that I love crazy things. Matt Smith is quirky in the best way. Every time I watch new episodes I just want to go back and watch from the beginning, meaning from Christopher Eccleston on. I've honestly never watched Classic Who before. Nothing against it, I'm sure it's fantastic but I'm New Who is kind of my thing.

As for BEING HOME . . . My room is awesome. My dad re-did some of it in that he fixed the ceiling which was kind of messed up, moved my bed and dresser and mirror thing, put up new bookshelves which I desperately needed and I got a new bed frame! So fancy that. We're going to paint the shelves some time this week. They're either going to be green or I might splatter paint them for funsies. I even found a bunch of old posters in my room I didn't know we still had! They're from when my brother and I were quite young, old school Green Bay Packers stuff. I've already put my Reggie White poster on the wall behind my bed, just like it was when I was around 6. I probably won't put up my photo wall this summer but having these posters up will make my room feel more like me.

I'm in the process of unpacking, something I strangely enjoy. I like packing to go somewhere, like school. I like unpacking when I get there. I hate packing to come home. Yet I like unpacking once I'm there. It's a strange cycle.

And since my friend Becca is counting the number of times she's mentioned in my blog . . . BECCA BECCA BECCA BECCA BECCA BECCA. She just jumped out of an airplane yesterday, so that's quite exciting.

Last YouTube video I watched: Doctor What