in recent events...

I haven't been giving too much updates lately

10/24--I go on my first date since my "break-up". It was all right--I was a backup date after a girl backed out on him. I was perfectly okay with that; I was doing a favor for a friend. But he initiated a DTR at the end...weird. Who initiates DTRs on a first date? We're just friends, if you want to know.

10/25--I go over to my cousin's house to do my laundry and watch her kids while she goes running. Not an unusual occurence in my daily life. But you see, her two-year-old is potty training and he had an accident of the worst kind. It got everywhere...the couch, the carpet, on the other kids, and on my white sweatshirt. Yes, I was upset. I cleaned up what I could and took Luke to the bathroom to clean him up. I put him in a diaper. Anika (my cousin) said that I didn't need to change him and clean him up. Trust me, I had to. If I didn't, I would have thrown up (which I almost did) and she would have had even more mess to clean up. And before these lovely events occured, I changed the baby and he had a gross diaper. He was also very fidgety. Oh the things to look forward to when I have kids...ha ha. But I'm told it's easier when they're your own kids. I sure hope so! Oh, and Anika promised to wash my sweatshirt. Now, I love my little cousins...even when they make gross messes.

10/26--Ward conference. It was also James (my co-teacher) and my turn to teach Sunday School. Stake President went way over time in Sacrament Meeting, so we didn't have much time to teach. Too bad because there were some parts I was really excited to teach, but didn't get to. Then I had an interview with my bishop after church (renewing my limited use recommend), visiting teaching, home teachers, and then visiting teachers. I had a busy day! Aren't Sundays supposed to be the day of rest?

So far, this week has been pretty good. I don't have any plans for Halloween, yet. Halloween for me just happens as it happens. Last year I got asked at the last minute on a double date to a comedy show, which was fun. It was also the first date I had been on in almost a year. Yes, you read right. I once went dateless for almost a year.

I registered for my Winter 2009 classes today. I can't believe that after this semester, I'll only have six more classes that I have to take until I'm done with college. I'm taking five classes this winter (a total of 13 credits):

ELANG 410R: Genre and Substantive Editing (I got into the Magazine Editing section, yay)
ELANG 495R: Senior Capstone Course
ELANG 527: Early Modern English
Music 202: Civilization Music 2 (my last GE)

And I'll be in University Orchestra again. I also signed up for the cooking class, but not for me. It's for my little brother, he wants to take it and this will (hopefully) guarantee that he'll get in. When he registers, I'll drop it and he'll add it. I've also been searching for a place for Scott to live when he gets here, and we think we may have a lead. I have a friend who's getting married and needs to sell his contract. His apartment is really close to where I live and in my stake, so it would be GREAT if Scott could get it. We just need to hear from the manager soon.

After Winter, I'll take my last two classes for my major and minor (one per term) and then I'll be done! Yikes! Then I need to decide how I'm going to get a job. I also need to decide whether I want to stay in Utah and look for a job or if I should just move back to Houston. Decisions, decisions. But I don't have to make them...yet.

Google Game

This looked like fun. It's a bit time consuming though!




My age:

Place I've been:

Place I want to visit:

Favorite place:
Favorite object:

Favorite animal:

Favorite color:

Favorite restaurant:

Birthplace:

Current place of residence:

Pets:
Best friend: Umm, I don't want to single anyone out.

Nickname:

My name:
Grandmother's name:
Bad habit:

First job:

College degree:


What are you doing right now:

addiction

Whenever I check my e-mail, I can also read articles that are linked on my e-mail page. One of these links was entitled America's Most Unusual Addictions. The addictions they listed were tanning, popsicles, Blackberrys, iPods (or just listening to music in general)...you get the picture.

I can almost honestly say that I really don't have any addictions. I guess I can say that I used to be addicted to milk because I used to only eat cereal for breakfast, and you know that cereal must be eaten with milk. But now I've branched out in my breakfast eating. I still eat cereal, but I change up my breakfasts every few days--toast, yogurt, fruit, cream of wheat...etc. I've been trying to eat healthier, and I figure I'll continue eating right if I don't eat the same thing every single day! So far, so good.

Okay, I guess maybe I'm slightly too dependent on my cell phone. You see, if I realize I don't have my cell phone, I panic. I only panic because one of the reasons I even have a cell phone is for safety, like if I'm caught somewhere without a ride, I can call someone. That, and it's really the only way my family can get a hold of me (besides internet) since I don't have a phone in my apartment. If I know I left my cell phone at home, I feel a lot better. But if I think I've lost it, then I really panic. I'm not addicted to texting, in fact, I don't even LIKE text messaging. I am glad I have it because it has come in handy, such as when the AT&T tower in Provo wasn't working. I couldn't call my family, but I was so glad I could at least text! I found out through a text from my dad that the AT&T tower in Provo was down. So, I wouldn't do away with texting altogether, I just think that people shouldn't do it so much. Besides, it hinders human interaction.

Unlike many people I see on the BYU campus, I don't think I'm addicted to my iPod. To be sure, I love listening to music. I hate seeing so many people with their iPods stuck in their ears--it makes them look so unapproachable. And really, how many songs can you listen to in ten minutes between classes? I really only listen to my iPod when I go walking in the mornings--it makes the workout more fun. Sometimes I'll listen to some Enya when I'm having trouble falling asleep. And I've found that listening to Celine Dion in French when I'm walking to the MTC on Wednesdays helps me with my French when I'm playing investigator to the missionaries. So nope, I'm not addicted to my iPod.

I've learned to live with limited internet--last winter, I couldn't get a decent wireless connection in my apartment. I've also learned to live on very little TV. Now I only really watch House (when it's good), The Office, and maybe the news once in a while.

I'm not even addicted to chocolate...and I'm a girl! I do enjoy chocolate, but only the really good kinds.

lah-ruh vs. loh-ruh

So, my name is Laura. Sounds simple, right? I mean, there are only two syllables and it's not too hard to spell. But people mispronounce my name ALL THE TIME. I prefer "lah-ruh" personally. However, people keep telling me that the particular spelling of my name dictates that my name should be "loh-ruh", because of the "au" in the name.

Allow me to give you a few "au" words that have an "ah" sound in them:

August
augment
autistic
audio
audit
audition
bauble
baulk
caucasian
caucus
caught
cauldron
cause
flaunt
haul
jaundice
laud
laundry
launch


The list goes on. So, there is no reason that I cannot be "lah-ruh" because there are many words in the English language that defy this supposed rule that I should be "loh-ruh"; just people's opinions, which is what the rules of the English language were originally based on anyway.

My mom's family has always called me "lah-ruh". My dad's...well, it's kind of half-in-half. It's ironic because my dad and his siblings have the unique names that people have a hard time pronouncing. That, and my dad was the one who chose my full name, long before he was married. To him, it was "lah-ruh". It's kind of funny how at Slack family reunions, I have two different identities. Now, I do answer to "loh-ruh". I kind of have to because of my Texas upbringing. I mostly don't correct people, but I do correct my friends. I probably should start correcting relatives, but a lot of them don't see me very often so I guess I shouldn't make a big deal out of it. And some of them I have corrected, but they forget.

So, for those who read this, it is "lah-ruh". I think I said it in my About Me, but now I have proof that it can be "lah-ruh" as well as "loh-ruh", but I prefer the former.

That is all.

My Immortal

This is one of my current favorite songs. I recently got into Evanescence, even though they've been around for a while...yeah, it just takes me that long to get into current artists. But this song really describes how I've been feeling about my somewhat recent "break up". I mean, yeah the guy and I are still friends, but this kind of describes some of the emotions I've been experiencing:

"My Immortal"

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

[Chorus:]
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

[Chorus]

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

[Chorus]

At the moment I am not keen on sharing the details of the break up itself, but I can say that it wasn't the best of situations even though we both tried to keep a good face on it. But this song describes some of the things I faced with him...except the hand-holding and wiping tears part. I did invest a pretty good bit emotionally though, but what should you expect? We were seeing a lot of each other those few months and I was starting to think that we were dating and that there was a possible future. Which isn't to say that there absolutely isn't a future, but I'm not betting on it.

Yeah, this is my late night thought...I should go to bed.

Laura

So, I loved General Conference. I watched all the sessions in different places. I watched the Saturday Morning session at my cousin's house; I watched the afternoon session at my apartment. On Sunday, my roommates and I watched the morning session at our roommate's house in South Jordan and then we went up to Salt Lake to watch the afternoon session at the conference center. We were so lucky we got in! We got in on standby. It was an adventure indeed!

I did this name thing...I don't know if it sounds like me:

What Laura Means

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic “Type A” personality. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

feeling better

I am recovering...and I feel much better today than I have all week.

I have come to some decisions...for now. Nothing is set in stone.

I've been looking at the requirements to receive a TESOL minor. I have already taken two of the classes necessary for this minor. There are eighteen total credits, but I will only need to finish twelve. This minor isn't far off from my major and current minor. In fact, this will only make me a stronger candidate for employment. Online, it says that the combination of the English Language major and the editing and/or TESOL minors is very strong. If I get all three, maybe I'll be irresistable to employers...haha.

The only drawback to the TESOL minor is that I have to essentially student teach for 450 hours total. I don't know how many semesters that is...probably an entire school year. I do have the option of possibly going overseas to finish this, which would be a wonderful opportunity. Maybe I could teach in France! Just thinking of it makes me want to study my French more! And it would give me the opportunity to become fluent, which has been my dream since I was fourteen. But the problem....money. And I don't know if I would get to come home for any holidays...that would make me sad.

I most likely wouldn't graduate for some time, but I would only be more marketable, right? I don't know how happy my dad will be to hear that I'm going to be in school for a while longer...ha ha. But hey, Paul's graduating soon; the Border Patrol is going to pay for Craig's education; Scott's going on a mission this summer...so what's the big deal? And besides, I may become fluent in the language I've been studying for seven years (if all goes according to plan).

Happy conference weekend!

What to do...

Since my "break-up" of sorts, I've been doing a lot of thinking.

I am wondering what I want to do with my life.

Yes, I know I'm in college, have a major, and that I am supposed to graduate in not too long. If I go the way I'm going now, I could be done next June. I am wondering whether I should try to find a job in Utah and stay here or whether I should go back to Houston. The problem with staying in Utah is that there are not a lot of editing jobs here, so the editors' job market is extremely competitive. Honestly, I don't think I have much of a chance of getting a job here. However, if I can stay in Utah, I have a fighting chance at something resembling a social life. If I go back to Houston, I'll have a better chance at getting a job...but my social life looks pretty bleak. To be honest, I don't have very many friends back in Houston. I know there's a single's ward that meets in my building, but ugh...

There has been some thought at my picking up another minor or certification in another area. As I have said, I am an editing minor but there has been talk of getting another minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or becoming certified in Family History. I don't know if I want to teach...I'm not a teachy type. Yes, I know I'm a Gospel Doctrine teacher and that I've been a Relief Society Teacher as well, but I don't know if I could be a teacher. And Family History...I don't know how I could get any kind of an income from that.

So, yes I am kind of at a crossroads. It doesn't look like I'll be getting married anytime in the near future, as much as I would like to. I'm not serving a mission. So, I have to find out what I need to do to support myself. Oh, why did my interests have to be in the low income sector?!