my post about dating (you were waiting for this, right?)

I know I've been promising an entry about dating for a while, but I didn't get around to it until now. There's a lot of pressure at BYU to get married before you graduate. I have nothing against marriage, in fact I would love to get married sometime in the hopefully not-too-distant future. But what leads to marriage? Dating! And I haven't done very much of it lately. I'm not too bitter, but I wouldn't mind getting asked out. I almost wonder if someone sprayed me with "guys don't come near me" repellent, and I'm wondering if that someone is my cousin who's on his mission...he told me not to get married while he was gone. I used to think it was my dad, but recently he's been asking me if I've met any nice guys recently, so I'm starting to think that he's getting worried about me. Thanks, Dad.

Anyway, no more rambling :)

Today, I went to a Healthy Relationships Conference at BYU, which is what inspires most of this post.

The first session I went to was called "On the Hunt". What the speaker basically said was to eliminate the "hunting" mentality from your dating philosophy because that's just asking for trouble. Why? Well, when you're "on the hunt", you tend to hide your true personality and objectify those you date as "prey". Not good. And you tend to rush things, become inconsiderate of the other person, etc. What the speaker emphasized was getting out and doing things you actually enjoy, rather than going along with someone to something you don't like just to meet potential dates.

I quite agree. I remember being frustrated in my inability to make friends with the guys in my freshman ward, and when I expressed this frustration to my floor-mates, they told me that I should try going to sporting events and "learning something" about sports because that's what guys like. Here's my problem: I don't like sports. I am not going to feign interest in sports just to get a guy's attention. Now, if my former floor-mates are reading this, I do not hold any grudge, I know you had good intentions.

There's another problem though: the things I do enjoy doing aren't likely to get me any dates anytime soon. I like going to classical music concerts, but most of the guys who go to concerts are there with dates. And concerts aren't the best venue for meeting people anyway, unless there's a reception of sorts, because there is not much opportunity to mingle because you are sitting and have to be quiet.

Another thing I enjoy doing is going to movies, but there is the same problem as with concerts. The guys who are there are usually on a date and there isn't an opportunity to mingle, unless you happen to meet that cute guy who happens to be dateless while waiting in line. It's been known to happen.

I also play violin in one of the non-audition orchestras up here. And I did casually date a guy whom I met in orchestra, but it wasn't going to work out for various reasons. He's still a friend though. I guess I could join another organization, but I don't have time with classes, studying, internship, and orchestra.

The other things I do enjoy are solitary activities (reading, writing, crocheting, practicing violin, Pilates, etc.) or "girlie" activities, so to speak. So, meeting members of the opposite sex with my interests is somewhat of a challenge for me. I almost wonder if I should become a lesbian (kidding!!!). I guess I also need to take some more initiative in my dating life....but I really don't like asking guys out...it makes me feel less female. There is someone I sort of have my eye on, and I thought he seemed interested....but I feel like I'm getting some mixed signals here.

I think I have posted enough, and I ought to get home. I'll write more later.

I'm bored at work, so I'm doing a survey. Sue me.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not really. My parents found out after I was born that they had accidentally named me after Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose birth name was Laura Elizabeth Ingalls.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? last night.

3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I need to work on it.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? no, not until I'm married.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? no, not really

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yeah...wanna see? Kidding!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I'd consider it.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? strawberry chex is my current favorite...mmmm.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? It depends. I don't wear lace-ups too often though.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? morally, I am. I've also discovered that I have a stronger stomach than originally thought. And I have a strong immune system...go me.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? rocky road

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? smile, hair

15. RED OR PINK? hmmmm....burgundy

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? least favorite...hmm. My tendency towards self-loathing. And my shyness.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my family

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? black pants and black shoes

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? taco salad at the Pendulum court

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? hum of the computer and a techie talking

21. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I've never really thought of that.

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? good smells

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? left a message for a Mary Kay girl

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? gymnastics and ice skating (girlie, yes)

25. HAIR COLOR? brown

26. EYE COLOR? brown

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes

28. FAVORITE FOOD? sushi

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings; I don't like scary movies

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I saw the old Parent Trap on TV

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? lavender v-neck with a black shirt underneath

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? spring

33. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs for now, since I haven't been kissed yet

34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Mom's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies; Mom's peanut butter cookies (with or without chocolate chips); Mom's cherry pie...get the picture?
35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? re-reading Girls Gone Mild by Wendy Shalit...so good.
36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't have a mouse or a pad

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? nothing--my roommates hijacked the living room and I had orchestra.

38. FAVORITE SOUND? music

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? mmm...D.C.?

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? is violin special?

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Tokyo, Japan

My religion

My religion is a large part of my identity--all my friends know I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, well, they know I'm Mormon. What do you know about my faith, if you aren't part of it? Besides the fact I go to a Church school My friends know that I don't drink alcohol or coffee or tea; I don't smoke; I don't do drugs; I'm against gay marriage; I'm against abortion; and I am pro-abstinence. Some of them also know about how I went to seminary and how I go to church for three hours every Sunday.

So, why do I like being Mormon?

Well...

(1) I like that I can be with my family forever because my parents were married in the temple. I plan on keeping myself worthy to attend the temple so that I can be married to my future husband forever.

(2) I like being sober, not that I have any experience otherwise. But I've heard enough drunk and stoned stories that will keep me sober for life.

(3) I like having an unpaid ministry.

(4) I like that we don't baptize infants. The age of accountability is eight, which is when I was baptized.

(5) I like that any worthy man can hold the Priesthood, not just one leader who has been trained and is paid to exercise authority.

(6) I like Relief Society. It is the largest and oldest women's organization in the world.

(7) I like that wherever I go, the Church will always be true.

(8) I like that we can do ordinance work for our ancestors, who died before the Church was restored.

(9) Unlike the current Presidential election, the transition of leadership from President Hinckley (after his passing) to President Monson was very smooth and without conflict.



There are many other things I like about being Mormon, but I can't think of all of them right now. Some people think that with all our rules, we live a restricted life. I disagree. Why? Well, since I don't drink, I am less likely to die in a car accident and I am less likely to be a victim of date rape. My chances of getting lung cancer are very low, since I don't smoke. I intend to remain a virgin until I am married, thus decreasing my chances of getting pregnant out of wedlock and/or getting STDs.

Just my thoughts :)

If you want to learn more:

http://www.lds.org

http://www.mormon.org

Check it out.

dang, I should write more often

Hi all who actually read this. I apologize for the delay. Life has been so busy and I hardly have time to write here. You see, my internet stinks at my apartment, so my only chance of getting on the internet is when I come to campus. And when I'm on campus, I am either in class, studying in the library, or at my internship. That's where I am right now, heh heh.

But life is good. I've been going to concerts on campus lately, partly because I'm in a music class and I need to. However, I have discovered that I really do love going to classical music concerts! For the last several years, I've been going to my mom's concerts on her comp tickets, and I did like the concerts. I just didn't realize how much I really do enjoy it!

One of my new year's resolutions, if you will, was to learn how to enjoy spending time with myself. You see, many of us humans are under the assumption that in order to truly enjoy life is to have lots of friends and an active social life. These are nice, but what happens when you are alone? If you base your happiness on having lots of friends, then chances are, you hate being alone. Who do you have to live with 24/7? You!

I don't have a ton of friends and I don't get invited to many things. This used to bug me immensely, but I decided that I don't have to wait for someone to invite me to do something I don't particularly enjoy. I can have fun on my own, doing something I truly enjoy.

Now don't think I'm abandoning friendship. I love my friends and I do enjoy spending time with them. I just think people need to learn how to have fun on their own and not depend on other people for their happiness. I haven't given up on dating, even though I rarely get asked out. I'm starting to wonder if I should start taking matters into my own hands. But that's another entry for another day.

Remembering President Hinckley

Last night, Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints passed away at the age of 97 from causes due to age.

I have been alive for three prophets, but President Hinckley is the first one I really remember and had come to love. Ezra Taft Benson was prophet when I was born, but I was still very young when he died. Howard W. Hunter was sustained as prophet when I was about seven or eight, but at that time, I wasn't paying attention in General Conference. He led the Church for only nine months before he died.

President Hinckley really put the Church on the map. He was interviewed by the likes of Larry King. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Honor by President Bush.

He instituted the "Be's" that are oft quoted by the youth of The Church. They were instituted when I was in high school.

When he became prophet, there were less than one hundred temples on the earth. His goal was to surpass 100. There are over 120 temples in operation. One of the temples he dedicated was the Houston Texas Temple--my home temple. The Nauvoo Temple was also rebuilt.

My mother was able to meet President Hinckley on a few occasions. She played the organ in some meetings he presided over in both Houston and Tokyo. In fact, one of those times was three weeks before I was born, and he did speak to her after the meeting. That is the closest I have ever been to him. On one of those occasions, he wrote to my mother thanking her for the beautiful music she provided in the meetings he was in.

He is very much missed, but now he has been reunited with his wife, who passed away nearly four years ago. He did so much for our Church, and now his work is finished.

We love you President Hinckley. God be with you, till we meet again.

proofreading marks...wha?!

As I have mentioned before, I am taking my first official editing class at BYU. As an editor, we have to learn all the fancy little squiggly marks to help people write better. So, I have to wonder, why do we have to basically scribble on the writer's paper to get them to write better? It doesn't look too pretty. Maybe it's to help the writer see just how much work they need to do or maybe some editor out got so bored with drawing lines through the mistakes writers make and started doodling...and then came up with a proofreading system through the doodles! If that's the case, it sure works because trying to remember which proofreading mark to use for an error is somewhat of an adventure itself.

Who knew that doodling could make better writers?

And who said that editors weren't artists? We editors are so underrated. It's the writers who get all the credit. Behind every great writer is an even better editor...ha ha.

This entry was written out of boredom and out of a need to update. I'm sorry if it doesn't make a lot of sense.

2008 so far

I haven't posted here in a little while. It's not that I haven't wanted to, but I am still figuring out what exactly I want to write about here.

So, I'll begin where I left off. I turned 21 on Christmas Day. You read right. I am a Christmas baby. About six years ago, I thought that 21 was so old, but now that I've reached that age, I don't feel old at all. In fact, I still feel immature on so many levels. Now that I'm 21, I can serve a mission for my church if I want to; I am still undecided on that point. I can legally drink alcohol, but I have chosen not to drink. I can also be tried as an adult if I commit a crime. Hopefully, that won't happen to me.

It was a good Christmas/birthday. I got an iPod (finally!). It's really cool too--not only can I listen to music on it but I can store pictures on it too. I got the book Girls Gone Mild by Wendy Shalit. It's a really good book and I will post more about it in the future. I got other things too. We had quite a few guests over for dinner: a set of Elders (guy missionaries) in my ward; my violin teacher; my aunt and uncle who live in Humble; and a single guy in our ward. How many girls can say that the missionaries came over for her birthday? Hah! And as it turns out, one of those missionaries was a year younger than me! The other one was four months older than me. It's weird when the missionaries are your age and younger. And now I'm old enough to serve!

There were two weddings during the break. We hosted the wedding reception for one of them, and once again I did not catch the bouquet. *laughs* I don't care that much.

I also got my hair cut :) It's shoulder length now and we're pretty close to getting rid of all the damage that was done to it by previous hairdressers.

I came back to Provo on January 5. I did not want to come back! But I'm glad to be back now. I have my own room since my roommate moved home. I miss her very much, but it is nice to have my own room.

Classes seem good so far. I'm going to be pretty busy this semester. Here are the classes I'm taking:

English Language 327 (Phonetics and Phonology)
Music 101 (Introduction to Music)
English Language 350: Basic Editing Skills
Religion 393 (LDS Temples)
University Orchestra

I signed up for internship credit for the job I have, but I think I'll drop it because my classes are going to be a lot of work this semester and I have to do assignments to prove the internship people that I'm doing it. I'm still doing my internship, but not for credit.

The only bone I have to pick with my schedule is that my Editing class is 2.5 hours long on Tuesday nights...aggh!

I've already written a lot, but I promise to write more soon.