friends with detriments

I think we can all relate to this in one way or another.

school

School started yesterday, along with a snowstorm that is still going on.

My classes seem good so far. It turns out I didn't sign up for the magazine editing section of the Genre and Substantive editing class, but rather I signed up for the technical editing section. I was disappointed, but I think I might enjoy it after all. It's funny really--I had been avoiding technical editing (apart from being on a technical writing publication) and now it has caught up to me. But finding a job in the technical editing field should not be too difficult, and I found out that my French skills may become useful. Technical editing also seems to be the most profitable field of editing. And if I don't like it, well it's another skill I'll have.

I had four classes yesterday from 9-1 and then I was done. I don't have any classes today or on Thursday, so I'm trying to make use of my time by doing homework.

Last night, two of my roommates and I went to the Smith Fieldhouse track. They ran and I powerwalked. My knees don't like me when I run. We walked to the fieldhouse in the snow. Talk about dedication. It was worth it.

post 100...yay?

I have made 100 posts on this blog. Does it call for celebration? Maybe, maybe not.

So, I'm going back to Utah tomorrow afternoon. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm excited to get back and see my friends again and to be in a routine again, but I'm sad because I don't like leaving home and I'm not looking forward to the snow in Utah! Especially after the lovely warm weather we've been having down here in Houston.

I should probably talk about what I've done this break.

Let's see, I went Christmas shopping right after I got back. Then I went to a Houston Symphony concert. My mom sings with the chorus and every Christmas season they sing Handel's Messiah. It's amazing. Then there was Christmas preparations--we had to put up the tree because my parents weren't able to get the tree out of the garage by themselves. They waited until my brothers were back. There was shopping, shopping, and cooking. We went out to eat a few times. Then there was Christmas Day. We didn't get up until nine-thirty. That shows how old we are. But I figured that since my birthday is Christmas Day, the birthday girl should be allowed to sleep in. I turned 22 (yay). 22 is my favorite number, and I really don't know why. It just seems like a nice number. I got some nice presents. For Christmas dinner, my aunt and uncle came down from Humble and we had a single man in our ward over as well. It was pretty fun, and it was delicious. Mmm-mm.

Two days after Christmas, I went to a wedding reception for a couple of my friends: Hannah and Brandon. I originally knew Hannah--we were in the same dormitory freshman year. We met while we were doing laundry--she said that she was living in Japan and I told her that I lived in Japan once. A year later, she started dating Brandon, who was from my home stake. I did not know him because my home ward got moved into his stake the day I graduated from high school and he was on his mission. But I did meet him when I went home for a summer. They got engaged and were married in Houston, since her family has lived all over.

This last week, I went to the eye doctor. It turns out I have something on my eye because my eyes weren't getting enough oxygen; that was because I was wearing my contacts almost constantly at one point because my glasses broke. So, I'm trying to wear my glasses more often. And my eye doctor wants to try out a new contact lens brand on me. I've done a little bit of clothes shopping. I've gone on walks to try to burn off some of the holiday/final exam calories. I passed all of my classes, yay. I saw "The Tale of Desperaux" today and it was cute. I went to another wedding open house, and oddly enough, I knew the bride and groom for this one too! Nathan was in my ward when I lived in Katy. Our parents are good friends. Natalie was in my ward my sophomore year at BYU. She and I found out we both knew him when we first met. It's a small world when you're Mormon.

That was my break. I go back to Utah tomorrow *tear*. I will begin my final full semester in college on Monday *another tear*.

2008 in review

I guess it's been quite a year, huh?

January
-I start back at BYU
-I get a new FHE "husband"
-I continue working at Intercultural Outreach
-The number of girls in my apartment reduces to four
-President Hinckley died.

February

- I go to several concerts (for my music class)
-I got to witness an old family friend open his mission call
-My younger brother finds out he did not get into BYU
-It seems like all my roommates are dating people and I wasn't.
-I go to "Music and the Spoken Word" in Salt Lake for the first time

March

- My little cousin Darren is born
-My mom performs and speaks at John Longhurst's retirement concert
-I decide to stay in Glenwood for spring/summer
-I sign a contract with Park Plaza for fall/winter.

April

- I find out that my brother Craig has been applying to the Border Patrol
-Paul moves to Las Vegas for his student teaching
-The semester ends
-I switch apartments

May

- I am taking spring classes
-I am also attending Institute
-I am called to be a Relief Society teacher (well, more like late April)
-I'm hanging out with my neighbors a lot
-I'm working out on a regular basis
-Scott is accepted to BYU for winter 2009

June

- My friend Laura moves in with me
-I ran into an old friend after not seeing or hearing from him for six months
-I tried on wedding dresses at Allyse's Bridal (I said that I wasn't engaged "yet")
-Summer term starts; I have amazing grades from spring term
-I saw the new Indiana Jones movie by myself
-I start spending time with friend

July

- Still doing summer term
-I'm still spending a lot of time with said friend, it seems like we are dating and I think he's interested
-I see Wall*E
-I bungee jump at the Freedom Festival in Provo
-Leisl moves in and we get along amazingly well
-My brother leaves Las Vegas and I get to see him and my mom when they are driving his car back to Rexburg
-My mom and my brother meet my friend and his family

August

- I start making preparations to move out of Glenwood
-I go to my friend's multi-stake luau (I think this is a big step in the "relationship")
-I move out and go home for two weeks
-My mom and I take Craig to Del Rio, where he reported to the Border Patrol
-We have car trouble as we are leaving
-Scott gets his Eagle Scout award
-Come back to Utah and move into Park Plaza on August 31

September

- School starts
-I have an allergy attack
-My freshman ward reunion
-Issues come up with friend, we finally have the DTR
-We break up the day before the RS Broadcast (what perfect timing)

October

- My roommates and I go to one roommate's house in South Jordan for part of General Conference
-Went to the afternoon session of GC in Salt Lake--we got lucky on standby
-A guy I meet at the Cougareat asks for my phone number (I was very excited)
-I decide to be set up with a friend of my roommate's former boyfriend
-Trying to work out on a regular basis
-I am Esmeralda for Halloween
-I have my first date after my breakup, and this guy initiates a DTR on the first date (I was pretty freaked out)

November

- I go to a friend's bridal shower and won a tiara. I asked if it meant I'm next
-I meet Stephan, the guy my roommate was partially responsible for setting me up with. He was very nervous, but asked for my number at the end.
-I get food poisoning and get sick in Sunday School after I finish teaching and my co-teacher is teaching
-Cougareat boy finally calls and asks me out. We go out but that was the last I saw of him.
-Thanksgiving with my family
-My family goes "indoor skydiving"
-My parents are called to be ordinance workers in the Houston Temple

December

-My parents are able to come to my orchestra concert!
-I go on another date with Stephan, the first time I've been on more than one date with someone since someone else
-Paul graduates from BYU-Idaho
-Scott finishes his semester at BYU-I
-My roommates actually do something for my (early) birthday
-I turn 22

All About Me in ABCs

A
- Available: More or less
- Age: 22 (as of four days ago)
- Animal: I like cats
- Actor: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Wilson
- Actress: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Audrey Hepburn

B

- Birthday: December 25
- Best Friend: Hmm, that's tough
- Best feeling in the world: knowing everything will work out if you do the best you can
- Blind or Deaf: I'd rather be blind--I would miss music too much if I were deaf
- Best weather: Cool and sunny
- Been on stage?: Yes. I've been in orchestras since I was eleven.
- Believe in yourself?: I'm trying to
- Believe in life on other planets: It's possible
- Believe in miracles: yes
- Believe in Magic: not really
- Believe in Satan: Unfortunately, yes
- Believe in Santa: not since I was ten

C
- Car: I don't have one of those
- Candy: I don't really go for candy much, except for Skittles or Starburst flavored jelly beans. I also like expensive chocolate.
- Color: Purple, blue, burgundy, gray
- Chocolate/Vanilla: Mmm...chocolate
- Cake or pie: pie
- Countries to visit: Japan, France, England, Polynesian Islands, Australia...

D
- Day or Night: Either
- Danced: Eh, I took a social dance class
- Dance in the rain?: Yes, actually. I did it last summer with one of my roommates. It got so cold that we made hot chocolate when we went back inside. It was glorious.

E
- Eyes: brown
- Everyone has a: body
- Ever failed a class?: yeah, I have

F
- Full name: Laura Elizabeth Slack
- First thoughts waking up: Is it time already?
- Food: Tex-mex, Japanese, spaghetti, salmon

G
- Greatest Fear: Probably not being loved.
- Giver or taker: I've been a bit of a taker as of late, but I'm working on being more of a giver
- Gum: I hate gum.
- Get along with your parents?: Yes
- Good luck charm: I don't know if I have one of those.

H
- Hair Color: brown
- Height: 5' 4"
- Happy: Mostly
- Holiday: Christmas
- Hate: reptiles, rodents, dirty bathrooms, stinky fridges

I
- Ice Cream: Peanut Butter Chocolate
- Instrument: violin

J
- Jewelry: I love pearls. Just about anything classic.

K
- Kids: I want a big family.
- Kickboxing or karate: Karate, maybe.
- Keep a journal?: I'm not so good about it.

L
- Longest Car Ride: Probably from Houston to San Francisco when I was seven.
- Letter: Do I have a favorite letter? Maybe "L" for obvious reasons.
- Laughed so hard you cried: hmm...
- Love at first sight: I don't believe in it.

LAST PERSON WHO...
1. Slept in a bed beside you?: Maybe my mom. We had to share a bed because there were two beds and three people. Craig got his own bed.
2. Saw you cry?: One of my roommates.
3. Went to the movies with you?: Some of my relatives after Thanksgiving.
4. You went to the mall with?: My mom.
5. You went to dinner with?: My family.
6. You talked to on the phone?: Andrew, incidentally
7. Made you laugh?: I laugh a lot, so who knows?

M
- Milk flavor: I like chocolate milk occasionally. But I drink 1% milk. I refuse to drink skim.
- Mooned anyone?: Nope.
- Marriage?: Not married, but I would love to be married sometime in the not-too-distant future.
- Motion sickness?: I got a little dizzy once when we were driving down a mountain in West Virginia when I was twelve, but that's the closest I've gotten.
- McD's or BK?: Wendy's or Scoreboard Grill.

N
- Number of Siblings: 3
- Number of Piercings: One hole in each ear

O
- Overused Phrases: "Oh dear"
- One wish: Be married in the temple to someone wonderful.

P
- Place you'd like to live: I love Texas, but I'll go where I am supposed to go.
- Perfect Pizza: Lots of cheese.
- Pepsi/Coke: I don't drink soda.

Q
-Quail: What do they look like?

R
- Reason to cry: I have to go back to school soon...

S
- Song: I go through phases.
- Shoe size: 7 or 7 1/2 (depending on the shoe)
- Salad Dressing: Ceasar or Asian
- Sushi: I love sushi!
- Scent: A freshly bathed baby. Oh, and my Japanese Cherry Blossom body splash from B&BW
-Skipped school: It has happened
- Slept outside: Never done it, unless "slabs" count
- Seen a dead body?: You mean one besides the funeral home? I don't think so, unless you count road kill.
- Smoked?: No
- Skinny dipped?: No
- Shower Daily?: Yes
- Sing well?: So my roommates ay.
- In the shower?: Only when no one is around.
- Swear?: Try not to.
- Stuffed Animals?: yes
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries.
- Scientists need to invent: housekeeping robots

T
- Time for bed: usually by eleven
- Thunderstorms: I love them
- TV: The Office, House, What Not To Wear (when I had cable)
- Touch your tongue to your nose? no

U
- Unpredictable: Not really.

V
- Vegetable you love: steamed broccoli or roasted sweet potatoes
- Vacation spot: I want to visit France

W
- Weakness: Mexican food
- When you grow up: I want to be a mom, but I would also like to be a writer.
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: Stephan and I are kind of alike...it's weird.
- Who makes you laugh the most: my brother Craig or my roommates
- Worst feeling: guilt
- Wanted to be a model?: Maybe for a day
- Where do we go when we die: Ask the LDS (Mormon) missionaries. They'd explain it better than I could.
- Worst weather: Incessant snowing or oppressive heat

X
-X-Rays: My teeth at the dentist and one time on my left ring finger after I sprained it.

Y
-Year it is now: 2008... almost 2009
-Yellow: Not my favorite color.

Z
- Zoo animal: Cheetah
- Zodiac sign: Capricorn

finished!

As of 5:30 today, I finished finals! Hooray! I essentially took three finals today and wrote a paper. I finished my paper around 11 or so today, took my Music 201 exam online, did my final discussion for ELANG, turned in the paper then, and then took my Physical Science final. Next semester will be my last full semester at BYU. After that, I take my last two classes during spring and summer and I will graduate in August. Yikes! I will need to apply for graduation next semester, oh joy. I hope it won't be too bad.

So, I've been packing a little bit. My shuttle picks me up in between 8:30 and 9 tomorrow morning (uggh) and my plane leaves around noon. I hope it doesn't snow again tomorrow. The reason I'm leaving so early is because of snow and holiday traffic.

We had a snow storm this morning. It was amazing, and it made me decide that I wasn't going to leave the apartment until I HAD to. I'm not a huge fan of snow. It was so cold--I was grateful for my thermals, boots, socks, scarf, coat, and gloves! I don't like putting on so many layers, but it made walking outside more tolerable.

I'm thinking about signing up for an exercise class next semester. Not one for credit, but one through aerobics.byu.edu. I wanted Pilates, but the class times are inconvenient for me. However, KardioFusion caught my eye:

An intense cardiovascular workout with hi/lo and kick. Class includes toning and corework using Pilates and other methods.

My core could use some strengthening, since back problems do run in my family. And I could sure use some toning. But intense? Hmm, I dunno. But it would be good for me. I'll think about it. And the class is on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, which wouldn't be bad for me because I don't have class on these days. There's also a class on Saturday mornings, and it would get me out of bed at a reasonable hour.

christmas survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

• I'm not that great at wrapping (I am improving), so gift bags have been very useful for me.
  

2. Real tree or Artificial?

• Artificial, thank you. They aren't as messy.
  

3. When do you put up the tree?

• Usually at the start of December, but my parents weren't able to get the tree out of the garage themselves, so they're waiting for my brothers to help.
  

4. When do you take the tree down?

• Around New Years or so.
  

5. Do you like eggnog?

• *gag* No.
  

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

• Hmm, that's hard. Probably the Simba stuffed animal that I got for my ninth birthday from a former Primary teacher. My birthday is Christmas Day, so that counts. I still have Simba. I got my first real CTR ring when I turned twelve. I don't wear it anymore because it only fits on my left hand...yeah. I plan to pass it down to future posterity.
  

7. Hardest person to buy for?

• My dad, probably. He buys all these gadgets for himself that I can't afford.
  

8. Easiest person to buy for?

• My brothers aren't too difficult.
  

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

• Yes, a very small one.
  

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

• Oh, totally Christmas cards. Be traditional, show you care.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

• I think "most embarrassing" would be more accurate. My older brothers got me a razor for Christmas when I turned twelve. It was payback for when I got them razors.
  

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

• Definitely the animated feature "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
  

13. When do you start shopping?

• Around finals--I get most of my gifts at the BYU bookstore
  

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

• I don't think so
  

15. Favorite thing to eat or drink at Christmas?

• My mom used to make cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, but she doesn't anymore. Mommy, can you make them again?
  

16. Lights on the tree?

• Especially if the tree is pre-lit.
  

17. Favorite Christmas song?

• Handel's Messiah. I prefer the religious Christmas songs to the secular ones that are overplayed to an extreme. My song (according to my mom) is "I Saw Three Ships" because I was born "on Christmas Day in the morning".
  

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

• I travel home for Christmas. I leave in four days!!!
  

19. Can you name all of Santa 's reindeer?

• Nope.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

• We have a star, but I've come to love angels very much.
  

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

• Christmas morning. I open my birthday presents in the evening.
  

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

• The Christmas season starts WAY too early. Whatever happened to Thanksgiving people? I also get sick of the all the pop versions of Christmas songs that are played over and over and over again. I have come to dislike Christmas Carols. Yes, I know it sounds bad coming from someone who was born on Christmas Day.
  

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

• We have some ornaments of musical instruments. I like those.
  

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

• Cajun fried turkey, Mom's mashed potatoes, Mom's homemade rolls...do you see a theme?
  

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

• The Village...it's a great movie