The passing of a good man

This is a sad time for me. President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has passed away. Yeah, I was shocked too! He was suppose to live at least until the Millenium. He was a good man who loved the Lord, his family, the saints, and the rest of the billions of people on the planet. He is in a better place (with Marjorie) and free of his aging body.

Ok I can't write anymore--it's too sad.

I'm going to NCUR

So, I got accepted NCUR (National Conference for Undergraduate Research), and I'm really excited! Can't you tell?! The conference is at Salisbury University in Maryland. My idea is comparing Mary I and Elizabeth I to Katarina and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. So now I have to write the paper.

Heath Ledger

There is probably going to be a million blog postings about the death of Heath Ledger, so I decided to make it a million and one. I was sad about the news. I will admit (now that I am grown, and out of the silly teen idol phase) that I had a crush on him. Yes, he was very cute when he co-starred with Keri Russell in the short-lived Medieval period series "Roar," and then popped up as the rebel Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You. I watched it almost on a weekly basis with my Kiwi friend Kristie (sorry about the misspelling) memorizing the whole movie and quoting lines at just the right moment--it was beautiful how every line could fit into our BYU world.

Because of him I thought I "could change my stars" be whatever I wanted to be, and that only I can determine my destiny. Then we drifted apart. He sporadically popped up in movies that I haven't gotten around to see. I don't think I can watch 10 Things, or A Knight's Tale the same way again. This summer we will get to see him for the last time as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

I am sad that he is dead, and it's just weird . . . how all the reports said his body was found. . . . This is proof that it's hard to know what is really going on with people. It's really sad.

Reading Quiz

This is what I do when I am bored. Make tests. I guess I need to practice since I plan on becoming a teacher. This quiz will be on all the pop culture references I have made in my blog thus far. It shouldn't be too hard since I have only 7 posts. But now you know how closely you need to pay attention! There will definitely be more references and more quizzes in the future. (Note: Not all the answers can be found by reading my blog-- you just need to know pop culture as well as I do!)

#1. In "Did you see that?! DID YOU SEE THAT?!" I said Brett Favre "was not at all unpleasant to look at!" (Did you really think that I came up with that line on my own?) What favorite movie of mine was I quoting, who said it, and whom is it really said about (the part about not being at all unpleasant to look at) . . .

a. The Goonies, Andy about Sloth

b. Clueless, Cher about Travis the skater

c. Emma, Miss Bates about Mr. Frank Churchill

or d. It was really me, and I say it about every good looking guy I see (especially Brett Favre).

#2. What classic Christmas movie did I loosely quote when I skipped over the "double dog dare," and went straight to "the triple dog dare"?

a. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

b. It's a Wonderful Life with the late Jimmy Stewart.

c. A Christmas Story

d. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

#3 A lot of times Disney cartoon series will take story lines from real events and fictionalize them. In one episode they mixed the tragedy of the Titanic and the Hindenburg, and flipped it into a somewhat happy story, but only to have the story end like the Titanic and Hindenburg (but without the deaths). One of the characters in this episode was know to say "billions and billions" a lot. What was the cartoon?

a. Jem

b. Tale Spin

c. Ducktales, or

d. Mickey's Playhouse

#4 What does Professor Trelawney teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

a. Defense Against the Dark Arts

b. Transfiguration

c. Divination, or

d. Predicting the deaths of Harry Potter.

#5 What's a "grim" in Harry Potter?

a. I don't know only wizards can see them

b. an animal that likes shiny objects, and is really good and finding buried treasure.

c. a big black dog that's a bad omen. The person that sees it will usually die shortly after. Professor Trelawney predicted Harry's death a lot in his third year, and pretty much everytime she sees him after that.

d. Sirius Black

#6 What teenie bopper flick is the quote"back in the game from," and why does the character say it?

a. Emma, Emma hit the center target when she was practicing archery with Mr. Knightley.

b. Searching for Bobby Fischer, after he beat the Russian.

c. 10 Things I Hate About You, after Cameron is kissed by Bianca.

d. She's All that, Zach says to Laney Boggs after she is hit in the head with a volleyball.

#7 Why was I inspired to buy a pink ruffly umbrella in Thailand?

a. All the Thai people had them, even the guys-- hey they wore pink flowery shorts too!

b. It was cheaper than the green umbrella with ducks.

c. Because I like the color pink, and Emma Woodhouse had a ruffly umbrella. or is it

d. I like to collect rare umbrellas.

Bonus question for all the points . . .

What is my favorite color? and Why?

2 Hours Too Soon

I spoke too soon, and the the Packs didn't win, but I still hold to what I previously said: the Packs got in the Giants' heads (i.e. Tynes 2 missed field goal attempts). What do you expect from me . . . . I'm not a sports reporter, nor am I Professor Trelawny and can predict the grim outcome of the the Packers/Giants game.

Did you see that?! DID YOU SEE THAT?!

So, I go to church from 2-5 pm (and it kills me), and then I get home and get out of my stockings faster than you can say "football" (they're already off!). As I was preparing my leftover Thai food (it was ok) I remembered that today was the NFC playoffs, which I have been waiting for all week. When I turned the game on there was 11 minutes left in the second quarter, and the score was 6-0 Giants. I wasn't too worried given what happened when the Packers played . . . that other team last week, and was behind the first quarter and then scored 6 touchdowns in a row.

I have since come to the conclusion that Favre is a good leader. He is the glue of the team. He really knows how to rally the team and give them hope. That is exactly what he did the next play, after the receivers almost lost the ball on the kick off. Favre threw to #80 Donald Driver then he ran for 90 yards for the touchdown, and the kicker got the field goal giving the Packers the lead. I called my sister to make sure she saw what I just saw. By the time I got my phone, called her, and she picked up, she (and her family) had just sat down, but they were still cheering. I'm sure the BPD showed up to answer some neighbor's call about disturbing the peace.

After one play they're "back in the game!" It's psychological. The Packers get inside their opponents' heads, and pull the rug, or astro turf, right out from underneath them. They pretend to lose for awhile.

Then the Giants had to score:#27 Jacobs is a punkbutt faking the signature "jump into the crowd move" the Packs do to honor their fans. Maybe Eli Manning should have had his fiancee sit up in the suite instead of in the stands among the Packer fans (superstitions are so silly!).

I like Brett Favre. "He's not at all unpleasnat to look at."

The Elephant Stole My Coconut

A few years ago (and after my time in Thailand) I was in a friend's apartment, and she had some coconut shells. It's amazing what the brain recalls, cosidering I have a terrible memory. I remember that I was clapping the hollow shells together, and I blurted out "an elephant stole my coconut!" Of course everybody thought I was crazy, but nobody knew that I was having a flashback.

It is true that a baby elephant assaulted me while crossing a bridge in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and stole what was left of my coconut. I had drank the juice, but there was "meat" left (the fruity part). I was sad because I was going to eat it. The trainer laughed. Those funny tiny Thai men.

I should have known that elephants are never satiated. When we were waiting in line to ride an elephant, we had a bunch of leaves and bananas to feed them, so they would warm up to us and let us on the them. Well, we weren't paying attention when the elephant pulled up, and he (it could have been a her) started to grab our ankles, and attack us with its trunk. I told my mom, or dad, to drop the food to prevent any further mauling. (Apparently Asian elephants are nicer than African, and trainable.) It was like a ride at Disneyland, except the getting attacked part.

I was really sad about my coconut, but as soon as I saw how happy the elephant was I forgot all about my coconut until I was in my friend's apartment. I could have made a purse out of that coconut, or a bra!

What did I learn from this: Never have food that you are planning to eat in front of an elephant.

My Pink Umbrella

I figured since the name of my blog references Thailand I should probably write about it.

While I was in Thailand I came to the conclusion that I needed a new umbrella. I was in Roi Et during the rainy season (I think cuz it rained a lot while I was there), and I was without an umbrella. I purchased one in Bangkok--a green one with a duck on it. The umbrella also had a reflective side underneath which was really nice cuz it provided shade and kept me cool in the heat. I let a friend borrow my umbrella while I rode my bike home in the rain. (Hey it's dangerous riding and holding an umbrella at the same time). Needless to say I needed a new umbrella.

As previously mentioned I like the color pink, and several months later I bought a pink umbrella with ruffles. One night I was riding my bike through the streets of Roi Et holding my umbrella across my handlebars. It slipped and went through the spokes. My bike stopped, and I almost flipped over my bike. It was a miracle I didn't. I was more sad about my broken pink ruffly umbrella, and gave up buying umbrellas for awhile.

I like my ruffly umbrella it reminded me of my favorite movie Emma, and that is part of the reason why a bought an umbrella with ruffles. It's just a random scene, but I have seen that movie so many times that I know every little thing about it. In one scene Harriet and Emma are walking down a street, and they see Miss Bates coming towards them. Emma and Harriet hide behind their umbrellas, Emma as a white ruffly one, to avoid Miss Bates telling them about Miss Jane Fairfax. I laugh everytime.

Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease

Who says "peace, love, and chicken grease"? Apparently Randy Jackson does when sending off wannabe idols channeling Grace Slick. There was a moment when I thought she was Mrs. Slick (so I don't really know cuz I actually missed the "white rabbit" hallucinogenic era that was the 60s and 70s). Watch out Hollywood she wants to get into "actressing," and (because I care) citizens of Allentown, P-A don't take your cat to her.

The most entertaining audition was the "not yet admitted to the psyche ward" Paula stalker who "Snuck into her house and put on her underwear." If she was a chalkboard he would chalk her, or If she was a bathtub he would caulk her. Don't they have prescreening auditions to see if you are "t.v. worthy." This may be the season the judges need to take out restraining orders. The acknowledged stalker needed to be escorted out of the room. Then there was the social worker who sang "Sex Is Not Allowed," a song he wrote, he also seemed to be one Lincoln short of a dollar. I know Pennsylvania can represent better than this. Hello! It is the home of Benjamin Franklin and Rocky Balboa! These two are Freud's dream patients.

You know how they do the personal stories? Wouldn't it really suck if the ones that are doing it for a family member that is dying (or whatever tragedy), and they didn't make it to Hollywood?

I was hoping American Idol would be better considering all my favorite shows are in reruns due to the strikes. Fox really played it up, but it was a big disappointment. I still haven't figured out what Simon wants. Skinny or fat? Sane or insane? Good or bad? Mainstream or unique? He's fickle.




My favorite performer was the very last one on the second day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She doesn't watch rated R movies, nor does she smoke or drink. She should be the idol just because I idolize her. Why do people have a desire to corrupt the righteous?

Pink Is My Favorite Color

So, obviously I like the color pink (that is part of the reason I chose this template). I think it has become an obsession. Whenever I go shopping for clothes I naturally gravitate towards pink. I buy pink toothbrushes, and razors (Venus), and the "Pink" song by Aerosmith, and my email page has a pink background. When I was a little girl I rebelled and liked the color purple (I still do, but over the years it has dropped to #2 status).

As previously stated most of my clothes are pink, and therefore I get compliments about them like: "That's a good color for your complexion," (I am fair skinned) and "Dang girl! You look hot!" and . . . . well mostly just those, but it's enough for me to continue wearing pink. Whenever I want to venture out and add color to my wardrobe it is usually brown, white, black (you know, neutral colors), with the occasional green, or blue, or red, or etc.

Pink makes me happy!

It also adds a splash of color to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (sorry, but I had to add a Harry Potter reference). I must say, that is the only redeeming quality for Professor Dolores Umbridge--she wore pink!

There are "billions and billions" of reasons to like the color pink, but the most important one is . . . . do you have a pen and paper to write this down? . . . . Pink is the best color in the universe! Scientists have not been able to go beyond the universe, nor have humans thought of a larger spacial quantity. I claimed it first, and no one can say anything else is better. I just skipped over the "double dog dare" and went straight for the "triple dog dare." That's how I roll.

Rookie Ramblings

I don't really know what I am doing--I'm just doing it cuz everyone else is. People tell me I should get a blog so here it is.

I guess I can write about the football game I am currently watching: Jacksonville v. New England. I want Jax to win; they aren't really my team. I don't even have an NFL team, but I am sick of New England winning all the time.

I lost interest in sports once I moved away from home. (School has consumed my life for the past. . . . too long). I am all about the underdog, or just different teams getting attention once in awhile (who really cares about winning). I feel the same way about the New York Yankees they have too much publicity, and money, and they really aren't that good (hello Boston Red Sox). Oh no! Flashbacks to junior high, and being told I suck at sports! I guess my disdain for organized sports is based off of a horrible experience that I can't let go of. it's true that school create this attitude that sports are only about winning, so forget about having fun, being excused from classes, and making exercising look fun.

Sometimes it's nice to be damaged, or affected, or just bitter. It gives you something to write about, and people suck it up like cherry-coke-blueberry slurpies. OUCH! Ice headache. I think I am going to be sick now!

Even if Jax doesn't win the Packers did! Go Cheeseheads!