Living Like Lisa

Things

2012-03-04T21:42:00.004-08:00

Sorry, I'm tired and sick, so not much to say.

I saved Stephanie's life the other day. It's true. I did. I forgot to mention it in the other post. We were walking together and a car would've run her over, but I grabbed her and pulled her out of the way. Super Lisa moment.

Another thing, Choir has been taking over my life recently, and I don't especially appreciate it.

Third thing, I'm sick. I said that already, but it deserves to be repeated.

Fourth thing, MY BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED THIS WEEK. YAY! I am so excited, guys. You have no idea.

Fifth thing, there's this guy who keeps coming to our apartment and making us brownies. *waggles eyebrows* There's also more to the story than that, but I'm not going into details right here, right now. Ask me some other time.

Sixth thing, I am SO EXCITED FOR CHRIS'S WEDDING. What? I already said that? Well, who cares! I'm doubly excited!

Seventh thing, I should not write blog posts when tired/sick. I am oddly loopy.

Eighth thing... There is no eighth thing in my mind right now.

The End.

Edit: WAIT. I remembered. I wanted to go on a bit about how sweet my friends are. Stephanie has been my mother hen the whole time I've been sick, Aretha brought me food today, Lindsey arranged for the home teachers to come give me a blessing, and Jessy has told me not to die every time I've coughed/shivered/appeared ill. Aren't they lovely?

Now that is all.

Stuff and things

2012-02-26T12:50:00.004-08:00

Firstly, the other link: Here.

Don't want to bore you with weather, but... it's Rexburg. Weather is important here.

We've had loads of wind lately. Some days it has been a nice wind that reminds me of home. Other days, like today, the wind is icy and cuts right through you.

A few days ago we had a gorgeous sunset unlike any I have ever seen. I'm used to the red and purple sunsets of Erda. This sunset was blue and cream and gold, and looked like heaven descending to earth. Really beautiful. I would've taken a picture, but I was walking somewhere when I saw it and didn't have my camera with me.

As for other things... We had midterms. So I've stayed up late pretty much every night this week, working on homework and stuff. Also, I kind of was sick this week. Not too fun.

Erm... Sorry, guys, this update is boring. Sometime, I will do posts about what I'm thinking rather than what I'm doing, and perhaps that will be more interesting.

Fun fun

2012-02-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

First, the promised link from last week's story: here.

And, TWO STORIES THIS WEEK to make up for being late with that link. Unfortunately, only one has been posted online yet: here.

Actually, I don't think they published two stories by me this week for that reason... I believe it's cause I wrote the second story almost a month ago and they haven't had room for it til now. *shrugs*

This last weekend being Presidents day, we had a long weekend. Due to some last minute convincing from my mom and the amazingness that is the Salt Lake Express, I magically appeared at home at 6:15 in the morning after a very long ride (I got on the bus at 2 am) and surprised my brother Jared, who was visiting.

Then... I slept. I would say I slept for hours and hours and hours, but it actually only ended up being from about 7 to about noon... which technically is hours and hours and hours, isn't it. Hmm. Well, around 12 my bestie Jessica texted a reply to something I'd texted the day before asking where I was. When I told her I was in Utah, she stopped texting and called to excitedly tell me that she was coming over immediately to see me.

Of course, I got up for that.

After about an hour, she and her sister Rachel had to leave, so we said goodbye... and I went back to sleep.

At about 4, she called again, asking if I wanted to go shopping. I decided that if I didn't get up sometime, I would get my days and nights mixed up, and anything with Jessica is fun, so I agreed.

I still hadn't surprised my sister, Gwen, yet, so Jared came and got me after about an hour of shopping and took me up to her house. There, he knocked on the door and told her he had brought a friend, whereupon I walked around the corner and she squealed quite adorably.

We spent several lovely hours with Gwen and her family and then went home, where Jared and I had some sibling bonding time over pizza and James Bond.

The next day was Sunday, and Stake Conference, and I (still catching up on sleep, mind) woke up barely in time to be ready for it. In fact, I don't think I had any makeup on and my hair was still wet when we got there. There were several really nice talks; I enjoyed it a lot. Afterward we said Goodbye to Jared and sent him off to catch his plane back to his girls. I fiddled on the piano for a while then convinced my dad to watch three episodes of Sherlock in a row with me.

Afterwards we ate my favoritest dish in the world, this broccoli fetticine stuff that mom discovered last year, and played Clue for hours. I won both games. Or I would've won the first one, anyway, if mom hadn't put two room cards and a person card in the envelope instead a room, a person and a weapon. I love Clue. We listened to the Sherlock soundtrack in the background while playing. Most stimulating.

I haven't told you guys about my obsession with Sherlock on here yet, have I? Hmm. Post idea.

I got a very long sleep, til noon the next day, then went to the eyedoctors and gave them my scratched old glasses so that they could put new lenses in the frames. While waiting for them to be done, I spent another hour and a half with my sister and her family and enjoyed it a lot. Had to get going though, so we went back and picked up my glasses just in time to get me home to pack and eat dinner on the way to the bus stop.

I had another long drive back up here, during which I did a LOT of homework, and then, arriving, discovered that my amazingly sweet friends Stephanie (you remember her, she's one of my roommates) and Aretha (my friend from India) walked through the snow all the way across campus to 'pick me up' (walk me home) from the bus stop. They're just lovely, aren't they?

And that, my dears, was my weekend. I hope it was long and detailed enough for you (Dad).

I am going to bed now. Goodnight!

Annie the Snowwoman

2012-02-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I told you I'd show these pics to you eventually. This happened several weeks ago now. It was the second snow of the semester, the first that we were all home for.

Stephanie, Lindsey, Aretha, Jessy and I went out to giggle like small children at the snowflakes. Lindsey and Stephanie made snow angels while Aretha and Jessy took pictures. Afterwards, those two went back inside and Lindsey, Stephanie and I drew pictures in the snow on the sidewalk and wrote messages and stuff. Then, because we were beginning to freeze, we were about to go in and be done when Stephanie and a girl from the next dorm over started a snowman. My shoes (just the slippers I'd had on to keep my feet warm inside) were soaked through, so I went in and put on boots and gloves and then rejoined them.

Once the snowman was up, we decided to make her a woman, because, you know, men can't be in the confines of the dorm after midnight, and we didn't think this one would be leaving anytime soon. So it was that Annie (named after Annie S. Kerr, the namesake of our dorms) was born.

The original Annie, before her make-over, provided by yours truly.

After make-over. She looks so much happier with definable eyes and I straight nose, don't you think?

The girl from the next dorm over who's name I have most unfortunately forgotten.

The Ode to Annie the Snowwoman

Beautiful Annie, made from the snow

after one night, she had to goooo.

The sidewalk scrapers didn't approve,

said poor Annie would have to move.

So they sent her tumbling down the hill,

so there she lies crumbling, in pieces still.

Of hat and scarf, we've nary a sign,

but don't worry, they're Stephanie's, not mine.

The end.

P.S. First sports article came out in the paper today, but hasn't been put online yet. I'll link it when it appears.

It's Sunday afternoon...

2012-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

and I want to nap.

Mmmmyep.

Now that we've got that out of the way, here's a quick update on my life.

I had a Women's Choir concert last night... well, two of them. We did the same thing twice. It was a Barbershop thing and lots of fun. For our first song, the Bases (normally called Alto 2s) jumped out of the first row and onto the stage, then the rest of us either ran across the stage or burst through the side doors. It was quite the entrance, if you ask me. I was one of the side door people. Then we all ran up onto the stage and found our places on the risers. After the opening prayer we sang Sweet Hour of Prayer, and then we sang (and did actions, including passing big green leaves) High Hopes. You've heard it, I'm sure. "Once there was a little old ant, thought he'd move a rubber tree plant..." etc.

Besides the concerts (and all accompanying rehearsals) I've also had two tests, two seminars and plenty of homework this week, which is my excuse for not posting in a while.

In other News, I've been switched (sniff, sniff, sob) from the Arts and Entertainment section of the Scroll to the Sports section. Apparently, because Sports lost four of the seven writers they originally had, they decided to steal me from A&E 'cause A&E has nine writers... or had. Now, without me, they have eight. We'll see how this new thing goes, since I know next to nothing about Sports and have never had much interest in playing them.

Probably ought to mention that I have lovely classes. I adore my history and English classes, my science class is a lot of fun, women's choir is exhausting but exciting, and I think I'm starting to get the hang of writing for the Scroll. (No article this week, sorry. They didn't have room for the story I wrote in this week's edition, it'll be in next week's. It isn't time sensitive, so it'll be fine whenever they decide to put it up.)

My friend Sarah had a birthday this week. She's 17 now. You all ought to wish her Happy Birthday in the comments.

Um.... yeah. I can't think of anything else to write.

OH. We built a snow-woman a few weeks back and I got pictures. I'll post them sometime.

Now that's all.

Newspaperyness

2012-01-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

This week's article: Clicky. They didn't edit this one as much. I am pleased.

Hiya

2012-01-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

Hi guys. Several people *coughmyparentscough* have requested I post a certain new article that recently appeared in The Scroll (BYU-I's school newspaper). So here's the link to the newspaper's website, specifically, the wanted article.

Let me just tell you though, due to excellent editors, what you will read is a lot better than what I originally wrote. You can thank them for the awesomeness with which the article glows. Not me. You can thank me for getting the quotes. That was scary. I would appreciate thanks for that.

And even if they changed it a bit, it still has my name on it. So that's exciting. It's pretty cool to see your own name in the papers under a headline. Well... I guess it wouldn't be exciting for someone whose headline said 'Criminal Scheduled to be Executed Today' and the line under the headline that had their name in it was just a line from the story...

Sorry. That was random.

Oh well. I am random sometimes. Get used to it.

*hugs* Have a lovely weekend you lovely people!

Adventures with Friends

2012-01-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

I've been having a marvelous week. Lots of fun with my roommates and a few new friends.

It all started with Aretha. Aretha and I have a class together, and one day in class last week, she asked if she could sit by me. We got talking and she told me she came from India and the stuff we were learning (American history) was all new to her, so I offered to study with her some time and we exchanged numbers. The next class we sat together again, then afterwards we and my roommate Stephanie ate lunch together. A few days later at our first ward FHE we went bowling and surprise! She was part of our ward! So Aretha, Stephanie and I played miniature golf and pool (we taught Aretha how to play both, she'd never played them before -- it was fun).

Since then we've all been good buddies. I told Aretha that I needed to get interviews for a news article I needed to do and she told me I should just come over and talk to her and her roommates so a few days ago I convinced my roommates to go with me and we all showed up at their dorm and played games while I asked them questions. Then on Friday, Aretha texted to see if we wanted to go ice skating with her and her roommates. We had gone shopping, but were able to get home in time to go with them (mostly due to the two good samaritans, fellow-students-but-with-a-car, who gave us a ride back).

Leaving to go skating.

On the way to the skating rink, we passed through the I-center. As we were walking, we became aware that a part of our group had fallen back. We all hid in anticipation of them rounding the corner, so we could jump out and surprise them, but then only one of them came. She told us that one of the party (one of Aretha's roommates' shy cousin who'd been talked into coming) had felt weird, coming along with a bunch of strangers, so they were taking her back to her dorm.

While we were waiting for them to take her home and come back, we decided to play a nice game of squash. I was chosen to hide and took off down a corridor. Not very long afterward, Lindsey, one of my roommates, and Kaleigh, one of Aretha's roommates, found me. We decided where we were currently hiding wouldn't hide a bunch of people well and so we moved about ten feet away, through a set of doors and onto the landing on a set of stairs. While we were standing there, hiding, Lindsey... kind of dropped her phone into the small space between the wall and the glass divider next to it (to keep people from getting onto the window sill, I guess).

Lindsey, trying to get her phone.

Kaleigh 'kicking' the phone toward Lindsey's hand with her boot.

A moment later, Jessy found us. For the next few minutes, we tried to stifle our laughter as Lindsey entertained us by trying to scare the people outside, slapping the window and staring at them.

Lindsey was having a hard time remaining serious while I videoed her doing it.

Lindsey Pose!

Kaleigh Pose!

"Be quiet, you guys, they'll find us!"

Kaleigh, the look out.

For some reason, her position in this picture amuses me greatly.

She reminds me of a penguin.

As the time wore on without Aretha and Stephanie (the only others playing) finding us, Lindsey started calling and texting Stephanie and leaving odd messages for her. "How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck would chuck wood?" being one of them. So when, a few minutes later, Stephanie texted me asking if I had anyone with me, I replied, "A wood chuck."

For the next half hour or so, we waited, Stephanie and I exchanging tree and wood chuck related hints to where we were hiding and laughing at Lindsey's creeper act.

Eventually, Stephanie and Aretha saw us through the window. They'd gone, via the sky bridge, to the building across the way, which was technically against the rules (or so we decided, anyway) and so we changed hiding places. Stephanie and Aretha saw us running, though, so they gave up and told us to come find them so we could go ice skating for real. The other roommates were apparently not returning. But Lindsey needed to get back to the dorm, so in the end, we all decided ice skating would have to wait for some other time and came back to our dorm, where we had hot chocolate.

Then we went over to Aretha & co's dorm to watch a couple movies. Afterwards, I finished my newspaper article, which took til 4 am. D:

The next morning I had a date, which was fun. We got hot chocolate and explored Rexburg for an hour.

After that, Jessy and I had planned to go to the temple. Somehow, though, it got later and later, and began to involve more and more people until we had Jessy, me, Aretha (who had never been to the temple before, though she has a recommend, because there isn't one in India), Stephanie, Lindsey and Kaleigh.

We crammed ourselves into Kaleigh's car, rode up the hill to the temple and... were told that they had stopped taking walk-in's because it was really busy. We got to go in and sit for a while and watch baptisms, though. That was nice. I love the peace of the temple, even if I'm not doing any work.

A nice little old man took this picture of all us of together.

That night, Aretha invited us over to have Indian food and watch a Bollywood movie. We had a lot of fun.

Nothing left. We ate it ALL.

Then we had the cake that Jessy made from the cake mix we bought earlier that day (and which I accidentally carried in my purse, to the temple) and Sprite. It was crazy, but the Sprite made up for all the other things you usually combine with cake mix, like oil and water and egg. It was delicious.

Blessed

2012-01-14T22:37:00.001-08:00

I just want to let you guys know, I have felt the Lord's hand so strongly in my life since I started school. I've had several experiences where I felt He was guiding me. The third day of school, I was convinced, 100%, no doubts, that my second class was at 3:00. I went to the library, determined to study til 2:45. About 1:45, I just thought that, even though I *knew* it was at 3:00, I should just look over my schedule again. It turned out that it was at 2:00. I have a different class on another day that's at 3:15, and somehow I'd mixed the two classes together. I got to my class just in time.

That class, incidentally, was Women's Choir. If I hadn't shown up that day to do call-backs, I would not have been accepted into the Choir, which would have left me one credit short of the full-time student credit minimum. It also would have been very disappointing, because I love singing, and so far Choir has been a lot of fun. Well, besides the scary moment approaching my director to tell her I'd have to miss a concert for Chris' wedding. But the director was so chill about it, my nerves were completely misplaced.

Other times, I have felt that I shouldn't study something at a certain time and instead take care of non-educational things. I paid for my student insurance in one of those times. I hadn't realized I needed to get it. That was the only time that day I could go before they closed. If I'd paid it a day later, it would have been late and cost more.

Things like this just make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside when I think about them. I mean, I'm hours away from all my family, so it is so comforting to me to know that my Heavenly Father is taking extra special care of me while I'm away from them.

Stuff. You know, stuff. Like... Life?

2012-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

My classes are interesting and fun. I'm becoming great friends with my roommates. I've made several other friends in my classes and around campus. I'm getting hot chocolate with a guy on Saturday. I paid for my insurance and picked up my choir costume both during a time slot that I didn't think would work for either and felt like a ninja. I interviewed people for my reporting job at the newspaper today. I know the campus and my schedule well enough that I check my schedule/map combo that is always in my pocket less than once a day now.

The above? Random facts that add up to: Very Pleasant Life.

Also, it snowed for the first time since I've been here yesterday, and has been much colder since then.

In case you're wondering whether I'll ever post real, thought provoking stuff, never fear. I have some things ruminating in my mind that shall appear here eventually. But for now, I'm too tired and I can't afford to stay up much later, my earlier class is tomorrow.

First Week

2012-01-08T22:06:00.000-08:00

Guys, guys, GUESS WHAT?

I HAVE SURVIVED MY FIRST WEEK. And not only that -- I've loved it! I love all the reading and interesting things I'm learning and keeping track of my assignments and my teachers (one of whom is a pirate and another is a cowboy -- cool, right?) and my roommates and being in charge of my schedule and the responsibility and-- and-- *gasps for breath* and that was a very long run-on sentence.

I was really worried about my science class, and put off studying for it for hours, and then the text turned out to be really interesting. And I was so interested in my history class when I started, and then the text turned out to be rather dull. Funny how life works like that.

It is so interesting and fun, figuring out how to take charge of myself. I've only got one piece of homework that isn't finished and it isn't due til Tuesday, and I'm halfway done with it. Not only that, my desk, dishes, bed, closet, etc, are the tidiest in my dorm. I'm so excited. So far, I think I've done pretty well with keeping my life on schedule and well taken care of in all areas.

Yep. That's pretty much all I have to say right now. Well, unless you want to hear me squeal about my brother's engagement some more.

My Roommates

2012-01-05T21:12:00.000-08:00

These are the people with whom I live now, in all their 'Guys, I've got a camera and I'm taking your picture in two seconds!' glory.

Stephanie (and the top of Lindsey's head -- she ducked).

Jessy, the roommate who actually shares my room.

And Lindsey, once she had decided to allow her picture to be taken.

Le Update

2012-01-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

Hola! (No, I'm not taking Spanish class. Be quiet.)

I am here to announce that I am alive. And not only that, I am having a wonderful time. I've only gone to one class and some newbie activities, but so far, I am loving college! My dorm mates... or roommates... (I have suddenly become unsure of whether the term dorm mate is a necessary distinction) are very fun and very helpful. I'll post a picture of the four of us on here soon. Two of them have been here a semester already, so they know what they're doing -- that's very reassuring for me, let me tell ya.

I've had an interesting few days. I've changed classes (sounds [and is] simple, but it worried me at the time), paid tuition like a grown up woman (SCARY! Who said I could grow up already?) and I've already started a study habit.

I am, overall, very pleased with my experience so far.

Also, I INTERUPT THIS UPDATE OF MY LIFE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

My big bruver, Chris, is engaged! *dances in joy* Her name is Keira and I think she's awesome. I am so excited for him. I was at a dance (one of the newbie welcoming activities) when I got his text, and I actually screamed in excitement. Not very loudly, don't worry. And I don't think my neighboring dancers minded much, because it was loud in there already.

Yep. That's the awesomeness that is my life right now.

College... Eep.

2012-01-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

Well, this is it, folks. Tomorrow I will walk onto my new campus, move into my new dorm, and begin my new college experience. I am excited and very freaked out. I hope my dorm mates are nice. I hope I am not completely overwhelmed by my classes. I hope I don't freeze to death.

Tomorrow promises to be an interesting day.

By the way, Happy New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T13:27:00.000-08:00

I hope you have a lovely evening and that your New Year is the best year of your life so far.

Musings about Blessings and Charity

2011-12-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

Having just returned home from living in a rather small twin home, I am still getting over how big everything is, and how much there is of it all. The day I got home, I kept wandering around the house with my hands stuck out to my sides and noting in awe that I could not touch the walls. My room, which is by no stretch of the imagination huge, felt like a palace after the room I had in Texas, where the bed almost met all four walls, leaving only enough room along one wall for a dresser and bedside table.

As Christmas day approached, I was amazed by the number of presents under the tree, all the fancy decorations around the house, and the food. Oh, the food. So. Much. Food. Everywhere you looked. It was crazy.

(Above: My niece, Ashland in her Christmas Eve outfit. There's another five or six pictures of her on my camera; I'm still in take-many-pictures-of-babies mode from my time with the triplets.)

As I have become so much more aware of my blessings, I have also become so much more aware of all the people who do not have as much as I do. I think it is a common thing, around the Holidays, to become more appreciative of one's own blessings and aware of other people's lack. Christmas day, surrounded by my family, piles of torn wrapping paper and stacks of gifts, I made a resolution that I would be more charitable to my fellow men; that I would not hoard my blessings.

How comforting such resolutions are in times of happiness, surrounded by plenty. How terrifying when confronted with reality.

We went to Temple Square the other day. If you have ever been, you have probably experienced the cries of the beggars who stand post at the entrances to the square. You would think it a perfect opportunity for me to make good on my resolution to care more for my fellows. And yet, when a woman, poorly dressed, turned her bright blue eyes upon me and asked if I had any change to spare, her voice shaking with tears, I avoided her gaze and walked past her.

Before you think me entirely heartless or untrue to my word, let me state that that same woman has stood sentinel over that corner of Temple Square for so many years, I cannot even remember the first time I saw her. She is, it is almost entirely certain, not there so much because she is in need as she is to pray upon the giving natures of the people who visit the place. Her tearful voice, her plea for money, her 'act' has not changed in all that time.

But even sure as I am that she and her fellow beggars are not really needy, my heart still constricts in my chest and guilt weighs on my shoulders every time I walk past them. How can I so easily shrug off the misery of another person? Feigned misery it may be, but still, is it not better to be affected by the idea of suffering than to remain unmoved? Is it better to bleed for those who do not deserve it or to become so hardened that even cries of help from those really in need go unheeded?

Our Savior teaches us that we should 'succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, strengthen the feeble knees.' (D&C 81:5) How are you supposed to do that when it is so hard to tell the feeble from the fakes? The answer of course, is obvious. Tithing. The money we give the Lord that is in turn given to those truly in need.

But still the woman's voice pulls at my conscience.

Sorry if this post is a bit incoherent. I don't know what I'm really trying to say here. I suppose I should have waited to write on this subject til I had my thoughts completely in order, but I said I'd post once a week and this is what has been on my mind recently.

That and *BOOK UPDATE* I wrote a scene last night with supremely embarrassing parents in it. Twas fun. And also drove me crazy. I was blushing along with my MC.

Hello All!

2011-12-22T14:15:00.001-08:00

I have arrived! But before I set down my proverbial bags and begin my metaphorical unpacking, let me introduce myself a little bit.

My name is Lisa. I am a member of the LDS church. I write. I am a teenager on the brink of college and other adult-ness. I love reading books and watching certain tv shows (Psych and Monk, anyone?) more than most physical activities combined. I recently finished another blog recording my time spent assisting my brother and sister in law with their triplets as a nanny-person. I had another blog before that one, once upon a time, but it is so ancient now I shudder to return to it.

And so this blog was born.

I plan to use this blog to keep track of my life, both inner and outer. You may expect posts about college, about writing, about stories I have in mind, about life in general, and plenty of other random-ness. I haven't been the most consistent blogger in the past, but I hope to post at least once a week. *crosses fingers* If you leave comments, I might be better at remembering to post.

So, yeah. Happy Blog Beginnings and Merry Christmas everyone!