Sac Attack

DC and what not

2011-07-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Alright, alright. I know you're all dying to hear how my life is going. To start things off right, I want to share this picture I made Jeff surreptitiously take with his phone the other day (if you can't tell, that Obama bill says ZERO $).

Secondly, my research is funny. Yes, you read that right, funny. Perhaps my sense of humor has become distorted since spending days alone in a basement, looking through papers and photos by myself while wearing dainty white gloves. But, perhaps not. This is my favorite find of late:

I am researching a playwrite named Henry Francis Downing. Mr. Downing was an African American diplomat to Liberia in the late 1800s. He tried trading, business, writing, everything. Pretty much failed at it all. Hence, I am trying to recover his plays and anything else on him because he was forgotten by the world (but not by me). Don't get my wrong, although he was a terrible writer, I somehow am fascinated by his story. I found two letters the other day, from Downing to Spingarn, a guy who helped found the research center where I am currently working.

Letter 1. Downing announcing that he would like to dedicate his new novel, “The American Calvary-Man” to Arthur Spingarn. Why? For Spingarn's efforts on the behalf of American Negroes. Downing asks whether Arthur will accept the book dedication, pretty please with a cherry on top. The letter is dated August 20,1916, from London, England.

Letter 2. Next letter, dated November of the same year. Downing writes to "Doctor Spingarn" saying that he accidentally sent a book dedication request to the Doctor’s brother, Arthur, which was an accident. He thought that Arthur was the Doctor. Whoops. Downing asks whether Doctor will accept the dedication because he is sooo wonderful and smart and cool. And besides, Arthur never wrote back anyway, so no hard feelings right?

The poor guy never got anything right.

Otherwise DC is hot, in more ways than one, ya know?

Lately

2011-06-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

This has been me recently. I've been sleeping out of control and haven't known why. I thought I was depressed, suddenly lazy, and bored with everything. I went to the doctor on Monday because I thought I had strep, but hadn't put the symptoms together myself...turns out I have mono. Ugh. It's pretty terrible. I sleep at least 12 hours a day. And fall asleep whenever I need to accomplish anything remotely productive (of course).

Because I have been seriously slacking in the blogging department, Let's rewind a bit.
I went to Florida in April to present at the Multi-Ethnic Literature Conference in Boca Raton, aka I went to the Beach and Harry Potter World! The beaches in Florida are beautiful--the water was the same temperature as the air. My favorite part of HP world was walking through the castle, it's like being in a diorama (my dream of all dreams). PS. The butterbeer is fantastic.

Then my dear friend Whitney got married! So I got to trek to Arizona.
Then it snowed on memorial day and Jeff and I went skiing. 2 days before June.
I went to "Chad the Hair God" a few days ago and dyed my hair much darker. I feel like a real Campbell again--most of my cousins are brunette beauties. Chad knew most things about me just by looking. It was quite the experience.
I finish up spring term next week before I move to Washington DC! I'll be there for 2 months doing research at Howard University and can't wait. (The fact that Jeff got an internship with USAID may or may not have something to do with this)

Starry Waters

2011-05-06T14:44:00.001-07:00

One time I was scuba diving in Hawaii with my family and I was scared. My guts felt squirmy and my breath came fast because it was night-time. The water above me was a great heavy block of oppression and made me feel claustrophobic, and I knew that at any moment, the creature from the black lagoon, or Jaws, or the kraken, would snatch me up. Fortunately I had my scuba buddy / mama with me and that made things a little bit better. Until my flashlight blacked out (somebody gave me a new one, don't worry).

We saw lobsters and fish in weird mucus cocoons. The coral and walls looked distorted, longer, and sinister in the dark--like in some disney movie when the forest turns evil and the tree limbs grab at the heroine. Well, I swear that coral arms and seaweed were writhing behind my back.

Because (as people enjoy constantly reminding me) I am a tiny person, my air supply lasted the longer than those with whom I was diving. When you dive, you need to take a rest stop about twenty feet below the surface before you go up so that your blood doesn't fill up with toxic gas. Ouch. By the time I reached the twenty foot stop, I was the only one under water anymore, as everyone else had already surfaced and boarded the boat.

I could see moon/starlight streaming down through the water and was no longer so anxious. Suddenly, everything was immensely peaceful and calm. Being squirmy, I waved my arms around in the water, and was immediately surrounded by stars. Tiny pinpricks of light filled the water where my arms had moved. Obviously, I started thrashing around to make more. I was weightless, suspended in this vast darkness, completely surrounded by light, by stars. I felt as though I was hanging still in space and time, looking out upon a beautiful, secret universe, reserved especially for me.

It was really quite marvelous.

*The "stars" were phosphorescent plankton that light up with movement.

Conspiracy

2011-03-15T14:45:00.001-07:00

My little brother Matt included this gem in his letter home this week:

So I heard there was a crazy earthquake in Japan. That is pretty crazy. January 11. We were talking to Nelson [his investigator] and he was telling us how he analyzes everything to an extreme. I was like well what do you mean? He then proceeded to say this mind blowing coincidence (?)

The attach on the Twin Towers was on September 11.
The earthquake in Haiti was on January 11 and 12.
The Japan earthquake/tsunami occurred on March 11.

That is 3 of the most major, recent disasters to have happened.

What is 3 times 11? 333

Christ was 33 when he was crucified.

----------

I would like to add that Christ appeared to the Nephites in 3 Nephi 11.

What does it all mean?

V Day

2011-02-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

Let's review why I think Valentines is horribly awkward and annoying.

1. Once in high school I went on a few dates with a cutie on the guys soccer team. We hung out for a while but then things sort of tapered off because I wasn't feeling it. But of course Valentines day came around. For some reason, he saw this as the prime opportunity to declare his love to me. Well, that day at school he brought me a dozen roses but was too nervous to give them to me. I usually worked through lunch in the student government room, so the boy came there, threw the roses at me and ran out of there. Seriously.
Later that night I had a soccer game and went to bed around 11. My mom came in and woke me around midnight, saying "there's a bunch of boys at the door for you; you need to go out there." What boys? I mumbled? "I don't know, but they're in tuxes and there are roses so go!" WHAT?! I told her there was NO WAY I would go out there, having been recently asleep, wearing booty shorts and no bra. My mom forced me to go out there.
So, I arrive at the front door, and who awaits? The soccer boy, who was also in an a capella group with all of the popular boys at my school. Like 8 of them.
They proceeded to sing me several songs. All eyes on me. Dance moves, the occasional rose, and soccer boy kneeling with arms outstretched belting his heart out. I had no idea where to look or what to do. My mom was around the corner crying because she was laughing so hard.
This is my personal idea of hell, people. I hate a capella music, I hate valentines day, I hate being awoke in the middle of the night, and now, I hated the soccer kid.

2. On the same day, when I had arrived home from school, I found a bunch of crap on my porch with my name on it. A teddy bear and chocolates and stuff. I hate teddy bears. Nobody wants a plush toy. There was a note from a guy that said he had loved me since grade school. Keep in mind, we literally hand't spoken since grade school.

Ever since that fateful day, I have disliked <3 day. Random guys come out of the word work, thinking that this day is their excuse to be unacceptably aggressive in proclaiming their affections. Oh, bother.
Here's to wishing all of you a Happy Valentines!

rice-o-bice

2011-01-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life is just stressful. It's been one of those weeks (for several weeks).

So, I was super happy to talk to my sister today. While talking about the bachelor or something, I heard my niece singing in the background: "we gone light it up like it's rice-o-bice." Apparently my nieces love the song "Dynamite" and mistook the word dynamite for "rice-o-bice."

A few days ago, I was talking to same said sister and asked what she was doing. She said she was outside at her new house sitting in the sun-shine, listening to my 3-year-old niece "sing her life story." What is more lovely and sweet than that?

And guess what? I am going home to see them on Wednesday. Praise heaven. Hallelujah.

New Year

2011-01-20T11:45:00.000-08:00

My little brother, Matt, is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in New York. He wrote me a letter including a list of new year's resolutions:

1. Go on at least 1 sexy date per week
2. Do 7 FUN things per week
3. Get good grades again
4. Eat ice cream every single day
5. Play soccer and score lots of goals
6. SPLURGE
7. Continue to be amazing!

I'm not sure what he is referring to when he says "splurge"...I guess that he is acknowledging the 7 fun things and ice cream will get pricey. As I was reading, I suspected that he chose those specific activities because he can't do them right now, and they sound fun (I guess he could eat ice cream but that's it). He's got nostalgia for pre-mish life.

I miss that boy!

thursday

2010-12-02T15:34:00.000-08:00

Nearing the end, but not the end of the week and I am
tired.
Tired of my classes and my students calling me when I'm asleep to ask for deadline extensions (really?), and of dreary days that look cold and feel colder.

And somehow I've managed to stay healthy all semester until the hell of finals and grading and paper paper paper writing set in this week.

And the snow on the mountains is taunting me because the only thing that makes utah livable in the winter is escaping to the mountains to ski, but I can't go until I cross off all of those to-do's on that never-ending scroll of paper.

And the only boys I've dated recently did impressions of mentally handicapped people and told me we should try out birth control to a room of people on the third time we'd ever talked--and I wonder if one day a normal male will be attracted to me.

And then today I had a peer review group find all of the nasty flaws in my argument that I was ignoring.

But my roommate is playing Pride and Prejudice music on the piano and I can hear it drifting up the stairs.

And I talked to my sisters yesterday.

And this morning I went on a walk when no one was out and it felt fresh and good to stretch my sore back.

And I got to spend a whole 6 days with my nieces and nephew last week in the sun, smelling the fresh lawn and rejoicing in them.

And I heard coldplay's new christmas song.

And my friend is glowing because she is engaged to the right man.

And I just found out my darling cousin-twin is coming to utah. Next friday.

And I am sitting in my quiet room as the sky grows darker and realizing that amidst the chaos of life, I am so, so blessed. And really, I wouldn't want things to be different.

weekend

2010-11-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

As my brother and I drove to nana’s birthday we almost got lost in the labyrinth of great dark homes but wondered how because that country club was our summers, and how could we forget that? So we shared memories of sliding on the grass in our slippery skins and of holding hands hoping the other wouldn’t take the leap of faith from the high dive because then we would have to, and of putting grilled cheeses and popsicles on grandpa’s tab. When we walked inside I saw small girls with dark curling hair and white skin and big eyes. Girls who like ghost stories and want to be hobbits in the movies and who were born to carve serpentining scars through deep white powder. Girls that come from nana’s sons; she has five plus one daughter. Girls that share my blood, that are darker, dimpled versions of me.

Our dinner was pink steak and herbed creamy mashed potatoes with brown sugared squashes. The newest mother, one of the small dimpled girl had just written about fall squashes and her recipes, so we had all read and cooked and eaten the squashes as she had said to. So we compared the squashes at dinner to the ones we had eaten separately, but together. And they were warm with sugar and butter and smelled like fall and home. Then came the pie that one girl thought was just plain pie not apple pie because she didn’t know that pie comes in flavors. And we laughed and ate and laughed. And the room was full of us, connected by blood and memory, by loss and laughter, by pie and joy, and we were full.

Together we listened to the stories of our past, our history, our memory. A son-and- uncle told of nana shooting him with his bee-bee gun after he gloated over a glistening hummingbird’s body. Another son-and-uncle told of the sacrifice she made when she cared for three extra children that belonged to her twin because his wife died when she was twenty-seven, leaving her little clan motherless. They told of punishments and cleanliness, of arm-wrestling their mom, and of mud fights in the field, of being hit by cars and of a father who watched over them, day and night. One son-and-uncle said “Sometimes everything in your life is right, you are warm and you can hear your parents cooking bacon on a frigid morning in the drafty cabin and you know you are safe and warm and full.” Another reminded us that we are blessed to have the connections to one another that we do because any of us would do anything for the others, and that is what it means to be safe and warm and full.

We laughed and shared old stories again and again until the moon was overhead and the stars had been sparkling, reflecting in the pool outside for a long time. And as we left and kissed each other’s cheeks and promised more recipes and writing, we knew that everything was right.

Monday

2010-10-25T21:28:00.001-07:00

Cold was drifting in with the neighbors dog’s voice when I woke up in my dark bedroom today. I opened the dusted blinds to check the forecast but things weren’t looking favorable, not that I could tell because I saw only black. So I hurried and stood out of the water stream behind the new shower curtain until the steam warmed enough to coax me in. I arrived to my class panting with a dripping head of shower and rain, and my students stared at me like they were bored and nervous (paper due at 8am. “we thought at 4pm.” Okay, by 4pm but I’m being real nice so you had better like me, please).

We talked about globalization and how it encompasses everything else and how they could write about avatar or invictus or torture in heath’s last movie, or poverty or aids or war. And I felt sad to think about Mandela in that tiny cell for twentysevenlongyearsofhislife. That is my life+five years. But my students don’t know my age because I trick them to think I am older to compensate for my doll baby face. My baby face framed by cold wet rain-and hot shower hair.

Waiting for those students to turn in their papers made it a long day so I went to hear about vampires: creepy, snarky, puffy guys with one nostril and pink skin, according to eastern European peasants in the eighteenth century.
A very long day.
My throat feels a little sore and my head is a bit aching but maybe it’s because I got too much sleep last night because I didn’t feel so hot when I went to bed (besides my temperature) but I felt cold when I woke up because it was misty and dark and still, with only one voice echoing in my room.

Hard things

2010-10-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

Although I typically refrain from addressing anything serious or difficult via blogging, I feel compelled to confront the terribly hard topic of homosexuality. Most of you know that I am Mormon, and many of you are too. This is a very delicate topic, but I have been thinking about a lot lately--since Boyd K Packer's talk in general conference.

As is commonly known, many Mormons choose to abide by the 10 Commandments given to Moses in addition to others that have been given to prophets more recently. Two of the original 10 commandments are: Thou shalt not commit adultery, and, Thou shalt not covet. Like many other worshipers, including Christians and Jews, Mormons believe that no person is exempt from the edicts of God. We believe his word to be true and final.

That being said, homosexuality is a delicate issue. In his talk, Boyd Packer stated that God did not make people homosexual. I believe this to be true. I also believe that God did not give some people a particularly strong sex drive, health problems, mental disorders, or any manner of physical trials. I believe that those are the products of mortality, of having a body. And those who believe that God did make people homosexual (and who thus believe sodomy okay) do not believe God; he declared sodomy a sin.

I have heard multiple Mormons argue: "homosexual tendencies are no different from other trials. Some people have tendencies to be alcoholics, and others gamblers ect." While I am not trying to discredit anyone's opinions, I am not sure that those trials are similar at all. From what I understand (and I am no expert), many people feel attraction to the same sex from a very young age, and feel it at all times. Potential gamblers and alcoholics must first try gambling or alcohol to gain addictions; homosexuals don't need to fornicate to feel same-sex attraction. For this reason, I feel that this trial is particularly difficult, and I feel great sympathy for those with feelings of same-sex attraction (I am not trying to sound patronizing or reductive here).

Which brings me to my next point: the sin of homosexuality is sexual sin, covetousness, inappropriate thoughts. There is a distinction between acting upon tendencies and not acting. I believe that those who do not participate in or encourage those tendencies, who actively seek God's help, and who exercise faith will be blessed.

I believe the words of Boyd Packer. As I have said, this issue is hard and I debated for a long time about writing. I already fear some of the comments I may receive. Please know that Mormons believe in a gospel founded upon love, upon respect, upon kindness, upon not judging. And thus I think it is very important that Mormons recognize the difficulties surrounding this issue, that they do not dismiss and ignore it, that they make a conscious effort to think about it and to decide how they will treat their (spirit) brothers and sisters.

This may sound contradictory to those who disagree with me, but, my intent and Elder Packer's intent in speaking is not to be unkind or bigoted toward other people. It is to firmly support the commands of God.

you blog?!?!?

2010-09-16T21:49:00.001-07:00

One of my students asked my if I have a blog and was shocked that I answered affirmatively. He asked me what I blog about...I had no idea how to respond. Probably because this was what I planned to write today:

Today I tried to catch a snake and it defecated on my hand. Truly.

The land of the ...and the home of the ....

2010-09-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I randomly think to myself: "Just doin' my duty for God and my country." Oddly enough, this usually happens when I am cleaning the bathroom, walking to campus, or engaging in an adrenaline-inducing activity.

The strangest part of this situation is that I hate phrases like that. Too much USA pride, which I always associate with hicks and old navy flag shirts, irks me. I can't really say why those things irk me, I really do like this place.

In conclusion, I am totally strange and full of contradictions.

The end.

Hello, Africa.

2010-08-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a good summer.

Hunting

2010-07-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

Many of you know I have a profound aversion for anything "hunting." I went to a store called Cabella's in UT the other day and almost threw up because of the hundreds of dead animals on display--including a grizzly bear and mountain lion. Although this aversion is basically irrational ( I eat meat often and realize those cows suffer a lot more than the deer), I am attempting to explain it here and now.

Story 1:
When I was a child, my grandfather would feed stray cats in the neighborhood. One such infamous cat was named blacky. He was always super mangy and frightening. At one point he attacked my grandpa who is diabetic and subsequently had to go to the hospital. I was under the impression that the cat broke and ripped up his arm, when really he only got a few cuts. Understandably, I was always terrified to enter their house for fear that blacky would be lurking, waiting for me. One day we road tripped up to my grandparent's home (12 hours in the car as a small child) and I was totally fried. We walked up onto the driveway to see this:

Some birds were eating blacky's cat food, which was unacceptable to g-pa because he so dearly loved the devil. So, logically, my grandpa had his GUN BARREL out the window pointing at the walk way (meaning me, as a small child) and had recently shot a bird which was flailing around, bloody and dying before my eyes. He told us to throw it in the trash which we would not do, so he came out and shot it a few more times. It still didn't die, but was thrown to its stinky grave still violently thrashing around.

Story 2:
My family took a backpacking trip to the wind river mountains. We fished during the day to catch dinner. I didn't really have a problem hooking them because it seemed pretty adult-ish and adventurous. My dad would remove the fish from the line and in one neat, swift crack, would whack the fish head, leaving it dead within seconds. Neat and tidy.
So, one afternoon my dad went up to get the fish cooking and left my little brother and I to get some more for dinner. Easy. We caught one and that is where everything went drastically wrong. We were unable to kill the fish:

We whacked his head repeatedly, guts and blood flying everywhere and all over us, but IT WOULD NOT DIE. Flailing and still alive, it totally freaked me out. We couldn't kill it but were making it suffer badly. Finally, screaming and covered in guts, we ran up to camp where my dad, surprised and alarmed, killed the dang thing with one hit.

And that, all you stalker boys, is why hunting is my deal-breaker.

*My uncle later shot blacky at the bequest of my grandmother, who was afraid she would get eaten alive. But never tell my grandfather--he thought the cat wandered away and died a peaceful death.

Beware the door.

2010-07-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

This morning I arose at 4:30 am to take my darling roommate Rachel to the airport. It was fine because I had to go into work at 7 in SLC anyway. I was so tired after I dropped her off that I decided to find a parking lot so that I could take a quick nap in my car. I found an IHOP in a very sketchy area of town and settled down with many semi trucks for some zzzz's.

Once awake again I figured I should probably grab some breakfast in the IHOP. By the way, the prices at that restaurant are obscene for greasy eggs and overcooked pancakes. I digress-- the only other person in the place was "the tool." IHOP uniform unbuttoned to show his chest, shaved head, soul patch and an overall tough guy demeanor. His eye was stitched and he had bruises everywhere. It was also oozing.

He pestered me with questions even though it was now only 7am and I was clearly delirious, until he actually sat on my table asking me about my job and life. Not appropriate. He then informed me that he usually looked a lot better but got "hit with a door" last night. I think "door" is the codename of the girl's boyfriend with whom he cheated. He continually informed me we should have some coffee together because we were both so tired.

I got out of there in record time.

Keats

2010-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

John Keats is my favorite poet right now. Here are two of his most famous poems:

I.

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.

II.

When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charactry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love; -- then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.

Peanut butter and celery.

2010-06-02T10:17:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer: My photo uploader on this blog is horrible and does not work. Thus the chronology of my photos is backward and I can't write between them.

Life has been a blur of late. I had eyelid surgery (skin cancer) the day before graduation and thus had a bloody, stitched eye for my glamor photos. I then went with my parents and aunt to disneyland because she has never been before. And despite what Baulldriard says, I still love that place. The Indiana Jones ride never ceases to amaze me.

For the past month I have been living in Boulder, CO with my sister and her darling, adorable babies. It has been delightful (think swimming, parks, walks, playing house, picnics, mountains and henna tatoos). My other siblings came out over the long weekend to run in the Boulder Boulder, a 10k / Party... Forty thousand hippies running together with bands playing, belly dancers, slip n slides ect. I obviously loved every second of it and came in 17,000 somethingth place.
Summer is my favorite season. I have done my best to spend as much time outside as possible and to eat plenty of watermelon, cinnamon toast and lemon yogurt.

PS the last photo is of my final project for my theater makeup class--I just couldn't resist.

PSS Note the photo of Carmen screaming on the "roller coaster." Afterward Lucy said it was boring.

I finished

2010-04-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

Undergraduate.
4 years
51 Classes
80+ Exams
? Pages read
16 English classes
5 Folk bands
5 Countries visited
1 Study abroad
2 Performing tours
1 Missed tour due to surgery
5 Surgeries total
200+ Pages written
2 Senior Thesis papers
8 Stellar professors
5 Most roommates at once
1 Niece born
1 Nephew born
3 Grad schools to choose from
1 Grad school Rejection
1 Season pass to Park City ski resort
1 Season pass to Seven Peaks
50+ Boxes of Cereal consumed

Final Semester
3 Surgeries
5 A's
15+ Number of times skiing
1 Pair of new skis
1 Trip to Colorado
1 Trip to AZ for surgery
1 bloody/black eye
2 Graduation ceremonies
1 Trip to disneyland
1 Threw molotov cocktails
1 Hiked 17 miles through snow
1 Book club
1 Job as research assistant
1 Editing position

YAY! I'm done!

Senioritis or Sheer Genius?

2010-04-15T21:13:00.001-07:00

I included this "diagram" in my Senior Capstone paper. I drew it using the paint accessory on my computer. It does make sense in context, I swear. Hahaha.

Skiing is better than kissing

2010-04-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

Why?
1. Legitimate Endorphins
2. Beautiful scenery (although kissing can, at times, encompass this as well)
3. Instantly reduces all stress instead of creating more
4. Flying solo
5. Nothing, nothing is more fun than a long powder run (despite what Whitney says)
6. Skip because of Satan (thanks tara)
7. Instant self-esteem boost
8. Toned thighs and butt
9. No cooties involved
10. Out of Provo!
11. Snow is sparkly

*This blog post may or may not have been inspired by a new pair of rossi powder skis and some less than romantic kisses.

Oh brother

2010-03-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

A while back I was driving to rehearsal early (for a college campus anyway) around 7:20 AM. I saw some dude waiting to cross the street who was doing something weird to his face but I couldn't tell what. As I drove closer, I discovered that this fellow was SHAVING with an electric razor, no mirror and with his eyes half-closed and glassy. Of course, who is the one person in the world that would do this? Yup, it was my brother Rob.

Another great experience: I was entering the gym one evening when some hippy, pot-smoking, dread wearing, B.O. man approached me, mumbling something or other. I thought he was going to flash me (logical, I know) so I quickly ran inside. I was swimming laps that evening. I noticed that somehow the guy got into the gym...then into the pool area and i totally thought he was following me. He went over to the spa where all the hunks and babes stare at each other and started stripping down. Literally, pulling off millions of layers and dropping them in a smelly heap on the wet, musty, gym ground. No need for the locker room there. Once he was down to his SOCKS, boxer briefs, SUNGLASSES (everyone wears them at night), BEANIE, and GLOVES, he slid into the spa. He stayed for a really long time while all the hunks and babes stared and stared at him. When he left, he simply got out and started pulling the layers back on. No towel. Nothing. I love my life.

Health Care

2010-03-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

Walking around BYU campus the past few days has been pretty eye-opening. So many of my fellow comrades are in a fury about the new Health care reform. They can't believe this "country is going to the dogs" and that "the socialists have control." Wow. And whenever I ask what should be done people respond that they "don't know. But not this!" Ok....

There has been increasing disparity between the poor and the rich since the 70s, and the middle class is shrinking--which will eventually result in a large lower class and a tiny upper class. Capitalism and conspicuous consumerism creates losers. Inherently. The problems with health care are huge.

Speaking from the perspective of one who has had major and continual health issues, I can say that the idea of insurance causes great anxiety for me. What if I can't afford good insurance and thus can't see respected specialists? Is my career path going to pay me enough so that I can have adequate coverage? How will I get coverage with my pre-existing health conditions? I feel this way-- and have been blessed enough to have good care so far. But, there are those who cannot acquire health care and have never seen good doctors. How must they feel?

Although I cannot promise this plan will be ideal, I am going to be super didactic and say that we should all open our minds a bit to the situation around us and realize that this health care plan is at least trying to take care of the underdogs. Sheesh.

Come to my show!

2010-03-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, March 10
7:30 pm
Madsen Recital Hall

ski ski ski ski ski ski ski ski ski ski ....ski

2010-02-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you definitely know that skiing, in any of its forms, is my favorite pastime. I skied on Friday--it was a blue bird sunny day with powdery snow and no lift lines at Jupiter. I did some hiking, had a snickers picnic on top of Scott's bowl overlooking the Wasatch range, and got a goggle tan.

Well, for some reason, my brain has been fixated on water skiing lately and how much I miss it during the winter. Last night I had a dream....... I was in class, listening to a boring lecture when my cousin Jonathan rolled up in a suburban with my Dad's boat hitched up. My other cousins were tan and laughing, in bikinis, listening to BYU inappropriate music, and were calling my name to forsake classes and join them at Lake Powell for a few weeks (ha!). Rose was screaming phrases such as "screw you!" and "you don't know me" and "lets get this party started"...hahahahaha. No choice there. I hopped on board, we made it to Powell, where it was summer time but nobody was there because they thought it would be cold. We skied, wake boarded, tubed, rock climbed, discussed harry potter and politics, got thoroughly sandy and tan and hot, and loved every minute of it. What a great dream.

Pretty sure I'll be dreaming about Scott's bowl this summer.

Calling all Campbells: Make my dreams a reality-- and please wear the bikinis when you pull up to shock as many people as possible!

*#$!

2010-02-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

I have a few bones to pick with law enforcement officers who create a lot of work for me.

I legally own a handicap placard because of my deformed discs and spinal canals. BYU states that any student with said coveted object can park in A-lot (professor) parking spots because they don't provide enough handicap stalls. I have now received 3 BYU parking tickets for parking in A-lot spots "without valid permit." When I file an "appeal" they always drop the charge, but going in is annoying.

One beautiful day I was driving from Ellie's house to my own and got pulled over (going 3 mph above limit). The cop said he was going to "let me off" for speeding...(what?)...and gave me a ticket for "failure to change address within 10 days." I informed him that I am an AZ resident and therefore am not required to change my address because I am in UT temporarily. He got a little red and reacted by saying that I must go to the DMV and get a sticker with my new address stuck to my license. (WHAT?) So I went and the disgruntled employees laughed at me as there is no such thing. Not willing to pay the ridiculously high fine...I had to go to court. Where 13 year-old-druggies in small town UT were literally licking one anothers necks. It gets better. I spoke with the prosecuting attorney, and asked him if my "charge" was legitimate seeing as I can't very well put a UT address on an AZ license. All sweaty 350 lbs of him loomed over me and he said that he "had no responsibility whatsoever to know what my charge was" and that I should pay the $50 and leave so I wouldn't have to book a trial and hire a lawyer.....(WHAT?) I left the court and had my judge-father send a nicely worded letter.

Learn your own laws, please. Thanks.

I'm alive

2010-02-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

I am alive after sinus surgery, and more importantly, my sister Ellie is having a baby girl in June! I am so completely elated. I think my heart will bust from too much love.

I did throw up blood as predicted. I also watched many movies, sat in the spa, ate very little food and enjoyed the arizona warmth--- I really forget how lovely it is in the winter. I had the good fortune to get a visit from my three bomb-shell cousins, it had been so long since I had seen Laura, what a pleasure she is!

I am reading the new Dan Brown book, which is exactly the same as his others. Creepy, ruthless, massive villain, Robert Langdon, who can never realize what is going on until he has an epiphany, and some love-interest with "a Mediterranean glow." Why am I reading it? Not sure.

Also, the bachelor (t.v. show) is totally ridiculous... as is the fact that my dog is my valentine.

xoxo.

Surgery Safari (12th installment)

2010-02-03T21:16:00.000-08:00

I am having sinus surgery on Friday because of my tragic ailment, AFS. I have recently refused to tell people what that acronym stands for because I assume they judge me--the F may or may not stand for "fungal." I don't want people thinking I have yellow toe nails or nasty rashes. Good thing my 12 credits of classes are: Satire and Comedy, Print Culture, Bookbinding, Makeup (yes I get credit for that) and playing my cello so I can go to Scotland this summer. Happily, I will return to Arizona for 1.5 weeks, lounge around in soft clothes and bask in the warmth that comes from Buster, Dwight and Tracy Jordan. Ahhh the delights of surgery: a mom to take care of you, drugs so you can sleep for 16 hours each day, ice cream, sympathy, and throwing up blood. Wish me luck!

MLK day

2010-01-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

(the end)

(the start)
Continuing on with the theme of my last post, I have a fresh story for you. I had a soccer game Friday night, went skiing on Saturday and was thus feeling a bit tired on Monday. I decided to stay at my grandma's on Sunday night, make Monday a relaxing day to take a hike with Emily, Linx and Rachel. We created a Provo bucket- list a few weeks ago, and decided to hit up the Spanish Fork hot springs on our day off. We left our apartment at 1pm, assuming we'd be back by 4 or 5. We drove up a canyon to find the road blocked off, and I assumed that was the trail head (online it said the hike was 2.5 miles from the trail head). So, we started walking through the snow up the road...and it took forever, but we didn't really care because it was beautiful and nice to be outside ect. Well, an hour and twenty minutes later, we arrive at some trailhead---the trail head we thought we had passed an hour earlier. Some girl and man walked awkwardly out of the same bathroom stall and informed us that the road was blocked off because the snow was treacherous and that the portion we had just trudged was 6 miles long (!). So, the "real" and anticipated hike was just beginning. We thought it wouldn't take long: FALSE. The trail meanders along a river and is the equivalent of a crazy ski traverse. Keep in mind we were wearing running shoes. We finally arrived at the hot springs at 4pm--they were beautiful. Nervous of the dark, the fact that we had no flashlights, cellphone reception or proper equipment, we only stayed in the springs for a few minutes. Just enough to get soaking wet, making it necessary to somehow change out of our swimsuits without flashing all of the drunk boys and slipping in the mud. Suffice it to say that it didn't work out so well. We left the springs with an 8.5 mile hike ahead of us. I had half a water bottle and a chewy granola bar for the entire trip. By the time we reached the blasted road, we were pretty exhausted. Lots of singing, moral support and hysterical laughter ensued. We finally made it back to our apartment by 730 pm after an accidental 17 mile hike. Another restful MLK day to remember.

My brain is turning to slosh

2010-01-10T22:56:00.000-08:00

I have done some pretty dumb things lately:
1. During finals week, I left my car lights on so that the battery died and I needed to get a jump.
2. A few days later I tried to go skiing in Park City. I was supposed to meet my friend up there but my phone died, so I logically pulled over to use a pay phone to call her and figure out meeting place/ time ect. When I got to the phone I realized I had no money, and had to collect call her mother to get her number. I did this with success, only to get said friend's voice mail. I returned to my car, thinking I would have a lonely ski day---and saw my keys sitting on the drivers seat with the doors locked. I was forced to wait without a jacket for two hours until someone came and got my keys out. I had about an hour to ski after all of that. Miraculously, my friend found me and we skied to the parking lot together.
3. After one trip to the post office during grad applications week, I returned after I failed to realize I had to mail my writing sample to Colorado and had to overnight it. The cost was a whopping $27. I was going to Boulder the following day to see my sister, and could have easily hand delivered it.
4. I left my beloved cello in the car overnight this week. (ps I freaked out last semester while on tour because I would NOT leave my cello under the bus in the cold)
5. Same night, I also left the car lights on. Linx had to jump me, again. (it was my birthday too)
6. Here is the ultimate: I did fairly well on the GRE in Dec. but decided to retake it to see if I could up my anty a bit for grad school. I arrived yesterday at the testing center, was totally prepped and ready to own. The girl working informed me that my test was actually scheduled for Friday, not Saturday, and that I had missed it. What? Yes! I missed my appointment, they wouldn't let me retake the exam that day, nor would they offer me a refund. The chick also said she had seen my name on the list the day before but didn't call me. Thank you, testing center lady for helping us all succeed. $150 bucks for nothing.
7. Then, last night, I missed one of my good friend's wedding receptions. I completely spaced it.
*If I no longer remember your name in a few days, don't hate me, it is probably just dementia setting in.

Invictus

2009-12-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

By: William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Everyone should see the movie that has recently made this poem so famous. It is really inspiring. Happy Christmas Break!!!

riding the line

2009-11-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

I went to Costa Rica after I graduated from high school. The timing worked out because I had just broken my heart by breaking someone else's-- and the spanish, jungles, beaches and pineapple provided fantastic distraction. We went ziplining through the rain forest. This was no ordinary zip line- the longest was 1/2 mile and reached speeds of 60 mph. In between each line, we hiked to the next tree or metal platform to climb up the stairs and begin anew. The tallest platform was several stories high and was waving in the wind because it was stormy. Breathless, I summited those steps into white fog. I couldn't see beyond the platform edge. Once strapped into my harness I sort of panicked. The predictable green was spread below and the sky only white. Skies aren't supposed to be white. I had no idea what was beyond that edge...it was foggy and windy and raining and the line was bouncing.

I feel this way again--panicky, excited, sightless, breathless, and scared out of my mind. I have no idea where I will be next year. Could be seattle, boulder, boston, phoenix, provo, salt lake, tuscon...

Hiking with my dad every morning over break was so needed. It is what we do, always. (His desk contains a lot: pictures of his children, ridiculous post-it notes from me, a rancor statue from star wars, an alien doll I made him in 3rd grade, court papers, scriptures, fish hooks, and so many books. So many books.) He wondered aloud where I will be next year...and then I wondered the same thing, and what will I be doing? Will I have friends? Will I be brave? Will everything seem too new?

I take the GRE on Saturday. Pray for me.

Just so you know, I jumped off that platform with a shout and the ride ended up being one of the most exciting thrills of my life. I'm going to make this one be the same. Hooty Hoo!

wow

2009-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

"The work of the Lord is one of vast magnitude and almost beyond the comprehension of mortals. Its glories are past description, and its grandeur unsurpassable."
--Joseph Smith

delishhh

2009-11-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

guacamole:
avocados
cilantro
green onion
lots of lime
jalapenos
*add however much pleases you.

get chips that have "a hint of lime."

i am addicted.

annoying

2009-11-10T15:12:00.001-08:00

Attention: STOP making out in the library. It disgusts everyone around you. If you must, reserve a study room with your lover or something. But rubbing her "back" (upper buttock) is not appropriate in a public place of study.

In other news, watch this.

don juan carlooos

2009-10-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a visitor at our apartment: Don Carlos. He belongs to Linx's aunt Brenda in SLC, and she kindly lent him for a while. He has sooo much hair and so much love to offer. Now that he is gone, I am admittedly a bit depressed. Every day when I got home, there was the little guy to greet me. We went on many walks together. If I did homework for hours on end, he just slept peacefully beside me, content. At the end of the week, as a going away present, he jumped on his hind legs like a rabbit (!) Here's to you, Carlos. I Miss you.

This week I went to Macbeth the opera (awesome) and the Tell-Tale-Heart, a play, and the stepfather, a scary movie. Doing my best to take advantage of Halloween. On Friday I went up to Salt Lake to spend the evening with my dear, hilarious, gorgeous cousins Amy and Anna. We had a spooky time at a haunted mansion/trek forest shindig. We also snuck upstairs to see 'real' ghosts, because the homes are truly haunted. We didn't see any that we know of, but if sure made for a good time. I love you girls.

In other news, school is killing me. Draining out my spirit slowly. But its ok...there is a good reason. Tomorrow (wednesday) I am flying to Denver to see my family! We are all convening there mostly because we just want to see one another, and partly because it is Halloween. I have sucessfully finished all homework for the week as of a few minutes ago, so I will have nothing to worry about. I'm taking my nieces trick-or-treating on Halloween (you should be jealous).

*It snowed today, and the snow reminded me of Bejiing snow. Ah, China, how I miss you as well.

yeah, this really happened

2009-10-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was driving home and was approaching a red light and needed to turn left. Right as I began to slow down, the left turn arrow turned green, so I could fluidly continue on without slowing. After this happened, I realized I had both winked and pointed at the left turn signal because it timed everything perfectly. I find myself doing things like this more than I would like to admit, and it always happens when I am alone. But now I have confessed. Try winking at a light someday, you will laugh at yourself for the rest of time.

worst morning.

2009-10-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am ticked. My car was towed sometime around 3 am. It is my own fault, which makes me even more upset.

Anyone who gets fulfillment in life by towing cars should... (edited for content).

Listen up, America!

2009-10-10T13:17:00.001-07:00

I want everybody who reads my blog to know: Irregardless is not the correct word! Merriam-Webster states:
"The most frequently repeated remark about "irregardless" is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead".

Regardless is the word you are searching for (if you want to sound educated, anyway).
Thank you for your time,
Sarah.

Happy Birthday!

2009-10-01T10:17:00.001-07:00

(ha! This is the most awkward photo I could scrounge up...his arm placement is outrageous!)

This special day belongs to two of the most delightful people I know.

Happy Birthday Erica! Happy Birthday Amy!

I really hope every one of your dreams come true. Thanks for being the best friends! Some common traits these babes have: Hilarious, Inappropriate, Entertaining, Highly witty, Zany, Fun, Loving, Kind, Helpful, cheerful and occasional but mild cussers. Love you both.

I googled pirate girl...

2009-09-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Ellie teaches first grade and is having "pirate day" tomorrow. She asked me to dress up and tell the kids a story (woo hoo!). I googled 'pirate girl' for inspiration. Goin' to the tatoo parlor tonight! I know Amy will appreciate this.

speak to me

2009-09-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

I went to a poetry reading by Kevin Hart a few days ago. I started crying in the auditorium with my creative writing class flanking my sides; his poetry speaks truth. This poem is from a series entitled "Three Prayers."

Master of light, my God
Before whom stars tremble
And fall into themselves,

Who glows within each thing
Beyond reach of language
And deeper than silence,

Who passes through the dark
That draws us towards death
And makes it one with you,

Whose light is everywhere
Wherein I stand and see
My shadow disappear.

come back

2009-09-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

If only best friends didn't move away to New York. Erica, I miss you.

keep on shinin'

2009-09-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

School.

Awkward:

(Hi!Whatisyourmajorwhereareyoufromohdangijustforgotyourname

whatisitagain!?)

Crazy intense reading load already. Ahhh yeah. My brain was feelin rusty.

Sooo mormon.

But all of those things are okay because I am here again. I know this place and my place in it. I always forget how beautiful Utah is in the summer until I come back. It's a bit strange being back after 5 months cause now I'm an elitist senior. It feels pretty great. I already know that my favorite classes will be EDGAR ALLAN POE (!) and American Lit [1960-Present]. I am totally stoked to read creepy, macabre, depressing stories. Today I read snippets of Poe's biography and was laughing aloud. His poetry is about horror instead of love: I think we will get along quite well this semester. Pretty sure he would prefer wuthering heights to pride and prejudice like me.

*****
I'm with my laaaadies and loving every minute of it. Cal left a vampire cut-out in the bathroom before I even arrived to scare me. She "wanted to start the year off right". And we have a loft with a spiral staircase and tons of windows.
I saw my Smokin' wood bandies yesterday and it felt wonderful. We spent our entire lives together last year. Mike called the young ambassadors--the young badassadors in our meeting. I turned purple trying not to laugh tooo loud.
*****
This year is going to be one of beginnings and endings. I'm not really sure how it will all fit together but I am anticipating some serious memory making.

*I have a handicap parking pass...Today I knew I was living right when I rolled up to class while everyone else walks 2 miles. Back surgery IS good for some things.

rejoice, a child is going to be born

2009-08-20T10:56:00.001-07:00

My dear dear sister KATIE is going to bear a MAN-child in december!
I went to her ultra-sound and I saw him. I was one of the first to see this tiny person. He has working fingers and toes. A beating heart that looks like a fluttering bird. His skull makes him resemble Jack-skeleton. What will he look like? Will he love soccer and skiing, be obsessed with the king-cobra at the zoo, and be ecstatic to go camping--like me? Brown eyes or blue? Will he look anything at all like anyone? His sisters don't even appear to be sisters, really. I don't know what to expect, but I do know he'll be the first boy with three savvy, bomb-shell older sisters. If he is anything like them, my heart might bust from too much love.

*****

For the record, ultra-sound experiences are waaaay better than live-birth experiences. The third baby my sister had was a 'gril' (as her 4-year-old-sister would say). Her gorgeous name is Eden Violet (I wish my name were half-as-exotic). Katie and I decided it would be a wonderful and bonding experience for me to attend her birth. I had high expectations, anticipations of angels and fire and melting heart-strings. Things didn't go quite so well. I arrived at the hospital at 1 am after driving home from California all night. I was totally exhausted in every way. Katie was sick and labor didn't really get going until 5 am. As soon as things got goin, I went up by her shoulders to watch. The Doctor had to "brake" the water (a better term would be "explode" the water) and as soon as the smell hit, I was done for. I stumbled my way under Katie's legs and the doctor's arms to the back of the room where some chairs promised relief. The nurse caught me as I passed out. Then threw up. Then passed out. Then threw up. I came around when Eden was pink and scrubbed and staring....and beautiful. Once she was out and free of gore, my heart-strings did melt, again and again. She was so new, so tender, so un-touched. A perfect being. That is how mr. boy will be too. But I think this time I'll wait in the hall.

******
"Eden, you're going to have a brother!"
Eden: "It's a BOY???!!!!!"

When Eden saw him on the screen, she said "Ooooh, a baby! He cryeen."
"Why, Eden?"
"He want hees mommy"

I'm off!

2009-08-11T13:33:00.001-07:00

to see these heart-breakers

Ps my cello is home and i'm complete

my stars shoot for you

2009-08-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am all chloriney from spendin time in the pool with Harley. Slowly China is melting off me. The dumplings, hi-chews and rice are leaving my thighs and stomach. Good ridance.

Two nights ago I was layin outside on the driveway contemplating the heavens because the temperature dropped by almost 40 degrees. Unreal right? It was 72. In the middle of summer. In arizona. Four stars shot for me. It was a big deal because they were real and I was alone. I see shooting stars everynight in my room--Katie put those sticky stars on the roof and the fan; they provide good company for drifting, dreamy thoughts.

* * * * * *

On Friday I took Cookie to lunch. She is my sister's lovely grandmother- in-law. Every summer I visit her in Prescott to see her new paintings, garden and book progression. This woman is formidable and strong. And she writes. She just finished her favorite novel and I am going to read it. We talked writing, creating. Someday I will be like her and finish a novel. Have my own garden. Create full time. Women like her show me who I want to be.

* * * * * * *

Zours are so good. I had never tasted them before Tyler sent them in my package. I had never heard some new coldplay songs til Jenny sent them in another.

Thanks for new experiences.

Ps. do you like the new look?

Shout-out

2009-08-09T21:54:00.001-07:00

(hiking in style)

As you can see from my photo, I had some friends rescue me from the boredom of my summer: reading, relaxing, swimming, watching movies ect. This life sounds pretty lucrative at first, but 6 weeks of entertainment and little brain activity gets a bit dry. But just a bit. Erica, Spencer and Callie came down two weekends ago for some much needed togetherness before Sperica move to NYC for law school. I met Erica in Spanish sophomore year, when we realized we were applying for the same study abroad. Erica is lovely, hilarious, loyal, great note-writer and loving. We lived together in Spain and after until she married Spenc (skier, grounded, extreme intelligence, happy, entertaining). They started dating around the time we met, Erica's life and mine were paralleling each other because I had also started dating a boy. Obviously things worked out better for them than 'us'. ahem. I met California Frances on said study abroad in Spain and she also lived with Erica and I. Callie is also hilarious, totally chill, loves to scare me and is an awesome soccer player. The jokes, entertainment and zaniness never stop with this crew. It was truly delightful to have them here. I am so grateful they drove 12 hours both ways to visit the splendor that is Arizona!

We swam, ate, went to court, went boating, ate, played rock band, watched "oh brother where art thou" and had rhetorical battles. Clearly--it doesn't get much better than that. I love these people, they really are the cream of the crop. Thanks amigos!

"Don't be so wristist!"

Dreamin'

2009-07-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

I was in the car with my friend Sally who was dropping me off at my house in Phoenix. It was pretty late in the evening. The sky was dark, rolling and studded with lightning. This was no regular Arizona monsoon; it was hurricane-esque. When I arrived at my house my heart stopped when I saw what was waiting. Someone was trying to kill my family. What was it? A KITE with a KEY tied to the roof. Our assassin was trying to make lightning strike the house via the kite so it would explode. Hyperventilating from fear, I Suddenly realized that a huge fiery comet was streaking toward my house. We sped away just as the comet struck, crushing my house. From there everything was chaos. My sister Ellie was pregnant and we were trying to find shelter but everyone was trying to kill one another because the apocalypse had arrived. Think "war of the worlds". Right as I was supposed to die, I woke up in a cold sweat and couldn't go back to sleep.

The importance of this dream is not the nightmarish qualities, but he fact that a kite caused more fear than would bombs/ terrorists. That's all.

I am

2009-07-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

I am inspired by: Literature

I always: Shower in the morning

I like Cream of wheat Better than Oatmeal

I never leave home without: Hair tie

I can't believe I: Am graduating next April

I melt: In the Arizona sun

I find myself: Outside

I feel uncomfortable: In wool and nylons

I have decided: To be prepared

I am free when: I skiiii

I can cry: Over movies, books, songs, baby quail.

I will: Go to graduate school

I dream of: Being allowed to play soccer, complete triathlons and snow ski often (back and knees). And touching my toes.

I am digging: Halo by Beyonce

Most of the time I: Talk to someone in my family everyday

But usually: When I'm walking to class

I can't help: That my mouth turns downward, I'm really not frowning

I remain enamored with: Thunder storms, stars and sunsets

I can't: Cope with insects

I adore: Kisses on my forehead

I need: Laughter, endorphins and Love

I want: To be like my mom

It's strange that I: Enjoy cleaning

If I could, I would: Go Everywhere!

I: Am content and very blessed

My pets are peeving me

2009-07-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

I have decided that the time has come to write about the life I lead in my back yard. Because I am usually awake for about 15 hours each day with very little to do, I spend a few of them in the pool... by myself. I still can't legitimately swim around, so I just bob around. This has led me to become a bird-watcher. My backyard is really quite interesting between the hours of 11am-1pm:

1. There is a huge raven that owns the spa. Our jacuzzi is higher than the rest of the pool and has a waterfall coming off of the front where birds like to get a refreshing drink in the summer heat. Not so when this beast is around. He won't let any other creature near the spa, and will attack anything that attempts it.
2. A million sparrows hang out in the tree of the neighbor behind me. They enjoy tricking the 'beast'. They work as a team to make him attack one bird while the rest get a sip until his return. Remarkable.
3. For a few days a huge yellow monarch butterfly lived outside. I loved it but it left.
4. I found a tiny red-racer snake swimming in the pool. I set him free in my garden.
5. We have a family of quail living around our yard. There were ten tiny babies to begin with and now there are only 5. This is extremely traumatizing and depressing to me. They are each about 2 inches tall. My dog Harley wants to kill them but I have prevented many attacks thus far.
6. Speaking of Harley, he has a secret life outside. When I am home alone he loves to prance around in the back yard by himself. This strange behavior started a few months ago. He never used to go outside during the summer unless accompanied by a homo sapien. Now he stays out there until he over-heats, gets asthmatic attacks and becomes a tiny oven. So weird.

I hope this is mildly entertaining. Maybe one day I will become a legit bird-watcher, you never know what you will see, even in your own backyard!

Arizona Rain

2009-07-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

I woke up late this morning because last night I was with my little brother all night. We did it Sunday night too. Talking, laughing, understanding, hoping, waiting... being us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday we watched a frightful movie during the day so it wouldn't be so scary. Even though I screamed a lot I wasn't really scared. But Matt closed the shutters so it would seem dark. The "dark" prevented us from realizing that outside was mirroring our movie. When it was over we looked outside and it was storming and winding. And the clouds were real dark. In Arizona, the rain smells like heaven does. When liz got here last night with memz, all wet from dancing in our wet heaven, she said "While I was driving, it suddenly started to rain... I saw how it smelled so I rolled down the window". It is clean, refreshing, new, hopeful... when it rains here I always feel those ways afterward. My freshmen year Mom mailed me a sprig of creosote to remember. And I did. I wish you could all wikipedia "creosote", and that they could have the smell attached online so you could really understand Arizona rain.
You. I don't even know who you are apart from a few cousins and liz and emily.
I just made you purple, how does that make you feel?
It's my favorite color- I turned you into something beautiful.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My house is quiet, the air conditioner is working hard because the rain yesterday made it humid outside. Dad is typing away, and has an auditory signal when he recieves emails. Pretty sure I'll never need one of those. Mom and Matt are driving to LA today. For me, or at least part of me. You see, they are taking my cello over for a "check-up", China left him banged up and he cracked. I can't drive with 'em because I am only at week 4 of recovery....

Someone should invent creosote cologne.

This blog post is really accurate- and therefore I think its beautiful: http://hollyandrose.blogspot.com/2009/07/something-about-being-campbell.html

Potter, Harry, Potter

2009-07-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have an announcement to make: I am transferring to Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Forget BYU.

Harry Potter. Joy. Love. Enchantment. Laughs. Tears. All of these can be yours. I just saw Harry Potter 6, the half-blood prince. I loved it. Obviously. I would.

I do have a slight problem with it though: why is the man for me, my true soul mate, Mr. Potter....fictional? Everyone around me is getting married, yet the only men I manage to fall for are the fictional and studly heroes of novels. It doesn't matter what book, or what the protagonist is like....I even had a crush on Dracula when I read his spooky tale. I don't know what this means about me. But instead of lamenting the fact I am going to live vicariously through Ginny Weasley. Peace.

WHAT?

2009-07-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQVlVHsFF8

It has recently come to my attention that the David Hasselhoff, bay-watch hunk and wonder, is a judge on the TV show America's Got Talent. This completely baffles me. How does a man who produced the video above think himself a worthy candidate to judge talent of any kind? What is our entertainment/ country coming to? For heavens sake! There are ANGELS, floating star wars characters, flights on motorcycles and my personal favorite--a meal of a giant, raw fish.

Drum roll, please...

2009-07-07T11:34:00.001-07:00

I know this is what you have been dying to see. Well, here I am, in full glory.

drifting

2009-07-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've had quite a bit of time on my hands lately. To think. Although you may suspect I don't do it very often, rest assured, I am actively engaged at the present time. I have been laying on my back for 1 week, 1 day. I still have 4 weeks, 6 days left. Among that pondertime I have been dreaming some strange dreams thanks to oxycodine.
You are probably already bored, wondering, "what have you been thinking, and dreaming, sac attack?" I recently finished Beloved, by Toni Morrison. It is beautiful. And deals with slavery, focusing on a loss of freedom in every sense--even the non-ability to love. When they loved, their object of affection was always lost--not even lost, but sold. Their children. Husbands. Minds. Bodies.......everything. But me, how can I relate to this, attempt to reconcile it? I can't, really. But... I can love. My love isn't stolen away from me and sold. It's here. and now. It is solid. And so very real.
Real like my letters from Kandis and Whitney. And my text from Kori, who just wrote to say "I miss you". Like the get-well sunflowers in my room. These friends of mine, they drift in and out of my thoughts. And of my life. So many people.... intersecting with me for a period, then drifting off again. But leaving me changed. I think that is how most everything affects me: the impressions of Morrison, the faint laughter of carmen on the phone. All drifting in my mind, and returning, re-memorying when needed.
I am free.

ouch.

2009-06-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ouch. I have been sleeping for the past 4 days, drugged- with a few exceptions of delirious calls made to lament the loss of our dearly beloved Michael Jackson. My dad woke me up the other day to tell me he died and I don't think I ve ever been more confused before. I am still pretty woozy. My back was worse than anticipated so surgery was more intense and they had to remove extra bone. But I have been walking a bit and feel stronger each day. Ive watched 4 movies. Yesterday I took 9 hours worth of naps. Hasta.

Surgery Safari

2009-06-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

On to other things, like the title of this blog. My surgical safari. Well as many of you know, I am having back surgery tomorrow. I've known I needed it since December, so its no surprise. Well, when school was getting out/ when I was in China, everyone kept asking me what my summer plans were. It seemed like everyone was doing amazing things like "Going to Jerusalem to save Orphans, alter Arab perceptions of Israel, and win the nobel prize while I write my Orca grant thesis on.... ect ect." Anyway, I applied to a really awesome program in the Dominican Republic last fall and got in! I was super excited, I thought it would be great to say I was going to China to tour like a rock star and then to the DR to teach kids. But...I couldn't go to the DR in lew of my surgery. I didn't love telling people about surgery because there is so much explaining to do, and because it made people feel sorry for me- which I totally hate. So I decided to call it my surgery safari (people go to africa to get plastic surgery and then when people ask where they were they say they were on safari) to make myself feel better. Be assured, I will be watching lots of planet earth and discovery chanel to make my experience more authentic. So...kives, IVs, anesthetic, white walls and tiled floors for me tomorrow! Its a 6 week recovery. Can't leave the house for the first 2. If you live in AZ ( I know this group is small) come visit me and maybe you'll get to see my scar! If you live elsewhere, I may be able to pencil in some chatting time between book reading and movie watching. Here I go! Yikes.

Welcome one and all.

2009-06-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

I am now a legitimate blogger. I can't make many promises, but if you want to hear about my life or thoughts, this is the best way to do so without putting forth any effort. To start us off, I am going to share some things about my life with you. Whoever already knew the most of these things gets a prize!

-The title of my blog, sac town, was a name given to me from my friend Jason. He is now engaged, so don't make any crazy assumptions. The name sac somehow developed from my 7 bffs in high school and stuck.
-My favorite cereal varies day-to-day, but as a unit is my favorite form of sustenance. (spell check wanted to make that abstinence )
-I love being outside. I feel best about myself when I'm sick and sweaty after accomplishing something nature-esque. Seriously.
-I play the cello. I probably spent more time with him last year than anybody I know. We have a very loving relationship.
-I just got back from touring in China for a month with mountain strings folk music band and dance group. We called ourselves smokin' wood to more accurately represent our toughness. Mountain strings sounds sort of sissy.
- Reading fufills me.
-I was born to lay a nice curvaceous line in thigh deep powder.
-I hate having long fingernails.
-My hair curls by itself.
-I have had 10 surgeries. It will be 11 come Tuesday! Yikes. Back surgery.
-I'm not good at expressing emotion. Or being confrontational.
-My friends are totally wonderful and strange and sexy and kind.
-I am scuba certified.
-I pretend I can speak spanish. I lived in spain for 3.5 months.
-I love love love traveling. I only have 2 continents left to visit- Autsralia and Antarctica!
-Halloween and Christmas are the best days of the year.
- I am LDS.
-Daffodils are my favorite flowers.
-I really really want to go to India and Greece. And Egypt.
-My cousin Amy can speak to ghosts.
-I love soccer too, I played allll growing up. There is no better feeling than scoring goals.
-I wish I was artistic.
-I wish I went to school at Hogwarts. One day...
-Many of my friends just left or are shortly leaving on missions. Which means I am growing up, which is very frightening.
-I am preparing for the GRE and researching Grad schools. Again, very scary.
-I love cotton candy and theme parks.
-Integrity is crucially important to me. I think it is the most important quality.
-Night hikes are so adventerous.
-Banana oreo milk shakes. with ellie.
-You should read "waiting for snow in havanna", its the best book Ive ever read.
-I love double-stops.
-And ghost riding the whip.
-I own crocs. Wow. I know. Hideous but so functional.

We should be intimate friends by now. I'm done.