Music.

*this is mostly a brainstorming for a potential essay topic for my Music History class.  But it's also an interesting point.  Feel free to comment, come up with your own examples. I'll re-visit and edit this thing as I continue to study.

There is a problem with the way we look at music.

We look at popular music differently than we do classical music.  Not only in the general mindset that popular music is awesome and classical music is old and stuffy, but in a deeper view than that. 

Popular music is about one person, one artist, one singer.  You single people out in the popular music group.

Like...Justin Beiber, or OneDirection, or Queen.  (ps- I love this meme).  You can say "I really like Freddie Mercury"  or "Adele is freaking awesome" and just mean Freddie Mercury or Adele.  You can take all of the One Direction people and individualize them.  "I like <insert name> more than I like <insert name>".

People don't do that for classical musicians. NSync may be my favorite band because of Justin Timberlake, but the Philadelphia Philharmonic is not my favorite orchestra because of the first chair, second violinist. 

**Cool sidenote, this post has a point.  I just googled the Philidelphia Philharmonic symphony orchestra and their webpage totally just supported my point.**

So go ahead, take a look. http://www.philorch.org/

The site will run a few adds.  One of them is advertising their performance of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" and Stokowski's Back Transcriptions.

The unfairness of this is rather striking.  Because no matter what Fun. plays, people are going to go and see it.   They may not play your favorite song, but you will pay 10s-100s of dollars to get to their concert where there is only standing room and there are drunk people everywhere.  But in order for the Symphony to get your support/attendance, they have to play something that you're familiar with.  And it doesn't matter if their soloist is the foremost Cellist in the world.  You won't go.  You don't care.

To bring this idea much closer to home:

I am part of the Brigham Young University Concert Choir.  And we went on tour to New Zealand and Australia.  And a lot of our concerts were ABSOLUTELY PACKED.  Some of them were not.  And you know what?  That's pretty typical for us.  

But you know what?  The 45 of us were the best choir that BYUH has ever seen.  We have the most talent, the most diversity, the strongest voices, the best percussionist, the most entertaining dancers, and we were united not only in unity and love, but in heart and sound.  There was ZERO drama on the entire 2-week tour.  Our Chaperons were game to continue on tour for an extra week.  (saying something)

And as downright good as the Concert Choir is, I have never been in a Choir Concert that had a full house. 

You know when the house was full? 

Last December when they, along with the Orchestra, performed Handle's Messiah.  I wasn't there, but...

You know why that is?  Because people know Handle's Messiah.

It performed for 2 nights in a row.  And the house, as far as I can tell, was full for both of those. (because I wasn't there and this is mostly hearsay from BOTH performers and audience members) (***which is pretty impressive because I rarely run into people who have been audience members at a choir concert, but this one I've run into quite a few).

Shall I use another example?  Yeah, because it's fun.

Our Show Choir performed a DISNEY Show after my first semester.  They couldn't sell tickets because of copyright law, but you had to get tickets to get in, and the house, every night, was standing room only.  It has not been that way since.  

I understand that if' it's a Disney show, community members will make an effort to bring their kids to it, and not otherwise because they're not sure that the kids will like it.  But that's somewhat the crux of the matter.

Another?

2 seasons ago, the school musical was "The Sound of Music".  If you did not buy your tickets 2 days before, you didn't get in because they were sold out.   They turned OVER 100 people away.  And they couldn't extend the performance (which is sad) because they needed to get the stage ready for some play (blah blah blah) which was ill-attended anyway.  Jack Johnson brought his family to that play.  Yeah, that was cool.

For how many classical musicians there are in this world, and how jam-packed orchestral  music libraries can be, being able to only play a certain amount of music that is profitable is absolutely laughable (because you have to have $$ to run a symphony, and to have $$ you have to have people come to the symphony).  We miss out on so much music.

All music is not created equally, neither are musicians.  And neither are our ears.

The college post

For Layn.

College tip ground ZERO

Mom's grocery list...with comments from me.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nM7qQyUaZCtM7lYgxoZ3_LxblqcgCWlXzVKzHhtaVfk/edit?usp=sharing


College tip number 1.

You will survive this.  Rats can be killed, so can cockroaches.  You don't always get to have chairs or a dining table in your apartment, and sometimes your power goes out, or your garbage attracts thousands of maggots.  And maybe the neighborhood floods and you've got to move your books off of the floor.

But seriously, it is all going to be okay.  It's life, stuff happens. Now, Layn, I don't really anticipate these issues for you.  You're going into a fully furnished, school provided, approved apartment.  Apples aren't going to be $2.23 a lb on a good day, but milk will probably still be around $4 a gallon.  You'll have other small things that could bug you.

Erase the assumptions that you've had about college life.  It's a brand new piece of paper, and you get to write whatever you want on it.  Analyze your habits, and only keep the good ones.  You'll form other ones as you come to those bridges. 

There won't be Strawberry yogurt in the fridge unless you buy it.

- it also won't disappear as quickly unless you have a roommate that shares your food. 

You'll make a habit of marking your food, and having specific days when you buy different grocery items. Those aren't things that others can plan for you, these are about you and your own personal survival.

College tip number 2. 

Can openers and canned fruit. 

Food goes bad.  You think you'll be home every day for lunch and then, all of the sudden, you have a study group on Monday, a few friends run to McDonnald's and bring you along on Tuesday, on Wednesday someone invites you to lunch, and by Thursday your ripe fruit is....not so ripe because it's been tossed and tumbled in your shared fridge.  

College fridges get a lot of traffic, stuff goes bad fast.

(except tortillas...still blows my mind)

Back to the tip.  Get those little plastic lids that fit on top of standard chilli/fruit cans.  Either that or have a designated rubber band that you use to secure your plasticwrap top.  

Don't eat a whole can of chili at once, and don't forget it once it's in the fridge.

You can freeze fruit when it is starting to go bad, and use it later.  You can also do that with veggies (specifically celery), and then when you make stir fry, or soups, whatever, you and put those in last and it will cook well WHILE it cools the soup a little bit.  Then you can eat it faster.

Go through your food in your fridge AT LEAST once a month.  All of your roommates.  Do it.  Get together and anything that is going bad gets thrown into a mystery Sunday dinner that everybody shares.  

Don't be afraid of innovative food.

College tip number 3.

I will now use a real life example on proper food planning. 

I have rice.  I have macaroni noodles.  I have potatoes. 

The potatoes will go bad first.  Use them first whenever possible.  The rice will keep for. ever.  Macaroni can get soggy if it's too humid.  Use things in the order of when they'll rot and beat the cycle of death!  If, however, I have 2 bottles of Prego pasta sauce and one of them is open in the fridge- it is important for you to use the pasta sauce within to weeks of when you opened it.  Otherwise it will go bad.  So, make LOTS of pasta in the morning and eat it throughout the day.  The next day, make LOTS of mashed/baked/casserole potatoes and eat it throughout the day. 

Sometimes this means that you have some really good stir fry (leftover from a RS activity), and when you don't have rice or plain noodles cooked and sitting in the fridge, this means you have the opportunity to use your potatoes.  

I might have fed the Scotsman stir-fry on mashed potatoes yesterday.  Was it an unusual mix of food cultures?  I'd like to call it bi-cultural syncretism.   But it was good, it was filling, and it didn't take very long.

College tip number 4.

Carrots last forever. You need veggies.  Buy carrots.  Buy the giant bag of carrots at Costco (20lbs, I'm serious) and you can have carrot sticks for the rest of the semester.  And then you can cook them in carrot pennies, or steam them with rice, or put them in soup.....

carrots are great.

and they're good for your eyes.

Celery is good...but it goes bad really fast.  All the ingredients for salad get expensive.  Cucumbers are also wonderful, but they don't last much longer than celery.  Buy baby tomatoes because they don't get so squishy.  Big tomatoes don't last long in a college fridge, they get moved around and squished.

College tip number 5.

Feed your Home Teachers...and the people you Visit Teach.

When you're very first assigned to Home Teachers, it's probably going to be a little bit awkward.  Think about it, these are the people that will be your first contact when you're having a bit of a crisis.  Give them the opportunity to be the caring, on top of it, home teachers that all men in the Church should be.  Start that by inviting them to lunch after church...or maybe on a weekday if they can swing it. You make the lunch at your apartment (if you're allowed to have male visitors....check with the rules on that....but you could picnic it), you all eat, and then they give their spiritual message and help you with the clean-up.  

THEY WILL get their home teaching done from then on. They'll like you, and have a better attitude about the whole thing.

The same goes to the people that you Visit Teach.  I like having breakfast with my VT Companion and 1-2 of my teachees before church on Sunday.  It's great.  Feed them physically and spiritual.  You'll love them more, you'll be more aware of their needs, and everybody likes pancakes and good company...even if they're not a huge fan of pancakes. 

College reality that we'll call tip 6.

It would be a lot cheaper to buy your food together with your entire house.  There would be more room in the fridge.  The food wouldn't go bad so fast.  You could have a wider variety.  You wouldn't have to deal with 3 egg cartons in the fridge at the same time.
As WONDERFUL as that would be...it's not going to happen.
Here is why.
You eat differently than your roommates.  Heck, you eat differently the ME.  You drink milk.  I don't like milk.  So if we go in on groceries together, I end up paying for some of the milk....that I'll never drink.
Not cool.
But, you know, I may eat more cheese than you do and you're splitting that too, so it all works out in the end, right?
It would, and it does, and that's totally the way I see it.   However, that is the long term.  This is the short-term.  You're in college, money is tight, you're in a new place and you don't absolutely unconditionally love these people yet.  Don't give yourselves anything to have contention over.

Now, when you can choose your roommates...
be. very. cautious.

Roommate Abbie and I share a lot of food.  She has a Costco card, and I don't, so we end up getting a lot of things together.  We buy eggs, cheese, meat, butter, fruit, beans, chili, macaroni....etc etc.
We also eat together a lot.  Whenever I cook something, I make sure I make enough for leftovers, and leave them in the fridge for her to eat when she can.  Then I tell her that there are leftovers in the fridge that she is welcome to.   Also- I cook a lot more than she does.  She doesn't have to cook as much, and still eats; as a result, I cook more-ish and our fridge is not as jam-packed as I've known it to be.

We tried to share milk and eggs with our entire house.  Everybody put in $5 per month into a jar and as we need eggs or milk, someone will go get it.  It didn't work.  Different cultures, different food habits, maybe a bit of mistrust and anxiety doesn't allow for that.

And this, Layn, is why people get married.  So that they can put whatever they want in the fridge.  And the fundamental unit of the Church is the Family because the refrigerator system works so much better than having unrelated people live together.


College tip number 7.

Establish a bedtime.  Period.  Set your alarm clock.  Do whatever you want in the morning, in whatever order you want.  My advice, no later than 6:30.
The library is open until midnight....does not mean you need to be there until it closes.  If you HAVE to, okay, the infrequent library lockdown is fine.  Don't make it a habit.  Do your homework efficiently and then go home, and go to bed.


College tip number 8.

Remember people's names.  Control the way you look at people.  They may seem a little odd.  They may be a little weird.  But we're all a little weird.  And that kid who is wearing a kilt, don't judge it, you may just fall in love with him someday.  So be nice.
Go through the halls and assume that 90% of the people walking around are having a hard day.  Uplift them with that assumption.  You'll be surprised at how correctly you've assumed.


College tip number 9.

Social media is a time sucker.
It is also a wonderful way to stay in contact.
It is also the go-to way to make study/meet up plans.

Limit your social media time.  Make a note of the people you need to contact or the questions you need to ask-- literally write them down-- as soon as you think of them; then, when you get to your facebook, take care of those things first.  It's fine to get distracted, but make sure there is a purpose for you getting onto facebook and that you complete it before you sign off.


College tip number 10.

When you find it hard to love someone, when you're nervous about this new person that you're living with, or the new person that is your home teacher, or the new person that is in your assigned study group, or the new person that shares a desk with you at work, serve them.
Small things like, when you make breakfast in the morning, make enough for your roommate and bring it to her occasionally (on mornings when she has an early class or something).  It doesn't have to be huge.
The quickest way to love someone is to serve them, and the happiest way to live is to love the people that you are around.


College tip number 11.

Make goals.  Write them down.  Post them on your wall.  Tell your 3 best friends about them.  AND THEN, don't envision yourself achieving your goal.  Instead, envision all of the little steps that will have to come to pass in order for you to achieve your goal.
Ex:  I want to read my textbook chapters before class so that I'm more prepared for the lecture.
~I need to own my textbook.
~I need to have a quiet study place to read the textbook.
~I need undisturbed time in which to read material that I don't fully understand.
~I will need a blanket because the library is cold, and nobody bothers you when you have a blanket.
~I need to make sure I have my blanket in my backpack before I leave my apartment.

See?  Like that.  With my blanket and my textbook in my bag, I'm far more likely to actually read before class.


College tip number 12

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, DO ANYTHING ON YOUR BED OTHER THAN SLEEP.
Do not study on your bed.
Do not watch movies/shows/youtube on your bed
Do not use you computer while you are on your bed.
Do not eat on your bed
Do not write in your journal, or write essays, while on your bed.

Occasionally breaking this rule is acceptable, but only slightly.  Like, have girl talk, paint your nails occasionally, play cardgames on your bed with roommate 1 when roommate 2 is on a date in the Kitchen.  When you are sick, skype mom from your bed.

BUT THIS MUST BE THE EXCEPTION.
ONLY SLEEPING shall happen WHILST ON YOUR BED.

Why?
Because if you eat, watch movies, do homework, read books, play games, scroll facebook....all of these things happening on your bed--
your brain will cease to associate your bed with sleeping.
What happens when you stop associating sleep with your bed?  You are restless, and it leads to MORE computer use, food consumption, reading and things while you are on your bed.
This leads to sleep problems.  You literally will not be able to fall asleep while you are on your bed.  I know girls (cough, Megan) who had to sleep on the couch in the front room because she did everything else on her bed.

Beds are for sleeping.

Bonus words of wisdom.

Keep a bag of chocolate chips.  When you have the ingredients to make a treat, you don't feel so poor. 

And it was also my sister's birthday that day.

The day we went to the Te Papa Museum, June 18th, was rather busy. We had just come from meeting the very colorful Ambassador, and knew that we would be doing our last full performance in New Zealand later that evening. We performed in the Marae on the top level of the museum. We'd been in two Maraes before, each absolutely beautiful in their own right, but this Marae literally pops. The traditional carvings have a modern spin and were more 3-dimentionall. It was an absolutely sunning venue. Before our mini performance we did a flashmob in the atrium of the museum to let people know we were there and that we would perform within the next 15 minutes. 

It was really cool to walk up to the top level with some of the audience members. They were excited about what they had heard, they were astounded by the beauty of the building and by what little they had already heard of and about us. Some people knew of our performance and had planed to be there, but there were quite a few that were pleased as punch to be there. One elderly gentleman that I talked to said that he and his wife were getting a late start on their day off together, so instead of going for a walk they decided to take a trip to the museum, just on a whim.

There was a Women's Barbershop Quartet from a local High School that performed before we did; they were really good, it was fun to hear that style with their own Kiwi twists.
It was a very personal performance for many reasons. We were able to see the audience, as it was mid-day and, and able to mingle some before and for a good while after. After we had done our bit, some of the elderly Maori in the first couple rows started to sing back to us, thanking us for honoring their Marae with our voices. I remember before we left on tour we were a little nervous about the pronunciation for our Maori songs and we worked to make sure we were saying things properly. It was such a comfort to perform and get that validation of our effort and our offering, because sometimes--especially on this particular day-- it felt like we were heaving up our souls in song.
I got to talk to a lady who was sitting in the front row and found out that she is coming to BYUH this September for the 50th anniversary of the PCC, because she was one of the labor missionaries who came to build it and was in the first group of performers in the Aotearoa village. It was really beautiful to meet her and her family, knowing what a blessing she helped to create. There were others there that were impressed by our spirit and the cultures that we were able to represent.

belated from Australia...and then some

Monday the 17th

We drove allllll the way down to Wellington.  It was a 9 hour drive in an old Church College of NZ bus.  We drove through Rohan (for you LOTR fans).  We stopped and performed in a museum.  We stopped at a gift shop near the hot mud pools in Rotorua.  We made it, finally to Wellington and were welcomed into the only Marae that is headed by an LDS High Priest.   It's the only Marae (ancestral home) that has integrated LDS teachings, celebrating where it overlaps, and ignoring where it doesn't.  The boys were billetted out to members, the girls slept in a hostile that was once an insane asylum.  Appropriate.

Tuesday 18th

We performed in the Te Papa national museum.  It was AWESOME.  We stayed and explored for a little bit, but it would have been easy to stay longer.  We met the US Ambassador.  We performed in the Porirua Stadium to a completely packed, and interactive audience.  It was our best performance yet.

Wednesday 19th

We traveled most of the day today.  We flew to Christchurch and barely made our connection to Brisbane.  The sunset looked like an orange blanket had its corner resting on the horizon.  We landed and went to Institute.  Yeah.  And then they fed us a bit after.  Australia is NOT Polynesia.  You know how I know that?  They don't over feed you.  Well, some of the boys claimed they weren't fed enough, but it's all relative.

Thursday  20th

We had an AWESOME high school meeting/Q&A/performance.  It was fun to get to know these guys more than any of the...6...schools we visited in NZ. 

We went to Griffith University and had a Master Class with a small choir there.  After we were fed, we did a performance at their Multi-faith Center for a Multi-faith Concert, which was (according to the PR people I met later) an outstanding success.  I'm not sure how they measure those things because I was SICK and kinda fell off the stage at one point.  It's okay, landed on my feet.  Like a champ.  <rare occurrence, someone was praying for me>

Friday 21st

This day was awesome.  It was also the coldest day of the year for Brisbane thus far....we were outside all day.  We went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and I held a Koala and fed Kangaroos and Wallabies. Fuzzy, awesome creatures, with claws of death.  We went to the Waikiki of Australia- Surfer's Paradise.  It was beautiful, it was cold, we did a flash mob in the mall and then some of us played Laser Tag.  We then went to the Horse Show- "The Spirit of the Australian Outback"   Half expected a crocodile show...wrong outback.

Saturday the 22nd

Concert day of death!

Not really.  5 hours of singing.  But we made it.  We performed in Brisbane City Hall on the same day as the 2nd State of Origin game.  (SO is a BIG deal for Aussie Rugby).  We did a promo performance in the Brisbane Mall--on a stage, in a mall--a somewhat familiar experience for us.  We had a matinee show, which was new for us, but such a blessing. And then another full performance that evening.  There were LOTS of VIPs at the 7pm show.  The Lord Mayor of Brisbane shook my hand- twice- as did his wife.  There were a handful of Parliament members, all the local stake presidents and lots of board members for different charities.  How do I know this?  I was the first girl fully dressed so I went with some other choir members to make conversation in the VIP pre-show mingle room...thing. 

Sunday 23rd.

We saw a wild kangaroo outside the chapel.  We had a testimony meeting.  We napped from the day before.  We did a fireside that was awesome. 

Monday 24th (the first time)

We went to the Brisbane Temple.  Then we walked around Kangaroo Point.  We took the City Cat.  It IS like the CAT bus....but it's a catamaran. HA!  It was really really cool.  Lots of fun.  I like boats.  Then we went to the Airport, sang 'God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again' to the bus driver, who was a less-active member.  Good things there I tell ya.

We flew out of Brisbane to Aukland at 6pm.  Landed in Aukland at 12:30 on Tuesday.  'Slept' in the airport until 8am.  Flight left from AUK to Honolulu at 11:10am on Tuesday.  We landed in Honolulu at 10ish on Monday. 

Monday 24th (the second time) 

we parted with Kaylee and Jerick who are off to live their lives in China for a while.  And then I parted with Kaytie Swain, who is one of my favorite people.  I dreaded this moment.  I wasn't sad really, but I cried...and cried...and she is going to be a fantastic missionary.  And then we sang all the way to campus.  And then we said goodbye to more people and that was the worst.

25th- attempted to take a picture together
we're soooo good at it  :/

Tuesday 25th (the second time)
I walked home.  And woke up talking to Spencer about 5 hours later.  Rainy day.  Got lots of necessary things done.  Talked, re-packed, laughed, worked a little bit, and then I was back to the airport to go to Las Vegas.

Wednesday 26th (the only time this one happened)

I woke up in Vegas.  I grabbed my luggage and barely missed the 8am shuttle to St George.  So I charged my phone, talked to mom and Spencer and took the 9:30 shuttle and made it to St George for the family reunion.  And then watched Mary Poppins with the family.

Thursday the 27th

I came from Australia and I was still one of the faster hikers on our traditional family reunion hike.  I must really enjoy moving around.

Friday 28th

BOATING DAY.

Got up slalom skiing...for the first time in my life.  After about 14 years of attempting.  My life is complete. I could have died quite content.

Saturday 29th

 I didn't die.  We drove up and went to the Manti Pageant.

Sunday 30th-

Mom and dad anniversary!  Church with Aunt, Uncle, and cousins.

Monday 1st-

Water park with great friends.  FHE performance with Grandma.

Tuesday 2nd-

Impromptu gathering with my dad's nieces and nephews and their KIDS.  I love these guys.  My cousin, the newly set apart sister missionary, arrived and we got to be her companions.  Ate Texas Rode House...because she is going to Texas, Houston.

Wednesday 3rd-

Took Alyssa to the MTC.  Visited Kylie at Maui Chill FroYo.

Thursday 4th-

Finally drove home.  God Bless America, and God, THANK YOU for home.

touchy-feely post

about all the things I've learned. 


It also happens to be my 199th post.


I was in Hamilton, New Zealand exactly 6months after the day I left Cambodia.  I realized it as I was making a GoPro video, walking around the Hamilton Temple.  "Hey, remember when we did this in Korea?"  And I did.  I remembered the exact day.  December 13, 2012 (the first one).  


I thought again of all the things that I had learned from that time to this.


I learned how to really fast.  
It was the day that Natalie left.  McKae was already getting sick and we'd forgotten that it was Fast Sunday the day before, so I fasted on Monday.  Mostly for McKae because I didn't want to be left alone, I wanted her to be better.  I didn't eat or drink all day, until about 7 in the evening.  I was praying with part of my brain and teaching with the other part; and when Natalie offered me something to eat I almost refused because I wasn't very hungry.  


I learned to be exceptionally self-driven.


I have learned how to keep better tabs on people. 


I treasure my interpersonal relationships more.

I'm more aware of what lasts.

I learned to do hard things...in a different way than I had before.

The first time I cried in Cambodia was about 2 weeks after McKae had returned home.  I'd made skype appointments that had all fallen through, and I was waiting for another one.  I was signed in and the person on the other side of the line was late.  I hadn't skyped someone on the island for about a month and it was a little nerve wracking.  To distract myself from distress, I signed onto facebook and the first thing I saw was my friend Jodi's comment on a picture I'd posted, asking if there was anything I needed from the island.  There wasn't, and we weren't sure of the mail security, but I was so touched and just grateful that there was still someone who knew they could do something to make sure I was okay, and they wanted to.  I wasn't okay, but after seeing that I was.  That was a really big thing for me.

I learned to be independent with God.

So many of the experiences in Cambodia I've seen come into play within these 6 months following that adventure.  Little things where it's like "Why on earth would this be important" have been useful and have made worlds of difference. 

My friend Martin is currently in the Ivory Coast working with an organization called WELL Africa (started by current BYUH students. awesome guys).  I know how much I appreciated any thoughts I could get from my 'former life', and so I'll send him a line or so when I feel like I should and I know that's been good for him. 

I learned to love.  I thought I knew before that-- HA.  false.  I did not.  I probably still don't, but I know more.
I learned how to live for the small-child stampede that met me in the mornings.
I learned how to love desperately.
I learned to trust AND rely a little.
I learned to love by serving.
I learned how to fall, unstoppably, into it.
I'm learning how to verbally express it- not one of my fortes.  

I learned to serve in every moment I could. 

On my choir trip I learned to talk very easily with others about the Gospel, the choir, music, interests...to be truly interested.

I listen better.  I care more.  I may be just a bit more private, but I want to only share meaningful things and sometimes I just don't have the words, or enough time to find them.  

Happy Graduation

You know, I'm glad I made it back in time for this.
 But I missed Bednar's talk.  I woke up slightly later than I'd planned and Abby was gone...and my clothes were locked in her room.   Yeah.
And I was looking for the leis that I'd set aside in September because I *knew* I would need them today, but couldn't find them anywhere.
I'd left my temporal life in the hands of my roommates and I couldn't find it once I got back!
but eventually they were found and Abby came back so I could change out of my pjs. 

 But I made it in time to see everyone walk.  I walked by at opportune moments and took family pictures for people I love, and found everyone that I had leis for.

I check out RAGE for a bit.  Called my dad and wished him a Happy Birthday with a 'please dad I need your help with my car'.  My dad is the greatest.  It was the first time I'd talked to my dad on the phone in...forever.  I cried a bit.  Just like I did when I called my mom a few days earlier. 

And then I went surfing.  At first it was just swimming, but my friend had grabbed boards, so I went and got mine.  It wasn't great surfing.  I kicked a seaturtle on accident.  It scared me half to death and I fell off my board because of it.  Part of my balance issue though is that my center of gravity has changed and I'm still negotiating it.  I promise the kickage was not done maliciously.  I know better.  Dude I could get a huge fine for that.  The law protects those things more than it protects me sometimes.

So yeah.  I went to graduation.  I watched the talk when it was posted on the BYUH site.  It was a good one.  Elder Bednar is so cool. 
I went surfing.
I assessed the damage on my car.
I probably ate something.
I sat and watched my friends play Mario Kart and was updated on their semesters.  Which was slightly depressing because it seems that EVERYONE had a very hard semester and that makes me sad.

And it was like a dream.  It wasn't me doing it.  I just sort of watching from a distance because I wasn't sure how to be there with them.  I've been out of the loop for so long, it's hard to jump back in.  I was so very grateful for Sunday when it came.  It was awesome to sing hymns with a congregation in my own language. It was fun to lead the music because the chorister had left for home.  Bishop had asked me to be prepared to give a 5 min testimony if time allowed.  It didn't, but it was fun to think about.

a day on replay

I had 2 December 13ths, on different sides of the international date line.

Snow from the airplane (pre-battery death)
On the way to Uijeongbu
Me, trying to figure out my GoPro

I landed in Korea at 6:50am and began my day.  The bathroom right by the gate looked like a spa.  Everything in the Incheon Airport is super nice.  I highly recommend the airport.
I made it to the ground floor of the airport and exchanged my US money for Korea's Won.  There were payphones, so I called Monique to let her know I'd made it.  And then followed her instructions onto the bus.  I was the only person on that bus.  I don't know what it is, but the buses in other countries seem far more luxurious than buses in America.  There was snow sticking on the ground when I got there.  All I had was a raincoat to keep me warm, so I was really glad that the bus was heated.
Guys.  Korea is an island.  I knew that, but I didn't really connect that I'd be seeing the ocean at all.
It was early in the morning and the sun was just barely up so it was still very low in the sky. There was snow on the beach and the ocean looked almost lazy.  The water was very flat for the little stretch where the highway ran parallel to it.
It took about 40 min and I was in Uijeongbu.  It is about an hour South of North Korea.  I got off at the bus stop and there they were.  Mr and Mrs Laing, waiting for me with a turtleneck, sweater, coat, scarf, gloves, and hat.  It was just nice to talk to them.  In English.  Fast English.  I was tripping over my words they were coming out of my mouth so fast.
There was a political rally for Park Geun-hye.  Monique gave me the DL on her.  Her father is a former dictator of S Korea and she isn't the first female to run for S Korea President, but she was the first favored female candidate. So there was this rally and everyone was super pumped.  We were inside Holly's Coffee getting hot chocolate.  Monique told me how it'd be really cool to actually see this candidate in one of the rallies but it hadn't happened yet.  Uijeongbu, after all, is not a very large town.
But we were outside, with all the Koreans yelling (they're loud people), and there were people on the rooftops taking pictures in of the square (but not snipers like there would be in America, nope just people with cameras), and there were 4 guys dressed up as superheros complete with masks (and they didn't get carried away by secret service men like they would have in America), and then we see the candidate.  In person.  She was there.  It was legit.  I totally saw her, and got her on my GoPro.
And the next week she won the election.  Life Win.
We went to the underground.  There really is nothing like it in America.  Except maybe a subway, but even then.  It's like an underground swap meet. There are little stores and restaurants.  That's where we had lunch and it was delicious.  I don't know how many of you have had KimChee before, but it can be pretty gross unless you're in Korea, which I was, and then it is good.
In Korea there is this holiday on 11/11 where you get these long chocolate pretzel sticks and give them to someone you love.  Like Valentine's day.  We went to this little store, where they had super fun Christmas cards.  You know, the typical ones you think of when you picture Asians trying to write hallmark cards but missing the mark a little (ca-boom-chick).  The candy stick things were on sale because it was overstocked and that's how I know about it.  Just thought that was interesting, moving on.
Monique and Brent worked, so they gave me instructions, paid for my bus card, and sent me on my way back to Seoul.
And then I traveled the metro.  I switched lines twice and followed all the directions.  I got yelled at by an old man for not standing up immediately when he got on the bus.  But I did get up once I put my journal away.  I had my carry-ons with me, I was hauling stuff or I would have been able to get up sooner.  After about 10 min of him...well, being a crazy old man....one of the other elderly people told him to can it.  They looked at me and signaled 'it's okay, he's crazy'.  After about an hour of travel by metro, I was on my way to the Temple to do baptisms.
How cool is that?  I'd been geeking out about this for almost a week, when I very first got the idea to see if I could fit in a temple run.  I was Skyping Greg for his weekly check-up when he asked me what the first thing I wanted to do when I got back was.  I just wanted to look at the Temple.  And we remembered that his ward does baptisms every Friday and that's perfect because that's the day after I get back.  And then, oh wow, I have my recommend with me but can't use it...but *lightbulb* there is a Temple in Korea.  Great moment. It was basically the greatest idea ever.  It just so happened that an English speaking family from Singapore was in Korea doing baptisms and it was their daughter's first time.  So I got to meet them a little, but mostly I talked to Sister Peck who was working in the temple that day and she and her husband are the public affairs missionaries for Korea.  I let them know that I was sortof on a time limit, but we got a lot of work done and it was absolutely beautiful.  Cold.  Beautiful.
I made it back to the metro exactly when I needed to.  The line came right after I got there and it was easy to get back into the airport.  They stamped my Passport, I re-exchanged my money, and I was good to go.

Good job! You've made it this far :)  Have a picture of my early morning bus ride.

The Incheon Airport-- think of an Airport.  Now think of a Spa.  Now think of a craft store where they do craft demonstrations on Fridays.  Now think of a concert hall.  Now think of a Mall.  Now think of a band venue.  Now think of a mini golf course.
The Incheon Airport is all of those things.  It also has these stations, it's basically a giant MAC screen, and you can scan the barcode on your boarding pass and it'll tell you where to go, the weather of your destination, your flight information, and draw a map for you because you're probably lost.
When I was getting ready to go through security there was this quartet of classically trained male vocalists.  They sang Christmas songs in English and in Korean, and then they started singing 'Nothing Like a Dame' in Korean.  I wasn't sure about it at first, but I looked over the balcony to the arena where the stage was and the performers were dancing in navy hats. Conclusion-- I'm right.
Well I went through security, where they make you take off all your coat layers even when it is cold, but they don't make you take off your shoes.  Apparently that's just America.  And I got to my gate and decided to make sure that somebody was picking me up from the airport when I landed.  So I got out my computer and got online literally moments before I boarded the plane.  It was then, in an email from my mom, that I learned about North Korea launching a missile/rocket/satellite thing the day before. 
I got on the plane.  I got a window seat.  I love KoreanAir.  They're wonderful.  I watched "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" and cried at the end of it.  I watched us pass over Japan and I waved to my cousin Elder Aaron.  I slept a little bit.  I watched the sun come up over the clouds.  I watched us fly over Kauai.

And then we started to approach O'ahu.  I saw the shorelines and pictured everything that I knew was there.  Try to orient myself to where North was and which direction I was coming from.  Before I knew it, I was in Honolulu. The air smelled beautiful. 
I had to go through more customs stuff on my way in, but it was simple.  There were signs all around the carousels that this was a 'no cell phone zone'.  But I went into the bathroom and charged up my phone for the first time in almost 3 months.  I called my mom, and then I called Ben because he was my ride.
He hadn't forgotten, he just was running a little late.
Why couldn't my roommate come and get me?  That would be because my car was running into the ground.  It was acting up and overheating and couldn't go more than a mile or so.  And they tell me this now.

So I got all of my luggage and sat right outside the baggage claim by the street so that he'd be able to find me.  And he did.  It was great to see him and it was fun to have him bring me home.  We went to my old house- the good ol' Taco House- and dropped my stuff.  And yes Ben, I was exhausted.  But if I slept then I would have been awake all night and there were things I needed to get done that day.
At my old house I ran into Rachel- because she lives there.  That was great because she was leaving for home that night and I agreed to help her move everything to her new house.  It worked out well for me because I got to sleep in her bed instead of on the couch.
So....now what?
Well I made sure I had everything I needed to give to people and then walked out the door to campus.
My first stop was Natalie.  I walked up to her door and peeked inside.  I surprised her a bit.  I gave her some paperwork and some bags of bracelets from the kids to sell at PCC.  We chatted and she let me know what was going on with her and the orphanage and all those things.  It was a really great talk.
And then I went to the health center to get my blood tested for all that crap that you can get in foreign countries.  But they were at lunch.  So I went into work.
And nobody was really there.  I clocked in, walked in, and sat down at a computer starting to enter grades or something.  About 10 minutes later I think it was Lance came in, with Felix on his tail, and they realized that they didn't know the girl at the computer.  Lance came up and did a causal walk-by, only to discover it was me.  Then there was much rejoicing.
After re-acquainting myself with the Online Department office, I went back to the Health Center.  And they drew blood and told me that, because it was Thursday, they wouldn't give me a TB test, but I made an appointment for the next day. 
I really didn't have that much work to do and work has a no-facebook policy anyway.  So I went into the library to check my email and ran into Oz and Kaytie.  Kaytie invited me to go sign the flag that they were putting up over the new muti-purpose building.  Free cookies. 

I hadn't had good cookies in 3 months.  Heck yes I went.

You're doing so well!  Have another picture.  Sorry
that my cameras were both dead.

It was right outside the library.  I walked over, there was nobody really around.  Everyone was taking finals.  I signed the flag.  People took videos of it for posterity.  I was still wearing my SIFE shirt and yoga pants.  I was clean since, you know, I'd been able to shower in Korea. 
And I was waiting for this ceremony/speech thing so that I understood what it was I was doing, when I saw Abby and Rachy walking towards me.  Well, they were walking towards the table where the flag was, since Kaytie had invited them too.  I saw them while they were still by the library.  It occurred to me to run towards them, but I didn't, I just stood and smiled.  They were talking together, walking towards me.  They still had a field to cross.  They were looking ahead and I knew that they'd seen me, but I stood there, waiting for it to click.
And then it did.  And I got stampeded to the ground. And the school news people and reporter and stuff looked at us like we were crazy.  Confused by all the fuss, and by this girl who'd been tackled and the girls who were tugging her up so they could wrap her up and dance around in reunion.
We were all smiles and laughter; then other people joined us and I had no idea who they were and their conversations were going waaay over my head. 
They may as well have been speaking a different language.
I walked back home to drop my important files.  I didn't know what to do with myself, so I went to the Senior Recitals for 2 of my friends who happened to be performing that evening. 
That was wise.  I got to say 'hello' and 'goodbye' and 'you've gotten so good' all at the same time.  I caught up with classmates and professors, and then I walked home.
It was around 9pm.  If you figure it out, which I did, I had been upright for 47 hours, but I'd been cheated and it was only a day since I'd been in the airport. 
"Game night at 10" said my neighbors.  Yeah...not happening.  But I poked my head in, and I got to see Nichel who was leaving the next day and so I'm glad I did.  But then I was glad to sleep.

You know, it's odd.  I lived two days in very different settings.  One where I was directed and driven and had plans even though I had never been there before.  The other where I wandered around a familiar place, looking for familiar faces and a purpose.  But it is from this repeated day that I can tell-- nothing will be the same ever again.

(more pictures and videos coming, I promise.  just let me get them.)

footage

I know.  I need to work on my blog-communication skills.  Have you ever tried blogging?  It's hard.  I suggest you give it a try and see how you do.  I'll follow you, read all of your posts, even the boring ones, and comment occasionally.

 While we're here, I have footage for you.  I know.  You're excited.  Me too. :)
This is a video compilation of some of the videos that we took during our first week in Cambodia.

So glad I'm here with someone who knows how to video-edit.

Also here for you viewing pleasure today, here is a video from Akin Clothing.

Akin is another organization that was started through SIFE at BYUH.  The organization owner, Ben Howell, donated the uniforms for the kids here at CICFO.

On our way

We started our journey at the Canal house, where we were picked up by Natalie and her mom-in-law in a red truck.  Yes, a red, short-ish truck.  All of our stuff fit in the back.  We got pulled over for speeding and found that the officer who had stopped us had served in the military and did a tour in Cambodia in the 1980's.  It was cool talking to him.  We didn't get a ticket.
We breezed through check-in.  Soon we were on our way via KOREAN AIR.

Fly Korean Air.  You'll thank me later.

We flew over Japan.  By the time we flew over Japan, it was Tuesday instead of Monday.  So I waved and sang 'Happy Birthday' to my dear cousin, Elder Bame.  Didn't plan that.

The Korean Airport is beautiful.  McKae and I did some traditional printing because it was the activity of choice.

Then we boarded the plane, Korean Air again, to Phnom Penh.  There was a fair amount of turbulence. But finally we were in Cambodia!


On Wednesday, which was Tuesday night for you on the other side of the world, we explored a bit.
First, we went to the grocery store and the market.
Something you should know about traffic here.  There are no rules.  Well, there are, 1) Moto drivers must wear helmets 2) Watch where you're going.  You would think, by looking at how many vehicles are on the streets, that there are a ton of accidents all the time.  We've been here for a few days and we've only seen one accident.  It was between two motos.  Small kine accident. I think Cambodia people are better drivers because they have to be very aware of everyone around them- otherwise they'll get run over.
The food here- well everything here, but mostly the food- is very cheap.  Cambodia uses the metric system.  I think, deep in my brain, I knew that.  I'm not quite used to it. There is a, you know, slight language barrier.  It is so weird to be the minority tongue here.  Cool, but weird.  It tests your brain to see if there is any other way to get the point across.

After the market, we went to buy bikes.
In the terms of general population, I'm tall.  Compared to my family I'm not that tall, but I'm pushing 5'10''.   The bike store had 1 bike that was my size.  There was a different one that they had me try but the handles were really close together and my knees got in the way of my steering.
So we had our bikes.  Something that we didn't really think of until we were getting ready to leave was...how are we getting our bikes anywhere?  We have no idea where we're going, we don't speak the language, we have no idea how to deal with traffic, and we've only been in the country for about 14 hours.
I'll upload the video to YouTube later.  Natalie has it.
We followed the car- and the car drove slowly- to the orphanage.

CICFO
We walked into the orphanage and the children met us in the courtyard.  They greeted us with hugs- which is difficult because I am substantially taller than they are and I still haven't quite figured that out yet.  The kids lined up and introduced themselves.  "Hello my name is ____, I am ____ years old.  Nice to meet you."
After their adorable introductions, the kids sang for us.  They began with A Child's Prayer.  When was the last time you heard that song?

Heavenly Father, are you really there, 

and do you hear and answer every child's prayer?

I was a goner.  I started crying, it was terrible.  They're orphans and it was one of the sweetest, most touching things I've ever heard.  The thought that immediately followed yes He does, he knows you're here and he loves you was  Neco told me never to cry in front of Southeast Asians because they'll think you're crazy.   I started to sing with them to stop myself from crying.  We got through the rest of A Child's Prayer, I am a Child of God in English and in Khmer (pronounced kuh-my), Listen to the Still Small Voice, and I think there was one more but we'll leave it there. 

A few of the little girls started doing a traditional Khmer (kuh-my) dance for a few minutes and then we were done with the formal meeting and we went off to play.  McKae and I played with the kids for a few hours.  The taught us their games, they communicated in broken English, we ran around playing Tom and Jerry, duck-duck-goose, some other Khmer running game.  They showed us their dogs.   Oh man these kids are so cute!  

When it was time to go, the little ones bid farewell with more hugs and a few of the older children guided us back to Botevy's house so that we wouldn't get lost.  

The end.  There are lots of pictures on facebook that you are welcome to view, I can't post very many here.   

a C for Oaks

Well, it's that time.  BYU-Hawaii was visited earlier this week by the Executive committee for all CES.  This includes the presidents of all 4 church affiliated schools (BYU H, I, P and LDSBC), Elder Oaks, Elder Nelson, Elder Johnson of the Seventy, and The Relief Society General President.  While they're here, they might as well speak to us, right?

Right.

Elder Nelson spoke to the Married Student Stake and Elder Oaks spoke to the combined Singles Stakes.

Our stakes are undergoing major adjustment because we are switching from separate Student/YSA stakes to integrated stakes.  Luckily, my ward is completely unaffected. Yay!

President Hannemann loves the stake choir.  He throws firesides just for us, he feeds us, he emails us, he pesters the bishops to pester us into going...but best of all, he has us sing for the General Authorities when they come.

This is, by far, the most amount of people we've had sing in our stake choir.  The director is my friend Harmony and we accept everyone- even if they are tone deaf.
We seem to always sing the sames songs, but I guess it works because for events like this, it's easy to pull together something that everyone knows.
Harmony and I are in Concert Choir together.  It's great.  Well, we sang Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise.  A nice arrangement; we raise the key for each verse and by the end we're singing in unison and it's a bit high for some people, but it's really cool with a big AMEN at the end.  This time, Harmony told me she'd cue a High C and, Aria would you do that for me?  The first time I sang it in practice my neighbor Toby, who was literally standing next to me, had the most surprised expression.  It was hilarious.  I was singing alto and then all of the sudden, out of the blue for many of the people there, I got this note in the stratosphere.  Nobody else in the choir that day could would sing it with me.  It's a running joke in my ward that everyone knows when I'm in sacrament meeting.  :)  The same applies here I suppose.  Everyone knew it was me.  It's a bit nerve-wracking and awkward, but really fun.

So that's my story about how I sang a High C for Elder Oaks.  Yup.  That doesn't happen very often.  The fireside was incredible.  I shook hands with BYU-I's President Clark.  Elder Johnson almost made me cry and Elder Oaks is one of the funniest men I've ever heard.

not my picture.  that'd be cool though

oh----AND my sisters are here with me.  but more on that later.

what I haven't told you

It's time I filled you in on the story.


"Who wants to go to Cambodia?" said Dr Bradshaw, my favorite orchestra professor during a class early this term.
Ummmm....who doesn't want to go to Cambodia.  Totally raised my hand.
A few minuets of a little talk, an email, and a pamphlet later.....also about 5 hours later because I worked until 9....I called my mom. 

There is an opportunity for 2 buyh students to go on an internship with an organization called ICHope.  ICHope works with CICFO- the Cambodian International Children Friend Organization.
In a nutshell, the internship is at an LDS Orphanage in Cambodia where you will teach english and computer skills for a whole semester. 
That is something that I am highly interested in. 

credit- www.theglobaloutreach.org

Why?

• I really like orphanages.  That's an odd sentiment, I know, but I honestly have considered working with an orphanage in another country for a long time; more so since my cousin Chelsea worked with one in Central America.  I just found out about an organization that takes volunteers for any amount of time available-- like instead of vacationing during Christmas break you could go work in an orphanage for 3 weeks-- very cool.   I've always been able to see myself working at an orphanage, caring for children that are not my own.  This is an idea that I'm very comfortable with.  To my young mind, orphanage 'moms' were single, loving, happy ladies- something I aspired to be.   *Side note- Something I realized recently is that I've always envisioned myself as a mother and it's something I actively think about and work towards. I've never thought about or actively worked towards being a wife; my list for 'things I want for my kids' puts the 'husband list' to shame.  I feel this has an impact on why I am, well, me.*  I decided not to make this a career because-- dude, I get heartsick when something little doesn't work out quite right for a good friend, I dislike seeing others in emotional pain, and I am really quick to judge people.  I wouldn't trust anyone to adopt my kids and I know that is how I would think of them-- they would be mine.  Mmmmm, not healthy. 
• Also- teaching English to kids (and adults?) will be a really helpful experience when I become a speech pathologist.  A clinical SLP sometimes has to work with patients that, due to brain or muscle damage, almost have to re-learn to speak.  It'd be helpful.
• I think an underlying reason I'd like to go is because, secretly, I'm not ready to leave.  It may be like an escapist principle.  If I go away to do an internship, I have to stay here longer to get the classes that I missed.  I'm not ready to move on, I haven't learned enough.
• I'm free to go now.  I'm not tied to anyone here, it's a great semester to go, I don't anticipate being any more able to get up and take off for 3 months in the future.

BUT before I talked to anyone connected with the internship, I spoke with Brother Belnap who said yes, I could walk back onto the choir in January and still be able to go on tour to New Zealand/Australia next summer.   I talked to Dr K about working from Cambodia and the ability for me to package this as a music internship so I can receive school funding.  I talked to Dr Bradshaw and he'll forgive me for not being in the orchestra.  I talked to my academic adviser who adjusted my map and gave me a 'go for it'. I talked to the Health Center, and yes the school insurance covers students on school sanctioned internships.  I talked to career services to see about some of the internship standards and policies; most importantly, how many internships I can do-- if I do this one, can I still do one with the Shropshire Music Foundation?  The answer was yes, yes I can. That, for me, was the last piece of the academic puzzle.
Then I emailed Natalie.  She is the lady who set this thing up with the sisters in Cambodia.
I had an interview with her on Tuesday evening.  I felt very much at peace immediately afterwards.  I knew there were other applicants.  I knew that the decision was in God's hand.  I was able to pray, not for me to go, but for the right people to go. 

ps- these are bracelets that the children make.  The byuh SIFE team sells
them as a way to generate funds for the orphanage.  I totally have one,
I have for like a year now. 

 When I first found out about this and seriously considered it I called my mom.  My mother told my family- she was at a family reunion, it was inevitable.  It's been weeks, but I didn't want to proclaim 'I'm going to Cambodia' and then not be able to go.  I especially did not want to do that to my friends here.  My leaving affects them more directly than it does many of you.  I could be in Cambodia now and the only difference it would make for some of you is that this blog would be more interesting.

I was supposed to find out on Friday.  I postponed checking my email until late afternoon.  Waiting for an email stinks.  I didn't receive it until bout half an hour ago.

I didn't get it.  

That doesn't mean I will absolutely not be able to go though.  The coordinator is talking to the director about maybe bringing me over just to teach music.  Chances are slim, but I want to get the CICFO director and Liz Shropshire in touch with each other so maybe we can take the Teaching Children Peace Foundation to Cambodia next summer.

All in all, this has been quite an adventure.  I've learned a lot about myself and others.  I've grown and I know much good will come of it.  And I will, since I've told you this much, keep you informed.

foundation

After Devotional there was a bucket full of rocks.  All the students were invited to write their name on a rock and these rocks would be used in the concrete that will form the foundation of some of the new buildings here on campus.

rock for the sis.

Adam's rock creation

here it is

I played in devotional.

first day of school, first day of school!

Okay, not yet.  Summer break is over today.  We had a plan to watch 'Endless Summer' and have dinner and....well instead I had a cooler full of Otai and a ton of leftover muffins.  Here's how that went-

So I had a ton of watermelon insides.  I had a lot of big chunks, so I put a lot of it through the blender.  I had 2 bags of ice.  I froze a quart of Half'n'Half.  I cut a whole pineapple and put that through the 'ice crush' mode on my blender and then froze that.  I had about a package of shredded coconut.  I made a gallon of milk, but I put twice as much milk powder in as you're supposed to.  I had a 10lb bag of sugar and probably put in about 3lbs.

Mix it all together and that, I guess, is how you make Otai.

 This is Abby's 'Oh my gosh this is so legit' face.

She tried it and it was yummy.

By the time I was done with meetings and people were ready to be occupied the there were still frozen chunks of Half'n'Half which was great.  It stayed super cold all night.  Everyone drank a bunch.  We did an Otai toast.
I could list of names of the people that were here....but I don't know all of them.   People just kinda walked in.  We played games.  People came and went at their leisure, it was nice.

I gave away 1 2 3...ish gallons of Otai and I have about.....1 2 and a half-ish in my fridge.  Do you see how much is in that cooler?  It's insane.  But it is really good.  Tomorrow we go to school.  Back to real (ish) life.
It's an adventure.  Come what may and love it.   :)

sadies

I did it!  I asked a guy on a date and he said yes.  HA! 
Sadie Hawkins.

this is how I asked-

it took a ridiculous amount of time to freeze this thing

to give credit where it is due, this was Sean's idea; aided, of course, by Matthew and Ty.

It was successful.  We went, there was food there.  It was good.  We danced, we played with balloons.  We went with
Lacey and Lance
and Bree and Ben.
 Having never been to a dance before, I did not ask Mike until after I had convinced Lace and Bree to go too.  I'm rather oblivious when it comes to things like this, so I felt better about going in a group.
Sadies.  You dress up alike, right?  This was my genius thought- *we've both done paint wars*
Paint war shirts and jeans.  PERFECT!
wrong.
Fine print says 'Semi Formal Attire'
What the heck?  We we wore black and gray.
Lacey, Lance, Bree, and Ben are all into Supermario Smashbrothers.  So they planned to dress up as Princess Peach, Maria, (some other character), and Luigi- BUT Ben didn't have a green polo shirt and was afraid of being under-dressed wearing a green t-shirt, so they didn't dress up.

Mario (Lance) and Luigi (Ben) on the scavenger hunt that asked them.

Which is sad because they probably would've placed and gotten a $25 certificate to Cheesecake factory.  The couple that won though was this adorable married Korean couple.  They were so cool, everyone just wanted them to win.  They weren't in costume, so when the announcer hailed them to the stage they were the 'Traditional Asian couple'.  HAhahaha!  But they can dance so they won.  :)

We came, we ate, we talked, we threw little plastic confetti things across the table at each other, we danced, we ate some more, screamed our heads off, danced, left, talked story at my house for a while and parted ways.