This Blog is for the journaling of my college life, starting in fall of 2007. The blog that precedes this blog is "The Formal Operational Stage of Life" which is about my high school life. If you want to read that one, you are more than welcome to see the link that is available on my personal profile page. To those of you who read my "College Student" blog, I hope that you enjoy reading it. Lots of Love, Always ~Holly Elizabeth
Well, this week has been... interesting... I will give you the quick recap.
Monday
Work
Tuesday
Helped Mom at WX
Ate Breakfast with Briahna and Kaylee
New Epileptologist Appointment
Psycho Phlebotomist
Talked with U of U student on TRAX
Hung Out with Jeff M.
Ate at Litza's Pizza
Shared music on our MacBooks
Wednesday
Helped Mom at WX
Took Frontrunner/TRAX/UTA Bus to Campus
Found my classes
ASL Level 3
Philosophy
Shakespeare
Sociology
Symphonic Band
Explored the new Library
Saw Joe...
Bought my books
Signed up for Institute
Dating and Courtship
Friday Devotionals
Thursday
Hung Out With Breelyn
Breakfast at Johanna's Restaurant
Saw Mama Mia at Jordan Commons
Work
Friday
Work
Shopping at Dad's Work (Caterpilliar [CAT])
Shopping at Wal-Mart
New Shirt
Tink Bag
Purple iHome
School Supplies
Jewelry
Saturday
Wrote the most of my talk
Work
Finsihed writing talk
Sunday
Nursery Calling
Gave Report on Hill Cumorah Pageant Experience in Sacrament
Went to YSA Class
Pretty much all I have been doing today is exactly what I want... I have been able to surf the internet and just listen to music and enjoy the day. This is probably the last week that I will have a weekend, let alone a Sunday that I won't have to do homework. I am hoping though, that I won't have to do homework on Sunday. I start school this Wednesday and I am pretty excited about it.
I've sort of had a lot on my mind lately, stuff pertaining to work, school, and my new epileptologist. I won't be working nearly as much now that school is starting. It is a good thing that I won't be working because I get so tired so easily but at the same time, I am going to miss the people that I work with and I am going to miss the fabric...
I don't know what to think about my new epileptologist... she seems nice, and kind, but I am really sort of nervous about the whole thing... I have some new perscriptions that I am going to start in a month...
There is so much more I want to tell you right now, but my mind really isn't working too well with me...
This was the outcome of the test that I took on Blogthings.com, I would have to say that, for the most part this is true. Some of it I don't think applies to me. However, I think that some of my closest friends would already most of this know this about me. What do you think about my outcome? Do you agree? Take the test and post it on your blog!
Well, among other things that have happened this week, I thought I would talk about some of the good things that went on. Let’s see, I’d have to say that within the last seven days my first highlight would have to be last Friday. I had made plans with Briahna to go to her house and have a get-together with some friends from high school before we all headed back to college. I got my stuff together, including some snacks to share with the gang.
I went to the TRAX station that was closest to my house and I got on to make the journey to Salt Lake. It took about 45-50 minutes on the train, but I passed the time by listening to my “Purple Pixie” iPod Shuffle. I absolutely love listening to music while I am on the train or bus. It let’s me be in a different time and place, away from anything that bothers me. Not to mention that I can sound-out the din of anything or anybody that is making noises that I don’t want to hear. So there I sat just enjoying the ride.
Once I was in Salt Lake, I went to the platform where the Frontrunner boards passengers. I had to get my ticket first because my Ed-pass doesn’t currently cover the cost of Frontrunner. I had never been on Frontrunner before. It is a rather recent addition to UTA. It is a really nice commuter train; it has nice large seats and plenty of leg-room. There are two levels to the train so more passengers can fit. I haven’t had a chance to see the view from the upper level but I think that it would be a really neat experience.
The Frontrunner is very smooth, it doesn’t sway and it isn’t a bumpy ride. It only took me about 15 minutes to get to Woods Cross, where Briahna picked me up.
Once in the car with Briahna, we talked and chatted about how our lives were now and what our plans were for the fall. We talked about the young men that we knew who were on their missions or getting ready to go on their missions.
Getting to hang out with my friends from Woods Cross and the general North Salt Lake area is pretty important to me. It is really hard for me to see them since I live about 25 miles away from there and the cost of gas is just obnoxious. Not to mention the fact that I don’t have a car. ☺
I arrived at Briahna’s house and her mom was kind enough to let me have some of their dinner, since I hadn’t eaten. Actually I hadn’t thought about it much before I left from home. So, I had Spaghetti with “Farmer John” cheese, a slice of toast and something that I had never thought to have with Spaghetti before - Peeled and sliced cucumbers! I never would have thought that it would be such a refreshing side for marinara pasta! I think it is sort of a way to refresh your taste buds after tasting the pinches and scoops of onion, tomato, basil, and garlic. I will definitely consider adding cucumbers to my next dish of Spaghetti; thanks to Briahna’s family!
After waiting for a little while for people to show up, we chatted and talked until we decided that we should get down to business in the sense of watching a movie. We watched something that most of us hadn’t seen before. It is one of Kiera Knightly’s first big movies, The Princess of Thieves. It was a very good movie, it was thrilling, it was suspenseful, there was a little bit of romance but it was a clean flick! I will do a Media Review on it if I get a chance to watch it again. This worked for everyone there too, since there was only one guy, we didn't really want to subject him to chick-flicks, even though he is practically immune to them by now.
We watched the movie, at popcorn, M&M's, Chex Mix and had drinks. It was really fun to see a few friends from school. Especially Briahna and Kaylee. I saw BJ, Stephanie and her little sister, Rachel, (BJ was the guy I mentioned earlier.) BJ and Steph are so cute together, you can just tell how much they care about each other and how close they are to each other. I am happy for them, that they are lucky enough to have found each other... Steph and BJ graduated a year ahead of me and Briahna but we still knew them pretty well.
It just boggles me that I didn't know Briahna until the end of our Junior year. When you see us together and if you were to listen to our conversations you wouldn't think that we had only known each other for a little over 2 years. We have sure had some times to bond. I can think of a few, such as NHS and the music trips to Cali.
After the movie was over, BJ, Steph, and Rachel headed home but me and Briahna stayed up to watch 27 Dresses in her room, on her laptop. Katherine Heigl was the star of the show, and I liked her so much better in this movie, as compared to the role that she plays in Grey's Anatomy...
And may I just say that James Marsden does a spectacular job in this movie? He just seems to play himself... he isn't Cyclops, he isn't Corny Collins and he isn't Prince Edward. *Sigh* I think that with a few word edits here and there that 27 Dresses would be a spectacular movie!
Even after the movie was over, Briahna and I stayed up, having girl-talk. We probably got to bed around 2 am only to wake around 7:45 am and have yummy French Toast. Again, I give my thanks to Briahna's mother for a scrumptious breakfast!
After breakfast it was home to change and off to work. But I hope that I can definately see my High School friends again soon - and more of them too!!!
Well, that's all for right now, Blogging Later, ~Holly Elizabeth AKA ~~Holls
So, now and then I like to do media reviews on the latest stuff that I have seen, read, or listened to. I did a few of them in my other blog (The Formal Operational Stage of Life) and I thought that these summer releases would be a great place to start.
After Chrissi and I were released from the Hill Cumorah Pageant we were on the road again. We watched Disney Channel and the Food Network most nights that we stayed in hotels. As many of you know, when you watch Disney Channel, there are mini-music-videos (they are less than 2 minutes) that promote the latest Disney Channel Pop-Star.
How many of you have seen Miley's 7 Things music video? Can I see a raise of hands? Well, Chrissi and I had only ever seen it on those nights that we watched Disney Channel, and the video was very weird for someone who had never seen the whole thing because, if you are familiar with the song, Miley goes through the 7 things that she hates about her guy and then the 7 things that she loves about her guy.
Well, it shows her and a few other girls and how sad they are from how their guys hurt them and then it breaks to the verse where Miley sings about the 7 things that she loves about her guy... Needless to say, we found that rather confusing because Miley and the other girls are supposed to be sad... but then they sing about how they love their guy...? So, on one of the nights that we stayed at a hotel that had WiFi, I looked up her 7 Things music video on YouTube. Again, needless to say, it cleared things up for us, it was most helpful to see the whole thing.
Christine and I decided that they shortened the video for one or two reasons, the first being more obvious but the second reason is a real possibility. The first reason would be for just keeping the time in commercials and in between shows to be not too long, or so they could fit more promotional things in there too. The second reason, we thought, might have been because the younger Hannah/Miley fans' parents probably don't want their children hearing about how their pre-teen popstar idol sings about hating someone. A big no-no! *wink wink*
Now you know the story about how I came acoss Miley's album, now it's time for the review. Here is the list of her songs on her newest album, Breakout.
Breakout
7 Things
The Driveway
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Full Circle
Fly on the Wall
Bottom of the Ocean
Wake Up America
These Four Walls
Simple Song
Goodbye
See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix)
Holly Elizabeth's Rating: 3 and a Half Stars My overall thought about Breakout, is that it is a great debut album for her break-away from the Hannah Montana name. While most of her songs have the same upbeat peppy nature that Hannah performs there are a few songs that shows a different side that most Hannah-fans are not used to and a side that the older teenagers and young adults can better appreciate.
When I first listened to the first song on the album, Breakout, I was reminded of a song that was on her previous album Hannah Montana 2, many Hannah fans would know it, it's called We Got The Party. Both songs are basically about partying and breaking out of the norm of everyday life. I would put Breakout as a song that is geared more toward the younger fans.
Miley's hit single, as was mentioned above, 7 Things, I think reminds me of a sort of Avril Lavigne-ish nature or attitude with the whole "seven things I hate about you" thing. However, on a different side, the audible acoustic guitar, and southern drawl reminds me of Carrie Underwood. Either way, it is a great song for when you are mad at your guy. It exhibits adequate passion, confusion, and frustration for the inexperienced dater. I would say that 7 Things was meant for the older fans, but it still sort of goes toward the pre-teen fans.
One of the songs that is different from her usual peppy beat would be track 3's The Driveway. It is definitely meant more for the older fans. It took me a few times to figure it out, but my interpretation of the song is that she tries for so long to make her relationship with her guy work but it just isn't working and so then one night when he is driving her home they break it off and she watches him leave her driveway, knowing that she won't see him again. This is a song that I favor a bit more, but the thing that I wonder is that if you really think about Miley's age, and then think about the nature of the song, how much relationship experience could she really have had? And if she has had her share of relationship experience do you really think that is alright for someone her age to be in such a relationship?
I'd have to say that the best song on the album would have to be the fourth song, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Miley and her co-writers did a really nice job on covering this song. I absolutely love the upbeat tempo and how there is a forte of strings. It was the perfect mix of nostalgia, classic rock and pop.
Full Circle, now that's a name of a song that makes you wonder, what could that song be about? Well, I still haven't figured it out yet, I think it's about how Miley always goes back to the guy who she is most comfortable with. Please, listen to it and then comment my blog and explain it to me!
Don't YOU wish that YOU could be a Fly On The Wall? Ok, what other song does this remind you of? It's a guy who sings this other song, he came up second in one of the seasons of American Idol, comment who it is that sings about flies on walls and I will reward you. Besides the fact that flies on walls has already been covered in the area of pop music I would have to say, that, in a weird way, this sixth song is by far one of my most favorite from this album. I think what I like most is that the above mentioned male singer sings about longing to be a fly on the wall, while Miley is singing about how she KNOWS that her guy wishes that he could be a fly on her wall. It's just ironic... I think though, as far as fans go, I think that the younger fans will like the beat, but the older fans will appreciate the irony and the nature of the song.
It's on the Bottom of the Ocean and towards the bottom of my rating list. This song is a great one, if you are in the right mood. It is definitely slower and it just... Well to be honest about it, if I have lost the love of someone that I loved then I probably don't want to be more depressed I probably want to listen to something that helps me vent my anger and frustration. If I become depressed and uncaring at all... that is a scary thing to see... So, it is a good song, it isn't bad, it's just not my thing. I think that this was meant for the older fans and I think it is those fans who will appreciate it most as well.
The next song, Wake Up America, has a great message, but it just doesn't cut it for my liking... I think that today's pop stars are trying to gain a little bit more attention by letting the world know that they are a part of the plan to "Go Green." I understand why it's so important to "go green" and I will do my small part, but it seems like such a politically charged issue and as with most politics, I don't like hearing about it or having to think too hard about it. Call me a "blond" or whatever, but politics just aren't my thing, just as the seventh song on Miley's album just isn't my thing either.
These Four Walls, doesn't get four stars from me. Ok, this is another, "not my thing" sort of song. It is a good song, if you are in the mood to listen to it. I believe that this was written to be for the older fans. I would, however, love to know your opinion about These Four Walls, because I know it is a good song. What do you think about it?
To take a break from the reading of my review take a look at the music video for 7 Things, as mentioned above.
You know, sometimes you get to listening to music and there is so much going on within it that you don't understand it, sometimes that's how life is too - you get to much going on around you and within you that you get lost and confused. That is what the tenth song in the album says to me when I listen to it. It's called Simple Song, and I think that the title fits nicely. I think that for the younger fans, they might like the song, but I think that the older fans will like and appreciate it more. This is one falls into my top five of the album. Where does it fall for you?
The second-to-last song, Goodbye, is also in my top five with Simple Song. This song has more acoustic music such as guitar and strings such as violin and has more of a country feel. I love the sound of the song, I love the lyrics. But the nature of the song causes me to again wonder how much real relationship experience young Miley could have had thus far in her life. This song I'd say is meant for the older fans and I think it is those fans who will like it and appreciate it.
Last but definitely not least is the twelfth song that is well known at dances/stomps (at least the ones I go to) and it's called See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix). This song is most definitely in my top five. I really love good remixes - they are fantabulous! The thing that I like the most about this one is that Christine likes it and when we listen to it in her car she makes me laugh when she lip-syncs along and then I just have to join in. We have had some good times listening to See You Again, both the original and the remix.
Top Five Songs (In Order of Appearance)
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (4)
Fly On The Wall (6)
Simple Song (10)
Goodbye (11)
See You Again (Rock Mafia Remix) (12)
Well, this has been the first Media Review of a College Student, I hope you enjoyed it. Please comment any answers to my questions within the blog and your thoughts about my post.
Blogging Later, Always, ~Holly Elizabeth AKA ~~Holls
Here are the directions: 1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog, like I did after I saw my sister's blog, and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.
Well, today is Sunday, I have been home from my trip for 11 days now - not even two weeks yet and it seems that Post-Pageant-Depression is settling in. No worries though, that is just another way of saying that I miss being at the Hill, I miss being with the people at the Pageant and I miss the feeling that I had while I was there.
I am pretty sure that I can try my best to keep that feeling with me, even here at home, but it isn't quite the same. I will liken it unto the feeling that you would have at Christmas-time... Do you know the phrase, "Keep Christmas with you, all through the year?" Well, that's what it's like, you can try and keep that feeling with you all the rest of your life but it isn't the same as being there, or it isn't the same as it actually being Christmas. If anything at all, I am going to have to try and keep it alive at least until Sunday, Auugust 24th, Brother Fair asked my sister and I to speak in Sacrament meeting on that day and tell about our experience at the Hill Cumorah Pageant. I will make it my goal to try and have a post or two about the Pageant up by that time.
In other news, I had a pretty good week, I worked everyday this week except for Wednesday and, of course, Sunday. I read the new book, Breaking Dawn, starting on last Sunday through Tuesday, (Look for another post on Media Reviews) I hung out with my friend Jaynee, and we watched The Village. I've been watching the Beijing Summer Olympics, which has been good too. The only thing that wasn't so great about this week is that Allyson, one of my co-workers at work, has been pretty much gone this week.
Allyson is the Drum Major at WJHS and therefore must be at the practices that they have. Therefore she wasn't at work, which was sad for me because I love working with her, and because her not being there made me the default folder, which added more work for me at the store, even on slow nights...
I think it was Friday night that I didn't get out of there until after 10:00pm, which is unusual for me since we close at 9:00pm and are out of the store by twenty after. Anyway, on the happier side of things, Wednesday was one of my better days this week.
I started out around 10, going to run errands with my Aunt JoAnne, we headed first to Office Max for some colored paper, since the Library at Church was in dire need of colored paper for the new copy machine. The paper was easy to find, but you couldn't help but get sucked in looking at all of the different things for school and all of the pens! I know I am weird, but that's what scrapbooking does to you, just seeing all of the different possibilities of what different pens can do and their different colors and designs. I don't know why, but colors and designs intrigue me in any form, not just pens, another form is shoes!
After making our purchases at Office Max (mine being a couple of little notebooks and the new Sharpie pens) we headed down a couple of stores of the Family Center Strip-Mall and went into Famous Footwear. JoAnne said that she needed some new shoes for her new job at the local elementary school. It took a lot of self control to not try on shoes for myself and then buy them. Instead of trying and buying for myself, I channeled my "shoe-energy" to helping JoAnne find some cute shoes. And why buy just one pair when it is BOGO? (I know that is a Payless thing, but Famous does it too) So my task was to help her find those kinds of shoes that are easy to slip on, but stay on nicely too - generally the kind that have a bit of elastic in the tongue of the shoe.
After a bit of looking and trying on of shoes, JoAnne ended up getting some nice white Sketchers with little gems on them and she also bought some RocketDog shoes that were multi-colored, mostly in the colors of brown, blue, pink and purple. They are so very cute!!! I wished that I could have bought some for myself, but I remembered that I stopped at the Sketchers store in Park City on my way home from Pageant and that I still owe Chrissi a bit of money...
After I put our spoils in the trunk of JoAnne's beautiful green Pontiac, we headed over to Chili's and had some lunch there. I was reminded of the first time that I had gone to Chili's, which was the only other time I had been to Chili's before this last Wednesday. I had gone before with Julie C. before we had gone to the Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer Tour, concert. I remembered that I had the Big-Mouth Bites, which are the epitome of what I love on a burger and that Julie had a Chicken Ranch Sandwhich. So I suggested that JoAnne have the Big-Mouth Bites and I had the Chicken Ranch Sanwhich... Oh my heavens! It was absolutely delicious!!! I am not a huge fan of spice, but this was just right! Oh, and I will say, on behalf of Chili's that their Cherry Cokes are Fan-Tabulous!!! I downed three of those they are so good. Usually I don't get past one and half drinks let alone two! After lunch, we made a stop at Wal-Mart just to look around and I picked up some stuff for my mom. My self control to spend money on frivoless things nearly broke, if it hadn't have been for JoAnne. They had so many Tinkerbell things and so many shiny things! All for a low price - ha ha
After my close call at Wal-Mart, we headed home and I got JoAnne's stuff in her house and took my stuff home to drop it off. Afterwards, I headed over to Jaynee's house to just hang out, we watched The Village, painted our nails, and ate Twizzlers and Popcorn. It was good to finally see The Village, because Jaynee always talkes about the character, Ivy Walker and one of the guys in the movie, Joquain Pheonix - who is a very handsome man. *wink wink* It was a nice change too, I am forever watching chick flicks or action flicks with cute guys in them, but this was a thriller flick that had suspense, the right amount of romance between a modest young man and woman and suspenceful action! The Village kept me on "the egde of my seat" except for I was on my stomach on the floor with my chin in my hands and my feet waving back and forth. I love hanging out with Jaynee. I can totally be myself when I am with her. I think she is one of my truest most loyal friends and one of the few friends that has been friends with me for more than 3 or 4 years.
So, by 5:00 pm on Wednesday I was home and I was in store for an interesting night. I went with Chrissi to the Library and checked out some new books, texted a lot that evening after dinner. Then I went outside to help do yard work. I took my phone with me, since I knew that friends would be texting me from conversations that were still going and also because I needed a reason to be distracted from yard work - it isn't my most favorite thing in the world. Anyway, I was really glad that I brought my phone out with me because by 7:00 a guy from college texted me.
I met this guy during my first semester of college, I saw him pretty much everyday through my second semester, but I never really got to talk to him - he was just one of those people who you say "Hi, how ya doin'?" to everyday and then move on with life.
Back in June, I went with Jaynee and Marcie to an Institute dance on campus and I saw him there, we danced a couple of dances together and then fast danced with his group of friends. I got his number at the end of the dance and we texted a few times in June, but obviously nothing in July, and then out of the blue, I got a text from him last Wednesday. By 9:15 pm we had texted here and there, until finally he said something that just made me think, "what?!" and so I called him and we chatted until after 11:00pm during which time he asked me out for a date this week! Keep an eye out for more to find out how the date went. Anyway, he came by to see me on Thursday night to tell me a bit about his business and it was good stuff to learn about. I got a hug and a half out of it so that's a good sign (I think).
On Friday, I have got to tell you that I made the absolute best breakfast for myself that I have ever had in a long time. I will share the ingrediants with you...
Quarter Green Pepper chopped to desired sizes
2 and 1/2 tablespoons of Pico De Gallo
Pinch of Onion Powder
Pinch of Garlic Powder
Salt & Pepper
Three Medium Eggs Scrambled with Vegetables and Seasoning in small bowl
Pour in frying pan
Let it begin to cook
Add and let melt...
Grated Cheddar Cheese to desired amount
One slice of Provolone Cheese Torn into desired sizes
Cook until desired firmness is reached
Enjoy!
Saturday was the last day of Harvest Days but I had to work... so instead, my mom and sister went to the park to see what the little booths had to offer. They were nice enough to buy me a pair of purple earrings, and a pearl ring with a purple bead with it - my favorite!!! After work ended I went to a YSA Activity/Birthday Party at Lizzy's house, played Eygptian Rat Screw, had a quick bite, and headed home to meet Chrssi, Mom, and JoAnne to go see Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband for free at the park! It was so freakin' awesome to see them! I never get tired of seeing Ryan and his band live. Their music is fantabulous and I really hope that more people give it a chance. They are all so full of energy and their music is down to earth and not punked up. It rained off and on during the performance, but it was nothing compared to the rain back east! The rain ended for a bit and then it was time for the fireworks that signified the end of Harvest Days and another year of being Midvale City. During the fireworks, it began to rain again, and I wrote the following poem in response to what I felt while I watched, heard, and felt it.
Firedrops
The sky lit up, brilliant with color.
It seemed, as if, human memory or photography could ever allow justice to be served to that dazzling sight
Volumes of sound shook the atmosphere around us and reverberated off walls of houses behind us
It seemed, as if, it was causing an internal earthquake for my ribs, but excitedly so.
Suddenly, It seemed, as if, the sparks and charred ends of the bursting light were falling to the ground in a frenzy.
The night was warm. The drops made the air hazy.
But I was not sodden for the leafy shelter kept it from my face making the night more ominous
The gleaming blasts would not be frustrated So dangerous, so beautiful… Kept silent and peaceful until provoked and tempted to explode into their beauty, if only for a moment
The drops amongst the fire only made everything so much more…
I hope you got through my post without falling asleep, and I hope you liked my poem. Please comment! I would love to hear what you have to say, and answer any questions I can. Here is my question for you tonight.
Is there someone who just makes you smile? Who? What can you do to let them know that?
Also, I am going to try and post at least one picture from my Vaction on the rest of my posts so you will get to see a lot of them. Here is tonights...
This is the last church historical site that we visited before we got home. There is a replica of the Jail housed inside of the visitors center, it is inside of the domed part of the building that you see on the right side. I really enjoyed what I learned there and what I felt there. It was a true testiment to faith and endurance on the part of Joseph Smith and the others who were with him. Enjoy the pic! Ask questions! Comment!
