mission call video

Skit, scat, scoodle-doot, flip, flop, flee.

Take a look at this.





Yep. Those are my feet... in flip-flops. I haven't worn flip-flops in YEARS. This is because flip-flops are flat and can't hold arch supports.

But.

I made arch supports. Yes indeedy!

I used craft foam, really good glue, and scissors. Of course I used my arch supports as a sort of guide.




I'm very happy with my flip-flops. Its so nice to not wear a full shoe in the heat!




Also: Kudos to the first person who can tell me what book the post subject comes from. (WITHOUT Google/internet help, obviously.)

THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED.

This week was completely awesome in several ways.

We drove over to Charlies to get our dental work done. I read two whole books on the ride there, plus bits of other books. I could have read three if I'd read straight through the whole trip, but even I'm not THAT hard core of a reader.

I needed the least dentistry stuff done, having only one small cavity--on a biting surface. This was repeated several times, "Yes, its a very very small one--and its just on a biting surface!" which made me think it was somehow important. Apparently cavities on biting surfaces are much easier to deal with. And it was small.

I was at the office for a long time anyway, because everyone else (mom sky lynz bre)had more stuff that needed doing. So I watched movies--Les Mis the movie, and then the movie of the musical/opera version. I wouldn't have been able to understand the musical version if I hadn't watched the movie first, but they were both awesome, and now I feel all cultured and actually know the context of the songs that I've heard so often. Plus Charlie and Lanea have the book of the music and the song Bring Him Home has only one flat and isn't too difficult to play, so I got photocopies of that to learn.

But the most awesome part of the week was our trip to San Francisco to see Wicked, as a sort of Birthday Gift for mom and a About to Leave thing for me. I've wanted to see it ever since I heard the sountrack in 9th grade... so, like, six years? five? Well, its been awhile anyway. We went early and spent the afternoon walking along Pier 39, Fishermans Wharf, and Ghiradelli Square. We went to the show and... well, I basically just sat there with my jaw wide open for any flys that may have happened to pass the whole time. It was that amazing. Also, you'd think I would be disappointed that the people in our performance didn't have the same voices, etc. as the recording that I have practically memorized, but it wasn't like that at all. After leaving the show I put in the Wicked soundtrack to listed to in the motorhome and... well, after Marcie Dodd's completely amazingly awesome performance as Elphaba, the Elphaba in the recording just didn't sound that great. Seriously, Marcie Dodd was--is--mind-blowingly awesome.

One of my favorite quotes--Elphaba has just arrived at school and everyone is staring at her--

"What? Have I got something in my teeth? Ok, lets get this over with. NO, I'm not seasick, YES I was born green, NO I didn't eat grass as a child."

One small (TINY) disappointment/surprise I had was the fact that, if you've heard the soundtrack you've heard most of the play. There is only a minute or two between most songs, when you've heard the songs you've heard most of the show. Once I realized this, there really wasn't to be disappointed in.

Here is a clip of one of the longer gaps between songs, with "our" Elphaba, Marcie Dodd. This isn't "our" Glinda (ours was Alli Mauzey, and I like her better) but its still pretty good. I also thing "our" performance was cleaner/more impressive/BETTER than this, but still.




THAT WAS THE BEST VACATION EVER.
*sigh*
I love our family.

mix and match

Yesterday was the first time I got really excited about clothes in a long time.

Mom and I went shopping yesterday afternoon, and now I have almost all the clothes I'll need for my mission. The shopping itself wasn't all that fun, but afterward when I had all my clothes laid out on my bed and I started putting together different combinations of shirts and skirts (and shoes--should I wear brown, brown, or brown?) Maybe once we have everything together (We're thinking maybe one more skirt, a pair of shoes, and a couple more skarfs--scarves? whatever) we could do, like, a photo shoot with all the different skirt/shirt/scarf/shoes combinations.

I've also been getting interested in (simple!) jewelry, for completing these outfits. I've been looking at etsy for some nice clip-on earrings, so I'll have a few of THOSE to choose from as well. (Clip-ons because I'm really not interested in poking holes in myself, and I don't care that everyone else is doing it.)

The storm before the calm

So my last few weeks have been pretty insane, one thing after another on top of another.

So first I had finals. The Sunday before finals week (I had two finals left) my roommate Michele told us she was NOT getting married in Brazil in a few weeks as planned, but THAT THURSDAY. Being the awesome roommates we are, we helped her put that together--THAT was quite a week. I had to bother and annoy all the people necessary in order to get my temple recommend so that I could actually BE at the wedding, as well as clean up our house for the reception.

This was during the time that I was GOING to be packing up and moving out and finishing up my last project at work.

So.

I worked until mid-afternoon on Friday and got my last project finished, then I went back to the apartment and started packing up.

Then I got a call from mom.

Breanna had a special Lagoon day the next day, and she'd only be able to stay until 1 o'clock, unless I could come supervise her and her friends... so could I possibly get all my packing and moving done that night?

I drove home at two in the morning.

We left Lagoon at four, and I slept.

Sunday was Sunday, and Monday morning it was off to CA with Kim, Becky, and Michelle to meet MWT. Who is made of awesome, just by the way. And my mom is awesome, for making it possible for me to go.

I got home in time to unpack and re-pack to head off to Florida. This was good practice for the mission, I believe--it was hot, and humid, and we walked and walked and walked and walked (though we didn't really sing much as we did). I can't say I really liked the climate, but I do think I could get used to it. I'll have to. (I'm very glad to be back in my dry mountainous desert, where my hair actually gets dry and I know North from South again.)


So this is all one of those hurry-up-and-WAIT scenarios. Because now I'm home, and I do have a few things on my to-do list, and three months to do it all in. The original plan was to have a month to do it all in, because my avalability date for the mission was June 1st. So I have nothing planned for June and July. I'll just... read, and paint, and shop for missionary clothes (etc.) and cook dinner. And go on a couple family vacations I didn't think I'd go on.

*yawn*

Well, off I go. To do... stuff. Yeah, stuff.

I'm still geeking out about it.

You guys.

I got to meet Megan Whalen Turner.

She Glowed, and floated three inches off the ground.

Really.

Mission call

It arrived.

I will be serving in the Phillipines, San Pablo Mission. I'll be speaking Tagalog.

YOU GUYS. MOM JUST CHECKED

YOU GUYS.
MOM JUST CHECKED THE MAIL. MY CALL IS HERE.

I really should be working on finals right now...

...but I really want a break. This is the second-to-last day of classes, after which we have reading days, after which comes... finals. Argh.

Speaking of reading days, our first reading day is Wednesday. (On a side note: I love that they're called Reading Days. I just wish that they, you know, actually WERE reading days. Ah, well.) And guess what is probably going to arrive on Wednesday.

Yep.

The call has been made, now the post man just has to DELIVER it. I no longer just HOPE they call me on a mission--it has happened.

I have this weird sort of feeling, like my fate has been decided for me and yet I have no access to it. And I'm nervous and excited and... nervous. And excited.




Back to finals.
*headdesk*

I have
absolutely no words
that can fully express
how totally
and completely
AWESOME
my mother is.

No really.

You all wish you had a mom as cool as mine.


When I called yesterday morning, all excited over the possibility of flying to California and meeting my favorite author, Megan Whalen Turner, in the company of (and with some help from) my other Book Friends (who are awesome, just by the way), I was informed that the exact dates of our family trip to Florida had JUST BARELY been definitely set... for the EXACT SAME DAYS as this trip to CA would be.

Now, I've really been looking forward to the family trip. I have. But MWT's series has been my favorite since 2007, and my roommies can attest to the extent of my obsession with these books. (As I read KoA just before officially moving down to BYU, my family has only had a watered-down version of this obsession, but knowing me, I think they get an idea of what my roommates go through in dealing with it.)

So hearing that I couldn't go meet my FAVORITE AUTHOR before she moves out of the country (and thence to the other end of the country) and I go on my mission and who-knows-what-else happens was kind of... disappointing. Except without the 'kind of'. Actually, maybe we should replace that 'kind of' with 'EXTREMELY'.

I'll just swallow my pride, own up to my absolute spoild-ness and admit that a few tears were shed over this. I blame Annie for being so understanding and sympathetic. Aren't you supposed to cry when someone is being understanding and sympathetic? I think that is some kind of rule.

Anyway, when I asked mom desperately if there was any way to change it, or maybe I could go to FL from CA, I would even make the phone calls (AND I ABHOR PHONE CALLS WITH A DEEP, DARK LOATHING... well, maybe not that extreme) or, or SOMETHING... she kind of got the idea that this author event, which would seem silly and unimportant to most people, was actually important to me. More important than a family trip to Disney World which I had seemed reasonably excited for. (Yeah, my priorities are completely wacko. Most people would take Disney World over Favorite Author and book Friends any day.)

So yesterday I was making stupid suggestions and making phone calls and... well, basically I felt like I was being an absolute pest and being the worst, whiniest, botheringest daughter ever. ("Oh boo-hoo, I have to go to Disney World. Everyone should waste time and energy and money over me. Boo-hoo." Gosh, I sound disgustingly spoiled. Yuk.) I HATE asking people to make changes for me, I'm an "ok, whatever works for you works for me, it doesn't really matter" kind of person. (At least, I think so. Maybe this is only an illusion I have of myself, and I'm actually an absolute pest. Urgh. I hope not.)

So by yesterday evening (it somehow seemed a longer time than just from morning-to-evening, but thats as long as it was) I had resigned myself to the fact that require too much bothering-of-other-people and being a self-centered pest, and that I would just content myself with sending my books to be signed and seeing the pictures of everyone else being there. And really, I would have alot of fun with my family, and it was probably for the best. I was still really disappointed though, and went to bed with a headache because I'd worked myself up over the whole thing. I mean, really, what did I have to be disappointed about? I would get over it. Really. It would just... be awhile.

But I ascended from the depths of the HFAC after class today and my phone buzzed to deliver me this glorious text message:

After all day on the phone and computer, I CHANGED ORLANDO TO MAY 2-6 SO YOU CAN GO TO CALIFORNIA!!!!!!

I called my mom. The conversation was short, but, well... you know.



Oh
my
goodness.

You guys.

I've been walking on air ever since. Not even finals stress can bring me down.


NOTHING, EVER, CAN TOP THE AWESOMENESS OF MY MOM.



Nothing at all.

Hullo-hullo-hullo!

Yes, I haven't blogged in awhile. There is a very simple explanation for this--I mean, aside from being busy generally, which is basically my constant state so it isn't really worth commenting on it.

The keyboard that I had been using wasn't working. Most of the keys on the bottom letter-row didn't work, and a few others beside that. This made things like typing blog entries difficult. Yes, I could do it in a lab or on a friends computer, but I didn't consider blog entries to be so essential as that.

But when I was home this weekend my wonderful mother had found a different keyboard for me to use which works--Glory Glory Alelujah! So now I can actually write blog entries. I've been doing some reading, but I don't think that I'm going to try to catch the book blog up to where I am, I'm just going to pick up from here. I don't have time for a book blog anyway, let alone making up missed book reviews.

Life is good, this semester has been a busy but awesome one. I'm basically done with my generals classes, so all the classes I'm taking this semester are classes that I want to take, so even though I have a very full schedule (seventeen credits plus work) I'm enjoying it.

I recently discovered that comics/graphic novels are awesome. Where have they been all my life? Hiding behind stupid stereotypes, it seems. Humph.

I am very, very close to having the mission papers complete. Speaking of which, I'm going to go work on those right now, so I'll just make a sound like a hoop and roll away.

Guess what guys-i have a

Guess what guys-i have a phone again!
-SarLu

feeling crafty

On Saturday Kim, Kristy and Paige went to the craft store and came back with craft supplies. Paige very kindly let me use her fabric paints, so I made a couple awesome shirts--one that says "I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT!" (a quote from The King of Attolia) and the other says, "You can't," said the Magus in question and on the back it will say, "I can steal anything," Eugenides corrected him.(A quote from the Queen of Attolia)

And, though my shirts are awesome, I am almost as amused by Paige's apron. She had meant for it to say: "Kissing the cook may be HAZARDOUS to your health. Take a risk." but she kind of ran out of steam before she finished. So right now the apron reads, "Kissing the cook may be HAZARDOUS."

I kind of like it this way better.

Most of the books I've read this year

If you know me well at all, you know I'm not particularly organized. So I'm pretty pleased with myself for this mostly-complete list. I'd keep good track of my reading for a few weeks, then completely forget and have to go back and try to remember. Sometimes I'd remember all I'd read, and sometimes I just wouldn't. Despite my lapses in book-tracking, I believe this list to be mostly-complete.

I'm counting 115 titles here, though I might be slightly off. Most of them are novels, and I read most of them cover to cover, though there are some exceptions--a few short stories, novellas, or re-reads where I skipped the less interesting parts (though most of my re-reads were cover-to-cover), and several audio books while working.

115 titles--thats approximately 9.5 a month, 2.3 a week, or .3 a day. Looking back, that seems about right.

These are in reverse order--so I have recently started and not yet finished the first two titles here, the first book I read this year is at the very bottom of the list.



Unfinished: The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner; Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

Falling Free, by Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign, by Lois McMaster Bujold (best-parts-version re-read)
Crown/Court Duel, by Sherwood Smith (best-parts-version re-read)
Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Sherwood Ring, by Elizabeth Marie Pope
The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Taming the Bicycle by Mark Twain (Librivox)
They and I, by Jerome K. Jerome (Librivox)
The Winter Queen, by Boris Akunin
Told After Supper by Jerome K. Jerome (short story/novella?) (Librivox)
The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Librivox)
A Scandal in Bohemia (short story) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Gaudy Night, by Dorothy Sayers (again)
A Study in Scarlet, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Librivox)
The Winter Prince, by Elizabeth Wein
Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters
Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Librivox)
Fire (short story collection,) only Robin McKinley's stories though
Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley
the Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett (librivox)
Lord Peter (short story collection) by Dorothy Sayers
Ben Hur, by Lew Wallace (Librivox)
Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers
Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold
Prauge Counterpoint by Bodie Theone
Vienna Prelude by Bodie Theone
Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers (again) (Librivox)
The Game by Diana Wynne Jones
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (librivox)
Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers
Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers
The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers (didn't finish)
Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers
Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
The Curse of Chalion by L M Bujold
Memory by L M Bujold
Mirror Dance by L M Bujold
Brothers in Arms by LM Bujold
Borders of Infinity (novella) by L M Bujold
Assasins Apprentice, by Robin Hobb
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (librivox)
The Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope (Librivox)
Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K Jerome (librivox)
the Pinhoe Egg, by Diana Wynne Jones
Conrad's Fate, by Diana Wynne Jones
The Lives of Christopher Chant, by Diana Wynne Jones
Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers (librivox)
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Once On A Time by A. A. Milne
The Man Who Would Be King (short story) by Rudyard Kipling (librivox)
A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett (librivox)
Amaranth Enchantment, by Julie Berry
The Railway Children, by E. Nesbit (librivox)
Persuasion, by Jane Austen (librivox)
The Story of the Treasure Seekers, by E. Nesbit (librivox)
Anne of Avonlea, by L. M. Montgomery (librivox)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery (librivox)
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emmuska Orczy (to family)
Peter Pan, J.M.Barrie (librivox)
Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens (Librivox)
Austenland by Shannon Hale
Crown (and Court) Duel by Sherwood Smith
Eldorado, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (librivox)
The Elusive Pimpernel, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (Librivox)
I Will Repay! by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (short story collection) by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
(To Deidre and Jocelyn) The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
Sir Percy Leads the Band, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
Nausicaa part 1 (graphic novel) by Hayao Miyazaki
The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (librivox)
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas (librivox)
The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
The Stone Fey, by Robin McKinely
Airborn, Kenneth Oppel (audiobook)
The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. IT WAS AWESOME. THE MOVIE IS TOO.
Bone Volume Two: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith (graphic novel) (oh, and I read the first one awhile back and forgot to add it.... :-})
Tales from Outer Suburbia, by Shaun Tan (short story collection with AWESOME paintings, ARC)
The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1) by Kazu Kibuishi (graphic novel)
The Perilous Guard, Elizabeth Marie Pope
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J. K. Rowling
Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke
American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang (graphic novel)
Inkspell, Cornelia Funke
Night, by Elie Wiesel
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
Howl's Moving Castle, to Deidre and Annie (unfinished)
The High King, Lloyd Alexander
Taran Wanderer, Lloyd Alexander
The Castle of Llyr, Lloyd Alexander
The Black Cauldron, Lloyd Alexander
The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander
Peony in Love, Lisa See
Neverwhere, Niel Gaiman
The Demon's Lexicon, Sarah Rees Brennan
The Graveyard Book, Niel Gaiman (read to me by Annie)
The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (to Deidre)
The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart (unfinished)
The Empty Kingdom, Elizabeth Wein