2007 in Review

Well folks, here it is. The end of another year. Crazy how fast times fly is it not? SO much has happened this year, so I have decided to do a little flashback/review of the year. Here goes!

January 2007

January was a new beginning for me. I had an awesome school schedule, I got to go country dancing. Overall, I was very happy with my life at that point in time. Things were good.

February 2007

February was an exciting month. My sister turned 16, I got asked out on a date. And then got extremely frustrated with that boy. My February ended with me going to my former studio's performance and trying to figure out my life.

March 2007

March was an awesome month for me. I turned 21, had a performance, and welcomed spring with all my heart. Other than that, march wasn't all that exciting...but I did turn 21. Yay me.

April 2007

I began the month of April watching General Conference. I remember that conference like it was yesterday. It was very good and I enjoyed it muchly. Following that i suddenly became very thought-provoked and was really taking a hard look at my life. I finished my Junior year and moved for the first time since moving out of my house in 2004. At the end of the month I had a crazy dating weekend, and felt very lost. April was a psycho crazy month.

May 2007

May was pretty exciting. I started to settle into my new place and tried to get into the ward. I bought a fish, (who is still alive btw) bought a new compy (i love dominic) and went to they eye doctor. Oh...and I got a summer fling.

June 2007

well...June was pretty much the middle of the summer for me. I made a lot of self-discoveries and some weird kids thought I was my brother's girlfriend. Oh and I went country dancing, again.

July 2007

July was an incredible month. Highlights include: breaking up with a boy, having a mid-week crisis, having amazing FHE brothers who helped fix things, realizing for the zillionth time that boys are stupid, and I decided that I was in love with paper clips. It was a crazy month.

August 2007

I started off August right by having to go the Student Health Center's Emergency Care unit for my finger. I finished summer term with a bang, got a date (because I rock) oh and I watched the meteor shower. Oh yeah...started packing so I could move (and remembered that I HATE moving?) Went home...and realized how much Heavenly Father loves me through my dad. Then a MIRACLE happened...along with getting a plethora of dates. ;) Oh and I made this...which made my life go like this... and that's pretty much how August went down. It was a busy, busy month.

September 2007

Let's see...September was sort of eventful. I was dating SS Prez. And then shortly after that I stopped dating him. However, he was good for me, and really helped boost my self-esteem. After that era ended, I decided to be spontaneous and crazy. Which actually ended up being a good thing, since he's now my boyfriend. [sigh] After all that went down, September ended up being somewhat disappointing, but I got over it eventually.

October 2007

October started out with the best General Conference I have ever had. seriously. Then I fell in love with this, followed by watching a great football game in the snow. Halloween was sort of uneventful...although around that time i did become "official" according to facebook...gotta love facebook.

November 2007

November started off with the real reason why I dance, followed by my show, which I did breakdown for, and got shingles. Other than that and Thanksgiving, November was fairly uneventful.

December 2007

It all started with the presidential campaign speech of the year: Faith in America. Then I experienced the weirdest feeling in the world, honestly it was freaky. As the weather tends to do in Utah during the winter, we got lots of snow and even more snow. Don't forget that finals finally ended, and oh yeah...I had a sad day. However, Christmas came and went and it was fantastic.

This year has been a great one. It's gone by so fast, yet holds so many milestones for me. I became an adult, started my fourth year of college, realized who I am, what I need, and where I can go with my life. So 2008...what kind of changes do you hold for me? I can only imagine....

What I learned at church today

So being the 5th Sunday, Priesthood and Relief Society were combined and we were taught by our bishop. Now, I'm still at home, so this was no Singles Ward 5th Sunday chastity, dating, or marriage talk. It was quite refreshing, if I do say so myself. Instead, we talked about resolutions, and how if you take the word apart it looks like this: re - solution, so it's where we already know the solution but decide to resolve it. It was interesting.

So that led us into discussing the life of Peter the disciple of Christ and how we are like Peter. My favorite part was where we discussed Christ's commandment to Peter to

"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." (John 21:15)

We broke this down and talked about 3 different parts, "lovest thou me", "more than these" and "feed my lambs (and repeated 2x as sheep)". Under "lovest thou me" we discussed how this represents Christ and how we can show him we love Him. Then we talked about how we can "feed my lambs/sheep," and the many different areas that that commandment covers. We also discussed that to feed all of his other sheep, we must first feed ourselves, because we mustn’t forget that we are part of His great fold. In conjunction with that we discussed the "more than these" and what parts of life deters us from feeding the lambs of God. There were so many things on this list that it felt somewhat overwhelming that I need to overcome all of those things in order to feed the sheep. However, it all tied into Sunday School where we discussed the latter chapters of Revelation and discussed that this gospel is one of optimism, and the plan was created with the purpose of every single one of us returning to live in the presence of Heavenly Father.

So this year, I am not going to make a list of the hundreds things that I have solutions to; instead, I am going to focus on being a disciple of Christ and following the commandment to "feed my sheep." Knowing full well that this saying includes me, because I am a member of the fold, I know that by feeding myself it will become easier to feed others who need the nourishment that comes from the gospel. That is my one goal for this year, and I hope that one year from now, I can look back and say that I have done my very best and be happy with myself.

lazy

today i have been very lazy. i decided this morning that i really didn't want to get ready, i had nowhere to go and no one to impress today, so i stayed in my sweats all day long. it was wonderful. i have been very comfortable all day long. so with being lazy i was roaming some blogs and notes on facebook, and i found this little list that i had never seen before...so i filled it out. enjoy some randomness from the life of alishka.

1. Do you know someone named Amanda? Yes, yes I do.
2. Do you know anyone named Chris? Yup…I’m related to him!
3. Ever kissed anyone with a name starting with S? nope.
4. Do you have any siblings? Sure thang.
5. Do you look alike? People say we look similar…but I’m not so sure I believe them…
6. What color are the walls in your bedroom? White.
7. Who did you see in person today? My family.
8. Are you named after a grandparent? Nada.
9. Are you a heavy sleeper? Sorta…
10. Who did you last hug? My madre
11. Are you taller than 5'3"? why yes I am!
12. Eaten a bug before? Not on purpose.
13. Ever see a dead body other than at a funeral? Nope.
14. Do you like the color green? Yep…I wear lots and lots of green.
16. Who was the last person to send you a text message? My friend from high school.
17. Who did you last call?a friend from high school (but different than who text’d me)
18. Do you like to read? Yep, yep, yep! I’m reading a really good book right now too…
19. Are you a jealous type? In some ways yes, but I try not to let it get to me.
20. What made you smile today? Talking to my boy. ;)
21. What are you doing today? Absolutely nothing…I stayed in my pj’s all day, although there is girl’s night in tonight, I’m chillin’ with my mom and sisters. :) chocolate will be involved, that’s a guarantee.
22. What did you do yesterday? Worked all day, went to dinner with my friends from high school and then hung out with my family.
23. What's the first thing you would do with a million dollars? Pay off my school loan, go to Disneyland, buy a car, and invest the rest. Or something like that.
25. How many hours did you sleep for last night? Um…10 ish…I love Christmas break!
26. Who was the last person you had a sleep over with? My siblings on Christmas eve!
27. Who’s the last person that creeped you out? Uh….this boy that called me wanting to go on a date…
28. Do you like your school? Yes I do.
29. What jewelery are you wearing? A pair of blue earrings.
30. Anything fun happen today? My mom and I did 3ish crossword puzzles, there’s girl’s night out tonight, and I got to talk to my boyfriend…:)
31. Anything bad happen today? Nope.
33. Are you mad at anyone? nada
34.What's the last thing you bought? Italian dressing for dinner.
35. Have you cried today? Nope.
36. Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now? Perhaps.
37. Do you have shoes on? No, but I am wearing some funky slipper/sock things. They’re very comfy.\
38. Whats the closest thing to you that is pink? he he he…nothing really.
39. Do you get annoyed easily? Not so much, but some people tend to annoy the heck out of me.
40. Are you photogenic? People tell me I am.
41. Do you like to draw pictures of woodard? Um…I can’t draw.
42. Are you good at saving money? I try to be.
43. What should you be doing right now? Nothing. I’m doing nothing today. That was my goal.
44. Do you have a tattoo? nada
45. Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings? When I am getting ready for rehearsal I tend to turn on some cartoons to help wake me up while I eat breakfast, but that’s because there is no news on tv on Saturday mornings.
46. Is there a secret you've never told your best friend? Probably. But not anything I can think of right away.
47. Have you ever told someone you hated them? To their face? Possibly, but it was probably in jest.
48. Have you ever changed your clothes in the car? Oh yes…many times. The joys of ballet.
49. What are you doing in 2008? Going to school, maybe going back east, definitely working, and making lots and lots of decisions.
50. What are your ringtones? Well, my fam’s ring tone is drums or something like that. My other main tone is the Little Mermaid “Kiss the Girl.” :) I like it.

White Christmas!!

Well...you can't ask for much more of a white Christmas than this:
Merry Christmas y'all!!!

It's Christmastime!

I love the smell of pine trees. Unfortunately, this year my family went the fake Christmas tree route (which it actually looks half decent, I have to admit, and maybe I'll post pictures later.) However, with having a fake Christmas tree one misses out on the smell of pine. *sigh* But guess what?! My mother was smart enough to buy a very good pine smelling candle. It's very good, and I love the smell of it. yum.

I came home the other day. Home is actually fantastic. I haven't killed anyone yet, so that's always a good sign that things are going well. :-) I've done a lot of family-things with my family the past couple of days and its been so much fun! Tonight we're going to make loads of cookies and tomorrow is Christmas Eve, which means we'll be cooking all day. See, our family tradition involves us doing the big celebratory dinner on Christmas Eve. Then all of us kids will pile into one room for the classic sibling sleep-over so Santa can come and no one will peek at the presents. :)

I love this time of year. It's so nice to relax and not worry about classes and the resulting homework. In other news I passed my Econ 110 class, hurray for me. All the rest of my classes I will get good grades in, so I'm not worried at all. I'm so glad that this semester is done. Only 3 more to go. Yahoo!!

Merry Christmas y'all!!

:'(

i'm slightly sad today. my boyfriend left today for home. which really shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I under estimated my girly-ness. Yes...I cried. [sigh] But thankfully it wasn't good-bye for forever or anything. In 18 short days he will be back, and I will rejoice. In the meantime I have 2 more finals (one in 40 minutes...) and Christmas and New Year's to celebrate. It should be a good holiday. I am excited. That's all for now folks!

HOLY MOLY!!!

where did all the time go? where did this semester go? aaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Today, is the end of Fall 2007. It is over. It's kind of crazy to think about all that has happened this semester. I never would have guessed I would be here today. With this semester ending, I look forward to a new one, and a new year to go with it! This last year has been amazing, but I think I'll save the year in review post for a more fitting time...like new year's. suffice it to say that it's been one crazy ride, but i have loved every minute.

I have 3 finals (one of them today) and one oral presentation/final thing. This is one of the first times in a long time that I don't feel overwhelmed/stressed over finals. It's a good thing.

horoscope hits it on the nose

so today...my yahoo horoscope is exactly what i feel like today:

If you feel like you'd like to take it easy today (why, yes i do!), then you are right in line with what the universe wants you to do! (sweet action!) Most of the big attention-sucking things in your life are calming down (true that), so you should take the opportunity to do some more loosely structured things. Instead of squeezing in a half hour at the gym, you should take a meandering, leisurely walk. Instead of picking up some fast food at the drive thru, you should see what's fresh at the market and whip up a healthy meal.

now, let's be honest, these horoscopes are kinda silly. but today's kind of works for me. so i'm going to take it!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I woke up yesterday morning to go to rehearsal and it was raining. 15 minutes later when i walked out the door to walk to rehearsal...it was snowing. It didn't stop until late last night. At times the snow was freaking crazy! like a blizzard crazy....and we have about 5 inches of snow! and I know we got more precipitation than that because of the rain on Friday, and the snow that didn't stick for the first little while. It's very pretty...but cold and wet. I love it!!

Freaky...

So I have been thinking about some friends of mine over the course of the past couple of days.

Yesterday I ran into every single one of them.

even the one who isn't ever on campus...she's a stay-at-home mom in Payson for crying out loud! and where do i see her? the copy room for the JFSB, printing her husband's dissertation. CrAzY!!!

Now I know BYU can be a small place, but honestly...I hadn't seen most of these people for at least 3 months, some of them a year!!! It was freaky.


In other news the semester is starting to wrap up. Thursday will be the last day of classes, followed by a week of finals and then I'm done with this semester. It really hasn't been that bad, but I truly hate my Economics class. :P It's yucky. Next semester should be good htough, I am taking one GE: my least favorite class that I put off for last: Physical Science. I pray to get through it without dying. Although to counteract the awfulness of science, I am taking Beginning Piano. I am so STOKED for this class!! Add to that some ballet classes, some major classes and next semester promises to be pretty good!!

"Faith in America"

I was busy at work and didn't get the chance to listen to Mitt Romney's speech he gave today, but I just found the text! So for your convenience I am posting it here, along with the link from where I found it. Enjoy.

Romney's Speech on Religion

December 6, 2007 10:34 a.m.

Republican Mitt Romney, confronting voters' skepticism about his Mormon faith, gave a speech Thursday about his views on religious tolerance and how faith would inform his presidency if elected. Here's the full text of his remarks, as prepared for delivery.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.

"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for president, not a Catholic running for president. Like him, I am an American running for president. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

"As governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.

"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.

"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience.

Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'

"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.

"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.

"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'

"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.

"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.

"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.

"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.

"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired … so grand … so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.

"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.

"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'

"God bless the United States of America."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119695237944915800.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Things I am thankful for:

• my family : they rock my world!
  
• my boyfriend: he's pretty much amazing.
• the gospel: where would i be today without it?
• the ability to dance: to dance is to live, to live is to dance (Snoopy in Peanuts)
• the opportunity and abililty to attend BYU
• my friends: thank you for all your love and support that you have and still are giving me.
• the coolest roommates in teh world.
• the fact that i am alive!! what a great day to be alive!!!
• good books
• music
• and so many other things...

i really am thankful for so many things right now. I have a great life. There really isn't anythign to complain about. So I hope all y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving filled with friends, family, and yummy food.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

A fantastic weekend

Well....the show went fantastic. Nothing happened to me while on stage, and I performed my heart out. I loved every minute of it, but I am kind of sad that it is over. :( But it's all good and I am ready for my break. I have all my classes today and no classes tomorrow. I do have to work Wednesday, but then after that I'm home free for a few days. Although I do have to write a Research paper for my Religion class in that time period and work on another research paper as well....but I think I'll survive. :P

In other news this article makes me very happy. Finally!!! BYU is once again ranked! Wahoo!

It came anyways...

I think I spoke a little too soon. No sooner then I realized that everything was going great and I wasn't going to break down...I go to the training room. (this all happened Wednesday) I had been a little sore and stiff and I asked the trainer to work out some kinks. At the same time, I asked him to look at some itchy, red spots I had on the right side of my back. They had been there for a number of days and nothing was making them go away. He took a look, and told me I needed to go to the Health Center ASAP because he thought it was shingles. While shingles is usually an old person virus, younger people can get it too. So after breaking down and calling CPM to take me up to the Health Center followed by a call to my mom to tell her the news I was sitting in the doctor's office at the Health Center. My doctor was very nice, took one look at my back and confirmed the trainer's guess. I am now taking these great drugs...well...actually they're not all that great, they're huge and I have to take them 5x a day and I'm having a hard time remembering to take them...BUT the good news is that I am doing much better. However...after that little breakdown I thought I would be good to go. NOT! Later that night at rehearsal we had to run the show TWICE. I almost died. And then I cried. And missed an entrance. But its all good. I felt much better Thursday, and then last night our show went fantastically. Tonight is the final show and pretty much everyone I know is coming tonight. Which is exciting!!! I'm kind of nervous to perform tonight, but I know it will go well and the many hours of rehearsal will pay off. Now if only my back would stop itching....

Remember last year? Or how about years past? (which I don't have blogs about) Or maybe you don't remember years past...but I do. It always seem that the week of a show I break down. I let a million little things build up in my life, something comes along and tips the scales and I end up breaking down. I was talking to my mom yesterday and she asked when my breakdown was going to happen...and you know what? I don't think it will happen. I don't feel stressed about our show, it's going to be awesome, we're ready and all that jazz. I really haven't been letting other things build up and I just overall feel really good about all this. :-D

I hope all y'all are coming to my show, it really is going to be fantastic. It's this Friday and Saturday night the 16th and 17th at 7:30pm in 166 RB. Tickets are at the HFAC ticket office for $5 each. It's going to ROCK!!

my apologies

to the boy who got in the elevator on the 3rd floor of the JFSB who i said a very nice "hello" and "how are you" to because i thought you were someone else; specifically one of my FHE sons. because honestly, you definitely looked like him until you looked at me with confusion on your face and I realized that i was in the wrong. i'm sure you thought i was crazy, which i am...and for that...i am sorry.

where????

Where has the week gone? Today is Wednesday.....and I'm having a hard time believing that I have already reached mid-week! Today I don't have to dance...instead I have a conference with my professor, and my English class is optional to attend today and I'm not going. My weekend plans sort of start tomorrow, I am going to the BYU-TCU football game tomorrow night followed by Ballet West's 3 Musketeers on Friday night and DanceSport on Saturday night. It's going to be one culture, fun-filled weekend and I am so excited for it! Maybe that is why time is going so quickly...although in times past it has felt that whenever I have exciting things going time slows down to a crawl until my fun activities happen. Not this week friends! Hurray for it being hump day!!! :-) Enjoy yourself!!

I had an interesting experience this week. But, I must give you some history first in order for you to understand why this experience meant so much to me.

When I was about 3-4 years old my dad worked at Weber State University. One day my mom and I were walking across campus to go and visit my dad. As we were walking across campus we walked through a building where they were holding some kind of audition for something ballet oriented. I specifically remember seeing tall girls in black leotards, pink tights, and pink sweaters over their leotards. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to watch them, and we walked over to some important looking lady at a table with a money box. She informed us that it was a closed audition and we weren't allowed to watch. At this point something inside of me decided that that is what I wanted to do: dance ballet. The lady gave my mom the name and number of some dance studio close by and before I knew it I was enrolled in a creative dance class. I loved it, and shortly later started my first ballet class. My mom thought it was just a phase and I would grow out of it, but lo and behold I haven't grown out of it and I'm still dancing today.

Fast forward to Thursday afternoon. I was in the dance studio and was somewhat frustrated with class and myself and all that jazz. Now, people stop by and watch all the time, and it does help when they watch I feel like I have an audience and I perform just a little bit more. Well on Thursday just as we were finishing barre and going into our center exercises I noticed a little blonde-haired girl standing in the doorway with what I am going to guess was her grandmother. The minute I saw that little girl just staring with big eyes and so enthralled with what we were doing, I couldn't but help think of how I got interested in ballet. I started dancing for that cute little girl. I smiled at her whenever I could and just danced really pretty. I couldn't help but hope and wish that this cute little girl standing in the doorway was falling in love with ballet and would one day want to do it too. I would love to be the reason that somebody began ballet at a young age, I think that would be the coolest thing in the world.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

So...I'm being lazy and don't want to figure out how to link this video, but go to Google Video and type in Thriller and watch the classic music video of Michael Jackson and thriller. Growing up in my dance studio we would always dance to this song on Halloween and have a lot of fun. I've even learned the dance a couple of times. :-D So! much fun!!!

I love Halloween. It's a great time to dress up, eat chocolate, and have fun! This year I didn't really dress up as anything per se, but I kinda look like a character off the movie Hairspray. I'm wearing sweet sparkly tights, a skirt with a beaded necklace to match and a sweet auburn colored wig. I've always wanted red hair, and so this makes me excited. I've gotten some really funny reactions already today. My boss dressed up as a witch with a fake nose and wig and everything. It's awesome. I love my job.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

....

huh. For some reason I really feel the need to write something here, but I don't know what to write about. I could write about how I hate my economics class, but I love all my other classes. I guess I could also get on my soap box and complain about a few things to do with ballet, but it's really not that bad so I could just say that ballet is fantastic and talk about my awesome show that is coming up soon. I suppose I could always talk about my dating life...but I think I'll just let it slide today and just to keep you from wondering tell you that I'm dating someone absolutely fantastic. I could also always talk about work and how I love my job and I get to go and get free samples of new office supplies which I am rather excited about. Honestly though, other than that there isn't much to write about. School is good, Ballet is good, Life is good.....what more could a girl ask for??? So I'll just sit here, staring at my blank page before me and think of what to tell the world. I guess the only thing I have for you, dear Internet, is that Alishka is extremely content with life. I'm happy, and what more could I ask for? I submit that the answer is nothing. Have a great day y'all. ciao.

Frozen

Today, I froze. Seriously. It wasn't that cold this morning when I left for rehearsal, it was slightly colder when I came home from rehearsal, and then it was time for the football game. CPM and I bundled ourselves up and headed over to the stadium to watch the cougars rock out agains Eastern Washington University. It was cold and was kind of drizzling, but nothing horrible, and I was hoping for nice weather. As the game went on the sun came out, and we even saw some blue skies for a little while. The sunshine felt good, but it was definitely still cold.
After half time the temperature started to drop considerably. At this point we were winning 21-7. It was already a great game. :) Then...it started to rain, the rain then turned into a frozen rain, and then it started snowing! The flakes were small, but it was snowing. Before I knew it, I was in the LaVell Edwards Stadium in the middle of a white-out snow storm.
It was pretty intense. CPM and I braved the cold snow until the very end of the game and witnessed the Cougars pouncing their opponent 42-7. It was fantastic. The snow stopped pretty quickly after the game ended and our walk back was uneventful.


It just started snowing again. I'm definitely not a fan of snow in October. Snow in December, yes...but October? Come on people!!!!! It needs to feel like fall! :P Oh well. I guess I'll survive.

Life is good. We're getting closer and closer to the show, I'm really excited about it. It's going to be fantastic. :)

I think that's all. Yep, that's all. Have a good weekend y'all. Ciao.

*sigh of content*

What a weekend and it's not even over yet!!!

Yesterday was a great day. I was worried that rehearsal was going to feel like a million years, but it didn't. It actually went pretty quickly and was rather enjoyable. Minus the fact that my triceps are extremely sore. I do a lift in the piece we were learning, and we kept trying to get the lift right and that meant doing it a bazillion times, thus the sore arms. Oh well. I'll get over it.

I also was extremely productive yesterday. Many times when I tell myself I'm going to be productive, it only sometimes works, yesterday it worked!!! I got everything done that I thought I would and was still ready for my date on time. :D

I went to Final Cut last night. It was really good. I had never been before and I was impressed by the films that were presented. I also watched "Waking Ned Devine" last night. What a great movie! It had a lot of humor, a little bit of a love story, and gorgeous Scotland countryside. Ah, what a good movie, plus I had great company as well. :)

Now it is Sunday. I am going home for dinner this evening to celebrate me dad's birthday and that should be fun. :) So pretty much I am extremely content and happy for it. Have a great day y'all.

My new love

My roommate E* has introduced me to my new love: Nutella. Oh my goodness this stuff is A-MAZING!!!! Currently my favorite way to eat it is as a part of a Peanut Butter & Nutella sandwich. I eat it for breakfast and many times as my dessert in the early evenings. :-D My new love consists of chocolaty-haze-lnutty goodness. mm mm. It's fantastic. For more ideas of how me and my new love might get along in the near future see this.

Tagged

So my little sister sent me this...enjoy. I'm too tired, busy, and stressed to write anything of real value right now, someday I promise.

Two names you go by:
1. Alishka
2. Licii

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. a ribbon
2. clothes

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. dance
2. make others happy

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. a nap
2. my homework to magically be done

Two favorite pets you have had/have now
1. Bob the fish
Bob is the only pet I have personally owned.

Two people who will fill this out:
1. who knows…Marisa perhaps?
2. your mom…

Two things you did last night:
1. homework
2. a photo shoot

Two things you've eaten today:
1. breakfast: PB sandwich (hey, it sounded good okay?)
That’s all I have had.

Two people you last talked to:
1. CPM
2. LSM (a high school friend)

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. dancing
2. watching The Office

Two longest car rides:
1. to Prosser, WA
2. to California

Two favorite holidays:
1. Thanksgiving
2. Christmas

Two favorite vacations:
1. San Diego, CA for a roommate’s wedding
2. camping

Two dream vacations:
1. Hawaii
2. Europe

Two favorite beverages:
1. Raspberry Lemonade
2. Hot Chocolate (when it’s cold and snowing)

"I believe"

"I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky, I think about it every night and day, Spread my wings and fly away"

I have been singing these three lines of this song for the past 2 weeks. Every time my mind is empty and I have nothing to do, say, or think about, I sing this song. I'm not even joking. I was in Wally World with my roommate Friday night, and all of a sudden as I was walking down the cereal aisle I burst out into song. A couple people turned around and looked at me, and my roommate thought I was crazy. But hey, that's who I am, and I'm not changing. ;)

In other news Sunday's sessions of Conference were amazing. All of the talks were amazing, but three that really stuck with me were President Eyring's, Sister Beck's, and Elder Oaks' talks. They were all amazing and I was greatly impressed with all of them and what they had to say.

School was good today. Nothing thrilling. I turned in my 4-page review of World of Dance. It wasn't the nicest review I have written. In fact, I was downright mean in some places, but it had to be said. In some ways I am glad that it was for my English class and not for a dance class b/c most of my dancing friends will never see it. :P

I really need to do some Econ reading, and study for my quiz on General Conference. Have a great Monday night y'all. :-D

Chicken Noodle Soup for the Conference Soul

:)

I am currently extremely content. I have accomplished many things today. Today was the first two sessions of the 177th Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those first two sessions rocked! I made my traditional orange rolls for breakfast and commenced sitting on my couch typing like a mad woman taking notes for my Teachings of the Living Prophets class that is going to have a quiz on Conference. :S So far, I feel pretty good about it. Anyways.... Elder Henry B. Eyring is the new counselor in the First Presidency and Elder Quentin L. Cook is the new Apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Rock on!

I then made homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch, and CPM (who has been sick, the poor kid!) came over, and I took good care of him so that he'll get better faster. Chicken Noodle Soup is the for sure cure all, after all. :) Then during the second of session of Conference I was especially touched. Elder Wirthlin was amazing. For being so old, and struggling with his health he gave a really touching talk, and then when his shaking was getting almost to be almost too much for him, Elder Nelson stood up and helped him. Pretty much the sweetest thing I had seen all day. Elder Hollands talk also rocked the block. It was about how the church is Christian and he spoke on how Heavenly Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all separate beings, and how they have to be. It was an amazingly strong talk. I loved it.

The rest of my evening was spent relaxing, writing a 4-page review of World of Dance, and watching Second-hand Lions with my roommate, her brother, and CPM. It was an enjoyable evening. :-D

once upon a time

Alishka went to homecoming in high school. With a kid that we'll call superman. Now, superman was a great friend and they had a grand ol' time. Nothing happened from it.

Superman went on a mission. Alishka wrote superman like a good friend (she writes all her friends. ask the postman, he knows), but there was no promise of waiting or any of that jazz. In fact, Alishka only thought of superman as a good friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

Superman came home from his mission and was very insistent on seeing Alishka as soon as he could. They got together one afternoon and talked in the park for an hour. Alishka started school again and life started to get busy.

Alishka went on dates with other boys. She forgot about superman. Then one day superman called her. And asked to hang out with her. Alishka was a very busy person but told superman he could come and watch a TV show with her and her friends. superman came, but so did other friends and boys, Alishka couldn't just devote herself to superman, she had to be a good hostess!

The evening was a success and Alishka once again forgot about superman. She still liked other boys you see. Well. The next day superman called again. Alishka told him she was busy that weekend, as was the truth, and he said he'd call in a few days to set up something for the next week.

Alishka forgot about superman again. Her focus just wasn't on this super hero. He called. She explained her schedule for the next week, and he asked if he could take her to dinner the next night (aka tonight). Alishka said yes. After all, he's a great friend, it's a free meal, and they hadn't really been on a 'date' yet, so she should give him a chance right?

Unfortunately for superman, his story will probably end here. Alishka just isn't interested in such a super hero. She has her eyes set on other fish in the sea. Specifically ones that don't have to drive 1/2 an hour to see her, ones that are really attractive to her, and basically, ones that hold her attention. So off she goes to be a good friend and enjoy dinner and conversation with an old high school buddy, and hopefully without leading him on.
The End.


*okay so really, he is a nice kid. And I do like him as a friend, a brother even, but as a boyfriend? Right now, me thinks not. I just don't like him like that at all. I'm just not that into him (no matter how much my mother wants me to be) and would rather we just stay friends. I hope we have fun, like friends should, but without me leading him on. I hate breaking boys' hearts... sigh.

a great quote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~Nelson Mandela

I really like this quote. A lot. I think it is amazing, and true to boot! :-D

Disappointed

Last night I attended Brigham Young University's ever popular World of Dance. Each main dance company (i.e. Cougarettes, Dancer's Company, International Folk Dance Ensemble (IFDE), Ballroom Dance Company, and Theater Ballet) each perform a few pieces. I have gone for the past 3 years. It is usually a really fun performance with great pieces to be enjoyed. This year however, I wasn't wowed like I usually am. The Cougarettes' pieces, while good, seemed to be the same thing they always do, nothing special by any means. IFDE was kinda boring this year. They did one piece that I had never seen before, but none of their pieces were amazing. Just bleh. Ballroom Dance Company was by far the best performing group of the night. Even though I had seen all three of their pieces at other shows, they did 3 of my favorites, including Do Wah Diddy, which is my favorite cha-cha ever, and my friend was in it (there were only 3 couples) and he lit up the stage as the best guy out there for sure. Theater Ballet did two pieces, both pieces that Ballet Showcase has done before, and they didn't seem as cool when we did them. They did them well, and they did better than they have done in past years at World of Dance, but honestly...Ballet Showcase has cooler pieces for our show in November right now.

Overall, I wasn't that impressed with World of Dance. I had a lot of friend and my friend Dr. Teeth that I have known since I was 14 went with me. We went in a group with some other friends of mine and prefaced the show with dinner at P.F. Chang's which was good and followed the show with games and Dr. Teeth playing his guitar. It's been ages since he and I had hung out and he had a couple new songs for me. So the company was good and I had fun, but when the show is kind of disappointing it's sad.

Now it's Sunday, and I slept through choir, mostly because I needed to catch up on sleep, it's been a rough week. Today I get to read some conference talks for my religion class and sew new pointe shoes. :P

General Conference is this next weekend, and I am so EXCITED!!! I don't really have any plans for conference. I kind of want to go to a session, but I haven't found anyone who wants to try and get tickets. Not that I've really asked around yet. lol. I'm also trying to decide if I want to carry on my tradition of making orange rolls for conference...they're yummy, but I only like to do that if it's for other people. So i guess it will depend on what my plans end up being for conference. :)

Have a great day y'all.

thoughts and The Tango

so I feel like I had something super good to say, a great post was being brainstormed in my head, but it has left me. However, my dad sent me this great thought today from Robert Fulghum. This is part four of His Tango Chronicles. It's totally worth it to go and read the rest of them, I really liked them! Visit his site here, and enjoy this article, I know I did!

-------------

“So, what’s new with Tango - you haven’t said much lately. Given up?”

Question from a friend. Not an unreasonable inquiry. But my silence is that
of one who has made it across the shaky Bridge of Beginning to the solid
ground of confidence where continuing on is possible. I have moved from “Can
I do it? to “This can be done.”

“Less talk - more Tango.” is my motto. Shut up and dance.

I’m encouraged by an article my Tango teacher gave me. It’s about the axiom
of “Use It or Lose It” in reference to an aging mind. In studies of mental
and physical activities that reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease, the most successful was social dancing. Learning a new dance and
dancing four times a week reduced the risk of mental atrophy by 76%. And
Tango was judged the most challenging.

Why? Dancing simultaneously engages the mind, the body, and the musical and
emotional processes. Making split-second decisions using all your faculties
seems to be the key. It doesn’t hurt that you’re doing it while all dressed
up, out in the world, surrounded by people, having a good time.

When people say, “Tango? At your age? Have lost your mind?”

I can answer, “No, and I don’t intend to.”

Often I ask others, “Do you dance?”

It saddens me when they reply they cannot.

“Why?”

“I look like an idiot on a dance floor.” or “I’m just not a dancer.”

My neighbor is one of these. He does not dance.

He is 30 years old, in great shape, 6 feet 4 inches, 220 lbs., an ex
football star and two-time state heavyweight wrestling champion. A law
degree, and an MBA from Stanford. Nimble in body and mind.

He watches me go out at night. He knows where I’m going. But he ignores me.
His wife would like it if he would take her out dancing. But he’s not going.
He says he cannot dance. He would be embarrassed to try.

I said to him, “Let me get this straight. You mean you used to dress up in a
set of tights I wouldn’t wear to a Gay Pride parade, and get out in the
middle of a gym on the floor with another guy - one you don’t even know -
and get all wrapped up and sweaty with him in an intense embrace, while a
couple of thousand people screamed at you, but it would embarrass you to put
on a suit and tie and take your wife to a nightclub, hold her close, and
move around in the dark to music? ARE YOU CRAZY?”

He doesn’t want to talk about it. He knows I have him in a mental hold and
could take him down two falls out of three with this line of thinking. He’s
avoiding me now. And his wife is driving him crazy for being a chicken.

"If that old man can do it, why can't you?” My neighbor thinks that dancing
is a natural gift - something you’re either born with or not. And he’s not.

Once-upon-a-time I taught drawing and painting in a high school. My favorite
class was called “Art For Turkeys” because it was for those students who
thought they had no artistic talent, could not draw, but wished they could.
I promised I could teach them to draw - i.e. be able to report with a line
on paper an image of what they perceived.

In truth, I did not teach them to draw. I taught them to see.

Once they gave up their mental preconceptions of what the world looked like
and saw the world as it is, they could draw. Learning to See takes time and
effort, to be sure. But it can be done. All of the students could draw.

And once they gave up their image of themselves as those who had no art in
them they began to see their lives as their art. Dancing is like this. It
means giving up an untruth about yourself. To see yourself in a new light.

If I had my life to life over, I would teach dancing. Or better said, I
would teach people to see themselves as dancers - to recognize and employ
the dance within them - in tune with the beat of their hearts, the pulse of
their blood, the music in their minds. Human beings are hard-wired to dance.


It’s a natural thing to do. More natural than golf or tennis or any sport.
We are programmed to do it - all it takes is lessons and practice - like
yoga or Tai-Chi or meditation - just faster.

The secret to learning these things later in life is “Beginner’s Mind.”

An attitude that says “I don’t know - yet - but I can still learn.”

So the correct question is not, “Can you dance?”

The question is, “Can you still learn?”

If you can - take dance lessons.

And if you can’t, then you’re probably going out of your mind.

Sooner rather than later.

About the Author:
Robert Fulghum is a writer, philosopher, and public speaker, but he has also
worked as a cowboy, a folksinger, an IBM salesman, a professional artist, a
parish minister, a bartender, a teacher of drawing and painting, and a
father. All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten has inspired
numerous theater pieces that have captivated audiences across the country.
Fulghum is also the author of many New York Times bestsellers, including It
Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It, Uh-Oh, and Maybe (Maybe Not), as well as
two plays: All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and Uh-Oh,
Here Comes Christmas. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Copyright © Robert Fulghum.

I'm in love

WITH LIFE!!!!!

No honestly. Life is wonderful. I don't think I could ask for anything better than what I have right now. Let me list all the things that are making my life amazing right now.

1. I have an awesome new calling as an FHE mom, and my co-group leader person is awesome. He'll now be referenced as FHE Husband. He rocks. This year's FHE is going to be amazingly fun. I'm so stoked.
2. Dancing is going great. Minus the little injury I'm trying to get over, everything is great. Our November show is going to rock your socks off! So don't forget to reserve your calendars for November 16th or 17th. It's honestly going to be a great show. :-D
3. School...no really. I like my classes. I'm not dying...yet, and I think all will continue to go splendidly in that regard.
4. my love life is doing great. I know that SS Prez broke up with me like 2 weeks ago (or something like that) but since I knew that when we broke up that it was the right thing to do, it really didn't weigh me down like some of my past relationships. There are boys that I like and I love it. :-D
   
5. My roommates ROCK!!! I knew I was taking a gamble by only knowing one of them before moving in, but honestly, I couldn't have asked for better, cooler roommates.
6. The gospel is TRUE! My testimony of the gospel has grown so much in the past year, and it's amazing to me the marvelous things that go on in this church. I love every minute of it. Church yesterday was really good and General Conference is coming up soon, and I'm super stoked about it. I love General Conference. sigh.

So you can see why I think my life is so great right now. Every aspect of my life: church, school, ballet, dating, and roommates is absolutely wonderful. There are NO complaints. none at all. I dare you to try to find me complaining, because honestly...it's not going to happen. ;) Much love!

Lovely

I find it really entertaining that sometimes I go forever without posting, and then wham...so much happens that you get 2 posts in one day! :) Ah well, don't get used to it y'all. ;)

So the reason for this post this Sunday afternoon, is due to the fact of how wonderfully lovely it is.

I LOVE Fall in Utah. Today was a little cloudy this morning and it's still windy now, but the sun is shining, it's like 65 degrees and absolutely gorgeous! I think it is one of my favorite seasons for many reasons. Some of my favorite holidays happen during the Fall, it's not to hot or too cold, it's "sweater weather" which I LOVE wearing sweaters and the leaves turn colors. Not to mention that after the leaves change colors they fall to the ground and I can crunch through them, or jump into them. :D Definitely a favorite past-time of mine. Hurray for Fall!!!!

Nice boys are the best.

So my little sister had me join this group on Facebook. It had this list of things that girls love, and I concur with most of them. So here you go 30 things girls love, with commentary by Alishka. This is going to tell a lot about what I like in my dating life, but you know what? I don’t care.

1. Be bold. Don’t wait for her to start making the moves – just take the initiative and go for it! (Being bold is only acceptable when you’re pretty sure she likes you, though. Don’t try it otherwise.)
I love bold guys. I don’t mind making the moves sometimes, I am known for being totally willing to ask guys out, BUT I LOVE it when a guy is bold and asks me out and then after that also makes the bold move to hold my hand first. Good stuff. Boldness.

2. Place your hand on the small of her back. Keep it there gently, but firmly, when guiding her to your car or going into a movie theater (or any other place that is appropriate). Confidence in touching her is a turn on.
This is probably one of my favorite things ever. I don’t care if we’re dating or not, placing your hand in the small of my back is just great. I don’t know why, but it definitely turns me on.

3. Warm up her hands by blowing on them. This may seem like an odd courtesy, but it’s the feeling of being watched-out for that really makes this so attractive.
I’ve never had this done to me, and I don’t know how I feel about it. Hmmm….

4. It doesn’t hurt to get a little mad every now and again. Mad, that is, with a good motive – such as becoming protective about someone mistreating her. Don’t stand for that, ever.
I’ve never had someone do this either. I can see standing up for something you believe in, but I’m not sure if that is getting mad per se.

5. Buy her flowers. I don’t care how poor you are or whether or not you have a specific reason – just buy them. Save up if you need to. Every girl deserves a dozen roses just because. (And for an even more effective romantic move, find out her favorite shade of rose and buy them long-stemmed.)
Oh my gosh. This will get me every time, and I mean every time. However, I don’t know if I agree with the whole dozen roses just because, I think roses have a certain connotation to them and just getting a dozen of them for no reason doesn’t make much sense to me. I would much rather get a single rose, or even better a single or bouquet of gerbera daises (since those happen to be my favorite.) I think unusual flowers and not the normal rose goes to show you were really thinking of her and what she might want. But random flowers are always a good thing. Always.

6. Find unique ways to tell her she’s beautiful. It’s nice to hear that she’s pretty, but she loves to hear that she’s gorgeous, stunning, incredibly attractive, dazzling, lovely, striking, elegant, etcetera. (Don’t abuse this tactic though – telling her how beautiful she is TOO often ends up losing its value.)
It’s true. We love to hear how good we look. :)

7. Tell her you love her eyes and why. Every girl has beautiful eyes in her own way – so be specific. Stare into them and tell her how much you love her long eyelashes, the deep brown hue, piercing green, etcetera. (A girl’s eyes are a window to her soul, so complimenting them is a huge turn on.)
This is also a good thing. Telling her about her eyes means you really truly look at her and her features and not just the general shape of her.

8. Don’t rush your first kiss with her. Prolonging the kiss for even a little bit longer shows her you regard her with high respect (instead of just wanting to get action). If you just want to get action, then forget about it! Go find a lower-level girl instead.
In my little bit of experience, I have only had one guy who I dated who did this and that was in High School, and that was mostly because I made him wait not because he wanted to wait. I think I could be okay with a boy waiting to kiss me, but only if he didn’t wait too long. Waiting too long makes it unbearable and then I’ll be frustrated, but maybe that’s just me.

9. Kiss her nose, her forehead, her hand, her cheek, her hair. (And then there’s always her lips, too.) And wherever you’re kissing: let your lips linger there for a moment longer than they were originally going to stay.
I can’t lie, I love this; especially when a boy kisses my forehead. I just think it is like the most precious thing ever.

10. Breathe in her smell (near her neck/ears/hair) and then tell her how darn good she smells. No girl can deny how erotic it can be for a guy to breathe in her smell and be satisfied.
It’s true. I can’t deny it.

11. Hold her tightly when you hug her, or just whenever you’re holding her. (Not too tightly – just firmly enough to show that you’re there to protect her, not afraid to hold her, and love spending time with her.)
I know that as a girl I love hugs and a little extra squeeze at the end of a hug means a lot. I love being held because it does make feel like I’m protected and that’s what every girl wants. Protection.

12. Tickle her.
Well…you have to be careful with this one. Some girls hate being tickled. I’m a very ticklish person but because it usually shows me that he likes me, I’m usually okay with a guy tickling me. Usually.

13. Sweep her off her feet every once in a while – literally. Every girl watches all of the old Disney movies and wishes she had a prince charming to carry her like a princess, so do it just for kicks.
For those of you who know me in real life you know that I absolutely love Disney movies like there is no tomorrow. So for me, this is a true statement. I want to be swept off my feet, my favorite would be if I haven’t seen the boy in a while and he comes over and gives me a hug and just picks me up at the same time. That would probably be my favorite thing ever.

14. Tell her how cute she is when she’s mad. She may say how much she hates you for that, but if she’s trying to hold back that smile… then she really means she loves it.
I’ve never had this happen to me either. So I don’t know how I feel about it in real life. In my mind it sounds good.

15. Treat her like the royalty that she is. Spoil her every once in a while; plan a date or a night in with all of her favorite things.
I like the idea of this, but don’t do it all the time. For me, I usually already feel like a princess when I am out on a date with a respectable guy, but having the chance to dress up and do things with the guy I like is always be fun. I think treating a girl like royalty all the time doesn’t have to mean spoiling her and what not.

16. If you love her (and only if), then tell her.
Amen. Girls like to know how you feel. Talk, be open, and don’t hide.

17. Leave little love letters on her porch or in her e-mail Inbox. (The porch is far more romantic though, and a little bit bolder.)
This would be cute. I’ve never had a boy (take that back JH left a note once, but it wasn’t a love letter…oh no it was a much different sort of note, but it made me laugh). I think this would be cute.

18. Tell her how much you miss her. Even if you haven’t seen her for a day, she’ll feel wanted. Definitely. I like this too.

19. Tell her how good she looks when you first begin your date (or when you first see her that particular day). She spent a little extra time in front of the mirror for you, so even a small compliment makes it worthwhile.
This is so true. I don’t think I have ever gone on a date where I didn’t take one last look in the mirror to make sure everything was as perfect as it possibly could be and a compliment on the fact that you like the way I look is very reassuring.

20. If she needs a shoulder to cry on, be there. Once she’s done crying, cheer her up – be goofy, take her to her favorite restaurant, tickle her, watch a movie with her. Even small things show her you’re there for her, and that’s what matters most.
Once upon a time I got fired from a job. That same day shortly after the firing I saw a boy that I liked and we had been going out on dates for a couple of weeks. When I told him what happened, I lost it all over again, but he was a good boy and just let me cry on his shoulder and then later that night took me out to dinner. It was great. A shoulder to cry on is a great thing.

21. If you’re impressed by something she does well (like singing, dancing, cooking, etcetera) then TELL her! Brag about her to others – tell the whole world how good she is at it.
Even though the girl is probably going to deny it or be somewhat bashful about what you tell her she’s good at, she likes it. Every girl likes compliments of any kind, and showering her with sincere compliments totally raises her self-esteem.

22. When she has a competition or performance (for sports or some other activity) and she purposely doesn’t tell you when it is, she’s probably still expecting you to find out yourself and to be there. Being there, when she didn’t tell you the details, isn’t stalkerish – it’s impressive. So I’ve never hidden the fact that I have a performance or competition. I like people to come and see me. However, one time someone I knew came to a competition that wasn’t a big deal for me and seeing him there cheering me on was great. If it’s a performance and I tell you about it, I really want you to come. Sometimes I forget that I’ve told someone about my shows and so then when they come, it totally makes my day to see them there. :)

23. Talk with her. Ask her about herself, her dreams, her ambitions. Chances are she’ll want to ask you too.
This is really important to me. I honestly want to know about the guy’s dreams ambitions and what not. I would also love to share what I want my life to be like with others too. It’s a great way to get to know someone and it shows you’re a real person too.

24. Bake her something. Cookies, brownies – anything. All girls have a sweet-tooth, and the fact that you cooked it for her yourself is SO cute.
Even if it doesn’t turn out very well…it’s still very cute. Boys cooking is one of the coolest things ever.

25. Open the car door for her.
I don’t care if you’re on a date or not. Opening a car door (or any door for that matter) is very respectable. I love it when boys open the car door, and I’m not going to lie, when a boy doesn’t open the door for me (only for getting in, not getting out) they lose brownie points.

26. Never tell her she looks tired. You can tell her she sounds tired or “must be tired from all that work” but NEVER tell her she looks tired. That’s just insulting and won’t get you anywhere good with her.
I agree with this whole heartedly. Many times I know I look tired, but telling me is like sticking a knife in my heart. The other suggestions are much better.

27. Be romantic. Plan a date for once where you aren’t afraid to spend money on her or to sweep her off her feet. Sunsets are ALWAYS nice, as are upper-class restaurants or concerts.
I am a hopeless romantic at heart. I watch chick-flicks and sigh at the end because I know it could never work that way, but at the same time I always hope. So this would be great, but I don't think it's something you should it that often. Being romantic is always acceptable, but there are more ways of being romantic besides just spending money and going on dates. Those are the things that really get a girl.

28. Have fun with her. Always let her know how much you love spending time with her.
Even though being romantic is wonderful and going out on a nice date is so great, many times the best dates are the ones where we’ve just sat on the couch listening to the rain, taking a walk in the mountains during the fall, or just watching a movie. Playing games are a lot of fun, and even though group dates seem so juvenile, they can be a lot of fun. Being willing to take time out of your busy life really shows a girl how much you like her.

29. If you are starting to lose interest, tell her. She doesn’t want to find out later that you didn’t like her that whole time. Even worse – she doesn’t want you to leave without explaining. This is so true.
I had a boyfriend once where this happened, and he was so honest that it made things ten times easier. We are still friends to this day and I know it’s because we were both so honest during the entire time we were dating (even if it was only a short time.) Communication people is the best.

30. CHERISH HER, LOVE HER FOR WHO SHE IS, AND BE THERE FOR HER ALWAYS.
I’ve never had this, but it’s what I want from a significant other. This would be great.

I really like what this list had to say; however, I don' think any boy should just go out immediately and try to woo a girl by doing all of these things at once. What makes these things great is when a boy does them and it seems natural for him to be doing these different things. It shouldn't feel forced or awkward in any way. Being a nice boy and doing things to treat a girl right is what makes a girl go weak at the knees. Nice boys are the best. I know that a lot of nice boys get frustrated when it seems to be that girls only go for the punks and jerks, but really we all want nice boys. We just don't always realize that that is what we want and it takes us a little bit longer to figure it out. Just keep being yourself and I guarantee that there will be a girl that will fall head over heels for you. Trust me, being a nice boy is going to be the best thing in the long run.

soaked but content

wow. I know I hardly gave you guys anything yesterday about what happened, but I'm sorry, my bed was more important. :) But I'm here now ignoring my Econ reading that I should be doing.

So let's start off with the back story leading up to the adventures of last night.

I have been reading the blog of CPM for a while and I've enjoyed his thoughts and adventures in life. Well, yesterday he posted a blog entry about his plight in searching for a date for a dinner and dance for Homecoming weekend. Well, deciding to be brave I posted a comment on his blog letting him know I was interested. I followed that up with an email and a filled out dating application for his convenience. He responded to my email twice while I was in ballet class and the training room and I got both emails when I got home at 3:45 that afternoon. He told me his real name (which, like him, I quickly facebooked. ;) ) I took a quick look in my closet analyzing what I could wear to a semi-formal dance at BYU. It was a toss up between the blue sparkly skirt and the red saucy, sparkly skirt, but I went with the red. :) I topped with a flattering black top borrowed from my roommate and did my hair up in a curly do that took me about 20 minutes to do and sealed the look with a red rose. I felt pretty darn cute (and I guess I succeeded according to my date. ;) ) CPM showed up at my door promptly at 5:45 looking fine in a burnt orange shirt with a brown-and blue striped tie and tan suit. Really...he looked way good.

We went to an Alumni dinner for his college that he graduated from. Dinner was excellent and also fun. We had time to kill in between the dinner and the dance so we went to the HFAC and looked at the Senior exhibits that were up. We also went to the MOA and walked through the Cliche and Collusion exhibit which is about the media and how it effects our lives. (is it effects or affects? I can never remember....) anyways we then went to the dance. CPM had bought tickets for the Big Band dance in the wilk, so it was a live Swing band, which was a blast. CPM didn't' know how to dance, but I taught him the basics for the triple swing and the foxtrot, and I daresay he learned very quickly, and very well. :) We had a blast dancing. I love big band music. It's so much fun to dance to and what not. I saw a few friends there, which was fun to run into people I knew. CPM introduced me to Krishna, another board writer, and I felt privileged to meet all these board writers. It somehow makes the writers seem more real to me. I love it.

All in all, I think it was the best blind date I have ever been on. It was a blast and I'm excited to have a new friend to do things with. So there you go. My crazy adventure. :) Rock on. :)

Craziness

so this is going to be brief. it's after one and i have to be at the studio in 6 hours. call me crazy, because i am.

okay quickly....i set myself up on a blind date tonight with curious physics minor (aka CPM) from the board. crazy, i know. but honestly, i think it was the best first date/blind date i have had in a long time. we went to a dinner on campus followed by a homecoming dance with a live 40s band. it was so much fun. i love dancing and the company was superb.

and now, i really should be in bed. rehearsal is going to be early...ugh. oh well. i had fun. and that's what matters. :)

happiness

so last night I was writing an essay for my ECON 110 class and one of the principles that I discussed was how individuals do everything they can to make themselves better off, which is usually whatever makes them happy. Well, I wanted a cool happy quote to start off my essay (I had one in mind, but couldn't find it) and although this isn't what I used, I really liked it and decided to post it here for your reading pleasure. I really liked it. :-D

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I
arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I
have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." (found here)

Isn't that the coolest thing? I enjoyed it. Have a happy day y'all. :D

a wonderful evening

honest to goodness last night was an amazing night. BT (my former FHE Brother) and his little brother invited me to go up to SLC to see a musical thing about pioneers put on by the institute up there. It was fun, and I really enjoyed it. Afterwards BT convinced me to come hang out at their apt. with/his roommates, and man alive I LOVE those boys! I've always had a crush on BC and he's taken me to iHop and we've hung out a lot....but it has never gone very far. I still like him a lot, and I just wish he would act on it, because I KNOW that he likes me. He's just too scared. And I know that if I ask him out, it would freak him out beyond all measure. So I just have to be patient and hope that he will eventually jump on the bandwagon. The good thing is that I think we'll hang out more, especially b/c after jamming with him and his guitar (which I have missed doing SO much!) I told him we need to hang out more and he should come over to where I live and he was all, okay. And then I said, "No seriously, BC, I expect you to come over, and if you don't come over in the next 2 weeks I am going to come after you." He laughed and I told him that I was dead serious and that we needed to hang out more. Because Honestly, I REALLY LIKE HIM. LIKE A LOT. He makes me super happy, I know that I can make him happy and that we would be good for each other. So yeah...we'll see if it goes anywhere anytime soon. It probably won't, but a girl can dream. :-D