I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my. . . toes!

Some leading-up-to-Christmas highlights: 1. Over Thanksgiving, my brother and I accomplished a Thurber family first: putting up Christmas lights outside. He helped me with my fear of heights and I helped him figure out the light contraptions ("Are we supposed to screw these in?!" "No, they should just snap on." "Snap on how?!" "Just wedge them between the shingles, that'll do" "That looks ghetto" "We are ghetto"). We did figure it out eventually, survived the panic over what to do about the chimney, and were the most festive house on the block. 2. Aren't we great? I think so. Family photos, however, are a miserable thing, at least in my family. This is how it goes, every time: First, we have to delay something fun (opening presents, going to bed, cleaning our bedrooms) to take pictures. Then we position ourselves, taking into account our different heights, genders, and outfit colors. Then we do it all over again, remembering that we have to fit Dad in, too. Dad presses the button, scampers into the picture, and we all discuss whether or not the timer is working. Either it doesn't, and we all sit there forever, or it does, and we have a lovely picture of our discussion. So we try again. Then we have problems with the sibling-whose-name-will-remain-anonymous who won't smile properly. Or even make a normal face. After a few shots, we all crowd around the camera and critique. We repeat the whole thing a few more times. It's tortuous. Finally, he-who-must-not-be-named gets a sort of shocked look on his face that looks a little bit normal. We call it good, even though I secretly bewail the fact that the most acceptable overall family picture is my least favorite of myself. However, I think our endeavor turned out rather nicely this year. We took these over Thanksgiving. We're a good-looking bunch.

3. I found this picture of me in all the christmas morning mess from last year. I like it.

Giant Purple Strawberries and a New Year's Resolution:

Next year, I am going to blog more. I am also going to try and break free of the writing format of the list. Next year.

December Highlights, in no particular order:

1. I taught my third grade class "Silver Bells." During the chorus, I sing first, then they all echo. Having 24 children's voices echo mine gives me chills every time. I love Christmas.

2. Yesterday, I came home at 6:00, sat down on the couch with my computer, and promptly fell asleep. I woke up at 12:30 am, put on my pjs, read some scriptures, and slept soundly 'til morning. Sleep deprived? Perhaps.

3. This last Sunday, I conquered one of my lifetime fears. I sang in church. No, it wasn't a solo. But there were only three of us--hardly room to hide behind anyone. Although I am a quite musical person, I have always had such a horrific terror of going flat that I have been escaping to the piano for years now. This Sunday, I did it. And I did just fine.

4. It's really nice to not have finals. Staying four days longer than everyone, not quite as nice.

5. I have the best roommates. They each help me to be a better person.

6. I learned: When it comes down to it, what everyone really wants is to be wanted and loved. In big ways and small ways. It's not about the most interesting, the most beautiful, or the most funny person. It's about being the person that makes those around him or her feel valued.

7. I saw 500 Days of Summer. I have my reservations about it, mainly because of cleanliness issues, but I really loved aspects of it. I felt like I completely related to the main characters, which is funny, because they are so different. Probably reflects my own bipolar relationship struggles. :D

8. Every time of my life is associated with songs. Songs of November and December:

a. Your Ex-Lover is Dead by Stars

b. The Swell Season by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

c. Hooked On a Feeling by Blue Swede. Ooga chuhgas and all.

9. http://www.sadtrombone.com/

10. The day I wore my purple turtleneck to school: "Miss Thurber, I just love you! You look just like. . . .just like. . . . a giant purple strawberry!"

It's true!

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

-2 Corinthians 2:9

You think you've changed since your elementary school days, and then. . . .

I got sick today, my math lesson bombed, and I overslept. But today was a good day. The reason?

School lunch.

Oh youtube. . . .

My roommate Michelle introduced to the first video on the list, which made so totally thoroughly happy that I felt compelled to blog about it. In order to make this a more substantial blog post, here is a random assortment of my other favorite videos. Which I'm sure many of you already know.
My post inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0
Gutentaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKgBdrsqvjs
For those with a particular sense of humor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu0PAbW75A
Every one of these lists should include laughing babies. My favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kTJ5xZxDI
Great commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8
Someday (resurrection) I will be able to quote movies at will and with perfection, like some people. In the meantime, this is the only video I can quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqy5TMVWYn0
(actually I just remembered I can quote Veggie Tales pretty well)

50 things that make me terribly happy

My friend Hannabeth had her friends compile lists of "10 things that make us terribly happy." Here is mine, only extended. I tried to make them all things that would completely make my day. I love making lists.

1) Blueberry-cranberry Haagen-Daaz sorbet
2) Sincere, unusual compliments
3) Banana Republic outlets
4) Acheiving personal goals
5) When I read my scriptures in the morning
6) Facebook friend requests
7) Scoring at the thrift store
8) Power tools (drills!)
9) Sushi samples at Macey's
10) When I get to pull out all the stops on the organ
11) Being in love when the seasons change
12) Pink tiger lilies
13) Any flowers, really
14) A new conference issue
15) When your last class gets out early
16) A date outfit that fits the occasion perfectly
17) Clean towels, sheets, and bathrobe.
18) Aaron Copland, Rachmoninoff, and Randy Travis
19) So You Think You Can Dance?
20) A good game of ultimate frisbee
21) Grape juice
22) Being able to serve someone
23) Thunderstorms
24) "Awesome Job!" "Way to Go!" etc. on the testing center screen
25) Mail--letters, packages, postcards
26) Puddlejumping
27) "beeeeeeeeeep. This is APX two-way testing. Please state. . . " Hasn't happened for a while, and I'll probably never hear it again, but I can still remember the pure joy.
28) New bars of soap
29) When the Pistons make a good trade (been a while)
30) Beating Matthew in Star Wars battlefront
31) Being 3/4ths of the way through a great book
32) Barnes and Noble. The smell, the chairs, oh man.
33) Knowing exactly where my license, debit card, and BYU id are.
34) Target trips
35) Driving over the speed limit with the windows down
36) Breathing in the air after getting off the plane from Utah to Virginia
37) Airport reunions
38) Boggle
39) Free t-shirts
40) That time during a campfire trip where everyone is chatting a little bit, but mostly just comfortably staring at the fire
41) Camping with my extended family
42) Sight-reading piano music
43) Waking up early in the morning, looking at the clock, and realizing that this is the day you can sleep in
44) The temple
45) The ocean
46) Fresh peaches (or tomatoes, or peas)
47) Western Virginia in the fall
48) Sitting next to a man who smells amazing and is paying attention to you
49) Air conditioning on a hot day
50) A pay raise

maybe someday I'll actually share this blog when I have something profound to say. . . . .

First, something ridiculous: As I pondered what to write about, the first thing I did was check facebook to see what I have been up to. Now that my credibility as a cool one is undermined. . . . . . some things in my life.

As you may have guessed, I have a new car! It's a 2007 silver Ford Taurus. Not too shabby for a college student. Well, I almost have a new car. My mother is driving it out to me in about two weeks. Which leads to the next awesome thing in my life. . .. .

My mother is coming out to visit me! She hasn't been able to be out here since she dropped me off freshman year as a baby college student. I am so excited to have her around. She's going to help me with my classroom. Which leads to the next amazing thing. . . . .

I have the keys to my school and classroom! It was a special experience walking into MY classroom for the first time. I'm going to be a real teacher. Dag. This next year could just be really amazing. My key-ring is so grown-up. Keys to cars, house, and schools! And a Smiths card.

Finals

1. Finals week is great. It's never as bad as the week right before it, the weather (at least winter semester) is perfect, and everyone is a little more cheery because it's all almost over.
2. Due to this blissful schedule, I have been reading my scriptures first thing when I wake up. The difference is incredible. Without even trying, I read twice as much and get four times as much out of it than those squeeze-it-in last thing at night sessions. Why don't I do this more often?
3. Countdown to California: nearly exactly 24 hours
4. Saturday I was priviledged to recieve free Tucanos. My mouth starts drooling at the very thought of it.
5. New term for the refridgerator: The Chirper.
6. Life has finally settled back to normal since the Event of the Century, ie, chopping off my hair. I no longer have the expectation that everyone will be as rocked by it as I was. Still love my hair, though.