LOTR.

Dani and I have a new obsession.

It all started like three weeks ago because Dani and I wanted to watch a movie. For some reason, for the first time in her life, she was interested in the prospect of watching Lord of the Rings. I jumped at the opportunity, and after she swore that she remembered what happened in the first movie, we plopped in the second.

She was hooked from like the first note of that amazing, Oscar winning original score. And as I explained the deeper details of the characters and plot she got more and more intrigued. And so, up to this point, over a period of a couple weeks (and Thanksgiving break was included in there), we have watched the second and third movies, and started over with the first one yesterday.

This is how we like to watch them. We get all cozy and settled in Dani's room. She has two beds in there- they are parallel to each other. We sit on her bed, with our backs against the wall and feet hanging off the end, and put my computer on the other bed with her speakers hooked up to it. We turn off all the lights, and I use my handy dandy little remote to adjust volume and to pause it if we have to text someone, answer our phones, run out for a cookie break, or discuss recent happenings. Those discussions usually include yours truly trying to explain some concept that I barely remember but can't really put into words very well. I generally try to use as mush Lord of the Rings lingo as possible so Dani thinks that I know what I am talking about. But seriously, I've only ever read those books once. How much could I possibly remember for real?

I've trained her up pretty good too. She really likes using names like "Uruk Hai," "Sting," "Isildur," and "Nazgul." And she was ridiculously excited when we were watching Return of the King and she realized the Aragorn WAS the king who would return. Why it took her until half-way into the third movie to realize that, I will never know. But her joy was contagious. :) AND, I'm pretty sure she's dying to read the books now. I brought my copy back to Provo with me from Thanksgiving, and when I told her about all the awesome appendices at the back, she got SUPER excited. That's the kind of enthusiasm I like to see, especially from a former LOTR hater.

Experiencing Dani's conversion to the wonderful world created by J.R.R. Tolkien has reminded me very fondly of my own conversion to the wonders of life in Middle Earth. I was fifteen years old. I mere sophomore in high school. I had two really good friends, Moe and Jenn (notice the two "n's" Jenny-- I think that's the first time I've ever done that), who realized that my life was lacking, and decided to subject me to an all-time LOTR party. This was, of course, before Return of the King came out into theaters. So, on the appointed night, the three of us went to Harmons and picked up the appropriate snacks: caramel treasures, mint oreos, peacheos, and sour patch kids. (an assortment of chocolatey, sweet, and salty) Oh, and we got a "hot and ready pizza please" at Little Caesars. We watched the movies down in Jenny's room on a little TV that she usually kept close for nights such as these. We set up our beds and bags of food, and watched the extended versions of movies 1 and 2. We paused them VERY OFTEN, because I was frequently very confused, and I think that the two of them were super annoyed at me because I kept not waiting for the movie to answer my questions. But, we had a grand all time as a result of the wonderful movies, splendid company, yummy treats, and let's not forget-- the talented Paul Handy. By around 3am, I was fully converted, and NEEDED to see the third movie.

We went to movie 3 on New Years' Eve, just as 2003 ended, and we welcomed in 2004. Yes, my first moments in the year 2004 were spent in the Stadium 8 movie theater with Moe and Jenn. And I kind of think I brought my teddy bear (he was recently adopted from build-a-bear, okay?). But watched the movie, and it was fantastic, and I loved it. And we got home around 4 in the morning, and didn't get to bed until 6. Let's just say that to this day, it is still my favorite New Years' Eve ever. And do you know why? Because I love Moe and Jenn, I generally hate New Years' Eve, and LOTR IS AWESOME.

After that I read the books, bought the movies, and have watched them several more times. And I even own a One Ring. Creepy. Oh, and I made a pinata of the Ring for my Spanish class assignment. And mean Mr. Robinson gave me a bad grade, even though my ring was WAY AWESOMER than his silent son's basketball pinata. I mean, come on! That pinata almost gave me my first A-. But it was a pretty sweet pinata, and I hung it above my bed like a halo for the next several years.

Plus, Aragorn is just too handsome and rugged and chiseled and great.

Good times. LOTR.

I didn't go on a mission. Yet.

As many of you have probably noticed, I didn't go on a mission. Yes, it was part of my plan MY WHOLE LIFE. But, when it came time to turn in my papers, it simply did not feel right. I am very happy to be back at BYU (if you didn't already gather from my other posts: I LOVE BYU), in Provo, close to my family, with my roommates, etc.

Reasons why I am glad that I stayed home:
1. My brother is getting married. I could not/would not have ever missed this anyway, but I am very glad to be around and involved with the whole thing. Many of you know how much I adore my brother. It's like A LOT.
2. Dani and Rachelle are awesome to live with. Why would I risk living with companions that I didn't get along with when I have these awesome girls to grow with and learn from? They are amazing girls. PLUS, Lauren and Ann are right across the street!
3. BYU football is currently my favorite thing on the planet (except, of course, the important things like church and family and Harry Potter and the Michael Jackson movie...) In all honesty, one of the first things I thought of once I had decided to stay home was that I was going to be able to watch BYU football games. Football season makes me really happy. And having school spirit makes me really happy. Dani and I have made a goal to learn all the players names, recognize them by sight, and memorize all the referee signals. I'm pretty football literate already, but these are some necessary improvements. Look for a post detailing the BYU football experience later. I know I posted one last year, but I love it too much to let the first couple games go unrecorded.
4. I got a job at the Special Collections in the BYU Library. I am VERY excited about this idea. I actually start the job tomorrow. So... BYU jobs are very competitive because everyone on campus is looking for a job at the same time. I was one of the lucky ones who got the only job that I applied for. And that doesn't mean that I'm super cool or anything, it just means that my network was powerful enough. The people that I worked with in Washington, particularly Alison, knew a man at the Special Collections, talked to him about me at the SAA conference in Houston a couple of weeks ago, and then he emailed ME asking if I was interested in a job he had available. I said yes, interviewed, got the job, and am now officially an employee of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. Yay!
5. I think I'm really going to like my ward. The bishopric is very organized, the people are fun, it doesn't feel like a meat market, and I have a real calling! The ward has three relief societies (Yeah, I had never heard of that either), and I'm in the presidency of my relief society. I am really grateful for the opportunity and excited to get involved. It's really a blessing.
6. I get to live in Northern Utah with Stephanie AND Elise.
7. I can talk to my Mom and Dad whenever I want to, and not just on Mother's Day and Christmas.
8. I get to be around when Jenny has her baby. I think about that baby quite frequently, actually. I'm excited to have a best friend baby. Maybe I'll get to be a godmother or something! Hint, hint Jenny.
9. I didn't have to say goodbye to my Washington friends and be forgotten forever more. I still see Kate, Cameron, Erik, and sometimes Taryn on a regular basis. And we are planning parties and reunions. I'm so glad that I got to know all these people. They are amazing. (But I miss Genevieve, who is still living the dream life in Arlington, VA.) I actually think about the District a lot. I really do miss it. Somehow, someway, I am going to find a way back there. I'm toying with the idea of going to grad school at Maryland or something. Then I can live in College Park and do a fellowship with the Library of Congress or something (I met the people in charge of that program this summer, and my friend Matt from the Museum That Must Not Be Named wants to apply too!)
10. If I went on a mission I would miss my Sugardoll, Moriah, too much. She's too precious to be away from for too long.

In closing, I have not completely thrown out the idea of going on a mission, obviously. That is what the "Yet" part was for in the title of this post. But, for now, I feel very good about being home. I will think about a mission again later. AND, if it so happens that I don't go on a mission while I'm young, I have several years of being an old person to serve a mission in. It's something that I want to do eventually, it is the WHEN that I have to concern myself with.


Goal for next semester: Be a history TA.

More Christmas...

I forgot about these pictures and I decided that they were too good to pass up! I always like to post pictures of my family because they are so adorable and I just love them SO much! I also had to post a picture of my besties in St. George. They are too too awesome, and I want them to know how much I love and adore them. Moe and Jen are the best friends a girl could ask for, even if they ditch you for a husband. I understand. Okay fine, I don't really understand, but I'm good at pretending that I understand. And pretending will have to do until I get a husband and actually understand. But anyway, I love you guys.

The pictures of my family are from Christmas Eve. It is tradition to get new pajamas, put them on, and then all pile in the van that we are too big for and drive around looking at Christmas lights and singing the "Candy Free Christmas Tree" song. It is, by far, the best Christmas song ever.


I didn't even put a list in this post! Yay me!