California Dreaming and I love the Beach PART 2

My recent family vacation to the lush, wonderland that is Southern California.

Our family vacation had a little bit of a rough start-- Stephanie got sick and bailed on the whole thing...which meant that the family vacation became a family vacation-Stephanie vacation. And let's be honest, Stephanie is the heart and soul of the crew. She's the loud and funny one. I mean, they are all loud and funny, but as the oldest, she is the ringleader.

The following is a list of things that occurred on said family vacation:

1. IT TOOK A SOLID 10 HOURS TO DRIVE FROM ST. GEORGE TO LA.  This is supposed to be a 6 hour drive. The logical person might conclude that something terrible must have happened for it to have taken so incredibly long to arrive at destination b. No. Nothing happened. except my father. who was in an unusually good mood and decided to stop a total of 6 times. 3 of those stops were in LAS VEGAS. you read that right. He had also wanted to stop in Mesquite... but I was able to convince him not to. It was a miserable drive. But my father was like singing and whistling to himself the whole time, like there could not be a better drive, ever. Adorable.

2. The first day we went to the wonderful land of Lompoc. My father's dreamland (that must have been why he was so jolly the day before). My dad went to high school and left on his mission from this little California coastal town, and it holds a very special place in his heart. We had never been there before this trip-- and we were all actually very excited to visit too. We wanted to see it. And it was lovely. We loved Lompoc. We were there for the annual Flower Festival. We went to the parade (I LOVE parades) and the festival (oohhh and I love festivals), and then we drove around and he showed us his old house and everything. It really was a dream. :)

what a lovely bunch of parade goers.

3. After much discussion and persuasion (and there might have been a pickled herring involved), my mother and I were able to convince Andrew and father that driving to Neverland Ranch was in their best interest. A difficult feat, mind you. My brother and dad are two of the most persuasive people I have ever met, so they know all the secrets and getting them to do what you want is very hard. BUT, I think my puppy dog eyes are finally what did it (at least I'd like to think so). Andrew realized that driving the extra half hour to Neverland would be a dream come true for me. And it was...even though we could only see the gate. And it wasn't even the same gate that was there when Michael was in residence. But it was still great. Pictures are below, never fear.

The new gate.

4. Many of the car rides included rousing games of "Arthur Trivia" or "Boy Band Trivia." Elise and I make up the best games in this world. These 2 games consisted of everyone taking turns asking questions about Mark Brown's television show, "Arthur" or else questions about 90's boy bands. Both are excellent games. Elise won Arthur Trivia by a long shot (even though we didn't keep score), and I think I take the cake on the boy band one. Boy bands, if you didn't know, are my specialty.

5. Sunday was spent at a church in the LA area and at the LA temple. We walked around the grounds and then hung out at the visitor's center. We also made an appearance at this one terrifying beach... you know, just to splash around and see all the freaks and weirdos on the boardwalk. I was very uncomfortable, actually. Not that great.

my darling baby jo... who is going to be 17 next month. WHA???????

I told elise to get rid of that butt crack part like 12 times, just so you know.

6. Santa Monica beach on Monday. I love the ocean. so sososososoososososo much. The beach was beautiful and warm (except kind of not really. I think I was cold for like a solid three days on this trip. California is super tricky... because you think it's supposed to be warm... and then it's SOO not.) and I went a little too far into the ocean, I think. The lifeguard got a little angry with Andrew and I. I was just annoyed because the lifeguard assumed I wasn't a good swimmer. I am, okay? I just get in that there ocean and want to go out farther and farther and farther. It feels so amazing to get swallowed up in the waves. You feel so small and insignificant-- and so in awe of the wonder of the ocean. How the waves break and then disappear. How they create chaos and then an instant calm. it's amazing. But so anyway, there was an adorable pier on the beach. We rode the ferris wheel and had amazing hamburgers. Holy cow.

yummmm they love that ice cream. my parents are more adorable than yours.

7. The trip included a lot of bonding. We really had so much fun as a family, but I really missed Stephanie. There was definitely a hole. We love her.

8. I read a book, mostly on the road. Divergent. Not that good. Many people had recommended it... but I didn't like it well enough to even read the second one, so there.

9. My father snores, fyi.

10. My mother wore tie-dye sunglasses.

11. Andrew and Mallory were continuously adorable.

12. Moriah kept trying to take naps on me in the back seat. The back seat is mine, okay Baby jo?

13. And Elise just kept getting mad every time I tried to read. So rude.

14. An unexpectedly small amount of arguing and/or stressful decision making. We were all very chill. Unusually so. I feel like there is generally this expectation in my family that we all always have a say in everything. And we all care where we eat, every time. We each, individually, care so much, that it takes a lengthy, full one discussion about where to stop the car for lunch. It's so ridiculous. But there was very little of that on this trip. I think it's partly because I chose to keep my mouth shut (let's face it...I'm probably a large part of that problem), and because we've all matured quite a bit since the last go-around. Anyway, it was lovely.

So thank you, mom and dad, for taking us on this heavenly, peaceful, and lovely vacation. Love you tons.

More please.

I went to the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour presented by Cirque du Soleil last night. And so begins my detailed exposition.

1. IT WAS WAY TOO LOUD. A lot of the time. Sometimes, though, the too-loudness was enlightening. It really was a different experience listening to Michael at that heightened volume. Let's put it this way: Michael used to record his music, and then everyone would leave the studio because he liked to jam to his demos SO LOUD that no one else could stand the loudness. He liked to feel the room vibrate. So, maybe, last night I got a little taste of what Michael heard, or wanted to hear, when he recorded his songs. And for that, I loved the loudness. I could feel it. And honestly, it sounded a little bit different than I was used to. It's like I could hear different tones and qualities in his voice. It was amazing.

2. There was not nearly enough Michael in the show. Sure, the whole thing was set to his music. And there were moments that were very tribute-esque. And a lot of the choreography (like for Smooth Criminal, Beat It, and Thriller), was exactly how Michael did it. But really, I would have loved a lot more Michael on the screen. A lot more of him. The best parts of the show were the ones where Michael was the most prevalent--- well, that may be a lie. But that's because it was a circus show. The most amazing parts were the ones where the trapeze people did the craziest stunts. But my favorite parts of the show were the ones that were Michael heavy. There was a moment when Speechless turned into Will You Be There, and I didn't know if I could take anymore without throwing up from amazingness. Stephanie screamed involuntarily and her arms flopped around in the air like, I can't take this anymore! It's too much! (In a good way). It all just kept getting better and better, but really, I could have watched a video montage of Michael (like the one at the beginning of the show) and been happy with my $60 ticket. That's how much I enjoyed the Michael in the show. And there should have been more of him.

3. The show started out kind of slow, and honestly, I was a little bit excited for it to be over, so I could drive home and then pretend it was awesome and tell everyone about it (kind of like I'm telling about it now, except there is no pretending going on. I promise). But there was point where I got lost. Totally lost. And unaware of time or anything around me. That's what a good show/movie/whatever is supposed to do. Involve you so much that you are lost. I don't know at what point this happened--- but I do know that when "Gone Too Soon" played and I thought the show was going to end, I felt a distinct sense of loss. I wasn't ready for it to end. Good thing they pulled a Return of the King and had like 4 fake endings, and the show didn't end for a while, because I probably would have lost it if it actually ended then. The show ended on Man in the Mirror, and it's like Michael said in This is It; "you have to be completely nourished by it." And I was. But then it ended and my mom broke the 18th cardinal rule of Audrey. She actually spoke the words, "so what did you think? Did you like it?" MOTHER! YOU HAVE TO LET IT SIMMER! It is impossible for someone to have a developed, reliable opinion on something that they just saw-- when they don't even know what they just saw yet! Here's a hint: NEVER ask me if I liked a movie RIGHT when it ends. I at least need to sit through the credits and gather my wits before I can say anything. And I don't want to hear your opinion either-- it will force me to make a premature decision about whatever it is that I just saw. Sitting in silence is much preferred in this situation, or else conversation about something totally unrelated is acceptable. Luckily, when my mother asked this illegal question, Stephanie forcefully slammed it down--"mother! Audrey doesn't want to talk about it yet! Don't you know her?"

4. But I do have an opinion now. It was fantastic. And I got the chills multiple times. And I didn't want it to end. And it was too loud, and there should have been more Michael. But Earth Song was incredible. Smooth Criminal took my breathe away. Dangerous was mesmerizing. I thought I was going to faint during I'll Be There. During Human Nature there were aerialists with light up suits that changed colors. During Beat It there was a human-sized glittery glove on the stage that came to life and danced. And I am going to make one just like it for Halloween next year. I almost shed a tear during Childhood. I Just Can't Stop Loving You was one of those moments where you wonder how what you are seeing is possible (involving two aerialists that held each other up with one rope 30 feet in the air).

5. Last, they used a lot of the same footage and concepts that are featured on This Is It. Which means that they did a lot of stuff the way it was planned to be done during the actual concert series in 2009. Which means that this was the closest I could ever possibly get to actually attending those shows that never happened. So that was amazing. It was cool to see the whole scenes that were just hinted at in the movie. Incredible.

So I loved it. But I did have this nagging, mournful feeling at the back of my throat for most of the show. I just wish that I could have seen him perform live. I just wish that I could have.

And so it goes.

1. I took a personality test once (okay, I've taken more than one personality test...), and one of the results told me that I, "enjoyed planning things more than actually executing them."

I gasped at the truthfulness of this statement. And at that point (it was probably several years ago), I was very much a planner who never carried out the plans. I thought about things that I could plan. I thought about all the fun things I could do. I made lists... all day. 

I still do that. I make lists of things to do-- parties to have-- specific plans for things. Vacations to take, future careers, characteristics of my future husband or children. Things I will do as a mother, things I want to do in my life before I die, stories I want to write, hobbies I want to have, how I will decorate my house, etc. 

And I derive so much joy from the plans. From the lists. 

So much joy, in fact, that I don't need to see most of the plans come to fruition. It's called imagination, people. And I have it. And it always looks way better in my head than it will in real life. If I never carry out said plans, I will never be disappointed. And I will be protected. And safe. And very, very happy. 

2. Do not cover the King of Pop. You will fail.

Very rarely have I heard a good Michael cover. Very rarely. I happen to remember one in history. ever. It was David Cook's "Billie Jean" on American Idol in 2008. And it was only good because it was different enough. And because David Cook has little bit of style. It was a magic moment.

Anyway.

I just got done watching the X Factor tribute to Michael Jackson. All the contestants performed MJ songs, and I think that my opinion of their performances can be best summarized through the faces of Prince, Paris, and Blanket Jackson, who were in attendance of the show.

I particularly appreciate Blanket's reaction. He's like, "what is going ON??"

And he is bored stiff. adorable.

3. I am currently sitting alone in my apartment, fighting the urge to watch tv on netflix; something that  I've been doing a little bit too much recently. I'm also fighting the urge to eat everything I can see. I want chocolate, I want candy. And I also want friends. All my roommates are gone for Christmas, which would explain why I am sitting alone on a Sunday evening-- Sunday is usually the busiest, most social day of the week. But Provo has been abandoned. I can see a once chuck-full parking lot looking pretty lonely outside my window. And the sky looks grey, as if it is going to cry because BYU is no longer in session and the clouds can't look down at all the happy, smiling BYU kids. I'm still here, you clouds!!! Smile at me!!! Or better yet, run away and leave the sun to warm Provo up to a good 90 degrees so I can skip work tomorrow and lay out all day. That would be rad. I'm leaving for St.G on Wednesday night. And I am excited... most particularly for Thursday night, which is totes going to be awesome....

4. Because guess what??!?!?!?!?!! I'm going to the Cirque du Soleil MICHAEL JACKSON IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR SHOW!!!! I'm so excited I will probably pee my pants. And then lose my voice from screaming.... before the show even starts.

5. So..... prediction. Matt Carlino is going to be BYU basketball's new "it boy." It'll take a couple of years, but it'll happen. The kid is going to be a big deal.

6. Also, Jimmer scored 21 points in his preseason NBA debut. Just saying.

7. Dearest Timmy Tebow, thank you for playing on my fantasy team this year. And thank for scoring 26 points today. And thank you making religion cool to those outside Mormon world because every guy thinks you are rad and every girl thinks you are hot. Because you are. a babe. Love, Audrey

Hello Tim Tebow. You look like you are having a very nice day.

That is all. 

A Media Update. Because that's what I'm good for.

1. I realized, today, that you all are probably just DYING to know what I have to say about "Under the Mistletoe." haha. Well, the diagnosis is good. I think that the album is just perfectly everything that I wanted it to be. It's Bieber at his finest. Some of my favorites are "Only Thing I Ever Get This Christmas" (I'm just going to say that the Bieber is growing up...), "Christmas Eve" (sweet sweet R&B), and "Christmas Love." They are some of the many original songs on the album. The standout cover on the album is "Santa Claus is Coming To Town," and it's stand-out quality is due largely to its reminiscence of the Jackson 5 ("shake it shake it baby...") ALSO, I think that every track EXCEPT ONE says the word, "mistletoe" at least once, which is hot, and frankly, it's what Justin Bieber is all about. My comments on the recent paternity accusations? I'm ignoring the whole thing... until after he takes the test next week. THEN, if he's guilty, there will be some more ignoring. If he's innocent (which I'm betting my copy of "Under the Mistletoe" he is), then I will not shut up about that horrible woman who accused sweet Bieber of such an atrocious thing. And I'll write some nasty letters or something. Or else just tweet a bunch of condolences to JB until I get a retweet. The end.

2. I've been watching The Cosby Show like crazy for about the last two weeks-- since I realized that seasons 1 through 8 are available instantly on Netflix. Holy. That is amazing, right? So in this one episode, Theo goes to the store and picks up a very expensive designer shirt for his upcoming date. Cliff freaks out a little and exclaims, "No 14-year-old boy should have a 95 dollar shirt unless he is on stage with his 4 brothers!" I love that Heathcliff Huxtable.

3. I currently love The Script. They are an Irish band. And they are hot. and did I say Irish? And I melt away into a puddle of nothing every time I hear their current single, aptly named, "Nothing."

4. HOLY CRAP. I'm excited about this movie. And I hesitate posting the trailer here because I'm kind of a weirdy, and this book (and many other books) are such private, emotional, and personal experiences for me that I have a hard time sharing it with the world. Like, I kind of want to see the movie by myself so that whoever I am with can't taint the experience. I think I'll like the movie, though. I have a very poor track record with "books into movies," but this one appears to be everything I hoped it would be. And if not, I'll silently cry myself to sleep and never speak the words "Hunger Games" again in my lifetime. I'll just secretly maintain my devotion to those wonderful books, and write editorials in my head about why it's so good and what it could all mean. I think I should clarify, though, that on Audrey's Scale of Book Loveability, Harry Potter is like 1,000,000 lbs of importance and Hunger Games is like 1,000. They are very uneven--which is why I am even going to attempt seeing this movie (well, and because of this bomb trailer). So... after all the disclaimer and description.... enjoy.


5. I realized today that there is very nearly only one certainty in life. No matter how much EVERYONE hates them, Nickelback WILL ALWAYS manage to have a new song on the radio. Or an old song. Or any song. But you cannot escape them ever. And no matter how much I loathe that man's voice, I still find myself singing along at times (I'm telling you- inescapable), and somehow, it's comforting.

I think that's all.

Oh wait. RIHANNA-- you may have finally fell off the deep of the "too creepy for Audrey" scale with the video for "We Found Love." Buttttttt.......I'm still excited for your new album. Which comes out next week.

Yeah, I don't know how either.

Usher. I usually don't like him that much. Except that I think he's just really cool. Like really cool.

Okay. So here's the kick. The reason why I love this song.

It reminds me of Michael.

Not the music. The voice. It's like Usher has been listening to Michael for the past year and been focused solely on trying to imitate Michael's vocal stylings. He has taken on some of the artistry that until today, I thought belonged only to Michael.

Respect, Usher. Respect.

That is all.

Chris Brown

I feel like he's back to stay.

exhibit A: Justin Bieber collaboration.
exhibit B: the Joe Jonas song.
exhibit C: Michael Tribute. That rocks.



The backtrack, PS, is from 1983's "Human Nature." And part of the melody is even the same.

Michael Jackson

It's been two years. today.

Breaking News

So there's a new Michael Jackson single. Apparently is was recorded before he died, and record producers just cleaned it up and released it in anticipation of the release of an entire album, Michael, set to drop December 14. (YAY!!!)

Unfortunately, there is some controversy as to whether it's actually Michael's voice on the track. Which, if it's true, would be more tragic than I can say. The first time I listened to it (just moments after it became available on michaeljackson.com on Monday), I was confused. My first thought was, "this doesn't sound quite like the Michael I'm used to..." As I listened, I was convinced that it was Michael, but that the backtrack vocals were not him, probably because he didn't finish recording the harmonies. I could be wrong, but after several listens, before even hearing about the controversy, this is the conclusion that I came to. I at least noticed something was a messed up. And after several more listens, I want to add some more reasons why his voice sounds a little bit off: age and processing.

First, the last studio recording that was fully produced by Michael and his crew was released on 2004's "Michael Jackson Number Ones" greatest hits compilation album. The song was written by R. Kelly and titled, "One More Chance." He undeniably sounds a bit different in this song that in previous recordings that the general populace is very familiar with. Now, he died in 2009, dating the recording of "Breaking News" as many as 5 years after "One More Chance," the last time the world heard Michael sing on a recorded album. SO, his voice could have aged and slightly changed in the meantime (plus he passed the landmark age of 50).

Second, this MTV article about the subject mentions the fact that recording technology has changed dramatically in the last several years, and that the processed sound that it adds to natural voices can change things. In fact, to quote the article: "processing might be Jackson's voice's biggest enemy." I do quite agree- we love the natural, live Michael the best. We don't want the touch ups. BUT, the song does sound processed- and that may have been done with or without Michael's approval. He wasn't really around stop it or anything.

However, many of Michael's relatives are claiming that the voice on the track is not him. But who is to really know? Admittedly, his family and friends probably will know more than anyone. BUT, if there really are hundreds of unfinished and unpublished songs in his collection (like there was rumored to be following his death), why in the world would record executives fabricate a song and release it as original? It simply makes no sense. The same relatives who claimed the song was a fake also say that other songs on the album are 100% Michael's voice. It seems strange that Epic Records and MJJ Productions would release a fake song that they produced with some Michael sound-a-like before releasing a real one. If they were caught (kind of like they have been, if accusations are real), then they have ruined their credibility before the album is even released. That would destroy sales and really would never be a good business plan. Sheesh.

What I am getting at is that in my expert opinion (and as an avid listener and follower of Michael Jackson, I think I've earned the "expert" status), the song is real. This could all come crashing down on me, and I may eat my words soon. But whatever. I can be wrong.

In my heart of hearts, though, I really hope it's real. Really really really really I do. It was so comforting to hear the song. And to know that more is coming. I hope they don't take that away from me.

Announcements, announcements, ANNOUUUNNNCEEEMEENTS!

I, Audrey Spainhower, will be doing my student teaching in Washington, D.C., our nation's capital, next semester. I'm not sure what school, subject, or grade, but it's officially happening.

After the aforementioned student teaching, I will fly back to Utah to walk in the commencement services at Brigham Young University, where they will hand me my diploma. It will be an end to happiness and joy and a beginning to the absolutely unknown.

I love both the Backstreet Boys and Michael Jackson. Lucky for me, there are exciting things for both of these artists (despite the non-living condition of one party) on the horizon.

First, the BSB are launching a tour in 2011 with New Kids on the Block. Yes, you read that right. I just watched the official announcement on Oprah.

Second, By the end of this year I will own the new "Michael Jackson Vision" DVDs that contain ALL music videos and short films, some of which are very rare. AND, I will also own A NEW MICHAEL JACKSON ALBUM, titled, Michael. It is a compilation of songs recorded before his death that were never made into an album. It officially goes on sale on December 14. That is 40 days away. I almost shed a tear when michaeljackson.com sent me the news a mere 10 minutes ago.

the new album cover. It reminds me of Dangerous. 

Last, the new Cirque Du Soleil show is Michael Jackson themed, and it is going to tour the United States. It's coming to Utah on November 29, 2011 (I think). I have to go. 

Hold your breath ladies and gentleman. This is all just going to be way too much fun.

4 weeks into school.

(this is an old post-- I wrote it about two weeks ago and felt it wasn't complete quite yet, so I didn't post it. But now it's old and irrelevant. I'm posting it anyway)

This is my last semester and I feel like I have a million decisions to make.

Movies to watch:
1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
2. Me and Orson Welles (it should have come from Netflix TODAY!) I've been waiting for this for like 2 years. I can proudly admit that I have been watching Zac Efron's IMDB page for updates on all his movies, including this one. For two years.

My new favorite song: Just A Dream by Nelly. When I heard that song I gasped with happiness. I don't know, it just felt right to have him singing to me, like I was brought back to happy teenage days of Country Grammar, Ride Wit Me, Over and Over, and Dilemma. And yes, Grillz. Just keep singing, Nelly, and keep providing me with clean versions.

30Rock started yesterday. Paul, Rachelle, and Brad came over for the event.

Rachelle and Brad are now betrothed. They got engaged last weekend, and it's already on her blog, so I figured I could say something about it here. But I am SO happy about this. I couldn't have asked for a better man to give my Rachelle away to. And seriously, he has adorned her left ring finger with a solid, whole carat diamond. A girl can only be so lucky. I think lovingly back to the day of Senior Showoff when Rachelle glided down from the ceiling of the auditorium in a slinky green dress singing, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."

A couple of weeks ago I was told by my good friend Christopher that he had met two new people in our ward who LOVED Michael Jackson. One boy and one girl. I knew from that moment that I had to find those people. First, because I could use that commonality to bond with them, and second, because I had to assess how big of fans they were. What exactly were they claiming, you know? Well, last night I met them. We were all three excited, and immediately the boy, Marcus, asked me what my favorite song was. I said that currently, but not of all-time, my favorites were "Keep the Faith" and "Speechless." He looked at me blankly. So did the girl. Neither of them knew those songs. I WON.

Don't worry, I'm still the master Michael fan in the ward, and I have yet to be threatened in the Provo area. (Except for that one Australian rugby player who knows more about MJ than I do. He's the champion. But he's also foreign so that doesn't really count).

So I have a question. Why do people claim to be big fans of someone or something if they haven't done the proper research? Preposterous.

A mix.

A quick something.

JK Rowling was recently on Oprah. I meant to watch it (because I always know when she has an appearance coming up), but unfortunately, I forgot. But, I caught the recap. And with the help of my friend Liz, I found this out:

1. Quoted from a news report: "Fans, rejoice -- J.K. Rowling offered a bit of hope on Friday that, perhaps, the final Harry Potter story has yet to be told. "I could definitely write an eighth, ninth, tenth," the celebrated author, 45, told Oprah Winfrey during an interview scheduled to air Friday. "I'm not going to say I won't. I don't think I will ... I feel I am done, but you never know."

My reaction: You know I love Harry Potter. But. I don't think there should be more. However, if the brilliant Ms. Rowling things there should be more, well then, there should be. I trust the woman.

2. Quoted from the same article: "However, Rowling mentioned that she did turn down one opportunity -- when Michael Jackson said he wanted to make a musical based on the books."

My reaction: I'M SORRY. WHAT??!? I had heard the rumors about a musical, but it was never public knowledge until Friday that it was MICHAEL JACKSON'S IDEA!!!! Now, I'm not sure that those two things- Harry Potter and Michael Jackson- should EVER EVER mix, but STILL!! Imagine the possibilities. WORLDS COLLIDE!

Here's the article if ya wanna read it:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/10/01/more.harry.potter.ppl/index.html?eref=rss_showbiz&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_showbiz+%28RSS%3A+Entertainment%29

And another one about Michael's idea:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/J-K-Rowling-rejected-Michael-Jacksons-idea-of-Harry-Potter-musical/articleshow/6670974.cms

Neither are very informative, but it's the best we can do. Very little information available.


Adios.

There is nothing better in the world...

1. ...than weddings. The adorable and lovely Ariel Jackson got married to the charming and handsome Stephen Martin on July 17th, and I was in love with their wedding. It was literally the most fun I have ever had at a reception. There were lots of wardies there, and we all danced and danced to Bieber and ate cake. It was a blast. And so beautiful.

2. ...than Pioneer Day. We are so lucky to live in Utah and get an extra holiday which = an extra day of no work. Pioneer Day this year was a crazy blast. The events included: 1) Thursday afternoon: Lene, Sarie, and I went to 7 Peaks for the $6 after 6pm deal. It was awesome to just be with the girls. There is extra anxiety with swimsuit wearing when boys are involved. 2) Thursday night: campout in Mona (a little bit South of Santaquin). There were a whole bunch of wardies there at first, but when it came time to sleep (and actually camp), most people went home. Me, Dani, Lene, Michael (Dani's bf), and Seth (Dani's bf's roommate) were the only ones that stayed. Dani and I slept in the back of Dani's Subaru. I don't think I have ever had a more comfortable night's sleep camping in the wilderness. We slept with the hatch open so we could fell the lovely night air and see the stars, but we covered at the same time. It was lovely. 3) Friday morning: WATER FIGHT (see number 3). 4) Friday afternoon: swimming at the Moon pool (apartment complex in our ward) and baptisms at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. 5) Friday night: Inception. Everyone loves this movie. I thought it was cool, but I definitely had mixed feelings. The whole idea just wasn't exactly moral to me. They were criminals, but somehow not in a good way. And I didn't like the way they messed with people's dreams. I don't know. It just rubbed me the wrong way. It was upsetting. But the movie was fascinating to watch nonetheless. 6) Saturday morning: Days of '47 Parade in SLC. Me, Lynne, Lene, Sarie, and Joey drove down. And we got an AMAZING shady, grassy spot on a little hill at the beginning of the parade. President Uchtdorf was in the parade this year. He waved at me.

(Me, Lene, Joey watching the parade. I have a sleepy eye.)

7) Saturday afternoon: the Farmer's market in SLC. We walked around booths for a while, got lunch, and then I went to visit my cousin, Shawn. He was working the booth for his father-in-law. He gave me delicious cherries. I tried to pay him and he said, "We don't take Potty money here." (he calls me Potty. It's short for "Potter" and "Audi Potty") Then we walked over to the Gateway and did a little shopping. I escaped the place without buying anything- except a present for my darling Elise. 8) Saturday night: Dinner with Stephanie at Terra Mia (I can always use a pure and simple Margarita Pizza), and then a sleepover with Rachelle (see number 5). It was a fantastic weekend. And I was so tired.

3. ...than breaking world records and starring in music videos. So on Saturday, July 23rd, BYU put on a giant water fight in hopes of breaking the world record. With over 120,000 water balloons and about 4,000 people, we broke, but not necessarily smashed, the record. Have you ever been in a giant giant water balloon fight? Being in the middle of the fight is not really a pleasurable experience. It's painful. I don't know why, but the balloons had a hard time popping, and they would just smack into you, and it felt like getting punched. But who cares? It was AWESOME! Mass chaos, people throwing balloons everywhere, all 4,000 people becoming instantly soaked in water. What better way could there possibly be to spend a Friday morning? There isn't one. I was part of the breaking of a world record. To be put in the Guinness Book of World Records. It was way too much fun. And then after, we dance partied it up in our soaking wet, heavy clothes up by the DJ, and along with a large group of people, were selected to be part of the filming of a music video. And up-and-coming artist, Kyle Andrews, was using our water balloon fight for his music video. We stayed an extra hour or so to film another water fight, dance some more, carrying Kyle around on our shoulders, and so on. And THEN, when we were leaving, the DJ chose to put on a song that should be known to everyone and all as art: "Bohemian Rhapsody." Needless to say, we stayed on the field and danced and sang to that lovely song, all the while Lene filmed us, putting our performance in forever lasting memory. My experience at the water fight was complete. Oh, and then they gave us free lunch. Sandwiches and ice cream.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

(man standing in yellow rain pants: Kyle Andrews. The artist. And I actually really liked his song. It was called "You Make Me Smile" or something like that. It was Jason Mraz/"Hey Soul Sister" style. Kind of a mixing of the two.)

4. ...than Michael Jackson's 2001 album, Invincible. This is a treasure that I recently discovered/have become obsessed with. It fits in nicely with all the Queen craziness. A Michael break is always appreciated. So, the thing that I am trying to figure out, is why I didn't listen to this album like, at all, before? It just blows my mind, because the album is really good. There are a TON of good songs on it. I even have a new Michael favorite: "Speechless." It is pure beauty. I listen to it over and over and over again. I played it for Lene on the way to Mona, and then on the way back she said something that I will always love her for: "Can we listen to that "Speechless" song again?" I was ecstatic. Let's just say that I might enjoy my music more than the average person enjoys theirs. And I constantly try to make others enjoy the same music I do, because let's face it: I talk about it all the time. I casually bring up, say, Queen, in casual conversation with different people at least once a day. I have been known to repeatedly ask: "So, on a scale of 1-10, how much do love Queen? I'm currently at like a 15." Anyway, when Lene requested a recent favorite of mine, I just about peed my pants in excitement. We listened to it repeatedly, and then I tried to expose her to more of my faves. One a related note, Sarie was also in the car on the way to Mona when I exposed "Speechless." She commented, not about that song in particular, that Michael's voice sounded feminine. She told me she didn't want to offend me, but didn't I agree? I didn't know what to say. I really was speechless. Michael's voice is not feminine. It is not masculine, either (well, sometimes it is). It is just Michael, and that is the way he sounds. And no one else sounds like him. I guess when you think about it, he does sound a little feminine sometimes. But really, the thought had never occurred to me because Michael Jackson just sounds the way that Michael Jackson sounds. Isn't that weird?

5. ...than turtle cookies. Rachelle spent the night at my/our old apartment last last weekend. She came to church with me on Sunday, and then after, we decided that to celebrate Christmas in July (it was July 25, and Elise, the magic Christmas elf herself, reminded me to celebrate it) we would make Christmas sugar cookies and then eat all of them. Ourselves. Well, I went into the kitchen to start the process, and Rachelle was sitting in the living room doing... something. And then I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I GASPED very loudly and exclaimed, "I know what we should make instead of Christmas cookies!" (it's not like we had been trying to think of something to make instead or anything) I looked into the living room at Rachelle and she looked up from what she was doing and yelped, "TURTLE COOKIES!" And it was precisely what I had been thinking of. Same brain wave, Rachelle and I. Funny thing is that it had been over two years since we had made turtle cookies. They were a distant memory to both of us, yet they were the first treats that came to mind in such excitement. I love that Rachelle. So we made turtle cookies. We didn't have any cocoa, though, so we used a packet of chocolate pudding powder instead of both cocoa and white sugar. Chocolate flavored sugar. They were delish, but had a bit of a different consistency than usual. We'll have to make them again soon. But use the right ingredients next time.

6. ...than working at the Special Collections. I pretty much choose my own schedule. I get to take days off. I get to read obituaries everyday, which, most of the time is very interesting. I get to look at old stuff. Recently I found a document signed by Brigham Young. I showed it to John, my boss, and he got all excited. He told me that that piece of paper/signature was worth probably 5 or 6 thousand dollars. I am so grateful for my job, even if I complain about going a lot of the time.

7. ...than spending time with cousins that I love. I spend Wednesday through Friday with Dallin, Dustin, Daxton, and Dawson while Dave, Sherry, and Dallas were out of town. I was on little boy cousin babysitting duty, and let me tell you, it was exhausting. And I got really sick of cooking and cleaning up. But I loved the time that I was able to spend with my boys. Look below to experience the adorableness. I didn't get a picture of Dallin. He was too consumed by his xbox 360, which is a whole other story that, frankly, I don't want to get into. I hate video games. And none of the pictures I took of Dustin turned out. That boy has no patience for the camera. He turns his head or refuses to smile. Anyway: below are Daxton and Dawson. Possibly the most adorable 2 boys of ages 8 and 4.

 8. ...than watching Zac Efron play a troubled but very talented sailor who won a sailing scholarship to Stanford. Charlie St. Cloud, ladies. See it. The movie is a B or a C. It's weird. And sometimes cheesy. But Zac is actually a good actor, and he does a very good job. The movie is worth the money if only for Zac and his "handsome, rugged, chiseled, and great" features. Also, I might add that there is nothing better in the world than the student deal at the Wynnsong theater at the Riverwoods in Provo. $5.75 for a movie. That's cheaper than a matinee in St. George.


9. ...than Harry Potter birthday parties. See next post.

10. ...than the unexpectedness of Freddie Mercury. Once again, surprised. He has two solo albums. One is titled, Mr. Bad Guy. WHAT? Coolest album title ever, right? Mr. Bad Guy. That's hilarious. The second one is called Barcelona, and is actually not quite a solo album- he shares it with Montserrat Calballe, a female Spanish operatic soprano. They made a whole. album. together. Question: did anyone expect that? And you know what, it totally works. Here's a small taste: (she comes in at like 1:43)

11. ...than the BYU all-sports pass. Those things are literally my favorite thing about BYU. Actually that might not be true. But I do love them. A lot. I have been counting down to BYU football since basketball season ended in March. I. Am. Excited. And I just bought an all-sports pass. One more year of great BYU sports before I graduate. Wow. That actually sounds awful. Why do people have to graduate from college? Why? Let me say forever.

12. ...than turning down the internship at the Library of Congress in exchange for the awesome summer that I have had in Provo. I do not regret that decision. I never have once.

My world in Provo is just such a good place.

Michael.

Michael Jackson died one year ago today. In his memory I am going to eat tacos (his favorite food), drink orange gatorade (his favorite pre-concert beverage), watch his music videos on a projector screen, listen to his music, and talk about him incessantly.

You should do the same.

Also, if you want to remember specifics of his greatness, check out this post.

One year ago today I was laying in my bed at the Barlow Center feeling very ill. I had stayed home from the museum that must not be named that day because I had a high fever and felt so crappy. I remember taking a shower around 3pm, and feeling so nauseous, tired, and dizzy in the shower that I started to blackout. I saw spots and everything was going black, so I sat down and tried to regain control. I was very sick. Somehow I was able to get dressed and make it back to bed. I fell asleep for several hours, and right after I woke up, Stephanie called, her voice full of panic and tremors, to tell me that Michael Jackson had died. 

Let's just say it was kind of a bad day.

Recently.

1. I bought the Adam Lambert CD. A little sketch, but SO WORTH the $7.99 on iTunes.
2. I've been eating a lot of brownies for lunch.
3. BYU beat #1 ranked Pepperdine in men's volleyball yesterday. woot woot.
4. I want to go shopping. A lot. But I don't have any money.
5. I have to read "Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones" for my Adolescent Lit class. It's about a 16 year old girl who gets pregnant and then she marries the father- Bo Jo- who's 17. Kind of horrible and kind of fascinating. It was published in 1967, so don't worry, no dirty stuff. Plus, it's required reading.
6. I slept in until 11:30 today. Nice.
7. I dream of not waking up for church tomorrow- accidentally- and then driving to Temple Square and absorbing the North Visitor's Center instead.
8. I want sunshine.  boo snow.
9. I have eaten at In 'N Out twice in the last 3 days. YUM.
10. Me and Audrey finally went to see "Percy Jackson." I actually liked it. For a book turned movie deal. The two of us actually didn't remember the book that well, so it would've been hard to be disappointed.
11. When I took a nap the other day, I noticed the roof on my apartment building (I could see it out the window). There are big wooden slats that are SO long, three of them overlap somehow before one of them ends.
12. We added a new quote to the quote wall in our apartment. It's from me: "I live inside a build-a-bear world." You know, because everything is happy and you leave with something to snuggle with.
13. Michael Jackson still makes me very happy. I listened and sang to Dirty Diana the other day- best 3 minutes of the last 3 days of my life.
14. I like going to the gym. But it makes me tired.
15. Evan Lysacek is my hero. Such an attractive ice-skater man.
16. American Idol. Why don't I like you that much this year?! Something is wrong with me. But I'm working on it. And Ellen is not even funny on it. Rude.
17. WHY DOESN'T BYU HAVE  SPRING BREAK?


Anyway, sorry about the "I didn't blog for a whole month" thing. But have a lovely day.

My Current Playlist

So, for the past two years, my music listening has been devoted almost entirely to Michael Jackson. There have been some obsessive peaks and some lulls, but most of the time, the song I want to listen to when I get on the computer or need to pick some laundry-folding music was written and/or recorded by the one and only. I had a Beat It phase, a phase of the whole Bad album, a Dangerous phase, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Diana, Earth Song, Jackson 5 phase, The Jacksons phase, a phase of collaborations with people like Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney-- I even had phases for similar types of music that didn't feature Michael- like Prince, Janet Jackson and other Motown artists like Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey, and Stevie. It has just been never ending.

BUT, I am currently in a lull. Michael has been gone for six months now, and I am slowly moving on. Don't think I'm forgetting about him, though. I'm still the number one fan in Provo. And I'm still going to buy the DVD of "This Is It" at midnight when it comes out on January 26.

But there is proof of this movement in my current playlist of "have to listen to all the time" songs. I mean, check out the variety!!! This is totally a new thing for me.

They are as follows (keep in mind, I would definitely recommend any of these. But you may have to find the clean version)
1. Bigger, The Backstreet Boys
2. Shattered, The Backstreet Boys
3. Cold Case Love, Rihanna
4. Firebomb, Rihanna
5. Crawl, Chris Brown
6. So Cold, Chris Brown
7. Time for Miracles, Adam Lambert
8. Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys (look for the clean one)
9. Call the Man, Celine Dion (an old classic!)
10. He Could Be The One, Hannah Montana
11. Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus (It's taken a long time for this one to get old!)
12. Wait For You, Elliot Yamin
13. Fifteen, Taylor Swift (yeah, I NEVER thought she would be on my playlist, but I kind of think this girl is AWESOME.)
14. Unbelievable, Craig David
15. Touch My Hand, David Archuleta
16. Down, Jay Sean
17. Whatcha Say, Jason DeRulo
18. Knocks You Down, Keri Hilson feat. Ne-Yo and Kanye (get the clean one!)
19. Run This Town, Jay-Z feat. Kanye and Rihanna (it's this one, specifically, that requires a clean version. Be careful.)

Below is a phase of songs I JUST RECENTLY got over. This marks the end of all the phases I'm talking about above.

1. Purple Rain, Prince
2. When Doves Cry, Prince
3. Escapade, Janet Jackson (LOVED THIS SONG.)
4. Miss You Much, Janet Jackson
5. Blame it on the Boogie, The Jacksons
6. Cheater, Michael Jackson
7. This Place Hotel, The Jacksons
8. The entirety of the "Off the Wall" album, Michael Jackson- particularly the song, "Girlfriend" (written by Paul McCartney for Michael) This album literally got me through finals. We made it through some tough times together...
9. This Is It, Michael Jackson. (So emotional!!)

You can all now clap your hands for me. I'm expanding my music-listening. It's great news, really. Just don't think that I like Michael any less, because that kind of betrayal is NOT going to happen. But seriously, good good songs on this list. Look them up. I'm particularly into the new Rihanna ones at the top. And the new Backstreet Boys CD. I love those guys.

By the way, Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy back to school, and everything like that. I've been MIA for a while, but I'm back on the blog. YAY.

I love Shopping on Amazon

First, to recap, finals week was last week, and it was horrendous-- except for the fact that we ate out four nights in a row. Like at real restaurants (Carrabbas, Zupas, IHOP, and Pizza Factory). Yeah, I don't really know how that happened, because I promise that it was amidst massive amounts of studying, stress, and chaos.

But somehow, I made it through, and I have been able to enjoy three days of Christmas break so far. AND, I got to meet Jenny's baby today, who, by the way, is just so precious and perfect!

Second, I promise that Michael Jackson ISN'T the only thing that I ever think about. I know that my posts are in regards to that man a lot, but that's only because I listen to him when I'm on my computer a lot, and then I'm thinking about him, and then I usually have something to say about it.

The same thing happened tonight, except I was actually listening to Rihanna, and not Michael. Steph and I just decided, for some reason, to look up Michael Jackson memorabilia on Amazon. Best idea I had all day. We looked in the apparel and accessories section, and found some gems. Here they are for your viewing pleasure:

1. Michael Jackson wigs (whoever thought this was a good idea?) AND WHY DID THEY KEEP USING THIS AWESOME/TERRIFYING MODEL?
So funny Stephanie and I almost cried.
2. Please buy this for my first born child, boy or girl. NOT.
3. Excuse me, I actually really want this.
The piano shirt from the Beat It video. Too cool for words.
4. Michael Jackson+A little bit of David Bowie+Adam Lambert's 80's comeback style=Total awesomeness. Am I right?
5. Why ANYONE would wear these on their ears I have no idea.
6. And last, two T-shirts that would serve very well for pajamas and wall decorations. Pajamas because I would never wear them in public, and wall decorations because of their double layeredness and intensity.

Is this too much? I just think it is hilarious. And can I just say, I am LOVING the Michael mania that has followed his death. Do you realize that before June 25, 2009, there was hardly ANY MJ memorabilia online? There is a ridiculous amount now. A ridiculous amount of lots of ridiculous stuff. And did you know that a person could not find a copy of his autobiography, "Moonwalk" anywhere? Well, now... a person... can. YAY.

Love you guys.

Today.

What went through my head today while walking around campus and sitting in class:

1. I have come to terms with the fact that I think boots are ugly. That doesn't mean that when people wear boots I think that person is ugly, or that they are dressed ugly. But seriously, I just don't like them. I don't want to wear boots because I kind of think they are just plain ugly. That's all. (The exception to this rule are rainboots. Love 'em.)

2. 90% of the people I have ever talked to do not know the difference (or cannot remember the difference) between OHIO and IOWA. To most westerners (and easterners) the two states are the same thing. I am here to tell the world that they are very different. And for the record, I lived in IOWA for three years, not Ohio.

3. Blue jeans are a miracle. On any given day, 95% of the people I see are wearing jeans. I doubt that the person who first invented jean EVER imagined the affect that they would have on society--- on the WORLD. Everyone underestimates the power of the blue jean. Seriously.

4. Being a teacher is actually sounding a little bit fun to me again. Phew.

5. I am obsessed with babies. I had a dream the other night that I had a baby. And when I woke up, there was no baby, and I was actually really sad. You know when someone in a dream does something mean to you, and you wake up mad at them? Or you dream about someone, and then like the whole next day you are like super attracted to them? Well, same sort of thing.

6. Confession: I would do my reading for class if my teachers let me read from the textbook instead of some stupid article on course reserve! I hate those articles. They are boring and lame, I hate reading on the computer screen, it costs money to print out a 30 page article, and seriously, why can't we read from the textbook that the professor required us to buy AND PAY GOOD MONEY FOR?!

7. Quote from my grammar textbook today: "Success is intrinsically motivating." Totally agree. Why would you EVER try if you keep failing, over and over? WHY?

8. Tights/Nylons are fantastically comfortable and warm.

9. I finished ALL THREE sudoku from the newspaper this morning in ONE CLASS PERIOD. That proves three things: I am getting really pretty good at Sudoku, I don't pay that much attention in Utah History, and my class is JUST THAT BORING.

10. So I really highly dislike my U.S. Women's History class (we're bordering on "kinda hate" here), but today, I really, really enjoyed it. Well, the first five minutes anyway. This video clip is why:

Don't ask. Just love.

11. Also, in class today we were talking about the modern feminist liberation movement. In 1968 a whole ton of women stormed New York City and Atlantic City protesting the Miss America Pageant. It was a big deal. They threw away all their girdles, bras, beauty products, curling irons, hair dryers, etc. to symbolically free themselves of the bonds of femininity and womanhood and whatever. Makes no sense, right? Well, a bunch of men that were standing around and watching the spectacle of apparently bra-less women were like, "They're just mad because they're too ugly to be in the pageant." There is actually record of men saying this to the protesters faces. That story just made me happy. It was probably true.

So that was my day.

L-O-V-E. Love.

I just noticed a line in a Michael Jackson song that I had never noticed before. It's in the song, "Childhood." The song is supposedly his most autobiographical song. In fact, I heard it from his own mouth in a interview. It says:

"Before you judge me, try hard to love me."

It just breaks my heart.

I'm a lover, not a fighter.

(Foreword: So... I wrote this the moment I got home from the movie. I saw it the first showing, the first night. I bought my tickets over a month ago, the moment they went on sale. And the following post was my reaction. Yes, I know it sounds crazy. And it has taken me 4 days to decide to post it because of that craziness. But, I think that you all will get a kick out of my eccentricities. Also, I wore a shirt that says, "lover not a fighter" and a black silky MJish jacket. All you Michael fans out there would recognize that in "The Girl is Mine," from the Thriller album, which is a duet with Paul McCartney, Michael says, "I think I told you, I'm a lover, not a fighter!" And that was sort of a theme of his life. So, I bought the shirt and wore it to his movie. The end. Love, Audrey)
I just got back from Michael Jackson's "This is it."

I am speechless.

I am not trying to be dramatic. I

am being totally serious. And you can laugh if you want. But really, it was...powerful.

In the words of Stephanie, my lovely sister and fellow MJ enthusiast, "Let's start a charity that raises money to make sure that everyone in the world can see that movie because it will make their lives so much better!!!!"

I replied, "SERIOUSLY!! That was the best thing I have EVER SEEN!"

And she said, "That was the best thing that has EVER HAPPENED TO ME!!!"

And I don't know why. I can't explain it. It was just IT. But so much more than that. I just don't even know what to say.

The odd thing about that little texting conversation is that I know we were both being serious. Stephanie may have exaggerated a little bit, but I know she meant it.

And the whole time, while I was freaking out inside and wanted to yell or scream or faint or something, I was thinking, "WHAT IF WE COULD HAVE SEEN THIS FOR REAL?!?!!?" What if it wasn't just a rehearsal? What if we could actually attend the show, LIVE? I can suddenly understand why and how the people who went to his concerts scream and cry and faint (there are several YouTube videos showing this) when he is performing. I could barely contain myself in a dark theater, watching footage of a mere rehearsal of the real thing. It was incredible. Somehow, Michael had this ability to draw emotion. He had nearly perfected it. I just don't understand. I am still reeling, and the movie ended about 40 minutes ago. And yes, I am already blogging about it. But that is because I don't know what else to do. I just want to tell the world. And I can't sleep. I'm too excited. And mystified.

And then it just makes me sad. He had so much more in him. The talent was not gone. He was not decrepit in the slightest. He actually seemed very much like a normal person-- or as normal as you can get when you're Michael Jackson. But what if the world could have seen those concerts? What if we could have heard more music? Even though I was sad before, his death wasn't something that affected me too much. I wrote about this in the "In Memoriam" post, but he had already seemed dead to me, so it didn't seem like that much of a loss. But after seeing this movie, I can see the loss. It's HUGE. And painful.

For real, the movie started with complete silence, a black screen, and scrolling white letters, introducing the movie. Steph and I clung to each other's arms, and were both kind of hyperventilating. I ALMOST burst. I was FREAKING OUT. Finally, right before the segment ended, Stephanie couldn't take it anymore, and a medium-sized scream burst out. And then I could let mine go.

And throughout the movie Steph kept saying things like,"What is happening? Is this real?" And "look at him. That's Michael Jackson." And when they were rehearsing for "They Don't Care About Us," we were both like, "He's just teaching those dancers the choreography! He just walks in, shakes his head, and shows them how to do it." And once, when it showed one of his particularly crazy outfits, she said, "whoever designed that had lots of good ideas." I agreed.

He was a master. A genius. All the people kept saying, "Michael just really knows his music." And he did. He told them exactly how he wanted everything played, really, exactly how he wanted it. And everyone just followed his cues the whole time. He practically conducted the show, while he was performing. He started and stopped everything. And he had a vision. He used emotions and feeling to know how to do a song. He would pause and everyone would be like, "What's going on?" And he would say, "I'm just sizzling," like that was a totally normal, everyday activity. And for him, it probably is.

Michael Jackson could move a crowd. And somehow, that ability extended through a theater screen in Provo, Utah, and hit me: right smack dab in the heart.

September 27: Ticket Day

I bought my tickets. One for me, one for Stephanie.

The first showing- 10:00 PM, October 27, 2009.

This Is It.