Explanations about my last post, to answer Andrea's questions

"Seventeen? I'm suddenly intrigued with your cousin and his relationship with his fiancée. How long have they been together? What are the parental reactions on both sides of this? Have you met her and what were your impressions of her?...oh, or is it a sensitive subject because she's pregnant or something and I should just shut my mouth?"

***Disclaimer: all information contained here-in is second hand and based on my own deductions!***

Whitney, my cousin's fiancee has been in Jared's mom's ward for several years. A few years ago, Jared began having some problems with some things (alcohol, tobacco, etc) and quit going to church. Jared recently (in May, I believe) decided to get his life back in line and go back to church. He had bought a house back in my aunt's ward, and when he went to Sunday School that first Sunday, Whitney sat next to him (from that, I thought she was at least 18, although he said she was still in high school). She had grown up a lot since the last time he had seen her, and he asked her on a date soon after. They soon became exclusive, and he asked her to marry him in July. As far as I know, she isn't pregnant, at least I know for sure she wasn't a month ago, although should that situation arise, quote, "her school has a day care, so it'll be ok".

I'm not too sure about the parental reactions. I believe Whitney's father is out of the picture, I'm not sure of the circumstances there, and her mother is mentally and emotionally unstable. My Uncle Walt is being surprisingly supportive of the wedding, but my Aunt Christine* (Jared's stepmother) is, from what I understand, being less than supportive. She and Jared have always had a very strained relationship, and I'm not surprised that she's being unhelpful. Jared's mom, my Aunt Linda*, is not very thrilled, but is apparently doing her best to be supportive. From what I understand, however, most of Whitney's help in planning this wedding comes from Jared's two sisters, Katy and Naomi. However, Katy is married with three little girls, and works full time. Naomi attends a university about two hours away, works nearly full time, and just had her appendix out last Sunday. They are busy, and don't have the time to devote their lives to this wedding. Both are also nervous about it, as Whitney is only 17, and Jared is recovering from some terrible trials the last few years.

I have not met Whitney, and I'm very nervous to do so. I desperately want to love her, because I love Jared and want to love his wife as much as I love my other cousins-in-law. I'm very nervous for them and hope they know what they're getting into and don't regret it, soon or in the future.

This wedding is freaking stressing me out so bad, and I'm not even the one planning it.

My cousin, Jared, is getting married on (now) October 19. His fiancee, Whitney, is 17, and a junior in high school. Jared is almost 21.

Jared called me in July to tell me he was engaged, and that they would be getting married some time next summer.

At the end of August, Jared called me and said that they had moved the wedding up and they would be getting married October 20. I had been planning to go visit my relations in Missouri (where they live) over New Years, but conflicting responsibilities have nixed that idea. Instead, I decided to go to the wedding. I checked with Jared to confirm the date, and bought my plane tickets.

This past Thursday, Jared called me and said that they called to schedule the church, and it was unavailable on the 20th. Was there any way I could change my flight to get there earlier than October 19 at 6:00? I checked, and there's not. There were no flights available that wouldn't require me to miss more classes or sleep on the floor at an airport during my connection. It would also cost me nearly $250 to reschedule my flight(s), and I just can't afford that right now. Or basically ever. I called Jared back and told him that that I couldn't, and he told me that they would try to figure it out so that I could be at the wedding.

This morning, Jared called me again to tell me that they had officially gotten the church and the hall for the reception. On October 19. The wedding is at 5:00. The reception starts at 6. My flight gets in at 6:03. My uncle or one of my other cousins will meet me at the airport, and I will probably get to the reception by 7:00.

I guess this is what happens when you have a 17-year-old planning a wedding with little to none parental support.

I'm sad and frustrated that I'm missing the actual wedding, but I've decided that having the wedding Friday frees up the rest of the weekend for me to play with my other cousins. I'm looking at a grad school in Kansas City, and I'm hoping to visit the campus. I'm also hoping we'll be able to visit Adam-Ondi-Ahman, as it was on the schedule the last time I visited them, but it rained two inches the day we had planned to go, so we didn't. My cousin Jacob wants to take me out Saturday night now, to "show me the town". I'll enjoy the trip, I just wish I could be at the actual wedding.

Wedding Dress Options

Dress One: Wool, knee length, fitted, with back pleat for walking ease. Dark green. Vintage. I'll wear it with black round-toe heels, hose, gold jewelry, and carry a gray or black sweater of some sort.
Dress Two: Just below knee length, a-line. Salmon with gray abstract print. Vintage. I'll wear this with a gray cardigan in hand and I have no idea what shoes (yes! an opportunity to go shoe shopping!).


I'm actually bidding on both (Ebay is one of my favorite shopping resources, especially for vintage, which I love), and it looks like I may win both as well. They're very different, but I like each of them a lot. Probably, I'll take them both, along with all accessories, and decide when I get there, based on the weather, etc.

Also, I have noticed that the more stressful my classes get, the more I write on my blog. Unfortunately, it's usually frivolous.

Succoumbing to the list of random bullets

• I really need a dress for my cousin Jared's wedding. Ok, I could wear something I already have, but I don't want to. But what, pray tell, does one wear to an outdoor wedding in October, in a city with sporadic October weather, where one has never been, at a vaguely obscure level of formality ("festive formal")? When one must look amazing, not only because it is the wedding of one's favorite cousin, but also because one is meeting one's pen pal whom is also one's cousin's best man.

• My roommates are very young. Period. I have nothing more to say on the matter.
• I watched three movies today. One was in class though, so it doesn't count. The two that do count were Inside North Korea and The Swan Princess. Both quite wonderful for very different reasons. Did you know that North Korea has the fourth largest army in the world, runs highly brutal concentration camps for political prisoners, and that cell phones and the internet are illegal in that country? I didn't. It's a National Geographic documentary, and was quite frankly, amazing. I highly recommend it.
• I've been trying to go back to waking up to the radio, but I listen to NPR now (as opposed to 100.9, the "it" station back in the day), and the news is on when it's time for me to wake up. The NPR news-people have very soothing voices that seep into my dreams instead of waking me up.
• I bought my shuttle ticket to the airport to go to my cousin's wedding (mentioned above). I'm just hoping it's not delayed, as I have an hour and 2 minutes from the time the shuttle is supposed to arrive at the airport and the time my flight leaves to check in, check my bag, get through security, and find my proper terminal/gate.
• I shouldn't be blogging right now, as I have to research groupthink still and I wanted to be in bed by eleven. It's now 10:40. Oh well. Good night, sweet internet.
  

My roommates are odd.

Honest.

"Fat Rant"

And in case you're wondering, I'm going to tell you something I've told no one, not even my mom. I weigh 200 pounds. I am a size 20...at least. I'm fat. But I'm healthy and happy. My few health issues are not related to my weight. SO I don't really care. Sure, I'd like to be thinner. I look at my skinny roommates and friends and wish I looked like them, but I have a life. And I love food. I'm not going to starve myself to loose weight, and I don't have time to work out for hours every day. And if you don't like it, tough. It's not easy for me to say this, but this girl is right. I'm tired of apologizing for my weight. I am who I am, and you either like me in spite of it, or you don't.

(Thanks to Manolo for the Big Girl for the link)

(And yes, I know my posts have been lazy lately. Sorry.)

Garden Gladness; or, I wish I were a photographer

The campus gardens are in their late summer splendor right now. It's gorgeous.


The weeping willows are my favorite tree besides aspens.


These smelt vaguely of vanilla cupcakes.


This is my favorite picture I took in the gardens the other day. And the inspiration for the new template/color scheme

Ok, something I just found and think is highly intersting and disturbing

Go Here.

Than Here.

Yikes.

First Day Reflections

• To add the the iPhenomenon I talked about a few days back, the permutation of Blackboard that my university uses has been renamed over the summer to iLearn. And the administration types felt they had to explain to us that the "i" stands for Idaho. No, really?
  
• My recent addiction to fashion websites and blogs found me giving people the once-over and saying to my self, "Honey, no" and fixing their outfits in my mind. Change her six inch heels to something more vertical campus appropriate, put him in jeans that aren't hanging down around his knees, etc. Now, granted, I am by no means a style expert, or a fashion plate, but I have opinions. Many of them. In case you haven't noticed.
  
• Something very odd happened to me on this campus occurred today. I was in the bookstore during my break, fighting my way over to the blue books, when a girl I've never seen before in my life, puts her arm around me, leans over, and whispers in my ear "I like your shirt. And your earrings are really pretty." Scared me out of my wits. A compliment, but a creepy method of delivery.
• I LOVE my major. Yes, I'm screaming it. I love my major. I love my classes. My professors are AMAZING (that I shouted).
  
• Apparently, I'm funny. Or maybe I just had something stuck in my teeth all day.
• Night classes aren't so bad when you have a subject you're interested in and an awesome, funny professor.
• I am dead tired. Time for a shower and bed.
  

new semester, new adventure

Well, here it is, the beginning of the Fall 2007 semester here at BYUI. As usual, that brings in a new crop of roommates, friends, classmates and coworkers. I haven't met my new classmates and coworkers, as classes actually don't start till tomorrow, and I don't go in to work until this afternoon. My roommates, though, are all present and accounted for (except Caitlin, I haven't seen her since Sunday night). We've got four freshman in the apartment. Yep. Four. Two music majors, a math ed major, and an undecided. There's also a junior English ed major, and me. The oldest in the apartment by two years, and the sole senior. The girls seem nice, with quirks that make them interesting and possibly annoying, but most likely delightful. Time shall tell, of course.

I love being back and seeing my friends again. The screams and laughter echoing around the complex are familiar and reassuring. We've already made plans to have the best semester ever, complete with weekend adventures to surrounding communities, and possibly, Vegas. The first adventure takes place this weekend, as a group of us head up to Driggs, Idaho cheer on my friend Mo's nephew at a soccer game on his sixteenth birthday. The kid has had a terrible year, losing both his grandmothers, and deserves a private cheering section organized by his uncle. More fun is also on the schedule, with a bonfire and party after the game.

In other news, I'm heading to Kansas City, MO on October 19 for my cousin Jared's wedding. It's kind of a bad time, as I'm missing Friday and Monday classes (which are, of course, the same classes) for this trip, but Jared wants me there so bad, so I promised, barring catastrophe, that I would be there.

In the back to school spirit, here's a quiz!

When is the best time for the brakes on my car to go out?
a. The Fourth of July
b. The first day of summer vacation
c. The day before I was supposed to fill it to capacity and go back to school
d. Never

If you chose "d", you agree with me (and chose what I consider to be the correct answer). If you chose "c", you agree with my car. And, when my dad took off the tire to see what was wrong with my brakes, he noticed that the spring for the shock was broken. And the strut's seal had broken and it had leaked the hydraulic fluid all over, and was no longer going up and down properly. The brake shoes (funny to think of my car wearing shoes...I wonder if they're flipflops, work boots...) and the struts were in stock at Kragen. The springs will take at least three days to get here. So, I either get to take my dad's ancient old truck or my mom's car (our van has revived, so she's going to start driving that again) back, and Mom and/or Dad will come up when my car is repaired and switch.