Wow

My apologies to all of you; life has been insanely busy in the past 6 weeks, and I have not blogged at all.

School started, which requires me to physically be in class at DVC in Pleasant Hill on Monday nights from 6pm - 9:50. Clearly, after working all day, that is just what I want to do. I just keep telling myself that there is a method to this madness.

Tuesdays, I have been trying to go to institute, since I miss FHE on Mondays. Sister Jacobs is a good teacher, and she really likes to tell stories! That goes from 7 - 8:30, and then I am pretty much ready to be in my pajamas.

Wednesday nights have traditionally been the night that Shaine graces me with her presence, although I haven't seen her in a couple weeks. This makes me sad, since I enjoy our forays into the snarky oddities of life.

Every other Thursday is ward temple night, but as Lisa can tell you, I don't usually make it. Part of it has to do with it being the 7pm session (I'd rather hit the 6pm), and part of it has to do with homework, and a general desire to be lazy by Thursday night.

Then we are back at the weekend, where I get to do homework (if I have not finished it during the week), or fun stuff. This past weekend involved being silly with Ethan on Friday night...

and participating in the TriValley Conquest on Saturday. Watching people eat a whole pizza was giving me a stomachache, and don't even ask me how Andy managed to help us push a car, and was the fastest runner in our group after consuming it. Ew.

Sunday was fun, and I got to spend the latter part of it chilling at my parents' house watching the Oscars. Oh, and trying to avoid my mother pulling out any more of my hair. She always wants to play with it, but she is so not gentle. OUCH, MOM, OUCH!

Birthday fun

On Saturday January 7, I had a birthday party in the community room of our building. The theme of this party was 'epically immature,' and it was a blast. 

We started out with huge amounts of food (we are Mormon after all): chips, salsa, cookies, cake pops, starburst, skittles, m&ms, cheese, crackers, soda, juice boxes, fruit by the foot. It was a pleasant surprise, therefore, when Emily showed up with a fun and beautiful 'Chutes and Ladders' cake made from scratch. She said it was her first time experimenting with fondant, but you could have fooled me; it was so delicious!

Of course, we provided fun kid activities for the evening, including punch balls, coloring books and Candyland. Playing Candyland with Jed was hysterical, because he kept asking, "No, seriously, is this all you do?" Since the game is meant for small children, yes, Jed, moving one or two colors forward is all you do.

Perhaps the funniest part of the evening was when we played musical chairs. There was some serious competitiveness going on, and some loud laughter. Jed tried to sit on Shaine, so she had to tell him that not only is she married, but she's pregnant. I'm sorry we didn't get around to playing Heads Up, 7 Up, but maybe next time.

The evening was pretty much amazing for those who came, and I want to thnk you for being there to enjoy it with me, and for the gifts you gave (even if they did come from the trash...Michelle)

Movie Review(s)

Over the past few months, I have seen a few movies, but have not had the chance to share my snarky reviews with you, so here goes:

1.

Kristen Stewart needs to be put out of her misery so that the rest of us can be put out of ours. She is a terrible actress, and does not make Bella as klutzy, selfless, and sympathetic as she's written. Granted, Stephenie Meyer is not Jane Austen, but the Twilight Series is a fun love story, and KStew sucks all the fun out of it. Bill Condon did the best he could with the raw materials he was given. To his credit, I thought this was the best of the movies thus far, and it was rather amusing watching the lingerie montage. The CGI department did a great job creeping me out as Renesmee sucked the life out of Bella, and they deserve props, and perhaps a PSA on eating disorders.

2.

Where to begin? This movie was about 40 minutes too long, was chock full of bad acting, and I was quite happy to have not paid for my ticket. The strangest part was Sherlock's inner monologue, which we got to experience as such, and then as he acted it out. But perhaps what takes the cake is when Sherlock and Moriarty have an inner monologue conversation. I wasn't sure if they were actually speaking to each other, but Guy Ritchie decided not to have their lips move, or what, but this whole conversation seemingly took place inside their minds. Telepathy???

3.

As Terri says,"It's Mission: Impossible, we HAVE to go see it." Of these three movies, this was the best, not that that's saying much. At times, I found the plot to be super convoluted and dragging, but just when I thought I couldn't take any more of Jeremy Renner's emo, Brad Bird lets the bullets and the actors fly. But for the love of all that is holy, isn't Tom Cruise (in the words of Gibson & Glover from Lethal Weapon 4) "getting too old for this crap"?

Happiness

Christms this year was rough for me. Yes, there are definitely reasons why, but those are not important. Let me just say the following: the best part of Christmas by a wide margin this year was unwrapping the various pieces of the nativity and talking as a family about what they meant to us. Second was church on Christmas; my parents ward did an amazing musical program.

Spending time playing games with my family was also fun. I hadn't played nerts in such a long time. Other than that, Shaine put a huge smile on my face with her Midnight Christmas announcement that I will be aunt Katy to a baby Athey in July 2012. I am grateful for the real reason we celebrate Christmas and to have people in my life who are so caring and fabulous.

Various and assorted thoughts

I am so glad that God has seen fit to place some fabulous people in my life. There are some genuinely selfless and amazing people surrounding me. Often, I feel undeserving of all the wonderfulness.

At this time of year, when the leaves on our trees here in California go rapidly from green to red to yellow and then blow off in a 70 mph gust, I wish for more lasting fall colors. I also wish for a house with a yard and lots of leaves to rake so I can make a giant pile and jump in it.

Water has a flavor. If not, when you drank it, it would be like liquid air in your mouth. Disagree with me...I dare you!

Twilight

Here is a list of why the books are better than the movies:

1. In the books, it makes more sense why Bella and Edward care for each other. He is attracted to her beauty, her selflessness, her blood (of course), and how differently she thinks than most people her age. She likes his face, his smell, and how he tries to be a better person, despite the hand that he was dealt. They also share taste in music. Plus, in the book, they actually have the conversations getting to know each other.

2. We get more detail in the book about the pasts of all the other Cullens, especially that Alice was in a mental institution before she became a vampire, and James killed the vamp who created her.

3. Despite the fact that Stephenie Meyer isn't a super great writer, Bella is infinitely more likeable in the books than Kristen Stewart playing her in the movies is.

4. The books are full of drama, but they are also full of humor, which was lost in the movie - except for the most recent one, which is my favorite one thus far.

Super Sewing Saturday

After seeing Breaking Dawn, part 1 this morning (there was not nearly enough blood IMHO), Lisa and I hosted the first ever Super Sewing Saturday at our place. It was a lot of fun. We had three machines set up, and a variety of projects going on, most of them Christmas related.

I make a couple things which I can't mention, because they are going to be Christmas presents, but they turned out super nice. Shaine made a table runner, complete with gold ribbon. Lisa is still working on her super adorable apron, and Amy flitted around helping everyone with various things. Unbeknowst to me until about a year ago, I seem to have a natural aptitude for sewing, so it's always enjoyable when us girls get together. I can't wait to do it again!