Wait for it................ I'm Done!

My mom has been bugging me about not finishing off. So this is me finishing it off. . . obviously i'm back from college and living at home. Now I have to find a job. Somebody hire me! 

Until then I will relax and find something to do to occupy my time.

Day number 105: Part 1 of my adventure is almost over

Sorry for the music in the background I forgot to turn it off.

On a side note the song is called Daniel in the Den by Bastille.

Day number 91: Eva Kor

Here is Hillary, Eva, and me

And here is my haircut

Day number 89: I am stress free!

Mom asked for shorter so you got shorter

Day number 88: Video diary

Please excuse my awkwardness it's just who I am.

Feel free to comment and tell me if you prefer this way or if you would rather read. 

But seriously comment. 

Day number 85: The suspense is killing me

So just a quick update.
I had spring break and for that I went home. We didn't really do anything but it was good to go home, but now I don't want to do anything. I want it to be summer already. I didn't know it was possible to get senior-itious when you just barely begin school again. It is. -_-

Recently my grandma broke her hip and had to have a replacement.

I hope you get better soon, grandma. I love you! 

We are reading the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel. I am really enjoying it. . . well kind of. It is about the Holocaust so it is very sad book, so I'm not really enjoying it. I just think that everyone should read it. 

A sentence summary:

Elie is a survivor of the Holocaust and it is his story of what he went through. 

Okay on to more happier note; I took a test in Anthropology and now I'm patiently waiting for me score. . . .

Yesterday was probably the best day ever, my dad came up for work, but he stopped in Ogden and took me to lunch. Whoo! We went to a place called Woody's Bar-B.Q and we got ribs. I like ribs they are meat. I'm liking I may be a dwarf because I love meat so much. 

Oh our men's basketball made it into March madness and I watched the game and we did pretty well. It was awesome. 

Well that is pretty much it. Not much is happening.

Day number Ihavenoideabecauseidon'thavemycalenderwithme ;)

It's Spring break up at college so I've been spending time at home drinking good tasting water, sleeping in my own bed, and eating food that I didn't buy and that's home made. Yum.

Today is my grandma's birthday. I love my grandma. She's my favorite because she is so fun. Happy birthday grandma. I hope you've had a wonderful day and that you will continue having wonderful days. I love you!

Me, Grandma Beverly (the birthday girl), grandma Jones(not the birthday girl), and grandpa Bruce. 

At my graduation 2 years ago.

Day number 62: Life update.

Okay first things first. I DID pass my math test! Whoo! *insert victorious fist bump here*
The only reason it said I didn't was because I put a "X" for the variable instead of a "N". Folks, read the questions all the way through.

Second, I have another week of no English. My teacher missed her flight coming home from her honeymoon so class was cancelled. Pretty much I don't have English class until AFTER spring break.
I did schedule an appointment with the DELC, it's a English tutoring thing. They read through your paper and help you correct the things you did wrong. It's required for our Narrative essay, I'll tell you what I wrote about a little later after its been tutored.

It's been raining a lot this spring so I decided that a. I may need a raincoat....and better shoes, b. I like it up here, rain is my favorite, and c. I wish there was thunder and lightning.

"It's the job that's never started that takes longest to finish."
This statement that Samwise Gamgee said as helped me A LOT since the snow melted away and I want to spend more time outside. So there you have it LOTR does teach life lessons.

Day number 60: Ups and Down of this week

I am not doing so well with this whole blogging thing.

As you may have noticed it was a pretty good week. As first off I don't know why but I have wanted to go hiking like everyday this week. I still want to go hiking, it's like the only way I like to exercise. I mean I can always dance but I don't know there is something about being in the mountains surrounded by trees. It makes me feel like an elf or something. Those who know me may know that all I do is daydream, like all the time. It's by far my favorite thing to do.

I expressed that desire to my good friend Tisha Hone, and next thing I know we are going to the hiking trail near her house. Also some of you may know that I haven't had much luck with hiking ever, from being so afraid I clung to the hand to a complete stranger to wanting to chop my ankles off because they hurt so bad. I told Tisha and she told me that the hike wasn't too high or hard. It was a beautiful hike. This was Wednesday so before the rain came. I plan to go back to that hiking spot a lot.

After we were done wandering around the pond, the trail led to, we went back to her house. I met her mom and dad, who were very excited to meet their daughter's friend. They then took us out to dinner, pizza my favorite. Oh also there was a salad bar, don't worry mom I'm eating my fruits and vegetables.

I took the leftovers and then we left for a friend's house. Her name is Danza, and the other friend who came was Holly. I had so much fun! Holly and I just clicked. We are like sisters. (we talked about Lord of the Rings, big surprise there, huh) We stayed over there are a while then went back home.

On Friday I met an older woman who is probably loves Tolkien as much as I do. She is me in the future.

Here comes the down, I failed my first math test by 2 questions, 2! So I have to fix that but I don't know how. That all.

Aly came after that and here's what we did:

• Talked to gentlemen in the British air force who are in Utah for a month on Tinder. (It's kind of like a dating site but not at the same time.
• Watched The Emperor's New Groove  before going to sleep
• Woke up and ate breakfast
• Went food shopping (I literally had nothing to eat)
• Went to Taco Bell and tried the Doritos taco (it's actually very good and I recommend it)

and then we went to an antique shop on my street and it is the coolest place ever. The whole time we were there we were hyperventilating. I did buy a ring and earrings for cheap.
Antiques+cheap prices=Happy me!
The lady who works there also told me that if I ever wanted to buy some of the things that she got and put in the shop she would give me a discount, score! There were some pretty awesome things there. They had like a whole area for Japanese and Chinese stuff, a WWII place which had legit uniforms and newspaper clips, and typewriters and old cameras. They had them everywhere!

After that I went to a basketball game after Aly left. It was the most intense game ever. We were losing and then near the end we tied so we went it overtime and it was crazy! We ended up losing but it was close.


Today I need to do laundry which I will probably do now before I forget or I won't have clothes.

Day number 52: Dream fulfilled!

Sorry about not posting anything lately. This blogging thing has been a failure.
I'll not going to do the story like posts very often because

1. I don't have time.
2. I get distracted very easily
3. Somethings it just doesn't work.

So I'm just going to do a little post and tell you the main things of the day.

First off, My English class has been cancelled for a week because my teacher got remarried and is going on her honeymoon.

Secondly, I've been spending a lot of time in my closet. . . . no joke, my closet is my favorite place to be. Perhaps that's why I like Narnia so much, it would make sense.

Thirdly, I don't know why but I've been having pain in my ribs and sternum lately and since my big "sister" Chelsee is studying to be a nurse I talked to her about it. She told me that if it comes to a constant pain then I should probably go to a doctor("But that will never happen" *read in Flint Lockwood's voice*) She thinks it could be from stress. So I think I'm going to go to the gym for the stress relief place.

Fourth, This is where my title comes into play. After church today I was with my buddies Kendra, Tenisha, and Joshua (I don't call him that but every one's name now ends with A. So those of you with OCD. . . marin, You're welcome) Josh offered to drive us home, I wanted to walk, so first he dropped Kendra and Tenisha off at their building and then asked me what building I lived in.
I was sitting in back so naturally, I said I felt like I was in a taxi.
For those of you who don't know, I have always wanted to ride in a taxi. It's a dream of mine.
Josh being the cool kid he is played along, and we spent the whole 1 minute until we got to my building acting as if he was a taxi driver and I was the taxi passenger. Except for the fact I didn't pay him.

So I rode in a taxi. . . sort of. . . not really. That means my dream has not been fulfilled.

*sigh*

Day number 39: Heart attack resumed

I ate lunch with my friend Jake, which is now a usual thing. At 12:30 Jake waved and left to go to class. I had an hour before my last class of the day. At 1:00 I made my way to the library where we were having class for the day.
After class I went back to the UV and at 7 I walked all the way up the hill to the church for FHE.

I know the suspense has been killing you for why the title is heart attack.

We did heart attacks for people in our ward.


I went home on Valentine's day and stayed there until President's day evening.

For everyday since then nothing exciting has really happened. I went to my friend's apartment and we watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and read Haribo sugarfree gummy bear reviews on Amazon. I suggest you go read some they are funny. Read the one called Gotta Go because if you love Frozen that will make you laugh.

That's my life.

Day number 39: HEART ATTACK!

The weak morning light streamed through the cracks of the blinds right above me. I shut my eyes tight trying to banish the light, and pretend that it was still night. I opened my eye once more, hoping my plan worked. It did not.

With a groan I lazily wrestled with my blankets. My toes curled from the cold air the bit at them. After a few minutes of laying still I finally got up and got ready for school. I before I closed my bedroom door a feeling of forgetting something clouded my mind. Foolishly I banished this thought.

Once the door clicked behind me I remembered what I had left in my room. My keys! Frantically I grabbed a bobbie pin from my bathroom and jammed it in the keyhole. I had no luck. With a shrug I tossed the pin back onto the bathroom counter.
"I will just have to talk to the RA," I muttered to myself.

"Since the test is Wednesday we are going to have review day," Dr. Holt said walking into the classroom. The bitter smell of his coffee filled the room in a matter of minutes.
With that he began covering everything we should know for the test.

As I walked across the wet street, looking down at my feet to find worms, to the Institute building I thought about what I had just learned and began memorizing key terms. Since The Doc had let us go early I sat in the Institute lounge and looked over the study guide.

We began with the hymn "I Believe in Christ" and had an opening prayer to invite the spirit. Brother Burhley began the lesson on "The Wall" of the Book of Mormon. 2 Nephi. We went into what Isiah really was saying. I listened as Brother Burhley said, "A good way to under this book in the Book of Mormon is to also have the book of Isiah open and compare and read the footnotes."

Weak rays of sunshine streamed through the retreating grey clouds and warmed my face when I walked out of the building and headed to the Union building.

(sorry guys it's almost 11 now so I'm going to finish this post tomorrow. Stay tuned!)

Day number 38: Linger Longers

So I decided that I am getting boring so I am going to try and go back to making it sound like a story. Good luck to me!

I woke up at seven in the morning and listened to the rain still putter-pattering on my window. It had rained all day the day before and all night. I opened the blinds above my head and gazed at the water drops gathered on the glass.
I looked at the time, and with a sigh I stretched out my limbs and scooted to the edge of the bed. I trudged over to my closet and yanked the doors open. The left door was always hard to open and required a little bit of effort.
I chose my outfit, my red sleeveless dress with a white t-shirt underneath to make it modest. I didn't want to do anything with my hair, plus I didn't have much time, so I put a headband in and called it good. After applying my makeup and eating a small breakfast I walked out the door.

I traveled up the hill to the church, which was easily my favorite place here in Ogden followed by the Institute building. I went to the relief society room where I sat quietly waiting for the lesson to start. I was joined by Kendra Klinger.
"Are you sure you want me sit by you? I'm teaching the lesson and so no one will sit by you when I go up," she said.
"I don't care," I answered truthfully.

Sure enough after she went up nobody did sit by me, and sure enough I didn't care. I didn't care because I was so caught up in the lesson that I felt that there WAS someone sitting by me, Jesus Christ was sitting by me.

I went to Gospel principles after that, which I latter got chewed out for because last week I went to temple prep and I guess I was suppose to go there every week.

After a beautiful sacrament meeting I went to the Linger Longer in the gym. I smell of breakfast filled my nose as a walked in and after the blessing on the food I dived right in and immersed myself in good food and good company.

When I got home a had ample free time so I watched wholesome movies on Netflix. I am now going to recommend them to you.

The first was simply called Ester and well obviously it was the story of Ester.

The second was called Amazing Love. It was about Hosea and Gomer and the Lord unconditional love for us. Plus it had Sean Astin in it, (he's Sam Gamgee)

 The third was called The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith.

All very good.

Days number 31-37: superbowl?, bone day!, Homework problems, renewed faith, more homework problems, test moved, rain!

Superbowl?

Those of you who know me may know that I am not very big on sports. I don't understand American football at all and I wouldn't be able to tell you what is happening to save my life.

I also made a promise to myself and maybe even the Lord that I will not watch sports or shows that take away from the Spirit. (so don't worry mom, if I do watch a movie or something it is Gospel oriented.)

This day was the Superbowl day. Everyone at church was talking about how they were so excited to go home and watch the game and root on their team, and as I was on the sidelines wanting to join the conversations but not having anything to say I remember back to this summer when Jessica Benson and I were driving home from the "great" single's ward.

One thing I have to say about Jessica is that she is definitely a blessing in my life. I can talk to her about things that I can't really talk about to any of my other friends. She doesn't drown me in her troubles, ever. I swear she is living in Happyland because this girl is always happy. Just being around Jaybe I feel accepted and not excluded, a feeling that I feel constantly, her happiness rubs off on me. It's not just her though it's her whole family! I love going over to the Benson home because I am always greeted with such warmth and kindness, in fact sometimes when I'm over there I forget that I don't actually live there. I can honestly say that I feel like they are a second family to me, and it's all because of Jessica reaching out to me.

Anyways we were driving home and we were talking about the Superbowl which was that day.
"I don't like the Superbowl," Jessica had said, "it takes away from the whole Spirit of the day."
"People seem more focused on that game than even church," I agreed, "that was what everyone was talking about."

Everyone the Lord warns us not to worship false gods and I believe the Superbowl is one of them.
There is a time, or rather day for everything. The Sabbath is NOT the day for any talk of the the Superbowl. The Lord has done so much for us, so much that we can't pay him back fully, but we can try. That is all the Lord asks of us. Record it and then watch it on Monday, and I promise that you will be blessed and you will be closer to the Lord, our Savior.

Needless to say I didn't watch the Superbowl, so pretty much I was left out of every conversation the following day but I didn't care because I did something better. I tried to repay the debt as much as I could.

Bone Day!
The only thing that I really remember about this day, besides of hearing all about the Superbowl, was Anthropology. What was so special about this day? Because Dr. Holt brought skulls.

Okay before you all think I'm a weirdo for getting excited about this just remember. . . I AM a weirdo.

So Dr. Holt passed around the MOLDS of the skulls around for each of us to look at. We looked at skulls ranging from a gorillas at an Australopithecus, which is the first bipedal hominid. I am a hands on person so I enjoyed this very much.

Mom just a note to you to give me when I come him for the three day weekend: Remind me to tell Nicolas about the real hobbits.  

After that excitement I went to institute. I went to lunch afterwards and I sat with a guy from my ward and also in my institute class, Jake Cottle. I learned that he lives in Lehi and he told me that he would be willing to take me home when I needed to. Such a nice boy.

Homework Problems
Don't worry it's not math I okay with that for the moment.
It's English. It's on this website called canvas and well let's just say computers aren't always reliable. My teacher, Brooke, has been having problems with it recently and it hasn't been working for her. No Homework!

Renewed Faith
Honestly this is kind of for a dumb reason.

So if you haven't caught on yet Wednesdays are devotional days. This week it was by a guy named Johnathan Aubrey. This guy is amazing! He was born with Cerebral Palsy and has been hit be a car. He was a motivational speaker. Anyways for so reason he started talking about a girl's choice dance in his high school and how he didn't get asked and he was so depressed because of it. And well let's just say that I know how he feels. You start to think that maybe it's your fault and your destined to be alone forever, then he started talking about the scripture that states "through him your weaknesses will be made strong" but before that he was taking about how God GAVE us our weaknesses they are a gift from God.

Well anyway it was really nice to hear those messages. I know that God gives us weaknesses so we can humble ourselves and appreciate them.

More Homework Problems
Let's just say that I still have no English homework.

Test Moved.
So when Dr. Holt asked us when the test was we all answered Monday in monotone, except one kid, no doubtfully in a joke said it was Wednesday. Well Dr. Holt thought about that and was like "Okay, the test is Wednesday everybody. Wednesday sounds better than Monday."
So the test is now Wednesday.

Rain!
I didn't go anywhere on Saturday and there is one reason for this. I was enjoying the rain. I love watching rain stream down windows. I always pretend that the raindrops are having races.
All that night I stayed awake and listened to the beautiful sound of rain hitting the window by my head.

I love rain for many reasons. One of them is that when it is raining that means that it is too warm for snow. Whoo!

Days number 26-30: Math bleh, catching up, no class, and just dance party, aftermath of Just Dancing all night long.

Day number 26-
I couldn't do anything in Math because I had to take a quiz and we can only take quizzes and tests in the Hub so pretty much I wasted 50minutes doing. . . nothing.
English wasn't much better. We didn't even get to the lesson we just talked. It was great. . .

Day number 27-
For the first time in forever I actually talked to someone in my Anthropology class! Before class I asked a boy from my class what we learned about the day I missed class. We talked until class started. He introduced himself as Nick. So pretty much he is the only one I know from that class.
Whoo!
So I am caught up in there.

The devotional was the choir singing.

That was Wednesday.

Day number 28-
I went to English because that was my only class and to my surprise class was cancelled because the teacher was sick so I went to the Hub and did math all day.

I got 80% on my first math quiz. Whoo!

Day number 29-
After Anthropology I spent most of my day between the institute building and the union building.
I watched Olan Rogers. I love Olan. He is the funniest person on YouTube.
At 3 I went to a study group for Anthropology and then went home.

I watched Hercules and did homework until I went to my friend Kendra's dorm to play Just Dance with her. Soon it became a party, most of the ward showed up.
After we were all tired from dancing and most people left we played scum, which is like The Great Dalmuti but you go up and there are more than one 1s and sadly you don't where funny hats.
Day number 30-
We finished playing scum and I went home at like 1am.

I woke up at 9am and did chores for most of my day, then I blogged. I didn't get out to doing laundry so I will probably have to do that soon.

Now I have a paper to write!

Days number 22-25: Never been here before. . . now I have, shopping, Called to Serve, and there and back again.

Day number 22-

After Dr Holt finished his lecture I walked across campus to the shuttle stop.  I went to my 2nd floor room in my university village building and grabbed from my room my all ready prepared backpack. I hurried back to the shuttle and traveled back across campus to the bus stop by the social science building.

I felt like I was in Lord of the Rings with all the walking I was doing.

I met Elder Gordon and Elder Siswick at the bus stop. We talked for a couple minutes before the bus arrived. I rode the bus until it's last stop at the Ogden station. My Frontrunner left at 12:09.

I was minding my own business on the train just reading when a guy around my age boarded the train and sat across from me.
"You go to Weber?" he asked pointing to my WSU lanyard.
I looked up at him over of top my book. He had a flat brimmed baseball cap pulled down over his eyebrows and he was swinging drumsticks around as if he was playing an invisible drum set.
"I do," I answered.
"I'm thinking about going there," he said, "do you know what Jerking is?"
". . . um, no."
"It's a dance style," the guy went on, "I am part of a dance crew in New York. We're called The Waffles."
"Okay. . . . " What was going on? Why was this kid still talking to me?
"I've made dance crews all across America," he said, "Maybe we can start a Weber dance crew then go a compete in New York."
"I'm more of a hip-hop than anything else," I replied with a sigh. I shut my book and shoved it back in my backpack. I wasn't going to get much reading with this guy around.
"Oh, Jerkin' is so easy, I can teach you," he said, "all you have to do is do simple steps with a bit of funk added."
"Okay. . . great" I said, "are you a drummer?"
The guy held up his drumsticks with pride and started waving them around again.
"I am," he said, "that's why I'm called 'Sticks."
"Sticks?"
"Yep," He said.

Sticks got off at the next stop and I was left to read again.
 But not for long. . . .

Tanner Salle, a guy from High School got on at the Murray stop and he didn't get off until I did.

At American Fork station I escaped the Frontrunner and found my mom waiting. We left the station and stopped at Westlake for a couple of minutes. While I was waiting for her to be done with the things she had to do at work I left the office and went to search out Mackenzie Smith, my #2 in soul destroying.

I found her in the C hall and we talked for awhile until my mom came and found us. We said our farewells and I left the school with my mom. We went grocery shopping before we got back home.

HOME! There is nothing like going back home after spending time away. There's a certain release that you can't feel anywhere else.

Day number 23-
Mom, Marin, and I spent most of the day going to stores. (correct me if I'm wrong)

1. Roxberry
2. Hobby Lobby
3. Deseret book
4. Seagull book
5. Walmart

We dyed my hair, or tried, back to blonde but it didn't really work.
Jourdan came over and we went to Village Pizza so I could keep my promise to Mackenzie.

Day number 24-
Tamsyn's mission farewell.
All the speakers were very good and the spirit was so strong there.
We all gathered at the Randall's house (Josh, Tamsyn, and Megyn's) to enjoy a last evening with the whole family for a little over a year.

Both Tamsyn and I gone! Family get to togethers are going to be so boring without us! How will they survive?

Day number 25-
I left early in the morning and got onto the Frontrunner back home. I had my own car for the whole ride.

When I got to the campus I hurried back to the UV and got out of my travel clothes and put on a clean set of clothes on and went to Institute. After that class I walked with my friend Tyrell to his class since I had ample time before my last class.

In that class, college success, we played a game called 2 truths and a lie.

That was it.

Days number 20-21: Memory loss and basketball

20 January 2014-

I must have been abducted by aliens and they took away my memory of this day because I don't remember specifics. All I recall is that institute had a devotional, but that doesn't really help because they do every Wednesday. All I remember was it was my institute teacher and his topic was on the prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

We had cookie afterwards.

21 January 2014-

I remember a bit more. I went to a basketball game. A boy from my ward is on the basketball team and he got to play at this game. Throughout the whole game my friends and I were saying "when is Josh going to play? We want Josh!"

And finally near the end of the game Josh ran out onto the court and scored the last 3 points in one basket.

Go Wildcats!

Day number 19: Happy Birthday Mum!

Its my mom's birthday!

Happy birthday to you! 

You're the best mom ever!

I love you more than a fat kid loves cake!

Which is a lot!

Happy birthday to you!

Did you like your birthday song from me? I made it up myself. 

I love you. You're the best mom ever. I would've never gotten anywhere without you. 

See you this weekend family! Love you all!

Day number 18: Go Weber State Basketball!

For FHE we went to the weber state basketball game since we have someone in our ward on the team. (I met him on Sunday at ward prayer. His name is Josh and he's pretty cool.)
My new best friends Kendra and I kind of went crazy.

We stood on either side of a guy in our ward, Chris. His dad is in our bishopric. He is a pretty awesome kid. They were making fun of me because I'm a LotR fan, and if you poke me in the right place in the arm it really hurts. Chris just thought that was hilarious. I think I have bruises on my arms from him.

Anyway we won which was awesome. It was really fun.

Kendra and I are going to have a Just Dance off. Its going to be epic. I'm going to win. Whoo!

Day number 17: Missionaires. . . gotta love them. It's a small world after all.

 Yeah Sunday was so crazy it gets TWO titles

First of all Bora did come to church with me. WhooHoo! Victory!
Okay so when we got there we had RS first. We talked about scripture study, (for the record I've read my scriptures everyday so far)
We talked a little about being critical towards yourself and how you look. All girls have a problem with this but guess what. We are all beautiful in our own ways. Not everyone is perfect, and if asked everyone can find at least one thing they don't like about themselves. For me, I have issues with my complexion and my brain. I am working on it thought. I am considering writing "Heaven doesn't care what you look like." on my mirror.

Can I write on my mirror with a dry erase marker and have it come off just fine?

Anyways, we are all made in God's image and by saying we're ugly I feel like we are kind of putting Heavenly Father down. Another problem I see girls doing is comparing themselves to other people. Stop it. You are all beautiful in you own way.

It was a good lesson. For Sunday school we learned about the creation. It was also a good lesson.

Okay so last time I saw the missionaries I kind of lied to them by accident. Well good news they forgave me. phew. Bora said she enjoyed church so it was a win win situation. After church we had a linger longer. They had food so of course I went. The best part of that was one of my new friends, Ben and I started singing Lion King songs together. It was precious.

Okay now for the small world after all. There is a Irish girl in my ward and I figured that since Ireland is pretty small it was worth a shot to ask her if she knew my family. Turns out she does. She said that she pretty much grew up with my Irish cousins. Crazy uh. I thought so.

Until next time my cyber buddies.

Day number 16: Hanging out

Well since there is no shuttles going on Saturdays I stayed at home the entire day. I left twice to check my mail.

Nothing. . . . :(

The second time I left I went shopping again with Chelsee. We went to a place called Wincos. It's a pretty awesome store, although it smells odd, but that is okay. I'll have to become okay with weird smells if I want to be an Anthropologist. I want to explore Forensic Anthropology, which is dealing with human remains which is probably very smelly.

Later at night a got on Gmail and video chatted with Aly.
We are very awkward.

Question: How would you confront someone about a delicate topic? For example, how would you tell a roommate who barely speaks English to not have their boyfriend stay the night? 

Day number 15: Memory loss

I don't really remember what happened on this day. I know it was Friday so I only had Anthropology. I probably just went home after that.

I'm unsocial, plus everyone on campus are all weirdos.

Actually I do remember a few things. I went shopping with Chelsee. I needed to go grocery shopping because my milk was expired and I was out of Hot Pockets. I love Hot Pockets! They are the best things in the entire world. I can eat them everyday. I texted her because I don't want to be alone. I tend to get very paranoid when I'm alone. Anyway she is awesome and took me to Smith's and we bought food. Whoo!

Not like I can ever cook food because my roommate and her boyfriend are always making food. I know what you're thinking, "it's your kitchen too you can go in there while they are in there."
Yeah well I know that. That's not what is stopping me. They cook smelly foods and it gets very strong when I leave the safety of my room.

Sometimes it's fish. At midnight. Not okay.

Other then that everything is going great.

Day number 14: Challenge completed.

The highlights of Thursday was first I asked Yang Yang and Bora Yeon, my roommates, if they would like to go to church with me on Sunday.

Yang Yang said she would think about it, but Bora almost immediately said yes and that is was important to her to see my religion.

Success!

Awkward moments are going to happen on Sunday though. I don't know if I put this in the post but I kind of lied to the missionary without realizing it at the time. You see I keep losing track of the week so I keep thinking that Tamsyn's farewell is the Sunday that week. I've done it twice now. I thought that the farewell was last Sunday and now I thought it was this Sunday.

Anyway so I told Elder Siswick that I wouldn't be at church that Sunday because I was going to be at my favorite cousin's mission farewell so I wouldn't be able to complete his challenge that week. Well then when I went home  I smack my palm to my forehead.  I just remembered, for the second time this month, that her farewell was NOT this Sunday but the 26th.

 I had lied to a English missionary. I don't want to get on the English missionary's bad side. I am doomed, but hopefully bringing at least one of my roommates will make it all OK.

fingers crossed.

Day number 13: Pizza! Where's the pizza

I had two classes. Anthropology and Institute.
They are both earlier classes but I didn't go home after institute because it was Wednesday. On Wednesdays institute has a devotional every week. I stayed for that devotional. The speaker was Brother Tim Carver, he is a seminary and institute teacher.

He spoke about the Celestial Kingdom and how it is relatively easy to get there.

There are 5 requirements, he taught us:

1. Have faith in Jesus Christ
2. Be baptized
3. Receive the Holy Ghost
4. Repentence
5. Endure to the end.

The to get to the highest degree there are two more:

1. Endowenments
2. Sealing

After this inspiring lesson we had a pizza party. Although the pizza took awhile to arrive it was still the best day ever. I LOVE PIZZA! I just don't like smelling like it...

I was physically and spiritually fed.

Good lessons + Free food = Very happy me. :)

 I went home then with a couple of friends I had met there who are in my ward so they also live in the UV.

Day number 12: I HATE YOU LONG DIVISION!

Yeah from the title you can probably guess what I did, or tried to do.

I just don't get division. I need a calculator!

At 7:15 I had a getting to know you bishop meeting.

I was walking up the hill, in the dark, by myself. It was frightening. At one point I was dumb enough to look behind me. I jumped and shrieked.

I thought my shadow was a gigantic monstrous demon dog! I flipped out and started sprinting. I didn't stop until I got into the church. I talked to the Bishop then I realized I was going to have to walk down again but then the girl who was in a meeting right before me, Kendra, asked me if I wanted a ride.

I almost bowed down to her. I didn't though.

so I didn't get eaten by a demon dog tonight. Whoo!

Day number 11: I like people but I don't....

It's a Monday.

Nothing that awesome, like Olan Rogers' story of the ghost in the stalls, happened, but it was a good day overall.

I went to Anthropology, then Institute.

The guy who sits in front of me in Institute is named Jake and he is in my ward. Yeah for me I have friends and/or potential friends! Anyway he asked me if I was going to go to FHE that night.

To be honest I wasn't planning on it.

But what now? He had now put me in an awkward spot. I didn't want to say no but  I also didn't want to go because I had homework to do. So against my better judgement I said yes I was. I didn't want to say that but when a cute boy in your ward says he's going to FHE and asks you if you're going. You say yes, and then you go.

There was no turning back now. I went. There I met: Elder Siswick, Elder Gordon(the missionary I spoke to my first Sunday), Jaden, Tisha, and a lot of others.

For FHE we played a game called I like people. You sit in a circle with one person in middle and that person says I like people but I don't like people who. . . . and whoever is that . . . . has to stand up and move to a different chair. I was a fun game but after a very rounds I left the circle and started talking to Elder Siswick from Leeds.

Him being a missionary and all turns to be and says.
"I challenge you to invite your roommates to church with you on Sunday."
and from what I said before I couldn't say no so I said, "Challenge accepted."

On the way home I walked with Chelsee. She says I'm funny but the truth is. . . I'm hysterical.

yeah I don't really hate anyone that was the only title I could think of.

Day number 10: "I am the master commander!" -Olan Rogers

My eyes open and the feeling of discouragement was strong. I pushed that feeling aside and filled my mental castle with positive thoughts. Thanks to my mother a girl from my dorm who was also in my ward came to "pick me up." I heard the knock on the wooden door. I hurried to polish my makeup and ran out the door following her.
"Marissa."
"Markee."
The wind chilled me to the bone. I had, in my rush to get ready, forgotten my coat. I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, hugging my scriptures to my chest.

When did I get to Hoth? I don't remember traveling through galaxies far far away.

We walked up the steep hill towards the mountain. We met up with two of her friends: Megan and Sabrina. The icy sidewalks could only fit two people side by side without someone being injured. Megan and Sabrina went up first shoulder to shoulder and since I didn't really want to be that close to someone. I have issues with closeness to other human beings. Marissa walked ahead and I was the caboose. The problem with this set up was that I couldn't really be apart of their conversations because I didn't know what they were talking about.

We reached the warmth of the church and I followed them to the Relief society room. I sat by Sabrina with Marissa behind and Megan went to play the interlude music. Before RS started a girl probably a couple years older than me kneeled on the chair in front of me.
"You're Markee right?" she asked.
"Yeah," I answered.
"I'm Chelsee," she said, "I'm the one that texted you ridiculously late at night."

Then church commenced starting with RS. We learned a brief history of Joseph Fielding Smith's life. After that we went to Sunday school and were taught about the preexistence. To finish off the three hours of church we filed into the chapel. I sat by Sabrina and our new friend, wait for it, Khan!
His name is actually Khan, you know like, My name is Khan from Star Trek.

Yeah we're friends. He's from Canada but we has a dueled citizenship. 

After Sacrament meeting I had my picture taken and then I decided to wait for Sabrina to come out of a meeting with the Bishop Daniels so I didn't have to walk home alone. I sat in the foyer and stared at the wall. I didn't have anything else to do that wouldn't embarrass me. After awhile of staring a guy came and sat by me. He introduced himself as Andrew and we talked for a bit, until he decided to be a burglar and steal a sandwich from the other ward.

He chickened out.

I got bored after he left so I did to.

At 8 we had ward prayer at the community center, and by 9 I was in bed.

So why am I the master commander?

Because I have friends now!

Day number 8-9: HIghly uneventful days

So since I really did nothing at all both yesterday and today I'm just going to wrap it all up in one short post and I'm not even going to make it into a story, so if you want to skip this post feel free.

On Friday I went to Anthropology which was actually quite boring because we haven't really talked about anything interesting. We were just discussing theories, laws, facts, science stuff. It was my only class of the day and I didn't really have anything keeping me there on campus so I went back to my dorm and just TRIED* worked on homework and went to bed.

Today I woke up with a headache, probably from staying up to late last night and the noise of the people outside my rooms (not being able to eavesdrop makes conversations of other people very uninteresting and kind of obnoxious), so since my head was pounding I stayed in. But as the day progressed my head got better but I couldn't really go anywhere because the shuttle doesn't go on weekends and I didn't really have anywhere to go, not that I knew where anything was. That was pretty much my whole day.


Hopefully there will be more exciting things happening tomorrow.



*I kept getting distracted by watching Jennifer Lawrence interviews. She's very entertaining. This is also why I haven't kept my blog up to date very well recently.

Day number 7: An Unexpected Party

At 8:45 I came out of dreamland and entered reality. I only had one class that day and it was at 10:30, so I got ready at my leisure. At 10:00 I left for the shuttle stop. Checking and double checking to make sure I had my keys with me. I pushed the heavy glass door open and was greeted by a strong icy wind mixed with large flakes of snow. Great, so not only would I be concentrating on the slick ground and also trying to keep my eyes open against the blowing winds. I was doomed.

It goes without say that I walked slowly to the stop.

I stepped up the wet steps into the crowded shuttle. I stood in the back and concentrated hard on not falling over onto the lap of the person sitting beside me. My wrist ached when we got to campus from holding on so tightly. The marquee on the union building informed my it was only 9:50.
Still too early.
With nothing else to do I went to the Union building and sat in the closest couch to the door to wait. I read and listened to the conversations around me until 10:20 when I went to class.

I sat in the back in a comfy chair. In that class we introduced ourselves to the class, I turned very red like always, and then watched J.K. Rowling's' address to the Harvard University graduation class.

When the class ended I packed my backpack and left the room. Outside the classroom there was an unexpected visitor.
Bilbo Baggins at your service.
Thinking it was there for promotional reasons I walked by. I stopped walking shortly, my mom and cousin, Tamsyn were standing down the hall laughing.
"Wait is he for me," I asked regarding the cutout of the hobbit.
"Well you needed a friend." my mom mentioned, "so we brought you a friend."

We braved to blizzard raging outside and took my old friend back to my dorm then we went downtown to Walmart to replenish my supplies. We stopped at Five Guys for lunch then returned to the University Village.

After awhile they left and I went to bed.

Day number 6: I'm locked out!

 Sorry this is a little late.

5:30am What in the world is that annoying beeping noise?
I propped myself up on my elbows and peeked out the window by my head. I looked out just in time to see a plow truck passing by. Yesterday everything was dry and full of color but now it was wet and covered in white snow. The snow was piled high already and snow was still drifting down from the black sky.
With a groan I fell back against my pillow and fell back to sleep for another hour.
6:45am  I woke up again and slipped off my bed. By 8:40 I was walking out the door.

My first class was Anthropology at 9:30 and since the campus would no doubt be covered in ice and therefore extremely treacherous, especially for me, I thought it would be best to leave early.

8:40 turned out to be too early.

I sat in the hall of the social & behavioral science building. I took out my book and began to read for an hour. At that moment I realized that I probably looked like a big geek at that moment, I was reading Lord of the Rings, wearing my Middle Earth map skirt, and every once in a while I would check my Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle Earth.
I'm sure everyone knows I'm in love with the brilliant stories of Tolkien.

After an exhilarating(exaggerating) lecture about nothing in particular. I left the safety of the building and went across the ice sidewalks and street, slowly, to the institute building. I walked into the classroom and took my seat in the back. A boy came and sat by me. He turned to me and smiled.
"Remind me of your name," he said.
"Markee," I replied.
"Oh yeah, you sat behind me last time," he said, "I'm Tyrel."
"Nice to meet you," I said politely.
"Nice to meet you," he said shaking my head.
Then class started with a song and a prayer.

"Amen," with the closing prayer said, everyone packed their bags and left the room. I stayed in the institute building, waiting for the Wednesday devotional.
When I went into the chapel for the devotional I sat in the back and before Elder Robbins began a girl came to sit by me. We started talking a little bit and found out she also went to Westlake High School.

I left after the devotional and went to the campus store, and as if I couldn't look more like a geek, they were playing LotR: Fellowship on the tv so  I sat there and watched it, but after that I went back home.
Once I got to my room I found a problem.
I had lost my keys!
I checked every pocket but found nothing.

Hopeless, I called the RA, so they could unlock the door so I could drop off my stuff off. Then I went all the way back to campus in search of the blasted keys to my dorm.

Not on the bus.
Nor in the institute building.
Ah there they are in the social & behavioral science building.

Not locked out anymore. Phew

Day number 5: First day of class part 2

6:30am I woke up and decided it would be a mistake to try to go back to sleep. So with a heavy heart I threw back my blankets and dropped to the ground. With a deep sigh I got ready for school and went to the kitchen for breakfast. After eating breakfast I packed a lunch for later and put it in my backpack. After brushing my teeth I pocketed my keys and left the dark and cold dorm room.

I walked across the street and boarded the shuttle. I arrived at the Math building an hour early, again. But this time I came prepared!   I pulled out my book and began to read about Frodo and his hobbit buddies plus a ranger and an elf lord take on 9 Nazgul. I read until class started.

The professor walked in at 9:30 on the dot. He looked younger than most of the professors on campus. In fact I thought he was another student until he started passing out syllabuses and what we would be doing this semester in math. As you can imagine, that was an awesome time. I wanted to cry or sleep.  I couldn't quite choose which, they both sounded appealing.

Finally at 10:20 the torture ended. I looked at my map. My next class was only two buildings away. I would have time to follow Professor Poole to the math lab, aka the Hub. I had no idea where it was and that was a problem because for the class we have to spend 100 minutes every week in there.
"Anyone who wants to know where the Hub is are welcome to follow me," he said during class.
So I thought what the heck lets do it I'll have time, and it shouldn't be that far away.

Yeah, I was wrong.

The further we got from the English building the more worried I got. But finally we got to the building I would have to spend around 2100 minutes in by the end of the semester.  I looked up at it nodded and said a hurried thanks and goodbye to my math professor. I dashed across campus and got to the Elizabeth Hall at 10:27. I still had time.

With a triumphant smile I pulled open the building door. My smile melted away. In front of me was a maze. I only had 3 minutes to navigate. Frantically I ran through the building into every hall and every turn. Finally at 10:30 I found it. Room 216. I jumped over the threshold just as Professor Kelly was about to shut the door.

I listened to her talk about what we were doing for this semester with interest. She informed us that at the end of semester we would be reading Night by Elie Wiesel. I remember reading this book in 10th grade English class awhile ago. I remember it being very sad but liking it.

That class ended, and it being my last class I went to the campus store to purchase the books I still needed. That was done so I went upstairs and ate my lunch there.
"well this was a very boring day," I thought to myself as I shouldered my bag and left the building.

Snow was now lightly falling from the grey sky. I pulled my coat tighter around me and walked towards to shuttle station. I stopped in my tracks and stood in front of the building I had walked to earlier that day. I made a face and walked into the Hub.
"Might as well get this done with," I sighed.
I found a computer by the door and signed into it. I pulled out my math homework and worked on that. I finished 100 minutes later.
"Great," I said with a smile going out to the shuttle station, "I don't have to go back there until next week."

After a quiet shuttle ride, whole day for that matter, I needed sounds. Once I got back I rushed to open the door to my room. I plugged my Ipod into the dock and turned on my music.

While I listened I made a decision that I had to at least have a conversation with a person from each class.

Staying optimistic!

Day number 4: First day of class part 1

6:30am The sun was just barely peeking out from the mountain tops. I made a face and stared at my ceiling. Its the first day of school, my first class was at 9:30am. I shut my eyes and tried to rest my head, but a few minutes of tossing and turning I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. I got up and sluggishly got ready for the day of learning ahead of me.

All dressed up with no where to go. I decided that I was just going to have to be an hour early. I wrapped my coat around my body and shouldered my backpack. The sun was now almost half way across the sky. Although the sun was shining dimly through the clouds the air was bitter cold. I folded my arms tightly across my chest to keep the warmth close to me as I walked across the street to join the growing crowd at the shuttle stop.

We were a very quiet group as we all waited of the shuttle to come. Everyone's eyes drooped from not getting enough sleep the previous night. Finally after 10 minutes of waiting the little shuttle pulled up to the station. The seats faced each other. Awkward.

I sat close to the back and put my earphones in my ear after hearing the evil country music playing over the radio. I looked down at my Ipod the whole ride to avoid awkward eye contact from awkward people on the awkward shuttle.
The whole situation was just AWKWARD!

When the torture was over with a few minutes later when we arrived at the campus I got off the shuttle with a sigh of relief. I had survived, and if I could survive that I could survive anything. The cold air rush up to meet me and made my skin tingle and my glasses to fog. I walked with the flow until we reached the Union building and then I thought I should probably find out where my first class was. I swung my backpack around to the front of me and unzipped the first pocket where my map was. I looked at the highlighted buildings, Anthropology was is the Social Science building. My shoulder slumped forward and my bottom lip pushed out in a put. It was across campus.
Well if the Fellowship of the Ring could walk across Middle Earth, I could walk across campus.
I swung my backpack back and readied myself for the long walk.

I was crawling on my hands and knees when I finally got to the classroom for Anthropology.
Victory my name is Markee!
I then looked down at my phone. 8:30am.
Are you kidding me? Does time move slower here?

I look around for a place to sit and wait for an hour. Blue chairs lined the wall on the other side of an open classroom door. I sit cautiously expecting the seats to be as hard as rocks, but instead of rocks it was like sitting on a feather pillow.
I twiddled my thumbs. Now what? I had left my book back in the dorm thinking I wasn't going to need it. Well I did.
To pass the time I looked out the windows in front of me and people watched.
Old crazy man
Young crazy man
Nerd
Geek
Woah hey look!  I found Waldo!
Witch lady
Man in a dress or is the a woman? I can't tell.
Another crazy old man.

I was so busy people watching I didn't notice the man standing beside me.
"How do ye do, matey," he asked
I look up at none other then CAPTAIN BARBOSSA!
"I'm good, capt'n," I reply.
"Well you have a good day," he said.
His tall leather boots slightly squeaked as he walked away down the hall, and the feather on his hat waved to me. Jack was sitting on his shoulder looking back at me. He screeched and bounced up and down until the pirate captain was out of view.

I was still in shock when a young man with a handsome face approached me.
"Excuse me, do you know where building WB is," he asked me.
"Um, no," I said and he began to turn away, "but I can check!"
He turned back to me and I pulled out my handy dandy map with a flourish.
I opened it up and found the building.
"It is just across from here," I said pointing at the building outside.
"Thank you," he said, "could I take a picture of your map?"
"Yeah," I held of the map for him as he took the picture.
"You are a lifesaver," the handsome man said with a dazzling grin and turned to go to his class.

At 9:30 my own class started Dr. Holt came in and looked down at us with a hard look.
"I am your enemy," he started, "this is a real college class, and I'm going to be a real mercenary."
After we were released from the odd class I made my way across the street to the Institute building. I found Brother Buhrley's classroom and took a seat. He talked about what we were learning this semester and everything that was going on.

I left that class feeling happy and refreshed just like you always do after seminary or church. On my way to the Union building to eat lunch the man to my right turned to me.
"Hi I'm Charles," he said holding out his hand.
I shook it, "I'm Markee."
"Is this your first day,"
"Yeah."
"Well good luck," he said turning to go into a building, "it was nice to meet you!"
"You too."

The crowded Union building was a very lonely building to eat lunch in if you don't have any friends.
 I talked to the woman from Mexico sitting by me as we ate. She told me about her children and her job. Gloria was her name. She was very kind and I enjoyed hearing about her life.

I left soon after to go to my last class of the day. College Success. In total there are only 14 students in the class and so we all said our names and something we like to do so we could get to know each other. Ashley Owens, the professor of the class asked us each a question about our selves as we introduced ourselves.

The time was up and I was so glad that school was over for the day. It was a good day but I was ready to be home and rest. And rest I did.

Part 2 coming soon!

Day number 3:...but I like 1 o' clock church.

Like under some curse I woke up at 8:00am, on a fast Sunday, with 1 o'clock church. The fates were not on my side. So I had two choices:

1. Try to go back to sleep, and 
2. Get up, get ready, and try to resist the compelling need to eat.

Like some madman I chose the second. I walk to my closet and pull out my navy blue button up shirt, and my black pencil skirt. I laid them down on my bed and went to the dresser. I opened up the top drawer and dug through the mountain of socks and tights within. At the bottom they sat with a majestic glow emitting from their soft fabric; my navy blue tights and my tall black socks.

Having chosen my outfit for the day I went to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. I almost shrieked from what I saw there. Instead of me standing in front of the reflective glass there was a monster with big frizzy hair making it stand a foot taller than usual. Something definitely had to be done, so I pulled out my magical tool that curls my hair. An hour later of curling hair and applying makeup, the monster was replaced with a beautiful princess with a gentle curl.

10:00am- All ready for church and still 3 hours to wait and be tortured by stomach pains. Instead of dwelling on my hunger I decided to take out my scriptures and invite the spirit to be my companion that day.

At 12:50 I left my dorm and walked in the bitter cold to the GIGANTIC church building. I really mean gigantic it has 2 chapels, so yeah it's pretty big. So I walked into the warmth of the building and went towards the first person I saw.
"Hi, welcome," the sister said with a warm smile.
"Hi, do you know where the 17th ward meets?" I asked.
"On the other side I think," she replied pointing down the hall.
"Okay, thanks," I said as I made my way that way.

I came up to the next chapel and was greeted by a missionary standing at the door. I tried to conceal my silly grin creeping onto my face when I realized that this missionary happened to be British. What luck! But that soon changed.
"Do you know where the 17th ward meets," I asked him after shaking his hand.
"Oh, yeah they changed their meeting time to 9am," his companion said coming to stand in front of me.
Seeing that I was now talking to his American companion the British missionary turned to greet the next person coming in. After introduction were made and we ran out of things to say I went to take my seat in the back. I sat there by myself for awhile looking down at my church notebook at avoid making awkward eye contact with random people I didn't know. Two women came and sat down beside me.
"Hi, my name is Morgan," side the one on my right, "what's your name?"
"Markee," I replied. Would it ever sound normal to say my own name? Probably after a week of introductions.
"Are you new to our ward," she asked.
"Actually I'm suppose to be in the 17th ward but I wasn't informed that the time was changed," I explained with a half smile.
"Well we're glad you can join us today," Morgan said with a welcoming smile.
"Thanks," I said.
"I hope you have a good time here," the girl on my other side said, "I'm Tracy."
"Markee," Still weird.
"Nice to meet you," they said then returned to their seats.

Shortly after, the bishop of the ward stood up at the podium and sacrament meeting started.

The spirit warmed my heart at every testimony that was shared. The feeling was so powerful and it only grew in the next class. The teacher led us through a spiritual discussion of the time Moses spoke Face to Face with God. 

I thought I was going to explode from the spirit I was feeling that day. The relief society teacher taught with a spirit so strongly that I probably blinked a million times trying to keep the tears on the right side of my eyes. After the end of the lesson I felt I should thank the two girls who came up to me before sacrament meeting.
"You are welcome in this ward anytime," Morgan said with a smile, "it was very nice to meet you."

I walked home after that, feeling more confident about making friends. And sure enough when I got home Bora Yeon was out of her room! I finally met the secretive roommate who keeps to her room.
She said we were friends, I was unstoppable.
Yang Yang then came home and gave us both Chinese canned milk.
I was I bit scared to try it. Mostly because she asked me if I had a religion before giving it to me, but I later found out that us just a conversation starter.

So there I was, trapped. I didn't want be rude and not try it, but what if I didn't like it?
Finding my courage I opened the can and took a sip. My eyes widened in surprise. It was delicious! The creamy liquid curled around my tongue, the vanilla taste was so wonderful on my taste buds.
I needed more. I downed the small can like a crazy person.
Best canned Chinese milk I have ever had in my life!

After that we talked for a long time before I had to go to a floor meeting. I learned the rules of University Village I went to bed to ready myself for the first day of school.

Day number 2: How far away is the campus?

The light of the sun streamed through the cracks in the blinds and into my eyes. A smile pulled at the corners of my lips. I know what you're thinking, how in the world could I be happy about that! Well back in my old room I had no windows, which means no natural light. I have missed it and I am certainly glad I have it now. A thought crossed my mind; Gollum lived in the dark for ages. How could he do that. Of course he was cursed by the Ring and was no longer a Stoor Hobbit.

After my wondering about the gospel of Lord of the Rings, I started to roll towards the edge of my bed. Then I remembered that my bed now isn't as wide as my bed at home but it was too late. I crashed to the ground with a thud.  I got to my feet and rubbed my behind, I would have to remember that for tomorrow morning.

Rubbing my tired eyes with the heels of my hands I shuffled my feet across the hard carpeted floor to the kitchen. The cold tile set a shiver through my body, I smiled, I had always loved feeling the cold stone of kitchen tiles in the morning. I opened the drawer where my food was and took out a silver package that held two strawberry Pop-tarts. After I grabbed my food  I looked around the dark living room. Nobody ever used it. Every morning and afternoon and evening it stayed the same: empty.
I shrugged and started to my room. I heard a door open behind me, excitement bubbled up inside me, was I finally going to meet my elusive second roommate. I turned on my heel and faced the person.

I was not prepared for what I saw then. Lucky they had not spotted me so I hurried inside my room and shut the door behind me. Did I really just see that? I pressed my back against the door and jammed my hands into my eyelids and rubbed at them trying to repress the memory.
So my roommates boyfriend stayed the night. Lovely. I had a sudden feeling of gratitude that we had our own separate rooms.

Shaking off the weirdness I went to my computer and opened in up. I should probably do something to pass the time since it was only 8 in the morning. So I turned the computer on and pulled up the internet. I went to my blog I had started with my cousin awhile ago and started to put in a new post about my move. I stopped typing and tapped the backspace a couple times. This is a fashion blog, not just a journal blog. So I deleted the new post and started a new one.

After writing the first post about the day before and turned off the laptop and went to the closet. I had missed having a closet. I stared at the hanging dresses for awhile before picking out an outfit. My blue sweater and coat were very warm. I was ready for the trip to campus to get my bus pass.

The freshly powdered snow piled up on the tip of my tan leather boots as I walked on the sidewalk. Feeling lonely I pulled out my phone and called my sister. We talked to each other for the whole time I walked to campus.
"20minutes!" Marin said checking how long it had been.
"Wow," I said, "I can certainly feel it in my thighs!"
I was caught up in the conversation I didn't not realize I was heading straight into a danger zone. Then  I heard it, the sound of the most terrifying animal that live on both land and water making it the most dangerous as well.
"Marin there's a problem," I said freezing in my tracks.
"What is it," she asked almost frantic.
"I have reached the DUCK POND," fear of the creatures seized my heart.
My sister went silent then said, "are you serious?"
"There are ducks AND geese," I had reason to be afraid. They were birds therefore not only did they rule the land and water, but they also ruled the skies! I was doomed. How was I going to get pass these fiends?
"Markee they are just ducks," Marin said, I could imagine her rolling her eyes and shaking her head, "they won't hurt you."
My sister was obviously mocking me on the other side of the cell phone. JUST DUCKS?! Was she crazy? Ducks are evil creatures they probably came out of the evil land of Mordor. Plus ducks are a type of birds and I have this strange fear of birds. After trying to take a short cut by walking up the snow covered hill to get to the sidewalk above but failing due to a large block of ice in my way, I took a deep breath and went back to the sidewalk.

A duck stood in front of me and looking at me as if daring me to try and pass him. I felt like King Arthur when he was trying to pass the black knight to continue his quest, but unlike him I did not have a sword, but I'm pretty sure that chopping off a duck's limbs would be a big no no.
I would have to be brave and pass without being seen. I took a few steps, so far so good. I took a few more and froze, the duck started moving. Cautious I began walking again. Suddenly the duck and his friends took flight. They have spotted me! They flew to the rest of the flock, calling in reinforcements. I had no choice but to run. Run I did until the battle cries of the evil beasts were far behind me.

I doubled over and caught my breathe. I looked around, not a soul was in sight. I was alone to face whatever demons lurked in the shadows of the large stone buildings. Where was my fellowship? My Samwise Gamgee? I felt like Bilbo facing off with Gollum without the company of Thorin, but like Bilbo I found my courage from getting pass the guardians of The Pond and went into one of the building.  I gulped and quietly walked up the empty staircase to the second floor. To my surprise, and relief, the man at the desk smiled and gave me their last UTA bus pass. I thanked him and held the bus pass over my head. I imagined the triumphant song that plays whenever Link from Zelda gets something playing for me as a held it up. 

I pocketed the pass and looked around at the dark empty halls. I supposed I would not make any friends there so  I decided to head back home. Deciding that the bus was too complicated for me to figure out on my own and began the long walk back to the University Village.

As I was walking my stomach began to rumble. If I didn't eat soon I would wither away. I looked around at the businesses around me. The heavens were on my side, there it was sent from Heaven. Subway. In a daze I climbed the stone steps and pulled the door up. The heavenly smell of the food did not satisfy me. I needed some of that food.  I walked further into the shop and took my place in the back of the line. When it was my turn I told the boy behind the counter what I wanted on my sandwich. I payed for my food and drink and went to sit down by the window. Quickly I unwrapped the sandwich and bit into it. My mouth watered. It was so good.

After being satisfied with my food I resumed my journey back to the dorms. I made it back within 10 minutes. I looked up and was stopped in my tracks from the beauty which I beheld. The clouds hung low on the mountains cutting of the top. It the beautiful. I stood and marveled at the sight for a bit before going back to the dorm room.

I was sitting alone in the living room reading the yellowed pages of Lord of the Rings when the front door opened. Yang yang came in followed by a tall Chinese boy.
"Hello," she said with a smile.
"Hi," I answered closing my book.
"This is my boyfriend," she said pointing to the boy, "Johney."
"Nice to meet you," he said with a nod.
"Nice to meet you," I repeated, "I'm Markee."
 The two went to Yang yang's room and I didn't not see them for the rest of the night.

At 9:00pm I put on my pajamas and climbed into bed. After reading the scriptures and saying my prayer I fell to sleep. Dreaming of the friends I would make tomorrow I woke up with hope and excitement for church the next day.

"Open up the Book of Mormon... and begin to read. Soon the feeling of peace and inspiration will come, and a solution will present itself." -Boyd K. Packer.

 

Thanks Mom. That helped a ton.

Day number 1: The adventure begins

6:00am: The electronic alarm clock screeched so loudly it pulled me out of my dream of lounging on the beach without a care in the world.

I rolled over with a groan and looked at the glowing screen of my phone. 6:00AM! Did I really set that alarm? Was I crazy? Mom said we didn't have to leave until 10:00am. I was about to close my eyes and go back to sleep when I heard someone walking around up stairs.

Then I remembered; I did set that alarm, and I was sane when I did.

I throw back the pile of blankets that were on top of me and swung my legs off the bed. On balanced legs I stumbled out of my room, down the pitch black hall, and up the stairs from the basement where my room is.

"Dad," I said in a sleep filled voice, "can I get a blessing before you leave?"
My dad looked from the weather report to me and nodded. He turned the t.v. off and boosted himself up to his feet. I brought a chair to the center of the living room and sat in it. I folded my arms and closed my eyes. The warm of my dad's hands on top of my head, and the low rumbling of his voice as he spoke filled the room with a warm, loving spirit. He said amen and I opened my eyes. A grin pulled at the corners of my lips.
"Thanks dad," I said, "goodbye."
"You're welcome," he said, "and good luck."
"Thanks," I repeated before heading back down to my room.

I glanced around my room in the pale yellow light emitting from the light on the ceiling. The aftermath from packing yesterday looked like a tornado ran through my room. I couldn't leave my room looking like that. I checked the time. 6:15am. Well I definitely had enough time.

7:15am I looked around my room, now organized. My bed was made neatly, for once. The floor, dresser and vanity were all decluttered and looked nice. With a nod of acceptance I turned towards the door. I flipped the light switch and closed the door before heading upstairs. I made a bowl of oatmeal and ate it while watching a couple of shows that were recorded on the television.

8:40am My mom made her way down stairs.
"Are you ready," she asked excitedly.
"Yes," I nodded.
"Great, after Marin gets up we will go," she informed me.
9:00am My sister came running down the stairs. She didn't stop running until she got to me and wrapped her arms around me.

After a few last minute preparations we carried my luggage out to the car and pushed it all into the back. Around 9:15am we all took our seats in the car and clicked on our seatbelts. We were off.

"Some rules for moving are: first move fits in the back of a car, second move it takes more of the car or two cars, and it just keeps going up from there," my mom explained to us as we traveled down SR-73, "you always want to pack light when you move. The lightest possible."
 I made a mental note of that and decided not to lose control over my finances.

After a trip to the gas station, the bank, McDonald's, and O' Reilly's to check some car problems we finally got onto I-15 and ready for an hour and 15minutes of driving.

University village is a quaint group of dorms which are actually quite far from the actual campus. With my mom and sister following behind me each laden with my luggage we walk as quietly down the hall as possible to my room. The whole floor smells of foreign food and it just gets stronger the closer we get to my room.

I stick the key in the hole and turned it. The door opens and we are greeted with the smell of some foreign food.
"Hi, I'm Markee Jones," I said to the girl standing in the kitchen when we come in, "and this is my sister and mom. I'm your new roommate."
"Hi, I'm Yang Yang," she said in halting english, "Your room is A, B isn't here yet, C is Bora Yeon's, and I live in D."
"Thanks," I said with a smile.

After a couple of trips from the car and to the stores around we were hungry. Sitting at the coffee table in the living room, mom, Marin, and I ate premade baby back ribs, mashed potatoes, french bread, and drink sparkling cider to get it all down.

When we were full and tired mom and Marin gave me hugs and said goodbye. When they were gone and I was by myself. My roommates were gone, and I had the dorm to myself. After a shower I went to my room and unpacked.

At 10:00pm everything was in a place and I was exhausted. I climbed into the high dorm bed with some difficultly and crawled under my sheets. After reading scriptures, saying my prayer, and reading from The Lord of the Rings it was 10:30pm. My eyes were drooping and I was struggling to keep my eyelids open. It was time to close them and sleep.

I tossed and turned for an hour before finally drifting off into dreamland. The next morning I was glad to finally wake up to the natural light of the sun rising above the mountains. After a couple of years living in the dark basement and light dorm room was a relief.

as Bilbo says “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”