It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There are numerous people who sing to this melody. Find a favorite for yourself.

It's finally Christmas time. The lights can come out, the decorations, the smells, the MUSIC, the food, the trees, and there's so much more, it's time for them to come out of their dusty, buried boxes to reveal themselves for the next month. Fabulous. Hopefully snow got the memo, and will begin to fall. I miss the nighttime silence and beauty of falling snow.

I've sold my soul to Old Navy this season. Let's hope I don't work as much as I'm thinking I will have to.... Cross your fingers please.

Someone take me to Temple Square please, someone take me to Christmas concerts, someone take me to Thanksgiving Point. Or perhaps I could take you. Call me up.

Who knew Thanksgiving break was for making new friends. I didn't, but it sure has worked out nicely for me this year. I'm also a fan of cars dying in the middle of the road. When they're not mine of course.

Dr. Pepper and Pizza. Not healthy, never something I like to combine and live off, but one must result to these measures when working Black Friday. I wouldn't recommend it. It often leads to insanity in the workplace.

Happy Birthday to all the amazing people who had birthdays this weekend.

I hope all of your breaks was filled with relaxation. I hope you're all ready for the most wonderful time of the year. Please keep Christ in your hearts this month. More often than he usually is.

Home

Michael Buble.
I have a feeling I might regret using this song, I might want it for a different story, but replays are always included in every music player right?
Old Navy seems to be turning into my new home. I spend an incredible amount of time there, I know where everything is, I could find my way in the dark, and all the people there are starting to become my family. That sounds like a home doesn't it?
However, returning back to my true home surpasses any joy (if any at all) I feel towards Old Navy. I love the drive back to my house, the big smiles my parents get me when I arrive, and how sweet they are when they can tell I'm exhausted. Plus my dad turns on the Christmas lights when he knows I'm on my way home, a little welcome present. And I found a Christmas shower curtain in my bathroom. My parents are fabulous.

School also seems to be turning into my home. That however, is self explanatory. So let's leave it at that.

I went to visit a friend who is recovering from surgery. I went with Breanna. That's like being home. She brings back the simplicity of jr high. The fun times we all had, with the friends that all seem to be distancing over the years. It's home.

Seeing Brandon a tad loopy from his surgery medication brought me home to my surgeries. That was a lot of medicine, laying on the couch and too many movies. I'm so thankful it's over.

Snow makes me feel at home. I'm not sure why, but it definitely does. I absolutely love the snow. I can't wait for it to get here, or for Christmas time to arrive. I hope you are all ready for the Christmas themed posts soon.

Give Me A Break

Kit Kat Jingle. It's ok, it counts as a song...

Thanksgiving break? Strongly needed. My Senioritis disease happens to be peaking. I need time off. Do I get any? Heavens no, I have work and homework. Possibly some college applications thrown in there. Lovely

AP English? Give me a break. Asking a morality question to a Mainly mormon population class, when you as a teacher definitely aren't? Give me a break. You're just asking for it. The smart comments we give you to make you mad? You have it coming dear sir.

This "blizzard" Give me a break. I was so excited, the most excited I've been in weeks. Thanks for showing up, got us all excited for nothing. I'm upset, and most of all on the verge of tears. I need snow.

Some of us just need a break. A quiet afternoon, a relaxing weekend. Some of us don't get those breaks.

Souvenir D'Amerique

Henri Vieuxtemps
Listen to it. You will be amazed. I'm hoping to soon be able to master this piece. If you're lucky, it'll happen at my senior recital.

I had my last violin recital last night. It was strange. The weeks of stressing to memorize pieces, worrying about which bowings go where, which section had that one shift, where to stand, which shoes to wear so as not to come off too tall. It's over. I have a feeling I won't miss the cramming of practicing the week before, but I also have a feeling that, since Shauna invites former students to play, the church in PG hasn't seen the last of me. But I'm ok with that, the older kids get stands. However I have mastered playing with my music on the floor in front of me, so I might just stick with that.

HARRY POTTER
I was lucky enough to go to a pre-showing. Thanks again to Katy and her family. I was re-playing the scenes in my head the whole day after. It was an incredible movie.
Katy and I happened to be the only ones in the theater that screamed during the scene with Nagini. We were on top of each other, it's not a big deal. And we decided Harry would be an amazing friend. He knows how to make people around him happy. Although he's quite professional at nearly killing everyone around him. Maybe I'll wait.... I honestly can't wait until part 2 comes out, every time the screen went black to change to a new scene, I would silently pray to myself that it wasn't the end of the movie. And best part of all? I was well rested for school the next day. Sort of.

Christmas is nearly here. I love Thanksgiving and the attitude it brings, but I don't like working 35 hours in 1 week. I'm in for a long one....

I'm truly going to miss Amber when she leaves for her mission, she's the only one that I can dance in the car with that won't call me weird names. She comes in handy now and then.

Social Network? Smart movie with a little too much swearing for my taste. However it was quite clever. I came out of that theater feeling more educated than I do walking out of my physics class.....

Bite My Tongue

Relient K.
Sometimes you just have to keep your mouth shut. I'm not very good at this.

There's those moments, where you wish you could say something, but you know it would only end horribly and you would be worse off than before. We love days filled with moments like these.

When an ex...friend? says something about their personality that you happen to know all too well is very wrong, and you only wish you could say something to prevent the new victim from going through the pain you went through. But saying something would just make everything so much worse.

When you want to talk to an old friend, and debate with yourself for a while whether or not it would be a good idea. Who knows, we could have ended up talking and laughing like old times. Probably not, but the chances are there. Too bad I lacked the courage. Now we will never know what could have happened.

When you overhear a conversation that makes your heart drop. All that I was excited for at work was shattered with just a few choice words. I wanted to run and yell, ask why on earth, why not me, what's the point anymore? But that's bad customer service right? Lucky me my heart is too forgiving for my own good at times;my heart might have been shattered tonight, but opinions didn't change.

Someone tell me when it's ok to speak my mind? I do it a lot, and often get scolded. But when, in sketchy situations like previously listed, would it be ok to let my emotions out?

High School Never Ends

Bowling For Soup.
The Senior superlative nomination lists came out today. Boy I can't wait to fill those out....

Talk about a "who cares" survey. We were having a pretty intense discussion in ap english about 1984 and the control the government has on the minds of the citizens. and then out pops a pick your favorite people to stalk assignment. It's a very good thing I won't get graded on this, because I doubt it will get filled out. MVP is a given. If you're a senior at Timp you know who they are as well. But best back pockets?? Yeah, that's what I do with my time at school, observe the behinds of my peers. I go around the crowded, smelly halls thinking "wow, I'm sure jealous of the stitching on your hiney..." I understand that denim seems to have taken a liking to glitter and diamonds and bling. But honestly, all it does is draw more attention to... yeah. Enough said.
These superlatives are nuts. The MVP's most likely will major in something other than NBA drafts, the most successfuls could easily end up as hobo's, the most likely to make it to Hollywood? Good luck. The only worthwhile things on this sheet are best smile and eyes, and everyone has a pretty smile and EVERYONE has pretty eyes. When was the last time you saw someone with ugly eyes? Exactly. I'll put Katy's name on all of them and then turn it in.

Don't worry I don't attest the world today, or high school for that matter, I simply came to the realization on how high school thrives off of 1st impressions. It's a beautiful thing to watch. Especially those girls who happen to be the epitome of high school.

I Love to See the Temple

Primary Song book.

The beautiful structures, the glowing lights, and the voice inside your heart telling you that this building is a glorious structure where eternal families are made and God's work is being done. There's nothing greater. Well, the only thing greater is when it's the Salt Lake Temple and there's millions of Christmas lights surrounding it. But sadly, it's not quite time for that. Soon though, very soon.

I was asked to go on an outing to Temple Square this evening. Of course I was excited. However, why someone would want to wander around in the cold at temple square without the Christmas decorations all over was completely new to me. I was raining the entire time, (smart move with the lil umbrellas boys) but it was a wonderful experience.

I was a good 1 to 2 years older than everyone there, but that's fine. Nobody knew until I told them at the end of the night. Shows how completely mature I am right? The boys were all cousins, and man were they funny together. There's something about a group of boys that are very tight friends, they all seemed to be filled with hilarity for the bystanders. The sweet sister missionaries gave us a tour, a tour that I've had many many times but never really listened until now. It was powerful and heart touching. The simple things in the gospel tend to slip my mind now and then, and every time I hear the stories my testimony grows again and again.
Here's a shocker, there's not many tourists around temple square on a sunday night in the rain. So we were bombarded with companionships trying to share the word with us. I came up with the brilliant idea to be a different group of kids every time(members of a rehab home, college students, foreigners, strangers to the gospel, family,)... on the way home. I'm a quick one.

I love the temple and everything about it. I forget how important it really is sometimes.

thought:Brigham Young received inspiration on how to build the tabernacle so as to accommodate all the people and so they could all still here him. Resulting in the dome. I didn't know it was God's plan. Amazing right?

All in all, a fantastic night.
we like: dad's with falsettos, sister missionaries and their enthusiasm, sarcasm, 6 month drivers, candy, wedding receptions, huge and loving families, darth vadars bathroom, parasols, no door handles, volume, christmas music and SNOW.

I've Lost You

Elvis.
My dear sweet voice, it's gone.

My voice has been my #1 companion since I can remember. I don't lose it at sporting events, dances, or when I happen to be screaming for long periods of time. it happens more often than you would think. He never leaves me. He may feel a tad sore and worn out at the end of a day, but who doesn't feel that way when their day comes to a close. I've even purposely tried to lose him a few times, but he has always stayed faithfully by my side. Until yesterday. We started out the day as chummy as could be, but as the day went on he started to leave, walking slowly and subtly farther and farther away from me. So by the time I finished my shift at work, he had nearly left me completely. All he left me is a hoarse, high pitched, always fading in and out stranger. This stranger is no friend to me, and I would sincerely like my old one back. We were such good friends.

People seem to think it's funny when words can't come out of your mouth. Or when they do come out and you sound like a 12 year old boy going through puberty. All my customers thought it was a hoot. Some even saying, "you know, your voice doesn't sound too well." Really? Thanks for the update kind stranger, I had no idea talking was hard for me.

I guess being family gives others the right to make fun of you even more, because when we went to dinner, they all thought it completely hilarious that I couldn't speak. And they all found it painful to listen to as well. So what did I do? Sang along with the radio and background music of the restaurant obviously.

And to top off the night I went to my schools stomp. I knew I shouldn't have gone, and the night resulted in my mom coming to get me after being there for only an hour anyways. I felt like I was in junior high again. I hated not being able to scream the songs with Katy, or even be heard by anyone near me. And the massive fog amount the DJ decided to disperse across the dance floor didn't help my stranger voice be heard. Life was rough.

Please let me know if you find my voice. The new stranger he left me with, we don't get along.

The Christmas Shoes

Any Artist. I'm sure you could find this song on multiple holiday albums. Also, this is possibly the worst Christmas song there is. There's those few songs, that claim to belong in the Christmas genre, like the song previously mentioned or the evil Last Christmas I gave you my heart. I mean come on. The Christmas shoes has a good point behind it but it's professional at getting on anyone's nerves. And last christmas is simply a I hate break ups song with the word christmas thrown in there. These songs abuse the joy of Christmas time.

My dad seems to think I see him as a scrooge, I don't. But to prove his point to me I came home from work last night and he had decorated my bedroom window with Christmas lights. If that doesn't put a smile on your face and a burning happiness in your soul than nothing can.

Yes I do know that Christmas is more than a month away, but I love the season, and working in retail brings Christmas season up a good two months.

I accessorized the tree in my front yard last Saturday, stringing at least 8 strands of Christmas lights up and down it's branches. I was 10 feet in the air on a ladder that was merely leaning on the little tree. I didn't really have a fear of heights, but I sure do now. And it didn't process through my mind until after I had completed my project that come spring, I was going to have to get back up on the ladder and take all the lights down. Please pray for me.

Til I Forget About You

Big Time Rush. No, this song has nothing to do with what I'm about to say, but no song really did, and thanks to Sharissa I am now addicted to this boy band. The Nsync of my later teen years.

My weekend consisted of nothing. Friday I got my wits scared out of me, nearly peed myself, and creeped on some basketball boys. Bliss. Saturday I worked, which I seem to be doing a lot of lately, and laid at home. And today, I learned that I'm at that awkward stage where I'm too old for yw and too young for relief society, but too naive and undateable to attend a singles ward. I hate confusion.

Iron man 2. You've all probably seen it by now, but my first time was last night. It was an interesting movie, and I must say that my favorite part was his book definition of narcissism. Classic, and all too funny to watch. I wish to meet someone like him one day. I don't think I could stand them for too long, but I would get a kick out of a few conversations.

What's the gobble? Oh don't worry, Old Navy has a treat for all of you, just wait til the commercials come out. All I can say is that I can't wait to learn the dance, and that Thanksgiving at work will be a party. I work 37 hours this week.... I dare you to go to school and work that many hours while still having time to complete homework. I don't think it's possible, but let's all pray it is. I love my co-workers. We're all too funny in the back row of a meeting, and don't worry, I shattered a hanger. Didn't think it was possible? It is.

Dance hard laugh long turn the music up now party like a rock star. Can I get a what now??
Listen to this song. It'll make you want to dance all night.

Contest

I need a DJ name. Something catchy and that can stay with me through my entire career.

Post your ideas, and the winner might find themselves having dessert at the chocolate paid for by me.

We Are Young

Mika.
Some of recently hit the age of adulthood. Some of us act like we recently had our 6th birthday party complete with cone hats, matching cutlery, and pink presents.

I'm 18 and graduating soon. The deadline for a lot of college applications is December 1st... I need to start that process. But I'm still in high school, so acting immature is justified right?
List: Things a 6 year old trapped in a 18 year old body can be found doing
-holding hands with the girls on both sides of you during a scary movie
-covering your eyes saying "I'm too young to see this" during a kissy scene.
-Forgetting how to spell obvious.
-jumping into bed after turning off the bedroom lights
-distractions. In every situation
- "oo! that's cool!" is a phrase used hourly. Quite loudly as well.
-Spying on boys
-Proclaiming that boys really do have cooties
-Asking which way is left
-Dreading bedtime.
-Nightlights
-Jumping up and down when certain songs are found
-"wait, what?"
-The thought of growing up makes you want to throw up.
-Neverland
-Stapling noses instead of papers

Although society might consider us adults, and responsible, our true identity is a child with a propeller cap and a lollipop.

Video Killed the Radio Star

The Buggles.

Today I had the opportunity(grade requirement) to have an hour to myself running a radio station. What a horrible choice on my teachers part. Me choosing the music and what gets said? Too much fun for me, suffering for the rest of you. Obviously, I struggled, getting all the timing right, sounding like myself over the air, and working the sliders on the soundboard.(yes I did use a semi-technical term. And yes, I am that smart) The hour flew by, obviously. I was locked(literally) in a room with three computers loaded with music, a microphone, and the ability to talk to hundreds of people at once. Heaven on earth I must say.
I'm not pro yet, but I will get there, I have time.
I will stick strictly to the radio. Video would kill this radio star no doubt.
You have not heard the last from DJ Brenna.

White Christmas

Many have performed this piece, but for bias's sake, Frank Sinatra.

It's November 2nd. It's still fairly decent weather outside, the leaves are still hanging on, displaying their array of color, Thanksgiving is yet to come, black friday hasn't occured, it's not Christmas time yet. But I'm ready for it. So ready.

I want to be able to listen to Christmas music without my family looking at me like I'm sinning. It's uplifting music usually about our savior. It's anything but a sin. I'm ready for the white beauty of snow, for the gorgeous decorations, colors, and shine. I'm ready for the smells. The trees, the books, the movies, the hype, the lights, the sounds, everything. It's probably not smart of me to get so excited so soon, because it'll be over before I know it. But this year, for some strange reason, has made me want Christmas so much more. It needs to be celebrated throughout the year.
My love goes to Scotty Halls who has the bravery and love to decorate for Christmas the second week of October. I purposely drive by his house night a lot. Why? His lights are shining beautifully. I'm lucky for him and orchestra. Without them I wouldn't be allowed my legal dose of pre-Christmas joy every day.
I promise it's not a sin to celebrate Christmas a little earlier than usual.

Side note: fm 100 failed me. No Christmas music yet. Anyone know of a station that does play holiday tunes this early?

Long Time Coming

Oliver James. The eye candy in "What a Girl Wants" Am I right?
It was one of those long, drawn out, busier than a bee weekends.

Our orchestra concert.... nothing uplifting to say concerning the matter, however I will say that Canyon View could very well have been better than us. How embarrassing. We like lanyards that hang out of tux pockets, shoulder rests that fall off on stage, and bows that poke eyes out.

Old Navy decided to have a special. Halloween weekend, if you screamed you got twenty percent off an item. My ears are still ringing and my headache was everlasting. Not my cup of tea. Please don't ever come up with promotions like that again Old Navy. I'm begging here.

My grandparents came into town this weekend. I adore them in every way. My marriage will hopefully resemble theirs. And I want my love for the church to be as strong as theirs one day. They are phenomenal people, and both have dozens of qualities I envy and wish to obtain myself. I love them with all my heart. Visiting them, or them visiting me are always events that make it on to my top numbers list for the year.

Sadies Hawkins Dance. In my khaki pants. or poodle skirt...
Dressing up as a 50's chick was a lot more enjoyable than I anticipated. Pearl necklaces. folded over socks, waist high skirts that are 8 sizes too big for you. Nothing compares. But let's also be thankful for safety pins, scarves, cars, sweaters, and twirling abilities. However, being stroked on the face by a boy I can't recognize made me pee. Danny's lucky it didn't take me too long to decipher his features. I hate halloween, masks and wigs. I like to know who I'm around. I don't take to well to strangers and creeps.

The Oakland Raiders had a shut out against the Seahawks. My favorite was watching the game with fans from both teams. My poor Washington family.......

I finally decided on a major. It's a relief to finally know a little splice of my future... hopefully. Communications. I'm excited. I discovered this weekend that my great grandma was a babe back in her day. I had no idea, and I've never seen any pictures. My goal during school breaks for 2010 and 2011? Make a collection of memoirs and stories from my relatives. Everyone has a story to tell. I want to help tell it, make it known, and get a glimpse of a different life.

It's sort of kind of Christmas time. I'm stoked. Anyone else?