Auld Lang Syne

It's a new year.

2011. I've been counting on this year since elementary. The year I would become an adult. It's coming. in a matter of days it'll be the year where I'm thrown into the world and forced to learn life on my own. Cross your fingers I don't blow myself up trying to cook something or plug something in.

2010 has been good to me. We've become dear friends. I've made many new companions, shared tears with dear friends. Had my heart broken more than once. Broken my own heart, learned to love Christ even more. Shared enough laughs to fill the world. Grown inseparable to Katy. Turned 18. Was blessed by all those who care for me. Survived half of my senior year. Worked an uncountable amount of hours at Old Navy. and I watched my dear life-long friend graduate and grow up. She's beautiful. I can only dream to grow up to be like her. Becca, I will never forget the smile on your face as you walked, or your speech. You're my role model.

I was scared this year. Knowing college is swiftly approaching and my money being scarce I didn't and still don't know how I'm going to get through college. But with prayer and faith I can get through. Things are already falling into place. My ACT score took a huge jump up, and I'm already getting accepted into some schools. I'm still scared, but I have a deep feeling things will turn out o.k.

I'm graduating. I'm not old enough, mature enough, or ready enough. Ask my friends. I'm still 5 years old. This is strange. And I have a pretty good feeling I'll tear up when I see myself in a cap and gown.

2011. I will strive to be sweeter, kinder and more considerate of others. I hope to be closer to Christ. I wish to achieve bravery;something I've always lacked but always wished I could have. I will see the beauty in every day, rather than trucking through the rough ones and wishing for the good ones to come back again. Every day will be a blessing to me.

Happy New Year. I hope your 2011 is all you want it to be and more.

You Belong With Me

Taylor Swift.

I watch a lot of movies, and it came to my realization today that the starring couple has one amazing reason or another for their being together. Or not. Some have separate story lines where you bite your nails for the 90 minutes waiting for them to realize their obvious love. And others have already found each other but their activities with one another seem to interest us.

John Case and Linda. Children in grown up bodies trapped in a restraining rich world.

Heathcliff and Cathy. Childhood playmates and teenage sweethearts. Their personalities live within one another.

Jenna and Matt. Another perfect example of childhood playmates and teenage sweethearts.

As much as I hate to admit it, Noah and Allie. He helps her find who she truly is. Shows her a life she never knew.

Sam and Jake Ryan. He sees her sweet beauty behind her shy cover.

And then there's the other stories.

The Last song. Why are they together? How did they end up together? In a real life situaiton would a beach volleyball player really chase after the rude, grungy teenager? I doubt it.

Charlie St. Cloud. Why does he go after her? Because he has hallucinations about her. Someone please explain how that would be a good start to a relationship.

Annakin and Padame. Umm... Enough said I believe.

The Holiday's Kate and Jack. She's brilliant and sweet. He's well, Jack Black. Creepy and off. Why are they together?

And I'm not a fan of the one night stands turning into true love.... Doubtful to happen.

Some couples belong together. Some don't. So why do scriptwriters put in those couples that have absolutely nothing in common besides the infatuation they have for each other. It makes for a crummy love story and unrealistic movie.
I should be a movie critic.

If You Were Here

Thompson Twins. Sixteen Candles.

Easily one of my favorite movies of all time. 3 cheers for Christmas presents.

Watching 80's movies always makes me wonder, what did the 80's really look like? I have a hard time picturing it looking like now but with people wearing different clothes, driving different cars, that sort of thing. I think about the 80's and can only imagine things as a movie shows it. With a soft glow around everyone you come across. It's like as time went by, our eyes achieved better resolution. eyesight and color clarity became more and more clear as each year passed. This is a highly unlikely case, but I honestly cannot see it any other way. And I probably won't until the second coming.

And let's be honest here, all girls wish for a boy from the 80's. Our own Jake Ryan. Where the most attractive, popular boy in school leaves his gorgeous girlfriend and chases down falls for the awkward love-struck sophomore. If only every love story could start and end like Jake and Sam's.

I've fallen in love with the 80's. Someone take me.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

The little girl on the radio. I only wish to have such a unique voice as hers.

Twas the night before Christmas....
I personally feel this day to be more festive and heart warming than Christmas day itself. We all love the presents, but it's the activities we participate in the night before that make it Christmas.

I had to work. Not too shabby on Christmas Eve. Nobody shops. We're all funny, it's quite a party and things are thrown. My ray of sunshine co-worker is smitten. Not a big deal. He's gorgeous so it's fine.

I had to miss dinner, but it's ok they saved me some grub. Being the seafood junkies we are, my family had salmon. To die for salmon. What else do we do? Play games. Such as oh well. It's a crack up time when some of us don't know what we're doing. But it's me, when do I ever know what I'm doing? And I had to get that trait from someone and I believe it to be the Webb side of the family.

Pictionary. None of us can draw. Fabulous combination. This game leads to yelling and pictures of boats with men who were supposed to resemble that of a birds nest. Like I said, the artistic gene got scooped from the pool. Christmas Bingo. I didn't win, but then again the calling cards and the cards on the papers weren't the same. Hard to win that way. We're a very organized and efficient family.... But we're quite loveable.

We don't act out the nativity but we read the scriptures. You wouldn't want to act it out either if your 200+ pound brother asks to be baby Jesus. He will go far.

This post is meant to humor me more than any of you. It's 1 a.m. and I can hear Santa downstairs. No way am I sleeping. Perhaps this will make the time pass quicker.

Katy

So, now that she's 18 and can kiss boys.... oh wait. We can't find a boy for her to kiss. Don't blame her? I sure don't. No offense to the male population around here, but the qualifiers are few and far between.

Except one.

I found him and he is perfect for my best friend. I will be spending all of next week conjuring potions and doing dances for the relationship gods so that this may work out for the both of them. I ask you all to cross your fingers.

Santa Clause is Coming To Town

Pick whom you prefer.

It's Christmas Adam. Get it? Took me a while too. I had never heard that before in my life and then all of a sudden I hear it from 4 different people in one day. Someone please explain to me how that always happens.

It's a no school 2 weeks. Which means I don't have to see the people who push my buttons for 2 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly miss more than a countable amount of people who I see more than once a day and now never see. This situation doesn't seem to be going in my favor. Unless planned, the only people I've run into that have put a smile on my face would be Jill and 2 others. Other than that I have ran into a grand total of 9 people over these few days that at school I prefer to avoid. This paragraph isn't very nice. But it's truth. I'm on a break from school and the people there as well. Please stop running into me.

We like Christmas lights, mcdonalds hot chocolate because starbucks is closed at nine-thirty(explain that one to me), putting phones under car tires, and teasing. Oh the joy of a double date.

Becca is easily my number one person at this moment. Not only do I love having her back in town, and shoveling in the dark with her, but she posted some rather marvelous songs on her blog. She made my day. Please don't be offended if I use them.

I hope you all have a marvelous Christmas eve and Christmas day.

It's the End of the World

R.E.M. I will probably regret this when 2012 hits, but as mentioned before, there's a replay button on music players for a reason.

There was a lunar eclipse tonight. It's also Winter Solstice. Something cool had to happen tonight right? Some strange legend had to have been told if this were to happen right? Wrong. If anyone know any though, please let me know. I'm quite curious.

My mom asked my dad if it meant anything, he said, probably not. But it hasn't happened for 430 some odd years, so that has to count for something right? It might have, but the overcast got in the way. Silly weather. Oh don't worry though it snowed. Glorious.

So no, nothing came of this planet alignment type of occurrence tonight. I personally wished Titans would have been unlocked, the planet to stop turning, some glitch in space and time taking us all back to the 1920's. Something of that sort. But oh well, at least we got snow.

Friday I'm In Love

The Cure. Hooked. I told you.

There's just those moments and people that make you feel good.

-Not having to pay at Wendy's. Some cashiers are quite saintly.
-Watching video clips instead of working. We like managers who put in their 2 weeks notice.
-People who work for 26 hours straight. Probably the funniest thing I've seen in a while.
-Getting asked to dances I didn't even know existed. Clever way to ask. Took me longer than it should have. I'm probably not very bright.
-Hugs from a best friend I haven't seen in so long. There's nothing better.
-Seminary guides on how to really experience Christmas.
-Silent Christmas lessons
-People who spend 400 dollars on angel trees. Blessed.
-Violin teachers who threaten to spank if we don't practice over the break.
-Giving 2nd chances
-Getting pushed off the loading dock. That was graceful.
-Running into Katy at the mall. I'm so used to being with her that it's an odd feeling to see her somewhere we didn't previously plan to meet. Doesn't happen often.

Count your blessings. Count the angels you see throughout your day.

Blue Christmas

Elvis, obviously. What's with all this rain?

Fleece. It seems to be my sworn enemy as of late.

Remember the days when you always got a fleece zip up for Christmas? And you wore it everywhere? I remember those days. And I'm glad they're now just a memory. I hate folding fleece, bagging it, organizing it, anything. The texture makes my hands feel like they're being cut over and over again. It's like folding broken glass. Rub fleece against fleece. You might as well scratch your nails on a chalkboard. Don't buy or wear fleece. You can buy the good stuff. But not the fake 5 dollar kind. It's like wearing cardboard.

I forget how crazy the holidays can get. Today I remembered. I've never seen the mall so busy. Or state street for that matter. I'm glad I'm basically done with all my shopping. I don't like brushing up against random smelly strangers everywhere I turn. Not my cup of tea. I'd rather buy Christmas presents in July thank you very much.

These are probably the only downsides to my holiday season. That and working Christmas eve. But we can't win them all right?

Just Like Heaven

The Cure. I'm on a cure kick. They pop up in my music in between the Christmas songs.

Only one more day. One more day of school until my two week break. And although a break might seem appealing, thinking of all the tasks I'm needing to accomplish frightens me. So we're going to leave that part out. You can infer what you wish.

Leaving school today felt like heaven. No more debates in government. I get too excited and passionate about things that don't cross my mind for the majority of my life. Odd. But it's over, so I don't have to worry about what I'm going to say next. I made some enemies, made some friends. And there's only 2 weeks left of the class. But that's not until 2o11. So we're not stressing about it.

No more AP English for 2 weeks. Heaven. Need I say more? If you're a victim in this class you understand. Props to Braden for being profound.

No physics homework for 2 weeks. No more over-my-head theories. Bliss. But leave it to Broadbent to find the most complex and confusing episode from NOVA for us to watch to close off the day. String theory? More than 3 dimensions? I'll ask my dad about it later when I have time. But for now I'll just let it blow over my head.

We like radio. And chips, dip and soda. And balloons. Band presentations are fantastic. Covey always blows my mind with his knowledge of obscure bands. This is what got me started on The Cure.

Work is work. We're funny.

Becca is home! I saw her car on the way home from school and nearly wet myself.

I wish I could live in the 80's. With big, messy hair, countless pairs of converse, crunchy jeans, and the best music of all time. I was born in the wrong decade.

12 Days of Christmas

I do realize that I'm a couple days too late for this, but it had to happen at one point didn't it?

There's only 10 days until my favorite day. We're in the climax of Christmas wonder, and there's only 3 school days until break. Life is lovely. However, my sympathies go out to all the college children. I don't understand finals, but I'm glad I'm not there yet.

I wish Utah would realize what day it really was and stop having spring weather. I'm ready for snow and the chilly breeze. Boys shouldn't be able to skateboard down the street in shorts and no jackets in the middle of December.

Christmas music is at it's peak. This is where you all start to get a little tired of it am I right? Hang in there, because come July, you will all be begging for it back.
Boys truly make my day when they play a Christmas song just for you live on the radio during class. As Grinchy as he might be, Austin has a soft side.

Choir concerts also tend to bring in the yuletide spirit. I love bobbing heads, overly happy smiles, and Christmas trees that fall over before their cue. I'm also extremely jealous that choir gets a full house, and Orchestra/Band has to scrounge for a third of an auditorium. We sound good too. I promise....

I'm truly loving this time of year. I just wish the weather would too...

Picture a Christmas

Who doesn't love listening to this song performed/yelled by 30ish Primary Children?

I wish I could picture Christmas, but the Christmas I like to picture consists of mounds of snow already on the ground with big flakes peacefully falling... Thanks Utah....

It's hard to picture Christmas when I'm working so much. But there's been more than a few customers who mention they are buying for a giving tree or sub for Santa. My hat goes off to you. Thank you for forgetting commercialism and seeing the true meaning.

It's also hard to picture a Christmas when I'm so busy with school. But it gets easier when you spend time with Charlotte. She's the most Christlike figure I know. I want to grow up to be a Charlotte. " I feel uncomfortable saying unhappy things... Can we all say something nice?" "Oh my gosh, I'm a hypocrite, I was just wasting time..." "Random thought, you're cute, and I wish I could be like you." All quotes from her this afternoon. I do hope she sees how badly we all strive to be like her. She's a beautiful person. And shines with the true meaning of Christmas year round.

It's also hard to picture Christmas when you have to stress to prepare to be a solo feature in a Cantata. Yes, it's a Christmas one, but I seem to lose the meaning of the melody and focus on the notes, dynamics and shifting... Upsetting. I also wish I was more comfortable sharing my violin talent. Although I don't feel like I'm good enough to consider it a talent, I feel like I don't play enough for people. It's a talent in progress that God blessed me with, it would be Christmas-like to share it with others. So... ask me I guess? We will see if I say yes... But I guarantee I won't be playing in my seminary Christmas talent show.

Picture your perfect Christmas. I guarantee it will include more than presents, trees and snow.

No Song Needed

People are fantastic. So is life. But we all have our ups and downs.

Ups
-Dances without dates. We like social butterflies
-Boys who dance like Michael Jackson
-Boys who sing identical to Shakira
-Christmas lights
-District Orchestras
-Censorship debates. And winning censorship debates
-Orchestra concerts
-Boys who play Debussy
-People who can pronounce Debussy
-Jill in the purple dress
-watching Katy get thrown around in a mosh pit
-Whipping hair back and forth
-Neck pain
-brand new tights with holes
-The girl who's always always happy no matter what, she's always excited to see you. I need to find out how she does it.
-Birthdays. 18th ones to be specific
-my genius present ideas
-Moon river
-Audrey Hepburn
Downs
-never enough time
-getting lost
-honestly thinking your car was stolen
-identical provo streets and architectural designs
-district orchestra not being nearly as good or exhausting as last year
-dry ice that falls down your shirt
-people that find convenient times to talk to you, other times you may as well be wallpaper
-ACT's
-senioritis
-missing old friends
-absolutely no treats in the house. It's Christmastime isn't it?

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Take your pick of your favorite arrangement. But let's be honest, the classic movie's arrangement of this song simply cannot be bested.

We like long weeks. No, that doesn't describe it, we like weeks that could possibly last the span of one's life. Lucky me it's Thursday. However with the ACT on Saturday, this week just might not ever end. But every thorn has a rose.

Mine just happened to be the senior dinner/dance. Wasn't really planning on going, especially since the district orchestra had the first rehearsal at that same time. But Katy and I decided to let our inner rebels come forth and we ditched orchestra for this dance. All the while afraid that it wasn't going to be worth it. But you can all stop worrying, it was worth it.

Jill And Bre came with us, a car of 4 girls. Nothing better right? Well, that's how it was supposed to be. But I got sidetracked at Macey's and left from the store late. So we arrived late. Fashionably late. It was more of a statement than an accident...

Prizes. Nothing better right? Who doesn't love a good raffle. Me. I never win. However last night I was blessed to win a UVU t-shirt. You're all jealous I know. But I'd rather that than a car wash from 2 boys on student council or a kiss from the student body vp....

The food? Not worth the 15 I paid.... What did we like best about the dinner? The drink.

The dance? Well worth the 15. The cost weeded out the lames who simply stand on the dance floor. It eliminated the kids who judge the tall white girls who flail rather than dance. We were all flailing, no funny looks from anyone. It was rather enjoyable. My favorite part was the smelly teenagers all moshing in a room with 0 windows. But really, it was by far the best dance I had attended. Now let's all go whip our hair back and forth.

Why'd I pick old Rudy for my song choice? Well, if you've read my later posts you'd know my main talent is getting lost. Did you think it was possible to get lost driving back from the Provo library? Oh it is. And to make my talent shine even brighter I lost my car. The drive home and walk to the car was quite an adventure. Why those 3 girls let me drive I will never know.

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

I attest this song. But it fits my evening.

Family Night. I will always love this weekly adventure. The highlight always being the awful choir my little family makes. Angels We Have Heard On High? The Alleluias? Yeah, Von Trapp Family Choir for sure....

We decorated the Christmas Tree. Something I always love. It's a little bit different now that all the homemade, and toy-like ornaments stay in their box to let the color coordinated glass shapes have their turn. Each toy, paper wreath, small dolls, and so on, they all have a weirdly special place in my heart. Gus, the happy meal ornament my mom got at McDonald's way before I was born was always the envied guy, the 3 of us would fight all night as to who got to hang him. The wooden characters. Some on a swing, others on a bunk bed. Some of my favorites. And let's not forget all the picture frames we made in elementary school. Yes, the new ornaments make our tree look elegant and completely Christmas. With the angels, glitter, stars and shine you can't go wrong. But every once and a while I miss the cluttered messy tree from years past.

Make decorating your tree a big deal. You're hanging memories around for your visitors to see.

Fetching

"So I don't need to fetch him?" "if you can get him to re-think and come then yes, you're very fetching, so go, fetch away.

Fetching, it's quite a word, a new favorite of mine. When someone says they're fetching something it truly makes my day. 1 they sound educated, I'm not sure why but they do. 2 they sound old fashioned. I adore old fashioned anything.

Someone described as fetching? I picture them looking something like Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, or Grace Kelly. Need I say more? Being described as fetching is quite a compliment in my book.

Please don't use fetch as a pretend cuss word. It takes all the elegance out of the word and makes you sound strange. Use something else please. Good grief should suffice.

Hello Seattle

Owl City. What? No Christmas? No worries to those of you who, like me, overly obsess about this time of year. It fits. Kind of.

Katy is turning 18 on Tuesday. Ha she has no idea what she's in for. Because of this special occasion her parents took her to dinner to Market Street Grill. Why they keep asking me to tag along I'll never know. They're fantastic that family. Katy especially. Ever been to Market Street Grill? Me either. But it smells like Seattle. A lot. I'm sure in reality it only smells like fish and salt, but to me that's Seattle. And I'm ok with that. As delicious and perfect as the night was, I was truly missing Washington the entire meal and drive home. Katy's parents didn't help when they asked where my mom was from. Washington. I miss the enormous amounts of snow that seem to accumulate there. I miss the sound of all the rivers. I miss Christmas town.

Leavenworth. It's Christmas town. Look it up. I miss all the lights and how pretty it looks covered in snow. Sadly I won't be able to spend Christmas up there this year. Partly because Old Navy has captured me. It's fine though.

I guess I'd rather be anywhere but here right now though. Anywhere but Orem. SLC, Vegas, Idaho, I'd even go for Provo. Just get me out of my daily routine.

Tangent:Food Babies. Some of us have them, some of us can try all we want but will never be blessed with them.

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch.

Yes, I did meet my scrooge the other day.

He despises Christmas, which I find a little funny considering he's a holiday hire. I would like the holidays if that happened to me. But he's sick of Christmas before December. I felt like I was hearing swear words when he told me this. So from then on I have called him either grinch or scrooge. However he calls me Brenna-lu-who. I feel like I'm receiving a compliment.... Perhaps.

I'm not closing at work tonight, and for some odd reason I feel like I'm missing out. Odd, considering the late hours that I hate having to stay for. Perhaps it was learning how to throw whip cream while keeping the shape in tact. or hearing a true honest to goodness fairytale. Let me elaborate.

She has a missionary who she's madly and adorably in love with. And from what I hear of his letters and videos, he loves her just as much if not more. They're getting married. I feel like her story should be written down in a story book for Disney to make into a movie. Her real life happily ever after makes me feel good inside. Although she's a bright ray of sun in my life, and she always makes me feel good inside.

Let's keep the Christmas spirit going please. Katy even found me instant snow in a can, I'm saving it until I truly need some Christmas Spirit. Probably July or so.

Still Still Still

The only good versions of this song are: Instrumental, Vienna Boys Choir.

I walked outside this morning at the joyous time of 6:20. To my wonder I found that it was lightly snowing. Not the heavy, big flakes, but the small, light ones. It was magnificent. And I forget this every winter, but there is nothing better than the silence that comes along with snowfall. Especially in the morning. Night snow is different. You still have the hustle bustle noise of cars and people buying present and participating in activities with each other, and EVERYONE seems to be in a hurry. In the morning the cars are few and far between, nobody is racing to their destination, and the light is hitting the snow and clouds just right to make the scenery that much more gorgeous. Not to mention I was heading to a violin lesson, that probably helped considerably with my mood.

Snow puts me in this blissful mood all day, do what you want to me, but it won't be changed. I might have fallen asleep in stats, I might have gotten frustrated in orchestra, I might have not practiced as much as I should have during independent music, and I might not have been as reverent as I should have been in seminary, but I was happy. That's all that matters right? Ha, ask my teachers that question.

Take a long breath next time you step out into falling snow and just admire the beauty around you.