Of all the ridiculous: two years of sharing a head

Our anniversary celebration last year

Today is (sort of) the two year anniversary of the day Miri and I became friends. As per usual we will be celebrating by starting the movie that brought us together, My Man Godfrey, at midnight. Two years ago when my apartment was flooding and I was living on the boys' side of the Glenwood, Miri and her roommate Erin came to see who had moved in to what had been an empty apartment all year and found us. Erin didn't stay long, but Miri and I discovered that we were kindred spirits in the areas of books and movies, and she watched several movies on TCM with me that night. My Man Godfrey is a funny movie, but it is much better when it's late at night. It's that kind of movie.
At the time we didn't think we would ever get to be friends, because I was going home for the summer and Miri was planning to stay spring and then go home before trying to go to Jerusalem. Instead, she decided that she was burned out and needed a break, and after a few e-mails we decided that since we both lost all of our former roommates to marriage we would live together.
The rest, as they say, is history. Within the first week we were telling each other everything, and soon after that we became M&M - two halves of the same head. And a very funny head it was.

To commemorate the occasion, here are some amazing pictures from the last couple of years.Michael Lundwall made this sign for us after Rob Toft gave us our official title.

Before we moved downstairs we got bored easily.

Best way to beat the Single Awareness Day blues - throw a party and dress the same. I'm not sure why we ended up in the same outfit with reversed colors - I think it was an accident and we decided to help it along with the shoes.Our four-wheeling trip at the end of winter semester last year.

Some would say this is our best side. I'm pretty sure we were trying to hook up our internet cables (thank heavens for wireless!) and our roommate Alex caught us.

Our original mural - yay Drew!

Us right before a group date - we went out with two guys who are now engaged or very nearly so. Good times. At least we looked hot.

This was from a late night photo shoot in our room . . . before we started doing hideous things with our hair.

We like to play dress up.

A lot.

M&M in full glory. Jennie made there outfits for us for Christmas and we love them. We went around showing everyone who would look at us how awesome we looked.

Have you seen these faces?

Aw. I luuurve this girl. In a completely non-lezzy way. (Thank you Georgia. I never knew how to say it until you came along.)

And I'm going to stop myself there, because there are way too many amazing pictures to post.

Two years comes out to a lot of fun times and crappy times and crushes and stresses and all of the other wonderful things that come with college. I'm still grateful for the stupid flood so that I could experience all of those things with Miri. And now I'm so cheesy I can't even stand myself. Oh well.

Leap of Faith

Things I learned from CLAS Ropes yesterday:

• If someone named Cedric checks your harness, you'll be okay.
• It's harder to pull someone up than you might think.
• No matter how much your friends support and encourage you, ultimately you have to make the jump yourself.
• If you don't give up after a fall, you might be able to pull yourself back up.
• The leap is not as far as it looks, but you still might miss. Which is okay, because something or someone will catch you . . . eventually.
  

Acoustic Playlist

So for the last little while I've been listening to slightly harder music than usual - My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, etc. (Perusal of my iPod reveals that most of my music is still pretty chill, but I thought I was a little more punk than usual.) Anyway, this morning I'm trying to study and find myself becoming more interested in the acoustic music I'm listening to than anything else (say, studying.) So here it is, in no particular order (for example, Nick Drake and Alexi Murdoch should be more separated, because they are pretty much the same. But not.)

1)"Woke Up New" - The Mountain Goats
2)"Cathedrals" - Jump Little Children
3)"Honey and the Moon" - Joseph Arthur
4)"The Fear You Won't Fall" - Joshua Radin
5)"Travelin' Song" - Jackie Greene
6)"Hannah Hold On" - The Get Up Kids
7)"Valley Winter Song" - Fountains of Wayne
8)"Pretty (Ugly Before) - Elliot Smith (This may be one of my favorite songs of all time)
9)"Lizzy" - Ben Kweller
10)"Breakdown" - Jack Johnson
11)"First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes
12)"Cello Song" - Nick Drake
13)"Delicate" - Damien Rice
14)"Orange Sky" - Alexi Murdoch
15)"End of May" - The Actual Tigers
16)"New American Classic" - Taking Back Sunday
17)"Love is Everywhere" - Bob Schneider
18)"Just Getting By" - Catie Curtis
19)"Eye of the Hurricane" - David Wilcox
20)"Blue" - The Jayhawks
21)"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley
22)"When the Ice Goes Out" - John Gorka
23)"Comfortable" - John Mayer
24)"On Your Porch" - The Format (Snails EP version)
25)"Oh My Sweet Carolina" - Ryan Adams

That's it for now - no thematic similarities, just sound, sort of. Lots of old favorites here. Mmm...

Conflicted

So don't get me wrong . . . I really want to go to Phoenix.
But did Damien Rice have to come on the same day? Because that was just mean.

Curses.

Wearing a mask or refusing one?

Are we surprised? Naturally I'm not actually accomplishing anything on the first reading day. (I started on my editing assignment, but I got stuck and I'm taking a break.)
I'm wondering why I can't take myself seriously, or why I take myself too seriously. I'm not sure which it is. I was practicing for my triple swing test the other night, and my friend was trying to help me with styling - throw out the arm here, act flirty here, etc. During the change hands behind the back he was trying to get me to play with my hair, and friends, I couldn't do it.
I don't know why it's so impossible to act flirty in a dance, but I think it has something to do with my inability to flirt in real life . . . at least in any way that actually seems real. I feel ridiculous and like a poser and I just can't do it. I have no problem skedaddling and looking like an idiot, but I can't even pretend to act sexy. Why is that? Am I really that inhibited when it comes to this sort of thing?
And if that's the case, why did I sign up for another dance class?
I'm not sure if this post actually makes sense, nor am I sure why I'm posting it. But I think I am making myself look silly by trying not to look silly - like when they make you sing in church when you're in Young Women and you giggle so no one will actually think you take yourself seriously. Hmm.
I think this is why I love the polka.

Doubt Not, Fear Not

Yesterday was my official goodbye to Women's Chorus. Although I sincerely hope I can sing in another choir after graduation, I am already feeling the loss of this part of my life. I've been going strong with choir for six years now, ever sing I gave up orchestra after ninth grade, and I love it more than I usually realize when I'm just going to class every day.
We had our closing social last night and talked about our theme for the year, "Doubt not, fear not." It was definitely the theme of my year, and I thought about how choir always seems to give me a soundtrack that reveals truth to me. In honor of leaving, I'm going to post a list of things I learned from WC, serious and silly.

• Hope is a thing with feathers. (That one is for you, Katherine.)
• Eyeliner is not nearly as scary as it looks.
• I now have several hairstyles in my repetoire, and I am inventing them all the time. I've come a long way from the days when bobby pins completely baffled me.
• Little ways to flirt and flounce *ooh!* (Cringes while remembering singing "Popular." I still think it's wrong to sing that in a choir. Oh well.)
• How to be a train
• Sparkle is a good thing
  
• How to put on stage makeup without looking like a hooker. It took awhile.
• Listen louder than you sing.
• Trust your sisters
• No ugly mugly vowels
• Love your belly. Love it because it's round. Women are supposed to be round.
• It's prettier in tune.
  
• Peace comes dropping slow (Yeats)
• My future is unlimited
  
• How to eradicate breast cancer
• When the sun god gives you sight, don't hesitate. Just fly away.
• Wine when it runs in abundance enhances the reckless delight of the wildest of dances.
• One little maid is a bride - yum yum.
  
• I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so - some things I cannot change, but 'til I try I'll never know.
• This grace hath brought me safe thus far and surely grace will lead me home.
• I am a child of glory - I am born from above, my soul is filled with love.
  

The pure, the bright, the beautiful
that stirred our hearts in youth,
The impulses to wordless prayer,
The streams of love and truth,
The longing after something lost,
The spirit's longing cry,
The striving after better hopes--
These things can never die.

The timid hand stretched forth to aid
A brother in his need;
A kindly word in grief's dark hour
That proves a friend indeed;
The plea for mercy softly breathed,
When justice threatens high,
The sorrow of a contrite heart--
These things shall never die.

Let nothing pass, for every hand
Must find some work to do,
Lose not a chance to waken love--
Be firm and just and true.
So shall a light that cannot fade
Beam on thee from on high,
And angel voices say to thee--
"These things shall never die."
- Dickens

This is the short list. Truly, I have been changed for good.

So what happens now? (And by now I mean then)

Warning: Serious musings to follow.

Graduation is in the air, and although I am not graduating myself, I just registered for my last semester of actual classes before I do my student teaching, and I've been thinking quite a bit about the implications of leaving this place.
At first I was only thinking about the things I would miss: tonight I sing in my last Women's Chorus concert, and I know that once again I'm going to lose the close association of several amazing people in a matter of weeks. But I've also been thinking about what I'm going to so after graduation, when I actually have to make adult decisions for myself.
The thing is, although I definitely didn't come to BYU to get married, I don't think I actually expected to leave this place single. I realize that a lot can happen in a year, but so far very little has on that front . . . which is fine, but kind of messes up my plans. Or lack thereof.
I was talking to a friend who is in the same situation yesterday, and she said that the last few guys she has dated were planning on graduate school, so just assumed that she'd get her degree and start teaching to support him through that. Now she realizes that she needs to do what she wants - grad school, fellowships, missions . . . the possibilities are quite literally endless.
Which scares me, because suddenly I realize that I have no idea what I want. I am terrified to make decisions for myself, and I didn't think I would have to make them by myself.
I'm not afraid to be alone for a little longer, but can I really just get myself an apartment and start teaching high school, or is there something else for me to do? I honestly have no idea, but I'm glad I have some time to ponder and pray about this, because no matter what happens during the next year, I have to be prepared for this possibility.
I'm sorry to all of the people who have been listening to me talking about this for the last few days.

There's a reason it was a bestseller, and you haven't grasped it yet.

Today I finished reading Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and it was absolutely delightful. What didn't delight me was that I waited so long to read it because I wasn't incredibly impressed by the movie (and I'd never heard of the book until the movie came out.) It was fun, and the guy who plays Char is quite attractive, but it was kind of silly. Turns out they completely ruined the story! There is almost nothing in the movie that comes from the book, especially not the end. What on earth was going on with the crazy plotting uncle? Seriously!
I've decided that there should be an ordinance against making fantasy movies on low budgets and without someone who absolutely adores the book. (Lord of the Rings was a good fantasy movie because it had the right director/screenwriters and a HUGE budget, plus everyone working on the movie was dedicated to Tolkien's vision. I don't expect every movie to be on this scale, but honestly. If you can't do it right don't do it. And actually, Ella would have been easier the way it was written!) I realize that it's an adaptation, but that doesn't mean you have to change the entire (and already lovely) story.
I'm cringing at the thought that someone might do the same thing to Twilight. It could be good . . . but it could be so bad. Everyone keep your fingers crossed like two crossed things that they do it right or drop the project altogether.

Down With Dirty Books

I'm doing an assignment on censorship for my Adolescent Lit class, and I just looked up the list of 100 most frequently challenged books. There were quite a few on there that I'd read - I mean, Harry Potter was right there near the top, and the most challenged book is Scary Stories, which I'm pretty sure we all read in elementary school. My roommate Mandy just bought them in October to read to her 7th grade practicum class on Halloween. But my favorite challenge was number 88: Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford.
Where's Waldo?
Really?
I looked it up to see if I could find out why - apparently there is an "exposed woman" in the beach scene. It was changed in later editions, so don't worry.
Insidious book, bombarding our eyes with centimeter high naked cartoon women. Down with such trash! Burn it! Also Harry Potter. Evil!
My teacher had a different story. She said it was challenged because apparently there is a picture in which Waldo is looking in a mirror and he has no reflection! Meaning . . . what? He's a vampire? A devil? I prefer to believe the first story, if only because there is some actual case for objecting, but I wouldn't put it past those Harry Potter hating book burners. (I'm sorry, did that sound like an attack? Because it was.)

Yeah. Keep up the good work, people. Protect our children.

Nevermore!

I'm having some pretty awesome insomnia right now, so I thought I'd tell you about the amazing class I just signed up for. I can't wait for fall semester! Mostly I'll be taking a million English Ed classes - teaching reading, teaching writing, teaching English, blah, blah, blah. I have my practicum and classroom management to look forward to - what larks. BUT WAIT! I'm also signed up for racquetball (Beginning) and social dance (Intermediate, and mostly because I couldn't talk myself into two sports classes in one day - dance is usually a little more laid back than basketball or jogging.) But the class I am most excited about is my senior course. Most of the senior courses are about things like culture and the canon, Utopian literature, whatever. Yawn. (Just kidding. I'm sure these classes are all very fascinating in their own way. Just not as cool as the one I'm actually taking.) I was sad at first that Tolkien and Friends in Film was the same time as a class I have to take that is only offered once, but then I saw it, the class to end all classes: Hitchcock and Poe!!!
I'm not sure this is quite as exciting to all of you as it is to me, but I ADORE both of these creepy, disturbed men, and I can't imagine a better way to finish off my time at BYU than with a class dedicated to both! Watch out on Halloween - I'm going to have some major ammunition this year.
This almost makes up for the fact that I can't do choir in the fall - I wouldn't be able to take this class if I were going to be singing every day, because at least one day is at 3, and one day goes late, probably so we can watch Hitchcock movies. I hope so.
Now, please, please say I'll finally be able to get to sleep . . .

Phoenix, Here We Come!

Well, we had a moment of panic earlier this week when we found out that the Eclipse Prom sold out in about six hours, but they decided to hold two, and we got our name on the waiting list immediately. Jennie just got the tickets, so never fear! We are on our way to Tempe one month from today for a weekend of fan-girlie glory and frills.
(If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, don't worry. You probably don't want to know.)

Conference Goodness

Okay, I realize that most of the spiritual insights and so forth are not really blog fare, but the more pedestrian aspects of the weekend are. So here we go.

• Hands down best thing ever: "Hit me again, I can still hear you." - Elder Holland
• "Nothing is so bad that whining about it will not make it worse." - Elder Holland
• Elder Bednar's Parable of the Pickle
• "The new benches are just as hard as the old ones." - President Hinckley
• President Hinckley saying that he's in good health despite rumors to the contrary, and he might outlive some of us.
• Whoever quoted the line "Man your ship manfully."
• While watching afternoon session with Jonathan and Sebastian:

Jonathan: Whoa, what's homeboy reading there? (Someone behind President Faust appeared to be reading something while President Faust was speaking.)
Me: Isn't that President Monson?
Jonathan: Um, well, uh . . .
Me: Did you just call President Monson "homeboy?"

• Sebastian Hoffman's comment during Saturday afternoon session pertaining to why none of us were taking many notes: "It's good and all, but I'm not thinking, 'Wow! I need to make changes in my life so I can be more like the Tabernacle!" (Yes, Jonathan, Sebastian and I probably should have been struck by lightning, but we were sitting on the CCCs - conference concussion couches - so we should be forgiven for making every effort to stay awake and alert.)
  

• The text series between Jonathan and me on Saturday night, as follows:

Me: Jonathan, don't forget to man your ship manfully.
Jonathan: Indeed, how could I forget?!? Just work on being more like the tabernacle and I'll man the ship.
Me: Yes, but where will I get an aluminum hat?
Jonathan: That might be tricky. Just be grateful it's not copper anymore!
(We had a discussion earlier about whether or not the old roof was copper because I thought I remembered it being green when it needed to be cleaned. My parents say I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm not funny with what comes next.)
Me: But if it were at least my head would be arthritis free! (Or something like that. My grandma used to wear copper bracelets because it was supposed to ward off arthritis.)
Jonathan: Oh Megan. Wow. need I say more? . . . Wow.

• All of Elder Perry's "We declare to the world"s
• Two words: Yoshihiko Kikuchi
• Elder Uchtdorf: "There is always a point of safe return."
• Sister Parkin asking if there is anywhere in the world where women have more freedom, etc. I answer with a resounding no, not anywhere! I love it.
• The cakes I decorated between sessions on Sunday - one Superman, one Batman.
• Spence: Cooper, what are your ears like? Cooper: "Flappy" (or floppy, depending on how you hear it) proceeds to flap his ears with his fingers.
• Elder Holland's superb use of parallel structure.
• Priesthood session = ultimate ladies night. Yay for shopping and glorified salad bars that boys hate. :)
  

Conference weekend is amazing. I hope you all enjoyed it greatly.