I can hear it in the past: Part II

After a plethora of positive comments on my last post, it's clear to me that my readers want more.  I was going to hold off a bit for the presentation of part two of updates, but it is obvious that the world cannot wait.

Thus, nor will I.  So, onto the updates:

I left Provo.  My last time through the 12687, the final quickening of my pace as I pass the Benson (not looking, of course), and my reluctant last step and it's accompanying moment of hesitation, as I leave BYU campus.

I'll admit it, I was consciously aware that I was being dramatic as I did all these things.

But isn't life more fun that way?

Also, can I just say that saying goodbye to people is one of my least favorite things since global warming?  But it does have the upside of helping you realize how much you like everything about your day to day life that is boring and normal, like the people you see everyday and the places you go, along with the things you do.

Leaving Provo hurt my heart.  What healed my heart was my immediate trip to...

I can hear it in the past

Sitting here listening to K-son's frequent gagging noises (yes, he's been sick the past few days) reminded me I haven't given updates for a while.   Ya'll deserve some highlights since WINTER SEMESTER ended.  Ugh.  Winter semester; it seems like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.  Don't get me wrong, I had an enjoyable Jan-April, but I definitely have enjoyed a homework-less May and June.  On to the updates.

For some reason, the "GOOD" in capital letters always feels like the biggest accomplishment.  And I left the bottom part of my picture on purpose so you'd believe me, ok?  Next update.

13.1 miles.  Woot.
And I liked this picture too.

Fun!

I read through my journal entry about the occasion and found this:

"Here's some things I learned:

-Running 13.1 miles isn't easy.  

-All shapes and sizes can run 13.1 miles

-Training first is a good idea

-2 hours is a long time to entertain your brain

    Yeah, and a lot of other things, but I'm tired right now.  Why am I tired?  Because after we finished the half marathon (Kelli, her Dad, and I ran) Kevin, Kim, Emily, Kelli, and I all went and floated the river in a raft.  For 3 hours.  And we didn't even stop for breakfast first.  AND not only did we float the section of the river that the raft company wanted us to, but we went on for probably an additional 25 minutes....until we'd confirmed that we missed our stop and would have to call the rafting company to come down and get us.  Hahaha.  It was fun though.  So, once again, we found ourselves driving home, sun setting, music pumping, (but this time people were sleeping) and I was VERY hungry.  Food has never tasted so good.  And my legs have never had such trouble walking."

It was a quality weekend, spent in a quality place, with quality people.  Bless the Brown family, with their supplies of dressing-less salad!  Also, I decided for my readers sake, the rest of the updates are going to have to come at a later point in time.  Stay tuned.

If you say so, walkie talkie.

Running late => take car rather than bike

Take car => find parking spot on campus

Find parking spot on campus => why not attempt to park in visitors parking?

Maybe they'll miraculously wave me by like last time.  (Yes, that day was a good one.)

Or maybe he'll stop me, ask if I'm a student, (I'm going on a mission...so that means no, right?) ask if I'm taking classes in the fall (no, siree) and then ask me for identification because, after all,  I am pretty shady looking.

And into his little walkie talkie:  "Can I have a BYU Affiliation check?  Yes, that's N as in ninja...Jo is the middle name"...and so on.

I'm thinking: "Oh, great."
 

A pause.  Then the walkie talkie gives me the best news I've heard all school year:  "She's just graduated."

And then he gives me best news of the day: "Go ahead."

Unexpectedly being graduated is fun.  Go Cougarzzz.

If I get old, I WILL BE THIS AWESOME.

сестра Parker

I like to ride my bike.

She likes to ride her bike.

Thus, I will make a great sister missionary.  Get ready, because starting June 16, I'll be sending you guys sexy pictures like this home in the mail:

Oh yeah, and did I mention RUSSIA, ST. PETERSBURG?

Lots of hunger.

MY MOST SELFISH DESIRE:  To stumble upon an all expense paid trip for me, my family, and my chill buds to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  I find myself subconsciously hungering for this.  Or even just go to South Africa during this time to witness the insane excitement that surrounds it.  If any of you have any hook-ups, feel free to hook.  Me.  UP!

Also, the Hunger Banquet is come and gone.  For those of you who weren't aware, I participated as a volunteer.  We helped set up, welcomed guests, served food and the like.  Leading up to the event, I often wondered to myself why I was wasting my time at the planning meetings, why I wore a sign on my backpack ("Ask me about the hunger banquet") and even if I would actually show up the nights I was supposed to help.

Well, I'll tell you.  I am SO glad that I helped.  The fun had, people inspired and money raised aside, I have discovered even more deeply MY passion for international development, and reaffirmed my role in helping the human race get "one inch better."

The combo of my world cup day dreams and the hunger banquet caused me to listen to this song  on repeat for the past few days (it's the theme song for the World Cup).  I think the song is great, and I love the excitement of the masses of people at the concert in this video.




Among other news, I've been working on my mission papers.  I called up my mother the other day in need of a photo I can send into THE BRETHREN.  Well, she felt a little low on options, but eventually came up with this:

Oh.  How sweet.  But do me a favor, and look at the original.

Ha.  Yes, that's a sunburn!  On a scale from 1 to 10, how obvious is that on the B&W version?

Well, happy Fast Sunday everybody.

I found this in my pocket today.  It's from at least 3 months ago and made me very glad.

I received this shortly before valentines day, in response to a lame picture text of "Will you be my valentine?"  Talk about being one-upped.

I like this a) for obvious reasons, and b) because I could take it as  - "being your valentine isn't socially acceptable."  Ha!  Funny and sweet.  The best kind of valentine.

I wish it was common in our culture to say "God bless."  I think it is such a nice thing to say.

I remember my Parker grandparents, who are Catholic, saying it to me when I was younger.  Because I didn't know what to say back, I'd just respond, "you too."

Yup.

Exceeding Expectations?

What am I allowed to expect from and require of other people?

This is a question I have found myself coming back to and wrestling over and over with, for at least the past 2 years, if not past 3.

Some real-world examples:
Is it fair for me to expect a returned phone call?
Is it fair for me to expect my friends to _____? (You fill in the blank: invite me, ask me how my day was, etc...)
Is it fair for me to expect people to keep their word?

These types of questions torment me most when I find myself feeling unjustified or unhappy with somebody or some situation.

After this thought process, I always come to the conclusion that it is best not to expect anything out of anybody, because then I'll never be disappointed.  After all, I didn't expect them to _____, so then I don't have to be mad.

But I think this is incorrect.  I just don't know why.

Comments from my (ahem, 2) readers are, dare I say it, expected?

Today I discovered wheat thins are the culprit for making my intestines feel like they house an overly active hamster.  It's more fun imagining this as my innards anyways.

Also, I think the kid who gets this is lucky, because he or she will feel like the owner of a happy hamster.

The Schematics of Serious Swimming

Friday morning, 5:45 am.  I awake from my restful 4 hours of sleep.  I roll out of bed, pull on my sweats, brush my teeth, make the decision to skip shaving my legs, grab my only swimsuit, (despite the fact that it is 2 seasons old, very stretched out, has little lumps of crumbled fabric as makeshift cups, AND is a 2-piece, which is not allowed), and hop in the car.  I pick up Emily, and we arrive at the RB shortly after 6.

Ah, the early hours of the morning.  I love them.  Really.

Upon arrival, I find out that the RB has recently ceased to lend out swim suits, but still enforce their 1-piece rule with t-shirts.  I couldn't be happier.

Banking on the lifeguard not noticing my 2-piece, I go  to the bathroom and begin to change.  While I'm changing, Emily comes over and tells me through the stall door that she just realized that she is wearing 2 suits (swimmers do that for the added resistance) and I could wear one of hers.  Emily is over 6 feet tall.  I am not.  Thus, we decided it would be best for modesty reasons for me to wear hers over mine.  Imagine a larger, more saggy version of this:

over this:

But wait, I was too cheap to buy the shorts that came with the picture above.  So I've got these babies from walmart under the one piece.

Layer all of that, add some goggles, and you've got sexy, modest, swimmin' NJP.

The swimming itself was less comical, but more embarrassing... 

A) We had to butt our way in and share lanes with other swimmers that weren't too happy to have us join.  Not to mention that I found out mid-workout that the two people in MY lane were the top BYU triathelete and a key member of the BYU triathlon club.

B) Emily's comment of, "if you learned proper technique, you'd be pretty good!"  As if my pride wasn't already dwindling by a thread.

C) I couldn't swim 2 laps consecutively without stopping to rest.  Maybe it was the added resistance?

Font & Murder Movies...

Due to my general lack of movie knowledge, I realize that I'm probably not the person for this job.  That being said, here are two movie reviews:

Helvetica
Helvetica is a font, as well as the name of this movie.  This was my favorite part:

Isn't that man great?! He's so passionate about Helvetica.  Besides that little clip, I found the movie interesting, considering it's an 80 minute film about a font.

Although I'm not artsy, I could tell the movie was and decided it would probably really appeal to some of my artsy/advertising friends, like Jimmy and Dane.  It had some beautiful shots of beautiful places, and had history, facts, effects, etc of fonts.  All good things.  But after 45 minutes, I decided to call it good because I was feeling saturated with font-talk and antsy to do something more beneficial with the remaining hours in the day.  Probably 2.5 stars out of 5.

The Lovely Bones

This movie was absolutely riveting.  From cowering and covering my eyes, to wishing I grew up in the 70's, to barely on the edge of my seat, this movie took me more places in 135 minutes than any other movie I've encountered. 

I loved all the little details and all the symbolism.  I loved the portrayal of her family, and their individual dealings with the situation.  I loved Susan Sarandon.  Most of all, I loved the unusual amount of truth it contained.

Despite all of this, I can't say it was particularly enjoyable.  The movie is about a pedophile.  Yes, a pedophile.  It made me want to vomit.  Multiple times.  No way would I want to watch it more than well, twice.  It left both my Mom and I both with headaches.  Despite this, I think it's a must see for ALL girls and anybody that has a girl they care about.  Hopefully that's all of you.  Go see it.  Maybe even talk to Kelli, she'll tell you how to watch it for free.

Oh yeah, 4.6 out of 5.

Soccer, the sport of all sports.

I felt like this a few times during my soccer game today. 
No, not like an angry wild cave woman.
Rather, a little unnecessarily beat up by the opposing team.
But isn't it fun to remember this ferocious little all-star from 2009?
I thought it was a good excuse.
(Just in case you don't remember...here you go.)