mysterious mishaps!

I thought today would be another day in which nothing happened. I was so wrong! After an afternoon in the library and a top secret meeting, I began a long walk home. While walking I discussed between my alter egos questions such as why anyone would build a house this short (yes that is the ground and not some kind of second grassy roof):

 

Unable to solve the mystery, I dropped in at A1 driving to inquire about finally getting my license. Unfortunately, no one there paid any attention to me, and after trying unsuccessfully to figure out if any of the people there were actually staff and not just students, I gave up and left.

Once home I watched two movies: Tara Road (very good) and Sleepless in Seattle (fine, but thoroughly unconvincing). When I watch movies on my own, I turn on subtitles and then watch in fast forward.

Next came a long walk searching for a way into the mountains. No luck, but I did find a lot of dead ends with spectacular views. After that a lot of housework and bribing down dinner with the promise of fudge for dessert. Then phone calls, a couple games of sardines, Mary Kay makeovers, and finally returning to my apartment where I abandoned modesty as usual  (possibly the only advantage to living in an apartment full of girls), and in doing so noticed this rip in my beloved corduroys:

I mean, seriously! What kind of friends do I have that no one pointed it out? No wonder people were staring at me strangely all night long!

father's day

            

curiosities

Life is full of mysteries:

Who writes this stuff on the fridge? (truly, I picked the tamest one to post)

                  

What really happened to the toilet paper roll holder thing in my apartment? (it disappeared over a month ago)

                  

And why, oh why are there 6 waffles in our little garden?

                  
It's been a lovely day, förresten. More on that tomorrow.

sweet saturday

This morning I woke up not wanting to do anything. I slept my 14 hours (typical right now) and wandered my apartment sullenly. Now that my roommates have started doing dishes (!) I'm out of my usual weekend activity. I certainly appreciate the change, but it leaves me feeling restless and uneasy.

It was with reluctant hope that I left home around 1:30, my belly mainly full of chocolate. My mind wanted to spend all day in bed, but among my sparse good traits is that I'm fairly reliable: what I say I'll do, I generally do. Yesterday I promised Sister Thompson that I would be at the MTC at 2 p.m. today for TRC. I arrived right on time.

Today I met with missionaries assigned to serve in Boise, Idaho. I adore Idaho--I love the flat dry land rimmed by mountains and the multitude of pickup trucks. They appreciated my enthusiasm and I their faith. I love volunteering at the MTC because for one thing it is spiritually charged and for another it is healthy for me to be taught basics in a setting where I am pretending to learn them for the first time.

Today I played the role of a former investigator interested in joining the church but fearing I would never be able to live a good enough life to be a faithful member. As the elders addressed my prescribed worries with scripture, I felt urgently compelled to ask a question on behalf of real life Catherine. As I expressed my genuine concern, one of the elders met my eyes and I felt the pretense fade from both our faces. Replying, he quoted another scripture--and then bore a sincere and humble testimony, the gist of which was "I've done what you are trying to do, and I believe that you can, too."

The commitment I was asked to make at the end of the lesson is one I've made dozens of times before. I think that today was the first time I believed I might be able to keep it.

Today I failed. Tomorrow I'll succeed.

roommates: part 1

       

                  

I don't know my roommates very well, and frankly that's not on my Top Ten Grievances list. They are all very nice, but the only interest I seem to share with them is boys--and they've actually got 'em while I just want 'em.

Tonight, however, I bonded with a roommate. It started when she came into the kitchen where I was doing dishes as usual (but with a dishwasher now! thanks be to Mothers Who Know that lazy dishwashers need vinegar) and said "you have eczema, right?"

"yes"

she does too.

We commiserated and compared scars (raising in me questions about the possibility of my marred legs being eczema's work), swapped tips (she said "my doctor told me to stop eating dairy" and we both said "not happening!") discussed medicated lotions and shared stories and embarrassments.

Then we said goodnight.

Right now we are on opposite sides of a wall, applying medicines that only barely help

                                                                  and trying not to scratch.

Ye Olde Testamente

Like any good Mormon, I have spent much of my life pretending the Old Testament doesn't exist. It wasn't until recently that I made any attempt to read it cover to cover, but as you are probably aware, that effort is now underway.

I started with Psalms because I'm really rather fond of those--at least I was until I got halfway through and tired of the repetition. It makes sense; they were never meant to be read one after another all the way through. To break up the monotony I turned to Numbers. I know you are all rolling your eyes now, but hear me out: Numbers is a jewel of scripture entertainment. Not only does it contain my favorite scripture story ever and forbid the consumption of raisins, it also tells stories about talking donkeys and explains the probable origin of the trial by water used in witch trials.

While we're talking about origins, did you ever wonder how that whole "Mormons have horns" myth started?

for best results

If you have had the kind of week I've had, it's time to put away that chocolate and accept that even fail-proof remedies occasionally fail to cheer. But don't despair; for things chocolate can't heal, God gave us families.

I can't think of a single member of my family that hasn't brightened my grim world this week. If you are reading this and feeling glum because you can't remember talking to me this week and therefore think you've had no impact, turn the frown upside down because I just listed off the entire family (I checked our family portrait to be sure I didn't miss anyone) and yes you made a difference and I can tell you how but probably won't in this post.

If all of this still looks gloomy, there is still hope if you follow these instructions very carefully:

1. find a friend (for best results, select a sibling)
2. over dinner with person chosen in step 1, explore the joys of drawing with Crayola Slick Stix
3. watch Pixar's new stroke of genius, Up (for best results, watch it in 3D)

When you get home, climb through your apartment window and remind yourself not to leave the keys at home next time.

It worked for me.

careful, kids

bad things happen in parking lots:

For those who don't recognize it, the pamphlet is for the Young Women's new "Virtue" value.