We're finally getting married!

It's like Christmas Eve on steroids.

Tomorrow I am sealed to the man I love so dearly!

Just start watching at 1:15. That's what I've been singing in my head recently.

-Meg

Shmalintines day

I knew it was going to be a unusual church meeting when Brian and I got an email asking us if we wanted to be the ward spotlights. Every Sunday in the sacrament meeting program, two people are featured as the spotlights of the week. Well this Sunday was the Couple's Edition.

So Brian and I not only got to write about ourselves, but the story of how we met. And dating tips. This is what we submitted.

About Meg:

I am studying Linguistics at the U. I work at the Daily Utah Chronicle. I was part of the first graduating class of Syracuse High School. Once I was charged by a moose. I have met the Dali Lama. I like unicorns and Harry Potter. My favorite book is probably Little Women. I have read The Elements of Style about 6 times. I once had a fish named Cyrano de Bergerac. He died valiantly after several involuntary fasts. I lost his food when I moved. I have never been east of Texas.

DaSha introduced us. She claimed she wasn’t setting me up, but it was a lie. It turned out alright though. Our first date was on a Thursday, and I had a test the next day so I was nervous the whole date. Our second date was when things really started to click.

We are both trying to not eat meat or drink soda, which is really hard. We both love omelets at the Blue Plate and watching Dr. Who and Community. We both love writing, but Brian’s better at poetry and I’m better at research papers. We are both fans of banjo music.

About Brian:

I was born in Iowa, but have lived in Salt Lake most of my life. I am studying English and writing at Slicktown. I have met Mandy Moore, and there is photographic proof on facebook. I like records and books, and I have large collections of both. My favorite book is A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway. I served a mission in Lisbon, Portugal. I jumped on a moving train while I was there. I love western shirts. Scott Pilgrim is my hero. I play the guitar fairly well. I am a photographer, and have done weddings in lands as distant as Portland, OR.

I put tons of pressure on DaSha to introduce me to Meg. I bugged her about it every day until it happened. When I called Meg, her voicemail said, “Sing your song at the beep.” I sang something rather terribly, and it was absolutely awkward but it seems like it turned out well.

Dating tips from Meg & Brian:

Grow a beard. Wear deodorant. Don’t do all the talking. Don’t talk about deceased pets on a first date. Quote some Shakespeare, but not too much. Try showing up in a hovercraft, that has to be impressive, right? Wear a t-shirt with wolves on it. Most of all, be yourself and don’t worry about it too much.

This is fine. A bit awkward, but cool. We're sitting there and we hear a guy behind us reading the dating tips. He gets to the one about beards and says "I don't know how he expects girls to grow a beard." We giggled.

Sacrament meeting starts. It's pretty average, for our ward anyway. We're not a typical Mormon ward to begin with, notwithstanding the fact that we're in a single's ward. For one, Thomas S. Monson's son is our bishop.

Today he announced that we now have a new committee. The Dating Committee. This is real.

He said that too many young men fall in love with a girl before they even ask her on a date. And then when they get on the date, they're too overwhelmed to talk to her. He wants the dating committee to help facilitate neutral, no pressure dates so people can learn to have decent conversation. Quote:"Do you like facebook?"

Later in the meeting, one of the members in the stake presidency was speaking. He remarked about how he supported Bishop Monson's decision to have a dating committee. And I don't know if he meant to be funny, but the he said, "And if you're not good at talking, it's OK. In dating, some of the best ways to get to know people are through silence. You can get to know each other without talking."

The congregation burst up laughing. This is Shmalitines day in a singles ward.

After the block we had a mingle pink and red sprinkled-donuts, grapes, oranges and "wine" in fancy "glasses." There was also a table to make cards.

This is grand.

Going to the Zoo

Gosh, I haven't blogged in so long!

OK, it's really been just a week or so.

Last Saturday was a day at the zoo. Brian and I with Tasha and her fiancée. His name is Joe.

They're cute.

So are we.

It snowed.

Brian and I just love owls. They're just so wise and we like to think we're pretty wise ourselves.

When we (NaTasha and I) were in high school, we used "going to the zoo" as a euphemism for something else. Ya, we thought we were really cool.

School is getting so crazy. And that's OK. Work is going well, and it's never dull there. Thanks for sticking with me, all!

-Meg

So this is...

Hello world.

Here's the low-down.

I am dating this fantastic gentleman. And when I say fantastic, I mean FANTASTIC.

He is so good to me. He is so good for me. I spend less time moping about how much my life stinks -- because it doesn't--and more time just living and being content with life and love.

Every day he reminds me that I am beautiful, and he is a poet. He thinks it's cute how I'm a nerd. We are both nerdy wordy people, and we make a great team.

Yes world, I am in love.

OK, time to sleep...

The big game is tomorrow: UTAH vs. BYU. This is going to be wonderful.

Smiles, loves, and kisses from an extremely bubbly, giggly Meg.

-M

Gushing about a Letter

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! Okay, it's been like a week.

I blinked, and Independence day came and went. I worked the entire holiday weekend. I did manage to fit in some excitement, like the Sandy city fireworks with a new friend.

I had a huge paper due yesterday, so that is one reason why I haven't written. You know how when I write papers, it consumes me so much that I burden everyone I talk to? Ya, see this post and this post

I got a letter from Elder Hill yesterday! I almost didn't get it because the 4 in my address looked like a 9, so it got sorted incorrectly. I was at work when the mailman came, and my grandma, bless her heart, went out and talked to him. She asked if there was a letter from an elder in Provo, and he said he was sorry, but there wasn't. He left and went about doing the rest of his route. Then he saw a letter from Provo, and thought it might be mine! So he walked all the way back to our house. He asked my grandma, "Is her name by chance Megan?" It was my letter after all! The mailman asked where he was going, and my grandma told him Fiji, and he said that he was excited to get to deliver mail from Fiji eventually.

I was so happy to receive a letter. He says everything is great and that he loves it! Most of the letter was devoted to explaining pronouns in Fijian. I love that kid. [sigh] It wasn't a long letter, but I can tell you, at that point I would have been happy if he had just written my name on a piece of paper and sent it to me.

So even though I had this huge essay, I wrote him back this HUGE letter. I felt bad because I didn't mean for it to be so long, I just couldn't help it. I reassured him that he does not have to write back the same length at all because I know he is crazy busy.

I dropped off his letter at the post office on my way out to run. I was on such a high that I ran for 4 miles! And quite hilly miles too! Now my shins are hurting a little, so I'm taking today off, even though I crave running so much. I don't want to train too hard too fast.

After my work out, while I was taking a shower, I realized that I forgot to sign my name on Elder Hill's letter! I was MORTIFIED! I had printed my letter out, but not signed it! So I signed my name all big and flowery and put it in an envelope. I put a note in there that said, "sorry, sometimes my signature comes late." (It's an inside joke actually-- you know when you're instant messaging or texting and you forget a period or something at the end of a message? Well, we'd always say, "Sorry, sometimes my period comes late.") Anyway, he'll think it is funny.

I know I'm not technically waiting for Elder Hill, but sometimes I just can't help feeling that I am. I definitely miss him with muchness. I'm dating other people, just like he asked. Also like he asked, I'm not telling him about my dating life. (I totally don't get that reasoning, but whatever.)

Okay, now back to homework.

-M

Back in Whack

Hiking Adam's canyon. On the way down the canyon I fell and scraped myself up. But I'm okay; the only thing that broke was my sunglasses. (But they were such nice glasses...) I love nature, and boy is it warming up. Birds everywhere, green leaves, perfect weather.

I've been so busy lately, and I love it. In the past few days, I have been doing:

Homework, dates, long phone calls, cleaning, getting a job in order at the Daily Utah Chronicle (YAY! :D), getting the whole family history from grandma, learning to cook, reading, practicing piano again, working out... the list goes on and on.

I went to Red Butte and the Monument yesterday. I really want to be a pioneer. I think I'll volunteer there next summer if I'm in the city for the summer. We'll see.

I'm on a role, and I'm so glad to be back in whack again.

-Meg

Much Fun and Love

It's 1 a.m. I have a paper to finesse and a presentation to prepare. So what is the most logical thing to do? Simple: do a blog post.

I had arguably one of the best weekends of my life. Considering it was the weekend before the end of the semester, that's pretty phenomenal if you ask me.

Relief Society retreat was so much fun. I've always loved the sisters in our ward, but we really bonded Friday night. We swam through each other souls. Laughs, pillow fights, secrets, swimming, games... ya, not much sleep happening. We joked about picking up some "Mans" in Midway, but it really didn't happen. I mean, after all it was a girls' night!

So I came home and went to Mr. Hill's recital! He rocks. I'm going to miss him with mounds and mounds of muchness.

Then... {drum roll please!}

I headed home for LINDSEY'S PROM!

She is the prom queen. Yes. She is the prom queen. I'm going to say it again: "She is the prom queen! "Behold:

I will post more pictures later, because I took about 300 pictures. I'm going to select about 17 to post here. Why 17 you ask? Why such a random number? Well, on Sunday Lindsey turned 17 years of age. I love her! I was so happy that I could come home and be there on her special weekend. (Ya, she had way too much attention this weekend. Luckily she's so humble and gracious: any other girl would probably be super annoying after all is said and done.)

(I feel bad that I'm leaving my other sister out, but I'm going to devote a post or two to her in the future, because she is amazing too. It just so happens that Lindsey took over the weekend.)

School ends on Wednesday. Will I be able to make it? I know not, but I love you all. Happy Spring!

-just little old Me(g)

Distracted

A few months ago I was planning on writing a scathing piece about the evils of Valentine’s Day. That’s how much I loathe it. But tonight I looked at the calendar and wait—what? Tomorrow’s that vile, sappy, insincere excuse for a holiday? I didn’t even notice its approach. I suppose I’d subconsciously blocked the usual symbols from entering my mind. I didn’t see the roses, the balloons, the horrible clash of pink and red side by side…

I’ve gone on three dates this weekend, and two of them were blind dates. And in the two weeks past, I’ve been on a date.

I’m not trying to brag, I mean, this is rare for me. In fact, it’s rare for most females who do not have a significant other to call their own. Guys just don’t date like they used to. I kind of don’t blame them though. After all, dating gets expensive and lately it signals commitment or something.

February has been fun. Still don’t like single awareness day, but it isn’t as painful this year because I’ve been distracted. I’ve liked getting to know some new men, and spending time with one whom I’ve known for a while.

-Meg

19!

I've begun my last year as a teenager. Wow! I can hardly fathom that I've made it this far. Heck, I remember when I went to kindergarden and I thought I was SO grown-up.

The highlights of my teenage years (I stole this idea from Laura btw- check out her blog here.)

13- I was in 7th grade, trying to figure out the big scary new Jr. High. It really was new- it was West Point Jr. High's maiden voyage. I got contacts. I was in Brigadoon (with the above-mentioned Laura).

14-8th grade. Didn't do the musical, but I did mock trial! I didn't do much this year- not sure why.

15-9th grade. Had my first crush, and first lead in the musical (those stories are very connected). I did NAL, and found my inner nerdom. Pretty much a crazy busy year, but very worth it. I dyed my hair for the first time.

16- Sophomore. I got lost in Cleafield High. I did the musical ( I was a wine glass and a bar maid). Had more crushes, met more people, and started driving. Dates slowly started happening, and I had fun, even though I got super nervous. I started hanging out with guys instead of girls. I thought I wanted to go into medicine.

17-Junior. Slowly got over the nerves for dating. I helped start a new school, Syracuse High. I was the editor of the yearbook, even though I had no experience. I did choir and the musical, and more AP classes. Took an online Spanish Course (?). I realized that the best thing I could do with my life is write and edit. I learned how to kiss.

18-Senior. This year was fun. I got to know all the teachers, got away with tons of stuff, ruled SHS as the first graduating class. We didn't have seniors the year before, so it was exciting to be the top dogs. Twice. Kept singing in madrigals. Did an internship with the Standard Examiner and still did yearbook. Really got obsessed with grammar. Concluded I was born to do something with the language arts. Ended a relationship with a guy I'd dated for a while. He was cool, but it was over.

19- Freshman. At the bottom of the totem pole at the University of Utah studying Linguistics instead of English as planned. Dated a really cute guy for a while, got dumped, and survived relatively happy. Met people from all over the world.

I can't wait to see what else is in store for me.

-ME