Just me being random and bananas

Today I felt like I could do anything and everything. It's mostly on account of exercising, I think. I lifted weights and rowed and crunched until my body was trembling and I felt that my middle section was going to collapse. This is good.

The snow was also a blessing, and I slid around just a bit and swore just a bit. I grocery shopped and cooked with Sam and homeworked. (Still working on that, actually.)

I wrote, and then thought of something funny to add after the fact. (I do that every time I write something that I think is clever.)

I'm working on not using parenthetical so much. (Sorry).

OK, there was some happy weirdness for ya'll. Just had to get it out into the cyber world, because that is what I do.

-Meg

21

Today, I would appreciate it if you would do something for me. Donate to your favorite charity, do your homework, smile at strangers, go the extra mile, protect free speech, floss, visit a nursing home, don't swear, wash your hands, refill someone's meter, write a thank you note, take a bubble bath, give up your seat on the bus, eat some chocolate, stay calm in traffic, use good grammar, adopt a puppy or a kitty from the shelter, listen to some country music, write a poem, draw a picture, quote a Disney movie, pick up a copy of The Daily Utah Chronicle, read your scriptures, do some yoga, dance in the kitchen, make your bed, call an old friend, tell a joke, listen thoughtfully, or visit your local library.

Because did I mention it's my birthday?

-Meg

I challenge you do do any of those things, (or any other wonderful acts you can dream of) and tell me about them!

(You might have noticed that I haven't done any Muffin Monday posts since the year started. That is because I am disbanding them. I will continue to make muffins every weekend, but I won't post about them unless they are super super good. I just have so much going on right now, I have to prioritize.)

Observations on The Bachelor

I watched The Bachelor. Let me justify this act: So the break got the best of me. Boredom set in, and I was caught up on all the New Girl episodes. 

My observations:

First of all, the entire concept is a bit strange. Think about it--let's get a bunch of twenty-somethings who all claim they are ready to find "the one" and throw them in a house together. Let them wear more makeup than clothing. Put one attractive single guy in charge of narrowing them down, eliminating them one by one until he finds the woman he wants to marry.

If you didn't watch the first episode of that season, it's OK. The rest of the post will still make sense. It may, however, make you throw up in your mouth. Don't say I didn't warn you.

My first impression was that everything was so fake. That's a crazy way to describe reality TV, I know. This makes me doubt everything! So if love isn't like the scripted movies... is it really that awkward and shallow as reality TV and nobody notices?

All the girls (contestants?) seems so nice in their intro videos. Each one makes me say, "aww, she's so cute and unique!" They talk about their life, and then there's a wide shot of her walking the streets of her home town, in a breezy blouse and short shorts, taking in the sights and sounds of her surroundings...

But then I see them on the show and I'm so disgusted. There's so much cady drama and competition. Like really? It's a bit over my head. I know I would hate to have all that competition. You have to be loud and if you don't stand out, the bachelor won't give you a rose. (That means she gets to stay in the house longer.)

All this begs the question: What if he don't like forward, brash women? Is that a qualification to be the bachelor? 

If I wasn't in an amazing relationship filled with mutual understanding and respect, I'd find myself getting extremely self-conscious about my flirting (not to mention my own pensive strolls). Because every girl acts so weird when she flirts. Do I look so awkward? Do I endlessly comment and stroke guys' hair and recite meaningless rehearsed pick up lines? Do I throw my head back and laugh just because I want him to think I'm a funny gal?

I'd like to think no, especially since I'm not competing with anyone for Sam's affection. (And I can say that with some certainty.)

There's a lot of squealing and "sexy!"

There's a lot of crying.

There's a lot of walking. You know, the kind of strolling that humans do all the time--hands in pockets, deep thoughts about love and life bouncing around in your head, all the while looking gorgeous, completely oblivious to the camera following your every step.

One good thing:

There is a girl named Elyse, and that's my middle name. That's cool.

Back to weird things:

How long did it take them to think of their first entrance? One at a time, each girl walks out of the limo and greet the bachelor. (I think his name is Ben. You'd think I'd remember after 1 and a half hours. But I was just trying to get the girls' names down.)

Some are kind of cool, but most have these weird quirky pick up lines that try to both to attract him and make him remember something unique. For instance, the law student girl was all, "the verdict is in... you're guilty... of being hot!"

(All they talk about is how hot he is. To fair, that's all they had to go on the first day. And that's really all he said about them. Because that's all that matters.)

Another girl just walked right by... being cool. She didn't talk to him. Not a word. Guess what? She didn't get a rose. Sorry hun, you might have to study up on the grammar of body language. And before you tell me she's a just shy girl, I'd like to refute that shy girls don't give guys looks like that.

Most of the girls blended together to me, despite their clever first lines and crazy attire. I can't tell them apart because most of them look the same. Usually I do remember if they're a blonde or a brunette though. To viewers of previous seasons: Has a redhead ever been on?  Now I'm curious. I also wonder why they are all white. No Asians or Hispanics or Blacks? 

One last thing:

The model is the ugliest girl there. And she kind of looks like Ursula when she comes up onto dry land.

Photo

She kind of acts like it, too.

Oh, and before I forget, one more good thing:

A girl showed up on a horse! She was cool, too. She seemed natural, and real real, not just reality real. So far, anyway...

I don't know if I want to watch the rest of the season. But I am curious how this grandma lady fits in. (Ya, there was a grandma. I'm kind of confused.) 

Starting on Monday, I'll have school to keep me busy, so I won't have to resort to watching reality TV. Say yay!

-Meg

New Year, New Adventures

GLoW IN THE DARK CUPCAKES! Well, not really. But close.

All that matters is that they taste good. And look cool. January though, I am back to muffins! This is good because muffins are easier because they don't have frosting, and bad because they don't have frosting.

We had a black light party (and thus the cupcakes). I wasn't even mentally prepared for the new year. I don't really know what there is to prepare for, but somehow I don't feel ready for 2012! I am pretty sure that this will be the next best year of my life.

Many exciting things will happen this year, like:

The end of the world
I'll graduate college
Elder Helms gets home
Elder Hill gets home
Elder Hoye gets home
Elder Webb gets home
The Hunger Games comes out
The Hobbit comes out
Brave comes out
The Woman in Black comes out

...and other adventures. Bring it on!

-Meg

And I forgot to mention that the pictures are courtesy of my dear Sam.

On glasses

Oh, I don't remember the date, probably because it was traumatic. By my own stupidity I broke my glasses. 

I was in my bed, lying there and delaying sleep because I had not read my scriptures yet. (I have read my scriptures every day since I was in 9th grade, and I have never missed, so I couldn't miss now.) I knew if I kept my glasses on, then I wouldn't fall asleep. 

But I did take them off, and rolled over. Then I went to grab my scriptures, and when I came back, I sat on my glasses. Not all the way, mind you. But my bottom pressed into them on just the wrong angle and they snapped in half. Ya, I cried. 

You have no idea what these glasses and I have been through together. We met about four years ago! They have been fantastic. 

But I had to move on. Picking new specs was hard because I didn't know if I should stick with my classic turtle shell look and get something similar to my previous pair, or branch out into something new and trendy. 

I decided that this was my chance to break out into new territory--to be bold and daring. I didn't want to have chartreuse dress regrets. 

I narrowed down my choice to these 2:

Which one do you think is best? (I've already picked, but I appreciate your feedback anyway.)

The new pair is scheduled to be done tomorrow, and I cannot wait to pick them up and give my poor eyes a break from my contacts. (I've slept in my contacts twice in the past two weeks.) 

It's not that I think you care, but see that weird girl on the far right? You know, the one wearing a yellow shirt? That's me. When I was 12. Those glasses I'm wearing aren't the ones that I just recently broke, but they're the pair I had before that. Those didn't last for very long, because they were the uber cheepo ones. But I liked them so much, I just had to get them. Then they broke...

(I only intended to put one picture of my old glasses, but I just keep finding brilliant ones. Don't I look so young?)

Anyway, so I got my BCBG ones, which were my glasses until a week ago. (When I put them on, I was transformed into a normal-looking teenager. My awkwardness vanished instantly!)

One more thing:

You know one of my pet peeves? When people wear glasses because they think they're cool. No. You only deserve to wear fashionable glasses if God willed it by making you blind. If you wear fashion glasses, then you look like Adriana, pictured above. She's cute and all, but she doesn't fool my keen, be-speckled eyes. It may be hard to fathom, but she's actually wearing fake glasses in that picture. Shocking, I know.

-Meg

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time

You know, Christmas. That time of year that is busy but beautiful, cold but cozy, expensive but exciting. In the past two weeks, I have made two kinds of cupcakes.

Vanilla on vanilla,

...and Gingerbread. (Recipe found here)

Except I used my favorite cream cheese frosting recipee. (We've been spelling it like that at our house recently. Don't ask)

Sam and I learned a duet on the piano, and it was so much fun. I loved playing and practicing with him. We make a good team. And it was one of my favorite songs, "Angels We Have Heard on High," except I always sing the words to "Angels from their Realms of Glory," except I only know the first line of that. But it's just so cool!

Anyway, I was secondo as usual. I like it because the player on the bottom pedals, and I like using the pedal because it makes me feel powerful. The hard part about the bottom is it's all in F clef, which I'm far less skilled at reading. But it is good practice for me.

I received many wonderful things, like a crockpot, luggage, clothes, and a watch. Sam gave me some wonderful pictures, and he got a large framed print of our favorite one.

But I do love giving people presents, like zebra print sheets for my sister Lindsey who's obsessed with all things zebra. And I gave Adriana a gift certificate to Color Me Mine, so she can go make some cool pottery.

In other news, I have been running and working out because a) I have time, b) I'm going to get fat from all the goodies and treats that the holidays bring, and c) I have new running clothes and watch.

Well, time to bring on the new year. And the new semester. Yay!

Merry Christmas!

And to all a good night!

-Megan