Sad day...
I'd been blogging about an incident with a cockroach, and it just died completely. Not the cockroach, but the post. I'll have to post it again in the morning, it's getting too late to get those kinds of willies.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
Learn More, Play More, Baltimore
Today was quite the trip.
It started out well. Actually, that's kind of a lie. It started out late. I got up at 6:55, and was supposed to meet up with friends at 7:00 so that we could be at Union Station by 8, so we could ride the MARC train and get to Baltimore by about 9:00. I get up, look at the clock and think, "dang!" So I start hurrying to get ready. I do the quick mirror check to see if I'm looking greasy, and am pleasantly surprised to find that my hair actually looks just fine. I decide to put it into pigtails. I part it, and then put one side up, and then realize that I don't really want to spend a whole lot of money on food, so I should pack a lunch, and I should probably bring stuff for others to share too. This thought causes me to forget about my hair, and I start to pack up a lunch. I'm hurrying around my room with half my hair in a pigtail, and still in my pajamas. I then hurry to get dressed, and hurry even more to get downstairs. In this time I also remembered to grab ibuprofen in case people got heat headaches, and a sweatshirt in case it was cold down by the ocean. Yes, that's right--I'm well on my way to being a mom. :)
So, I hurry downstairs, and find that no one is there, which means I was either left, or not the only one running late. Turns out it was a little of both. I was left by a couple of people who made it there on time (I got down there by 7:08) but I was definitely not the one who was running the latest. I called a couple of people, and we all ended up meeting. It was great--we got to Union Station on time...despite missing our transfer point by two stops and having to go back, and we got to ride the train.
Now, apart from the Metro, I've never ridden on a real train. There was a place in Fairfield that we used to go to that had some little trains that drove around a park, and we rode on that, and I think there was a train at a wildlife petting zoo we went to once, but this was a real train. It was cool. Yarjka, JD, and I all worked on a crossword and read amusing stories from the Express. Really, the Washington Post express is incredible.
We get to Penn Station in Baltimore, and we look at a map. We find out that the warf is about a mile and a half away from where we are, so I suggest walking. After all, it's Baltimore! Everyone agrees...albeit reluctantly, and we begin to walk to the warf. While walking there we pass several things. First, there are bus stop benches all over the place that say, "Baltimore, Greatest City on Earth." While I don't necessarily agree with them, I do admire their ability to flaunt it. We also pass Mount Vernon Circle, which contained the first Washington Monument, with real fasci and a statue of Layfette nearby. I liked it.
Finally, we get to the warf. Now...it's hot outside today. In fact, it's pretty really warm. Some people in the group aren't too happy about the heat, and they start complaining a bit...sad day for them. Really, fun is what you make it, and they weren't making fun...they were just making whiny faces. Anyway, we're going to stand in line for Aquarium tickets, and I'm all excited about seeing the Atlantic ocean for the first time, when a bird poops on the sidewalk right near my feet...and the poop sort of slashes up on my leg. Now, at this juncture I've got two options. I can either be really grumpy about the fact that I've got bird poop on my leg, or I can wipe it off and move on. I actually thought it was hilarious, since I've been pooped on by a pacific seagull as well. I figure that getting pooped on by a couple of seagulls from sea to shining sea has to be somewhat patriotic...right?
So, we've got our tickets, and some of us really want to go and see Ft. McHenry, which is the fort that housed the original Star Spangled Banner, and which was the site of the bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became the National Anthem. I sort of wonder sometimes if I'm the only one who really wanted to go and see it...but regardless, that's where 6 of us headed--me, and 5 of the guys from our program. It would have been incredible odds if that's what I was looking for. :D Ft. McHenry was really cool--the guy who spoke there for our group was amazing, and the water taxi out there was really great. They stamp your wrist, and you can ride it for a really long time. It's just...awesome. I even managed to acquire an extra stamp on my wrist. Before taking the water taxi back across the bay, we stopped and ate a picnic lunch using the stuff that I'd brought, combined with the stuff that everyone else had brought. I used the old "Safeway card as a knife to cut the apple" trick, and it seemed to impress them...oddly enough, it seems to work every time. If you're unfamiliar with the trick, I'd be happy to teach it to you, and then you too can impress your friends with know-how and pragmatism.
The Aquarium itself wasn't really that great. I've been to some amazing aquariums in the past, and this one just wasn't really amazing. The part about it that made it really worth it was the Dolphin show, which was a mere $3.00 extra. This show was awesome. We sat in the Splash Zone, where else would you sit? And at one point, the trainer came out and asked for some volunteers. I raised my hand rather exuberantly, and was picked...to go down with 3 10 year old boys. I'm pretty sure that the trainer, and the rest of the audience, had no idea that I was, in fact, 21. Perhaps I look a lot younger than I thought...but I certainly don't look THAT young. Still though, I got to play basketball with a dolphin for a little bit, and I got to bunny hop to get the dolphin to walk a little. It was a lot of fun :D
After the Aquarium, we all set out in search of Seafood. When you're by the ocean, it's what you just have to eat, right? We ended up (2 suggested restaurants and a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood later) eating at a more upscale restaurant, that was actually quite tasty. After the restaurant, we boarded a bus bound for Penn Station (people weren't keen on the idea of walking back) and it was crazy--the ride was intense, and the driver was nuts, but it was a lot of fun. The train ride home was amazing. There are doors between the cars, and you push a button and they cause the door to open. Really, it feels like something out of Star Wars. It was awesome. Then, due to a little sunburn and a lot of walking, I realized I was very tired, and slept for a little while.
Overall, the day was great. I really think that it's largely due to the attitude that I had heading there--I planned to have a good time, and boy howdy did I! I also made sure to hang out with people who clearly planned to have a good time as well--being the chipper one in a group can be really exhasting if you're the only one who's doing it. Overall, I give the city a pretty high score, and I think that I would definitely go back again sometime. After all, there are still so many museums that I haven't visited...and the water taxi still runs all day. :)
It started out well. Actually, that's kind of a lie. It started out late. I got up at 6:55, and was supposed to meet up with friends at 7:00 so that we could be at Union Station by 8, so we could ride the MARC train and get to Baltimore by about 9:00. I get up, look at the clock and think, "dang!" So I start hurrying to get ready. I do the quick mirror check to see if I'm looking greasy, and am pleasantly surprised to find that my hair actually looks just fine. I decide to put it into pigtails. I part it, and then put one side up, and then realize that I don't really want to spend a whole lot of money on food, so I should pack a lunch, and I should probably bring stuff for others to share too. This thought causes me to forget about my hair, and I start to pack up a lunch. I'm hurrying around my room with half my hair in a pigtail, and still in my pajamas. I then hurry to get dressed, and hurry even more to get downstairs. In this time I also remembered to grab ibuprofen in case people got heat headaches, and a sweatshirt in case it was cold down by the ocean. Yes, that's right--I'm well on my way to being a mom. :)
So, I hurry downstairs, and find that no one is there, which means I was either left, or not the only one running late. Turns out it was a little of both. I was left by a couple of people who made it there on time (I got down there by 7:08) but I was definitely not the one who was running the latest. I called a couple of people, and we all ended up meeting. It was great--we got to Union Station on time...despite missing our transfer point by two stops and having to go back, and we got to ride the train.
Now, apart from the Metro, I've never ridden on a real train. There was a place in Fairfield that we used to go to that had some little trains that drove around a park, and we rode on that, and I think there was a train at a wildlife petting zoo we went to once, but this was a real train. It was cool. Yarjka, JD, and I all worked on a crossword and read amusing stories from the Express. Really, the Washington Post express is incredible.
We get to Penn Station in Baltimore, and we look at a map. We find out that the warf is about a mile and a half away from where we are, so I suggest walking. After all, it's Baltimore! Everyone agrees...albeit reluctantly, and we begin to walk to the warf. While walking there we pass several things. First, there are bus stop benches all over the place that say, "Baltimore, Greatest City on Earth." While I don't necessarily agree with them, I do admire their ability to flaunt it. We also pass Mount Vernon Circle, which contained the first Washington Monument, with real fasci and a statue of Layfette nearby. I liked it.
Finally, we get to the warf. Now...it's hot outside today. In fact, it's pretty really warm. Some people in the group aren't too happy about the heat, and they start complaining a bit...sad day for them. Really, fun is what you make it, and they weren't making fun...they were just making whiny faces. Anyway, we're going to stand in line for Aquarium tickets, and I'm all excited about seeing the Atlantic ocean for the first time, when a bird poops on the sidewalk right near my feet...and the poop sort of slashes up on my leg. Now, at this juncture I've got two options. I can either be really grumpy about the fact that I've got bird poop on my leg, or I can wipe it off and move on. I actually thought it was hilarious, since I've been pooped on by a pacific seagull as well. I figure that getting pooped on by a couple of seagulls from sea to shining sea has to be somewhat patriotic...right?
So, we've got our tickets, and some of us really want to go and see Ft. McHenry, which is the fort that housed the original Star Spangled Banner, and which was the site of the bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became the National Anthem. I sort of wonder sometimes if I'm the only one who really wanted to go and see it...but regardless, that's where 6 of us headed--me, and 5 of the guys from our program. It would have been incredible odds if that's what I was looking for. :D Ft. McHenry was really cool--the guy who spoke there for our group was amazing, and the water taxi out there was really great. They stamp your wrist, and you can ride it for a really long time. It's just...awesome. I even managed to acquire an extra stamp on my wrist. Before taking the water taxi back across the bay, we stopped and ate a picnic lunch using the stuff that I'd brought, combined with the stuff that everyone else had brought. I used the old "Safeway card as a knife to cut the apple" trick, and it seemed to impress them...oddly enough, it seems to work every time. If you're unfamiliar with the trick, I'd be happy to teach it to you, and then you too can impress your friends with know-how and pragmatism.
The Aquarium itself wasn't really that great. I've been to some amazing aquariums in the past, and this one just wasn't really amazing. The part about it that made it really worth it was the Dolphin show, which was a mere $3.00 extra. This show was awesome. We sat in the Splash Zone, where else would you sit? And at one point, the trainer came out and asked for some volunteers. I raised my hand rather exuberantly, and was picked...to go down with 3 10 year old boys. I'm pretty sure that the trainer, and the rest of the audience, had no idea that I was, in fact, 21. Perhaps I look a lot younger than I thought...but I certainly don't look THAT young. Still though, I got to play basketball with a dolphin for a little bit, and I got to bunny hop to get the dolphin to walk a little. It was a lot of fun :D
After the Aquarium, we all set out in search of Seafood. When you're by the ocean, it's what you just have to eat, right? We ended up (2 suggested restaurants and a wrong turn into a bad neighborhood later) eating at a more upscale restaurant, that was actually quite tasty. After the restaurant, we boarded a bus bound for Penn Station (people weren't keen on the idea of walking back) and it was crazy--the ride was intense, and the driver was nuts, but it was a lot of fun. The train ride home was amazing. There are doors between the cars, and you push a button and they cause the door to open. Really, it feels like something out of Star Wars. It was awesome. Then, due to a little sunburn and a lot of walking, I realized I was very tired, and slept for a little while.
Overall, the day was great. I really think that it's largely due to the attitude that I had heading there--I planned to have a good time, and boy howdy did I! I also made sure to hang out with people who clearly planned to have a good time as well--being the chipper one in a group can be really exhasting if you're the only one who's doing it. Overall, I give the city a pretty high score, and I think that I would definitely go back again sometime. After all, there are still so many museums that I haven't visited...and the water taxi still runs all day. :)
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Helmet Anyone?
Does anyone need a helmet?
Because the bike that went with mine ran away today.
(This sounds really sad and traumatic...it's sad, but not THAT sad...so don't feel too bad.)
Because the bike that went with mine ran away today.
(This sounds really sad and traumatic...it's sad, but not THAT sad...so don't feel too bad.)
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
It's Quiet....Too Quiet...
I'm sitting in my computer lab here right now, going kind of crazy. Why am I going crazy? Well, it's because my ipod is sitting in the lobby on the men's floor because I cut hair yesterday, and so I don't have anything to listen to.
Normally, this wouldn't be too big of a deal, except that I have a paper to write, and I really don't work well in quiet conditions. I grew up in a family of 5 children, and I always had a pleasant amount of background noise. If I really needed to get serious about studying, then I shut the door to my bedroom, and studied. Either that, or I laid all of my things to study out in the living room, that way my siblings saw that I was studying, and they made an effort to not make too much noise. I loved it.
Then, I went away to college. I tried to study in the library sometimes, but I can't do that all on my own--why not? Because I have to study somewhere quiet with someone else so that I can talk to them about what we're studying. If I'm studying on my own, then I studied back in the dorms. Sure, people say it's impossible, and I would agree with them when it's visiting hours, but all other times, I just shut my door, and studied while the insanity of my floor(s) went on outside the door. The noise was a pleasant reminder of home, and it worked for me.
Now, I'm in the Barlow Center, and I'm here during the day because of the fact that my museum was flooded and powerless (two days later, it's not flooded anymore, just still powerless). I've been here working on work stuff that I thought to bring home with me, and it's silent, and quiet, and no one is talking...and it's driving me crazy.
Sometimes, you just feel lonely. You miss your family and friends, and as good of an experience as you're having, you miss things that are completely familiar. Being here, all alone, in silence, doesn't help my lonely feelings. Quite the contrary--I'm about to go out and find myself a DC Buddy just so that I don't have to be humming to myself and talking out loud every now and again. It's a good thing that I'm looking at going into teaching, where there will be a healthy amount of noise most of the time...because I think if I were to do a desk job, I'd go absolutely insane. I sure hope the museum recovers soon.
Normally, this wouldn't be too big of a deal, except that I have a paper to write, and I really don't work well in quiet conditions. I grew up in a family of 5 children, and I always had a pleasant amount of background noise. If I really needed to get serious about studying, then I shut the door to my bedroom, and studied. Either that, or I laid all of my things to study out in the living room, that way my siblings saw that I was studying, and they made an effort to not make too much noise. I loved it.
Then, I went away to college. I tried to study in the library sometimes, but I can't do that all on my own--why not? Because I have to study somewhere quiet with someone else so that I can talk to them about what we're studying. If I'm studying on my own, then I studied back in the dorms. Sure, people say it's impossible, and I would agree with them when it's visiting hours, but all other times, I just shut my door, and studied while the insanity of my floor(s) went on outside the door. The noise was a pleasant reminder of home, and it worked for me.
Now, I'm in the Barlow Center, and I'm here during the day because of the fact that my museum was flooded and powerless (two days later, it's not flooded anymore, just still powerless). I've been here working on work stuff that I thought to bring home with me, and it's silent, and quiet, and no one is talking...and it's driving me crazy.
Sometimes, you just feel lonely. You miss your family and friends, and as good of an experience as you're having, you miss things that are completely familiar. Being here, all alone, in silence, doesn't help my lonely feelings. Quite the contrary--I'm about to go out and find myself a DC Buddy just so that I don't have to be humming to myself and talking out loud every now and again. It's a good thing that I'm looking at going into teaching, where there will be a healthy amount of noise most of the time...because I think if I were to do a desk job, I'd go absolutely insane. I sure hope the museum recovers soon.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
This Image Changed Al Gore's Life
Has it changed yours?
What?!? No?
Yeah, it didn't do much for mine either. I went and saw "An Inconvenient Truth" tonight, which is basically a filming of Al Gore Lectures on Global Warming with Home Videos and some piano music added for effect. Not that I don't think we should save the environment--I do! I think we should recycle, and ride bikes when possible, walk wherever we can, use public transportation etc. etc. I just don't think that we need to portray Global Warming as if it's about to burn the whole earth. I guess it's possible that that could be part of the book of revelations. Al Gore compared global warming to Slave owners, the British in the Revolutionary War, Nazis, and Communists. He also mentioned how his father was a farmer, and how he used to go rifle shooting on his farm. He repeated spoke about the moral problem that Global Warming is, brought up the 2000 election, and did it all in a fatherly voice. This guy incorporated, religion, farmers, city people, historians, members of the NRA, Veterans and anyone who wants to fight against evil.
The problem with these kinds of things is that they are too polarized. Because they are too polarized, no one can fully relate to either side. Nobody normal is going to say that they hate the environment, that they want the rainforests to burn, and that they hope that all the polar bears drown when the polar ice caps melt because they have nowhere to rest now. Who does that? No one. On the other hand, people just don't have the money to scrap they're gas-guzzling cars that are inefficient at fuel burning and buy all new hybrid ones. They need those cars to go to work, to earn money, to buy more gas, to fuel those cars that drink all the gas in the first place. It's a vicious cycle, unlike Global Warming, which is just an upward climb to the earth becoming an inferno.
Anyway, the credits told me I'm supposed to stop Global Warming by telling you all to get out and see it. Go ahead, watch it--I don't think you should take it completely seriously, unless you want to be
"Up to your neck in owls and no American able to go to work!" --President Bush Senior (one of the best mental images ever)
Friday, June 16, 2006
Commitment, it's what's for Dinner
Recently, there have been an alarming number of people who have begun dating within the Washington Seminar. This, to me, prompts several different feelings. There's an adorable couple that can speak German and so no one understands them being sappy, and they're just really cute together. There's a couple, who are in my group of friends, incidentally, who have recently begun canoodling on a regular basis, who people don't really expect to last past the summer (if that long). There's a couple that started dating in the first few weeks of the Seminar, and then broke up, and now it's really awkward for both of them. It's these last two couples that prompt my small rant tonight.
Now, the program has, at most, 30 students in it. We all live in the same little house. We're all part of a really huge ward, but because the ward is so stinkin' huge, we all end up mostly hanging around each other every day of the week, for quite a bit of time. Normally, I would simply enjoy this interaction. In fact, I really like having a group of friends that I can go on adventures with, and that I can just hang out with. It makes life more convenient, to say the least.
Once people within the group start to pair off, however, you cause some issues. First, before you're actually dating, there's that terrible time where everyone knows that you want to date each other because you're like...Touching each other and rubbing noses and talking in baby voices and flirting by faking arguments and all that stuff that can be really unfortunate to watch. Why not just stop watching it then, right? Well, that's another problem. There are only a few places in which this canoodling can be done. There is the rec room downstairs in the basement, and the lobbies on both floors. Either way, it's not pleasant for anyone who stumbles upon you. Thirdly, once you start dating, you remove yourself from a social group that you had likely been a part of. If you started dating at the beginning of the semester and now find yourself single, you have to figure out how to fit into groups of people who don't involve your ex.
That's the worst part. How on earth do you make it work when you break up? The group is only so big, and there's no where that you can hide. Once you start dating, everyone in the program knows it, and once you break up, they also ALL know it. Now, if you don't end up breaking up, and things just work out (as I think they will for the cute couple that can speak German together), then you're great. Congratulations, you're on the road to eternal happiness--collect $200 as you pass GO.
If it weren't for this German Couple, I would suggest that Washington Seminar start to add some rules about not dating while doing the program. Sure, it's not going to happen, but I plan on doing my part to avoid the drama.
Now, the program has, at most, 30 students in it. We all live in the same little house. We're all part of a really huge ward, but because the ward is so stinkin' huge, we all end up mostly hanging around each other every day of the week, for quite a bit of time. Normally, I would simply enjoy this interaction. In fact, I really like having a group of friends that I can go on adventures with, and that I can just hang out with. It makes life more convenient, to say the least.
Once people within the group start to pair off, however, you cause some issues. First, before you're actually dating, there's that terrible time where everyone knows that you want to date each other because you're like...Touching each other and rubbing noses and talking in baby voices and flirting by faking arguments and all that stuff that can be really unfortunate to watch. Why not just stop watching it then, right? Well, that's another problem. There are only a few places in which this canoodling can be done. There is the rec room downstairs in the basement, and the lobbies on both floors. Either way, it's not pleasant for anyone who stumbles upon you. Thirdly, once you start dating, you remove yourself from a social group that you had likely been a part of. If you started dating at the beginning of the semester and now find yourself single, you have to figure out how to fit into groups of people who don't involve your ex.
That's the worst part. How on earth do you make it work when you break up? The group is only so big, and there's no where that you can hide. Once you start dating, everyone in the program knows it, and once you break up, they also ALL know it. Now, if you don't end up breaking up, and things just work out (as I think they will for the cute couple that can speak German together), then you're great. Congratulations, you're on the road to eternal happiness--collect $200 as you pass GO.
If it weren't for this German Couple, I would suggest that Washington Seminar start to add some rules about not dating while doing the program. Sure, it's not going to happen, but I plan on doing my part to avoid the drama.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Mondays
Sometimes, I hate Mondays. This is a pretty common sentiment among the masses. No one likes Mondays, because Mondays equal the start of the week, right?
Not for me. Monday, for me, equals the end of the weekend. See, I have work on Saturday, and as a trade-off, I get Mondays off. This should be really great, right? Sometimes.
The problem is that I have to do everything that I do alone. Yup...Just little old me, wandering around DC. Granted, sometimes this is great. Especially when I just want to explore and I can't think of anyone out here who would just explore with me. Other times, it's kinda lame.
Things I can do on my own that don't feel lame:
Museum touring--this occasionally prompts me to talk to myself, however, because I like to tell people interesting facts.
-Ways to fix this:
-Give unofficial tours of various museums, wear the badge so that people think they're official.
Exploring--this one works out well. I might get completely lost, but I'm the only one who knows that I'm lost, so I can figure out how to get home without causing anyone else annoyance or alarm.
Things that are lame to do on your own:
Going to the Zoo--sure, this could probably be fun on my own...But it just kinda seems lame. Maybe it's just me there...We'll see.
Going to the Jefferson Memorial--again...Maybe not actually lame...But it feels more lonely.
Going to most anything for the first time.
-Ways to fix this:
-find a homeless friend, start a program where they make 5 dollars a day for being your DC buddy. Start advertising the program and use the profits to make more homeless buddy friends. Stipulate that they must be drug and alcohol free when they're acting as your friend. Reputations must be kept intact.
Now to convince my Piquant friend to come out and run the advertising campaign. Course, guess if she was out here running the ad campaign...I wouldn't really need the company anymore. Hrmm....
See--Mondays are too complicated. I'm off soon to go and tour some gift shops for some presents.
Not for me. Monday, for me, equals the end of the weekend. See, I have work on Saturday, and as a trade-off, I get Mondays off. This should be really great, right? Sometimes.
The problem is that I have to do everything that I do alone. Yup...Just little old me, wandering around DC. Granted, sometimes this is great. Especially when I just want to explore and I can't think of anyone out here who would just explore with me. Other times, it's kinda lame.
Things I can do on my own that don't feel lame:
Museum touring--this occasionally prompts me to talk to myself, however, because I like to tell people interesting facts.
-Ways to fix this:
-Give unofficial tours of various museums, wear the badge so that people think they're official.
Exploring--this one works out well. I might get completely lost, but I'm the only one who knows that I'm lost, so I can figure out how to get home without causing anyone else annoyance or alarm.
Things that are lame to do on your own:
Going to the Zoo--sure, this could probably be fun on my own...But it just kinda seems lame. Maybe it's just me there...We'll see.
Going to the Jefferson Memorial--again...Maybe not actually lame...But it feels more lonely.
Going to most anything for the first time.
-Ways to fix this:
-find a homeless friend, start a program where they make 5 dollars a day for being your DC buddy. Start advertising the program and use the profits to make more homeless buddy friends. Stipulate that they must be drug and alcohol free when they're acting as your friend. Reputations must be kept intact.
Now to convince my Piquant friend to come out and run the advertising campaign. Course, guess if she was out here running the ad campaign...I wouldn't really need the company anymore. Hrmm....
See--Mondays are too complicated. I'm off soon to go and tour some gift shops for some presents.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Werf
So, I'm running an experiment on Polio today for a bunch of Safety Patrol kids from Florida. They're all dressed in blue shirts, with the little neon belt thing, and baseball caps. Basically, they all look alike. Most of the group are boys...apparently, one was not. I didn't think much about it.
While the kids are washing their hands, their chaperone comes up to me and says, "She's a girl."
"What?" I reply, very confused.
"You called her a he, she's a she."
"Did I?" I respond, honestly not thinking about it.
"Yeah, don't worry though, it happens all the time."
Ouch. I can't decide whether it's better or worse that it happens all the time, or better or worse that my subconcious didn't even pick up on the fact that there was a she in the group. The girl didn't notice though, thankfully, and seemed to enjoy the experiment quite a bit.
I'm really starting to believe in the non-gendered pronoun.
While the kids are washing their hands, their chaperone comes up to me and says, "She's a girl."
"What?" I reply, very confused.
"You called her a he, she's a she."
"Did I?" I respond, honestly not thinking about it.
"Yeah, don't worry though, it happens all the time."
Ouch. I can't decide whether it's better or worse that it happens all the time, or better or worse that my subconcious didn't even pick up on the fact that there was a she in the group. The girl didn't notice though, thankfully, and seemed to enjoy the experiment quite a bit.
I'm really starting to believe in the non-gendered pronoun.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Shattering Social Norms
I think that there are quite a few people who believed that the group I was with were drunk tonight.
That statement definitely could use some explanation...So here goes.
the group of interns that I live in the BYU house with all headed up to a dance for a YSA (Young Single Adult) dance. We had to take the Metro quite a ways, and then, because we're transportationless, had to rely on the kindness of other youth to drive us to the Stake Center. There, we all danced like crazy, and crazy danced, and did all kinds of other things which amounted to great and wild fun, even though the DJ was a bit lame, they tried hard, and I bet they weren't getting paid. Regardless, I went there to dance, and have a great time, and I did just that. I even got to dance with a member of the BYU ballroom team, which makes me wish that I could dance for real...and be danced with for real...on a more regular basis.
So then, the ride home was a bit more challenging. We had to find rides, and since most of us only know each other within the program, we didn't get that done without a bit of difficulty. Finally, we managed to get a ride to the Metro stop, and I somehow got the guy who gave us the ride's phone number. I asked for a pen to do the crossword, and then his phone number was written on my crossword, and on a card that he gave me. I don't know what happened there--he's a funny guy.
We waited at the Metro for some of our friends who were being taken by other strangers to the stop, and then we all went to wait for the train. Since it's late at night, we had to wait for a bit because the trains run a lot less often. So, we decided to waltz. Yeah, that's right. Six LDS kids waltzed around the Metro platform while we waited for the train to come. Once the train came, the adventure got even better.
It all started because we had our very own empty Metro car. Yup...a whole car, all to ourselves. This meant that I got to do something that I've wanted to do for a really, really long time. I started at one end of the car, and ran to the other while the train was moving, and then swung around one of the hand poles, ran back to the other end of the train, and did the same thing. It was so great! So then, we're sitting there talking about different songs we like, and we start singing...in parts. Then we start singing Hymns. When we started, we were all alone on the train, and then a couple people got on, and we just kept singing. The girl who was on the train that wasn't part of our group actually started crying at one point while we were singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I hope it was mostly because she was touched, and not because we were terrible (we were actually quite good). Another guy got on, and he started talking to us--he told us all about his mother and how he was trying to get home to Cleveland. For those of you who don't know, you're not supposed to sing, dance, or talk to other people on the Metro. You're supposed to sit/stand there and pretend that you're the only person on the train, and that no one else exists. We completely broke all those rules...all of them. To top it off, we stood on both sides of the escalator. If you don't know that rule, you're supposed to stand on the right so that people can walk on the left. In order to make people more aware of this rule, the Metro has little combined word definitions posted on the trains. The one that's applicable here: Escalefter: Someone who stands on the left of the Escalator. Being in DC, I told people that I was being an "Escaliberal."
Anyway, we walked home singing a few more Disney songs, and ended the night with a grand flourish. It was so much fun, and I was completely without any self-conscious feelings, which is odd. It just felt good to have some fun. Good times.
That statement definitely could use some explanation...So here goes.
the group of interns that I live in the BYU house with all headed up to a dance for a YSA (Young Single Adult) dance. We had to take the Metro quite a ways, and then, because we're transportationless, had to rely on the kindness of other youth to drive us to the Stake Center. There, we all danced like crazy, and crazy danced, and did all kinds of other things which amounted to great and wild fun, even though the DJ was a bit lame, they tried hard, and I bet they weren't getting paid. Regardless, I went there to dance, and have a great time, and I did just that. I even got to dance with a member of the BYU ballroom team, which makes me wish that I could dance for real...and be danced with for real...on a more regular basis.
So then, the ride home was a bit more challenging. We had to find rides, and since most of us only know each other within the program, we didn't get that done without a bit of difficulty. Finally, we managed to get a ride to the Metro stop, and I somehow got the guy who gave us the ride's phone number. I asked for a pen to do the crossword, and then his phone number was written on my crossword, and on a card that he gave me. I don't know what happened there--he's a funny guy.
We waited at the Metro for some of our friends who were being taken by other strangers to the stop, and then we all went to wait for the train. Since it's late at night, we had to wait for a bit because the trains run a lot less often. So, we decided to waltz. Yeah, that's right. Six LDS kids waltzed around the Metro platform while we waited for the train to come. Once the train came, the adventure got even better.
It all started because we had our very own empty Metro car. Yup...a whole car, all to ourselves. This meant that I got to do something that I've wanted to do for a really, really long time. I started at one end of the car, and ran to the other while the train was moving, and then swung around one of the hand poles, ran back to the other end of the train, and did the same thing. It was so great! So then, we're sitting there talking about different songs we like, and we start singing...in parts. Then we start singing Hymns. When we started, we were all alone on the train, and then a couple people got on, and we just kept singing. The girl who was on the train that wasn't part of our group actually started crying at one point while we were singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I hope it was mostly because she was touched, and not because we were terrible (we were actually quite good). Another guy got on, and he started talking to us--he told us all about his mother and how he was trying to get home to Cleveland. For those of you who don't know, you're not supposed to sing, dance, or talk to other people on the Metro. You're supposed to sit/stand there and pretend that you're the only person on the train, and that no one else exists. We completely broke all those rules...all of them. To top it off, we stood on both sides of the escalator. If you don't know that rule, you're supposed to stand on the right so that people can walk on the left. In order to make people more aware of this rule, the Metro has little combined word definitions posted on the trains. The one that's applicable here: Escalefter: Someone who stands on the left of the Escalator. Being in DC, I told people that I was being an "Escaliberal."
Anyway, we walked home singing a few more Disney songs, and ended the night with a grand flourish. It was so much fun, and I was completely without any self-conscious feelings, which is odd. It just felt good to have some fun. Good times.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Val-Pak Coupons
You know how you get junk mail and you just usually throw it away? Well, I love getting mail so much, that I actually almost always go through it and read it all, and then throw it away. I mean, it's mail!
When I was little, we'd get those terrible little envelopes full of co
upons that were from "our loving neighbors" of somewhere or other and my mom would always throw away the entire envelope full without ever opening it. I couldn't ever let this happen, so I'd often grab the envelope and go through the coupons, marveling at the deals and values and thinking to myself, "Self, if you ever needed any of these windows or dog-food or gym memberships, think of all the money you could save!"
Well, the other day, I got my very own envelope of money-saving coupons from my loving neighbors at Val-Pak, and, true to form, I went through all the coupons inside of the savings-packed envelope. Inside I found a plethora of penny-pinching aides, but I found one that was particularly pleasant looking.
Yes friends, that's right. There was a coupon for $79 prescription glasses. Now, I wear contacts, and have for about 5 or 6 years now. Every time I've gone to the optometrist, I've used our insurance to get contacts for about the past three years. Consequently, my glasses prescription is about 3 or 4 years old, and not terribly effective. So, for the low, low price of $79 dollars, I got an eye exam, shiny blue frames that are nice and small, and lenses for them. The guy who was trying to help me pick out frames was hilarious. He leads me over to the case that has the sale frames in them, and I point to the blue ones, and a pair of black ones that I was interested in. He puts the blue ones on my face and, in a very Spain Spanish accent says, "oh yes, these look very nice, they go with your eyes." The next pair of frames he dismisses as being too big and heavy before they even go on my face. I actually agreed with him, and picked the blue ones, but I've never gotten someone who helped recommend frames to me before at the optometrist. The optometrist herself was also very nice. We chatted easily, and, if it turns out that I need to get contacts while I'm here, I do believe that I will go back and see these friendly people to get them.
It's all because of Val-Pak. Thanks to them, I've got an optometrist in DC, and a new pair of glasses with fabulous frames for just $79. Those neighbors must really love me! And all those people who hate to get junk mail must hate me...because it's those people like me who find uses for those coupons that keep people like you receiving them in the chance that you'll become a person like me.
When I was little, we'd get those terrible little envelopes full of co
upons that were from "our loving neighbors" of somewhere or other and my mom would always throw away the entire envelope full without ever opening it. I couldn't ever let this happen, so I'd often grab the envelope and go through the coupons, marveling at the deals and values and thinking to myself, "Self, if you ever needed any of these windows or dog-food or gym memberships, think of all the money you could save!"Well, the other day, I got my very own envelope of money-saving coupons from my loving neighbors at Val-Pak, and, true to form, I went through all the coupons inside of the savings-packed envelope. Inside I found a plethora of penny-pinching aides, but I found one that was particularly pleasant looking.
Yes friends, that's right. There was a coupon for $79 prescription glasses. Now, I wear contacts, and have for about 5 or 6 years now. Every time I've gone to the optometrist, I've used our insurance to get contacts for about the past three years. Consequently, my glasses prescription is about 3 or 4 years old, and not terribly effective. So, for the low, low price of $79 dollars, I got an eye exam, shiny blue frames that are nice and small, and lenses for them. The guy who was trying to help me pick out frames was hilarious. He leads me over to the case that has the sale frames in them, and I point to the blue ones, and a pair of black ones that I was interested in. He puts the blue ones on my face and, in a very Spain Spanish accent says, "oh yes, these look very nice, they go with your eyes." The next pair of frames he dismisses as being too big and heavy before they even go on my face. I actually agreed with him, and picked the blue ones, but I've never gotten someone who helped recommend frames to me before at the optometrist. The optometrist herself was also very nice. We chatted easily, and, if it turns out that I need to get contacts while I'm here, I do believe that I will go back and see these friendly people to get them.
It's all because of Val-Pak. Thanks to them, I've got an optometrist in DC, and a new pair of glasses with fabulous frames for just $79. Those neighbors must really love me! And all those people who hate to get junk mail must hate me...because it's those people like me who find uses for those coupons that keep people like you receiving them in the chance that you'll become a person like me.
Monday, May 22, 2006
The Self-Pity Puddle
So, I've been feeling a bit lonesome out here. It's not that I don't have nice associations, and it's not even that I don't have a few people I'd consider friends. It's certainly not that I don't love Washington DC, because I do. I just miss my family, and my best friends, you know, the play-together kind and not just the waving friends. Anyway, I'd been wallowing a bit in my own self pity. Granted, it wasn't a very long wallow...my self pity is kind of like a cold bath. There's just no reason to stay in it for long once you've gotten yourself clean.
So, yeah. I'm wallowing a bit in this self pity, wondering why it is that all these people around me haven't yet jumped to their feet and tried to make me their friend. Sure, my moving experience has taught me that I am usually the one who has to go out and make a move if I want friends, but maybe this time will be different. Maybe, this time, I'll just sit back and watch the friends flock to me.
Wrong-O pardner.
Clearly, I wasn't thinking logically here. First off, if people were lining up to be friends with me, I'd spend all my time introducing myself and none of my time actually "being friends." This is a phrase that indicates actual hang-outage as opposed to just "having friends." The second problem with my thinking is that I was wallowing in my loneliness, thinking about how my family isn't here, and I've got no one around to give me a good hug when I need one, and whine whine whine whine, when I already know perfectly well that the solution is to get out and make some friends. Duh.
It's so easily said, and yet it's so much easier just to whine about my problem. I can call my friends back in Provo and talk about how amazing DC is, but how it would be just a little better if they were all out here (which is probably true), I can miss my family, and I can sit around in my room at times feeling sorry for myself, or I can do something about it.
Guess what sacrament meeting on Sunday was about? It wasn't really about the atonement, or about Joseph Smith or anything like that. No, no. Sacrament meeting was done by the Welcoming Committee in the ward, and it was about fellowshipping. Yup...that's right. I'm supposed to make friends with people--they told me so over the pulpit. How's that for a direct invitation to step outside of yourself?
So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to stop waiting around for someone to befriend me, and just start "being friends" with as many people on this program as I can. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself--especially when I have no right to do so. I'm living in Washington DC, for the sake of Pete, and doing stuff that I absolutely love. I'm going to stop feeling sad because I can't share all my experiences with my close friends, and just start sharing some of my experiences with those friends who aren't so close yet. How on earth do I expect to make better friends if I don't start trying?
Yeah, so there. Interesting scripture that was used on Sunday:
So, yeah. I'm wallowing a bit in this self pity, wondering why it is that all these people around me haven't yet jumped to their feet and tried to make me their friend. Sure, my moving experience has taught me that I am usually the one who has to go out and make a move if I want friends, but maybe this time will be different. Maybe, this time, I'll just sit back and watch the friends flock to me.
Wrong-O pardner.
Clearly, I wasn't thinking logically here. First off, if people were lining up to be friends with me, I'd spend all my time introducing myself and none of my time actually "being friends." This is a phrase that indicates actual hang-outage as opposed to just "having friends." The second problem with my thinking is that I was wallowing in my loneliness, thinking about how my family isn't here, and I've got no one around to give me a good hug when I need one, and whine whine whine whine, when I already know perfectly well that the solution is to get out and make some friends. Duh.
It's so easily said, and yet it's so much easier just to whine about my problem. I can call my friends back in Provo and talk about how amazing DC is, but how it would be just a little better if they were all out here (which is probably true), I can miss my family, and I can sit around in my room at times feeling sorry for myself, or I can do something about it.
Guess what sacrament meeting on Sunday was about? It wasn't really about the atonement, or about Joseph Smith or anything like that. No, no. Sacrament meeting was done by the Welcoming Committee in the ward, and it was about fellowshipping. Yup...that's right. I'm supposed to make friends with people--they told me so over the pulpit. How's that for a direct invitation to step outside of yourself?
So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to stop waiting around for someone to befriend me, and just start "being friends" with as many people on this program as I can. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself--especially when I have no right to do so. I'm living in Washington DC, for the sake of Pete, and doing stuff that I absolutely love. I'm going to stop feeling sad because I can't share all my experiences with my close friends, and just start sharing some of my experiences with those friends who aren't so close yet. How on earth do I expect to make better friends if I don't start trying?
Yeah, so there. Interesting scripture that was used on Sunday:
Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Random side note: Today I bought a bike in VA, and had to bring it back with me on the metro...I'm pretty sure I managed to entertain some strangers there...
Here's to hoping that you guys can get out and make some friends too, and that those of you that I actually know who read this can keep "being friends" with me in the process.
Here's to hoping that you guys can get out and make some friends too, and that those of you that I actually know who read this can keep "being friends" with me in the process.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
"Looking for My Latin Lover"
Did I happen to put this shirt on today?
I went to Dupont Circle in search of some brown closed-toe shoes this afternoon after work, and I got looked over so many times! Not only that, but these guys were talking to me...ugh. It just makes you feel dirty. I wasn't even dressed in any kind of provocative manner. Yuck.
The first guy was like...30 or so, South American, and he passed me coming out of Safeway. He's walking with his friend, turns around, looks me over, and then clicks his tongue a few times. I hurried into the store to get away. Then I had to go into the McDonald's across the street so that I could use the restroom, and he was in there, at a table between the door and the bathroom. I tried to hurry past him, and he starts to stand up and talk to me! He said something, but I ran into the bathroom really fast so that I didn't have to talk to him. Then I prayed that he wouldn't talk to me when I left. He didn't, and I didn't have to talk to him anymore.
Then, after a lot of walking and finally finding Payless, I am buying my new shoes. The guy behind the counter (who is probably early 20's) says, "Tus ojos es muy bonita." For those of you who never took, or don't remember high school Spanish, that translates to "Your eyes are very beautiful." He's my sales clerk! I was expecting him to tell me how much my shoes cost...I hurried and said "thank you." He then proceeded to explain to me what he said by saying, "I just told you you have good eyes." Not really knowing what to say at this point, I quickly ask where the nearest Metro stop is and hightail it out of there. Now I'm safe at home, and currently alone. Maybe I should take a nap and start the afternoon over...
My shoes are really cute though, so that's a plus, right?
I went to Dupont Circle in search of some brown closed-toe shoes this afternoon after work, and I got looked over so many times! Not only that, but these guys were talking to me...ugh. It just makes you feel dirty. I wasn't even dressed in any kind of provocative manner. Yuck.
The first guy was like...30 or so, South American, and he passed me coming out of Safeway. He's walking with his friend, turns around, looks me over, and then clicks his tongue a few times. I hurried into the store to get away. Then I had to go into the McDonald's across the street so that I could use the restroom, and he was in there, at a table between the door and the bathroom. I tried to hurry past him, and he starts to stand up and talk to me! He said something, but I ran into the bathroom really fast so that I didn't have to talk to him. Then I prayed that he wouldn't talk to me when I left. He didn't, and I didn't have to talk to him anymore.
Then, after a lot of walking and finally finding Payless, I am buying my new shoes. The guy behind the counter (who is probably early 20's) says, "Tus ojos es muy bonita." For those of you who never took, or don't remember high school Spanish, that translates to "Your eyes are very beautiful." He's my sales clerk! I was expecting him to tell me how much my shoes cost...I hurried and said "thank you." He then proceeded to explain to me what he said by saying, "I just told you you have good eyes." Not really knowing what to say at this point, I quickly ask where the nearest Metro stop is and hightail it out of there. Now I'm safe at home, and currently alone. Maybe I should take a nap and start the afternoon over...
My shoes are really cute though, so that's a plus, right?
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Hands-On Fun
Sometimes, as part of my internship, I get to work with Children. I love this. I think that kids are the funniest beings ever. They're just so completely honest and usually unaware that the things they're saying are not supposted to be said.
Anyway, some of the funnier quotes lately are included here:
In response to the question "What are the three states of matter?" A couple of boys had this interaction:
"Umm....uh...trees?"
"Video Games?"
(boy who said trees smacks boy who said video games) "Video games?!?"
(boy who said video games rubs his arm) "What? They matter."
After a group of pre-schoolers is told about the fact that they can't pick the color they want and chanting "You get what you get and you don't get upset" a little girl says,
"I don't care what I get, I only care that I love my mommy and daddy."
That girl has got it down.
Anyway, some of the funnier quotes lately are included here:
In response to the question "What are the three states of matter?" A couple of boys had this interaction:
"Umm....uh...trees?"
"Video Games?"
(boy who said trees smacks boy who said video games) "Video games?!?"
(boy who said video games rubs his arm) "What? They matter."
After a group of pre-schoolers is told about the fact that they can't pick the color they want and chanting "You get what you get and you don't get upset" a little girl says,
"I don't care what I get, I only care that I love my mommy and daddy."
That girl has got it down.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
It's Raining, It's Pouring...
...And It's Amazing.
So it's pouring outside right now. I've been feeling a little bit...alone? Not unhappy, but just alone. Anyway, I decided to go to a familiar store to get some groceries, and have an adventure to make myself feel better. I went online to find a Walmart...and that didn't work, at all. So I found a target instead. Sure, the store isn't particularly familiar, but it's familiar-ish, so I got on the metro and rode to nearly the end of the green line to get there.
The trip was good. I got a bunch of pasta which was on sale, and that's a good dinner. Just enough cooking that I feel good about my part in actually "making" dinner, but not so much effort that I don't feel like doing it. I'm realizing that I'm pretty deprived of meat though...so I might have to fix that.
Anyway, I got off the metro at the Foggy Bottom stop, and I find that it's pouring outside. Granted, this isn't Tennessee-pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-because-you-can't-see-where-you're-driving rain, but it's a good heavy rain. It just made me really happy. I'm listening to my ipod, dancing home in the rain, and loving it. Everyone around me is avoiding the rain, and I just embraced it. Glorious rain, that's what it was.
When I went to work today I got off the Metro at my station--the Smithsonian one on the orange and blue lines. It's such a great station. You ride the escalator up to the top, and right in front of you the Capitol building appears as you breach the horizon. Then you turn to go to one of the Smithsonians, and the Washington Monument is right there to your left. I still can't get over the fact that I live in Washington DC, and that I get the chance to see all of that, every day. I feel like I've been here longer than I have, but it's all so novel to me anyway. I ride the metro to work...I live off of Pennsylvania Ave...and I am interning at the Smithsonian. It's incredible! I am so happy about it...and so blessed to be able to do it.
So it's pouring outside right now. I've been feeling a little bit...alone? Not unhappy, but just alone. Anyway, I decided to go to a familiar store to get some groceries, and have an adventure to make myself feel better. I went online to find a Walmart...and that didn't work, at all. So I found a target instead. Sure, the store isn't particularly familiar, but it's familiar-ish, so I got on the metro and rode to nearly the end of the green line to get there.
The trip was good. I got a bunch of pasta which was on sale, and that's a good dinner. Just enough cooking that I feel good about my part in actually "making" dinner, but not so much effort that I don't feel like doing it. I'm realizing that I'm pretty deprived of meat though...so I might have to fix that.
Anyway, I got off the metro at the Foggy Bottom stop, and I find that it's pouring outside. Granted, this isn't Tennessee-pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-because-you-can't-see-where-you're-driving rain, but it's a good heavy rain. It just made me really happy. I'm listening to my ipod, dancing home in the rain, and loving it. Everyone around me is avoiding the rain, and I just embraced it. Glorious rain, that's what it was.
When I went to work today I got off the Metro at my station--the Smithsonian one on the orange and blue lines. It's such a great station. You ride the escalator up to the top, and right in front of you the Capitol building appears as you breach the horizon. Then you turn to go to one of the Smithsonians, and the Washington Monument is right there to your left. I still can't get over the fact that I live in Washington DC, and that I get the chance to see all of that, every day. I feel like I've been here longer than I have, but it's all so novel to me anyway. I ride the metro to work...I live off of Pennsylvania Ave...and I am interning at the Smithsonian. It's incredible! I am so happy about it...and so blessed to be able to do it.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Oh Dear
"24 is like an abusive boyfriend. You know it's bad for you, but you just can't stop going back to it."
--New 24 friend on Tonight's episode
--New 24 friend on Tonight's episode
Stop to Smell the...Greenery?
Alright--I wrote this post a long time ago, but my plants are all gone now, and I'm missing them right now, so I thought that I'd introduce them to you.
This guy to the right is "The Shrubbery" He and I have been together since September of My Freshmen year...that makes a friend of a whopping 2 and a half years. I bought him about a week after school started because I wanted something of my own to take care of. Now I'm an RA...guess it kind of works the same way...
The guy to the left here is also another one who needs a name, though he's been around for a little while. A really awesome family I know had a bunch of them in their kitchen and they were apparently trying to take over. They brought me one the last time they came to visit, I like that he's all stripey and kind of floppy. Again, any suggestions?
This guy has some of my favorite leaves. He doesn’t really have a name, but he does have a new pot—a really big one, and he’s got more leaves now.
This plant to the left is Diangelo Fig. One of the girls from my floor last year was with me when I bought him...and she named him. It's quite the name though, isn't it?
This last plant is one I like to call Gus. He's got skinny little legs, and really funny little leaves. It's kind of like Gus Gus from Cinderella...especially when the leaves are just growing--then they kind of curl open.
I guess the point of all that is this:
"I just really love plants."
-Persimmone Frosch
Saturday, May 06, 2006
"You Go One Step Shy of Crazy, What Are You?"
"Obsessed?"
"Passionate!"
So, today was the Philadelphia trip. The day started with my roommate and I both getting a phone call around 6:10 from the kids on the bus...the bus that we were supposed to be on at 6:00. I can't recall the last time I got ready that fast. It was pretty incredible. The ride up to Philly (haha, I just typed "Philly") was basically just me sleeping, and then watching the end of "A More Perfect Union." Then we got to the National Constitution Center.
So I got excited. I mean...this is an important place! We went into the center, watched a little dramatic performance about the Constitution, and then we got to go and do the interactive activities upstairs. There was a wall of people who had influenced the constitution, and a place where you could be sworn in as president. Not to mention the fact that there were questions posted up along the wall, and you were encouraged to answer them and then stick the post-it to the wall. They ensured us that "all comments are recorded by our staff for public opinion." We answered all the questions they asked us, and felt very civically minded.
After that place, we went and got through the security to get into Independence Hall. Our tickets weren't until 12:00, and so we had some time to walk around. There was this little exhibit there that I wanted to look at, and it was pretty well done. When I was leaving, one of the members of the society stopped me and asked me where I was from. He was probably in his late twenties, early thirties. I told him I was from Utah, and then he asked me not to leave before signing the guestbook. The interesting thing was that he didn't ask anyone else to stick around and sign the guestbook, and he'd kind of been following me and this other guy that came in with me from the group around the museum. They had a little embossing machine there that I wanted to stamp my paper with, and the guy comes over to do it for me. He says, "It shows up best on the purple, and the orange. I'm going to stamp the orange, because that's the color shirt you're wearing." He then stamped my book twice, and I left soon afterwards.
Then we went to the tour of Independence Hall. Our tour guide was funny, but in a mostly odd way. He kept making these jokes that were supposed to be really funny...but they kind of annoyed me. I wasn't there to hear stories about how the Yankees won the series in 1776...I was there to see the real historical stuff. It wasn't too bad though, I'm sure he's just trying to make it more entertaining for the people whose parents just drag them there against their will.
After that, we had 4 hours of free time. We first went to get Philly Cheese Steaks...because I don't know how I could have lived with myself if I hadn't...ok, maybe I could have. anyway, it was pretty good, but I think I like the local fare better...honestly. I'm also not the only one--another girl in the program has been to several Philly cheese steak places with me, and she agrees with me. We then went to see the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which include the stairs that Rocky Ran up. Actually...we just went to see the stairs. We rode there on the Phlash bus...which felt like it was going to fall apart at any minute. It was great. I had to run down the stairs to take a picture, and then I ran up the stairs and made sure to do the Rocky Triumphant thing...just like everyone else. Then we walked to another part near the museum to take a picture with the Thinker, and then to catch the Phlash bus back to our other Bus. We had a little time, so a friend and I visited a dollar store and a Ross...where I bought a green fuzzy blanket that was on sale (check out the sheets underneath--it's the fuzz stuff on one side, and the shiny stuff on the other...hideous, but soo soft!). I figured that it was a good functional souvenir from Philly. We then went to a Pizza place for dinner, and then we drove home. This was where I again slept quite a bit, and watched a bit of National Treasure. All in all, it was quite a satisfying day. I got to see a lot of great stuff, and I found out that I'm full of Benergy.
"Passionate!"
So, today was the Philadelphia trip. The day started with my roommate and I both getting a phone call around 6:10 from the kids on the bus...the bus that we were supposed to be on at 6:00. I can't recall the last time I got ready that fast. It was pretty incredible. The ride up to Philly (haha, I just typed "Philly") was basically just me sleeping, and then watching the end of "A More Perfect Union." Then we got to the National Constitution Center.
So I got excited. I mean...this is an important place! We went into the center, watched a little dramatic performance about the Constitution, and then we got to go and do the interactive activities upstairs. There was a wall of people who had influenced the constitution, and a place where you could be sworn in as president. Not to mention the fact that there were questions posted up along the wall, and you were encouraged to answer them and then stick the post-it to the wall. They ensured us that "all comments are recorded by our staff for public opinion." We answered all the questions they asked us, and felt very civically minded.
After that place, we went and got through the security to get into Independence Hall. Our tickets weren't until 12:00, and so we had some time to walk around. There was this little exhibit there that I wanted to look at, and it was pretty well done. When I was leaving, one of the members of the society stopped me and asked me where I was from. He was probably in his late twenties, early thirties. I told him I was from Utah, and then he asked me not to leave before signing the guestbook. The interesting thing was that he didn't ask anyone else to stick around and sign the guestbook, and he'd kind of been following me and this other guy that came in with me from the group around the museum. They had a little embossing machine there that I wanted to stamp my paper with, and the guy comes over to do it for me. He says, "It shows up best on the purple, and the orange. I'm going to stamp the orange, because that's the color shirt you're wearing." He then stamped my book twice, and I left soon afterwards.
Then we went to the tour of Independence Hall. Our tour guide was funny, but in a mostly odd way. He kept making these jokes that were supposed to be really funny...but they kind of annoyed me. I wasn't there to hear stories about how the Yankees won the series in 1776...I was there to see the real historical stuff. It wasn't too bad though, I'm sure he's just trying to make it more entertaining for the people whose parents just drag them there against their will.
After that, we had 4 hours of free time. We first went to get Philly Cheese Steaks...because I don't know how I could have lived with myself if I hadn't...ok, maybe I could have. anyway, it was pretty good, but I think I like the local fare better...honestly. I'm also not the only one--another girl in the program has been to several Philly cheese steak places with me, and she agrees with me. We then went to see the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which include the stairs that Rocky Ran up. Actually...we just went to see the stairs. We rode there on the Phlash bus...which felt like it was going to fall apart at any minute. It was great. I had to run down the stairs to take a picture, and then I ran up the stairs and made sure to do the Rocky Triumphant thing...just like everyone else. Then we walked to another part near the museum to take a picture with the Thinker, and then to catch the Phlash bus back to our other Bus. We had a little time, so a friend and I visited a dollar store and a Ross...where I bought a green fuzzy blanket that was on sale (check out the sheets underneath--it's the fuzz stuff on one side, and the shiny stuff on the other...hideous, but soo soft!). I figured that it was a good functional souvenir from Philly. We then went to a Pizza place for dinner, and then we drove home. This was where I again slept quite a bit, and watched a bit of National Treasure. All in all, it was quite a satisfying day. I got to see a lot of great stuff, and I found out that I'm full of Benergy.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Wait, So Are You Like...A Mormon?
Only the second day, and I got asked the question...
"So, where do you go to school?"
"Brigham Young University."
"Oh, I've heard of that...but I don't know why--are you guys good at sports or something?"
"Welll...we were once...in 1984."
"Oh...is it a big school?"
"About 35,000."
"Oh! Maybe that's where I heard about it."
"Maybe."
"Where is that again?"
"Provo, Utah."
"Oh, aren't there like, a lot of Mormons out there?"
"Yup."
"Are YOU a Mormon?"
"Yup!"
"Oh...can I ask you a question? There's something I've been wanting to clear up."
"Sure,"
"Well, umm...I don't know how to ask this."
"Don't worry about it, just ask." (this is the part where I thought she'd bring up polygamy)
"Well...Are Mormons the ones who believe that they get their own planets when they die?"
(I chuckle) "Well, not quite that quickly. We believe that God is our Father, and that he's enabled us to be able to eventually progress to become like him--kind of like a child can grow up to be like their father or mother. We don't, however, believe that you die and get [the keys to]* your own planet once you get to the other side. It's a long process."
"Oh, that makes sense. I just had to ask because I heard a Mormon and a Seventh-Day Adventist who were arguing about stuff, and that's the only part I remembered."
We went on to talk about other things after that. Later, she informed another guy we work with that I was LDS, and it's funny. I forget that people aren't just like...default LDS sometimes. Our office dress code is about the same as the honor code, so it makes it a little easier to do so. I'm so excited that they already know that I'm LDS...hopefully they'll keep asking questions. The first question the guy asked when she told him was, "did you do that mission thing?" I just answered that I hadn't and he replied, "Oh, you're one of THOSE Mormons." We all laughed, and he just-kiddinged it away, but all I could think was, "haven't done the mission thing...full time..." I hope I continue to leave these people with good impressions.
*I didn't actually say this at the time...I just now thought of it, and wish I'd been that clever at the moment...this is my blog though, so I'm allowed to play with History...as long as I tell you I did so.
"So, where do you go to school?"
"Brigham Young University."
"Oh, I've heard of that...but I don't know why--are you guys good at sports or something?"
"Welll...we were once...in 1984."
"Oh...is it a big school?"
"About 35,000."
"Oh! Maybe that's where I heard about it."
"Maybe."
"Where is that again?"
"Provo, Utah."
"Oh, aren't there like, a lot of Mormons out there?"
"Yup."
"Are YOU a Mormon?"
"Yup!"
"Oh...can I ask you a question? There's something I've been wanting to clear up."
"Sure,"
"Well, umm...I don't know how to ask this."
"Don't worry about it, just ask." (this is the part where I thought she'd bring up polygamy)
"Well...Are Mormons the ones who believe that they get their own planets when they die?"
(I chuckle) "Well, not quite that quickly. We believe that God is our Father, and that he's enabled us to be able to eventually progress to become like him--kind of like a child can grow up to be like their father or mother. We don't, however, believe that you die and get [the keys to]* your own planet once you get to the other side. It's a long process."
"Oh, that makes sense. I just had to ask because I heard a Mormon and a Seventh-Day Adventist who were arguing about stuff, and that's the only part I remembered."
We went on to talk about other things after that. Later, she informed another guy we work with that I was LDS, and it's funny. I forget that people aren't just like...default LDS sometimes. Our office dress code is about the same as the honor code, so it makes it a little easier to do so. I'm so excited that they already know that I'm LDS...hopefully they'll keep asking questions. The first question the guy asked when she told him was, "did you do that mission thing?" I just answered that I hadn't and he replied, "Oh, you're one of THOSE Mormons." We all laughed, and he just-kiddinged it away, but all I could think was, "haven't done the mission thing...full time..." I hope I continue to leave these people with good impressions.
*I didn't actually say this at the time...I just now thought of it, and wish I'd been that clever at the moment...this is my blog though, so I'm allowed to play with History...as long as I tell you I did so.
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