contagion

Haven't seen the movie, but this word seemed somewhat appropriate to my thought's I'd like to express, they kind of go two different ways, so be patient: This past weekend I went up to Ensign Ranch, which is a church owned property in the mountains of central Washington, for a multi-stake YSA retreat. I knew that a whole night and day of YSA-dom would be setting myself up for weirdness and potential boredom but I missed the event last year so I thought I'd give it a try. It ended up being exactly like I thought it would, a little lame, a little weird but what was I going to do with that Friday night anyway?, and I had some fun because I tried to have a positive attitude. Probably my favorite was when this kid showed up to the super ultra conservative mormon dance in his karate gi, and no it was not a costume party. Anway, they ended the dance at 11 and then had a short devotional and then people dispersed to go to bed. Well, I have been to Ensign Ranch for Girl's Camp many a time, so I knew the lake had an island on it accessible by bridge that would be cool to check out. So me and some peeps headed down to the lake. Then two of the "adults" come rolling up in their car and tried to tell us it was time to go to bed, there was a "curfew" and they wanted to go to bed. It was 11:45 on a Friday night, and we were camping. So, no, we didn't want to go to bed. We told them that we had 15 minutes to midnight and we'd be hanging out till then. One of the "adults" also happened to be my old bishop from when I was 14 who is now in the stake presidency and also home teaches my parents. They then drove down to ferret out any other hooligans who have been sneaking off to do bad things by moonlight or set fire to the forests. NOT. We went through various plans of hiding and sneaking, but didn't do anything and then the "adults" came back and told us again to scram and go to bed. We took our time and eventually went back to our cabins; but we did not let them win, we waited for awhile and then went back out to explore just because we could. Nothing bad happened.

I had a big issue with this. BIG. 1. I am freaking 24 years old, so I get to decide when to go to bed. I'm not trying to destroy property, burn something down, be super loud, or run off with a boy. I am a responsible ADULT and I will tell myself when to go to bed. 2. Don't tell me what to do. I do what I want. And when you tell me not to do something then I will want to do that even more. 3. 10 years later and I'm still getting in trouble from my bishop. And you know what? He'll probably tattle on me when he home teaches my parents. I'm not even kidding. I've had other adults tattle on me this year, and guess what? My parents don't care. Whatevs.

The next day had a featured speaker and then break out sessions. Guess what the speaker got assigned as his topic? You'll only need one guess. Yup. Dating and Eternal Marriage. How many times do we have to hear that?! Now, I try not to automatically tune it out, because some people actually have good things to say and you come away feeling better about yourself. This guy was not one of those people. The thing that got me was when he was saying that you need to be selective and hold the person you choose to marry to the high standards that you have on that metaphorical "list." My friend Will turned to me and said that that was the exact opposite of what his institute teacher tells him; that you can't be too picky and you won't find anyone that's perfect. Ha ha! I have my own thoughts on this matter: (you do have to be picky about a few certain things, but other than that, be open to many different kinds of people because the person you end up with will not be the exact replica of your expectations). So Will and I just had to leave for a moment and get out of there. I also felt super awkward during the dance because there were all these "leaders" and "adults" watching all that weirdness go down, seriously, they just stood there on the outside and watched. Which is ok when you are monitoring squirrley 12-year olds but really stop watching me, go over there and leave me alone.

Which brings me to my other point of this little diatribe, as a Young Single Adult, in the LDS church, I feel like I am treated like I have some sort of disease. (Hence "contagion"). This disease is singleness and it has to be eradicated. I'm treated differently because I am single. Two married 21-year olds would not ever be told to go to bed at a church camp out. But me, because I am single, am under a curfew. We are treated differently on many occasions. My best example of this is when the YSAs are told to go to the firesides and institute-they stepped it up this week by decreeing that institute is for all YSAs whether you went to a church school or graduated institute, you should still go. Before, we were "highly encouraged" to go, but now the tone is different. We are heathens if we do not attend institute. We are "less spiritual" or "in danger" or something if we don't attend institute. Now I'm all for religious education, it's good stuff, and I have my own personal reasons/vendetta that I resort to when it comes to making me go or not go (usually not go) to institute. But here's what I don't get-why do I, a single 24-year old female who went to BYU and has taken all the institute classes twice over, need more religious education than another girl I know, who is 20 years old and married? The difference here is that she is married and I am not. I am a heathen and she is married. I need more education and she is married. I get corralled and she is married. I dislike this a lot. Institute attendance is not requisite to attend the temple. So stop making me out to be a heathen or treating me like I have a contagious disease.

I know that one reason they encourage attendance at these things is so the "young people" can get a change to mingle. And, you never know, you "might meet someone." Biggest Lie Ever. Life is not like that commercial they run before the CES firesides. We usually only talk to people we already know anyway. No one new comes around, not in the TC anyway. And you are also subjecting yourself to putting up with 60-90 minutes of dealing with squirrely, weird and noncoherent people. Thanks, but I'll pass. 

Please note that I am not trying to be a bitter female who is sad because she is not married. I'm really fine with my singlehood right now, and I am a happy person who is capable of a lot in life. I've got other good and worthwhile things to do with my life right now. But don't get too close, my germs my rub off on you.              

I heard it through the grapevine

Today I went on a bike ride. (I bought a bike off Craigslist a few weeks ago, it's kind of a road bike and I'm really enjoying it.) It was on the shelter belt where I rode past a lot of people's backyards. There was this one house that had a grapevine growing over the back fence. As I rode past I caught a whiff of sweet grapes that instantly sent me into nostalgia. Growing up, my neighbors, the Jeppsons, had a grapevine in their garden. I realize now that we got a lot of use out of it. It was fun to crawl under and play there or use as a great hiding place for hide and go seek, one of the many games I played with Kira and the Welsches. The leaves made cool shade on a hot summer's day. When the grapes were ripe, the Jeppsons made homemade grape juice. It was a day or so long process and the air was deliciously perfumed with grapes again as they boiled (or cooked?) the fruit to make the juice. The aroma was always welcome on a crisp fall day. Later, after the leaves fell off the vine, we'd collect the vines and we made a bird's nest of sorts. There were lots of vines and we'd group them together in a big circle. I also seem to remember making up games, there was one where we were a group of siblings who had to escape something bad and then ended up floating to a hidden island in the middle of the ocean. (Castaway might have been big at the time). After we got a good use out of the vines, Kira's dad would make a fire out of them in the garden, and we'd all come over for a weenie roast. Cooking hot dogs and making s'mores over a fire built from vines, telling jokes and stores to entertain each other into the night. I loved this tradition. So, as I rode past the grapevine I caught the scent of memories. And immediately started jonesin for a weenie roast.

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I just learned what a favicon is. 

Sometimes I get confused because I feel like my life is so busy and then I remember that I'm not in school anymore, so why is it still so busy? I guess that's a good thing though.

Last week was crazy stressful. I hated it. And I hated being mad and frustrated all the time. That is not how I roll. I'm glad it's over.

BYU vs. U of U game this weekend. It's weird to have it this early in the season, but I'll for sure be supporting my Cougars. Not a big fan of baby Heaps yet, but there's hope.

Also, somehow I got into this tutoring gig, teaching math of all things. If only my 15-year old self could see me now. (I seem to remember starting an "I hate Math" club in 10th grade, I was President). I help a 6th grader and an 11th grader with math. I was attempting pre-calc last night. And it's been 6 years since I've done any kind of math. My brain hurt. It's been taking a lot of time out of my evenings, but I get paid pretty well. It should slow down a bit, I hope.

I signed up for an adult beginning ballet class. It's once a week. I love it. I missed ballet a lot. I just wish it were a higher level of difficulty so I could get more of a work out. It's more casual, so I was a tad overdressed when I showed up for the first class in my leotard, pink tights, skirt, and hair pulled back in a bun. What can I say? I'm a trained ballerina.
I feel like I need a big change in my life. I just don't have time to work on making that happen. But I should find it, and soon.

I'm not as good at staying in touch with people as I once thought. Just know that if you are reading this, I've been thinking of ya.

And because sometimes I write about music on my blog I have three recommendations today:
1. Jon McLaughlin-he sang "So Close" on the movie "Enchanted," but also just released his third album. I would classify his music as piano stomp or folk-pop, he has intriguing piano melodies and driving beats. Very entertaining. His new cd came out a week or so ago and is called "Forever if Ever." He has a duet with Xenia from "The Voice" that is pretty good. She has a really unique voice and will probably do well for herself. The duet is called "Maybe It's Over, " check it out.

2. Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers-I would classify this as folk-pop with some country leanings. They've been around for awhile and I don't know what their popular stuff is, but I put a bunch of it on my Grooveshark account and it's been really good. Check out "Gravity."

3. James Morrison-my British friend (I met him once) is coming out in a few weeks with a new album "The Awakening". It sounds good so far, I really just enjoy anything James does. He's got a good blend of pop and soul and has a unique voice. Check out "Right By Your Side."

Lastly, I look forward to new seasons of TV shows coming back. We've been watching a lot of NCIS this summer at my house, it's not bad, but once I had a dream that I was in a house that was being raided by a SWAT team, so I think I need a break. I'm ready for some more Tina Fey (30 Rock), Amy Pohler, Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation), Sheldon (Big Bang Theory), and the entire Modern Family.