Paris, Je T'aime

About a month ago I saw a movie called "Paris, Je T'aime." It's about 18 different short movies about love and Paris. They let different directors make their own shorts about whatever story they wanted to tell. Some were happy, some were sad, one involved Elijah Wood falling in love with a vampire (??) but they were all good.

Here is a link to my favorite one. The only version I could find was French with Italian subtitles so I'll give a quick synopsis. A guy is sitting around with his buddies who are making catcalls to women that pass by. The first guy is not participating. He sees a Muslim girl fall and goes to help her. They part but he goes to chase her down. I won't tell the ending, you'll just have to watch it. :)

People

Person #1-I was at my bishop's home tonight for FHE. I really enjoy my bishop and his wife. They are a great team and are very funny and intelligent. Bishop's wife started going around the room to try make sure she knew everyone's name. She came to me and said, "You're new this semester. You taught the wonderful enrichment on emergency preparedness last week. You did so well!" I was baffled. I have been in the ward for SIX MONTHS. I'm sure she knew me last semester. It hurt a little because she should at least recognize me. It's not like I don't ever go to anything. I'm pretty active in the ward. About the enrichment, I'm pretty sure I was all the way up in Kaysville when that happened and was not there. She thought I was being modest by denying that I taught "such a great lesson" but no, I was just not present.


There must be someone else in the ward that people are confusing me with. About two weeks ago after I gave the second counselor in my ward my tithing he said, "Don't worry, we'll get someone called to emergency preparedness soon." I replied, "That's great but why does that matter to me because I'm on the break the fast committee." (He also called me Katie). I must find out who our emergency preparedness specialist is...


Person #2-If you ever venture into Outdoors Unlimited check and see if Scott is there. He is a very attractive guy that works there. Kind of a surfer face that reminds me of Aaron Peirsol. I discovered him when I went to return my skis today. I only wish I had more money so I could rent more equipment from him.

Aaron Peirsol

Person #3-Another attractive man is my social dance teacher. I think half of it is that he can dance, but he is also very good looking. I also got to dance with him for a segundo today, it is very nice dancing with someone who knows what they're doing.

Person(s) #4-Who needs the six degrees of Kevin Bacon? At BYU we only need three or less. Example-I went to Emily's birthday party and knew three other people there who I did not know knew Emily. One was a guy I worked with one summer, two were girls from a former ward. Example-At ward prayer last night I met a guy who had friends in the ward but he himself was not in the ward. At work today I happened to be visiting when he showed up to the ticket office window. We walked out of the building and chatted for a bit. And it only gets more intertwined the more people I meet.

Also, it is Cadbury Mini Eggs season and I already bought a bag. They are the best candy ever. They have a similar item at Christmas but it's just not the same. I love Easter candy.

Happy V-Day (Late)!

This is the Valentine's Day card my RS Pres from back home sent me. Tee hee!

1. Started your own blog-this is it
2. Slept under the stars-Girls' Camp
3. Played in a band-trumpet 6th/7th grade
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower-a favorite summer memory
6. Given more than you can afford to charity-I don't need it
7. Been to Disneyland-twice!
8. Climbed a mountain-a couple of smaller ones
9. Held a Praying Mantis-we buried Greeny in the backyard
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch-homemade ice cream
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty-July of 2000
18. Grown your own vegetables-and picked them
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort-it even had underground tunnels
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise-last summer
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors-does Utah count?
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language-I tried to teach myself Hawaiian once
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing for real
.40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke-Journey's "Separate Ways"
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing-gross!
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma-the Red Cross keeps calling me...
65. Gone sky diving-I want to sooo badly!
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check-oops...
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone-right femur, Say eight!
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Dieter Uchtdorf, James Morrison
92. Joined a book club-to read "Twilight", gayness
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

I don't really like how a lot of these involve going to Europe to get them done. But I should try swimming in the Great Salt Lake since I live an hour away but it kind of grosses me out.

They Say It's Your Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday this year. It started on Friday when Jillian took me to the MOA cafe to lunch. We got a ton of food. Both of us got a turkey harvest crossiant, I got the curry chicken salad, Jillian got potato soup and we shared a scrumptious chocolate cake that had every density of chocolate from frosting to fudge to cake to crunchy things. I was sooo stuffed.

Then I went to work where I got a ton of birthday wishes. Thanks everyone! After work I went ice skating wtih Jenn and Aaron at seven peaks. I only had to pay $1 because the rental agency I used to rent from had a special "buy out the rink" night. It was great because we got to go on the other sheet of ice and didn't have to share it with the other people. I also persuaded Jenn and Aaron to try hockey skates. I am a big fan. There was also doughnuts afterward. I saw some guys from my ward and chatted with them. After we drove to Maestro's gellato and got free samples.


Me and Jenn ice skating

It looks like I'm about ready to do a triple lutz or something

Saturday was also fun. I went shopping with Jenn in the morning to get supplied for the next day's dinner. Then work, then Young Ambassadors with Jillian. We both enjoyed it a ton and I was impressed by a lot of the performers. My favorite numbers were "My new philosophy," "Show Off," the "Wicked" set, and the song from "The Color Purple." I did have to go back to work that night but it was a very entertaining time because there were a ton of treats and we got Brad the house manager doing pirouettes on video. I think we were all going crazy from the split shift. I was very tired by the end of the day.

On Sunday, my actual birthday, I got to wear some new clothes that I had gotten. I was excited. My mom called me in the morning and sang me "Happy Birthday." I also looked in the mailbox and got a birthday card from my aunt Debbie and a package from my mom. In the box I found a package of Dove chocolate and three bags of gingerbread cookies! If you didn't know, gingerbread is one of my favorite things. My mom made heart cookies and decorated with red hots. Gingerbread and red hots are a good combo. Church was great, more birthday wishes and the Relief Society sang to me. After church I ran home to make preparations for dinner.

The furniture had to be rearranged but I am a master planner. I needed to fit 17 people in my apartment which was a feat. Jenn came over and helped me prep the vegetables. Marissa was going to help but she was sick. I eventually made her do the frosting because I stink at frosting, but she did wash her hands. People started showing up and I was very excited. As always, dinner did not start on time but some people were late so it was ok. Dinner was "make your own" paninis. Jenn and Aaron got a panini maker when they got married and let me borrow it. I had fancy bread, olive oil, fancy cheese, veggies and even basil. It was a hit. The sandwiches were amazing grilled. It just added to the quality of the sandwich. It was kind of annoying that everyone had to take their turn but they were very patient.

Kira, Austin and Kameron enjoying paninis

It was great to chat and catch up with everyone. I was also excited for my friends to meet each other, probably because I want them to be friends too. We ate and then they sang "Happy Birthday" to me and I blew out the candles on my cake. My friends wanted to give me spankings too but I wouldn't let them. Then it was just more chatting and a small photoshoot where I was put in a "Jeff" sandwich. I know other people like getting things for their birthday but all I really wanted was to see my good friends. I love that they all came. It was a great birthday and hopefully year 22 will be spectacular!

Crazy Mormon Ghetto Kids

"Go shawty, it's ya birthday!"

Guest List: Me, Jillian, Stephen, Marissa, Jenn, Aaron, Jenna, Jared, Benji, Matt, Marcus, Tanya, Kameron, Kira, Austin and Natalie. Good times.

Jillian made me this card! She is awesome.

Birthday cookies and cards.

Hike naked. It adds color to your cheeks.

This article made me giggle:

Naked hikers face spot fines-
GENEVA (Reuters) - Naked mountain hikers in the Swiss canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden will in future face on the spot fines of 200 Swiss francs ($170), Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger reported over the weekend.

A wave of naked hiking -- particularly popular with German visitors -- outraged people last year in the traditionally minded canton, Switzerland's smallest by population, which gave women the vote only in 1990.

"We must protect our children from these immoral habits," the paper quoted Melchior Looser, head of the cantonal justice and police department, as saying.

Police succeeded in catching a naked hiker red-handed last September, and the 44-year-old Swiss man was charged with public nuisance. But the case has not yet been heard, leading the local authorities to push for a quicker way to deal with offenders.

It was not clear where the naked hikers would find the money, although hikers often carry rucksacks.
(Reporting by Jonathan Lynn; Editing by Paul Casciato)

Lately

Congratulations to Adele for winning Grammy's for Best New Artist and Best Female Vocal last night! She is amazing and I hope she has continued success here in the U.S. (I feel cool that I saw her perform live!)

Last Saturday night a flashmob organized on Facebook shut down London's Liverpool Street station. Police don't know how many people were actually there but the Facebook group had over 14,000 members. I have been a part of one very lame flashmob. My dream is to be in one like this 22-year old pulled off. It would be so much fun.

I feel generally unprepared for life today. It's like I skipped a few days and ended up on Monday. What? And I think it goes for a lot of people. I've seen a lot of tired faces today. And Monday's stink because they remind me off all of the THINGS I still have to DO and BE and FILL OUT and READ and POST and PRACTICE not to mention FIGURE OUT MY FUTURE. (calmate meagan.)

Cold season has officially started which means I need a new bottle of hand sanitizer. I managed not to get sick last winter. My methods are a combination of everything. Hand sanitation, not touching places other people touch a lot, lysoling the apartment, hydration, sleep, exercise and a flu shot. Cross your fingers.

I am getting impatient for spring. I'm sooo done with winter; although this year has not been as bad as last year with all the coldness and snow. But Utah makes me depressed because I know that just because it's May it can still snow. I've seen it. This Non Sequitir comic from today expresses my feelings.

I am getting CPR/First Aid certified today. That will help me feel like I can contribute to society.

And I really want this dress. It is springy.

However many things I want to tell you

Here is my attempt at the 25 facts thinger-a similar one is on my facebook

#1 I didn't learn how to tie my shoelaces until my kindergarten teacher took me aside and taught me. Velcro saved my life. I wear velcro shoes currently, but I do know how to tie my shoes.

#2 When I was little I loved to play in dirt. Whenever my mom couldn't find me I was in the dirt pile behind our house. I was dirty a lot.

#3 On the first day of first grade I fainted when I came home from school. I think it had been a traumatic experience and I almost didn't get off the bus coming home. I went three blocks past my house and had to have the bus driver let me off at an undesignated stop and I ran home. I don't know why my older sister and brother who were on the bus didn't tell me to get off. So when I got home I was tired and sweaty. I walked to the top of the stairs and I fainted.

#4 In the past year I have developed appreciation for fruits I did not like before. They are cherries (Ranier are the best), strawberries and tomatoes. The strawberries and tomatoes have to be hidden in things like salads and sandwiches. But I feel good because I am getting a lot more vitamins and antioxidants.

#5 I love the smell of citrus flavored dish soap. And also the macintosh apple candle from Yankee Candle Company. I do not handle many women's fragrances well. They give me a headache.

#6 I have been to Disneyland twice and Disney World once. I have also swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I am blessed.

#7 I broke my right femur jumping on Jenna Barrowes' trampoline when I was a freshman at BYU. I had to drop out of college and move home. Then followed two months of physical therapy. I have a pretty sweet x-ray and a rod and two screws in my leg. I like to tell people that I am a college dropout.

#8 I can remember facts and events really well. But I try not to creep people out by remembering things too well. This helps me remember movie lines that I quote a lot and geography which makes me a very good navigator.

#9 I like to mow the lawn. My family did not have the whole "boys mow the lawn" thing and we were always expected to do part of it. I think it soothes me.

# 10 My dream jobs include being a roller coaster tester or becoming a TV talk show host like Ellen. It looks like a lot of fun.

#11 For some reason I have developed a fear of fish in my latter years. I was fine with them when I was little even after I saw The Little Mermaid. I also used to love kissing dogs. Now I am semi-afraid of them.

#12 One time when my brother Stephen and I were driving to zero hour in the really old Izuzu Pup (it's a really ghetto truck) it was so cold outside and the windows were so foggy that we couldn't really see. At all. I rolled down my window and tried to tell him when to turn but we ended up crashing up onto a sidewalk for a second. Good times.

#13 I aspire to visit every continent, so far I have one done. North America. I also aspire to go skydiving.

#14 When I was little I was scared that my house would catch on fire and I'd have to jump out my window on the top floor. This was after we watched the fire safety videos at school and practiced in the little house that the fire department takes to schools. I think this was one reason why I switched rooms to downstairs.

#15 I love books. I will spend money on books before anything else. I usually get a Barnes and Noble gift card every year for Christmas and have it spent within a week. I have a bookcase in my room at home, have outgrown it and now stack books on top of it.

#16 I think I have a pretty good sense of humor and I often laugh at things other people don't.

#17 I miss all the girls I used to live with: Jenn, Jenna, Jules and Monica. Not Marissa because I still live with her. Jenn and Jenna are married. Jules and Monica are on missions. I miss them with all my heart even though I still see Jenn and even Jenna on occasion.

#18 I think I have an obsession with blogging. But hopefully it's helping my writing skills.

#19 I do not have wisdom teeth. Not because they were taken out but because I never had them in the first place.

#20 I don't have a favorite color, I tend to switch what color I like depending on my mood. If you look in my closet I mostly have jewel tones but that's what I look good in.

#21 I adore James Morrison and Adele. I could listen to only them and often do.

#22 I wish I knew how to play an instrument but sadly I do not. If I did it would be the piano or guitar, and then move on to others. I did play the trumpet in 6th and 7th grade band but I quit. One of the best things I've ever done.

#23 My mom used to have to bribe me to go to ballet class. I would hide behind my bed and only come out if she promised to stay the whole time and watch or buy me stickers. Maybe this was a good thing because I ended up doing ballet for eleven years.

#24 I tried softball in first grade. Once I got mad at a girl on my team and threw a bat at her. I didn't play softball after that year.

#25 I work in the HFAC ticket office which is a pretty sweet job. I get to study when it's slow or work on my blog. I have been at work for 6 1/2 hours today and not done any studying at all. Plus all the girls have blogs and we read each others. Now we even have a ticket office blog.

#26 I want to make the world healthy. I study Public Health and I think it's pretty sweet.

#27 I use post-it notes as a planner. They are all over. I have a habit of remembering things right before I go to bed and I can just jot them down. I have a planner but don't really use it.

#28 I want to have my own dance crew and audition for America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC). Fanny Pak is my favorite crew from both seasons.

#29 I am awkward around boys, especially boys I like.

#30 I know the Spanish language, enough to understand pretty much everything but I can't speak it at all.

#31 I like homemade cake-like brownies better than gooey box brownies. My mom makes the best.

#32 The American Girl's doll I own is Addy; it was mostly because she was the new one when I wanted to get one. My racist grandma couldn't understand why a white girl would want a black doll.

#33 I love hosting dinner parties or parties of any type. I think I could make a good party planner someday.

#34 During President Hinckley's Book of Mormon challenge I was still in Ether on December 31st, but I finished it.

#35 The human body facinates me and I love learning about it.

#36 I'm the only child in my family that doesn't have a middle name that starts with "m." The others are Marie, Michael and Michelle. Mine is Leigh.

#37 I don't like using the optional comma before "and" in a list. For example, I like fruit, pasta, bubble gum and cookies. I think it's because of laziness.

#38 My major is helping me to become more health conscious. I eat healthier than I used to and I exercise more. I want to be the healthiest I can be so that I can: enjoy life, be a good mother and be able to bear children, be able to do any physical activity and not be held back by physical limitations and stave off any chronic diseases that may come my way.

#39 Sometimes I feel guilty about not eating enough vegetables so I buy a bag of salad at the grocery store. It then goes into the refridgerator only to stay there until it goes bad because I usually forget about it. Basically it's a waste of money. But somehow, buying it makes me feel better.