i love when i cheat the system

En serio. Especially when cheating the system saves me money. Methinks I've already posted on this too. But like I said, I love it. This round is through my music website: gomusicnow.com, I call it my Russian music website because it used to have a .ru domain, but don't worry, I've never had any scams or viruses or anything. Music is super cheap, 15 cents a song for new stuff, 9 cents for old stuff, and even cheaper if you buy the whole album.

Recently I've been awaiting the cd release of my fave Brit singer, James Morrison.His new album is called The Awakening. (Yeah, I met him once and he was really nice and it was magical.) But being British, his cd comes out there first and then later in the US because of dumb laws and money and crap. So it came out in England last week, and I've been bummed because all the Limeys were exulting and praising the cd and I didn't have access to it yet. But guess what, his cd showed up on the Russian website today, I checked. 15 cents a song, a week before iTunes and no dumb iTunes lock on it so I can burn it as much as I want. I WIN.

Seriously though, I listened to the cd on Grooveshark today at work, and it's really good. He really diversified his sound on this album and there are a lot of great tracks. I love the soul and motown influences, there's also one that has a Spanish vibe, and a lot of his stuff starts out soft and mellow but surprise you in the middle with a bang to get it rockin'. He wrote it after his dad passed away so several songs are influenced by that event. He also incorporates more instruments into his music besides just the guitar and piano. It's just good fun music and I really disfrutar it. So go buy it now! Because it will help bring James over to America where us Yankees will show him a good time.

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.

favicon

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.

josh groban and me

(Yes, I know that title is not grammatically correct). This is the story of how I touched Josh Groban. A serious highlight of my LIFE.

I guess we'd have to go back to January or February to start this story. At the beginning of the year, Josh announced his "Straight to You" tour coming through America, summer 2011. We (my mom and I) had vowed after the 2007 concert that next time we'd join his fan club so that we'd get the special privilege of purchasing tickets early. So I got my mom to join his fan club and we eagerly awaited the day to buy tickets. We looked at the dates and decided that Portland would be the one we'd like to attend. I made my mom a profile on the website to buy tickets and told her how things would go down when the tickets went on sale. I bookmarked the website and even pre-entered her credit card and info so that she wouldn't have to do it during the sale. Some might say I was mean or overeager. I say I was just trying to be prepared, and just trying to get the best seats possible. In the end, my mom did have troubles and ended up calling me at work and I got on my computer bought them myself. Well, we were stoked because the tickets we ended up with were on the 12th row!! Waaaaay better than the nosebleeds we had in SLC. Just thinking about how close we were going to be got us all worked up. It was still five months away.

In preparation, Jillian and I planned what we were going to wear, got big heels so that we'd be tall enough to see over people's heads if needed, I watched Awake Live (we happened to be at that recording), and we got familiar with his new cd. So what if Jillian was supposed to start school two days after the concert....she skipped school last time for JG. It was worth it. Jillian came home for a week and then on Friday, August 26th, we left to go to Portland.

My mom doesn't get worked up about many things in life, but one thing she does get worked up about is JG. I mean, one of the few times I've seen my mom actually run was at the last JG concert. She is so great. Well, we didn't end up leaving as soon as she wanted and she was getting anxious. Jillian drove the car to Portland while I navigated. (Never have I ever seen as many freaking one way streets as in Portland!) We got to the Rose Garden and tried to pick up our tickets from Will Call, but the fan club tickets weren't in yet and my mom was about to flip her lid, how dare they!! So we went to the rose gardens on the other end of town and frolicked through the flowers a bit. It was really hot. Then we went to stimulate the economy at Powell's books. (Having been there two weeks before I didn't find as much that I needed). Then we went to check in at our hotel that was a few blocks from the Rose Garden. It was a sweet deal that my mom got online. After eating dinner at the hotel restaurant we went back to our room to dress up for the concert. Mom got anxious again because we still needed to pick up the tickets and she needed them in her hand!! Jillian had to take her time to primp, but eventually we were on our way. Mom wouldn't even let us take pictures on the way there, we had to go get the tickets!

We picked up our tickets from Will Call and then made our way into the Rose Garden. First, we found all the merchandise for sale and got us some Josh Groban goodies. I got a tour t-shirt and mom and Jillian got the program. We really wanted posters or key chains but they didn't have any for sale. How stupid are they? Then we went inside and found our seats on the FLOOR. 12th. Row. Holler. We were stoked because we were on the very end of a row and the last row before an aisle. Which would make it very easy for Josh to pass by us. Jillian and I spent a lot of time strategizing about what would go down if Josh came our way. We also took lots of photos and  freaked out a lot. My mom started talking to the couple next to us and that later proved to be a good move. Jerri and her husband Tom were from Seattle, they have 3 or 4 kids and have been married for 35 years. Jerri is in love with Josh, she was going to 3 concerts in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada. Tom was so nice, he helped her buy the tickets because she's not computer savvy, AND he agreed to go to 3 JG concerts. They were very nice. Jerri had an autographed album that she'd gotten from his 9 day "Before We Begin" tour.The opening act was a rock pianist named "ELEW" and he played some good stuff, but let's not kid ourselves, we were all thinking "just get off so Josh can start."

Now, I had read some concert reviews so I knew a little of what was going to go down. Josh had a second set in the back of the arena, so as to get to the people and make it a more intimate experience with the crowd. (He didn't even have tv screens). And some people knew that he was going to start back there, so a few minutes before 9:00 everyone started standing up and watching. His band came out first and played a little intro. Then he came out and sang a song called "Changing Colors" (most of the songs are linked to the actual YouTube of the ones we saw in Portland). Jillian and I were freaking out that he was right there!!! It was sweet because when he sat at the piano at the back stage he was facing right in our direction. We tried to take pictures (I'm kinda disappointed with my Nikon Coolpix-I guess that's what you get with a $90 camera) but it was still a bit blurry. Josh also sang "February Song" and "You Are Loved" on the back stage, and "You Are Loved" was done in this cool accousticy version. Then when he went to the front stage he walked through the middle aisle (we were on the outside edge) and up to the stage. While on stage he sang "Oceano." "Alejate," and "Bells of New York City." Josh talked about how Portland was probably the nicest city he'd been in on the tour and how he'd been having a good time. (I couldn't really claim that included me because I sure as heck am not an Oregonian). The next songs he sang were "Higher Window," "Alla Luce Del Sole," and "War at Home" with various trips back to the back stage. Then he went away for a break and his band played this cool rock song (probs the most jamming it got all night long), and it transitioned into "Voce Existe em Mim" with Josh finishing out the song on his own drum set. I really enjoy that song. Somewhere in the middle Josh answered some fan texted questions (I tried, but didn't specify 'Floor' on my location, so that's why they didn't pick mine), one was this lady who had a cafe and asked what a Josh Groban sandwich would be, he was really funny and ended up calling it a "El Groban Grande" and did a spanish accent for a minute. Another was asking about his most embarrassing iPhone app. He mentioned it would be funny to have an app where you sing like Josh Groban, and it can tell you to buy eggs at the grocery store. Then he decided that when he impersonates himself, he sounds like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets. Which he does. All the ladies were eating it up. Then someone asked if her daughter could sing with Josh, so they sang "Happy Birthday" to someone in the audience. (BTW Josh is actually very hilarious and can do many impersonations). He also talked about his "Find Your Light Foundation" that helps other programs that support the arts. Then he also sang "Galileo," "Weeping," and "Machine," which Jillian freaked out because she loves that one.

Then Josh wanted to find a couple in the audience that had been married for a long time. We thought of Jerri and Tom right next to us and immediately, Jillian was up screaming and pointing at them. (May I also note that Jillian strategically wore a white dress so that she would be a beacon of white beckoning Josh to come to her?) He first stopped at a couple on the side, but they weren't really a couple nor were they married, so he continued on. At this point, I had my camera out in case he walked by, because he was on his way. And I was freaking out. Jillian was still standing up and screaming "right here, right here" and she says Josh looked at her and asked, "Where?" Then he WALKED BY ME and I put my hand on his forearm and said, "Hi Josh!" He ignored me, but at least I have tact enough not to touch his butt because that would have gotten all 9 security guards and Rose Garden officials all up in this piece and I would've been escorted from the arena and then Josh would only know me as the girl who touched his butt. So he started talking to Tom and Jerri and asking them questions. I honestly don't know what he talked to them about (I think he asked how long they were married) because I was freaking out that he was RIGHT THERE. And taking pictures. I even got myself in one. See Below. So he invited them up onstage to sing to them. He passed by me again and I touched his arm and said "Hi, Josh!" again. Everything was such a blur and it went so fast!!! Then he wanted a young single girl, but either we were too close to the people he picked first or not paying attention because if we were then Jillian or I would have been picked. So JG took them all up on stage and had them sit on inflatable couches. He was trying to set a romantic mood and offered them wine, but then ended up pouring them all milk. He also invited a young single guy up to sit with the girl. Then he said good job on your marriage, I'm going to sing a song about cheating. Ha ha, that Josh Groban. He sang "Broken Vow" (which I love) and the arrangement had this jazzy trumpet solo, which was different but I really enjoyed it. He also sang "Per Te," and fake ended his show. Jerri and Tom came back and Jerri was so happy. She said Josh was really sweaty. She thanked Jillian for getting her up on stage. Jillian would probably like you to know that she is a Dream Maker for Life and made all of that happen. Had she not been yelling her heart out, Josh would not have come over and we would not have touched him. We owe her everything. Jerri said that she has arthritis and it really hurt to walk up and down the steps to get to the stage, but that she did it for Josh! After Josh passed by us and we touched him, we took a long time to calm down. Jillian and I kept freaking out and yelling about how we touched Josh Groban. I was actually literally shaking a bit because it was such a rush. I had hoped that we'd get a chance to get close, but seriously?!! Before that whole thing, Josh only went up and down the middle aisles so we didn't get a good chance at him. Our goal was to touch him, and we made our goal. Who woulda thought?! Mom was modest and didn't try to touch Josh. Also we told Dad that if he came with us, it could have been him and mom up on the stage, but my dad didn't really care. Anyway, Josh came back out to sing two more songs. Can you believe the night got even better when he sang the Neil Diamond song "Play Me"? If there's one thing that I love as much as Josh Groban, it's Neil Diamond, and when you put the two together...Magic. He also sang "You Raise Me Up," because he has to and if he doesn't someone will throw their shoe at him. But the audience got to be his gospel choir. So that was good. And then, like that, it was over. Josh bowed and left the stage. The lights turned on. Then we had to talk to Jerri and Tom some more. We exchanged emails so we can swap pictures. All these other people got pictures of Jerri and Tom so there is much swapping going on. We were all still in such a rush that THAT JUST HAPPENED. We said goodbye to our new peeps, took some more photos and then walked back to the hotel. I think I went to sleep singing Josh Groban in my head because I sure woke up with Josh Groban in my head. We ate breakfast and then said goodbye to the City of Roses to make our 3 hour trip home.

*more pictures pending Jillian

Overall, it was a great concert. It was waaaayyy more low key than the "Awake" tour. They didn't even sell the top tier of the arena. So less people = less noise. And kind of less energy. Which is what I think Josh was trying to go for. The "Awake" tour was so much noise and action going on it probably drained him every night. And he was trying to reach out to the audience more. I have to admit, I kind of liked the whole energy of the "Awake" tour and how loud it was that you couldn't even hear yourself sing, but this one was good too. I like some of his new stuff better now that I've heard it live, and we got to hear some of his older hits. We were close enough that we could actually see his face when he sang, he wasn't just a dot that resembled Josh Groban. And I got to go with my mom and Jillian. Mom loves Josh a lot, she even claps her hands and sings a long (which is a big deal, the only other person she'd do that to is Journey or John Denver who she can't listen to because it makes her sad because he died). It's so weird that it's over and done with, we anticipated it for so long. But I still cannnot believe that I TOUCHED JOSH GROBAN. WIN FOR ME AND AMERICA. I eagerly await the tour DVD.

PS. If you read this whole thing, then I love you because not many people even care about Josh Groban, or the fact that I went to his concert.

i'm sure there's a better use for my brain cells

Today at work I got bored, so I looked up the phonetic alphabet and memorized it while working on other stuff. Can't blame my dad for being concerned about me sometimes. Now I just need to find a way to work this knowledge into everyday life. 'Cause that will impress people.

a toast to summer

I hate this time of year. It always induces panic, anxiety, and sentimental longing/mourning. Panic and anxiety at the upcoming school year, which, oddly enough, I have been feeling even though I don't even go to school. I feel like I should be looking up class times and purchasing pens and notebooks. Sadly, I don't get to do that. But I don't want to talk about that.

However, all those feelings make me feel like summer is almost over and I start to mourn. Which is such a bummer. I feel like I only have a few days left and any enjoyment that I might get from them is spoiled by the impending doom. But instead of school my doom is cold weather, shorter days and longer nights. It's sad, but it's dark out by 8:15 now, which is normal, but it makes me feel like winter is coming, and when it gets dark I feel like it's time to go to bed so I get sleepy, and I also don't do as much. I'm not looking forward to being relegated to the indoors when there is so much fun to be had outdoors. And I actually wore my sweatpants for the first time yesterday because it was cold. Ewww. And the grass is wet when I go to work in the morning. (Although it still gets up to 95 during the day). I sound like an old lady. I hate it because I feel like I won't feel this way for another 8 months till spring comes again. Another reason I don't like the end of summer is that it's so lame for me. Everyone else will be busy and productive going to school and unavailable. But not me. No back to school excitement, parties, meeting new people, BYU football games, new syllabi, buying books on the first day of school, opening socials, or Add/Drop cards. Nope. I get to do the same stupid thing I've been doing all summer. Go to work. Every. Freaking. Day. Hooray! Anyway, I've been feeling this way since the beginning of August and it's really harshing my summer vibe. So it needs to leave until at least October 15th. . I think one of my problems is that I work inside and don't see the sun all day. So I have a skewed perception of the passing of time/weather. Aaaaaaannnd. I'm only on Harry Potter #5 which is despicable. I ready Harry Potter every summer and it NEVER takes me this long. I don't know who I am anymore. Gheesh Meagan, time to get off that train. Sorry, that was a lot of whining. I'm actually really good at drawing summer time out. 

So I would like to make a toast to summer, it's been a good one. Full of bike rides, BBQs, swimming pools, rivers, tanning, climbing trees, stars, fires, road trips, pictures, farmers markets, flowers, babies, hiking, hammocking, reading, mowing, fireworks, baseball, ice cream, classic cars, sandwiches, concerts, cranking it slow, touring de marshall, cherries, canteloupe, bare feet, sandals, Harry Potter, Sharis, camping, volleyball, weddings and just all-around-goodness. L'chaim!

Just last weekend I got a slurpee and saluted summer by watching "The Sandlot," the ultimate summer classic. And then the next day I mowed the lawn, went swimming, went on a bike gang ride where we rode our bikes along the river to an island where we ate sack lunches and then used the mountain bikes to explore the island (and it was quite fun to ride them on the gravel and sand trails), on the way back I biked with no hands for the first time, then I hiked Badger Mountain with some cool people and was able to see the lights of the TC, fireworks from the Dust Devils game, and Will, who is awesome, told us when the International Space Station would be visible, so we found it and watched it fly through the sky (that was pretty cool). So really, I still got a lot left to my summer and I need to calm down. Seriously. This week I am taking two days off of work to hang with Jillian and go to the Josh Groban concert. Holler.

The only, only, things I look forward to about fall: BYU football and pumpkin chocolate chip bread. And I also may have bought myself a cute pair of boots to make myself feel better about the impending cold weather.

Ok, so I need my head examined.