that's a first.

All I've had to eat today is a ripped off chunk of baguette. It's currently 3 PM. And I'm not really that hungry. That, people, is a first.

I'm not quite sure what's wrong with me...but I hear the French eat in small but rich quantities, so maybe it's just preparation for later.

Also, I've been taking a couple of French lessons from an awesome French tutor. Just so I'm not totally clueless in the MTC. It's good and bad thing. Helpful to get all the crazy sounds and pronunciations down, but mostly I just think "I've got to learn this language well enough to carry on a conversation with someone?" hahahahahahahahahahaha. It's gonna be great.

I know he's learning Spanish, but Michael's reaction at 10 seconds will be mine for the first nine-ish months. Guaranteed.

Another random thought:

Summer is simple. That's one of the reasons why I love it. I just put on the first thing I see in my closet and sometimes don't wear makeup. Judge me as you will. But I find it really satisfying when I can rub my eyes and not have to worry about smudging anything. Also, I haven't straightened my hair in over a month. And I really like it. I've finally become friends with my curly hair. That's another first. I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of those in the next little while. And I'm excited for them.

our last night of epic awesomeness.

photo courtesy of Bekstrand.

I have the best friends. 

Seriously. 

And I'm gonna miss them.

One night last semester while we waiting for orchestra,

Bekstrand and I realized that in a couple of months 

we wouldn't be seeing each other for quite some time,

what with her leaving for Europe on May 8th 

and me leaving for my mission on May 30th. 

I also realized that she wouldn't be able to come to my farewell. Boo. 

But Bekstrand decided we would have to have one last party together before we left. 

She even put it in her phone calendar. 

That's how legit we are. 

Friday, May 4th was that party.

And it was epic.

Bekstrand and Heather 

(Penrose Penthouse Forever! Or until they tear it down)

picked me up in Bekstrand's insanely huge car. haha.

And we sat mexi style in the front seat.

Just like High School.

Then, the night panned out into the 5 phases. 

Yes. That's right. Phases.

Can you sense the awesomeness? 

Phase 1:

Dinner at Zupas.

I got the bacon tomato avocado panini. Actually, I always do. 

But that's because it's sooooo good. 

[Phase 1.5: Drive for a while and possibly get lost and have to rely on Gina (the GPS) to give us directions which she doesn't seem capable of doing. Oh, and laugh a lot.)

Phase 2:

Take a little hike up a trail to a beautiful waterfall and take fun pictures. 

And revel in the beauty and solitude 

until about 20 kids suddenly swarm the mountain. 

Phase 3:

Go to the grocery store. 

And then get forced to sit in the car while Bekstrand and Heather

take FOREVER getting whatever they're getting.

(Which turned out to be ice cream and toppings. So it was worth it.)

My favorite part was watching people walk up to the exit of the store

and stand in front of the doors for a couple seconds

before realizing the doors weren't going to open.

Hilarious. 

Phase 4:

Watch Two Weeks Notice (I love Sandra Bullock) and eat a lot of junk food.

Half way through the movie, 

Heather and Bekstrand asked me if I wanted to eat any chips. 

I look over to see about 2/3rds of the bag already gone.

Wow. 

Phase 5:

Sleep on Bekstrand's tramp. 

Which was fun while we were talking and discussing what the clouds looked like.

Then it turned into a nightmare.

Freezing cold+wind+a blinding bright moon+not enough blankets=no sleep.

Luckily, Bekstrand was experiencing the same thing. 

At around 2, the following exchange occurred:

Bekstrand: Charlotte?

Me: Yes?

Bekstrand: Are you cold?

Me: Freezing.

Bekstrand: Do you want to go inside?

Me: Yes!

Bekstrand: What about Heather?

Me: Just leave her.

[short pause.]

Heather: Whaaaaattttt?!?!?

So all three of us stumbled inside. 

The warmth and the couch were pure bliss. 

The next morning Bekstrand's mom made us waffles.

All in all, it was a great night, one that I will always remember. 

The worst part was saying goodbye. 

I'll just think of it as a "see you soon."

life lately.

The moment when you suddenly realize it's May.

Yep. I didn't realized it until three days into the month, and only then because my neighbor asked me when I was leaving and I promptly told her May 30th and she said, "This month? How exciting!"

Right. Ooooohhhhh, riiiiiigghhht. That IS this month. [nervous laugh].

Where has the time gone?

I noticed yesterday while stalking blogs that I haven't posted in a while. That's because life's been sorta crazy lately/ I haven't taken any pictures and I feel like people don't read blogs unless there are awesome pictures accompanying the text. (Which makes me want either a really cute baby to take pictures of or an awesome camera that will make me feel like I'm taking awesome pictures.)

I guess I'll just have to rely on this incredibly cute baby I found on pinterest.

Life lately means being home.

Being home means constantly forgetting what day it is. Really, they all blend together. Monday feel like Saturday and don't even bother asking me the date.

Being home means getting stuck in slave labor on the days I don't work because, well, just sitting around and being lazy is not an option over here. So I've been organizing various rooms in the house, working in the garden, cleaning out the garage, and painting the fence/ shoveling gravel along the entire length of the fence. That last one's my personal favorite. There's nothing quite like dragging a wheel barrow full of gravel all day long.

Being home means hanging out with my brothers. The other day James and I got out this game we got for Christmas but hadn't opened yet. It was actually a fun game, partly because I won. (Yes, in the history of playing games with James, I actually won one of them!) I say "was actually" because after 2 winning streaks (I credit beginner's luck), I haven't won since. So now the game is "really lame." Haha maybe I'm a poor sport.

Being home means eating really good food. Curry, barbecue chicken, avocado salads, chocolate milkshakes, and black bean soup. Wait a minute....black bean soup?? I was a little nervous at first when I saw the boiling black goo. But once you add tomatoes and tortilla chips and avocados and bacon it starts tasting pretty good.

Being home means packing. For 18 months. Mostly, this just means I dragged 2 big black suitcases up to my room and now keep looking at them every morning in the hopes that they'll pack themselves.

Being home. It's a good thing.

i'm taking a mental picture of you now.

This weekend was brilliant. And I only have one picture to prove it.

Yes, those are Magnum Bars chilling (literally) in my freezer. 

Let's just say FHE last night was pretty sweet (no pun intended). 

Also, it reminded me of the $$$ I dropped on those little bars during my study abroad.

It's not that they are the best chocolate bar in the world. They're not.

It was just the taste of something remotely American on a hot and sticky bus ride that made me cave in and buy them.  

I can remember all the counter tops where I passed over my shekels and was handed in return 2 minutes of joy. 

But I digress. 

This weekend, Danielle came to visit. This translates into awesomeness. 

We ate Mexican food, 

visited the new shopping mall City Creek. Yeah for the Disney Store, :)

stayed up late talking,

watched funny youtube videos and ate pop-rocks chocolate (in memory of Jerusalem days),

and laughed. 

All without taking one single picture. Even when she brought the clicky camera. Sad. 

Oh, we also officially decided we are backpacking across Europe when we get back from our missions. I. Cannot. Wait. 

I'm thinking a reading of Rick Steve's Europe is in order. 

i went to the woods because i wished to live deliberately...

... to front only the essential facts of life, 

and see if i could not learn what it had to teach...

i wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...

our life is frittered away by detail. 

simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!

why should we live with such hurry and waste of life?

we are determined to be starved before we are hungry...

let us spend one day as deliberately as nature, and not be thrown off the track.

- h. d. thoreau

All this warmish weather and the winding down of the school scene has got me itching to go exploring in the great outdoors. I love the first big hike of the new year. It's like you've been hibernating inside a dark cave all winter, sometimes acting like a grumpy bear, and then you escape to the mountains one fine day and you stretch and feel the breeze and smell the flowers and life is better. Always. 

10 things that make me really happy.

1. Rainstorms and rain boots and big puddles.
2. Being one final away from academic freedom for 18 months.
3. Eating an afternoon snack of blueberry bagels and strawberries.
4. Playing Disney songs on the piano.
5. Getting surprise emails (and letters) from missionaries.
6. Going to the temple with my roommates.
7. Watching an episode of The Office and laughing till my stomach hurts.
8. Discovering a new really good song. And listening to it repeatedly.
9. Coming home to my apartment watching We Bought A Zoo. Classy.
10. Eating leftover Easter candy all week.

Have a Happy Weekend!

give me strength, reserve control.

Not getting sick once during the semester. Then getting sick during finals week. Now that's what you call ironic.

Sore throats and stuffy noses are lame.

To keep me going, I've been drinking lots of ice cold water, taking my medicine like a good girl, eating left over Easter candy, and cracking open my window to let in the Spring breeze. Not too shabby.

Oh, and also listening to the We Bought A Zoo soundtrack.

source.

You can listen to it here. For free. Seriously, listen to it.* It is beautiful and peaceful. It makes me happy. Also, it's mostly instrumental, so you can listen to it while studying.

I'd like to conduct an experiment to prove that listening to classical/ instrumental music while studying improves your test taking skills and your motivation to study in general. Someday.

Good luck fellow students with your finals. :)


*And, seriously, if you haven't seen the movie, go. You won't regret it.