Hazel Eyes

My mom asked me to go for a drive with her today. This was out of character from this past week's behavior. Let's just say when I corrected her pronunciation of Milan, after she pronounced it meee-l'anne, she wouldn't speak to me the rest of the drive home from Nicoitalita's (a very fine pizza place). I asked her why she wanted to go on a drive. In past experience I've gone on a "drive" with her and ended up going to my Great Aunt Artis', who didn't hear 20 minutes of a conversation my mom had with her and had never met us before (or remembered doing so). My mom ran off the list of things she needed to do on this drive, mostly delivering bills, and I agreed to go with her. What the heck! 7.40 on a friday night. Life is pretty lame with school being out and working full time. I went.

Joseph made me a lovely cd of songs he's listening to, so I popped it in and started listening for about the 10th time today (they're really groovy). We got to "Hazel Eyes" by the Darkness. Let me just give 100 cool points to the Darkness for this Chinese/Scottish/80s rock/Queen sounding song. It's pretty much amazing. The lyrics, which are mostly inaudible, have this classic rock chorus "girl with the hazel eyes... ah ah ahahahahaha." (I'm not sure I can represent it in lyrical form, you'll have to give it a listen). I start track number 10, listen very carefully because my mom hates the music turned up. I have to fight with her anytime I want to hear a song. I've become used to my music having 1/200 lines on the volume indicator, and my mom's terrible version of "My Favorite Things" on at least 172.5. But, low and behold... my mom turned up the volume! On my music! This is extremely out of the ordinary. Not only that, she started rocking out and singing, "girl with the hazel eyes, ah ahahahahahah". I was scared to laugh for fear she might resort back to her, you make fun of me everyday comment. But, nothing. "It grows on you," she replied when I asked her if she liked it. I just chuckled to myself and sang along at the top of my lungs.

After the song finished I could see her fidgeting in her seat and looking at the cd player. "Do you want to hear it again?" I asked her. She nodded. So, we listened to it again. Anyone who hears this song once must hear it at least 2 more times in the same outing. We listened to it at least 4 more times on this trip. My world and day have completely changed.

My mom likes a song I like.

Thank you, the Darkness.

Nice Green Papers You Get While Speeding on the Interstate

The Day is December 26, 2005. Some know it as "Boxing Day," but I guess that's not super important. I had a family party, a little after Christmas get-together. Family parties have become one of those obligations that are awkward and usually spent trying to make decent conversation, perhaps a round of Apples to Apples somewhere in there. There's usually a lot of bad food and fake smiles. This party I made a breakthrough. I convinced my parents to let me leave on my own time, not make an entire day out of a lunch party. So my two younger siblings came along in my mom's car (her "baby"). There was a lot of, "Be careful. Obey the speed limit. Don't listen to your music too loudly" before I left.

The three of us hopped in the one car while my parents left at some other time in the other. We got to the party in good time, minus the fifteen minutes trying to figure out the address to my Aunt Anna-Clair's house, and eventually discovering the party was at my Uncle Daniel's. We still beat my parents. Well, games and food were fine, and we actually made a nice exit. So we were headed down the interstate making really good time. I always speed a little, because you have to to keep up with traffic and as sad as it is... who really goes the speed limit? But sometimes you have this notion something bad is going to happen. You're checking your rear mirror every few seconds, making sure there's nothing in front of you, to the side. Well, somehow I got caught up in a song that was playing. Next thing I know, I look up there's a sign for 55mph because of all the blasted interstate construction. Next, right by the sign there's a cop. Sitting there, waiting for unsuspecting, or maybe unexpecting, drivers to speed right by. I glance at the speedometer. Crap, I'm doing 85ish in 65, nearly 55. I slam on my breaks trying to reach a reasonable speed. His lights turn on. "That's not for me is it?" I ask Hillery. "I don't think so." I'm watching my rearview mirror. I'm not sure what he's doing. He follows me. "Crap." I pull to the side, changing lanes as quickly as possible. Sure enough, he follows. Somehow, waiting those seconds for him to get out of his car, hustle to the passenger window, and ask for my licence and registration are nerve wracking enough. He says, "Do you know why I pulled you over? You were going 83 in 65. I saw you slow down when you saw me. So you knew you were speeding." "But I honestly just saw the 55mph sign right before I saw you and slammed on my breaks because I didn't realize I was going that fast." "Ok. Well, I'm gonna go fill out this paper work." He takes his time, maybe 7 minutes of just sitting there complaining to my siblings. Hearing, "This sucks." repeatedly.

He comes back, "I wrote you down for 9 over. That's half of what you were doing. You'll have to go to traffic school, get in contact with the court. But your fee is the lowest you can have for speeding. Drive safe." Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. What do you say to that? Thank you? You have a nice day?" Just hit your steering wheel once he's out of earshot. Turn up the one song on your cd with profanity, still trying to edit the F-bomb, but instead turn it up (really on accident). Drive 55mph, which no one in the entire state of Utah has ever driven while in a construction zone. And think about how terrible your death will be when your parents find out. And how low your bank account will be once they take out the hundreds of dollars they'll pay the cop with who pulled you over.

I'm staring at the green half sheet of paper that says Lehi City Police Department, and announces my first misdemeanor, or the first one I've ever been caught doing. Sometimes life sucks. This is just another example of why.

Finals Week

Finals Week


He stumbled onto the 8th floor. Checked the sign as he walked through the door. Blue and green plaid, short sleeved shirt. And jeans that looked like his mother had purchased them. Slightly attractive, slightly confused. His little boy, big blue eyes barely open.

"I need to turn in this paper for professor Hartley."

"You can drop it in his box," I pointed. "Two doors down on the right. There are two boxes, his is the bottom."

He stumbled in the direction I pointed, "one, two..."

He stopped and turned around. I rolled my grey-green office chair back to see what happened.

"I'm really tired," he said as he turned to the left.

"It's on your right. There are boxes on the wall. His is the bottom one." After a few seconds pause, he turned around and scanned the wall. He turned left, looking down the hall further.

"Right there."

He somehow managed to put his paper in the box and staggered back toward the door.

"Have a nice afternoon!" he said, half way there.

"Thanks. You too." I smiled at 10.54 am.

"Think happy thoughts."

"Thanks. You too," I smiled.

He pushed the button the the elevator, mumbling to himself. When the red arrow pointed downwards, he touched the doors, and pulled the crack between them. They opened. He stepped on.

"Think happy thoughts."

British/American Word or Phrase Fettish

Talking to my British friend Jon has opened up an entire new word bank for me. One that is quite thrilling really. We discuss the differences between British and American question asking, emphasis on words, words I've never heard in my life. We both found ourselves talking out loud figuring out how these bizarre dialect differences work. But I thought I would mention the words entering my vocabulary and those I've introduced to him. But most Americans wouldn't object to sounding British, there's something so proper and witty about it. So here are some pointers.

British:
"whilst" (I do believe it means while still)- a clever combination two words that just sounds so dignified, "bits and bobs"- a phrase Jon uses often, so just bits of things (Heidi said it had to do with money... that's a possibility), "cheers" or "cheers mate" or "cheerio"- cheers is one of those great words that has multiple meanings: thank you or goodbye. and is interchangeable. "bloke"- a dude or guy (definition assistance by Amy), "nappies"- diapers, "trainers"- tennis shoes, or I'll insert "crazy hounds" because that's one Jon uses and I think it's funny; it can mean just crazy people, those weirdos, or something... I don't believe it's negative though :).

American:
"super cool" which I'm informed doesn't go so well with a British accent because you sound sarcastic. "stoked"- people tell you that you sound like you're too American and think you're stupid. "rad"- this one works out alright, or at least Jon uses it quite frequently. "coolio"- he uses this as well, one I haven't used since about 7th grade. "Your mom"- one I'm sure most of you know I hate, or can't stand anymore. Once an insult it has now just become the response to everything. "What did you eat today?" "Your mom." "talk to the hand"- oh the good old days of elementary school (I believe it's primary school there). 3rd grade, this phrase was introduced into my vocabulary. "Talk to the hand cause the hand won't talk back." (Warning... clueless phrases will follow) "As if..."- a phrase that denotes frustration. ex: "My boyfriend broke up with me. As if...", "whatever" which can be accompanied with both thumbs and pointer fingers forming a W. Same usage as "as if..."

Utah (a special category, all its own):
"twinners"- if you're wearing similar outfits or think the same thing you are now "twinners".
"Oh my heck" replaces other expletives. or Oh my goodness or something of the like.

Just for your info:
(Keyboards in the US start off with qwerty in the UK it's azerty. This is if you start on the left hand, top row of letters. And in place of the @ symbol is the £ symbol. This made my life difficult in the internet cafe.)

Well, if you can think of any fabulous ones I've omitted, please submit them. Anyday's a good day with a new word in your vocabulary ;)

Listening to Athlete-Tourist and Benjamin Gibbard-Home. Both appropriate for this blog entry- Athlete- quite British, Benjamin Gibbard- a fabulous American artist (often rare)

Las Vegas - the blow drier and Fourth of July Frustration

So, the Weezer & Red Hot Chili Peppers concert was rockin'. Can't say I love Las Vegas too much with its unbearable heat, ridiculous gambling, and strip shows everywhere, but I did like staying at Maggie's house. She definitely has some adorable nieces. I've always thought Weezer and the Peppers were cool, and now I have a newfound respect. They are awesome performers. Anthony Keatis is a very toned man, my goodness... his dancing was fantastic. If you get a chance to see the Peppers, take it. Free concerts are always a plus. I've loved both bands for so long, but not exactly realized it until I saw them in concert. There was such an amazing energy.

Even though the temperature was about 109, the temperature of a blow drier, the concert was fun. There was a lot of tv watching indoors because of the terrible temperature. Live 8 was on, the same day as the concert in Vegas so we watched a bit of that. I have found myself frustrated with the United States. Perhaps it has a lot to do with traveling abroad and seeing that America isn't all that spectacular. Our culture, or lack of culture in my opinion, seems to be taking over... in a negative way. Everything needs to be bigger in order to be better, fast food is the way to go, huge corporations are taking over the world. Sometimes I have a hard time identifying with the American identity. There are good things about it. I do enjoy cheaper things, waiting for items I've been eyeing to go on sale, making something out of dreams if you work hard enough (which is not always true, but you can work your way up), and all the American dream-like ideals. But I am frustrated when I see George W. on tv saying, "We will not be pressured into helping a poor helpless continent even if our allies are. We will do what is best for America." Everything is best for America, but we're letting an entire continent suffer because we can't exploit some natural resource. Our foreign policy has largely been concerned with helping the U.S. What is that about? When did we lose sight of helping others not because it is in our best interest but because it needs to be done. What is this America is bigger and better and can beat the crap out of anyone mentality? I'm frustrated. And needless to say that my frustration was heightened by that celebration where we buy expensive fireworks and show off in huge parades because we're proud of our nation. But here I am ranting in a free country, where I am able to express my opinion about foreign policies and a moronic president. That doesn't mean we don't need to do something, because things don't get better without an effort.

And I Begin...with chocolate bears

So I've been debating for a few days now whether to start one of these. The idea first popped into my mind when I was in London, and Heidi (my sister) used her blog to keep simple updates. I decided it was a somewhat good idea. Here I am with no idea about what I'm going to write, but who says I need something to write.

Last night or this morning (as I find my dreams are really when I keep waking up in the morning and going back to sleep until I wake up at some terrible hour, 10:30am this morning, and stumble out of bed remembering vaguely the bizarre dream I just had). Let me start that sentence again... Last night or this morning I dreamed about getting chocolate bears with Caitie in a special combination trail mix called, "The Hitchhiker." Why can't I think of great inventions like this in everyday life, when I need a brilliant idea for a new trail mix why can't I think (and there is a finger pointing upwards, and a light bulb lights up to the right of my head), "The Hitchhiker is the perfect name for a trailmix and it should definitely include chocolate bears." By now I would be a millionaire. It's too bad I haven't submitted these genius ideas for copyright and to candy companies. I have to say chocolate bears would be excellent, preferably in Lindt chocolate or maybe even Cadbury or Galaxy. Why oh why is European chocolate so much better than American chocolate?

Moving on... I have this ridiculous obsession with maps. I never knew it was such a problem till I brought my handy, red, Rand McNally World Atlas that was given to me by Amy's mom when the elementary school decided they were out of date. Some country had changed it's name or borders or both. It could have even been multiple countries. I wouldn't put it past them. But I brought that thing everywhere, the beaches of Alghero, Sardinia, the plane ride to Spain so I could see the countries I was passing in my blue and yellow RyanAir, knees-hitting-the-seat-in-front-of-me chair. It might have gotten a little out of control when I'd pop my companion out, show him to the Dublin men on the white sandy beach pointing to where Utah is, or to Jon, from forty minutes outside of London, in order to see where Cyprus was. It does come in handy though. As nerdy as I may look carrying around an atlas, I still love knowing where I'm going or where things are located. Now the search is on for a pocketsized atlas.

(Listening to "Bitten by the Tailfly" - Elbow, "Soir de Fete" (circumflex on the first e in fete) - Yann Tiersen from Amelie (accent aigu on first e in Amelie), and "Wonderful Tonight"- Eric Clapton)