Under the Skin

This is just a poem that I read in my Russian Literature class. I really liked it, so I thought I'd share it. Yes, I also posted it on Facebook. “The Demon” Aleksandr Pushkin In the days when all the impressions of existence were new to me–the glances of maidens, the rustle of a grove, and the singing of a nightingale at night; when sublime feelings–freedom, glory, and love–and the inspired arts were agitating my blood so strongly, Then, casting a shadow of sudden anguish over hours of hope and enjoyment, a certain malicious genius began to visit me in secret. Our meetings were sad: his smile, his wondrous glance, his wounding speeches poured cold venom into my soul. With inexhaustible slander he would tempt providence; he called the beautiful a dream; he despised inspiration; he disbelieved in love, in freedom; he looked on life scornfully, and nothing in all nature was he inclined to bless.

All right, so last week, there was a Facebook Fad. Girls all over me were posting a color as their status update. Or sometimes it was a pattern, such as polka dot, striped, pinstriped. Or sometimes it was something such as lacy. I didn't really know what was up with it, so I just ignored it. I'm usually out of it. Not really anything new there. Finally, after most every girl I know had posted (especially popular among those whom I do not know from BYU), I figured, "I've got to figure out what's going on here." So I asked. Apparently, all over, girls were posting the color of their bras! Apparently, the boys weren't supposed to know. Apparently, this was somehow supposed to raise breast cancer awareness. How it raises the awareness when we're keeping a secret from the guys? I'm not quite sure. But all the same, I am happy to announce, that you are not going to find out the hue of my undergarments. It's not that I have no sympathy for c...

So, I was thinking about this topic, as it came up last night on the floor. Many girls hold that the first proposal of Pride and Prejudice is the most heart-breaking thing in literature and cinema. This proposal and subsequent refusal can be seen here. But worry not, because this is the end result of this relationship: Anyways, I would contend that this is not in fact the most depressing proposal in Cinema/literature history. I submit a second contestant of a refused proposal, this one just makes me want to cry, that between Margaret Hale and John Thornton of "North and South:" This one too ends well, as seen here: But I find the reasons of refusal more sad. It's not a "you proposed very badly" but "I believe that you're a jerk because I'm a stuck-up fool who doesn't understand why you do what you do, even though you have to, and you're business-class and I'm upper-class, so leave me alone." It mak...

November ended, I once again completed the National Novel Writing Month challenge, and I realized that December was upon us. I realized that this means one thing. Only two more weeks of classes before finals, and subsequently GOING HOME! I thought I'd let you know that I have the following feelings about finals in each of the classes. 1) Rel A 121: The Book of Mormon, Part 1. So, I have been studying the Book of Mormon since I was a small child, yes. But I'm a little nervous about this exam. Why? Because exam questions are sometimes things such as, "Which of the following was not cited as a sin of Israel by Jacob, the brother of Nephi?" (Disclaimer: This wasn't an exam question, but a practice question that could have been on a final). I see questions like this and think, "duhhhhhhhhhhhh...," mouth hanging open and looking as stupid Tom the cat from the Tom and Jerry cartoons. There are always the give away questions, (things along the lines of, ...

For sacrament meeting today, we combined half of the Helaman Halls wards into one and just had testimony meeting because not enough people were back from Thanksgiving yet. The girl next to me was writing a list of 100 things she was thankful for as the meeting continued. So, I thought I'd follow suit right now. 100 Things I'm thankful for: (And don't feel compelled to read them all if you don't want to) 1. Mom 2. Dad 3. Carol 4. Sam 5. Marina 6. Beth 7. Caleb 8. Sarah (yes, family would have sufficed, but I'm grateful for the family unit as well as each individual person in it) 9. Jesus Christ 10. Heavenly Father 11. The Holy Ghost and the Gift thereof 12. my extended family (I'm grateful for them individually as well, but that'd take up WAY too much space) 13. heated rooms 14. blankets 15. computers 16. the internet 17. email 18. cell phones 19. modern medicine 20. BYU 21. The fact that I don't have to be a Ute 22. colors 23. language and communicatio...

On Tuesday, my classes ended earlier than most Tuesday, because what was known to the rest of the world as Tuesday was known as Friday here at BYU. Therefore, my last class ended at 1:00. I had said goodbye to my roommate before leaving for that, as she was leaving for California (her home). After the class ended, I then returned to my dorm, thinking I'd find Beth as that is what usually happens on Fridays. I'm done with class at 1 and she's done with work at 1, so we go on outings. However, she started work earlier, so she got off work at 12 instead of 1. I therefore walked to her apartment where we ate pasta, gingerbread families (father, mother and siblings), and hung around. Then, I returned to my dorm in order to pack, engage in a friendly game of Apples to Apples with ward members and then returned to Beth's apartment where I slept. At 10:03 AM, we boarded the bus for Orem. Unfortunately, we took the wrong direction and ended up in a different part of Provo....

So, I haven't written in awhile, and when I have written, it's not really that much about my life. So, I thought I'd let you all know that BYU is going well. My days are spent with classes, studying, goofing off with people in the dorms and volunteering. I love all the service opportunities around campus! And since it's November, I couldn't go a November without National Novel Writing Month. True, I'm somewhat behind, at 23,000 words. But I'm catching up, as I used to be even further behind. And still, I have not been as far behind at any point as I was at times last year. And I still made it last year. My dorm room has been decorated all nice and pretty for Christmas. We have a snowman figurine, Christmas lights, a tiny little tree and a nativity scene--those were all the decorations that I had, and Michelle (my roommate) had none at all. But we are well decked out for Christmas, and are complimented on the decorations everytime someone's in ou...