Yay!

Someone (not me) was just asked out by someone else (also not me). Makes me very happy!

FHE FTW!

Today for FHE a meditation teacher came and told us a bit about her personal history with meditating and proposed some ways in which in can help us in our lives, particularly in relation to the gospel. From the get-go, I could see how some people could find it useful, but knew that I probably wouldn't use it (mainly from never seeing the necessity).

We cleared our minds while saying a mantra. We cleared our minds while counting. We cleared our minds of our normal thoughts while climbing on a mountain. Some of it was weird to me. The mantra, for example was, "Our Lord Jesus, have mercy." I was so distracted by it, that I certainly wasn't able to clear my mind. BUT I had some respect for the woman, what she did, and how she has found benefit in it. Not for me, but that's okay too.

After each exercise our instructor selected a few people to share how they felt during the exercise. This provided another distraction for me, since I had to think about what I would say if she called on me (when I wasn't supposed to be thinking about anything). Anyway, that was all a lot of background for this: So when she called on one particular girl, she flat out said, "I don't really believe in all this stuff. I don't think it's really possible or reasonable to clear your mind of all thoughts." All in a very holier-than-thou sort of attitude. They had a small discussion where she remained firm that it was all a bunch of hullabaloo. Now I'm not condemning the thought. I'm pretty sure she was really voicing the opinion of a full third of the people there. But I also felt that she could have shown a LOT more tact. When we all went around and shared one word about how she felt she emphasized her earlier statement by saying "skeptical."

I applaud people for being themselves and being honest, but to have that and lose sensitivity, diplomacy, and good taste....I don't know. Not worth it to me.

Thought I didn't have Discovery Channel...but I do!

Today I watched a program on the Discovery Channel called "Before the Dinosaurs" or something like that. It was really interesting, and certainly more informative than yesterday's Iron Chef marathon that took up my evening. They kept doing this one thing though, that I couldn't get over. I get bothered by the silliest things sometimes (recognizing this is the first step, right?).

So, being about our world millions of years ago, it was almost completely computer generated. Maybe some computer generated animals added into some stock film. Anyway, the key idea being: not real. I'm okay with that. And I appreciate the effort they made in making it interesting to watch, and as realistic as they know how. But they kept having the non-existant animals interact with the non-existant camera. I don't get that.

If you're having trouble understand what I'm saying here are some examples... At one point a giant scorpion "attacks" the "camera" and "breaks" it (I'll lose the quotation marks now, but you get the point). Then a fish swims by and it coming so close, shakes the camera. A poor computer generated animal's blood spatters the lens, and another animal fogs it up when getting too close. The most eyebrow raising one occurred when a curious lizard sniffed at the camera.

I think this is weird. More than that though, it was very distracting which a program like this probably isn't striving for. Maybe the animators were just having some fun? Anyone else with an opinion on this?

Five Question Friday 8/27

Okay, so to help me along in my blog rut, I'm doing this Five Question Friday. At least today. I make no promises to write another blog post ever. That promise (or rather lack of one) is true after every entry. Really. I'm no good at this commitment stuff.

Anyway here are they questions (not written by me):

1. Do you have any nicknames, and if so, how did it come about?

Um....yeah. I guess. But they're all just variations on my name. People call me Sam. I don't quite get when I introduce myself as Samantha, and they go ahead and call me Sam. If I guy told me his name was Matthew (David, Phillip, Samuel, Timothy, Bradley) I wouldn't call him Matt (Dave, Phil, Sam, Tim, Brad). But I don't actually care. Sam is fine. My family calls me Sammi. And when I was younger I had a slew of 'em. Sammi-Sue, Sarmi, Sam-bam. All things like that.

I would also like to add in here that as much as I love my parents, original nicknames are not their forte. Nicknames for all of my siblings: Melissa-bis, Sammi-bam, Sarah-bear, Nikki-bic, Emmy-bem. Anyone else seeing pattern?

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings.

Five sisters, I'm second. I like to think that makes me the Elizabeth Bennett.

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?

Let's say he will play himself. Will that guy please show up for auditions? I'm taking appointments now.

4. What is currently your favorite song?

I have the hardest time with favorites. Have I mentioned this already? They seem so final. When I was younger I read some article in a magazine directed at young impressionable girls (like me) that said you needed strong favorites, because if you didn't it showed a lack of personality. So you've probably heard me claim favorites, but my heart doesn't believe them. Anyway, I don't care to answer this question. I'm too tired.

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?

I'm saving my money for a lot of things right now. I'm broke. I've been broke for a long time. I want a car, a computer, some good shoes for work, a road trip, clothes, etc. But when I said I was saving up money I suppose that was a bit of a lie. All my money is going into essentials right now. Rent, utilities, food, etc. One day I'll be able to save.

LHLAS!

Nikki is back in Provo...sans boyfriend! Yay! I'm excited. While it doesn't mean that she won't have a life, and while finding time to spend together may still be difficult, she won't have a life that revolves around him. So that's happy news.

I was able to surprise her at the airport. I was scheduled to work but when I arrived for my shift I saw a post-it note that someone put up offering to take Wed/Thurs night shifts. I called her on my break, she came in 45 min later, and I was able to drive to the airport. Megan had been going to pick her up and when Nikki called her to day she'd landed, Megan reportedly put on a good show. When Nikki and I got to the car (so after she was happily surprised to see me) she was still confused not to find Megan waiting there for us.

Today we got some back to school shopping done. Clothes, books, school supplies. All knocked out. Tomorrow's another day and that girl gets me up early! Since we're both working until late tomorrow night I convinced her to let me sleep in a bit.

Update on life inspired by Aunt Jen!

I've been at my new job for three weeks now. This week I'm trying out the shoes/accessories position. It's one of their five full-time positions and I could use the hours! So hopefully I like it and they like me in it. Right now it's a little hard to judge the job/store because for the last three weeks its been "back to school" time! Crazy crazy stuff so I hear.

Real mother's will probably roll their eyes at this, but I feel like a mom at work. I go around the store for 8 hours, picking up, putting things where they belong, and I come back a couple hours later and the section's a disaster again! Worst section, understandably: toys. I can just imagine the scene. Kid picks up toy, carries it around. "Hey mom, can I have this? Please!" "No! Put it back!" (kid throws the toy where ever). It also seems to be a parents idea of a cheap babysitter while they go shop elsewhere in the store.

Another item of note: my forth person living in my apartment moved in today. I met her briefly when I heard some weird noises in the apartment and peeked my head out...in my towel. Haven't seen her since for a more proper introduction. Aren't I great at first impressions?