Christmas toys bring great joy

Ok, first I wanted to say that I missed the first anniversary of the Blog--and I was to write a special annivesary post--and I'm very upset about that. Anyway, the past is the past, so we'll move forward.

How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was amazing, thanks for asking! One of the best parts of my Christmas was the fact that my sister, Chelsey, her husband, Aaron, and their three kids came up from Albequerque to be with us. That way, the entire family was together, and that always makes me VERY HAPPY. The second best part of the Christmas season was my BRAND NEW COMPUTER that I received on Christmas Day. It's beautiful, and fast, and I love it! My last computer was on the verge of committing suicide, so it really is a very good thing that I got a new one.

I'll have to tell you about the Christmas movies we saw: The Princess & the Frog and Sherlock Holmes. I love all things Disney, and this new movie from Disney lived up to their reputation. It was so much fun and Kiera and I really enjoyed going to see it with Heather and Danny (my second oldest sister and her husband). The story was awesome, the songs were fun, and it was very visually pleasing--just as all the Princess movies are. I'm going to have to say that Beauty & the Beast is still my favorite--as it always be--but The Princess & the Frog is definitely my second favorite of the Princess movies. Now, Sherlock Holmes was the complete opposite of The Princess & the Frog. It was definitely a hardcore action movie, and I absolutely loved it! Oh yes, I can love both cheesy Disney movies and hardcore action movies. I'm just a little strange that way. Anyway, Robert Downy Jr. and Jude Law make the perfect Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson team. Of course, Sherlock Holmes holds a special place in my heart, so I probably would have defended it no matter what. But it really was awesome, so I don't need to defend it, and I can't wait for the sequel, which will clearly feature Professor Moriarty.

I hope that everyone had fabulous Christmas, wherever you are, and I hope the New Year brings hopes and wishes and dreams that will be fulfilled.

Could this weekend get any better?

So...this weekend was simply amazing. Want to know why it was so amazing? Well, besides the amazing dinner we partook of on Thursday...WE WON THE GAME AGAINST UTAH! Nothing gets better than that, let me tell you.

I have always been an avid fan of Cougar football (even though I still have trouble following the rules, but I am getting better at it!), and every season I anxiously await this game. This game is very important. We don't wear red for at least a week prior to it. That would be unthinkable. So you can imagine how excited I was that this year's BYU/Utah game (my first ever at college) was a home game, and I had a ticket. Granted, my seat was at the very top of the stadium, but at least we had a good view of the entire field. Watching that game was so much fun--my friends and I were standing and screaming at the team the entire game; my thought hurt afterwards, and I sounded like I had been sick for weeks. Good times, good times.

My roommate was amazed at how deep the hatred runs between the two schools. She's from Alabama, so she didn't grow up with it like I did. I guess it is pretty shocking. Take Max Hall for example. Who would have thought that this nice senior would so vehemnetly bash Utah in post-game comments? ("I hate Utah. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything." --Max Hall) Of course, Max Hall did have some pretty rough experiences with Utah fans, which could explain his attitude toward them. Anywas, my point was that this rivalry isn't just some rivalry. It's The Rivalry. It's The Holy War, as my friend Levi Selway put it. It's the be all and end all of the Utah football season. And I got to be there for it. I think the look on my face says it all:

This picture was taken right after Andrew George made the winning touchdown, and just about every fan ran onto the field in celebration. The field around the 30 yeard line was pretty clear, so we decided to take pictures.

In the words of Cassandra Ball...

..."Happy Turkey Day!" (I know it was yesterday, but give me a break; I was helping with dinner) Yesterday was amazing, partly because of the DELICIOUS food that Dad cooked up. Let me just break down the menu: smoked turkey, cheesy mashed potatoes, rolls, artichoke dip, green beans, sweet potato casserole, a cheese roll, shrimp scampi, tri-tip steak, Waldorf salad, Caesar salad, and home-made cranberry sauce. And for dessert: strawberry pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, and turtle cheesecake--all home-made, of course. Can you say YUM?!

While it was delicious, Thanksgiving wasn't just about the dinner, and I wanted to give my thanks. First off, I am incredibly grateful to my parents. I owe them basically everything. I'm grateful for their support (both emotional/spiritual and monetary, ha ha) in everything I do, especially in my schooling decisions. I am grateful for my sisters--I know that they're always there for me. I'm grateful for my amazing friends, especially Hannah and Maddie. You guys are practically my sisters, and I wouldn't be the same without you. And, most importantly, I'm grateful for my knowledge that the gospel is true. That knowledge changes my life every day, and I know it changes me for the better.

So that's my short list of what I'm most grateful for. What was on your mind this Thanksgiving? Let me know.

College

http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Dept/Fun/jokes/college.htm
I'm sad to say that sometimes I feel like this is true.

The First Snow of the Season

Winter is finally here! Have I ever told you guys how much I love snow? Because I really do. Of course, I hate that gross grey-brown slush that ends up on the roads, in the gutters, and on the very edges of the sidewalk. But actually, new fallen (or still falling) snow is one of the most beautiful things in the world, in my opinion.
I remember when I had to go to Middle School at 7:00 in the morning--which was not pleasant by any stretch of the imagination. My first class in eighth grade was Spanish with Senora Sullivan. Her classroom was in one of the few Porta-classrooms outside the building. In the winter, it was always dark and depressing when I went out to Spanish. Every so often, though, snow would have fallen the night before. I would walk outside and look over at the track field that was right next to our school and see this incredible blanket of pure, untouched snow. It always took my breath away for just a second, and I would just stand there until I saw the first kids coming out of the neighborhood adjacent to the field.
I don't what it is about snow, but I just wait for the first snow of the season. It makes me feel all light and bubbly inside. Maybe it's the first sign that Christmas is coming, which truly is the most wonderful time of the year. It doesn't really matter; I'm sitting here grinning like an idiot and worried a little less about my impending exam all because of a little frozen water. It's awesome!
I'll probably be whining in a few months that winter has gone on forever, and it needs to be spring, but don't let that fool you. I love winter--and snow--with all of my heart!

The Obama-ization of our country is almost complete

Now, I got this news article from the front page of Yahoo, so I don't know how completely accurate it is, but it was an interesting, and slightly disturbing, story.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090926/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_school_song
Hmmm....teaching school kids to love their president, no matter what....sounds a little bit like communism...just saying.

Let's Talk Football

Usually, I don't approach this subject because I don't feel that I have quite enough knowledge of the game to provide compelling arguments. But I'm learning. Slowly. But still learning.

One of the reasons I was extremely excited to go to BYU was because my family and I have been die-hard fans of Cougar football since...forever. And now that I was an official Cougar, I planned to go to as many football games as possible during my college career. The future of the 2009 Cougars looked bright as they came away from the OU game with an unexpected, and totally sweet victory.
Then came the Tulane game, where we whipped the poor guys. I actually felt kind of bad for them.
And then came Florida State. I was so pumped--it was our first home game, we had started off the season incredibly well, and Florida State wasn't even ranked. This was going to be an awesome game. I was so wrong, and SO disappointed! My amazing team failed me, and they failed miserably. What the heck happened? Our defense failed, and our offense was completely ridiculous (I mean, really, how many times did simply hand the ball to Florida State?).
I do have faith in our team. They are amazing--they showed us that in both the OU and the Tulane games. Let's just hope they just pull up their pants and get the job done this Saturday in their game against Colorado State.

New Favorite Quote

I just found the most amazing quote online. And I love it. And I thought I would share it with all of you.
"Who has never killed an hour? Not casually or without thought, but carefully: a premeditated murder of minutes. The violence comes from a combination of giving up, not caring, and a resignation that getting past it is all you can hope to accomplish. So you kill the hour. You do not work, you do not read, you do not daydream. If you sleep it is not because you need to sleep. And when at last it is over, there is no evidence: no weapon, no blood, and no body. The only clue might be the shadows beneath your eyes or a terribly thin line near the corner of your mouth indicating something has been suffered, that in the privacy of your life you have lost something and the loss is too empty to share." — Mark Z. Danielewski (House of Leaves)

Role Models

I got a pretty funny email from my dad today. It instructed me to do some simple math in order to find out who my role model was, and as it turned out, the math told me that Brian T. Barnes (my dad) was my role model...with every number I picked!
But that email got me thinking...who are my role models? I came to the conclusion that I actually have 5 role models that I look to every day of my life.
Dad: You inspire me with your strength, your business sense, your testimony, and the way everyone looks up to and respects you.
Mom: You inspire me with your kindness and love, your bubbly nature, and your constant laughter. You don't hesitate to help anyone, no matter who they are.
Chelsey: You inspire me with your sophistication, your fashion sense, and your incredible head for numbers/economics/politics.
Heather: You inspire me with your dedication to your dreams. You've wanted your job since you were 14, and you didn't stop until you got what you wanted.
Kiera: You inspire me with your courage and your complete confidence in yourself.
Thanks for being awesome role models!

*P.S. I want to know who your role models are!

I beg your forgiveness

I have been neglecting you, my dear readers, and for that I am truely sorry. Forgive me?
The reason I have not written a post in about two...no, I'm sorry, it was three weeks ago that I last posted--forshame!--but the reason for that is this: I have nothing of interest to say. My life, I'm very sad to say, has become a daily routine of looking at my computer dolefully and playing Farmville on Facebook. Once in a while, I read two or three chapters of my book (which is currently The Great Hunt, the second book in the Wheel of Time Series), but even that has not captured my interest as it should, now that I'm done with my first semester of college (Hurray for Ashley!). I'm afraid I'm boring.

BUT...I am here, at 1:09 a.m., to pull off that shroud of boredom and apathy, be cheerful and busy once more, and become the dedicated writer I promised I would be at the beginning of this blog.

This week was not boring, my friends. I just got home from a week long vacation (who doesn't love those?) with my sister, Heather, and her husband, Danny, who were so kind as to take me to California for a belated, second senior trip. It was wonderful! The weather was hot, but with ample cool breezes, we visited the Ronald Regan Presidential Library (which is a lot more exciting than it sounds), Heather and I visited the local zoo, where we were scared by bobcats and wolves, and I got to visit the Wildlife Hospital within the zoo (which made me ecstatic since I am planning to become a vetrinarian), and, of course, we all went to see that famous whale Shamu at SeaWorld. Other highlights included going to the Shakesperean Festival in Cedar City to see The Comedy of Errors (which was delightfull), and listening to Great Expectations on the way to California and New Moon on the way back from California. I would post pictures, but I'm afraid there are two problems with that: I don't have a card reader to download pictures from my camera to my computer (which is why I haven't put any pictures up from my trip to Paris and London--I will post about that as soon as I get a card reader!), and I did not bring my camera to California! You may boo and hiss as you like now.
California was wonderful, though, I would highly reccommend it as a vacationing spot (although half the world seems to have figured out that little tid bit), and even if you don't want to go to Disneyland and stand in lines all day (don't get me wrong, Disneyland is one of my favorite places on Earth, but it does get a bit tiring, standing in line all day), there are plenty of other things to do in the Golden State (see above list for a few ideas). I do firmly believe, however, that every person NEEDS to go to Disneyland at least once in their lifetime.

School starts again in two weeks, but I'm shaking things up a bit by applying for jobs. I've already had one offer in a sales position. Maybe I'll have fun stories about cranky (and hopefully a few crazy) people who answer my phone calls!

Thought for the Day

Remember how I told you all about how I have fun roommates? Yeah, well, we are REALLY fun, especially when Milanne (my room roommate) and I stay up until 3:00 a.m. making crazy videos on her web cam. They were so funny (you can find them on YouTube, if you search for Thought for the Day #1 or #2)! Speaking of roommates, I am incredibly lucky because my roommates are awesome. We get along so well: we all have pretty much the same sense of humor, we love watching movies together, most of us are pretty good readers (and so I have a whole new source of books), and we are all crazy. We have so many adventures at our dorm, and it makes life oh so interesting.
To be honest, I'm kind of nervous about my next batch of roommates (although I'm not too nervous because two of my roommates are going to be living in the same apartment with me in the Fall/Winter)...

So, basically, I STILL hyperventilate whenever I think of HP 6

Yes, I know I'm going to get grilled for this post. So please, be kind when you comment.

I LOVED HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE! There, I said it. Hate me if you will, but I thought HP 6 was THE best movie in the series so far. It was so much lighter in content than the other movies, which I really enjoyed because, really, you can only take so many intense action sequences. I have to say that I think my favorite part was when Harry drank the liquid luck. Daniel Radcliffe was so good, and I just ate those scenes up! Also, I loved the way they directed Hermione's crush on Ron, and Harry's crush on Ginny, and how Herimone and Harry's friendship grew so much. Overall, David Yates, the director, did so much better with HP 6 than he did with HP 5 (which we all know was terrible; although, I admit, he didn't really have much to work with).

I have three issues with this movie:
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
1) The relationship between Harry and Ginny began WAY too early in my opinion. And the whole Harry and Ginny scene in the Room of Requirement--WAY over the top. Although, I must say that Ron's use of a double meaning right after Harry and Ginny almost make-out was CLASSIC!
2) Bella burns down the Weasly house at Christmas--What was THAT all about?
3) And where the heck was the epic battle at the end?!
That being said, I still get chills just thinking about how AMAZING this movie was.
*Sorry for the excessive use of all-caps; sometimes, it's the only way an emotion can be expressed.

Obama's Pennies

This is mostly for Maddie because she hates Obama with a passion, and she will feel vindicated when she sees this.
It's also for Chelsey because she's super smart when it comes to economics, and I know she will appreciate this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt8hTayupE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJu0DgpiK8c&feature=related


*I tried to embed the videos, so I wouldn't make you do more work than you have to (and so my blog would be that much cooler), but Blogspot is hating on me today, so I'm afraid you'll just have to click on the links. But please click on the links; the videos are pretty awesome.

Total Bragging Rights

Ok, so I'm going to inflict the total bragging rights of a Freshman in college who just got her first essay back.

As I intimated, I just got my first essay back from my English professor (the one that looks like Matthew Fox--I'm going to say that every time I mention my English :D ) today, and I would just like to say that I did pretty much amazing on my first essay. :D My professor had me a little freaked out because he started out by saying that only two people in the class got an A on their paper, most people got Bs, and a few got Cs. Knowing me, I kind of freak out over my grades (which is not a bad thing), and I think I'm totally horrible at pretty much anything I do (which really is a bad thing). So, clearly, I immediately thought that I was one of those people who had a big fat C on their paper. It was an amazing surprise when my professor had me a sheet of paper with two comments. "Great job on the op-ed. You nailed it!'

So the end of the story is that I got an A. Yay for Ashley!

College Girl

Fun roomates? Check. Hot guys in the ward? Check. Great food? Check. English professor that looks like Matthew Fox from Lost? CHECK!

My first week at college was awesome (see above check-list). I enjoy all of my classes, my professors are all intelligent and engaging, none of my roomates are suicidal (Chelsey, that one was for you!),and I'm not overly stressed out yet. Another thing that's really fun about BYU (and slightly strange) is that everyone is so freakin' nice! Seriously, everyone says hi to you, even if you just walk by them on the street. Actually, it's a little bit creepy, if you really think about it. All those strangers walking by you and smiling and saying hello...

In all seriousness, BYU is one of the most beautiful campuses in the world! It's so green, and the mountains provide the perfect backdrop for any view on campus. I love that I have an hour between my Biology class and my English class because then I get to sit outside and just soak up the sunshine. It's especially helpful that the weather has been GORGEOUS. I love open air campuses; I think that's the reason why I loved AES so much (the amazing courses helped a lot too).

Anyways, that's pretty much my first week of school for you. It wasn't too exciting--although I was excited when I found out that my English professor looks like Matthew Fox, and that there's a Clark Kent look alike on campus, and that a Hayley Joel Osmond look alike is in my ward. I'll let you know when something REALLY exciting happens.

Jon Schmidt

I think that one of the most amazing pianists ever is Jon Schmidt. His music is so beautiful, and I love playing his songs (when I ever sit down to play at all). My favorite songs are Waterfall and Song of the Ocean, although I have a new book of his and there's yet another beautiful song called The Fishing Stream. Anyway, I just found a new Youtube video, and Jon Schmidt has done it once more, folks. He meshed the song Love Story by Taylor Swift (one of my favorite country songs to date) with Viva la Vida by Coldplay. He wrote this piece, accompanied by an extraordinary cello player, for his seven year old daughter, and I have already fallen in love with it. Here's the video:

Goodbye India

Airports are so much fun, aren't they? I really hope you just shook your head and said, "Ashley, I think the past two days of pure boredom have addled your brain because airports suck!" If you didn't, you need to exit this page. Now. I'm afraid I don't tolerate airport lovers (and in case you were wondering, that beginning statement was simply dripping in sarcasm).


Now that that's over with...I am currently sitting in the somewhat comfortable armchair-like seats in front of Gate 1 in the New Delhi, India, International Airport listening to the (very loud) PA system calling for passengers to board the plane or (as is common in India) to wait patiently as the airplane crew try to fix the "technical difficulties" the plane is undergoing, so that the delay will be as short as possible (thank heaven that's not my plane). There's also a 12-fingered man sitting across from me (perhaps I should go up and say, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die!"), but that's beside the point. I'm afraid that the time has come to say goodbye to India. And I'm a little bit ashamed to say that, in so many ways, it's quite a relief to say goodbye to India, and all 1.2 billion of its inhabitants. It's a relief to not have to look down at my feet every time I go outside because I'm afraid that the ground I'm walking on has been used as either a garbage heap, a spittoon, or a lavatory. It's a relief not to be stared at every where I go. It's a relief not to have random guys trying and take pictures with me as I'm walking around a tourist attraction. It's a relief to be "normal" again. And yet...


...when Surender (our driver) asked me when I was coming back, I told him, somewhat vehemently, "I'm never coming back to India!" Almost immediately after I said that, a strange sensation swept over me. I was sad. How could it be that I was sad to be leaving India? I'm not really sure if I can answer that question yet. I do know this: India has changed me forever. And I honestly don't mean to be cliche. India changes everyone who passes through, even on fleeting visits. I'm pretty sure that country has a way of bringing out people's true natures. I'm sorry to say mine happened to be rather aggressive, much like my wonderful father (which is probably why almost every Indian guy in the New Delhi 3rd Branch under the age of twenty is afraid of me). No matter, it was an amazing (and highly frustrating five days out of seven) experience, and I don't think I will ever forget my two and a half years in India.

So it's goodbye India, hello whatever new adventure awaits me!

Graduation or The Missing Senior Page

Last Tuesday, I received my High School Diploma. It was the weirdest, coolest thing ever. When we walked onto the stage, I had the strangest feeling that I didn't really belong up there--I kept saying to myself, "I'm only fourteen; I can't be graduating!" But I'm not 14. I'm 18. And I did graduate. As surreal as the whole experience was, I did it. I shook hands with my principle and the director of the PTA, and I received my Diploma.

AES--while it did have some bad moments--was an amazing school, and I am so glad I went there. The classes are fun and interesting, the teachers are excellent (they actually help you see the point of what you're learning), and the grounds are absolutely stunning. I mean, I love it when kids can go outside while they are in school, rather than having to sit in a cinder block for seven hours a day, like kids who go to high school in the States (not that I'm dissing on the schools in the States!), and seriously, having a million gardners on hand EVERY DAY makes the grounds look pretty much amazing. And yes, even though the IB was disgustingly hard and time consuming, I'm glad I did it.

Of course, school isn't just about the classes you take--the people you meet in high school can really make or break your experience. I have met some amazing people. First, I'd like to give a shoutout to Audrey Walbridge and Natasha Sharma. You guys MADE my senior year. Honestly, without you two, I would have spent my senior year pretty much miserable and alone. Thank you. Second, to Miss Maddie. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found my second best friend in you. Oh my goodness, how on earth could have I survived India without you? Going out every weekend, staying up until two in the morning, having Moti Mahal and Tropicana Apple Juice at my house practically every Friday, exploring Delhi, and eating more food than should be humanly possible--these are all memories that will be dear to my heart forever. I'm so glad we're going to college together! And finally, to Hannah Lorraine. Wow, you are the coolest best friend ever. I mean, who else would calmly (and supportively) let their best friend move to India, and remain their best friend, even though they only get to see their best friend every six months (...if that made any sense...at all...)? I love you; you're like a sister to me. You are an amazing person, Hannah, and don't you dare let anyone tell you different. I'm so excited for our trip!

I would be a horrible daughter and sister if I didn't tell my family how much I LOVE THEM! My parents are--seriously--the coolest parents on the planet. I know this from careful observation of other people's parents. My parents have given me everything I could ever ask for, they've helped me through good times and bad, and without them I would be more than a little lost. My sisters, while they do drive me crazy, are wonderful, wonderful people, and they make me smile every time I talk to them. All I can say is I love you guys a lot. A whole lot.

How's that for a senior page?

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

I know I don't tell you this often enough, but you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. You are patient, kind, charitable, sociable (when you want to be), longsuffering, humble, and an amazing maker-of-sandwiches-and-pasta-salads. I look at you most days, and I think, "Wow. She does so much for everyone. I wish I could do the things she does without hesitation." I think it's wonderful how you can give so much of yourself to the people you love, and to the people you know, and to the people you don't even know. That's a precious gift--to be able to love so much--and it's one I hope I learn one day.

I know that there are days that I drive you crazy. I know that, while I've never been a "rebellious teenager," there are many occasions that I am grumpy and sulky (like tonight, ha ha). But never let those grumpy, sulky days make you think that you are not my hero. I am so grateful for you, and your love, and your support. I am grateful for the times when I've had a rough day and you simply let me cry on your shoulder. I'm grateful for the countless pieces of advice I've received from you over the years. I'm grateful for every shared moment and for every long talk. I'm going to miss you, more than you can ever know, while I am at college (and the years after that), but not just because you cook, clean, and do the laundry (although I have to admit that I will miss that too). Don't worry too much though because I plan on calling you and writing to you every chance I get. Just because I'm moving back to Utah doesn't mean you're off the hook--you're still going to hear about every little "exciting" detail of college.

I love you so much, Mom. I hope you had an awesome Mother's Day!

Life Lessons from Marley

Just yesterday I finished reading Marley & Me which, in case you haven't read the book or seen the movie, is an amazing story about a horribly mischievous dog who loved his life and his family unconditionally. It's one of the sweetest stories I have read (and seen) to date; I cried during both the movie and the book. Although it's a wonderful book, Marley & Me is more than just a story about a wonderful dog. Through Marley, the story re-learns one of life's most enduring and most sobering lessons: Life is so short, and one day it will be gone.

"What a dreary thing to say on your blog!" You might say this, and you might began to move your mouse up to that little red box in the upper right corner of the screen, but just wait. Give me a chance. I think that it's important to re-learn this lesson because, although we've all heard it a million times before, we seem to forget just how precious life really is. And how quickly life slips past us. Just yesterday I was moving to England. Now, I'm 18, graduating, and going off to college. Even as I think how insane it is that time moves so fast, I think of all the experiences I have had during these past 18 years. I think of my time in England, Australia, Utah, and even India, and the cultural shocks I have been through which have made me more open to the world. I think of the multitude of vacations that I've been on with my family, and of the wonderful memories we all share. And then I think, "Wow. My life's been good!"

I don't plan on stopping there. Not only did Marley & Me bring back to light the fact that life is incredibly short, but Marley also shows the reader that, really, it's ok to have fun. So that's what I'm taking away from this book. Life is short--apprecite every moment of it. Don't be afraid to stop working for just a little while (not too long because, as sad as it is, we all have to work) and simply play.

Letters from home

I love letters. Their awesome. And I'm talking about true-blue, write it yourself, stick-it-in-an-envelope-and-give-it-to-the-postman letters, not emails or messages on Facebook (although those will do in a pinch). Those are the kind of letters that make you feel all warm and lovely inside because when you get those letters, you know people really love you.
Now, I will be the first to admit that when it comes to letters, I am not the greatest at keeping up correspondence, even with people I really care about. Since I just received a wonderful letter from the lovely Madeline, I have decided to re-commit to the whole writing letters thing. So here goes:
World, I promise I will try to answer every handwritten card or letter that comes to me via mailbox (excluding letters/cards from dentists, doctors, or any other businesses).
So send me your letters!

Why it can be frustrating living in India

This past weekend has been...well, it's been a little frustrating for our family (especially my dad). We had the usual problem of power turning on and off all weekend, but then it got worse on Monday morning. On Monday morning, as Mom went down to do her exercises, she began to smell something really bad. And the smell just kept getting worse. Trying to discover where the smell was coming from, Mom discovered that our septic tank was full, and the motor to the septic tank was broken. Basically, our sewer was backing up, and making it's slow, filthy way into our house.
In order to try and cut the smell, Mom poured two large bottles of Clorox bleach into the drains of our basement. It didn't really help. So, Mom then started calling workers who should have been able to come and fix the problem right away. Of course, nobody would come and help. You know why they couldn't come help? Because they couldn't be bothered to come help. ARGH!
And this is why we tend to get frustrated while we live in India. Because nobody really cares about anyone else--they hardly care about themselves. Their work is shoddy, and whenever something breaks, or doesn't work properly, or doesn't work at all, they just stare at you and give that strange head-wobble (the one where you can't tell if they are saying yes or no because it's a combination of both) because they're thinking "Ha! It's not my problem anymore. You figure it out, white girl."
At least we got to stay at the Hyatt for a night.

P.S. Dad came home from work and yelled at the company who is supposed to come fix the house whenever there's a problem. While the problem isn't completely fixed, workers have been working on it for two days straight now. Hopefully it will all be finished soon.

Fairytale Princess

I attended my final Prom on Saturday. Thankfully, it was simply amazing. I had so much fun this year at Prom, and I was actually really sad it's over and done with. I got to hang out all night with amazing people (including my date, Ben Smith), dance (although it probably wasn't very good dancing), and look pretty, and, come on, who doesn't want to do that on a Saturday night? I had my dress tailored (for the third year in a row), and it was stunning. I was so happy with the way this dress turned out--it was exactly how I had imagined it. While I was wearing it, I felt like a fairytale princess going to her ball. I know some of these people probably won't read my blog, but I wanted to thank:

Mom--for going to every fitting with me, for being with me while I got ready, for helping me get in and out of my dress, and for just being my mom

Dad--for letting me get the dress, and for letting me go to Prom

Ms. Bahel--for making the most gorgeous dress on the planet (every girl was totally jealous, even if they didn't say anything)

Ben--for being an amazing Prom date.

Thank you everyone for making Senior Prom epic!

Thailand!

This trip was incredible! It definitely made my "Top 5 Vacations" list (in case you were curious, here is the top 5 list: 1. Mexico, 2. England/Scotland/Italy, 3. Thailand, 4. Ireland, 5. Italy). Both Phuket and Bangkok were so much fun, in their own way. Phuket is definitely a beach island--besides the beach and beachy outings such as scuba diving or snorkling, the only thing to occupy a tourist's time is the very small markets found here and there, and, of course, Thai massages. Bangkok is a major city, with all the attractions, including Australia beef (!), of a very nice, very clean, very efficient city (those attractions also included huge malls with IMAX theaters). Of course, the best part was the Tiger Temple. I don't think words can describe how amazing it is to have a sleepy (but not drugged) tiger laying it's head in your lap. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip (all ten albums of photos from Thailand can be found on my Facebook page):

Heat Waves and Rain Showers

Weather is awesome. No, seriously, if you think about it, weather is actually very cool. It's hard for me to say that I have a favorite season--although I always claim I love winter the best. Now, I'm not really sure what season I love best since they all have their merits.
Spring:

• Flowers
• RAIN!
• Everything smells good
• There's lots of baby animals, which are always pretty darn cute

Summer:

• No school
• Summer nights feel so good
• You can go swimming
• Everything is very green (unless there's a drought, and then everything's dead)

Fall:

• All the leaves turn pretty colors
• Days and nights are still pleasantly warm
• Lots of good still growing

Winter:

• Snow makes everything pretty
• Ice skating
• Snowball fights
• It's nice and cold

Anyway, my point is that every season has it's good points. Here in Delhi it seems like there are only two seasons: a cold autumn and a very long, hot, humid summer. I like every kind of weather, but when it feels like one is dragging on for over half the year, that's just too much. Here in Delhi, summer starts at about the beginning of April, and it lasts until about the middle of October, and we get some pretty crazy heat waves during that time.

Right now, while it is starting to warm up considerably, the weather is still very nice and warm. This is helped by the infrequent rain showers that occur in Delhi. Take today for example: it was getting hot this morning, but then the clouds rolled in, a breeze picked up, and it drizzled for about 3 minutes. Now it's absolutely gorgeous outside. I'm just glad I won't be here during the summer vacation, when it's so unbearably hot, foreigners tend not to stray outside the comfort of their air conditioned living rooms.

Ok, so I'll cut through all that babbling, so you can get to the real message of this post. To put it simply:

Heat waves=BAD

Rain=GOOD

And I'm just hoping for a little more rain showers, and a lot fewer heat waves, for my last two months in Delhi.

Game on, Chelsey

Chelsey tagged me in this inter-blogger photo game. The rules are that you have to post the 4th photo from the 4th folder of your pictures folder. Here's mine:

I didn't say it was going to be pretty. This was taken January 2007, the night before I left to go back to India. Hannah came over and we took some pretty crazy pictures. Here are some of my favorites from that night:

Hannah and Kiera making silly faces.

One final hug goodbye.

Long story short, I used to make Hannah leap into my arms while we were walking down the halls of South Jordan Middle School, just to see if I could catch her. Good times, good times.

Fish faces (this is possibly my favorite photo of all time)!

Now I tag Maddie (since she's the only other blogger I know besides Chelsey). Go post some photos!

Have an awesome HOLIday

One good thing about India is that it has incredible holidays. Take Diwali for example. Diwali--the festival of lights--is like the Fourth of July on steroids. It simply amazes me that the city hasn't burned down in all these years because there are so many fireworks and candles, and everything in between, being lit in one night. Indeed, I have heard of many cases where batches of fireworks have gone AWOL say to speak and flown into the house, after it was lit. Inspite of all the potential dangers, Diwali is still an awesome festival (and not just because you can buy fireworks that are illegal in the States).

One of the coolest holidays I have ever taken part in, however, is Holi. Holi is a lot of things--it's the festival of spring, love, and color. And Holi doesn't just happen, like every other holiday. You have to go play Holi. It's pretty easy to play; all you have to do is buy colors (they typically only come in yellow, pink, blue, green, and red), go outside, and throw colors at everyone and everything (including cars, dogs, and cows). Here are a few photos of what people did to look like at the end of this absolutely incredible holiday (a holiday which I plan on continuing to celebrate when I move back to the States):

Play!

I just got finished with my last play in high school, which is kind of a depressing thought. The good news behind this is that the play that we did was absolutely hilarious, and simply amazing. The play was called "You Can't Take it With You", and it's about the wild, crazy, fun Sycamore family. Penny and Paul Sycamore have two daughters, Alice Sycamore (who is the least crazy of the entire family) and Essie Carmichael (that's me!). Essie is married to Edward Carmichael (we call him Ed) who "...came to dinner one night, and just stayed." Ed plays the xylophone, does calligraphy, and makes masks, while Essie dances ballet and makes Love Dreams. Penny writes plays, but she also used to sculpt, and Paul makes fireworks in the basement with Mr. DePinna, who was the milkman eight years ago. Nanna, in whose house the Sycamore's live, retired thirty-five years ago, and now goes to circuses, commencements, and catches snakes. Alice is in love with Tony Kirby, whose parents are the complete opposite of the Sycamore family. The whole play is about Alice and Tony's engagement, and how the two families try to get along, although each family has very strong, opposing, views on how lives should be lived. Here are some pictures from our incredible version of the play.

This is the lamp in Essie's dancing corner. Ed's chalkboard.

Penny Sycamore, as she concentrates on her latest play.
Paul Sycamore (in the bow tie) and Mr. DePinna (in the lab coat) show off their newest fireworks. Rheba, the resident cook/maid/bell hop.Ed Carmichael, Essie's husband, after he has had a stroke of genius while composing a piece of music on his xylophone.

Rheba and Donald, the "almost couple" of the play.

Mr. Wilbur C. Hendersen, who comes to get the income tax Nanna has not been paying for 22 years.

Nanna decides to completely ignore Mr. Hendersen's pleas for her tax money.

Mr. Kholenkhov, Essie's delusional Russian ballet teacher.

Alice and Tony Kirby come home from their date at the ballet.Miss Gay Wellington, who has come to read for one of Penny's plays.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirby have an argument over a game instituted by Penny (Nanna is trapped in the middle).

The Department of Justice interrupt the night.

The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina graces the household with presence.

The whole cast together for one last shot.

This play was incredible, and it will be one of the highlights of my high school career. It will definitely be a memory that will live on for years to come.

Hugh Jackman Is My Hero

I don't usually watch the Academy Awards, or the Oscars, or anything like that, but when I heard that Hugh Jackman (whom I love...a lot) was the host of this year's Oscars, I was intrigued. I didn't watch all of the Oscars, but I did Youtube Hugh Jackman in the Oscars, and I found some interesting videos. Watch them; they're hilarious!

This is the opening song which Hugh Jackman created for the Oscars:


This is Hugh Jackman singing with Beyonce:


Did I mention that I absolutely love Hugh Jackman?

(Red)

If you're wondering what that giant red thing on top of my head is, it's my hair. I went and dyed my hair yesterday, and this is the color of hair that I walked out with. I didn't ask for red. No, I asked for a deep brown. I don't think that's a deep brown. It's red.

As you can probably tell, I'm not really sure if I like the fact that my hair is red. However, the first thing mom said to me was, "That's Chelsey's hair color. You look like Chelsey." And since I think Chelsey is gorgeous, that's a major compliment, so I think I'll keep the red in my hair for now.

Heather, if you're reading this, you should totally join the club. All you have to do is go to an Indian hairdresser and ask for deep brown (although I think your hair is absolutely gorgeous, so please don't dye it red).

Go Cougars!

Woohoo! This post will be so full of excitement and joyousness that those of you who aren't in an exceptionally good mood, come back in an hour or two because we only accept happy people right now.

So, I've been wanting to go to one school, and one school only, since I was about eight years old. I don't know exactly why I wanted to go to this school--I think it has something to do with the fact that it has the highest population of Mormon's of practically any other school in the nation. And the fact that my sister went there helped a lot too. Anyway, last Friday I got the best news I've ever had--up into this point. Last Friday I found out that I have been accepted into that one school.

Everyone shout hurray because I'm going to BYU!

This Is One Of Those Things You Just Have To Laugh At...

India, with all it's faults (of which it has may), can make you laugh. There are some things that the Indian people do that seem so incredibly ludicrous to Western society, but it seems perfectly sane to them. It's almost midnight, and I was Stumbling (see previous posts) when I discovered this picture from Mumbai (Bombay), which is a major city on the eastern coast of India:

In case you can't quite make out what the sign says, here is the warning that the sign gives: "ATTENTION: This building is unsafe and likely to collapse. Persons entering the property do so at their own risk. The owners of the property will not be liable for any damage to life and property."

Well, at least they warned us, right?