Oceans

In honor of my new-found freedom and the ability to use 2 hours or so in the manner that I so pleased, I went to go see "Oceans" this week. When I first walked into the theater it was empty, but it was early afternoon so I wasn't too surprised. Just before the trailers started a bunch of couples came in and scattered themselves around the theater, and I thought "How nice that all these couples decided to spend their date learning about the ocean!" I reveled during the previews that I wasn't the only person in the world who liked movies/documentaries like this.

Then the movie started. A small pair of feet wearing little kid pajamas scurried across a hard wood floor. Then little children were suddenly attacking Tina Fey and Steve Carell. What the...? Then I realized that I was sitting in the "Date Night" theater. I pulled my ticket out to see if I misread it. Theater 5. I'm pretty sure I'm in theater 5. I sat and pondered for a minute whether I would stay in there and just watch Date Night by default. I like Steve Carell. I haven't seen Tina Fey in many things, but she seemed entertaining. Then I went through the whole "Do I really want to sit here and watch this?" debate. And I didn't. So, looking like a fool because I, of course, sat in the front row where I could prop my feet up on that bar thing, I got up and left the theater. As I did, I checked the number of the theater. Five. My ticket again. Five. I checked that the stub didn't say Date Night. It said Oceans. Okay, so I've determined I'm not crazy. Good. I like that feeling. I went around the corner to the candy people. They were helping people, but I decided to be a little more brash than usual, and gave one of them "the mother look," as my brother's like to call it. One of them came over right away. "Umm, I'm here to watch Oceans, and my ticket says theater five but it's playing Date Night." "Oh yeah, sorry," the kid says "they changed the theater. It's in six now." Pause, in which I internally say to this kid "Did you think it might be a good idea to tell your customers this?" Instead I said "How far into the movie is it?" "Well, I think the previews probably just ended. If it's too far into the movie, we can exchange your ticket for a later showing." I decided then I didn't care, if the movie was good I'd probably buy it anyhow later on, and stopped torturing the awkward candy kid.

Still, what kind of movie theater doesn't tell you which theater to go into? Isn't the entire purpose of purchasing a ticket with the theater number on it supposed to ensure that I will, eventually, make it into the movie I paid to see?

Anyhow, when I got in there it was just a few minutes in, and they were starting with classic shots of whales breaching, so I figured I hadn't missed much. I settled down, this time higher up in the seating area so I could take in the whole picture. The only other people in the theater was this grandma and mom with her two boys. The older one was sitting up on the top row by himself, right under the projector, and the younger one kept running between sitting with his mom and sitting with his brother. It was pretty fun to hear them get grossed out by some of the stuff in the movie though. I was a little sad there weren't more people there. There was this GREAT scene in the movie though! They were showing these spider crabs off the coast of Australia, I think, and it was like a battle scene. One group of spider crabs made their way towards another large group. They began attacking each other like crazy. Then the camera panned out and there were literally THOUSANDS of these spider crabs all attacking each other. I felt like I was watching that scene in Lord of the Rings, at the Battle of Helms Deep.

Maybe this is why I'm not married. I'm too boring. I'd rather watch Oceans than Date Night. The thing is though, I think this stuff IS fun. Where are all these people that get as much enjoyment out of the same things I do? For example, right now my roommates are out in the front room watching Baby Momma. And I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Tina Fey, and there may be some point in time where I actually want to watch that movie...but I'd kind of rather read, or go on a walk, or swim, or sew or do calligraphy or go hiking or plan my future. Bah.

What's her face...

So, want to hear something funny that happened in church today? There's this guy in my ward who goes down to San Diego all the time on business or for fun. Since last September or so when he found out I'm from San Diego, he's been calling me "San Diego." He'll just be like "Hey San Diego, how's it going?" etc. And we'll usually end up talking about San Diego for a minute or so. Anyhow, I saw him today just before Sunday School and talked with him about the earthquake that happened over Easter. Then he asked me if I'd like to say the opening prayer in Sunday School, since he was conducting. I said sure. Sunday School started and he made the announcements for the week. Then he was announcing the opening song and prayer--and he said "and the opening prayer will be given by San Diego..." and he got this blank yet horrified look on his face that clearly said to me he had momentarily forgotten my real name. It was pretty hilarious. I supplied my real name, and everyone laughed. So now, for the rest of the time in the ward, I'm pretty sure everyone is going to be calling me San Diego.

It kind of reminds me of this game on a radio program I once heard, where they were like "What if you were named after the place where you were born?" and tried to get as many random possibilities as possible. Though technically, with those rules, I would actually be named Washington D.C., not San Diego. Kind of think I like the latter better, just because it's smoother to say. And warmer there.

So, in case anyone was wondering what my after grad plans are, these are them (and don't worry, I have a whole calendar made up for when I'm doing what so I actually get some productive things done): May-mid June: Study for clinical exam, while working and completing internship at LDS Family Services. Mid June-July: Go home to San Diego and help take care of Grandpa's/other family stuff that it will take a while to clear out (and sneak in as much snorkeling as is humanly possible). July-whenever: Look for job in Utah (yes, I will be looking/living in Utah) while completing several other sundry goals that I hope to finish before my life is over (It sometimes feels like it'll take that long).

I only somewhat feel like I should have a job all lined up for after graduation, and the opportunities for application to such jobs have presented themselves--but I would much rather wait for a month or two and make sure to pass the exam the first time than get a job and worry about whether or not I'll be able to keep it. (You don't pass the exam, you don't work). So, in case you were wondering, my brief unemployment is strategic. And technically I won't be unemployed anyhow. I just won't be employed to my fullest capacity (and won't be getting paid as much as I would if I'd gotten a more official type job). Okay, babbling now. I'll stop.

Lastly, I'd like to point out what incredible self control I have. I bought the last Fablehaven book over Easter, but I promised myself I wouldn't read it until a) I finished reading Oliver Twist (done!) and b) I finished all of my semester projects (not done...). My semester projects will be done tomorrow, since I'm presenting my research project in class. Then there's an oral exam Wednesday, but I'm not too worried about it, so I figure by Tuesday, and Wednesday night at the most, I'll be able to crack it open. It's sitting on my desk, tempting me. I should've hidden it somewhere, but it just didn't feel right. I mean, how can you resist a book titled "Keys to the Demon Prison"? But I have managed, so far, to do it. Can't wait until Wednesday =]

Love your guts,
~San Diego

The operative word is "Spring"

I sometimes wish I had more interesting things to tell. This week was Spring Break, but I decided to work this week instead of actually taking a break, in order to prepare for upcoming unemploymentness. Which isn't a word. I went to my sister's house last weekend and spent some time with her and my brother-in-law, and my oh-so-adorable-and-brilliant nephew, as seen here:



And here:


(This is some of what we do when Mom and Dad are gone)

The rest of the week was work, with several redbox movies interspersed throughout: Ice Castles (the new one. I know, they did a new one! It's basically the same as the old one, and just as good) Did you hear about the Morgans (wasn't that impressed), Where the Wild Things Are (perfect...but I thought it was probably too scary for kids; almost leaned towards a PG-13 rating. Hence my argument that there should be a rating in between PG and PG-13), Bright Star (beautiful, but sad), and I went to see Leap Year in the $3 theater (predictable, but darling; and I'm even more determined to tour Ireland this summer Britte!). Today I heard a song from the old Saturday's Warrior movie on the radio and had a sudden desire to watch it. I don't own it though, so I watched Mountain of the Lord (four stars) instead. I also sewed a bunch--something I love but don't regularly have the luxury of doing. I resisted the temptation to clean my room. Or maybe it was a prompting, but saying "temptation" makes it sound like a good thing, so we'll stick with that. It's mostly just school papers that I'll have to sift through eventually anyways.

I do have one tiny problem. About a month ago I planted some daisies and poppies in little bread pans and put them in my window. It had been a particularly warm day, and I was excited for Spring. They're growing and their just so charming and cheerful. But now I don't know what to do with them. They need a bigger home, and I've thought of taking them hiking with me one day near the end of Aprilish and randomly planting them in the wilderness, but I just want to make sure they have a good home. I'd love to keep them, but once they get bigger I won't have room for them anymore. Does anyone that lives nearby want some daisies and poppies? Otherwise, I'll probably plant them near Green Canyon somewhere. That's not bad is it? I know they don't usually want you picking flowers when you hike (which, I confess, I tend to do anyhow), but planting them isn't bad, is it? It's kind of like planting a tree. Or replacing all the flowers I have picked...Justification for the next time I want to pick some, right? =]

It's Probably Time.

I think it's time for me to start looking for a job. I'll be graduating May 7th. Maybe I should have something lined up for after that. If you have any suggestions, do let me know. =] (Any suggestions on life-altering decisions I may have to make will also be appreciated and taken into consideration).

Thank you and Goodnight.

It's 2:33am. Do you know where your Bekah is?

This one is up typing, for some reason. She should have gone to bed long ago. Technically, I guess she is in bed, she's just not using it for the purpose of sleeping, which is the whole reason the mattress was actually created. Misuse of Powers!

I don't know what to write. I've been going to class and trying to study and such. Mostly tonight's staying up is an effort to push Saturday from coming. See, when Friday night comes I'm all excited because tomorrow is Saturday and I can have a "free" day. However, inevitably I end up spending said "free" day doing boring things like cleaning my room, doing my homework, grocery shopping, exercising, piddling around, doing more homework, or the ever-present alternative: more homework. Or I just distract myself with episodes online that I can't watch during the week. In fact, I finally just got caught up on the Office tonight. I think I watched five episodes tonight. I really like the Office but there is one thing that bothers me...when Michael Scott does things that embarrass him I feel so embarrassed for him that it is just uncomfortable. I can't even watch sometimes. I have to hide my face because I just want so badly to help him be less awkward, but there's nothing that can be done. The awkwardness just continues.

I was talking to my roommate tonight about decision making. And I came to an important conclusion. There is a part missing from the Book of Mormon. And I'm not talking about the Book of Lehi. Let me explain. You know in the book of Ether when the Lord tells the Brother of Jared how to build all of the barges, and then the Brother of Jared does it? Well, after that the Lord says (basically) "Oh, by the way you can't breathe in them and there's no light. So you might want to think about how to fix that." The Lord tells him how to solve the breathing problem, but leaves it up to Jared to fix the light problem. Now, at the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3 is where something is missing. See, at the end of chapter 2 the Lord asks the Brother of Jared what he wants Him to do. Then at the beginning of chapter 3 we see the Brother of Jared hiking up mount Shelem to get the stones for the Lord to touch and therefore bring light to the barges. And you know what I was thinking tonight? That's like us and our problems. The Lord is going to leave some things up to us. He has to. He's teaching us how to decide. What these verses are missing is all the mistaken suggestions that the Brother of Jared makes to the Lord. And maybe it was just because it was late, but I could totally see him running around their camp, kind of picking things up along the way--anything that might give light off inside the barges--and kind of looking up at the Lord going "Is um...Is this right? Can we somehow get this coconut to give off light? Would...seashells work? They're from the ocean too, so they might withstand....No? Okay...Um, how about..." Etc. Because that's what we tend to do when we have to make hard decisions. We go around and sort of test our theories about what is right for us. Hopefully while we're doing it we are constantly LOOKING for that feedback from the Lord so that we know whether or not what we're doing is right or not. And maybe by this time the Brother of Jared had perfected his listening skills so much that running around the camp looking for answers didn't occur to him at all--he just knew that going up to mount Shelem was the right thing to do. And THAT is the point that I want to be at. I want to get to the point where I don't have to run around the camp looking for answers anymore, because the Lord and I are already on the same page as to what the true answers really are. I want that connection.

Bedtime. Hope you enjoyed my babbling. =]