The "Mr. Darcy" thing

I love to read. I especially love to read Pride and Prejudice. I read it for the first time in Mr. Downs English class for explications. For those of you who don't know what explications are, it is a most dreaded assignment consisting of the summary of ten scenes from a classic novel and the overall importance they have to the plot. It seems easy, unless you procrastinate. Lets just say that I didn't sleep a few nights out of the school year. Luckily, Pride and Prejudice was made into a movie and I had seen the six hour version. I felt like even if I didn't finish the entire book in time I could still get full credit on the assignment. Well, I didn't need the movie because I read the whole thing. I couldn't put it down. That is how it is for me every time I have read it since. At times the narrative gets long, stuffy and boring but it doesn't stop me from keeping my eyes riveted to the text, page after page. It didn't stop me from spending four hours one day during Christmas break in my bed trading off between reading and snoozing.

Those who haven't read the book but seen the movie most often ask me, what is so great about Mr. Darcy. "Isn't he a jerk" they say. "Why do girls always end up liking those guys". Okay so I'm talking mostly of males who ask these questions. His character is by nature proud and judgmental. He grew up in a wealthy family with connections and high social status. To have feelings for someone like Lizzy who has little money, no connections, and ridiculous relatives is not something he was going to entertain. When he first met her he was prejudiced against her because of these things, which hurt her pride. This put up some seriously high walls for the both of them. Call me a hopeless romantic, but sometimes you cannot help who your heart chooses. He fell in love with her because he came to know her. Not merely the surface of what she had to offer. In time they both realized they had the wrong impression of one another and faced the trials that came against them together.

That is the "Mr. Darcy" thing. He is humbled by Elizabeth Bennett's wit and honesty and wants to change and be better for her. To take care of her. In return she comes to find his true character and is changed herself. It is a wonderful love story.

31 years

For Christmas, Taylor and I made a wedding video for my parents. We got a lot of old albums and scrounged up some old pictures of them growing up and then from when we were all growing up as well. "The good ol' days" right? It was actually one of my favorite parts of Christmas break thus far. I want to upload the video, but it's not working currently so I'll just post some of my favorite pictures.

Steve Russo

Cindy Moss

Just in our own worlds

Prettiest girl in the family

Stephen's dog, Brandy

Our "perfect" ages

The two oldest

Christmas. One of my favorite memories!

Dexter the Texter

Just cute right?

Family ski day

Our most recent family picture, missing one little man.

Elvis at McDonalds

If you have been in Orem long enough you know what I am talking about when I mention the Orem Summerfest. Not only do you know about it, but you've probably attended. Well take yourself back to that lovely time in June. Do you remember the crazy people you see, and only see that weekend? You never seen them until the Zipper and Gravitron are set up and once those rides have been taken down they're never to be seen again. Well I am here to tell you that those people exist in other months.

I went to Walmart around 1 this morning to do some last minute gifting. (I waited until then because I am that awesome) I was hungry coming out of the store so I stopped at McDonalds on my way home. I pulled up to the second window to pick up my number 6 order and noticed that the man inside had some wicked hair and side burns. It literally was a mix between Elvis and Danny Zucco from "Grease" only with light brown hair instead of black. He opened the window and gave me my food. "Thank you." I said. Now imagine how Elvis says, "thank you, thank you very much". Take that voice and put it to these words the nice, perfectly coiffed young man said, "yes, you're very welcome". It was so smooth, and totally weird. Just thought I would just share that experience with you all.

See you at Summerfest Elvis.

Christmas with the girls

I have the best roommates in the world. Here is a little taste of our gift exchange.

1741 N. girls

1743 N. girls

Averie

Jilly

Mel

Sami Jo

Kam Kam

Mrs. Clause

THE woman

 Family Photo :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

If you know me at all, you know that I worry. I never seem to worry about dangerous things like not watching the road when I'm driving or going on roller coasters. A lot of the time what I deem "worthy to be worried about" are important things, I just tend to over do it most of the time. So when I walked to my car Wednesday night only to find blasted 300 dollar ticket on the windshield, I was pretty worried. It wasn't even the 300 dollars that I was thinking of, I was nervous to tell my parents.

Anyway, after my LAST final today I went to the university parking office in the JKB. Turns out I had exceeded my limit of 7 tickets in a 12 month period and my parking and driving privileges at BYU were revoked. Yep, my car is banned. I am banned from driving it or any other vehicle on BYU property. Weekends, holidays and Sundays included. I kind of feel like I got put in time out. Do you know how many roads BYU owns around campus? The nice lady named Brandy pulled out a map and showed me, they have roads from University Parkway down to 800 North. The only good thing about this was that I didn't have to pay 300 dollars. But I can't drive at all, I should be stressing right now.

Nope. As I was walking to my car I started to laugh. Weird, right? Maybe it is the lack of sleep, lack of brain power and blissful relief that finals are done that led me to this but I couldn't stop. I even thought it would be funny and slightly ironic if I got to my car and had a boot on it for parking on campus. I don't know how long this will last, but this worrying girl is totally relaxed. In regards to this situation anyway :)

Just a good quote

THIS, THE GREATEST OF ALL DISPENSATIONS

 

 "First, we must never let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - that is the first principle of the gospel. We must go forward. God expects you to have enough faith, determination, and trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects you not simply to face the future; He expects you to embrace and shape the future - to love it, rejoice in it, and delight in your opportunities. 

 

God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always had. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe."

JEFFREY R. HOLLAND

Just a good quote.

http://lds.org/liahona/2007/07/this-the-greatest-of-all-dispensations?lang=eng&query=greatest+all+dispensations

Ode to Karen Carpenter

She's a drummer, she's an alto, she's fantastic. Thank you Karen Carpenter.

Rainy Days and Mondays 

Superstar

Merry Christmas, Darling 

Can you tell I want to do ANYTHING other than study for finals?