6 Things

Happy, happy, happy. Here's why:

1. It's the golden glow of the evening.
2. I get to philosophize with Jenny tonight.
3. My hair is to my waist.
4. Ralph and Leisel married one another in real life!
5. Cameron is nearly home!
6. Wintry Evening Air.

Can I borrow your water bottle for a minute, Bethany? ::sneaky smile::

What is there to say?

I've been sitting at work for the past 2 hours or so with very minimal workish work to do. To occupy myself I've been chatting a bit on Facebook with wonderful Ukrainians and Ukrainian returned-missionaries (yay!), and pondering what to blog about. Who does that?

Oh, I know who!

My posts need a little bit more spontaneity, yeah? I think so, but that isn't really something you can plan. Aw, forget it. Here are a couple of ideas of things I've been thinking about on this lovely Friday:

The reception of the applesauce oatmeal muffins I made for my El Ed Planning & Management class today.

Why I straightened my hair this morning. (It's fascinating, I tell you...)

The story of my teacher chucking a water bottle (MY water bottle!) at me three times in class today. With everyone watching.

Ducks, ducks, ducks, ducks, geese, ducks.

Blogging about blogging again, Bethany? Bad. Here is something great to sum up my cynical feelings about blogging...and hopefully bring a smile: Click me!

The Caldecotts

This week I've made a goal. Each time that I walk past the Juvenile Lit. section in the library (which, by the way, is all the time) I will read a Caldecott Medal winner. I've only been at it 2 days now, but it is so very delightful! As a future elementary school teacher, and mother, and pursuer of all things childishly fascinating, I love partaking of these beautiful children's books. This week I have been delighted by:

Saint George and the Dragon
(Author: Maragaret Hodges, Illustrator: Trina Schart Hyman)

This fun little knights-princess-dragon book was the 1985 winner and it almost has an 80's feel. That is, an 80's feel mixed with medieval fantasy. Fun stuff. It's based on the Christian tradition legend of Saint George that inspired the apparently-good film, George and the Dragon. Haven't seen it, but it's on the list.


...and...

Tuesday (Author/Illustrator: David Wiesner)

Flying lilly pads laden with frogs. That's all there is to say, but it is worth the few minutes it takes to read it...or look at it. David Wiesner does the nifty tell-the-story-through-the-pictures thing. 1992 winner. Wiesner also won 2002 and 2007...Definitely worth your time. Do you remember what it was like to be 5 and think pictures of flying frogs were the greatest thing you'd ever seen? If you don't, or if you do, go read this book.

Look! I have like...5 Followers

Wait a second, who are these people? Oh okay, I know who they are now. My apologies to you if you are one of them! Your identity is still intact.

So, I still don't really know how I feel about blogging. I certainly enjoy reading other people's blogs (Janeal and Ashley are superb...hmm, maybe I can figure out how to do that nifty linky thing to their names...), and I certainly enjoy writing random posts and having cute customizable options, but still...

Yes, I haven't blogged since August or September or something. It is because I'm just not crazy into it yet. But who knows? This post, this one right here. The one you (whoever you are!) are reading right this second! may get me going. Maybe :). It is worth a shot.

I kind of really highly very much so doubt that many will read this, but that is besides the point. Kind of. :) I'll just write about what I want and what I think, and we'll see where that gets me. Lahit!

Because every blog post needs a picture...

The Office Next Door

I only have a few more weeks working at my beloved BYU Evening Classes before I will hand off the job to my beloved Susan. As such is the case I have been thinking a good deal about how fun it has been to work here for 2 years and 2 1/2 months. Sound cheesy? Yeah maybe it is, but I've still been thinking about it lately. Today I've been laughing to myself about all of the things I have heard and observed in the office next door to ours. The BYU Conferences and Workshops employees have a fascinating variety of topics to converse about. I'm pretty much up on each secretary's personal lives, school lives, family lives, and let us not forget love lives. I've heard all of their proposal stories, first dates, study abroad stories, fashion tips, and favorite candies. Now, I'm not stalking anyone or even being creepy. I just sit at my registration desk for 20 hours a week and you cannot help but hear what others say. One of my favorites happened just last week. Secretary #3 was telling secretaries 1 and 2 about this charming young man in her ward. She described his tremendous qualities and how she was in love with him. It was all in a very sweet lovey voice. Then, in a very different, very aggressive voice she suddenly yelled out, "Just ask me out, dang it!" My co-worker and I burst out laughing (and then quickly stifled it). Girls are so funny.
This makes me think about how I observe people. People are just so fun to observe! You can learn a great deal about someone by just listening to them and not being part of the conversation. It gives you a moment to reflect about things and to try and be the better person that you really can be. Sometimes it is a little disheartening or disappointing to hear certain things from people, but a lot of the time it makes me have more faith in individuals, and in their goodness. And that makes me very happy! It helps me re-realize that each of us truly is a child of God, and of great worth. I don't ever want to forget that.

And now, a random picture of Kermit and Robin:

The Last Day of My 19th Year

This is, as you all know, a very solemn occasion. After this day, I will never be 19 again. I'll never think or feel or see or believe as a 19 year-old would. Ever. Okay just kidding, it is kind of exciting. But it is scary, yeah? I mean, tomorrow I will be 20. TWENTY. I'm entering a completely new decade of my life. This has only happened to me twice before. Incidentally, both of those occasions took place on August 6ths... Who knows what might happen tomorrow?
It seems like an appropriate time to make some goals for Bethany-the-20-year-old:
Goal #1: Jump over a fence that is taller than I.
Goal #2: Play a wild-n-wiggy improvised solo on one of the following: guitar, bass guitar, piano, viola, organ (haha). Let's add the triangle to that list as well.
Goal #3: Make a chocolate cake like my Mamanwa does.
Goal #4: Acquire a quilt rack.
Goal #6: Be as cool as Townemouse Jr. :)
Yeah, that should do it. Okey doke, I think I'm ready to be 20. Here we go!

Ten Things I Like:

Now doesn't that sound like the perfect title of a 2nd grader's writers workshop activity? Despite its lack of eye-catching interest, it is clear and concise, and exactly what I intend to include in this post. Yesterday I was sitting in the ASB in my secret study spot, reading Jane Eyre, eating a blueberry bagel, and drinking lemonade. After pondering a little bit about some of Jane's responses to Mr. Rochester's fortune-telling (he was disguised as a traveling gypsy), I started thinking about things I like. Without further introduction, I give you the things that Bethany likes:
NOTE: they are in no particular order and this list is by no means comprehensive, so don't worry about that.

1. Blueberry Bagels. They are the very tastiest of bagels, especially with plain cream cheese. Yum!
2. Empire Waists. Haha, my very favorite waistline and one I have employed on each formal dress I've had occasion to wear.
3. Sounds advice for/from missionaries. Preach My Gospel, wonderful missionary friends...it doesn't get better than that.
4. Elementary School wall decorations. You know, the alphabet above the chalkboard, the cutesy bulletin board, word walls, student art work, READ posters, etc.
5. Hair ribbons, especially solid colors. Nothing too striped, polka-dotted, or trendy.
6. Elder James M. Gardner. There is much to say on the qualities of his that I admire, but you may have to inquire personally :) Don't you love good people? I do.
7. My left hand.
8. Being a heathen with Sadie.
9. Being teased relentlessly by little Emma. It really is as though I were the 10 year-old, not her.
10. Misunderstood villains that turn out to actually have hearts (Snape, Javert, you get the idea).

What do you like?