Music and Lyrics

Dear Reader, I don't know if I have talked much about this, but I'm going to Spain! This will be my last post from the United States of America for a couple of months. Hopefully you will hear a couple things from me in Europe while we are studying. In honor of my voyage this Labor Day Monday, I will tell you a little bit more about what led me to this point.  About a year and a half ago, I was talking with a friend who had recently returned from studying abroad in England. She loved being there and she was struggling to adjust in the U.S. again. While talking international studies, I thought that it would be nice to make a trip like that some day.  Apparently some higher authority really wanted me to go, because the thought that I should study abroad stuck with me that entire week until I made the decision myself to go. Thoughts bombarded me every hour of that week. "Go on a study abroad." "You need to go." They were very firm impressions I had...

Dear Reader, Bonus points go to whoever can name what movie today's song title comes from. Comment below to submit your answers. Today I wanted to give you an update on the great " ALS Ice Bucket Challenge " that is taking the internet by storm. What started as a small campaign to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) has grown and caused thousands of people to dump ice or ice water over their heads. That is how it works: one person nominates another to the challenge. That nominated person then has 24 hours to either donate $100 to the ALS foundation or have a bucket of ice dumped over their head. I would like to think most people are both accepting the ice bucket challenge and donating to charity. I won't judge, though. With all of this publicity that the ALS campaign has received, it made me think of other fads that people participated in during the 1920s and 1930s. Did you know that people regularly participated...

Dear Reader, Every public transportation system in the world has its own ins and outs. These little tricks and tips are well-known by the locals, especially if public transport is their only means of getting around. I am fascinated by these systems and the people that use them. There are people from many different lifestyles, going to varying events. It is usually a pleasant surprise to find out more about these people after chatting with them for a few moments. This week I have been commuting between Provo and Salt Lake using the UTA Frontrunner, Trax and local buses.  Between these trips and all the time I used the bus system in Chile, I have been chatting and getting to know several people on my trips. Here are just a few of them that have caught my attention. During Education Week at Brigham Young University, I rode a good portion of the way to Salt Lake with a man named Nephi. The conversation started, as it most often does, with questions about the bus routes and...

Dear Reader,  I wanted to invite someone else to share their thoughts on the blog. So, here is a little something from my sister, Cami. It is an unedited address to BYU/College students everywhere.  So Dale asked me to write a blog giving advice to BYU students. Because, let's face it, you guys are totally lost and confused and you need it. And I am a big guru. I know because I went to BYU, didn't die, and graduated. So you all should be clamoring for my knowledge. Okay, so in all honesty, I don't know how I feel about giving advice to perfect strangers on the internet. Sometimes I read articles that are really heartwarming and helpful, but a lot of them seem to be general platitudes and cheerleader advice that make my inner cynic want to die a little. Not exactly my style. I could fake it, though. Aw, shucks, you go to BYU! Magical school of wonder! It will be the best and worst years of your life. Go for your dreams. Find yourself. Find your magical spouse of wonder. ...

Dear Reader,  I had a dream about Disneyland and the magic that is made there. It went something like this... “ Walking down Main Street USA at Disneyland, CA, is magical. On either side there are characters from beloved shows children grow up with. At the end of the street is the Disney Castle that is famous for firework shows and for being a symbol for Disney across the world. Most mornings the street is illuminated by sunshine, adding to the happy, magical atmosphere. There are several different aromas coming from shops on the street, each aroma adding to the excitement each guest feels as they walk down the street. “’Good afternoon! Welcome to Disneyland!’ There is a gorgeous red-head standing on the curb with a bright smile on her face and a large badge that reads Guest Relations. It is apparent that she loves coming to work every day. Her plaid vest appears freshly ironed and her curly hair is brought up in a pony that demonstrates a professional yet friendly d...

Dear Reader, High School Musical's "It's the Start of Something New" is the inspiration for today. I was looking at some blogs online and I wanted to make some changes. I would love to hear what you think! There are many blogs out there that are all unique. I've made some changes here and I hope you find it more appealing now. Finally, just because I love the song so much, here are Troy and Gabriella for your viewing pleasure. Yeah, the movies have some awkward moments, but enjoy the music and the connections that they make...or something like that.  As an update, I would also like to announce that this blog is coming up on 400 posts! In celebration, there is a contest to see what challenge I can complete having to do with the number 400. You can email me what challenge you think would be entertaining/beneficial to the community and it will be considered in the contest. The challenge will be documented and shared here. I look forward to hearing wh...

Dear Reader, Some of you may know about the girls I have kissed. I am not going to go through the stories of all of them, although some of them are awesome stories. No, today is to show how much fun it is to make a fool of yourself while running around at the Utah State Fairgrounds. My brother gave me the idea of wearing a kissing booth costume to a race called the "Hit and Run 5K." There were many awkward looks and I only received 2.5 kisses, the half coming from Curtis. Go team! Curtis wanted to get out early on the starting line.  The obstacles were relatively hard...especially when you are wearing either a penguin or Kissing booth costume.  With a zoom view, I look pretty epic in this picture.  I don't look so epic in this one.  Mom was very supportive. Curtis and I were having a blast.  It was a race well-run. We had a blast being fit as a family and being crazy individually. Yay for the Hit and Run 5K! ...

Dear Reader, Once every couple of weeks, I have the opportunity to translate for Spanish-speaking missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT. Normally, they are Sunday meetings that I translate, like a sacrament meeting or fireside. One of the other meetings they have is called the "New Missionary Purpose Meeting." I love this meeting because it is 2 hours of missionaries learning what it is like to feel the spirit and connect to people they are not used to talking to. Here's how it works. The meeting is split up into three different parts, during which the group of missionaries (usually about 60 elders and sisters) has the opportunity to meet a different person and teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During the first two parts of the meeting, there are two missionaries who start off the visit by knocking on the door and coming into the "house" that been set up. After a few minutes, a moderator excuses the other missionaries an...