Pilgrim Party Pooper

Turns out I have much more in common with these people than I thought. Pretty much I'm a modern day pilgrim.

I've never been a huge fan of T-giving. I don't hate it. I think it's fine. But it doesn't thrill me. Maybe you'll hate me for saying this, but I recently realized that the reason I don't care too much for it is that it's too gluttonous for me. I love the idea of setting aside a day every year (or more often would be even better) to focus on the things you're thankful for; a day to spend quality time with family. I love that aspect of it. But I struggle with the gross over indulgence. I mean, I don't think it's evil or horrible or anything. But it just doesn't appeal to me. Why can't we do something healthy or active while we're giving thanks? I know. It's because of tradition. And I think that's great. I'm crazy about traditions.

But this year I learnt something new about the p-grims. Turns out they had similar sentiments to mine. I was reading a history of the first t-giving with my students earlier this week. I learnt for the first time that the p-grims were actually very hesitant to indulge in the feast. It seemed to wasteful and gluttonous to those pious witholders! Those party animal indians had to talk those p-grims into that feast! Those p-grims thought their time and resources would be better spent working or worshipping, not shoving their faces full of turkeys and lobsters. But that did not mean that they weren't grateful. They were probably incredibly grateful. They just didn't know if that was the best way to celebrate it.

So this T-giving holiday I realized that as well as being a pioneer, I am also a p-grim. And the rest of you lazy, gluttonous sad sacks were more inspired by the green corn dance festival of the nateevs. But who am I to judge? I don't judge. I'm a pilgrim. We don't do that. We're too good and pure to do that.

The Gas By My Work

Is now down to $1.84!!! I love it! It feels like we're back in the 90s.

And speaking of the 90s, I woke up this morning at 6:00 am with the distinctly sad feeling that I won't be alive to see the next 90s, the 2090s. For some reason, my 6:00 am logic determined that the next 90s would be similar to the last 90s, and I was way bummed out that I wouldn't be alive to see the grunge movement of the new millennium. I know it makes no sense.

Thank You, Beyonce Knowles

All the single ladies
All the single ladies
All the single ladies
All the single ladies
All the single ladies
All the single ladies
All the single ladies

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
I’m doing my own little thing
Decided to dip but now you wanna trip
Cuz another brother noticed me
I’m up on him, he up on me
dont pay him any attention
cried my tears, for three good years
Ya can’t be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it


(Chorus)
I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
Got me tighter than my Dereon jeans
acting up, drink in my cup
I could care less what you think
I need no permission, did I mention
Dont pay him any attention
Cuz you had your turn
But now you gonna learn
What it really feels like to miss me

(Chorus)

Don’t treat me to the things of this world
I’m not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms
Say I’m the one you want
If you don’t, you’ll be alone
And like a ghost I’ll be gone

All the single ladies (7x)
Now put your hands up

And One More Thing...

I just wanted to share this:

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

That we get fancy cable!! And a dvr!!! So just let us know what you want recorded. And you can come watch tv shows with us. Don't expect to see me or Michelle outside of our house except dragging ourselves to work and rushing home in the afternoon, cuz we got SERIOUS TV now! Like we're real adults. So do you want to know what we're doing this weekend? We'll be wearing our sweatsuits and slippers and watching college football on the mtn and texting Lee and Nathaniel the whole time. Woot!

DUDES!!!

Gas at the Maverick station right by my work is only $2.07!! You should go there! And!! AND!!! You can get Abuelita hot cocoa from the machine and it's QUE RICO!!! Are you pinching yourself? I still am!

As It Turns Out...

I learned that I am very sensitive to the placebo effect. I learned this at a recent doctor's visit. He was asking me about my reaction to a medication I was taking, and I told him I could feel the effects immediately. As in, that very day. I never thought anything of it. I just knew what the medication claimed to do, and it helped with the condition. I didn't think it was weird that it took no time.

But when I talked to him the other day, he said, "Just so you know, that medication takes 2 weeks to start working". Can you believe? So the improvement was all my brain making the change it was expecting.

I'm sorry, but I don't feel disclosing personal medical information over the internet, so I'm not going into detail about it. Who knows who's reading this? Right?

But anyway, I actually think it's exciting. I love the idea that my brain has a lot of faith and it can fix things. I wouldn't mind if every medication I was on was just a placebo. But I guess maybe that wouldn't work if I knew about it? Why take some sketchy, possibly harmful, and expensive medication when our brains can do the work for us? I'm sure it doesn't always work. But placebo science is fascinating to me. I've heard that a lot of doctors have started giving placebos in situations where no treatment has proven successful for a patient. I think it's a fine idea. But it seems that if you are a patient and you've tried many different medications and none of them have worked for you, doesn't it seem like the placebo effect would be weaker for you? Like maybe your expectations for improvement are lower because you haven't witnessed positive results? I'm not totally sure how it works. Anyone know?

So Michelle and I decided

That we are the managers of our entrance of our apartment building. I tried to Allison that since Rick moved out, Michelle and I would be the new managers of our whole apartment building. But she wasn't having it. She did not think we have the authority to do so. And she may be right about that. Helen hasn't given us keys to all the apartments or anything. And also we're just girl, so we can't do a lot of stuff. And we don't know how to fix anything.

So I decided that we could be the new managers of our apartment entrance. So that's apartments 6,7, and 8. We all go in the same door. And Michelle and I have lived here longer than CK and Allison, so it only makes sense for us to be in charge.

So this is mostly just a heads up. If you need the upstairs girls for anything, it might be helpful to go through us first. We'll have their schedules posted on our wall. And just to let you know, since this is a big responsibility, I may be busy more often and it may be EVEN HARDER to get ahold of me. Didn't think that was possible, did you?

As part of Michelle and my new schedule, we'll be checking on those girls daily to make sure everything is running smoothly in their apartments and in their lives. And we consider ourselves lucky because most apartment managers only get to have a professional "hands off" relationship with the people in the building. But since we're friends with these girls, it can be more hands on. We're going to give out plenty of hugs where they're needed and give out relationship advice. And even on certain occasions, you might find us crying together with our tenants.

So maybe you feel jealous that you don't have this relationship with your apartment entrance manager. Maybe you should move into our building? Or at least learn from our example.

Git 'eem!! Git 'eem!!

If you were at the last BYU home football game, maybe you overheard me shouting this in the stands. But maybe it wasn't me. Maybe it was one of the other many women there who were also shouting this when we were cheering on our defense.

I'm going to share a tiny secret about myself. I'm way into sports right now (relatively speaking)! And it's not even to please a boy. I'm so stoked about the NBA season starting. And I finally agreed to let Michelle get fancy cable for our home so that we can have the Mtn to watch college football.

And last weekend when BYU was playing Colorado State, I was freaking out. But that was a really close and exciting game.

Kay, I just shared something really personal and embarrassing about myself. So please don't judge me. And please, let's keep this between us. I've always thought sports were silly and pointless. And honestly I still do in a way, but I can also see their value. And I think getting really into a sporting event is a great way to relieve stress somehow. Don't ask me how. And don't judge me.