Busy Nothings

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T01:14:00.003-05:00

It's my second favorite day of the year! (My first favorite is Halloween!) I love it because my mom loved it. I love it because I threw one of the best parties ever on Valentine's Day. And finally, I love it because it's about love! Romantic love, family love, friendly love. Just love. It reminds me of this scene in "Elf."

Happy Valentine's Day, world. I hope it's a good one for you. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: cool weather in Texas!

Wake Up and Play with Me!!!

2012-02-12T20:05:00.006-05:00

I was awakened this morning by my dad. He tapped me on the arm, and I think he said something about how cold it was. He loves cold weather and cold air conditioning and cold anything. He was chirping away about something else I can't remember, and I angrily thought, "I can't believe he woke me up! My alarm hasn't even gone off yet! Now I can't get back to sleep, and it's one of my only sleep-in days!"

This was a common occurrence in the Snow home. Every Saturday morning, my dad would make as much noise as possible to wake everyone up. He'd play oldies loudly in the kitchen, clean rooms adjacent to sleeping people, and vacuum in the hallway. I don't recall anyone ever liking it. We hated dad's Saturday morning routine, especially when we were teenagers and needed extra sleep.

I laughed to myself this morning, though, as I was getting ready for church. My dad is a "morning person," and when he gets up, he wants to play. He's like a three-year-old who wakes his parents up at 6:00 on a Saturday morning by opening their eyelids with his tiny fingers. Without words, he is saying, "Hey! Wake up! Come play with me!!!"

Ohhh, dad. I finally get it. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: blankets!

Ineffable

2012-02-12T02:38:00.005-05:00

I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now, but I can't seem to articulate them. Instead, here is a painting that expresses what I cannot. If my mood was painted onto canvas, this is what it would look like:

Whistler, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket

Thing I'm thankful for: a home away from home

Meet the Prophets and Apostles!

2012-02-10T11:26:00.003-05:00

I just love my church. I love it. Whoever is in charge of the website over there in Salt Lake City is doing a phenomenal job. Just look: You can now meet the prophets and apostles! You can read short biographies about all of them! I think it's fantastic.

Though all of the prophets and apostles are great, Latter-day Saints tend to have their favorites. During each session of General Conference, we all talk about which leader and talks we like the best. It's perhaps unfortunate, as they all speak truth and are special witnesses of Christ, but I guess it's natural to gravitate to some people over others. Here are my "favorites:"

It'll be interesting to see if they are still my very favorites after I read all the biographies. To know someone is to love them, after all, so I may have to add the other 11 to my list of favorites. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: prophets and apostles, of course!

Valentine's Day!

2012-02-01T20:18:00.002-05:00

So . . . It's February 1st, which means Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I found myself in Target yesterday after school (and really, I do just "find" myself in Target sometimes; it's so easy to walk around and kill a couple of hours in there . . .), and I was bombarded with red and pink everything. I loved it! I love Valentine's Day!

It's one of "those" holidays, though. You know the ones I'm talking about: New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day. The two holidays where single people are supposed to have so much fun! Where they're supposed to look incredible and have a fantastic party to attend or hot date planned. And somehow, it's seen as lame if you don't have those things. (I, for one, have only ever had a valentine once, and the day wasn't all it was cracked up to be. It was actually fairly lame because every couple in Atlanta seemed to be waiting on a table that night. And my date didn't even buy me a box of chocolates!*)

And yet, despite the odd phenomenon that is "those" holidays, I still really love them. I especially love Valentine's Day with it's bright colors and hearts and chocolate. I love love! And I love celebrating it!

I'm curious to see what other people think about Valentine's Day . . . Do you love it or hate it, readers? Why or why not?

*I have actually never gotten a box of chocolates from a date. I bet guys think it's a generic (and therefore unwelcome) gift for V-Day, but I have always, always wanted my very own large heart-shaped box of chocolates. I mean, really -- is there anything more glorious than a box of chocolates? I should say not.

Thing I'm thankful for: chats with friends I don't see very often

You Want Photos of Me Now???

2012-01-31T01:37:00.004-05:00

I woke up late this morning and didn't have time to take a shower. You know what that means . . . A boring, slicked-back ponytail with zero volume. AND a tired look on my face. AND nasal congestion. AND just a general lack of confidence.

Of course this is the day that I was asked to be photographed. :/

I was sitting on a colorful and winding bench in the biology building, working on my laptop, when a woman with an old-school (non-digital) SLR camera asked if she could take some pictures of me. She said I could just continue working, but that I would be the subject of her photos. I said it was fine, but really, I was cringing inside because I hadn't yet taken a shower.

It wasn't a big deal, but it did end up giving me a laugh. "Ohhh, Universe," I thought, "how could you be so tricky?"

Thing I'm thankful for: Christmas lights. They're still hanging up in my apartment, and I have no intention of taking them down.

A Day's Worth of Music

2012-01-29T03:17:00.006-05:00

Aldous Huxley is credited with saying, "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

It's true, is it not? Today, I went through a range of emotions -- exhaustion, happiness, guilt, frustration, anxiety, joy, more frustration, sadness, regret, and worry. (Many of those feelings were associated with organizing a church activity . . .) You name it, I probably felt it. Well, I wasn't ever angry. So that's good. :)

I didn't quite know what to do with myself most of the time, so I did what I often do when that happens: I listened to music. It really has a way of helping me cope with life. These are the songs that got me through the day:

I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You, Colin Hay
Exit Music (For a Film), Radiohead*
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Bach**

I mean, you can tell my emotions were all over the map today just by looking at that selection. Oy. :/

*Radiohead is coming to Austin this Spring. Tickets are sooo expensive, but I'm considering purchasing one, anyway, because Radiohead speaks to my soul. :)

**Bach is probably my favorite composer. I almost hate to say it because I love so many others, but c'mon -- you have to admit that he was pretty rockin' back in the 18th century. Check out Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Thing I'm thankful for: my roommate Desi. She helps me out a lot in high-stress situations. :)

Open Letter to UT Students

2012-01-26T18:04:00.002-05:00

Dear fellow Longhorns,

You know the revolving door at the entrance to the library? Yeah, it's pretty great because it's really big; each section is big enough for two people, probably! It feels a bit luxurious, doesn't it?

If you don't mind, though, I'd like to enter those luxurious quadrants on my own. Unless I know you, I don't want to share them, and even then, you better be fairly certain that we're emotionally close enough to be so physically close. One quadrant -- however large -- is, under most circumstances, only big enough for one occupant. Besides, I need more room when I have my backpack on, which is all the time. You probably have a backpack on, too, and two people and two backpacks is a lot of of stuff!

So if you see me walk into that contraption and there's still time for you to jump in, don't. Resist the urge. It's sort of awkward and uncomfortable, and the nicer thing to do would be to wait for the next available space and help me push the door forward. Then there'll be plenty of space, and both of us will be benefit from the combined effort.

Thanks so much,
Sara

Q&A with Yours Truly

2012-01-26T00:35:00.005-05:00

I don't usually answer direct questions about myself on my blog, but I'll do it for my friend Kynslie, who asked so nicely.

What's your dream job?
I have too many. So I will list them all: User experience designer, bakery owner, surgeon, cognitive psychologist, and dialect coach.
Where's your favorite place in the world?
Home
What do you think the definition of love really is?
- Love means never having to say you're sorry. HA! Just kidding. :)
- Love . . . Love is a many splendored thing . . . All you need is love. HA, again!
- No, but really, though. Love is a feeling deep in your soul; one day you're half, then you're whole . . . Hahaha. :)
Love makes me quote movies and songs. I don't have a definition for it, though.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ooh. This is a tough one . . . Ummm . . . A compilation CD I make? What? That's cheating? Okay. I'll go with a Motown CD I own. It's a compilation, but it was produced by a record label, so I think it counts.
What do you wish you were better at?
Going to bed at a reasonable hour
What's your favorite mode of transportation?
Flying. For two reasons: 1) I love the feeling in the pit of my stomach during takeoff, and 2) I feel like it's the only place where doing nothing is totally acceptable.
Finish this sentence: I hate when people . . .
. . . embarrass other people in public.
What's your bedtime? What time do you actually go to bed?
I don't have a bedtime, but I shoot for midnight. It usually ends up being more like 2:00, except lately, because (minus tonight), I've actually been getting more sleep.
What's your favorite way to get exercise?
Walking and talking with a friend
What book(s) are you reading/intending to read right now?
I'm not going to count schoolbooks. So here's my current list:
- The Three Musketeers
- Of Mice and Men
- Unbroken
What's your favorite "As seen on TV" product/commercial?
This was my favorite question on the whole list! I'm a sucker for infomercials. They are so mesmerizing! I've spent many a late night watching them, so I have a few favorites, but the Paint Mate Plus Roller is the best of all. It's a paint roller with paint in the handle, so you don't have to reload as often! The infomercial is mighty fun to watch, too; there's something so satisfying in watching a wall being painted from start to finish. It sort of reminds me of those old how-it's-made videos on "Reading Rainbow" or "Sesame Street." Like the one with the orange crayons.

Thing I'm thankful for: clean clothes

Holding Hands

2012-01-20T01:30:00.002-05:00

I realize what I'm about to write will give some people the wrong idea about me. They'll laugh and say I should probably keep things like this to myself, just in case I drive potential suitors far, far away. But this here blog is about me and my life and my thoughts. And for some reason, I like to share them. So here goes . . .

As I was finishing up my grocery shopping tonight, I saw a very blonde toddler slowly walking in the middle of the aisle just a little too far away from anybody who looked like a parent. I'd put him at about a year and a half. He was holding two bags of candy in his left hand. (I remember at least one of them was gummy worms.) I looked around for any indication of a parent or guardian, but no one seemed to be taking an interest in him. I caught his attention and said, "Do you know where your mommy is?" He just looked at me blankly. I pointed to a couple nearby and said, "Is that your mommy and daddy?" He didn't seem to understand, so I crouched down beside him and noticed that he had a runny, dirty nose. He hadn't been crying, but it was clear he had a cold. I told him I'd take him to the front of the store, so we could find his mom, and he basically stayed close to me. He seemed to be struggling with the candy a bit, so I held the bags for him and grabbed his hand. Ohhh, that little hand. It was dirty and chubby, but small.

It was magical. Something magical happens to me when I am with kids. I feel like my best self when I am with them. They love me, and I love them. What I wanted to do in that moment was pick the little guy up, but I wasn't sure he'd be okay with that. Perhaps I was too much of a stranger. But as we walked, I knew he wouldn't have minded. Still, I settled for hand-holding and led him to a security officer, who made his announcement on the PA system. I hoped it would take the mom several minutes to get to the front of the store because I wanted to keep holding the boy's hand. She appeared in less than a minute, though, carrying a baby in her arm.

And that was that. Nothing too grandiose. But I wanted to remember it.

I am not baby crazy. I want to find a husband and be married for a bit before I have kids. When I have kids, though, I will be one of the best moms you've ever seen. I'm not confident about many things, but I know that.

Thing I'm thankful for: my mom's phone calls.

Happy One Year to Me!

2012-01-18T23:37:00.004-05:00

Well, I've been in Austin for a year. I am happy to report that I'm glad I'm here. It took me a while to like this crazy place, but I do, in fact, like it now.

I was reading through my posts from January and February of last year, and boy, were they bleak. Just look at this one: In the Wee, Small Hours of the Morning, or Free Associations about Texas. In hindsight, I can see I wasn't happy, but I was trying to be -- at least, I was trying to sound positive. It's difficult to remember the pain now, but when I read those old posts, it's obvious I was sad. Sad and quiet and lonely.

In some ways, I would say this has been a long and difficult year, but then I ask myself, "Would I do it again?" The simple answer is yes. Yes, I would do it again, except I would've moved here a semester early. Why didn't I? Because I was scared of change, anxious to leave people behind, and worried I was making a wrong choice.

There really was only one wrong choice, though, and God let me know pretty clearly what that wrong choice was (going to the University of North Carolina, if you're wondering). Apart from that, He allowed me to do what I wanted. So here I am, in Texas, where the weather is too warm for this time of year, and I don't get to take advantage of my beloved winter clothes.

But as I said earlier, I like it here. I like it here for several little reasons and a few big ones. For now, I will keep the big reasons to myself, but you can read about the little ones in a similarly-themed post, Thing I'm Thankful for: Austin. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: Cuties. They really are delicious; they are a staple food item to me now.

Thoughts on MLK Day

2012-01-16T15:54:00.004-05:00

Until the 5th grade, I grew up in Oklahoma. My family lived in a university town, so there were probably more ethnic minorities than one might expect in the middle of nowhere, USA. I had lots of Southeast Asian friends, several Middle-Eastern friends, and a few black friends. We all talked and laughed and played together. I was aware that those friends and I were outwardly different, but it wasn't a big deal.

When my family moved to Georgia, racial segregation was immediately apparent. Even as a 10-year-old, I could tell the Southeast was essentially formed from only two ethnic groups: whites and blacks. And those groups did not mix. There were more blacks than I had ever seen in one place. I remember going to a large mall that first week and later learning it was a "black mall." During lunch at school, there was a distinct separation of white kids and black kids. I learned that -- like so many other "different" people in the South-- blacks were inherently not as good as other people.

When rap and hip-hop became mainstream, things changed a bit. White teens became friends with black teens in school, but they probably wouldn't have done anything together outside of school. There might have been one or two blacks who were welcomed into a white social group, but for whites, those one or two black friends were exceptions and for blacks, those one or two black friends were traitors. It was the same the other way around, too. The handful of white girls who hung out with blacks were seen by other whites as trashy.

In the 15 years since then, I things have changed a lot. I think there is less racism and segregation in the Southeast, but then again, I lived the last 7 or 8 years of that time in Atlanta. In rural areas of Georgia, I would still expect to see a fair amount of segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that people wouldn't judge each other by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. It was a good dream, but I don't think America is there quite yet. Still, I'm amazed that one man had such influence. That the changes that are still happening started in large part because of him. It makes me wonder about my life. What am I changing in the world? How am I making it a better place?

I don't typically have such thoughts on MLK Day. For me, it's a relief from school and work and responsibility. But for some reason, I found myself listening to King's speeches on the radio today, and I was . . . Well, I was humbled. What a time for him to be alive! What a time to incite change in a nation! I would love to sit down and have a chat with him, and I wonder what he is busy doing in heaven . . .

Thing I am thankful for: time

Book Review: A Christmas Carol

2012-01-11T00:33:00.005-05:00

I spent the last hour adjusting the brightness and size of my Christmas photos, intending to create an album in Picasa for you. After all was said and done, though, I realized I didn't have enough photos to tell a story. So instead, I'll be the last one to end the Christmas blogging season by writing a book review for you. That's right; for the first time in my life this year, I read A Christmas Carol.

President Monson reads it every Christmas, so I thought I better read it, too. I started it on my flight to Atlanta and ended it just yesterday. It's not a thick book (only about 115 pages), so it shouldn't have taken me so long, but I put it down the whole time I was with my family. Don't let that fool you, though. It is an entertaining and quick read. It made me laugh, and yes, it even made me cry. It's not entirely different from its movie adaptations, but there are some scenes in the book that are wholly overlooked in the movies. It's a shame, too, because those scenes are particularly wonderful. And the writing . . . Ohhhh, the writing! Just look at these sentences!

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. (10)
And now, without a word of warning from the Ghost, they stood upon a bleak and desert moor, where monstrous masses of rude stone were cast about, as though it were the burial-place of giants; and water spread itself wheresoever it listed; or would have done so, but for the frost that held it prisoner . . . (73)
The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. (87)
Strike, Shadow, strike! And see his good deeds springing from the wound, to sow the world with life immortal! (96-97)

On the back of my copy, the publisher printed the review that critic Francis Jeffrey wrote directly to Dickens: "Blessings on your kind heart. You should be happy yourself, for you may be sure you have done more good by this little publication, fostered more kindly feelings, and prompted more positive acts of beneficence, than can be traced to all the pulpits and confessionals in Christendom since Christmas, 1842." (Dickens first published the book in 1843.) There's more. William Thackeray called it, "a national benefit, and to every man or woman who reads it a personal kindness."

Just read it, okay? If not now, next Christmas. I promise it will be the best spent time of your year. Top 10, anyway. :)

*Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. Garden City, New York: Dolphin Books, Doubleday & Company.

Thing I'm thankful for: a warm and cozy bed.

Scrambled Eggs

2012-01-10T17:46:00.012-05:00

Until this week, I had never scrambled eggs.

Oh, sure -- I order eggs at breakfast restaurants and eat them when other people make them, but I don't like cooking with them. I don't like looking at the chalaza; it totally grosses me out. (Tell me those little suckers don't gross you out, too. I bet anything they do.) Unfortunately, I can't escape using eggs for baking, but at least I don't have to look at the chalaza long enough to make me gag.

I made some resolutions for 2012, though, which require me to eat better. For me, part of eating better is to include more protein in my diet. I don't get enough. I also don't get enough iron, or I get just the bare minimum. It's because I'm sort of a flexitarian (semi-vegetarian). In other words, with the wonderful exception of turkey, I have an easy time saying no to animal muscle. Cooking with it grosses me out. I don't like the feeling of raw meat between my fingers, and I don't like worrying about whether I cut all the tendons out. Yuck.

But. In an effort to be healthy, I am trying to consume eggs. Meat may be a slower process, but eggs? Eggs I can handle. I've scrambled eggs every day this week and only started to gag a little this morning. Not too bad, eh?

And this brings me to the real reason for this post: Got any tips on how to cook eggs? Scrambled or otherwise? I don't know if I'm doing it right.

Thing I'm thankful for: pepper

Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

Agh! There are so many posts I have swirling around in my head, but for now, I will only record one of them: my resolutions for the new year. I don't typically make them because I figure resolutions should be made every day, but for the first time, I truly see the value in New Year's resolutions. Maybe it's because I recently decided that this year was gonna be my year. It's gonna be the year I work the hardest to become the person I want to be. Sure, I'll have room for improvement for the rest of my life, but I don't want to look back on this year and think that I could've made better use of my time.

Anyway, here they are -- my resolutions for 2012:

Get more sleep. I'm shooting for 7 hours a night. It might not always happen, but I will try, try, try. I also am not giving myself a set bedtime. (I'm no fool; that never works.)
Exercise, exercise, exercise. I will walk/run, stretch and lift weights 5 times a week.
Eat healthy. I can eat about 2,000 calories a day, and I'm gonna make those calories count! No more skipping meals and eating so much junk, even if I am back in school.
Keep Sundays free. No more homework! Sunday will be my day of worship and rest.

Not bad, huh? Just four little things that I've already started doing. Feel free to ask me how I'm doing, and if I am going astray, make me feel bad for it. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: hugs

Usability

2012-01-03T02:23:00.003-05:00

Oh, so you wondered what usability was when I mentioned it in my last post? Here's an example of usability at work:

The Greatest Paper Map of the United States You'll Ever See

Thing I'm thankful for: Summo

New Year-ish Musings

2012-01-03T00:13:00.003-05:00

There was a time when I wanted to be a doctor—a surgeon, to be exact. I wanted to cut people open and fix their insides—not from any altruistic standpoint; I just wanted to figure out the inner workings of the human body for curiosity's sake, which was a far cry from most of my fellow biology pre-med classmates. When I asked why they wanted to become doctors, they said, "Because I want to help people" or "Because no one in my family graduated from college, and I want to do something really smart."

I fretted over what I would say in my med school interviews because I knew my answer was different from everyone else's. After several years of changing my major and deciding not to become a doctor, I finally have an answer for my reason for becoming one. Here is what I would have said:

"I want to be a doctor because I love anatomy and physiology, and I have an excellent understanding of both. I love to learn about cells, tissues, organs, and systems and how each system works together to function properly. I'm not afraid to cut into people and discover why their systems aren't working. I can stay awake longer than anyone I know, and I am fully functional on an average of 6 hours of sleep a night."

I think that last sentence alone would've gotten me in.

It's interesting how our lives change—how the decisions we make have far-reaching consequences. Why did I decide, for example, after 3 years of biology courses, to pursue English instead? Why did I choose Web editing versus print publishing? Why did I not take the first professional job offered to me after college? And why am I about to fly on a plane back to Texas to study usability?

I can't quite put my finger on the reasons for my decisions. Some of them are clear; some of them are not. What interests me is that in 8 years, I went from wanting to be a surgeon to wanting to be a user experience researcher/designer. I went from wanting to attend Columbia University to wanting to secure an internship at Google.

What decisions will I make in 2012, I wonder. What will my life look like this time next year? Part of me feels like it will be different. Different from all the other years in a big way. I don't know why . . . Perhaps I am wrong. I hope not. Feel free to stick around for another year to see what happens. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: playing Apples to Apples by the fire with two silly little girls

Maycocks!

2011-12-30T02:22:00.006-05:00

In my time in Atlanta, I was fortunate to become friends with three Maycocks, and tonight, I got to see them all in one place!

I met Emily first -- about 6 years ago. Emily is very tall and thin and beautiful. She is quiet, but not shy, and she is so, so smart. I miss her.

I met Walter next. The first time I met him, he had flopsy, curly hair, and all the girls in my YSA ward loved him for it. I didn't, though; I loved him for that navy and green shirt shown above.* (That's right; he wore it especially for me.) Like Emily, Walter is very tall and thin, but he looks just like his dad. He has perhaps the most interesting laugh I've ever heard. He is a slow-talker, but a fast thinker. I like Walter a lot.

*This picture is not the most flattering one of Walter, but it was the most flattering one of me. And since Walter nearly always looks good in pictures, I figured it was my turn.

I met Carrie when she came home from BYU for a summer. We didn't get to know each other very well, but then somehow we found each other through blogging. It's an online relationship I don't intend on ending any time soon. Carrie is shorter than Emily and Walter, but she is just as thin and attractive. She is so funny and caring, and from her blog, I can tell she is a very good mom. Her daughter has wonderfully chubby cheeks and bright eyes.

If I had to characterize the Maycocks in one sentence, I would say they remind me of Tolkien's elves. They are tall, smart, and beautiful, and everyone wants to be them.

Thing I'm thankful for: chocolate mint brownies and wassail

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T03:58:00.005-05:00

As at Thanksgiving, nearly every blogger who celebrates Christmas posts something about Christmas. I have done the same for the last 5 or 6 years. Well, this year I'm doing something just a bit different.

I was going to just slap a picture of my tree up. Then I thought about only posting the words "Merry Christmas." I considered attaching a breaking photo of my brother-in-law dressed in Santa pajamas. Instead, I'll share a picture of cooked Snow crab.

This is before:

This is after:

About every other year, my family eats Snow crab and steak fingers for Christmas Eve dinner. For the alternating years, we order Chinese take-out. I don't know why my mom started this tradition, but it stuck. And on the Snow crab/steak finger years -- boy, am I glad. Everyone likes the steak fingers, but I mostly look forward to the crab. Maybe it has something to do with working for my food and maybe it has something to do with my love of food from the sea. All I know is that I love a good crab dinner. In fact, tonight I was the last one at the dinner table, still working on those crab legs. I finally called it quits after I created that beautiful pile of empty crab legs you see above.

In about 4 hours, I will watch my nieces unwrap their pretty packages that now sit underneath the tree. Within an hour or two of that, the things that took so long to choose and buy and wrap will be strewn across the floor, and Christmas will almost be over. We'll still have most of the day, though, to enjoy each others' company and continue our family traditions, and that makes me happy. Traditions and family and food make up a large and wonderful part of Christmas, and I hope you and yours are able to enjoy those things as much as me this year. Merry Christmas. :)

And okay, okay. Here is the breaking photo of Clay in his Santa jammies:

Hahaha! Merry Christmas, indeed. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: Jesus Christ, his birth and his life

Oh, Atlanta Airport -- How I've Missed You!

2011-12-21T01:51:00.009-05:00

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the entire world. In 2010, it accommodated 89 million passengers and nearly one million flights. (The second busiest airport is Beijing Capital International Airport. In 2010, it accommodated a measly 74 million passengers.)

You would think this airport would be inefficient. You would think it takes forever to get through security or to get to the right terminal. You would think it would be confusing to find your ride at the curbside pickup. You would be wrong.

Not only is the Atlanta Airport efficient, it's welcoming, too. The photo collage shown above greets every passenger who visits Atlanta. It captures the images of children at play in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. I love it. I look forward to seeing it every time I land in my beloved "Jaw-juh." It's good to be home.

Thing I'm thankful for: Nikki! And Carrie! And Mike's bread!

The UT Tower

2011-12-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

The first time I heard the bells in the UT Tower strike the time, my mind flipped through the memories of my childhood to 301 South Orchard Street, the place I knew as home for most of my life, even after my family moved to Georgia. It was only a few blocks away from the Oklahoma State University campus, and every hour, on the hour, I could always count on the bells from the library clock to play their melody and mark the time.

I didn't even remember that that regular occurrence had such a place in my memory, but as soon as I heard the UT Tower bells my first day on campus, lots of other memories replayed themselves: feeding the ducks at Theta Pond, looking at the homecoming floats, walking up the many steps to my dad's old office, and tagging along with my brother and his friends when they played tennis on the campus courts. Of course there are non-campus memories, too, and they typically involved trips to Braum's Ice Cream and candy runs to Quick Trip.

Mostly, though, I remember always being surrounded by books and learning. My dad is a professor, so my family always lived in university towns. I had the advantage of growing up in places where people were, for the most part, fairly educated, and if not, they at least saw the benefit of education. I am thankful for that. I'd like to always live near a university, if at all possible.

I pass the UT Tower every day I walk to work. From my office desk, I can faintly hear the bells peal the time or the student carillonneurs practice new music. Each sound reminds me of every good memory from my childhood and the curiosity that motivated me to read and learn and wonder.

Thing I'm thankful for: Fricano's!

Thing I'm Thankful For: Austin

2011-12-16T01:17:00.003-05:00

Remember when I said I was thankful for being in Austin? And that I'd share the particulars with you later? Well, it's later, and my post about Texas is long overdue.

I'll start by saying that I almost didn't stay here. Most people probably know this by now, but as of August 2011, I was supposed to be in Indiana. After an incredible scholarship and job offer from Indiana University, I had decided to move. I was going to transfer my 9 measly UT credits to the School of Information at IU—Bloomington and start over. I had planned it all—from the apartment to the roommate to the departure date. All that was left to do was sell my large furniture, pack up, and move out.

But I couldn't do it.

I had finally made friends here in Austin. I made friends at church and friends at school. I started having fun and relaxing a bit. I went on dates. I didn't want to go through another painful 6 months of getting used to a place and overcoming my shyness.

So I prayed. I wanted Heavenly Father to tell me what to do, but he didn’t. And I knew he wouldn’t because it was my decision. I went to him in prayer and said something like, “I don’t really know what to do, but I want to stay in Texas, so I’m staying in Texas. Please just somehow make it easier for me to afford my program.”

Then, during the second week of school, a classmate told me about an open graduate research assistant position that would be perfect for me. I applied, had an interview, and got the job by the third week of the semester. It wasn’t until that week that I felt Heavenly Father’s ratifying seal—not that I had made the correct choice—because I think Indiana would have been a good choice, too. He ratified and sanctified my decision. He said, “Okay, Sara. I left you alone on this one. You used the brain I gave you to make a decision and move forward. Now, I approve and I’m going to help you out after this trial of your faith and bless you with a way to ease your stress a bit."

Sometimes I think about what I'm missing in Indiana—leaves changing color, snow, Midwest accents, and a world-class music scene. I think about how I traded cream and crimson for burnt orange—gross. But every day I think about the things I am starting to love in Texas:

Sunny weather
Kayaking
Ridiculously prideful Texans
Breakfast tacos
Nerds (Austin is filled with them.)
A large and active Institute
Lots of other Mormon graduate students
Being halfway to Utah

Despite the difficulty that is grad school and the extreme lack of sleep and constant insecurity that goes along with it, I'm glad I came to Texas, and I'm glad I stayed.

The Forgotten Carols

2011-12-06T16:16:00.004-05:00

Since I'm on the topic of Christmas music, I have something else to say. That is, I don't like The Forgotten Carols. I know that's probably shocking to a lot of Christians out there, but it's true.

It wasn't until last year that I even knew what they were. People at church gushed about them, and my friend Rob played them in his car seemingly nonstop. "Listen to Joseph's song," he'd say excitedly. He loved Joseph's song. I tried to get into it, and maybe I even said it was good. But . . . I lied. Or maybe I didn't lie because they are good songs to a lot of people, just not to me. I don't feel anything close to excitement when I listen to Michael McLean's ideas of what he thinks the innkeeper's, the shepherd's, or Joseph's carols are.

Perhaps it's the broadway-like style of the music that I don't like. That talk-sing stuff. I like the standard Christmas fare that everyone is born knowing the words to. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: Pandora Christmas stations at work!

Top Three Christmas Albums

2011-12-05T16:20:00.007-05:00

Yep. This is the best the world has to offer at Christmastime. Don't even try to disagree.

Bing Crosby, White Christmas
I'd like to meet someone who doesn't walk with a little pep in their step while they listen to Mele Kalikimaka . . .
Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas
It's wonderful in the foreground, but it's also nice as background music for a Christmas party. It also exactly captures that melancholy feeling I sometimes get during the holidays. You know, the one where you sort of wish you could be a kid again. No? Just me???
Nat King Cole, The Christmas Album
I am of the opinion that Nat King Cole had the best voice on the planet, and no one has had as good a voice since. It's so smooth and relaxing. To think, his parents thought he was making a mistake by singing professionally. (I'm glad they lost that argument!)

Thing I'm thankful for: Christmas music, of course!

"I'm a Mormon" Ad Campaign, Take 2

2011-12-05T12:22:00.004-05:00

The media division of the Church must've read my blog last month ("I'm a Mormon" Ad Campaign) because they sent me an e-mail about it. See?

That's only part of the e-mail. The rest of it was very personalized, so I know they heard me. ;)

Anyway, I thought it was such a timely e-mail. Providential, even. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: being in Austin, the particulars of which I will post about soon

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:00:00.005-05:00

Well, folks -- It's time for the obligatory Thanksgiving post. The one where bloggers worldwide post what they are grateful for . . .

So I'll add to all of it, and while my pumpkin pie is baking, I'll tell you what I'm most grateful for right this second:

Friends. Friends in Atlanta, and friends here in Texas.
Moving to Texas. What??? It's true. It was a necessary step in my life's progression. I wasn't growing enough in Georgia. :/
Tender mercies. Those moments are hard to explain, but they come in the form of finishing homework when I thought it couldn't be done, having a friend ask me if I was alright, and avoiding traffic tickets by thisclose.
Moving help. I've had a lot of it this year . . .

Then there's family. There's always family. I'm thankful for MommyDaddy, Cami, Summer, Brooks, Blake, and Lexi. And all of their spouses and kids. Love you guys.

Christmas Before Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T11:23:00.004-05:00

It's time for me to weigh in on an important matter. That is, should we listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving?

For a long time, I was of the opinion that we should not. My parents began playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving, when we put up the tree. From the fourth Friday in November until the day after New Year, Christmas music was played nonstop, but before and after that period, it was all but a sin to listen to it. That mentality carried over into my adult life. I got irritated when I heard radio stations playing Christmas music early, and I would practically cover my ears if I heard Christmas music being played in stores.

For some reason, it didn't quite bother me as much last Christmas. I, myself, didn't tune into to those "crazy" radio stations, but I didn't mind if other people did. I'm not sure what changed, but I let other people listen to what they wanted without whining about it.

And then, last week, I turned on the radio and a Vince Guaraldi song was playing. "Wait . . . Is this . . . 'Christmas is Coming' from A Charlie Brown Christmas???" It was. I was enjoying a Christmas song without even realizing it. I loved it. I even finished out the song while I sat in my car in front of my apartment, and in that moment, I was a changed girl.

Here's the thing: What's so wrong with welcoming the Christmas spirit early? Why do people think that Thanksgiving doesn't get its fair share, if we celebrate Christmas before we eat turkey and ham? Aren't Thanksgiving and Christmas sort of one in the same, anyway? Gosh, the world would be a better place, if we had the Christmas spirit all year -- so what's one or two more weeks?

Using music to get into a Christmas mood is even more important to me now. With 70- and 80-degree Texas weather, it's easy to forget that the holidays are approaching. A little festive music goes a long way to reminding me that a break is just around the corner. That life is going to be a little brighter for a bit.

Thing I'm thankful for: friends

"I'm a Mormon" Ad Campaign

2011-11-18T18:07:00.004-05:00

The New York Times published the following article yesterday:
Mormons' Ad Campaign May Play Out in the '12 Campaign Trail

From the article:

Brandon Burton, president and general manager of Bonneville Communications, an advertising agency owned by the church, said that the church’s previous, long-running media campaign promoted the church’s doctrine, providing a toll-free number to call for a free Bible or Book of Mormon. However, this new campaign introduces doctrine only if a viewer seeks out the Web site mormon.org.
“What we found was that in order for people to have a desire to understand doctrinally what the church stands for, it was necessary for us to overcome the stigmas that existed,” said Mr. Burton in an interview. The biggest stigma, said those involved in the campaign, is the belief that Mormons are not Christians.

I feel somewhat guilty saying this, but I have some concerns about these new ads. When they first began a year ago, I was pretty excited. I loved them. Gosh, I write about being a Mormon on my blog more times than I can count! But something about the way Mormons are represented lately bothers me. And it's this: Mormons are all about being "cool" these days. They want to show the world that they are "just like everyone else."

Stephen B. Allen, managing director of the church's missionary department, is in charge of the ad campaign, and the Times quotes him as saying, "We're not secretive, and we're not scared of what people think of us."

I only partly believe him. I think he is right in saying that Mormons are not secretive. If they don't share a particular belief with someone who is not a Mormon, I'd say it's largely because they don't quite know how to answer a question with the proper context, tone, and clarity. That's an issue for anyone who tries to explain their faith to a non-believer.

I do think, however, that Mormons are generally scared -- well, anxious -- about what people think of them. To me, this campaign is trying to sell the idea that Mormons are cool. They do cool things in cool clothes and have cool jobs. That may be true. A lot of Mormons around the world do lots of interesting things, but a lot of them -- and I'd wager to say "most" of them -- do average things. And it's sometimes extremely difficult for people to live the standards of the church or understand the doctrine and principles, which are peculiar.

I, for one, like to embrace that peculiarity. I like the old Mormon ads that promoted the church's doctrine. Those were straightforward and cute. (Take this one, for example: Daddy, will you read me a story?)

On the other hand, I really like the new ads. They are visually great, and I love hearing people talk about themselves. I suppose my conflict with them is closely tied to the many articles I've read over the last few months. All this "Mormon mania" stuff is really interesting to me . . . It feels like Mormons are trying too hard to be like everyone else. Maybe it's not a bad thing. (Maybe in writing this post, I've just convinced myself that it's not.) But I'm just wondering . . .

What do you think, readers?
By all means, leave a comment!

Thing I'm thankful for: perfect weather. :)

I've Got Good Veins

2011-11-14T03:07:00.004-05:00

I've been told twice this year that I have good veins. As in blood vessels.

Yes, two nurses stopped me in conversation this year and told me they were jealous of my veins. One said they were beautiful, and both wanted to give me an IV. Pretty interesting, no? I thought about posting a photo, so you could all admire the glory that is the network of greenish-blue tubes in my hands and wrists. When I took the picture, though, it just looked weird, and I decided that hand veins should not be seen separately. If you want to check out my veins, you'll have to see them in person. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: a new couch! And a swivel armchair!

We Are Too Connected!

2011-11-10T18:25:00.004-05:00

Seen on Slate.com today . . .

It's simultaneously funny and frightening. :/

Thing I'm thankful for: playing outside as a kid

Ice Cream at the End of the Tunnel

2011-11-09T00:59:00.001-05:00

See that picture? That's a happy Sara.

That picture was taken during the summer, when I got regular sleep. More importantly, however, that picture was taken while I was at my favorite burger and ice cream place ever: Braum's. The chocolate shakes are made with REAL chocolate ice cream! And you can see for yourself the banana splits are heavenly. Minus about 5 bites, I ate the whole thing!

When this semester is over in a month, I am driving to the nearest Braum's, which is about two hours away, and I'm gonna devour another banana split. I'll probably get a chocolate shake to go. It will be amazing.

(If anyone wants to go with me, let me know!)

Thing I'm thankful for: endings

I'm Sara, and I'm a Mormon

2011-11-07T00:33:00.002-05:00

See? You can read my profile on Mormon.org: Hi, I'm Sara.
Pretty neat, huh?

You might not be able to tell, but I spent a lot of time on that. It's not easy to describe what you believe and why in just a few paragraphs. Still, I think I did a decent job of it. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: Sundays

Love is a Choice

2011-11-01T00:43:00.005-04:00

This post may seem an odd one after Halloween, but a friend just e-mailed me a link to an article about love that I thought was too interesting not to remark on.

In the article (When the Words Don't Fit), the author states that "love chooses us." I think that's crazy. What does that even mean? Love chooses us. Ha!

We choose love! Or put in a different way, we choose to love. Love is a choice. It's not magic, and it's not some intangible, indescribable thing that just floats around in the clouds and plops on two random people at a time. It's not like Cupid, shooting arrows. I have enough love in my life to know that to love is something we consciously and conscientiously do. It involves getting to know someone, sharing special moments with that person, and doing acts of service. Love isn't "a fancy or a feeling," as Hartley Coleridge rightly observed. It's an action.

I'm so tired of people pretending like it's magic, as if it makes romantic relationships more romantic.

The one benefit about this false concept of love, is that I can immediately tell whether I will truly get along with someone. That is, if someone starts to act like love is some sparkly, pink, ethereal thing, then I know we will never really understand each other. It's an easy way to filter the so-so friends and dates from the wonderful, kindred-spirit types. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: my roommate's bobby-pinning skills. I needed hair help!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-31T13:01:00.002-04:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Halloween is my favorite holiday!

Thing I'm thankful for: class that doesn't start until noon!

Amadeus!

2011-10-31T03:08:00.004-04:00

I'm baking pumpkin pies right now. Well, the oven is baking my pumpkin pies right now. While I wait, I listen to the soundtrack for Amadeus, which is quite possibly one of the best movies in the whole wide world. The soundtrack is even better!

The whole thing was recorded exclusively for the film by London's Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and they play every Mozart piece excellently.

What I love, love, love more than anything about this soundtrack, though, is the music selection. Everyone knows Mozart was brilliant, but I don't think everyone really knows why. We learn about him in grade school -- that he began composing music as a child and that his body of work includes over 600 pieces. Everyone knows that despite his great influence on classical music, he was buried in a common grave, and his funeral was not well attended. But does everyone know his music?

If you don't, get this soundtrack immediately. Neville Marriner picked the best works for the score. It is a wonderful introduction to Mozart. It makes me feel creative, invigorated, intellectual, and . . . well, frankly -- it makes me feel closer to God. There. I said it. That's what great art does for me.

Just listen to it, already.

Thing I'm thankful for: Chocolate Silk

Hey, Way to Go, Nicole Richie!

2011-10-28T17:30:00.003-04:00

Apparently, she posted this on Facebook:
"Girls, can we all pledge that we will not dress slutty for this Halloween?"

I think that's pretty cool.

Her Halloween costume this year? Toy Story's Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl -- and not a sexy one. Just a modest, family-friendly character. See for yourself: Nicole Richie as Jessie.

Thing I'm thankful for: good, clean Halloween costumes

Happy Birthday to ME!

2011-10-28T16:09:00.006-04:00

I had a birthday this week. My old housemates threw me a party a few days before; everyone mingled and ate dessert -- two of my favorite things. We had pie and mini-cheesecakes and chocolate truffles and chocolate oatmeal square thingies and flan and more pie. I probably had my entire caloric intake for the week in one night. Oh, well . . .

My friend Tony got me a pink cupcake holder (in the shape of a cupcake) in a pink polka-dotted bag. He also gave my pink Kitchenaid bowl back, so . . . since I happened to be wearing pink that day, we took a picture of all of it. All of the pink! Pink shirt, pink shoes, pink bag. Everything pink!

It was a happy day. People were so nice -- giving me flowers, a gift card to Cold Stone, balloons and streamers, cupcakes, lunch, dinner, a mix CD, and a guitar-shaped spatula. :) It was really nice. Ten months ago -- even six months ago -- I only had about three friends in Austin, and they were more like acquaintances. Now, I have lots of friends, and they are so good to me.

One other thing that made this birthday great was all the calls, texts, and Facebook wall posts of people wishing me a happy birthday. I know the best people. :)

All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Thing I'm thankful for: time

April in October

2011-10-25T11:38:00.005-04:00

My friend April came to visit this week, and I loved every second of it. We went to a mid-singles conference, where we chewed the fat, cruised around Lake Austin, roller skated, and played air hockey. We also laughed a lot and ate a lot of food. What could be better?

April is from Valdosta, Georgia, a mid-size town about 4 hours south of Atlanta. She has a genuine genteel Southern drawl, and everyone loved hearing her speak. She is the kind of friend who is easy to be around; it's not really work at all to maintain a good connection with her. I love those kind of friends. I had as much fun with her as soon as I picked her up from the airport as I did the last time I saw her.

Here's something funny, though: All of my friends said I sounded Southern this weekend. I guess I was mimicking April's South Georgia accent or something . . . Or maybe I actually did pick up somewhat of a Southern accent in my 18 years of living there. I thought I was so successful at maintaining a nondescript Oklahoma accent . . . Hm.

Thing I'm thankful for: April!

What Happened to Me?

2011-10-20T17:47:00.003-04:00

Today was the second day this week that I ate a cheeseburger and fries for lunch! I have eaten probably 5 hamburgers this year and have ordered french fries maaaybe 5 times in the last couple of years. And yet . . . Twice this week, all I wanted was a juicy cheeseburger with tomatoes and pickles and salty, soggy fries.

I felt a little gross to be eating so poorly, but sitting in the sunshine on the steps of the Jester Center and munching on fatty foods made me happy.

What is wrong with me???

Thing I'm thankful for: my roommate, for letting me cry and giving me quarters for laundry

Hell is Freezing Over

2011-10-18T12:48:00.002-04:00

When I left my apartment this morning, I actually felt chilly. There was a slight breeze in the air, and I immediately thought, "Gosh, I better grab a cardigan!"

Do you know what the temperature was? A balmy 65 degrees.

Yep -- I have acclimated to Texas weather. Anything under 70 degrees feels cool to me. It's a shame. And terribly embarrassing.

Thing I'm thankful for: yesterday

Cult or No Cult? Whatever.

2011-10-11T03:08:00.002-04:00

I don't really understand what all the hullabaloo is about. People have been calling The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult for years; what's the big deal? I suppose it could be the fact that politics are involved this time. Votes are involved this time.

Still, I don't understand the fuss. People who think Mormons belong to a cult will probably still think that, despite attempts to correct the misconception. They were never going to support Mitt Romney as a presidential candidate, anyway. People who don't know what to think will ask questions. Perhaps it'll sway their support; perhaps it won't. It all smooths itself out in the end.

The plus side of this cult/no cult thing is that non-Mormons may just ask me questions about my church, and that is fun for me. I like talking about my faith. I get a kick from talking about it -- a real kick. I grew up in The Deep South after all; I've had lots of practice.

Thing I'm thankful for: non-cherry-flavored cough drops. Hallelujah!

Call Me a Feminist

2011-10-08T22:44:00.004-04:00

Today I helped sort through the ashes of two houses that were destroyed in the Texas Wildfires this summer. We separated metal and cement from the ashes. My understanding is that both materials could be recycled, and the leftover ashes and glass could be taken to landfills.

I spent the morning sorting metal and cement from ashes. When I first got there, I mainly stuck to the detailed work of finding pieces of metal. There was a lot of bending, squatting, ashes blowing in my eyes -- that kind of thing. After a while, I was tired and bored of doing that, so I did what any normal person would do and changed things up a bit. I began to pick up the cement blocks. I found that the small, crumbled blocks were difficult to carry in my arms, so I decided to go for the big blocks. As soon as I picked a heavy one up, a guy friend said, "Oh, let me get that for you." I think I shook my head no, and he responded with something like, "Or are you gonna be stubborn and do it yourself? Okay -- be stubborn." Other people watched me carry my large loads and said things like, "Ohhhh, look at Sara showing off!" Or "Whoa! Watch out!" Once, one of the men took a block from me when I was about four feet from where it needed to be set down.

In the moment, I laughed and shrugged, but after a while of those kind of comments, I wanted to roll my eyes and give the offending parties a lesson in equality. Why is it that because I don't want help lifting a heavy object, I am stubborn? And why isn't a girl supposed to lift a heavy object, anyway? Part of the reason I like volunteering is because often, it involves manual labor. At least half the volunteer projects I've helped with in the past have been about sheer manpower -- projects that just needed more people in order to get the job done. When a volunteer activity has the word "cleanup" in it -- as in "Texas Wildfire Cleanup" -- I immediately recognize that all these people need help with is manual labor. They need able bodies to lift and move things.

I happen to have an able body. I am healthy and strong, and I can perform physical labor for people who need help. And I like it. I like using my muscles as much as men do sometimes, and when I sign up for something I know will involve me using my muscles, I don't mind using them. Also, I doubt all the men there would've wanted to sort through metal for the entirety of the project. Neither did I! I was bored, so I wanted to break things up and see what my body was capable of. I wanted to strengthen my arms a bit and burn some calories.

I don't understand why it was such a big deal for me to move a heavy object. There are things I could never move on my own, and I wouldn't hesitate asking someone -- male or female -- for help. There are things I know men are often better at, and I don't mind admitting it. But when a women is truly equal to a man for a particular job, then I will gladly take on the job!

I was just a bit stupefied this morning at obvious displays of sexism. It made me really feel for the suffragettes of the early 20th Century. What an awful road they walked. I am grateful for them and hope I live my life in ways that would make them proud.

Thing I'm thankful for: chicken noodle soup

A Bird Crapped on My Hair

2011-10-08T02:02:00.005-04:00

:/

My sister said it's good luck.

She may be onto something. I googled "bird poop good luck," and one of the results directed me to this:

When Bird Droppings Land On Your Head
Many people believe this to be a major sign of wealth coming from heaven. Hence, although, it is really yucky and a major inconvenience, when something like this happens to you, take comfort in the fact that this is described as good luck being just around the corner! In fact, most things associated with birds tend to spell good fortune, such as when birds fly to your home and start making nests in and around your house. While bats bring abundance, birds bring good news and opportunities. The next time a flock of ravens, pigeons or magpies come to your home, feed them with bird seeds. Birds are also said to be powerful protectors and guardians. Even crows are said to be messengers of the Gods. So welcome birds with open arms. (http://www.wofs.com/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=37&task=view&id=540)

Thing I'm thankful for: windy Texas nights

Why Men Are In Trouble

2011-10-06T00:56:00.002-04:00

I think I post at least one controversial message about men per year. Isn't that about right? ;)
Here's one I won't comment on; I'll just point out that it is written by a man. Take what you like from the article and then leave a comment on this here blog. I'm interested to see what you all think!

Why Men Are In Trouble

Thing I'm thankful for: salads with strawberries and poppyseed dressing!

Who's the Favorite Now?

2011-10-04T17:31:00.004-04:00

The cover story for this month's issue of TIME is "Playing Favorites," an article adapted from the book The Sibling Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveals About Us. The author, Jeffrey Kluger, writes about the inevitable act of parents favoring one child over another. It is also inevitable, he says, that parents will deny they have a favorite, but they do have one, and siblings know it. Usually favored are the oldest children, simply because parents have invested the most resources into them. The more attractive and stronger children usually get parents' attention, too. And what of gender? Kluger explains that mothers favor first-born sons and fathers favor youngest daughters.

The article got me thinking about my own family and my parents' favorites. I think we would all agree that my mother favored my oldest brother Brooks. My sisters and I even turned it into a joke by putting our hands in the shape of halos over our heads whenever mom mentioned something he said. My dad, on the other hand, favored my two older sisters. Things changed somewhat when my second-oldest sister developed juvenile diabetes. When that happened, she was the clear favorite. But why?

"Favoring the most vulnerable child is a counterintuitive choice, at least in survival terms," Kluger says. However, in evolutionary terms, spreading care around "in the hope of maximizing the raw number of offspring that survive" is at play, too. "This can mean not just remembering to treat the weakest of your offspring equally but favoring them, since they're the ones that need the help."

For my diabetic sister, that meant the most hugs and concerned and loving looks from my dad.

Lucky for me, it's also the reason I am now the clear favorite of both my parents. :) Here's why: I am the only single child left. Everyone else has someone to love them. Everyone else has clearly succeeded, and my parents don't have to worry about them anymore. I, however, am all alone in a big city. To my parents, I am vulnerable, and as such, they shower their compassion -- and favoritism -- on me. It's a good spot to be in. ;)

Thing I'm thankful for: allergies instead of colds

My Love Languages

2011-09-23T00:29:00.005-04:00

Just in case you were wondering how I express love and how I like to receive love, I'll let you know my love languages.

Words of Affirmation and Quality Time were neck-and-neck.

Words of Affirmation
Actions don't always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, "I love you," are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Quality Time
In Quality Time, nothing says "I love you" like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes you feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed activities, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

I scored lowest on Physical Touch, Acts of Service, and Receiving Gifts. That seems about right. Although, I do think I'm good with physical touch, if I'm in a romantic relationship. I just have to know that it's meaningful -- that someone isn't being physically flirtatious with me just for fun.

You can take the Love Languages Assessment, too!

Thing I'm thankful for: sticky rice with mango

How to Have a Good Conversation

2011-09-22T00:59:00.006-04:00

I have a confession: I think 99% of people are awful at making good conversation, and I am in the 1% of people who absolutely rocks at it.

I'll tell you why, too, and maybe (hopefully) you'll pick up some pointers because I'm really tired of talking to people who are bad at talking. Plus, the world is an incredibly fascinating place, when you know how to have good conversations!

There are three things that have improved my conversational skills over the years:

My parents excellently modeled the behavior. My mom knows how to talk, and my dad knows how to listen. I can remember waiting so long to go home after church because my mom was yakking it up with people. She can talk to anyone at anytime about nearly everything. She is never afraid to speak up and never afraid to ask questions.

My dad, on the other hand, is fairly quiet. He doesn't waste words in the slightest. What he does do, though, is ask good questions and intently listens to the answers.
I learned that people are beautiful. In my church, we sing a song called I Am A Child of God. In my early twenties, I realized the incredible implications of that doctrine. I began to fully appreciate that everyone in the world is, in fact, a divine being with amazing talents and skills and interesting things to say. Not only do they have unique abilities and perspectives, they want to share them. They want to be heard. Everyone wants someone to pay attention to them. No one wants to be ignored or laughed at.
I am curious. I want to know as much as possible about the world. I am not a computer scientist, but I want to know how computers work. I don't want to be a teacher, but I'm interested in learning about how people teach. I want to know things like how bioluminescence works, how to make Ringer's solution, and when to use who and whom in a sentence.

I'm not just curious about things, though; I'm curious about people. I want to know why people make the decisions they do, and I want to know what people are passionate about. I don't want to study geology as a career, but I want to know why someone else does. I may not like the same music or art as someone, but I want to know why they do.

Life is better when people have smart, friendly, and meaningful conversations. I feel happy after a good conversation. I am a better person for learning something about someone else, and I am more fulfilled when people ask questions about me and actually listen to my responses.

I'm tired of people not being interested in what other people have to say, and I'm tired of people having extended conversations about TV shows instead of what they've been reading lately. C'mon, people! Talk! Use your words! Ask questions! Share an interesting thought with someone!

Thing I'm thankful for: wireless Internet at my new apartment! Yaaay!

My Favorite Punctuation

2011-09-20T13:14:00.010-04:00

Recently, someone made a comment on my Facebook wall that got me thinking about my favorite punctuation. It's just such a difficult decision -- picking a favorite punctuation. How can a parent pick a favorite child? Punctuation marks are all so dear to me, and I use them all on a regular basis!

If I chose my favorite punctuation based on usage, I'd have to go with either the ellipsis or the em dash. Question marks, however, are so pretty. And yet, who doesn't love a good semi-colon? In my mind, semi-colons are the least understood and most underused punctuation marks in the English language.

So what'll it be? Mmmm . . . I'm gonna go with . . . the ellipsis. It's just three little dots that can say so much or so little, depending on context. Perhaps it is the most overused punctuation mark in the English language, but I don't care. It creates suspense, casts doubt, captures disinterest or nonchalance, and signifies omission. I love it.

What's your favorite punctuation?

Thing I'm thankful for: bananas and chocolate milk

Ponytail Envy

2011-09-19T17:46:00.005-04:00

I have limp hair. The only time it has any volume at all is right after I blow-dry it. It stays that way for maybe an hour, maaaybe two -- but that's pushing it. By midday, it's extremely flat. Flat and boring.

Because we all want what we can't have, I end up noticing girls' hair volume. I'm partial to ponytails, so I particularly notice girls with voluminous and bouncy ones. I can even list the girls I've known who had great ponytails. There are two girls who stick out in my memory as having the best ponytails. Incidentally, they are both engineers, and they both went to GA Tech. They are Lina and Jessica.

This afternoon, as I was waiting for my smoothie to be made at Jamba Juice, I noticed that the girl scooping the frozen fruit had a great ponytail. A great one. I found myself wishing my hair was bouncier. Or even bouncy at all. In the words of Scarlett O'Hara, I was "pea-green" with envy.

Here's an example of a great ponytail:

If you want another example, watch Clueless. There are only two scenes when Alicia Silverstone has her hair in a ponytail, so you have to pay attention. :)

What are you envious of, readers?

Thing I'm thankful for: second chances and "do overs"

Shortcut to Bonding: My Top Cities

2011-09-09T15:58:00.004-04:00

If you could live anywhere in the United States, what would be your top spots?

Okay, okay -- That wasn't actually one of the questions that helps people feel closer to one another (according to Arthur Aron of SUNY -- Stony Brook), but I recently took an online quiz about it and thought I'd share.

So without further ado, here are my top cities, as determined by Find Your Spot:

Seattle, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Denver, Colorado
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Knoxville, Tennessee
Cincinnati, Ohio

The subsequent results pages were filled with cities in Washington, Alaska, and Utah.

As you can see, I'm mostly a West/Pacific Northwest kind of girl. I'm happy with those results, and I know someday I'll make it out there to live and not just to visit.

The funny thing about my top city is that a long time ago, a friend told me I seemed like I was from Seattle. I asked him what that meant, and he said, "Well, you're smart. And you put effort into your appearance, but not too much. And you're pretty chill." I think that was about it, actually. So I guess smart, decent-looking, relaxed girls are typically from Seattle? I'll take it! :)

Now YOU take the quiz! And leave a comment about what cities are yours!

Thing I'm thankful for: parents and siblings who taught me normal social skills. Is there anything more important, really?

Shortcut to Bonding: Overcoming Shyness

2011-09-08T00:30:00.003-04:00

What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

Of all the things I've ever done, overcoming shyness has been the greatest accomplishment. By far. I used to blush so much! Classmates in middle school would say hello to me, and my face would get bright red. I did whatever I could to avoid being even close to the center of attention. In fact, the less I had to be around people, the better.

At some point in grade school, I realized I needed to change, but it really wasn't until years and years later that I was finally able to overcome it.* When I moved to a new state, some of the shyness came back, but it's quickly going away again. It's funny, though -- it took me about 8 months for me to really get out of my shell here in Texas, but it took me almost a decade to really be me before.

I have friends who think I am an extrovert now, which still baffles me because I still identify with the quiet, blushing adolescent girl I used to be. Inside I feel quiet and reserved, but I guess I did a fairly good job fooling people for all these years. :)

Anyway, I feel pretty good about my accomplishment. I've made so many friends because of it. So many wonderful friends!

*Would you like to know what helped me begin my transformation? Read this Busy Nothings oldie-but-goodie: If You Can't Think of Anything to Say, Give Compliments!

Thing I'm thankful for: fresh strawberries

Shortcut to Bonding: Speedreading

2011-09-02T14:25:00.002-04:00

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Well, isn't this the question? At the moment, these are the qualities and abilities I'm debating on using as my answer:

Speedreading (or is it photoreading?)
Programming (in all computer languages)
Extreme focus and tenacity
Confidence

They are all such good qualities and abilities . . . Ultimately, though, I'm gonna go with speedreading, and I want it to be up to par with the likes of Will Hunting, as seen in this clip (0:7-0:20).

Oh, man -- just think of the time I'd save if I could speedread . . . The mind reels.

Thing I'm thankful for: Trident gum. It helps me say no to candy. :)

Shortcut to Bonding: Talking on the Phone

2011-09-01T03:24:00.003-04:00

Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

It should come as no surprise that I try to rehearse what I will say in conversation as much as possible. Why leave everything to chance? If I don't have solid topics of conversation in mind, I run a serious risk of saying something completely ridiculous. (Then again, I usually do that, anyway.)

The more interesting question for me here, though, is about whether I walk in circles when I'm on the phone. And the answer would be a yes. Yes, I do. If I'm talking to someone I know well, I sit back and relax and talk for hours, if necessary. But if I'm calling someone new or fairly new, I walk around the room I'm in, and I repeat that walking path over and over and over again. My favorite place to walk is in the living room, around a coffee table. It just never gets old.

Oh! And one more thing! I cannot easily multi-task when I'm on the phone. It's just phone or no-phone in my book.

Thing I'm thankful for: big words

Shortcut to Bonding: Fame

2011-08-31T03:47:00.004-04:00

In one of my recent posts, A Good Way to Bond with People, I referenced an article I read about how to quickly bond with strangers. In short, it involves people asking each other questions and sharing answers. The psychologist behind the study came up with 36 questions that make people feel closer to one another.

Well, I'm going to share the questions and my answers with you one by one. I will write a post for each question. I won't use all the questions -- just the ones that seem interesting to me. So don't worry; it probably won't take all month. I don't want to get too personal on this here blog. :)

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

At first, I thought, "Agh! I would hate to be famous!" But then I thought about how I want to change people's lives by writing an amazing collection of short stories. Or how I want to spread cheer throughout the world with my sugar cookies. Do I want people to pay attention to my clothing choice? No. Do I want to appear on a late-night talk show? No. But do I want people to wonder what I think and to ask me questions about how I became a successful novelist/baker? Yes.

So I guess I do want to be somewhat famous. Not to be noticed, but to have some sort of effect for good on people's lives. And I don't ever want worldwide fame -- just regional fame. Or city fame. Or neighborhood fame. Yeah, neighborhood fame sounds about right.

Thing I'm thankful for: whole grains!

A Great Day!

2011-08-30T03:28:00.004-04:00

Today was a great day! I loved nearly every minute of it!
Here's what I did:

Found cheap parking, a tough feat at UT.
Had a sammich from Jimmy John's that was loaded with avocado spread and sprouts. Yum!
Went to my usability class and reconnected with a friend from last semester.
Bought my first burnt-orange t-shirt. (More on that later . . .)
Drove a manual. (Thanks, Noah!) (More on that later, too . . .)
Listened to a good home evening lesson, in which my friend Tony talked about Blue's Clues in depth. If ever there was a good "secular" segue into a home evening lesson, that was it.
Removed wax from carpet, which is actually so much fun for me. I love to clean!
Finally found some whole bran cereal to bake bran muffins with tomorrow!
Ditched my healthy eating long enough to eat five dark-chocolate-covered almonds.

All in all, it was a good day. I wish it didn't have to end. Almost.

Thing I'm thankful for: that Kosher Kroger in Atlanta. I miss it.

Busy Nothings: Best of 2010

2011-08-23T01:16:00.003-04:00

I realize I'm almost nine months late on this post, but I truly do believe that late is better than never. Besides, who would I be if I wasn't late?

Without further ado, here are my most popular blog posts* from 2010, with just a few of my favorites thrown in.

Ranting but Not Raving
My Siblings, or I Can't Believe I Know These People!
You May All Go to Hell, and I Will Go to Texas!
When We're Helping, We're Happy
I am Iron Man
"That's so Sara Snow!"
Accountability
Enoch's Tears and God's Rainbow
Weekend of Firsts
Good-bye, MommyDaddy and Good-bye, House
Open Letter to Alexandre Dumas
Smile!
Careful, I May Be Editing Your Writing!
Last Meal
Amen to that!
The Stars at Night Are Big and Bright!
Pet Peeve No. 1
Earrings!
Call Me Google
Never Have I Ever . . .
Going for the Gold
Let's Talk about Figure Skating

*I determined popularity by number of comments. For a post to be popular, it had to garner at least five comments.

Thing I'm thankful for: easy bread recipes

I Can't Wait to See That!

2011-08-19T14:16:00.008-04:00

I used to love movies. I still do, I guess, but I'm not loving them as much as I used to. For about every one movie that is good, there are 20 that are downright bad. It's such a shame.

Fortunately, I can regularly check iTunes Movie Trailers and sort out most of the time-wasters. I suppose I miss some good movies that way and even end up watching some ridiculous movies because their trailers are so well-produced. Still, I think it's a decent way to get an idea of what's what.

Anyway, thanks to iTunes Movie Trailers, I've found three movies I can't wait to see in the next year. Mark them on your calendars and watch them with me!

Thing I'm thankful for: good bosses

I Can Never Live Alone

2011-08-19T03:13:00.003-04:00

As I was getting ready for work today, I realized all my belts were in storage. (My stuff is in storage while I temporarily live with some girlfriends.) I was wearing tan slacks with a white blouse, and the outfit really needed a belt to look finished. So I did the only thing there was to do: I asked my roommate Carrie if she had a belt I could borrow.

The only thing she had that matched the ensemble, was a bright pink belt. Typically, I wouldn't wear such a bright color. I don't ever like drawing attention to myself, especially my body. But Carrie assured me that it looked good.

It was a hit! Throughout the day, people paid me compliment after compliment. And that's when I realized it: I could never live alone.

After my last apartment lease ended, I considered living alone. I thought about how nice it would be with so much time and space to myself. How much room there'd be in the kitchen for all of my baking supplies.

But no -- after today, I know I need another set of eyes to give me the okay on my clothes and shoes and jewelry. (On Sunday, all of my roommates helped me with my whole outfit.) All I can say is, my husband better be ready to answer questions about clothes and give advice about what looks good. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: clean, fluffy pillows!

A Reason I'm Single?

2011-08-16T04:02:00.002-04:00

Today I was told that I would make a great wife. That it was unbelievable I'm not married yet. After discussing this a bit, the guy who paid me the compliment said that perhaps the reason I'm not married is not because I'm doing anything wrong, but because I'm doing everything right. "Guys are intimidated by you," he said.

Maybe. Maybe not. But if that is the case, what am I supposed to do with that information? Be . . . lesser than I am?

The person who told me this meant it in a complimentary way, and I was flattered. It was such a nice thing to say, but also, a bit frustrating. I'm left wondering if it's true . . .

What do you think, readers? Do guys get intimidated to the point of not asking a girl out? Is that really a factor at play in dating?

Thing I'm thankful for: fresh, ripe peaches!

Movie Review: The Tree of Life

2011-08-12T11:28:00.005-04:00

You've probably heard that The Tree of Life was a cinematographic masterpiece. That the imagery alone was worth seeing. One review I read said something about how every single frame of the film could be turned into a photograph. And it's true. It was beautifully shot. I think part of that is because the bulk of the movie is set in the 1950s, and to me, aesthetics seemed cleaner in the 50s, with minimalist furniture and brightly-colored, layer-less clothing. Consequently, we get to see lovely 50s dresses and buzz-cuts in The Tree of Life -- think glamorous versions of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet or The Donna Reed Show.

As an added bonus for me, the movie was filmed in various Texas towns, including Austin. The filmmakers captured the best parts of the city: the Congress Bridge bats, the Capitol, Barton Springs. If you want to see what central Texas looks like, watch this movie!

Again, the movie was a visual treat; it was not, however, a movie for someone who wants a clear and meaningful story. In the beginning, I thought I knew where the producers were taking me. Although the narrative was nonlinear, I had a fairly strong sense of what was going on. It was the story of a 1950s Texas family and a son who questioned God. The relationships between husband and wife and parents and children was a type of God and Christ and God and His children. In a larger way, it was a story about the opposing themes of justice and mercy. Sure, they were complex topics for one movie, but until the end, they held up pretty well. About two-thirds into it, though, the story fell apart. The writers and producers lost their focus along the way, or perhaps they tried to explore too many religious themes.

I wouldn't have minded the breakdown in the story so much, except that at the point when the story started to collapse, the filmmakers started to get pretentious. Religious themes became more overt than necessary, and the questioning son even had some lines that tried too hard to be "deep." I also wonder if the filmmakers thought, "Hey, this thing is turning out really well . . . We're making an incredible visual movie, and the plot is lofty enough to match. We're gooood." They got cocky and thought the last big scenes would just wrap themselves up, and audiences wouldn't mind flimsy narrative ends.

But we did. Well, I did. And I know for a fact that my friends who watched it with me did. Perhaps I'm trying to impose meaning on something that doesn't have one . . . That might change everything. Still, the bottom line is that I'd watch the first half of this movie again, but I will never finish it, nor will I buy it.

Thing I'm thankful for: seeing faculty bring their babies to campus

A Good Way to Bond with People

2011-08-11T04:43:00.005-04:00

I was perusing one of my favorite blogs today, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, and I came across this post:

Is there a shortcut to bonding with a romantic partner on a deeper level?

Here's the short answer: Yes! Ask each other meaningful questions!

What a novel idea, huh? Ask each other meaningful questions and respond with meaningful answers. I mean, who'dathunkit? Having a good conversation with another human creates a strong connection with that person???

:/

Thing I'm thankful for: that my parents taught me to be curious about others

The Best of Disney

2011-08-04T17:13:00.008-04:00

"What's your favorite Disney movie?"

That's a familiar question, right? Everyone asks it, and everyone has an answer. For years, I said mine was Sleeping Beauty, but I knew that wasn't exactly right. I really only loved it for three reasons: the main song, the baking/sewing scene, and the art direction. But I love the intro to 101 Dalmatians and the "We are Siamese" song in Lady and the Tramp. I also love the diamond mines in Snow White, the folksy Roger Miller soundtrack to Robin Hood, and the library in Beauty and the Beast.

If I had to say one, I would go with Tangled, but that's only a recent discovery. So I'm going to show some respect to the oldies-but-goodies, and post videos of some of my favorite scenes. I'll list the movie, the scene, and the minute mark in the video where you need to start watching.

Sleeping Beauty -- fairies baking and sewing
101 Dalmatians -- comparing people to their dogs; start at the 3:00 mark
Lady and the Tramp -- We are Siamese
Ratatouille -- Ego eats the ratatouille; 0:00-0:57*
Snow White -- Heigh-Ho, Whistle While You Work, the pie scene
Sword in the Stone -- cleaning the dishes with magic, packing with magic
Cinderella -- sewing the dress; 1:40 (especially 2:43)**
Robin Hood -- Sir Hiss; 0:20-0:45
Aladdin -- Losing to a rug

I know I'm forgetting some scenes, but that means you'll just have to comment and remind me!

*I know it's not really an "oldie" at this point, but it was too good to exclude.
**Incidentally, most of my favorite scenes involve cleaning and organizing and baking. Go figure. Every time I see the end of the nightingale song in Cinderella, I cringe. That floor is a mess! (dirty floor; 1:30)

Thing I'm thankful for: public storage!

Leaving Clean Trails

2011-07-31T04:28:00.005-04:00

All around Austin, people are sleeping. They have been asleep for hours.

As usual, I have not. I have been cleaning my apartment. I am moving out, and everything's gone. The thing to do -- the last thing you do whenever you leave a place -- is to clean it. My mom taught me to leave a place cleaner than when you found it. I know that's a phrase a lot of people use, and perhaps it's because lots of moms teach it. In my case, it was definitely true. In fact, when my mom was helping me clean this afternoon, she said, "Do you want me to clean the oven?" Seriously? Who cleans ovens when they leave an apartment?

So I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned today. When the vacuum broke, I did what any Snow woman would do, and I fixed it so I could keep cleaning. I dusted my windowsill; I spackled the holes in the walls; and I swept the fireplace.

It's a nice principle -- to leave clean things behind. But it's exhausting. I'm tired, and I think I'm getting sick. I can't quit thinking, though, about the things I haven't gotten to yet, such as sanding and painting the spackle; doing a final vacuum all over so the carpet vacuum pattern is the same in every room; calling management to request minor repairs; cleaning the refrigerator; dusting all the floorboards . . . There's just not enough time. Thank goodness; if it weren't for time limitations, I think my obsessive cleaning would take over my life. :/

(Incidentally, why does packing and moving always seem to happen at night? Is it just my family who does it that way? Or do you? I really want answers to this question, so leave comments!)

Thing I'm thankful for: Outback salmon and broccoli

What I Want in a Husband, Part 2

2011-07-26T02:41:00.006-04:00

Recently, I was thinking about my expectations for marriage. I remembered that a couple of years ago, I made a list of qualities and characteristics I wanted my husband to have. Until tonight, I hadn't looked at that list since writing it. Well, I discovered something interesting. I discovered that it's a pretty darn good list.

As a single person, I hear a lot about making lists. Some people tell me I shouldn't make a list or that it shouldn't be long, and some people say everyone should keep a list in mind. I subscribe to the latter idea. I think that not only is it good to develop a good marriage "resume," it's good to have a list of expectations for your future spouse. In order to make the list, it's essential to be honest and to know yourself well enough to know what you need and want.

As I said before, I think I came up with a pretty darn good list.* It's long, but why shouldn't I have a long list of expectations? Marriage is work; love is work. If I'm going to love someone forever, I want to make sure that I want to . . . well, love him forever. I draw the line at list items such as "Has blonde hair and brown eyes," or "Is an English lit. professor from England." But maybe that's really important to someone. Maybe it should be more important to me. I don't know.

What I do know is that lists are good. Occasionally, I will try to lower my expectations or throw the list out altogether. That never does me any good, and in fact, I can honestly say that I wasted about a year of my life trying to make a relationship work with someone who didn't stack up to my list.

People make lists all the time. We make them for grocery shopping, for to-dos, for career goals, for life goals. Why shouldn't we make them for our future spouses? And if my own expectations of how I ought to be are the same as what I expect from my husband, how is that bad? I don't think it is at all. (And look, I found someone on the Internets who agrees with me: Expectations Before Marriage Affect Marriage.)

At any rate, I just wanted to check in with my blog about how my expectations have changed over the past couple of years. I'm happy to say they're pretty much the same. Do you want to know what they were? See What I Want In a Husband.

*Reading it, you may think I'm describing myself (with the exception of no. 10). And why shouldn't I? I believe that commonalities are the best indicators of a successful marriage.

Thing I'm thankful for: The Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedges

Etlanna

2011-07-25T13:32:00.008-04:00

In Texas, people call Atlanta "Atlanta." With two very enunciated T's. Sometimes they call it "Hotlanna." When people say "Hotlanna," you know they are not from Georgia. In Georgia, Atlanta is pronounced "Etlanna." Only the first T is sounded.

Here's a good rule of thumb for non-Georgians: Always speak in the laziest way possible. For example, you might think you are supposed to pronounce Ponce de Leon Avenue with a Spanish accent. "PON-say day Lay-OWN." That would be incorrect. You should just say "Ponce." That is, "Pawnce." Here are some other examples of laziness:

Buchanan = "BUH-cannon"
Monroe = "Mun-ROW"
You all = "y'all" = "Yahl"
Interesting = "IN-tresting"
Fifth = "Fith"
Lions (as in "Central Lions") = "Lines," with a drawn-out I. "Laihnes."

Listen to an Atlanta accent, just for fun. (Rural Georgia is even crazier.)

Thing I'm thankful for: mom's crazy late-night text messages

Things I Didn't Know I Missed

2011-07-13T12:30:00.000-04:00

When you move, there are people and things you know you miss. They are the things you are conscious of. Then there are things you didn't realize you missed. Here are the things about Georgia I didn't know I missed until I went for a visit last week:

Black people
Eastern Standard Time
Trees! Oh, the trees!
Georgia 400
Living in a house, not an apartment
Coldstone Creamery
The prettiest road in Carrollton

I wish I had pictures to capture all of these things! Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead for almost my entire trip. Next time . . .

Thing I'm thankful for: my sister Summer

I Want to be This Person

2011-07-10T20:07:00.004-04:00

I don't typically want to be other people . . . This person happens to be phenomenal, though. He seems that way online, at least . . .

His name is Nathan Yau, and he studies statistics at UCLA, with a focus in data visualization. (He already has degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.) His website is FlowingData, and it's got tons of great visualizations that are both his and other people's. I only just discovered the site, but I already have some favorites:

And here's some data visualization that'll knock your socks off. It was created by some guys over at The New York Times: Mapping the Nation's Well-Being.

Thing I'm thankful for: breakfast tacos

A Mother's Advice

2011-07-06T15:01:00.003-04:00

When I was debating on whether I should go boating today, my concerns were based on errands I needed to run and work I needed to do. I was going over some of them with my mom, and she asked me something about whether there would be guys going, too. After I responded in the affirmative, the conversation took a downward turn:

"Have they seen you in your swimsuit yet?"
"Yes . . ."
"Good! Then you don't have to go boating. Come to San Antonio instead."

That's my mom for you -- always trying to get me to objectify myself and use my body to get what I want. Thanks for looking out for me, mom. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: Phil's Icehouse burgers and sweet potato fries! (But not the shakes!)

I am an INFJ. What are you?

2011-07-06T03:08:00.002-04:00

I took my first Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator when I was a junior in high school. I couldn't remember what the results were then, so I took it again about two weeks ago. According to the test-makers, I am an INFJ. I'll tell you what that means in a minute, but first, I'm going to share a Wikipedia excerpt with you:

The original developers of the personality inventory were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They began creating the indicator during World War II, believing that a knowledge of personality preferences would help women who were entering the industrial workforce for the first time to identify the sort of war-time jobs where they would be "most comfortable and effective."

Isn't that fascinating?

Now, onto me. :)

Here is a description of INFJs:

INFJs are conscientious and value-driven. They seek meaning in relationships, ideas, and events, with an eye toward better understanding themselves and others. Using their intuitive skills, they develop a clear and confident vision, which they then set out to execute, aiming to better the lives of others. Like their INTJ counterparts, INFJs regard problems as opportunities to design and implement creative solutions.

INFJs are quiet, private individuals who prefer to exercise their influence behind the scenes. Although very independent, INFJs are intensely interested in the well-being of others. INFJs prefer one-on-one relationships to large groups. Sensitive and complex, they are adept at understanding complicated issues and driven to resolve differences in a cooperative and creative manner.

INFJs have a rich, vivid inner life, which they may be reluctant to share with those around them. Nevertheless, they are congenial in their interactions, and perceptive of the emotions of others. Generally well-liked by their peers, they may often be considered close friends and confidants by most other types. However, they are guarded in expressing their own feelings, especially to new people, and so tend to establish close relationships slowly. INFJs tend to be easily hurt, though they may not reveal this except to their closest companions. INFJs may "silently withdraw as a way of setting limits," rather than expressing their wounded feelings—a behavior that may leave others confused and upset.
INFJs tend to be sensitive, quiet leaders with a great depth of personality. They are intricately and deeply woven, mysterious, and highly complex, sometimes puzzling even to themselves. They have an orderly view toward the world, but are internally arranged in a complex way that only they can understand. Abstract in communicating, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. With a natural affinity for art, INFJs tend to be creative and easily inspired. Yet they may also do well in the sciences, aided by their intuition.

Do you want to know what you are? Take the test!
(Well, it's actually not the official test; that one costs money. This one is free.)

Thing I'm thankful for: chocolate milk before I go to bed

Born Into Brothels

2011-06-29T02:07:00.002-04:00

When I began working for Habitat for Humanity, the world became a different place. I have never stepped foot outside the United States, but through the photos and videos on Habitat's website, I was able to see what the world looks like in the slums of Eastern Europe and Asia, poor villages of Guatemala, and devastation in Haiti. Stories of families without homes and drinkable water touched my soul, and reminded me to kneel in prayer and give thanks for the life I have.

It's easy to forget those images, when you don't see them every day. Tonight I was reminded again, when I watched Born into Brothels, a documentary about a group of nine children who grow up in Sonagachi, the largest red-light district in Kolkata, India. The idea for the documentary began with Zana Briski, a photographer who initially traveled to Sonagachi to work on a project about the women in the district. She ended up focusing on the children, though, teaching them photography. The connection she made with the children through art inspired her to help them get into good schools, and she didn't stop there. She organized a nonprofit organization called Kids with Cameras, and by exhibiting and selling the children's photographs, she is able to fund their education.

There is one child in the documentary who is a phenomenal artist. He is so good, in fact, that he was nominated to attend a weeklong photography conference in Holland. He describes one of his photos as sad and full of pain, but "We have to look," he says, "because it is truth." That's how I felt about this documentary. It's rated R for language, and some parts were so sad that I cried. But it is a documentary about things that need to change in the world and the amazing results that can be achieved when we try.

This documentary has increased my desire to help others. I wish I could do more, but I will feel a little better if I get you to watch it. Watch it.

Thing I'm thankful for: everything

Men and Eyeliner

2011-06-27T04:47:00.004-04:00

Generally speaking, men shouldn't wear eyeliner.* There are only three men in the world who can pull it off:

1. Johnny Depp

2. David Bowie

3. Ewan McGregor

*It was time for a silly post. The list itself, however, is not silly.

Thing I'm thankful for: appropriate levels of physical affection

Two Books

2011-06-10T11:28:00.011-04:00

Growing up, I didn't have many friends. Mostly I played with my sister Lexia, but when my family moved to Georgia, she basically abandoned me for cheerleading and parties. She'll get mad at me when she reads that, but it's true. It's also okay because thankfully, I loved to read. Throughout middle school and most of high school, reading was what I did on the weekends. My mom would often take me to a local book shop called A Likely Story (Isn't that clever?), and she would let me pick out one or two books. (Looking back, she really should've taken me to the public library instead. Buying books is expensive!) I'd read the books that weekend and eagerly anticipate the next weekend with it's accompanying set of books.

Perhaps that's why I have really enjoyed reading young adult fiction lately; it reminds me of my pre-adolescent years, when I read books in one long sitting. That's exactly what I did with Matched and The Hunger Games. I started both books in the evening and read through the night. I felt like such a kid. I thought my mom would burst into my room at any moment and tell me to "Turn the light off, and go to bed!"

But that's what those young adult books do -- they suck you in!

Having read both Matched and the first book in The Hunger Games series, I can tell you that both were good books, but I liked Matched much better. Part of that is probably because I read it first, but in general, I thought Matched was a smarter book. The stories are basically the same: teenage girl grows up in a dystopian society and begins to question her society's government. (Also, she has to choose between two love interests.)

I was pleasantly surprised with the world that author Ally Condie created in Matched. She gave us reasons why the world is so repressed and controlled -- as technology flourished, general knowledge diminished. People were living longer, but living less. Think Gattaca, here. (Actually, that's a fairly good comparison.) What I loved most about the book was that at the heart of it was a Dylan Thomas poem, Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night. Just think -- in a world of 140-character tweets, abbreviated text messages, and high-speed grammar, Condie introduces a piece of literary history into her young adult novel. I thought it was brilliant. Also, Condie raises some interesting questions about agency in this story, which I loved.

In The Hunger Games, on the other hand, Suzanne Collins only tells us that there was a war a long time ago, and it resulted in one controlling Capitol and its surrounding districts. We really don't get much information beyond that. And I can't quite buy the kids-killing-kids plot in this book the way I can in The Lord of the Flies, for example. I do like the chapters about survival, though; they remind me of Hatchet, a young adult book I can really get behind. Still, I was a bit disappointed when I finished the book. Perhaps the second and third books of the trilogy will resolve some of my questions about how this society became so oppressed.

Bottom line: If you read only one dystopian novel this year, let it be Matched.

Thing I'm thankful for: work

Best Library Card

2011-06-09T16:58:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I finally got an Austin Public Library card. I've had so much time to read this summer, and I love it! I had some other errands to run, so I told myself I'd only stay at the library long enough to get the card. In true Sara fashion, however, I underestimated the amount of time I would spend at the library. I stayed for about an hour and went over and over in my mind which book I would check out first. I finally made a decision and went along my way. The thing I keep thinking about, though, is the beauty of the APL card. Truly, have you ever seen such a pretty card for a library? It's wonderful!

Thing I'm thankful for: free blues concerts at Zilker Park!

Loving Texas

2011-05-30T03:34:00.003-04:00

Only three months ago, I never imagined myself saying something like, "I like Texas." In fact, I nearly hated it. I was lonely and depressed, and I resented people who would brightly smile as they asked, "Don't you just LOVE Austin?!?" What I wanted to say in response was, "No. No, I don't love it, and I want to move as soon as possible."

It was around Spring Break that I finally let myself quit fretting over school and have some fun. I went to SXSW, saw The Strokes play in concert, and made a couple of good friends. Since then, I've kayaked along Lake Travis, watched the Congress Bridge bats, and toured the Texas State Capitol. I'm beginning to see why people like this state so much: There is a ton of fun stuff to see and do! And the more I embrace die-hard Texans, the more I love their idealized perspective of Texas state history. :)

I don't even mind the heat so much anymore. Besides, the windy nights make up for the sweltering days . . .

I guess I'm learning that it takes me about four months to get settled into a new home and about five months to start to like it. The timing couldn't be better, either, because just last week, I had to finally register my car in this state and give up my Georgia tags for Texas ones. It was sort of a sad little moment, but I'm confident I can handle the change better now than I could have when I first moved here. By the end of June, I suspect I will say I love Texas, and it will be a sad day when I have to leave. :/

Thing I'm thankful for: laughing with my parents

Alaska

2011-05-27T23:42:00.003-04:00

Okay, so even though I said I'm happily single right now, I still sometimes daydream about a future wedding. I am a girl, after all. I only daydream about three things, though:

My dress
The dessert table
The honeymoon destination

Other than those three things, I have no expectations. :)

For the last few years, I thought Banff would be the best place to go as a newlywed. One of my friends went there with her husband, and when I saw the pictures she posted on Facebook, I made up my mind that it was the place for me.

Lately, though, Alaska has been on my mind. Because you can take a cruise there, you can go to Denali National Park, and you can watch the Northern Lights, which is perfect because I want to get married in the Spring or Fall. :) I want to kayak around glaciers, walk on snow, and hike in cold weather . . .

Maybe I should start weeding guys out that way. I'll just say, "Hey, would you be interested in going to Alaska on your honeymoon?" If the answer is no, I'll know there is no future for us. :)

Thing I'm thankful for: halfway-melted Dove milk chocolate bars

Free Associations with Van Halen

2011-05-25T14:35:00.005-04:00

Today as I was driving home from running some errands, Hot For Teacher came on the radio, and I laughed to myself as I listened to some of the lyrics.* My favorite parts were the things David Lee Roth shouted during Eddie Van Halen's solos:

I brought my pencil!
Give me something to write on, Man!
Whoa!

And then I thought of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and how much I liked that movie . . .

The 80s in general are just so funny to me. Culturally, lots of fun things happened during that decade, but I don't know if anything was very lasting. Fashion was all about extremes: bright, baggy clothing or shiny spandex. Movies were about underdogs and rags-to-riches and aliens. It just seemed like a "fun" decade and not much more. But maybe it's just because I was a kid in the 80's . . . Can you think of any lasting impacts from 80s pop culture?

*Don't get me wrong; I do like some Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen's solos are impressive. Go ahead; click on that link and listen to one.

Thing I'm thankful for: air conditioning!

Spicy Food

2011-05-23T17:17:00.004-04:00

When did spicy food become the "in" thing?

Today I met up with a friend for lunch at Chuy's, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin and apparently Texas at large. (It's pronounced "CHEW-ease," in case you're wondering.) I saw that the special of the day, chicken enchiladas, were packed with green chiles. Consequently, I assumed the dish would be spicy, though I didn't know just how spicy. So I asked the waiter about it. He said, "Oh, are you a wimp?" I don't know how I answered, but when he brought some sauce for me to try, I decided to have a go of it. It wasn't too bad. So I ordered the plate. But as I was eating it, though, I couldn't really enjoy the subtler flavors because of all the hot spiciness!

Anyway, it left me wondering about spicy food. Why is it so posh to like spicy food, and when did it become such? Why is it considered wimpy to not like it? It's not just the waiter, either; I have friends who think I'm unadventurous because I don't like extremely spicy food. And it seems that food is either "spicy" or "not spicy." But there are all kinds of spices; I just happen to dislike the hot ones! I don't think that makes anyone better than me. :/

Thing I'm thankful for: water

A Funny Web Comic

2011-05-23T01:37:00.002-04:00

This is from XKCD, and it's called "Boyfriend."

Thing I'm thankful for: Lady Bird Lake, which I'll tell you about later.

Duck Beach

2011-05-20T14:03:00.004-04:00

Since I've been writing about dating and marriage, I thought it was a fun coincidence that I stumbled upon some information about Duck Beach yesterday. Duck Beach is a place on the North Carolina coast, where hundreds of LDS singles gather every Spring. I've never been, but I've had friends who have gone. They drive to Duck Beach, rent a big house, and hang out with singles from all along the East Coast. It sounds like fun, but it's also not my kinda thing.

Anyway, a few people in New York are making a documentary about it; they're following four LDS singles and interviewing them about their experiences during their week of Duck Beach fun. It should be fairly entertaining.

Check it out:
Duck Beach documentary

Thing I'm thankful for: sleep!

Me and Marriage

2011-05-19T00:41:00.005-04:00

You didn't think I was done at Men and Marriage, did you?

When I'm writing a blog post, I write for an audience. Normally, I don't know who that audience is because they hardly ever comment. So I continue writing and wondering if anyone ever reads this thing . . . This week, I got a pretty good idea of who is reading. I guess I need to write sassy posts more often. :) In truth, I was planning on posting something about me and marriage, anyway; I just didn't know when. This seems to be as good a time as any, I guess.

I'll start by saying that I don't hate men, and I wasn't thinking of any of my past romantic relationships when I wrote that last post. I wouldn't say I'm bitter about being single -- sad, maybe, but not bitter. I'm actually feeling the best I've ever felt about being unmarried. For the first time in a long time, I understand what a blessing it can be to live life alone. Of course I'd rather have someone to talk to at the end of the day -- someone who's just for me and isn't going anywhere. But I'm okay with being single right now.

As an almost 30-year-old, single woman, let me tell you some of the questions I have asked myself in my 20s. "What's wrong with me?" "What am I doing wrong that's keeping me from getting married?" "What am I not doing that's keeping me from getting married?" "Am I pretty enough?" "Am I flirting enough?" "Am I talkative and outgoing enough?" "Am I not assertive enough?" "Am I too independent and assertive?" "Am I focusing too much on myself?" "Am I in the right city?" "Am I open enough to dating lots of different guys?" "Am I too open to dating lots of different guys?"

That's only a small list of questions. Maybe guys ask themselves those kinds of questions, too; I have no idea. But those are the things that most women have wondered. The good thing about those questions, is that if I'm honest with myself, I will find out what I need to work on to become a better member of society, period. The problem, though, was that I thought I needed to be perfect in order to get married. That somehow, it was all my fault that I was still single.

So what's the solution? Blame men. HA! Just kidding. :) (Though I do think that's part of it and I won't get into it again because I already did that this week.)

My point with this post, I guess, is to tell you that I know single women have things to work on. I know I have things to work on. But that's not why I'm not married. And I suppose that's what all the good men would say in response to Men and Marriage. But let me tell you, Flannery O'Connor was right about good men being hard to find.

So this is my current approach to dating: Be interesting, be approachable, and be concerned with other people first. After that, it doesn't really matter what happens. Sister Thompson (who is single) of the General Relief Society Presidency said, "Well, I guess I've learned over the years that you just go on with life. You try to be happy and make yourself useful. Serve!"

I think that's a good way for anyone to live, but I think it's an especially good way for single women to live.

* To listen to the entire interview with Sister Thompson, see Conversations, Episode 29.

Thing I'm thankful for: San Antonio!

Men and Marriage

2011-05-17T02:40:00.004-04:00

During the priesthood session of General Conference, President Monson addressed the men of the LDS Church and spoke to them of marriage. Here are just a few excerpts, to give you a taste of what he said:

Now, I have thought a lot lately about you young men who are of an age to marry but who have not yet felt to do so. I see lovely young ladies who desire to be married and to raise families, and yet their opportunities are limited because so many young men are postponing marriage.

Said President Harold B. Lee, “We are not doing our duty as holders of the priesthood when we go beyond the marriageable age and withhold ourselves from an honorable marriage to these lovely women."

President Gordon B. Hinckley said this: “My heart reaches out to … our single sisters, who long for marriage and cannot seem to find it. … I have far less sympathy for the young men, who under the customs of our society, have the prerogative to take the initiative in these matters but in so many cases fail to do so.”

Brethren, there is a point at which it’s time to think seriously about marriage and to seek a companion with whom you want to spend eternity. If you choose wisely and if you are committed to the success of your marriage, there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness.

President Monson was not the only prophet to bring up marriage. Elder Scott mentioned it as well, and there was one more, but I can't remember who. Suffice it to say, marriage was a hot topic of this Spring's General Conference.*

But why, you ask, am I bringing this up?

There are two reasons. One of them has to do with the responses I've heard from guys my age. The Salt Lake Tribune recently solicited feedback from young men on the talk,** and most of the statements were just excuses as to why it's hard to date now, and the reasons why men are delaying marriage. I've heard them all before -- men want to be financially secure, they want to make sure they pick the right girl, they're scared of making a mistake, etc. Something I hear a lot goes a bit like this, "I've tried dating, but I always get rejected. I've been hurt before." This is what I want to say in return, "Yeah, yeah, yeah -- so has everyone else. Everyone has failed relationships until they don't. You are going to feel heartbreak until you don't!"

The second reason I'm bringing this up is a little more in-your-face. So be prepared.

An older woman in my congregation in Austin recently said to the single women, "The prophet was talking to the men at conference, but it goes for you women, too!"

And here's the thing: It doesn't! It doesn't go for women, too. That talk from President Monson was specifically for single men to hear. He was not addressing single women. If women in general had a role in the problem of delayed marriage, the prophet would've addressed the women. He would've given a similar talk during the General Relief Society Meeting. But he didn't!

I have so many girlfriends who wrack their brains about what they are doing that's keeping them from getting married. They wonder what's wrong with them and what they should be doing differently. They think that perhaps there's something else for them to learn before they get married. It's absolutely ridiculous! And though they mean well, some friends and family members don't help at all. They will often say things like, "You should act like this, or you should wear that." They go on and on about how men are stupid, and women need to practically bend over backward and be the aggressor to get men to see what they need to do. Essentially, they are making excuses for men and telling women to do all the work.

Yes, some women need to improve. Yes, some men are doing what they're supposed to, and I'm sure they didn't even need to hear President Monson's admonition to get married. But in general, men are the ones who are delaying marriage, and women are doing just fine. They don't need to analyze and re-analyze what they're doing wrong because they're not doing anything wrong! It's men who need to be responsible and quit being afraid of making a mistake or getting rejected. Men need to stop hanging out and looking for a perfect girl.

For me, what it comes down to is how well I know myself. I constantly gauge whether I am doing all I can to be a person someone would want to marry. Sometimes I need to improve, but I can honestly say that most of the time, I am just waiting. Waiting for a guy to grow up and follow the prophet.

* For the full talk by President Monson, see Priesthood Power. For videos and transcripts of the entire 2011 General Conference, see April 2011 Sessions.
** For the full article, see Why young LDS men are pushing back marriage.

Thing I'm thankful for: examples of responsible men

Orange, Red, Pink, Yellow

2011-05-13T20:34:00.003-04:00

That's the order I like my Starbursts.*

For the longest time, I thought it was red and then pink. I guess I just assumed those would be the best based on my previous candy experience. Plus, my sister liked pink and red the best, so I copied her. When we were young and ate candy by the pound, we'd always eat the reds and pinks first. Oranges were next, and yellow was a last resort. (Who likes yellow the best, anyway?)**

Sometime in middle or high school, I realized that I liked orange the best. I must have gotten to the oranges and realized that I actually liked them. A lot. It's sort of odd, I guess, but that's often how I work. I like things that my family and friends like until one day, I realize I don't.

Let me give you some examples: Peas. Lemonade. Twizzlers. Cookie dough ice cream.

So. I'm trying to get better at knowing what I like early on. What can I say? I'm a follower. I take what people say to heart. I don't think it's a horrible quality. But I do think I need to grow out of it a bit.

* I don't eat much sugary candy, but if I do, I typically go for Skittles.
** Seriously, who likes yellow the best? If you do, leave a comment!

Thing I'm thankful for: listening to music while I clean

One Semester Down, Three to Go!

2011-05-13T15:19:00.000-04:00

I'm done, I'm done, I'm done! Yahoo!!!

It feels so good to be done with classes for a while. I don't even know how many times I cried this semester -- out of frustration with some of my professors, to frustration with JavaScript, to frustration with Drupal, and frustration with the ridiculous amount of money I'm paying in out-of-state tuition.

There were several things that made the semester bearable, though, namely:

Classmates
The showcase at the end, where everything came together.
Grad student lunches
Free parking at the Institute building
Family Home Evening
Late-night movies with Holly
Afternoon Skype calls with my nieces
Reassurances from Lexi that I could get through the Web design class

It's all over. And here's what I have to show for it!
Redesigned iSchool site
I worked on the site architecture, navigational layout, HTML coding, and homepage feature captions. (This is what it currently looks like.)

Volunteer Austin site
I came up with the idea and site architecture. My partner and I implemented the site with Drupal.

I have to give a special thanks to my project partners. They were all incredible. They helped me get going on projects when I didn't want to and made everything look better than I ever could have. They were the best! Thanks, Kirk, Peter, Liyun, Eris, Doug, Valle, and Ann!

End-of-Semester Schedule, Or I Hope I Don't Die This Week

2011-05-05T04:19:00.003-04:00

Okay, okay -- That title is a complete exaggeration. But I might gain about 10 pounds at the very least. Or my immune system will just shut down.

Here's my general late-night schedule of the last two weeks:
10:00 pm - whenever am: Write, code, eat chocolate, write, take a music break, write, try to figure out how to make things work in Drupal, write, eat chocolate, write, format long reports, take a music break while eating chocolate . . .

It's a hard life. ;)

Thing I'm thankful for: mommy's calls

Red Again!

2011-05-01T22:05:00.004-04:00

I dyed my hair red as part of a Halloween costume last year and decided to keep it that way for a while. It faded within a few months, and I let it grow to my natural dirty blonde. I knew I had to spice up the color again, so I thought about getting more highlights.

Something about moving to Texas, though, made me want to be daring again. So I did the red thing again, and honestly, I think I'll stay red for a while.

The photo doesn't really capture the true color; in real life, it looks even more red. I like it a lot. I just wish I had freckles to match. (I love freckles!)

Thing I'm thankful for: random phone calls from old friends

Some Things

2011-04-28T23:13:00.006-04:00

I always want to listen to Pink Floyd or The Cranberries during the change in seasons. I'm getting "Dark Side of the Moon" out ASAP.
I'm afraid to drive in Texas because cops are nearly everywhere, and I get pulled over a lot. :/
After dyeing eggs on Easter, I was so excited with anticipation of egg salad sandwiches. Then I realized that hard-boiled eggs that have been sitting out for hours are not safe to eat.
I like carpet better than hard wood, even though wood is cleaner and I'm a germaphobe.
I love claymation. I'm mesmerized every time I see those Chevron with Techron commercials.

Thing I'm thankful for: getting out of class early

My Favorite Musical

2011-04-26T04:58:00.004-04:00

Well, I did it. I finally decided on my favorite musical.

Although I like my fair share of musicals (usually of the Rogers and Hammerstein variety), I wouldn't say I'm a fan of musicals in general. I don't like contemporary broadway shows, for example, and I don't watch "Glee." Instead, I have a handful of Disney favorites, and I cherish a few mid-20th century live action productions.

Tonight I watched (for maybe the 10th time) The King and I with my brother Blake and his wife, Lindsey. During a dessert break, I was telling Lindsey that "The King and I" is my favorite. I almost felt guilty for saying it because I didn't want to turn my back on The Sound of Music or My Fair Lady.

When it comes right down to it, though, I'm proud to call "The King and I" my favorite. It's more complex than most musicals, in which the plots and songs are mainly about love and romance. I consider "The King and I" to be the thinking man's musical; it's full of epistemological issues that people continue to study today. Sure, the backdrop of "The Sound of Music" is Nazi-occupied Austria, but not much of the dialogue directly addresses it. Anna and the king, however, go back and forth about science and knowing and believing.

Additionally, the song "Getting to Know You" precisely summarizes the deepest motivation of my soul -- to get to know people. Is there a pleasanter song out there? I think not.

Finally, who can deny that Yul Brynner's king is the most charming character ever played on screen? He is truly captivating, and I defy anyone who doesn't get a kick out of "Et cetera! Et cetera! Et cetera!"

Thing I'm thankful for: dancing in the living room with my nieces

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T02:37:00.006-04:00

I am lucky enough to spend Easter with my parents and one of my brothers' family this year. I am having a fun time being an aunt, and as usual, I am the best aunt ever. I taught my nieces how to dye eggs, and then I gave them a lesson in science and cooking. I showed them what an uncooked egg looks like inside, and then I showed them what a hard-boiled egg looks like. It reminded me of just how fun science is for kids. (I mean, did everyone else love Mr. Wizard, or what???)

After the kiddies went to bed, I continued dyeing eggs because I love it so much, and then my mom and I set out the Easter baskets. One thing I love about my mom is that she splurges on good candy. The only thing she buys that I don't like are malt balls and Jelly Bellies. (There. I said it. I don't like Jelly Bellies.)

So far, it's turning out to be a great holiday. I love Easter.
I hope you have a happy one!

Thing I'm thankful for: Jesus Christ (Start watching the video at 00:43.)

Pete Yorn!

2011-04-24T02:03:00.005-04:00

Okay -- so this post is a week overdue. Still, I wanted to document it . . . Also, I have a weird obsession with taking concert photos, and I wanted to share some of my work, if only to give you a sense of the lighting for this show -- it was wonderful! (I feel that lighting is the mark of a well-seasoned band.)

So my friends Carrie, Carrie, Brittini, and Steven went to the show with me. Pete Yorn's heyday was sometime in 2001, so I didn't know if anyone would remember the music and want to go with me, but I was glad these four friends wanted to come along.

The opening band was called The Wellspring . . . Although they were good, I don't have any pictures of the whole band. I do, however, have pictures of the lead singer because I thought she looked like a grown-up version of Marcia Brady. Doesn't she?

The next band was a one-man show, Ben Kweller, who I had heard was excellent. And he was. I imagine he spent most of his teenage years perfecting his talent . . . You know the type -- skinny, nerdy-cool, extremely smart, and seemingly really lazy because all he did was hole up in his parents' basement and play until the early-morning hours.

Pete Yorn was also excellent. He played a lot of old stuff, which was nice because I hadn't heard his knew songs yet.

My Rothko-inspired light art. :)

There was a time when he invited Ben Kweller back onto the stage, and the music went completely jam-band style. The four of them must've been playing for 7-10 minutes straight. I thought about how my brother-in-law would've loved it.

You can't really tell in this picture, but the bassist seemed like a truly happy guy. He had a goofy smile on his face the whole time, and it reminded me of something my bass-playing brother, Brooks, said: "Bassists are always the steady one of the band. They just like to hang in the background and have fun playing."

So it was a good concert. I'm glad I went. Austin really does have some great live music . . .

Thing I'm thankful for: being home

Abstract Art

2011-04-13T22:33:00.006-04:00

Can people tell the difference between professional abstract art and children's fingerpaintings?

You bet they can. And I'm glad, too. I'm not saying I love all abstract art; there are some 20th- and 21st-century artists I find downright disgusting. But I think abstract artists often get a bad rap, and I can't quite figure out why. Maybe it's just uncreative people, in general, who don't appreciate abstract art. :) I dunno -- you be the judge.

Still, I wanted to take a moment to say that it takes more skill to create a meaningful piece of abstract art than a lot of people think.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite examples of artistic abstraction (and I'm not even getting into Islamic or Chinese art or Expressionism):

Rothko, No. 61

Whistler, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket

Mondrian, Composition with red, yellow, blue, and black

Thing I'm thankful for: my mommy's artistic flair!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies I've Ever Eaten

2011-04-09T20:31:00.004-04:00

Chocolate chip cookies are hard to get right. It's such a simple cookie, really, so you'd think there wouldn't be much to it. But that's precisely why I think good chocolate chip cookies are so hard to come by. Besides chocolate, there aren't many complex flavors going on in that cookie, You can't hide, for example, a bland base flavor by adding the excitement of M&Ms or butterscotch chips or coconut. It's just the base and the chocolate chips.

It may seem odd, but for a long time, the best chocolate chip cookies I had ever had were the Nestle Toll House cookies sold at Subway. They definitely had the best flavor. Still, they were always too flat for my liking.

I've tried chocolate chip cookies from all sorts of places. I even try to make my own, when I can't find the best recipe, but I can never get them quite right, either . . .

I finally found the best, though. At a hole-in-the-wall deli in Austin. Specializing in sandwiches, salads, and soups, Fricano's Deli is an unlikely place to find the best chocolate chip cookie. It's a tiny place just north of The University of Texas' campus, and it's fantastic. To be sure, the sandwiches are delicious, but I was surprised to find that they made desserts from scratch.

When I was there the first time, I saw one of the employees mixing the cookie batter. She said something about how she put her "heart and soul" into the cookies. At first I thought it was sort of a silly thing to say, but a while later, after I had devoured my cookie, I realized that she wasn't kidding!

If you are in Austin, get your chocolate chip cookies from Fricano's only! I don't care what anybody else says about other bakeries in town -- trust me, they're not as good!

Thing I'm thankful for: lazy Saturdays

Proud Owner of a Car!

2011-04-04T17:21:00.003-04:00

Remember this pretty silver number?

I own it!

It has been through a lot: an accident in the snow, a fender-bender with my mommy, a kick in the side, and several tickets. (Oops!)

It has seen better days, too! I drove this thing to

Washington, D.C.
Nashville, Tennessee
Savannah, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Birmingham, Alabama
Bloomington, Indiana
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Austin, Texas

It's so fascinating to me that we get attached to things, especially cars. I've loved having mine. Hopefully, it'll last for at least the next two or three years!

Thing I'm thankful for: the warmth of the sun on my back!

Happiness is a Skype Call

2011-04-04T15:17:00.002-04:00

That's me on the computer in Georgia. Those are some of my favorite people. We were talking via Skype. It was wonderful.

Thing I'm thankful for: high-speed Internet access, programmers, cell phones, etc. What a world we live in!

Conference!

2011-04-03T18:47:00.003-04:00

Conference was excellent, as usual. :)
You can listen to all the talks here:
April 2011 General Conference

My favorite session was today's afternoon session, but then again, I typically think the Sunday afternoon sessions are best. They will probably all be live online tomorrow, and if you get the chance, you should listen to the following speakers:

Elder David A. Bednar
Elder Richard G. Scott
Elder Christofferson
Elder Lynn G. Robbins

There were several other speakers I liked listening to, but those were particularly meaningful to me . . .

Thing I'm thankful for: sunny, windy weather

Following the Prophets

2011-04-01T15:05:00.003-04:00

It's about to be Conference Weekend! Are you as excited as I am?

If you're not, it might be because you're not a mormon. So I'll tell you about it: General Conference is held twice a year, on the first weekend in April and October. It's a time for Church leaders to give members direction, report on the growth and statistics of the Church, and bear testimony of the gospel. It's a worldwide conference. It's held in Salt Lake City and broadcast all over the world.

It's a lot of church. Here's the schedule:

Saturday
10:00-12:00
2:00-4:00
6:00-8:00 (For the men only. That's okay; women get their own two-hour session earlier in the year.)

Sunday
10:00-12:00
2:00-4:00

But that's not really what this post is about. It's about an article I read today in USA Today: Mormon president can do no wrong to religion's members. From the article:

"We pay lip service to the prophet's fallibility," said Edward Kimball, son of late church President Spencer W. Kimball. "But when you come down to specifics, we can't think of any incidents where a prophet was wrong."

And

So much authority is ascribed to the Mormon president, though, that quasi-prophet worship by the far-flung members of the 14 million-member faith seems unavoidable.

I think the article's author is right. It's true; I have plenty of friends who worship Church leaders and not God. I have a feeling that if Church leaders faltered in some way, their faith would be gravely shaken and maybe shatter completely. And why wouldn't they? It's not unlike the moment when a child realizes her parents don't know everything (That happened for me in the 6th grade.), or the moment when a citizen disapproves of his political leader's decisions in personal life. (I'm looking at you, Bill Clinton.)

Everyone has someone they look up to -- someone they think could do no wrong. At least, at some point, everyone did. Mormons and non-mormons alike are in danger of losing their faith -- in anything -- if the person they look up to the most falls.

So even though this article is right about a lot of mormons; it's right about almost everyone else in the world, too.

As for my faith in mormon Church leaders . . . All I can say is that I really do believe that every human being is fallible. No person on earth is perfect. No one at all. But I can tell who comes close, and I will follow what that person says until I think he's not close anymore. Besides, I don't believe in Church leaders; I just believe in God.

Thing I'm thankful for: people who are good at writing resumes!

Tangled!

2011-03-30T01:27:00.003-04:00

Tangled came out on DVD today. Did you get your copy yet? I got mine! You can get it at Target for $15.99!

Here are some interesting facts about the movie:

It's Disney's 50th animated film.
It's the first CGI musical.
It's the most expensive animated film ever made.
It's the second highest grossing animated film after The Lion King.

I'm sure part of the reason I like "Tangled" is because I saw it in the theater with one of my nieces, so I already have positive memories associated with it, but I also just liked the story. Rapunzel is locked in a tower for years and years, but what does she do while she's in there? According to Disney, she reads and paints and cleans and gets interested in astronomy. In one of the first songs, Rapunzel asks, "When will my life begin?" But while she's waiting, she is working and learning. She is curious.

She also has freckles. She has wide feet. (When you have big feet, you notice those kinds of things . . .) She doesn't wear a cleavage-bearing dress for the duration of the movie. She has emotional ups and downs. By the end, she has short, brown, sassy hair.

Blame it on my singlehood or my feminist ideology, but I am all for a different kind of princess. I want one who seems like she thinks, and Tangled's Rapunzel does. Sure, she's still beautiful and has a wonderful singing voice, and her love interest is cute and hyper-masculine. I don't know if those characteristics will ever change in movies, nor do I know if I want or need them to. My point is, is that I liked this movie for the same reasons that I liked Shrek when I saw it -- it takes a princess and makes her modest and smart and strong. And it does it by being as real as an animated movie can be.

And it's funny.

Buy it! Or watch it! Or both!

Thing I'm thankful for: carwashes

Open Letter to JavaScript

2011-03-28T16:52:00.002-04:00

Dear JavaScript,

I recognize the need for you in today's world of Web interactivity, but I really hate you right now.

Unaffectionately,
Sara

Thing I'm thankful for: people who know how to properly code

On Sleep, or Not Getting Enough of It

2011-03-25T17:58:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I forget what it feels like to dream because vivid dreams typically occur during REM cycles of sleep. I have gotten 7 hours of sleep for the last two nights, though, and I had the most incredible dreams. When I woke up this morning from a dream, I thought, "I need to get more sleep." Can you believe it? It's a sad state of affairs when dreams remind you that you haven't been getting enough sleep . . .

The CDC recently published an article about the effects of sleep deprivation: Effect of Short Sleep Duration on Daily Activities. A couple of friends forwarded it to me because it reminded them of me, and maybe in some way, they wanted to let me know what not getting enough sleep was doing to my body.

Here's the thing: I know what sleep deprivation does. I could've told the CDC what the short-term effects of sleep deprivation are, and then they wouldn't have had to spend the money on collecting and analyzing sleep data. I could have told them that not getting enough sleep leads to the following adverse health effects:

Diminished ability to focus on a task, mental or physical
Diminished ability to say no to sugary foods
Neck and lower back soreness
Unhealthy-looking skin
Dark under-eye circles
Itchy, dry eyes that can actually really, really hurt
Problems going to the bathroom (Look, this is an honest list.)
Dreamless sleep

Why do I continue to not get enough sleep, you ask? The honest answer is that I don't know why. Every night, I somehow think that not getting enough sleep will be okay. That I'm perfectly alert (well, almost) at 2 in the morning, and 5 hours is plenty of sleep. In fact, it's more than enough! Heck, while I'm at it, I'm doing pretty good; I may as well just watch one more episode of "30 Rock," or get one more TED Talk in. Also, I'm going to be so busy doing schoolwork tomorrow, I may as well get the nitty-gritty done tonight, such as cleaning my room. The list goes on and on.

You get used to functioning on minimal sleep, too. In fact, I'm convinced I could've been an emergency room surgeon because I'm so good at living on less sleep.

And yet, in the morning, when I'm covering the dark circles with concealer, I never fail to regret my lack of sleep. I never think, "Oh, that 4 hours of sleep was so good! I'm so prepared for the day now!" Similarly, I never regret getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep, even if it means I didn't get all of my homework done. The real kicker is this: If I am so good at living on less sleep, what could I accomplish if I were well-rested???

It's an interesting question, and I'm willing to investigate the answer. It's going to be a tough, actually. Really tough. Drug rehabilitation centers recommend that less than 90 days of treatment results in limited to no effect. I'll treat my sleep deprivation the same. I'm giving myself 90 days of treatment. It will be hard, considering that this is the last month and a half of the semester, but I'm going to try . . .

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thing I'm thankful for: my sisters

SXSW, the End

2011-03-24T01:09:00.004-04:00

South by Southwest has come and gone, but I still have a handful of pictures to share with you . . .

I love cinema, so I had to try to see at least one film last week. Although there were about 20 movies I wanted to see, I narrowed it down to a few documentaries, and then because of some scheduling conflicts, I finally picked just one. I decided on Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey.* Lemme tell you, it was excellent! It premiered at Sundance, and a few reviews I read beforehand said it would bring people to tears. I seriously doubted that, but ummm . . . those reviewers were right. (How did they know me so well?)

The documentary played downtown, at The Paramount, which is an old theater that was build just before the Golden Age of Hollywood, in 1915.

It's one of those fancy theaters, with classical murals, rich wallpaper, red carpet, and gilding all over the place.

Did you catch that hole next to the painting? An usher told me Harry Houdini used it in a stunt, once upon a time.

After SXSW movie screenings, the directors, producers, and actors will typically answer questions from the audience for about 15 minutes. Sometimes they are all there, sometimes it's only part of the movie-making crew. In this instance, it was the videographers and composer.

After the show, I met up with my sister's good friend, Collin. Collin is getting a master's degree in animation and film, and he was in town just for SXSW. For the premiere of one of his music videos!

We stuffed ourselves on burgers, shakes, and fries, Rudy's Bar-B-Q, and Blue Bell ice cream. And we also wore pink. :)

What a fun week. Sometime I'm going to save up money to buy a badge for the whole festival, and I'll see all the movies and music I want!

*Being Elmo was truly worth watching. If you can watch it, do. I liked it so much, I might even dedicate an entire post to it soon.

Thing I'm thankful for: being able to change

Interesting Video from National Geographic

2011-03-18T15:11:00.001-04:00

Thing I'm thankful for: clean water