so...

you know when you find a blog that seems to perfectly, and effortlessly voice exactly how you feel?
Oh yeah. I found that blog.

So about what I said...

(Even just now when I WROTE effortlessly, I had to sit and think for like two minutes of the word "effortlessly" because I could only think of the word "easilessly" which of course is NOT a word, and is the opposite of what I want. )

Also, when obsessively reading my new favorite blog (maybe I love it because of her admitted tendency to over share, something I also have a problem with), I came upon THIS freaking awesome post.
You go girl. She addresses the completely ridiculous interview between Marie Claire and Jessica Valenti, author of The Purity Myth.
Just to give you a preview, here are some of the absurd quotes from the interview:

"Virginity and chastity are reemerging as a trend in pop culture, in our schools, in the media, and even in legislation."

"The lie of virginity — the idea that such a thing even exists — is ensuring that young women's perception of themselves is inextricable from their bodies."

"The main misconception of virginity is that it exists! There's no medical definition. It's a completely cultural invention. It's such a huge deal and yet it's so amorphous. There's no real way to define it at all. "

kjwfiuwqbnxfh ewfheklru! I AM BAFFLED. Too baffled for words. No such thing as virginity.
I almost feel the need to start spouting some scripture.
Even if this wasn't a religious dilemma for me, HOLY COW, this should be a point of controversy for every woman in the world who respects their body, or even... has a body.
Dang.
Please, Mel. Tell this woman off again. Because I am too baffled for words, and the writer of So about what I said... is NOT too baffled for words, but insanely calm and collected, please go read what she has to say.
I'm telling you, she's freaking brilliant.

I saw something today

It was something that I did not want to see.
It was something I hope to never see again.
First, let us go through all the facts:

1. I was over at Travis's house. Every single one of Trav's roommates had seen me, spoken to me, and knew that I was over. AND even if this were not the case:
a. I am always there, and it is a good rule of thumb to assume such.
b. Even if I weren't there, the house was full, the windows were open, and no one needs to see what I saw.

2. Once, in a similar (but different) circumstance, Travis saw one of my roommates in her underwear. He complained to a great extent. Yet, he does not pity me now.

3. Travis's roommate is neither slim nor hairless. In fact, one might use the words beefy, and extremely hairy. (In describing his hairiness, another roommate tugged at his thick dark side burn and said "It's like this, all over his back.")

4. Minutes previous to the sight which I did not want to see, I described to Travis the man from the book (not movie) Memoirs of a Geisha, whom the main character loses her virginity to. I can't think of anyone's name from that book, but for some reason we were talking about short, fat, hairy men and nakedness.

5. The bathroom at Trav's apartment is split, so that the sink and mirror are outside of the shower and toilet. So they're pretty much in the hallway.

6. A fly inadvertently flipped itself on to its back, and could not right himself. This happened on my plate, immediately after I finished eating. Travis tried to kill the fly with my fork.

7. In order to escape the view of Travis killing an upside-down insect with my eating utensil, I rushed midway down the hallway, towards the bathroom. Reflected in the mirror was a roommate coming OUT of the bathroom, where I assume he had been showering.

8. This roommate was not dressed. This roommate had no towel. This roommate saw me coming and turned and hunched down, kind of.

9. I saw Travis's roommate naked. Luckily, only from the back/side. Nothing too horrifying. Horrifying, yes, but you know. Nothing too awful.

10. Minutes later, after I had rushed back into the kitchen, Travis and I walked towards his bedroom for something. Travis walked ahead of me to make sure the coast was clear. I walked like two feet behind him. Travis passed the roommate's now closed bedroom door. A split second before I could pass the door, it opened. The naked roommate was now in mostly see-through white underwear. He stared at me, and shuffled into the bathroom.

11. Only I am scarred. Travis saw nothing and is not concerned. He thinks that it is funny.

12. This is not funny.

Those are the facts. Today was a good day, but this evening was quite wretched.

keeping still

Lately every time that Travis and I are together (okay... so all the time) he mentions that I seem especially quiet.
I'm sorry, because not only do I (apparently) not have to say a lot verbally, but my blog has also been very quiet.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, nestled in with my pride and my ego, I see dozens of people clicking on my blog every day and going "Oh darn it all, she has yet to post!"
These people might slam their fist down on their desk top, or check back periodically to see what clever witticisms I can provide them with, or what pearls of wisdom.
And over and again they are disappointed.
To my imaginary fans, and to the few who actually read my blog, I apologize.
I will try to do better.
I don't have a lot to say at this time.
Still.

But here's a teaser:
coming soon: my reviews of the Harry Potter movie which shall be viewed tonight at midnight. (see the trailers which I have memorized and a special movie clip HERE.)
Also, the results of two rolls of Holga film, which should be developed by Wednesday night sometime.
Aaaaand, a review and the results of Thrift Books. (thriftbooks.com), which I happen to believe is the best thing ever. Since, unlike Amazon which will sell you used books for several dollars, Thriftbooks sells most of their books for 1 cent, plus 3.49 shipping.
What's that? I can have a beautiful, good as new book delivered right to my home for a mere 3.50?
It must be a scam.
I sure hope it's not, because I absolutely ordered some books. They'll be here in a few days.
Their motto? Read More, Spend Less. Whoever begun this must be my soul sister.
Brooke, are you reading this? Take note. .01$.

In fact, it just might turn out that I do have something to say. This is it:
When I was at the family's cabin in Minnesota, I sat about reading children's books. I took joy in thinking about buying my children beautiful board books with lovely illustrations and bring-tears-to-your-eyes-because-they're-so-sweet morals, like three of my favorites: Madeline, Guess how much I love you, and Can't you sleep, little Bear?


Until I turned Madeline over and looked at the price.
18.50$.
EIGHTEEN FIFTY! FOR A BOARD BOOK.
yeah. All caps. That's how angry it makes me.
So for 3.50 each I bought myself some board books. I'll tell you when I get them.
Also, I bought Out of the Dust, which I checked out from the library yesterday, and then read the first half, wept a little, and decided that it might be my favorite novel of all time.
Yes, of all time, and that's really saying something, because I can never, ever choose a favorite book.
If you have a library card, please go get this unbelievabley beautiful book by Karen Hesse.
Or, if you have 3.5o to spare, let me promise you that it is not a waste of your money.

p.s. Paige is mad that I'm listening to Christmas music, but its July, is it not? As we all know, there is a second Christmas in July.

were you aware

that many of J. Crew's wedding dresses have (sit down, and take a deep breath)

POCKETS?


I am in love with the idea of pockets in a wedding dress.

Edward can't read Bella's mind because she doesn't have one

(that title is unrelated to this post.)

(mostly)

I have been working the last several days in the same art class, (this is an art class of adults, mind you, they're all already in their majors and everything.)
and I've heard several interesting things.

First, I heard two women, both adults discussing nude modeling.

Woman 1: I was in a sculpting class at UCLA where we were supposed to be sculpting a nude person, it was so offensive and repulsive that I dropped out.

Woman 2: I know, why does anyone thing that nude art is okay?

W 1: It's not! It's only okay when it's for medical purposes!

W 2: I went to a lecture where a woman discussed how nude art glorifies women! More like, objectifies, and disgraces women, it's THE MOST disrespectful thing someone can do to the human body!

W 1: I went to a gallery last week, and the artist was there, and he showed me this beautiful, life-size painting. The colors, the lighting, the strokes, the proportions, everything was perfect, but the model was naked! He said, "what do you think?" I told him, "She needs a blanket." He looked at me, like, psh. He thought I was so uncultured and .... [trails off, and murmurs the word bigot]

W 2: Why don't people think that is pornographic?

W 1: All nudity is obscene.

Please remember that while this was happening, I was a few feet away, modeling in a bikini (because that is BYU's policy), and feeling like an object, but only because they seemed to think that I could not hear them. I was not a person, I was just the model.

and Really? the most disrespectful thing you can do to the body is PAINT it?

THEN a different set of women had THIS conversation:

Woman 3: Bleh, my last professor was trying to convince us of the merits of abstract art in my last class.

Woman 4: I hate abstract art, how can you understand it?

W 3: You can't. No one really likes any art besides realism.

Really. How neat.
Then I overheard another girl say that Twilight was good literature.
Kill me.

But don't worry, it's not just the art students. Remember this class? American Lit for English Majors.
Well the other day in this class, we read a short story.
When we discussed it, this was said:

Girl: Was the main character in this story white?

Prof: Yeah, of course. Why do you think there was so much racial tension with him and the African Americans in the story?

Girl: Well, if he was white, then why was he so poor and nomadic?

Prof: There are white poor people.

[moment of confused silence]

Girl: Even in the south in the 40s?

Really? REALLY?!

Then today after reading Sylvia Plath, a girl said, "I don't think this is poetry."

Prof: That's valid. Why not?

Girl: Well, it's very depressing, and poetry is supposed to be uplifting.

Prof: Not all poetry is uplifting.

Girl: If it's not uplifting, then it can't be poetry.

BkserbfiDBVEJkjbrfkjwergkrKJBEFehwfk.
ARGH!

The liberal arts.
The LIBERAL ARTS!

who named them such?
these are supposed to be the most liberal sections of all the student body, are they not?

Headlines of Tomorrow: an immodestly dressed English major attacks some douchey boy by the JSB

Today I wore a lovely skirt that I bought at the coal umbrella, and my lovely purple/brown boots. My skirt fell just at the top of my knees. I was walking to class, holding my umbrella (which, yes, is also adorable) and feeling really good about life.
It was raining.
I had exercised the night before.
I had read my scriptures, done my homework.
Gotten up on time, and showered even.
I saw Chris and Claire, and then had a good first class.

As I walked, happily humming to the Fionn Regan playing on my iPod, a boy that I did not know, walked by me. He shoved me. Yes, SHOVED me, and yelled, "Your skirt's too short!"

IS THIS A FREAKING JOKE?

I called to tell my mother, and the first thing she asked was, "You didn't yell 'F YOU!' Did you?"
No, don't worry, I was caught too off-guard to think of any obscenities.
These are things I thought of soon after, but had lost my chance to yell:
screw you
up yours
you're a freaking douche, bastard.

I'm sorry this post is full of anger. I honestly cannot handle the BYU belief that if you see someone doing something that you do not approve of, then it is your duty to fix the problem.
Thank you, Honor Code police, but I'm not even breaking any of your mental, utilitarian, obsessive, nit-picky rules.

Yours Truly

I finally remembered to bring my camera modeling, and my friend Stephanie was in the class and I took a picture of her drawing.
Unfortunately, my camera died after only one picture. But here it is.
Isn't it cool?
It's from behind.

You may be happy or unhappy with who our new president is, but think about what's going on.

I am in the middle of History. You are in the middle of history.
This is our first black president since the foundation of our country.
1776 Our country was formed upon the promise of equal rights and liberty for all men
1863 Lincoln emancipated the slaves, and the civil war ended in '65
1943 Rosa Parks sat at the front of a bus
1968 Martin Luther King was martyred
2008 Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the United States

Forty years after Martin Luther King was murdered, there is a black man in the White House.
I can't even fathom.
I feel like crying, not because I'm overjoyed with Obama, but because of this country.

There are people alive in the country that were alive forty years ago. They are among the prominent people of the world. Think for a moment how amazing it is that only a few generations later the mindset that race is at all significant has completely left us.
Hilary is cheering that Obama won. Paige is mad that he's in the White House.
"This is the first black president in the history of the country!" I reminded her
"So?" she said, "I couldn't care less if he's black or not, it's his policies."
Oh can't you see? that fact that it doesn't matter, matters so much.

on a scale of 1 to clothes

i choose no clothes.

Accepted!

I got accepted to the London Study Abroad!!
I'm freaking out since it's the most competitive program through BYU and only 40 people are accepted for Winter semester.
If all goes well, I'll be leaving on January 7th, I believe?
I'll live in London, across from Kensington Gardens.
We visit Wales, Paris, Normandy, Canterbury!
HOLY CRAP!
I'm so excited.