25 Things

Remember a while back when those "25 Things About Me" lists were all the rage on facebook? Remember? The idea was to compose a list of 25 little-known, fun facts about yourself and then tag some other people to do it, and the idea was that everyone got to know each other a little better; also, you got a chance to talk about yourself. I never did one of those myself, because I hate conformity, but the truth is that I love things like that. I love fun facts. I love fill-in-the-blank get-to-know-yous. I could fill those things out all day. When I was little I used to make stats lists about myself all the time - "Favorite color in 1998", "Favorite animal in 1st grade", that kind of thing. Is that weird? I just love the idea of having a composite picture of myself on paper. It feels so secure. There I am, in this many words. There's nothing nebulous about it.

Unfortunately, I'm also painfully conscious of the fact these things are typically outlets for the self-obsessed, so I try to limit how often I do them. I hate the thought of being perceived as self-obsessed.

But I figure a sufficient amount of time has passed since the peak of this particular craze ...you'll forgive me if I indulge, right? Can I claim as a saving grace the fact that I like reading other peoples' as much as I like doing them myself? Can I? Can I have it? Can I? Ok whatever, I'm just going to do it.

25 Things About Mish

1. Like I said, I hate conformity. Being the same as everyone else, being predictable - these are some of my greatest fears.

2. Also like I said, I hate the thought of being perceived as self-obsessed. My greatest interpersonal fear is that someone will think I'm conceited.

3. I love eyelets and lacy things. I'm girly that way.

4. I can't stand to sit on a seat that has been pre-warmed by someone else's butt-heat.

5. I love making lists.

6. I secretly wish I was Rory Gilmore.

7. I'm a selective germaphobe; that is, I regularly eat food off the floor, but I recoil from touching knobs and handles of any kind.

8. I want people to like me.

9. I can't swallow pills.

10. It may take me a while to warm up to you, but once I decide to commit, I am a golden retriever. Occasionally a barnacle.

11. Mascots, Chuck E. Cheese, and pretty much any other person dressed in a huge costume scare me.

12. I am impulsive.

13. I hate it when the audience starts clapping "to the beat" of whatever musical thing is occurring on stage. Please don't ever do that to me if we're sitting next to each other when this happens.

14. I have never successfully blown my nose.

15. I like to take care of people.

16. I have a chapstick fetish.

17. I like arranging, organizing, and alphabetizing. E.g., my closet is arranged in perfect ROYGBIV order.

18. I'm a blue/white, amiable/analytical, INFJ, Type B introvert.

19. I almost always cry in movies when an innocent animal dies.

20. I have this recurring nightmare in which I've somehow ended up behind the wheel, alone, except that I have no idea how to drive, and I'm panicking, and I don't know where I'm going, and it usually ends in some kind of fiery crash.

21. I have a soft spot for elderly men.

22. It annoys me when people start packing up early before a class ends.

23. I think I have a mild fruit allergy.

24. I prefer to eat my ice cream with a fork.

25. I can pogo stick like nobody's business.

Man, that was way too much fun. I tag SKISLN, Karrot Soup, Recoupin', Stranded, Musings, and anyone else who reads this blog!

For He's a Jolly Good Fetcher

The other day some of you received ecstatic texts from me proclaiming that I was having lunch with Bee Money. Some of you were confused. Most of you were stoked. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, this is Bee Money:



It is no exaggeration to say that this guy is the most famous individual in all of Utah county. The brotha has facebook friends in the thousands. His videos are youtube sensations, at least in the BYU community. He has his own clothing line. He is an absofetchinlute legend.

Needless to say, when I happened to come across him on my way home from school Thursday afternoon, I could barely believe my luck. I was stricken with the most severe case of celebrity fever I've had since that pioneer visit to Krispy Kreme years ago (yes, that was the same visit in which I may or may not have cried upon my first bite of doughnut). The truth is that Carol and myself had become obsessed with this guy last summer, and had spent quite a few days trying to track him down and be his BFFs. It didn't work out then, but now I know, like so many other fated life events, that it was just a matter of timing.


Bee Money and I hit it off immediately. We got a table at J-Dawg's and he read me the draft of his forthcoming hit single (if you ask me, that thing is ready to roll). We shared life stories. We talked about some of the things that really matter. We said goodbye only on the condition that we simply must hang out again, and soon. Now he calls me daily. We have scheduled a hang-out for later this week, and he has invited me to sing in his upcoming album. I am finally a Bee Honey, and so happy to be.

Happy Casimir Pulaski Day!

That's right, it's CP Day! Don't feel bad if you didn't know, it's an Illinois thing apparently. I was just excited because I CAN TOTALLY PLAY THIS SONG ON MY GUITAR NOW! I was going to put up a video of my sweet skills but then decided that would be a little too myspacey. Sufjan does a better job anyway .

Anyhow, I love Gatorade, and two more cards from Brenda today, and I decided that I'm going to stop being such a flaky person who tries to please everyone and simultaneously lets everyone down, and also The Hudsucker Proxy is my new favorite movie. Also, more depth-y posts are still to come, don't worry, but I didn't get my mid-morning nap today, so, needless to say, I have some catching up to do. Later, yo.

Another Great Talk

"In considering such beauty of the “at-one-ment” in that first Easter season, we are reminded that this relationship between Christ and His Father is one of the sweetest and most moving themes running through the Savior’s ministry. Jesus’ entire being, His complete purpose and delight, were centered in pleasing His Father and obeying His will. Of Him He seemed always to be thinking; to Him He seemed always to be praying. Unlike us, He needed no crisis, no discouraging shift in events to direct His hopes heavenward. He was already instinctively, longingly looking that way."

--Jeffrey R. Holland, The Hands of the Fathers

'Teach is talking about heuristics

I am blogging from class. Yes, I am bragging. Why did I never think of bringing my lappy to this horrendously long and boring class before? I love the modern age!

Brenda Returns

Ok, this is getting out of control. Within the past three days we have received two more, nearly identical sympathy cards from Brenda, chock-full of the same disjointed moving intentions, parental nostalgia, and Osmond family love. Brenda, you're breaking our hearts! What do you want from us?! We've entertained the idea of coordinating a trip for her to fly down to Les Vegas and meet her idols, but that requires funds we don't have. We have also considered forging the Osmonds' john hancocks and sending them her way, but that is cruel. Anyone have any better ideas?

Meanwhile, back on the home front:

I'm not usually a fan of Train, but for this song I'll make an exception. It reminds me of falling in love.

Also, lovin' this talk.

and this movie



And, you've probably noticed that my layout is all skiwampus these days, and I apologize. Does anyone know how to fix my page so that all those page elements currently situated at the bottom go to the right side of my page instead, like all the normal peoples' blogs? I tried dragging them in Arrange Page Elements but it didn't work. Help.

Also, is anyone else sick of Michael Buble? Great guy as far as I can tell, but man am I ready for him to gracefully exit the airwaves. I can't really say why.

Also, is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk.

Till next time--

Yet Another Reason Why My Job is the Greatest

Coworker this morning: "Hey, can you look at that chart over there on the bulletin board, the one that says where to give unusual mail?"

Me: (refers to piece of paper on bulletin board titled, 'Unusual Mail') "Yeah."

Coworker: "Who does it say to give creepy handwriting from Canada to?"

Me: (finds line where someone has written "creepy handwriting from Canada --> Admissions") "Admissions."

Coworker: "K, thanks."


Intrigued, I ask to be able to examine this unusual, apparently common, piece of mail. Sure enough, it is from Canada. And yes, the handwriting is pretty creepy. It is addressed to "Bringham Young University."



Coworker: "Yeah, we've been getting these ever since I've worked here."

The real jackpot appears when we decide to help Admissions out and open the envelope ourselves.

Inside we find a generic, 90's-style, fold-out sympathy card, reciting things like "Our loved ones leave the world, but never our hearts" and other such corny adages. And then....

"To this may concern
I am leaving my apartment
The Osmonds' parents are
Dead. My parents are dead.
I miss my Mom.

The Osmonds are married.
I can't meet Donny Osmond.
Please give this card
To the Osmond Family.
Donny and Marie Osmond
Are in Les Vegas.
I hate Goderich."
(this last part had us puzzled until we realized that the card was sent from Goderich, Ontario)

With Sympathy
"Brenda C--" (I have abbreviated the culprit's name for privacy's sake)

I feel for Brenda, I really do. That sucks that her parents are dead, and that she misses her mom. And I know what it's like to hate your current place of residence, too, Brenda. So I'm happy for her. She says she's leaving her apartment, and this detail is confirmed on the front of the envelope as well (you can see it in the lower left corner). Way to take your life by the horns, Brenda.

The question is, how do I go about notifying Donny and Marie of this address change? I should probably start by forwarding this on to Les Vegas.