Halloween Scrooge

I absolutely hate Halloween. Despise, spit at, roll my eyes at, get annoyed with, lock myself in my room, don't go to parties, dress normally, all of the above describe my opinion of the stupid holiday. All it is is an excuse for those excessively weirdo people to show their true character, boys to be stupid, girls to be sluts, and all those "groupies" to prove to everybody that they are in a group together and you are not part of it.

First period there was a boy who dressed as a 70s person and then blasted his hip music down the hall. It was annoying. Or after school, a group of boys who had dressed in their "groupie" outfits, which included masks, got up in my face and basically invaded any form of personal space while doing some kind of grunt? I had, and still don't know what in the heck they were doing, but it was stupid.

In math, there was a girl who dressed up as a cat. That alone should make you look questioningly at the air in front of you. My point, though, is that her skirt covered zero part of her legs, and her stomach was completely hanging out of her jacket. It was gross.

And last, if you weren't either a nurse/doctor, a princess, or a pirate, you were either a) Cowboy for a boy or b) nerd for both genders; mostly girls. This is another reason why I hate Halloween: it just proves to everyone how unoriginal you really are. Now, now, I know I sound like a super pessimist right now, and I can openly admit that I am generalizing everything with my large opinion, so I would like to say, if I did dress up for Halloween, I thought it would be funny if I got a red wig and was Sydney Brocious. I think it would be also funny if Sydney got a brown wig and was me. There's always an idea for next year I guess. . .

For all of you Halloween lovers out there, I do hope you had a fabulous day. For all of you people who are rolling your eyes at my negative comments, I will tell you one plus to Halloween. It's this: the holidays have officially started, and boy does that feel nice!

In other news, I'm loving these three songs: (beware of the last one. The lyrics are stupid and will turn your brain to mush, but the sound will blow your mind!)

I finally talked to Mitchell, and basically all my "depths of despair was stupid- he's super nice! Also, my birthday is in two weeks, I got a 3.9 for the end of term 1, and this week has started out swell. I hope the same for you, too!

The Quiet, Loud Girl

My knee is deciding to give out on me. I'm thinking it's having to do something with my experience in track my 7th grade year. Long story short, I screwed up my knee, hence the reason why it's acting up. Needless to say, I've been limping, and making people feel sorry for me with my periodic comments about it. Yes, I'm a wimp. Yes, I'm fishing for "I'm sorry-s" and "Poor You" looks, but sometimes, it just happens, and it kind of stinks. I'll get over it by tomorrow when it doesn't hurt. Cross your fingers. Or just buy me some Advil.

Warby decided to get weird with us in choir today. I'm pretty sure teachers aren't supposed to talk to their classes like she did today. . . . Then again, Warby doesn't give a crap about what she says and does, which makes her one of the best teachers ever. Needless to say, nobody in that class needed the image we got today.

I still have yet to write my paragraphs for my ABC book in English on The Scarlet Letter. It shouldn't be hard, but really, it could get hard really fast. My creative juices have evaporated from my mind this year, and the fact that I need those juices to flow for this thing that is due tomorrow, worth 250 points, and goes on 1st term that ends, oh, on Friday. It causes me anxiety, and if you know me at all, I have the worst anxiety. I psych myself out.

Speaking of psych. I love that show! It's hilarious- it's what I'll be doing this weekend. Come join me if you wish. I'm always up for a party.

Also, in other news, I have my dress for Preference:

I still haven't talked to the Preference date, though. . . I wimp out every time! I'm making too big of a deal out of it, and everybody agrees with me. People, as in everybody because I spread my life's story like wildfire, ask me if I talked to him yet. My reply is always a no, and their response is always, "SIDNEY!" I can probably guess that was your response, too. My problem is just that when I see him, my knees go out (not because of the previous said symptom) and I can't walk, I start sweating, my thoughts become completely jumbled and the possibility to form a complete and comprehensive sentence is completely and utterly impossible. That happened to me today, and I just kept repeating, "I can't, I can't, I can't" like I was some insane asylum patient. My friend, Branden, asked me what I was going to do when I had to go pick him up. At his house. I said I'd probably pee my pants. I'm going to talk to him tomorrow, though. It's really not that big of a deal. I need to suck it up, and stop being so self-conscience about what he thinks of me.

That's the goal, and I probably won't be able to live with myself if I leave school without talking to him tomorrow. Pray for me.

The Weather Down Here is Good

It started off with just us talking, and then, Brook and Hailie started laughing. 

I was sandwiched in between them. 

So, they took this picture above. 

Welcome to my life, people! 

I sure hope that this made you laugh as hard as it made me. 

Life is soooo good, so make today great! ;)

Our Weekend

     I found this lovely little tea cup. I made hot chocolate and talked in a British accent, and made it a ball of a time. :)

St. George was fantastic! It was nice to just get a weekend to do whatever you wanted to do, which is what we always do when St. George is the destination. I read my scriptures all day one day, and finished The Scarlet Letter, which I thoroughly enjoyed. :) We made a run to Barnes and Noble where I picked up the said book along with Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Hiding Place. I have found that I very much enjoy reading. :)

Our weekend was also filled with the Farmer's Market, going to Pine Valley, which is a cute little town outside of St. George. It has one main road leading into it, a population of about 5, and fall colors glistening on the leaves. I want to live there. It reminded me so much of Avenlea, and you all know how much I want to be Anne. One day I'll have that white house with green shutters. . . . We also went and saw Noises Off! in Ceder City our last day. We ate at the Pastry Pub, which was delicious, and the play was also fantastic. Hilarious just like before. :)

Hope you guys also had an enjoyable weekend. I also hope you guys are enjoying the change of the seasons! The fall weather is really growing on me. I enjoy smelling leaves all the time and having my hair being brushed back by a chilly wind. Even the goosebumps don't feel half bad. That is if I have a warm building to go into. . . I guess cold never will appeal to me. Although, hot chocolate (in tea cups :)), warm blankets, and books do appeal to me. Let's have a party.

Mercredi

Today is Wednesday. But. . .Not just any Wednesday. It is the Wednesday we call Friday. You know why we call it? You probably do, but I'll just tell you the obvious answer anyway. It's Fall Break!!! Man, it feels good to be starting with the school breaks. I've had the serious "I don't want to do any homework anymore or stay up until 10:30 doing that homework" fever. Seeing as I went to bed at 10 last night and 8:56 the night before, I decided to act upon my sickness.

What might I be doing for this lovely break, might you ask? Well, people, St. George is the answer!!

Anne of Green Gables of course is what is planned for tonight. Seeing as all we're doing is driving, it seem appropriate. :)

Hiking is the agenda tomorrow. I'm not the happiest camper inside about that, but I guess I'll live. I forgot my running shoes at school, anyway, so I need to intense exercise.

We're going to see Noises Off! in Ceder City at the Shakespeare festival. We'll also be eating. . . . At the Pastry Pub, which has some of the best shakes!

And we'll end the trip with watching the beloved Anne of Green Gables. :) Man I love that show.

Hope you have a good weekend as well. Au revior.

 For Young Women's, we went up to the KSL studio in Salt Lake. I had heard of other youth groups going up and touring it, and so I thought it would be fun. Apparently my mom did too, because she planned it all out! It turned out to be a complete success! I experienced many things, and I would be happy to share them all with you:

We started our tour with the news, obviously. We got to go to a room above the actual set is where they have a big window looking down. As we watched, our tour guide (who was super duper attractive! His name was Ryan, and he had really, really good jeans. My fantasy world was completely shattered when he mentioned his wife. . . . . approximately 6 times), explained how it worked on the appearance side of it all. He said that the girl anchor Nadine is only 5'3'' and the man anchor, who I don't know the name of, is 6'1'', but then he pointed out that they look the exact same height on the television. Apparently, and you're going to be watching for it now, they slanted the desk, so you don't see the torso of the guy. It makes Nadine look taller. And. . . I thought this was funny, Nadine sits on a little cushion that raises her up higher! I'm thinking I'm going to get one; it would make school a whole lot easier. (Don't even say anything about the driving, too. Already thought of it. :))

We then moved our tour to the radio stations. There's nothing really cool about it besides the fact that this was the radio, and the studios looked awesome! Someday, I'll be on the radio interviewing some cool famous person. That would be sweet!!

The set for Studio 5 was our last stop. It's a really cool set. Off to one side is the kitchen, and then off to the other side is the couches where they do their interviews. Next time you watch it, if you watch it?, look at the stove during their cooking segment. There's no knobs. :) We don't think they actually cook, which is such a scam! (That's opinion, don't repeat what I said. . . :))

Apparently, I don't listen very well. . . . My mom had asked our tour guide if he knew Jillian from The Biggest Loser. I was just over daydreaming about having my own cooking show, that I didn't hear. When I went over and entered the adults' conversation with Ryan, I picked up that they were talking about The Biggest Loser. He was talking to them about how he does the casting for the show and how his wife works as one of the off camera personal trainers. Cool, huh?! So, when there was a break in the conversation, I asked him if he knew Jillian. He looked at me funny, and then my mom said, "She's my daughter." I thought it was really strange. . . And then one of my leaders informed me that my mom had asked the same exact question in almost the same exact way. So, Ryan replied that he did know her, and that him and his wife go on dinner dates with her all the time. (This is also exceptionally cool!) Well, then I asked the obvious question: Is she really that mean in real life? Again, I got the same strange look from Mr. Tour Guide and the reply, "Your mom has already asked that." I guess my mother and I think alike. . . Anyway, the answer is no. So, if you were, don't be afraid of Jillian; she's cool! :)

Another thing: I'm going into journalism. I'm going to minor in psychology. And finally, I'm going to have my own Dr. Phil show. But it's going to be Dr. Sidney instead; roughly that, though. We'll come up with some coolio title later. So, look for me on T.V.! :)

Playing Pretend

Emmy came over and played with us (really Lauren) today. 

Her parents are gone on a cruise, and her grandparents are watching them. 

They told Emmy that she was only allowed to stay over until 3:30 and then she had to come home, and of course, that time came. 

When I went down to tell her it was time for her to go home, she was getting some books out to read with Lauren. 

Lauren turned to Emmy who was holding the books, and said, 

"Do you want to play library, and I'll check those books out to you?!" 

"Yes!" was Emmy's reply. 

So, Lauren got a piece of card stock, wrote "Emmy's Library Card" on it, had Emmy sign it, and then wrote down the books on a piece of paper. 

We "swiped" the card. (which was on the keyboard) and sent her on her way with Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House.

It was super cute! 

When she left, Lauren turned to me and said, "Do you remember when we would play pretend?"

And, boy, do I!

Lauren and I would get my mom's cook books and use them as our "potion books" for Harry Potter and talk in British accents all day. 

I would play barbies and set my house up using the entire stairs. I loved the yellow light over the stairs. It always felt like home to me. 

Lauren and I would play with our American Girl dolls. We'd start before church and then plan all through sacrament meeting how the rest of the game would go. 

I remember playing house in our old play room. We had gray linoleum floors with big white cupboards that held everything. I would have everything strewn around everywhere, and I would get so annoyed because I would have to clean it up afterwards, and it took forever!

During the summer, we would ride around on our bikes. The mailboxes were the bank; the upside down bikes in the driveways were the ice cream trucks; the leaves were money. 

I miss being young, and it was fun to relive it with Emmy today!

The world of playing pretend really is just happiness. :)

Lesson Learned

That there, friends, is what I call my permit. 

Seeing as I was doing Road this week, I needed it with me. 

In my pocket. 

Well, being me, I forgot to take it out of my pocket. 

I thought about it a couple of times throughout the week, but the thought drifted out. 

Naturally, my mom washed those jeans. 

Paper and water, as you already know, don't mix. 

It makes the paper wet, and in the end, dissolve. 

As shown above. 

Lovely right? 

Yeah, if police officers accepted those kinds of permits. 

I'll just tell you, they don't! 

My mom wasn't happy when I freaked out. 

I was assured, though, that it doesn't cost anything to replace the permit? 

Hopefully that's true.

In any case, to save you the difficulty, don't put your driving permit in your pocket, which eventually ends up looking like the above picture. 

:)

Hello Weekend; You Are Welcome.

Each week gets more and more and more stressful with less hours of sleep in between, I swear! Waking up at 4:45 three days in a row seriously isn't what I call a good time, but I survived, and the opportunity to sleep into 7 is within my reach. It just so happens I have reached out my hand and taken it. Let's just say 9:30 was a better match for my eyes. :)

The news of my week goes as follows:

I passed my Road test. That unloaded a lot of stress, thankfully! All I have left is my hours, which should be easy seeing as I can't get my license until December 16. . . I have it marked on my calender. :) At the bottom of my test paper, my instructor, Mr. Ingersoll (who is basically the easiest road teacher there is. I caught a very, very good brake this time), commented that I should "signal right when going right." I have absolutely no idea what he means. . . . I did signal. At least I think I did? I still passed nonetheless. :)

I got invited to a free trip to Washington D.C. that I so wanted to go on! My friend Chandler was going to come over last weekend to watch our favorite movie: Anne of Green Gables. But, unfortunately, our phones decided not to communicate for us, so neither of us could get a hold of each other. We had agreed to do it this weekend, and when I asked her on Thursday about it, she told me that she probably won't be able to because her mom wants to go to Washington D.C. Yeah, just like that. She could see the surprise on my face, so she explained. Apparently, her mom works for an airline company and so long story short, she can get free tickets. Cool, I know! And then Chandler turned to me and said, "I can bring friends. . . " And I of course replied the obvious, "Well, you should take me!"And surprisingly she said, "Oh, I'll talk to my mom!"The plan was that I was going to go with them, but then she told me that we would be missing a couple of days of school. You can guess what my mom told me. But then, I got a grand idea, if I took all my tests and quizzes (which were only two: chemistry and French) then I should probably be able to go. When I talked to Chandler in French about it, she said that we would probably be gone the entire week. Unfortunately I couldn't miss that much school, I didn't feel ready to take my chemistry test (which I HAVE to pass in order to get an A in the class by the end of the term), and I don't think my french teacher would have let me take the quiz. The good news to this kind of disappointing one is that one of these weekends Chandler are going to watch Anne of Green Gables finally, we will go to California just for fun, and during the summer, we're going to take a trip to D.C. Am I excited? You betcha! 

I'm currently ready The Scarlet Letter. The book really is painful to read. . . I can't get through one page without asking,"What?!!" But when I do understand it, it's beautiful, and I can't wait until I am done. Reading, understanding, and finishing hard books just might be the best feeling in the world. They also make the Book of Mormon really, really easy to read.

Thursday and Friday we have school off, thank goodness! The fam and I will be venturing off to St. George, our trusty vacation, for the weekend. We'll be seeing the play Noises Off!, the comedy from The Shakespeare Festival. It's hilarious and I can't wait to see it again.

I saw Mr. Mitchell in the halls a couple of times this week. . . I still haven't said a word to him in my life. I found out from his friend, who I am friends with, that he (as in Mitchell) thinks it's creepy I call him his nickname. . . I agreed. Full heartedly! I told Kolten that he needs to tell him (as in Mitchell again) that I am trying to change from my creepy 12 year old ways. I guess I'm just going to have to do that one myself, though, seeing as Kolten won't tell him, and I need to talk to him finally and break the ice. I think that's going in the goal book for the week.

My life surely isn't a high adventure. It's going well, though, and so that's an adventure in my book. :) Hope you had a great week, and will have an equally great weekend. Read a hard book, watch Anne of Green Gables, and sleep, it will definitely help your stress level go down. :)

P.S. Lauren showed me this poem:

I Hate Her And I Love Her
Catullus
"I hate her and I love her. Don't ask me why. It's the way I feel, that's all, and it hurts."

Isn't it fantastic?! So straight forward? So blunt? My favorite thing about it is that he's talking about how he's in pain, but you know what? It's okay; that's the way it is. "Don't ask why; it's just the way I feel." Everyone should have that type of attitude to life; acknowledge that they're going to have pain and sorrows, and then get over it, move on, learn to love life more than the pain. It lasts longer that's for sure. :)

Eagle Mountain Showers

My cousin Jerran is getting married next month. November 12th to be exact. So, this past weekend my Aunt Julie along with Stenna Andersen threw a bridal shower for Liz, his fiance.

"We love and miss you, Ash!" Love: Aunt Corrin and BreAnn

Seeing as my Aunt Julie just might be the best cook ever, the food was completely fantastic. It was really good to see the aunts again, and to meet Liz and her family, too. It's crazy how everybody is growing up; getting married. I remember when the baby above was born. She's so old now! I remember going on camping trips, playing card games, riding four wheelers, going as fast as I can as if there was no care in the world, because right then in that moment, there was no care. Sometimes I miss those times, really I do. I go to school and realize just how old I am. The fact that I'll be on my own in just two years, is scary! I try to resist by saying I'm too short for it! Really, I am, but then, I remember that in two years I'm actually just getting to start my life. I get to make new memories, and look back on them as I look back on my good memories now.

Life is good, family is family, and that's a fantastic thing. I wish Liz and Jerron the best of luck; they deserve it. :)

Cookie Dough and Carved Pumpkins

Last night, I had to leave to return my friend Sydney's camera to her. So, me and my mom hopped into the car; me driving of course. :) After we had successfully arrived and returned the object, my mom needed to run to Lowes to get a soap dispenser, and to Home Depot to return a soap dispenser. All in all, the adventure took 30 minutes max.

Well, moving forward, I was turning into our cul-de-sac. I looked at our house and saw an odd flashing light. I leaned forward and said, "What the heck is that?!" When I got close enough to not see blurred vision, I saw the following scene:

I literally jumped for joy inside!! So much so, I didn't turn enough and bumped the curb.
"Um. . . .What are you doing, Sidney?!" was what my mom said.
"Oh, right!" was my reply, and quickly I turned and parked.

I very, very quickly got out of the car, went inside (where Lauren and our friend Dani Falsev were working) and asked many questions. I almost slid on my butt I was moving so fast!
They told me that about 5 or 10 minutes after I had left, my package came. Bummer, I know. It really is just my luck that I was gone when he came. It's okay, though, I'm going to Preference in any case. :)

Forking out the Dough

 I asked someone to Preference on Wednesday. This certain someone is not just anybody, though. . . the story goes like this:

Wednesday after school, Tiffany Fraughton and I were sitting in the back of Dani's little tomato red car. She (Dani) was talking to Cherstin, who was sitting in the passenger seat, and Tiff and I were talking in the back. She had kindly included me into her Preference group, and so we were just discussing who I should ask. Tiff named off a few boys who would be eligible. But. . . I didn't want to ask them. One of the boys who was eligible was a boy by the name Mitchell. 

Let me tell you about the said Mitchell. He was one of my many crushes in 7th grade. Being a 12 year old girl, you can only imagine my obsession. I was super excited when I saw that he walked home the same way I did, and this is the origin of his nickname: Abie-baby. See, His real name is Abraham, but he goes by Mitchell. How I found out his real name is Abraham, I have no idea. Anyway, from 7th grade until now, I still call him Abie-baby. And, from 7th grade to now, I have never spoken a word to him in my life. 

This is why I didn't want to ask him to this dance. . . Worst of worst situations is if he actually knew that I called/call him this spunky little nickname, and that he knew I was a stupid obsessed girl.

Well, Tiffany kept telling me, "You should ask him, you should ask him!" So, finally I gave in and said fine. 

Moving forward about 10 minutes, me; Dani; and Tiffany were talking about when I should ask this boy. I thought I should do it sometimes in the next coming week. They disagreed. They thought I should do it that night. After saying no a couple of times and then thinking about it for a few seconds, I thought it was actually a pretty good idea. So, the event was set. 

This is how I asked him. At the bottom of the bowl is my name. Inside the bowl is cookie dough. And in the cookie dough is forks. 

Clever, huh?! I stole it from Lauren. . . . :)

In my defense, I thought I was being pretty clever in putting a lot of forks in the dough. . . This dance just might make me broke. 

Oh. . .. you don't get it? Okay. . .

Well, when I went to deliver it, I had about a gallon of adrenaline rushing through my veins. And as we were driving back around to see if he got our little package, the song Blow by Ke$hia came onto the radio. That's about what I felt like inside. . . :) 

And then, about an hour after all of this was done, I found out just a comical little fact. Tiffany had talked to Kolten, her brother who is very good friends with this Mitchell boy. You know what Kolten said? He said that Mitchell knew that I was obsessed with him once upon a time, and he knew that I called him and still do call him Abey-baby. Talk about worst nightmare!!! I about died with Tiff told me this. And I'm still about dying inside, because I have to go on a date with him (well, that is if he says yes, that's still iffy. . .I hope you can see why). I surely hope with all of my heart it won't be awkward. Knowing me, though, it will be awkward. I'm just an awkward person that way. 

Needless to say, I'm super excited for November 12. November 10, the anniversary of my existence, came at a great time this year. Let's hope I don't let the nickname I call him slip while I am actually with him. Let's also, hope that this just becomes a fun little high school memory. That would be a nice ending. :)

Serendipituous Encounters

I think it's ironic that in the song she talks about serendipity, because for the past day, I've been in complete awe. I love it. I repeat it and repeat it and repeat it, and I don't think I will ever get sick of it. You should go get it; it's free on iTunes! :)

In Driver's Ed today we watched a video provided by Jiffy Lube. They're offering a scholarship for up to 3500 dollars, and all you have to do is write a paper with at least 500 words on your hopes, dreams, and goals for the future. You bet I'm going to do it! :)

Have a good Tuesday!

"I Don't Want Any Sunbursts or Marble Halls; I Just Want You"

This weekend was spent down in the grandparents' house in St. George. My dad was running the marathon and it was conference, so we decided to make a party out of it. Basically, the weekend was filled with sleeping. And being spiritually uplifted! President Monson seemed so happy this conference, and it is just an example of how we need to be every single day of our lives. This gospel really is a happy one, and we need to exemplify that as President Monson did yesterday and today.

Oh, and Lauren and I watched Anne of Green Gables. I'm in love with this movie. All three of them actually. I wish I was Anne. I wish I had lived in the Victorian times, and I wish I could wear dresses with a collar that comes all the way up to my throat and a bun on top of my head. Or 1920s dresses that come just above the ankle with 1 inch heels and colored stockings. I guess I'll just have to change my wardrobe.

Someday, I'll find my Gill. In the meantime, I'll be expanding my vocabulary, and I'll be the first in my class. Time flies when you're trying to reach all of your goals and meet all of the kindred spirits of the world. :)