Simple Pleasures.

As I slipped and slid to my class this morning at roughly 8:39 a.m., people were tumbling on all sides.

Though this isn't a totally uncommon phenomenon in Provo during the winter,

 the rate at which people were falling was . . . unusually high, 

due to a new concept to me: freezing rain.

Somehow in this silly, mixed-up brain of mine, I had gotten the crazy idea that 

"freezing rain" was more-or-less snow - but boy was I wrong.

FREEZING RAIN IS NOT SNOW.

As I watched person after person FALL FLAT on the ground, I knew 

it was only a matter of time before I was right there with them. 

When I approached the "bridge" that connects the Marriott center area to the rest of campus, 

a growing pit in my stomach told me that there was little to no hope.

 There was simply no possible way I would come out of this journey unscathed. 

The fifteen total strangers around me instantly became my dearest friends,

 as we took on what will be forever known as

 "the ramp of doom."

Slipping,

 sliding, 

squealing 

and screaming,

 together we ventured down the ramp to what we hoped would be the safety of our morning classes. 

The only possible way to do this? HOLD THE HANDRAIL.

During most of this experience, I was completely concentrated on where to "glide" next and how not to

'take a spill' as so many around me had done. 

But at one point I stopped and looked up. 

The majority of my comrades both in front and behind me were also clinging tightly to the handrail

(even though it had a solid layer of ice on it and I'm sure their hands were stinging just as severely as mine). 

And in that moment: The symbolism struck me.

"Hold to the rod!" I laughed and said to the guy behind me.

He didn't laugh.

He didn't smile.

Maybe he didn't hear me...?

Hahaha. It doesn't matter. I thought it was hilarious, and I still do.

In fact, I thought it was SO funny that I took a picture, and then added a caption, and then posted it to the BYU MEMES facebook page and it is now a VIRAL SENSATION. haha (okay maybe I'm being dramatic but...)

(Roughly 4 hours after being posted - 1,640 likes and counting!)

Sometimes, it's the little pleasures :) 

...and the fact that I actually went the entire day without falling. 

(Truly a miracle.) 

Oh what a life I live! 

PS Facebook is basically exploding with videos of BYU students "skating" to class today, so here are just a couple:

Sadly, my favorite video (of a BYU student who went to the thrift store and bought ice skates and then literally skated around on the sidewalk!) is only on facebook so I can't post it here.

PPS For any of you not familiar with the expression "hold to the rod" it comes from a passage in the Book of Mormon. To read the passage in 1 Nephi chapter 8 (particularly starting verse 19) click the link here.

That one time I basically started bawling during class.

IT'S YOUS-DAY TUESDAY FOLKS!!
(just pretend cuz... I haven't done one of these in a while. ;))

1. I've officially lost it. Yesterday as I was walking to devotional I thought to myself,

"Wow. The temperature actually feels pretty good right now!"

I then got out my phone only to discover that the current temp was a whopping 21 degrees.

#somethingisseriouslywrongwithme

2. My ward is currently doing a "workout competition" where apartments earn points for each person that works out 45 minutes a day. (Which is rather convenient because my family is currently doing a similar sort of thing.) So, my apartment has been committed to spending 45 minutes each day doing Just Dance. I'm basically a pro now that I've been doing it for....two days now.

(and if you don't consider doing Just Dance a "work out," I BEG TO DIFFER.) 

3. Classes are good. It's going to be a busy but good semester. (Or at least that's what I tell myself.) The class that I'm most excited about is my Doctrine and Covenants class taught by one of my Jerusalem Professors (Bro. Harper). I've only been once and I already feel like I've learned a ton!

4. I went to campus 3 hours before my class this morning just to get a parking space. And it wasn't even a very good parking space! My theory that parking wouldn't be so much of a hassle now that half the student population went on missions was more than slightly off. (Sadly.)

5. THIS is the video that we watched in one of my classes yesterday that made me tear up. 

And "tearing up" is basically crying. And crying is basically bawling--hence the title,

 "that one time I basically started bawling during class."

I really love that we get the opportunity to have religious and spiritual discussion in every subject at BYU.
To me-- it makes education feel even more rewarding.
It's the best.

Oh what a life I live,

twenty twelve in review.

JANUARY

When I went to The Holy Land,
met and roomed with some of my favorite people in the whole world,
and went to Petra in Jordan.

FEBRUARY

When I helped plan the "Arab dinner,"

it was really windy,

and the Russian-Swede-Asian became an unlikely trio.

(how unlikely?...just ask Vlad. ;))

MARCH

When it snowed on the Dome of the Rock,

I went to Turkey, 

 spent 10 days on the Sea of Galilee,

participated in the Palm Sunday Walk, 

and discovered mint lemonade.

(Oh how I miss it.)

APRIL

When I bike rode through Tel Aviv and ate my first cheeseburger in months,

 went to a "Sun Rise, Son Rise" service on Easter at the Garden Tomb, 

finally put a prayer in the Western Wall, 

and had a Farewell-Jerusalem photoshoot with my Jerusalem roommates.

MAY

When I put the finishing touches on the Total Pillow Infomercial,

the addition on our house got carpeted,

and when I listened to Tim and Cameron's mission stories for hours.

  

JUNE

When Daniel graduated high school, 

I bought my very own car,

and I got a job as a tour guide of BYU.

JULY

When it was much too hot to sleep indoors so we took our mattresses outside,

and when I finally got to camp out for the 4th of July Parade.

AUGUST

When my cousin Kierstin stayed with me for a couple days,

 I turned 21,

I was finally reunited with my jerusalem roommates,

 won GOLD in the synchronized swimming competition,

my best friend/cousin/ex-roommate got married,

and when I got an unhealthy addiction to Hokulia shave ice.

SEPTEMBER 

When I taught Kindergarteners PE and had a blast doing it,

when I participated in the Dirty Dash in Midway, UT.

OCTOBER

When we celebrated the first marriage from our Jerusalem group,

 I went to Colorado (twice),

and survived visiting the scariest house I've ever been inside in my life.

NOVEMBER

When I went home for thanksgiving

and we ordered sushi for 24 people.

(Oh my delicious.)

DECEMBER

When we stopped at the Reno temple on our way to Utah,

wished everyone a very hairy Christmas,

and went to see the lights at temple square.  

It truly has been an INCREDIBLE year,

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

Oh what a life I'm livin',