A Little Perspective

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A Holy Day

I knew today was going to be a good day when I left to work and realized that the shirt I was wearing had approximately four different holes in it. Ok so they weren't big holes, but holes nonetheless, and when you're wearing a brightly colored undershirt...it tends to stand out. So of course I had to put a hoodie on over it since that's the only thing I had in my car, even though it was a scorching 95 degrees outside today. Luckily, the dungeon of special collections tends to be a bit chilly so I didn't die of heat stroke. Moral of the story? Next time you're sifting through your clothes trying to decide what needs to take a trip to D.I., make sure the ones with multiple holes get thrown in there so you don't get charged for indecent exposure in public.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Packing and Goodbyes

So I've been home for the last few days entertaining myself with activities like going to the drive-in, watching zoolander, eating cafe rio, and basking in sunshine with some of my favorite people. Life is good. However, as much as it pains me to say it, I kind of miss Provo. I'm going back in the morning, so the feeling will be short-lived, but I am ashamed to admit it nonetheless. Provo really has become my home. Another sad realization of my life. 

Anywho, while recovering from efy, I have managed to successfully procrastinate packing, which is part of why I came home in the first place. Packing is one of those things in life that no one ever really does until they absolutely have to. I keep telling myself I have to because I'm working for the next three weeks and then I leave, but that doesn't seem to make my bins magically organize themselves. If I pack, then reality has to hit and then I'll have to start saying goodbye. In case you didn't know, saying goodbye is probably my least favorite thing in the entire world. I don't enjoy making an emotional spectacle of myself, and I usually do when it comes to goodbyes. So I'll probably just keep procrastinating that packing until I trick myself into thinking I'm emotionally stable enough to face the reality that I'm actually leaving. 

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Just Call Me Stalker

So I've found that on the weeks where I disappear to EFY land, I tend to blog and facebook stalk more intently than at other time in my life. I wouldn't neccesarily call myself an internet addict, especially on a normal week when I have better things to be doing like reading books and soaking up sunshine. However, it seems to be a pattern that when I'm forced to spend almost every waking moment with large groups of youth, I flee to facebook and blogspot. Now don't get me wrong, I love my job as a counselor and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but just for a few minutes a day, I wish to immerse myself in something that is above the average teenage intellect. So even though I haven't been making comments on anything, fellow bloggers and facebookers, know that you are my salvation and my sanity. Bless you for providing something to entertain me with so I don't fall too far down the rabbit hole of EFY.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Tired, Sick, Sore, and Going Back for More

So my first session of EFY has officially concluded. After sleeping in an unimaginably hot bedroom the first night without a pillow, waking up at 5:30am every morning to take girls jogging, injuring my foot and limping for the majority of the week, being sarcastically insulted at least once a day by my participants, and many many other great moments, I find that I still want to go back and do it all over again. In fact, they offered me another week, so I will be! Lucky me. Honestly though, all sarcasm aside, it was a fantastic week. My group of youth were incredible and I really will miss them. I think they taught me more than I could ever have hoped to teach them. But that's the beauty of the gospel, everyone teaching each other. And I cannot wait to go on my mission and experience it every single day! Anyways, as with tradition, I must share some of the greater moments from my week with Be Invigorated, so here they are...

Sitting down on the grass next to the very dry witted Mike and unknowingly leaning back on his hand. He then exclaims, "Whoa Elyse! What are you trying to do? Hold my hand? Are you trying to get FRESH with me?!?!"

Waiting in the very long line at the cannon center with Heather for some orange chicken, only to be given a plate with what we liked to call 'prison rations'. So I rather sarcastically say "I waited in line for THIS?!?!" To which the poor cannon center worker apologetically replied "I'm sorry!!! Did you want more??" Of course I took more. And I know I am a terrible person and a bad example. But hey, squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Staying late at the dance after all the boy participants were sent back to their rooms. After being falsely led to believe all the girls were in trouble, the DJ and leaders proceeded to play the Hoedown Throwdown. Seeing a room full of girls dancing to Hannah Montana was the perfect way to end the day.

Watching my youth devise a company cheer that centered around the participant in our group who wore a black cape...every single day. I kid you not, Mason and his cape were the biggest sensation of the session. Awesome.

Trying to roast starbursts on pizza night with my girls by throwing them up into the lamp overhang. And then having an ugly face contest which I hands down won. Check facebook for photographic documentation soon.

Overall, a very successful week.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Going To My Happy Place

Today was kind of a crappy day. Details are unnecessary, but suffice it to say it was bleh for a number of reasons. So what did I do? Go to Barnes and Noble, buy two more books (sidenote: i just started poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver and it is phenomenal) that I really don't have time to read, and got myself a dr. pepper/cherry slurpee. That alone can redeem almost any kind of day.

Whilst perusing the bookshelves, I realized I have a serious addiction. And along with this addiction comes a great paradox in my life. I work in a library. I love being surrounded by books. And I think the library is a wonderful and vastly under-appreciated place. However, outside of school, the library cannot serve my needs. I have tried in vain over the past few months to check out books for recreational reading...and failed miserably. And the one time I successfully finished a library book, I was very disappointed I had done so. I know this seems illogical, but I have my reasons. The main one being that I hate reading a book that I don't own. I can't underline my favorite lines or pull it out and re-read a key passage weeks later. And when the time comes for me to recommend it to someone else, I don't have a copy to lend. Aside from these clearly legitimate excuses, one of my lifelong dreams is to open a used bookstore. So I might as well start my collection now right? It's an investment for the future... at least that's what I tell myself when I get to the register and cringe as I swipe my card.

So, I will now go to my happy place where books can be underlined to my heart's content.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Overshare

I'm starting to think my blog in general is turning into one giant overshare. You know it's bad when your mom calls you up and says "I read your blog, it sounds like you're having a meltdown. What's going on?" Sometimes I say things on here that I have absolutely no desire to talk about out loud, that's why I'm typing it. I feel like it violates some unwritten law of the universe when someone brings it up. Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered that anyone reads the absurd ramblings from my head at all, but I somehow convince myself that everything I blog about is anonymous...or that no one is really reading it...so it kind of freaks me out when I realize people actually read it. Does that make sense? Probably not. I rarely make logical sense these days. Anyways, the point is, well I don't know what the point is. Maybe just to say that when your blog starts turning into an overshare, it's like you're in one of those dreams where you go to school in nothing but your underwear and everyone is just staring at you as you desperately try to find something to hide behind. But there's never anything to hide behind. Just you and your underwear.