Ok, so here is yet another example of how strange my mind is sometimes. I went to my BFF Lindsay's senior recital tonight (she rocked it by the way), and afterwards another friend and I were talking about how classy Barbara Steisand is (also pretty random considering we were at an opera performance). Anyway, that got that song from "The Way We Were" stuck in my head. Well some of the lyrics are about memories and that got me thinking about some of the things I remember. I also read some research about early memories lately. Then, that got me thinking about my earliest memories.
Phew!
All that is to say that this week's top ten is the Top Ten Random Memories from my childhood. I don't remember a lot, but I do remember a lot of weird details...
1) In elementary, we had the option of chocolate, 2%, or 1% milk for lunch. The 1% came in a green carton...so naturally we assumed it was poisonous...because green things are poisonous...apparently.
2) My first grade teacher had really long fingernails. She would walk around the class while we were working and if you weren't on task, she would tap you in the head. It was really annoying to me.
3) One day, when I was about four, I remember sitting on the kitchen counter at our house in Kearns. I was thinking about dying. I was thinking, "what if I die and I just disappear? What would it be like to not be here any more?" (I'm sure it was not that articulate, but that was the gist.) I got really depressed and started bawling my eyes out. Eventually my mom came and comforted me, but really now, what kind of four year old has moments of terrifying existential angst like that??
4) Cory, Wade, and I used to make shoes out of empty tissue boxes. We also made space suites out of paper grocery bags. We were awesome.
5) I used to think that all girls had brown eyes and all boys had blue eyes because that's how it was in my family. Me and mom have brown eyes, and Cory and Wade have blue eyes.
6) When we were in the car driving to the hospital to see Mom and Wade after Wade was born, the radio was playing "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles.
7) I argued passionately for Wade to be named Annie... because it was my favorite movie. Also, because every one knows that if you give a baby a girl name, it will be a girl. Duh...
8) In kindergarten, I remember going to this kids birthday party. We played that game where you tie a balloon to your ankle and then run around trying to pop every one else's balloon. I remember thinking, how dumb it was. Why blow up all those perfectly lovely balloons and then let other people pop them?
9) I remember my mom reading us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was so jealous of Charlie. (I was a chocolate addict even then...)
10) My favorite thing to wear in preschool were these bright pink stirrup pants. They were awesome. Ooo, and I also had some pink tights that I would wear with every dress...the purple one, the green one, it didn't matter.
What are some of your earliest memories?
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Gratitude
Cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessing of life and for the marvelous gifts and privileges each of us enjoy. The Lord has said that the meek shall inherit the earth. (See Matt. 5:5.) I cannot escape the interpretation that meekness implies a spirit of gratitude as opposed to an attitude of self-sufficiency, an acknowledgment of a greater power beyond oneself, a recognition of God, and an acceptance of his commandments. This is the beginning of wisdom. Walk with gratitude before him who is the giver of life and every good gift.
~Gordon B. Hinckley
I feel like I need to express some gratitude. Today I went to a special guest lecture about children's narratives and play. It was so interesting. The first thing I am grateful for is the opportunity I have to learn and spend so much time thinking. I love learning; it is so exciting to figure something out that you don't already know.
Also at this lecture was a group of people who have been super influential in my life with out realizing it. There were a lot of FCS faculty there, all of whom I had taken classes from. I ran in to Dr. Herrin, who I have taken three classes from- he wrote me letters of recommendation for my applications. Dr. Isabella taught the Intro to Human Development class that got me started in this direction. Dr. Brehl is an awesome human being first of all. She is also an awesome teacher. She got me interested in doing research and connected me with Holly and Cecilia. Speaking of Cecilia, she was there too. She has totally taken me under her wing and has been such a great resource and support. She calls her grad students her babies, and even though I am not one of her grad students she has adopted me into her academic family. Really that's what these people are. They are my academic family. I am often astounded by how generous every one is. I am so blessed to have been led to such a great group of people. It was just striking to see all these people in one room! The only ones who were missing today were Holly and Stacia.
Then I started thinking about all the people in my family family and my neighborhood family and my friend family. There are so many amazing people in this world. I'm sure that none of them have a clue how much I watch them and look up to them. The way people have reached out to me since the crap storm known as my father passed through has just blown me away. Going back even further, my amazing family has always been so supportive and close to me. This is no easy task considering how many of us there are! (10 aunts and uncles, 32 first cousins, 10-ish second cousins, plus the in-laws...and counting!) My ward is the most amazing group of people who really are like another extended family that I have; they are (for the most part) great at taking care of each other.
This might sound like a back-door brag, and I don't mean it that way at all, but I am surprised by how much people care about me. I am just me and yet there is this whole network of people (at school, at church, in the neighborhood, in my family...especially in my family) who bend over backwards for me on a regular basis. It really encourages me to want to be better and be that support to others. And I need to be better at doing what President Hinckley said- acknowledging God's hand in my life and being grateful for that. So this is me doing that now; I know that He has led me to where I am now. I know that I am in His hands. And I am so very thankful for all that I have been given and been able to experience.
~Gordon B. Hinckley
I feel like I need to express some gratitude. Today I went to a special guest lecture about children's narratives and play. It was so interesting. The first thing I am grateful for is the opportunity I have to learn and spend so much time thinking. I love learning; it is so exciting to figure something out that you don't already know.
Also at this lecture was a group of people who have been super influential in my life with out realizing it. There were a lot of FCS faculty there, all of whom I had taken classes from. I ran in to Dr. Herrin, who I have taken three classes from- he wrote me letters of recommendation for my applications. Dr. Isabella taught the Intro to Human Development class that got me started in this direction. Dr. Brehl is an awesome human being first of all. She is also an awesome teacher. She got me interested in doing research and connected me with Holly and Cecilia. Speaking of Cecilia, she was there too. She has totally taken me under her wing and has been such a great resource and support. She calls her grad students her babies, and even though I am not one of her grad students she has adopted me into her academic family. Really that's what these people are. They are my academic family. I am often astounded by how generous every one is. I am so blessed to have been led to such a great group of people. It was just striking to see all these people in one room! The only ones who were missing today were Holly and Stacia.
Then I started thinking about all the people in my family family and my neighborhood family and my friend family. There are so many amazing people in this world. I'm sure that none of them have a clue how much I watch them and look up to them. The way people have reached out to me since the crap storm known as my father passed through has just blown me away. Going back even further, my amazing family has always been so supportive and close to me. This is no easy task considering how many of us there are! (10 aunts and uncles, 32 first cousins, 10-ish second cousins, plus the in-laws...and counting!) My ward is the most amazing group of people who really are like another extended family that I have; they are (for the most part) great at taking care of each other.
This might sound like a back-door brag, and I don't mean it that way at all, but I am surprised by how much people care about me. I am just me and yet there is this whole network of people (at school, at church, in the neighborhood, in my family...especially in my family) who bend over backwards for me on a regular basis. It really encourages me to want to be better and be that support to others. And I need to be better at doing what President Hinckley said- acknowledging God's hand in my life and being grateful for that. So this is me doing that now; I know that He has led me to where I am now. I know that I am in His hands. And I am so very thankful for all that I have been given and been able to experience.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Something to Cheer You Up Today
I wish I were a glow worm,
A glow worm's never glum.
Cuz how can you be
grumpy, when the sun shines
out your bum?!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The University of Rochester
Oh boy, where do I start!
Over New Years, while I was staying with my good friend Allegra in Pennsylvania, I got an e-mail from Dr. Judi Smetana at the University of Rochester. I had applied to work with her in graduate school; she studies both parenting and moral development...perfect! Anyway, the email was to invite me to come and interview with her in february. Of course I was ecstatic. Allegra and I did a little dance around her kitchen, I called my mom, and I responded to Dr. Smetana "Yes of course!"
Fast forward about a month. I flew to Rochester for their interview weekend. It was one of the most nerve wracking, exhausting weekends of my life! I flew in on Friday after noon; my host, a very nice lady named Wendy, picked me up from the airport. Then that evening the current graduate students hosted a dinner for the applicants. I got to talk to quite a few people, which was great. They are all doing such interesting things!
Saturday was interview day. I got to talk to more graduate students; they asked what my interest were and why I thought Rochester and I would would be a good fit for each other. Then I talked to Dr. Smetana for an hour...I was totally nervous but held it together. She is super nice and very fun to talk to. I interviewed with some more faculty as well. Saturday night there was an informal dinner with all the faculty, grad students, and applicants. It was cool to get to talk to Dr. Smetana and the other students in a less formal setting. Then I flew home on Sunday. It was a quick, but informative trip.
They said it would be 2-3 weeks before they made any decisions so I came home to wait. Then on Thursday this week I got an email from Dr. Smetana saying she would like to talk to me and asking when would be a good time to call. I kind of freaked out a little. It hadn't even been a week yet! But she called on Friday and said they would like to offer me a place in their graduate program! Again, I had a little dance party around my house. I am so excited about this. It's a lot to think about, but it is a great opportunity and not one I think I can pass up. Rochester is an amazing school and Dr. Smetana will be a great mentor!
It is so nice to a) be able to talk intelligently with people who are interested in the same nerdy things that I am interested in and b) to have all the work I have done for the past 4 years validated in a tangible way. I'm going to get paid to go to school for pete's sake! Yay!
Over New Years, while I was staying with my good friend Allegra in Pennsylvania, I got an e-mail from Dr. Judi Smetana at the University of Rochester. I had applied to work with her in graduate school; she studies both parenting and moral development...perfect! Anyway, the email was to invite me to come and interview with her in february. Of course I was ecstatic. Allegra and I did a little dance around her kitchen, I called my mom, and I responded to Dr. Smetana "Yes of course!"
Fast forward about a month. I flew to Rochester for their interview weekend. It was one of the most nerve wracking, exhausting weekends of my life! I flew in on Friday after noon; my host, a very nice lady named Wendy, picked me up from the airport. Then that evening the current graduate students hosted a dinner for the applicants. I got to talk to quite a few people, which was great. They are all doing such interesting things!
Saturday was interview day. I got to talk to more graduate students; they asked what my interest were and why I thought Rochester and I would would be a good fit for each other. Then I talked to Dr. Smetana for an hour...I was totally nervous but held it together. She is super nice and very fun to talk to. I interviewed with some more faculty as well. Saturday night there was an informal dinner with all the faculty, grad students, and applicants. It was cool to get to talk to Dr. Smetana and the other students in a less formal setting. Then I flew home on Sunday. It was a quick, but informative trip.
They said it would be 2-3 weeks before they made any decisions so I came home to wait. Then on Thursday this week I got an email from Dr. Smetana saying she would like to talk to me and asking when would be a good time to call. I kind of freaked out a little. It hadn't even been a week yet! But she called on Friday and said they would like to offer me a place in their graduate program! Again, I had a little dance party around my house. I am so excited about this. It's a lot to think about, but it is a great opportunity and not one I think I can pass up. Rochester is an amazing school and Dr. Smetana will be a great mentor!
It is so nice to a) be able to talk intelligently with people who are interested in the same nerdy things that I am interested in and b) to have all the work I have done for the past 4 years validated in a tangible way. I'm going to get paid to go to school for pete's sake! Yay!
Posters on the Hill
A few weeks ago I got to participate in Research Posters on the Hill. The U and Utah State put it on every year as a chance for undergraduates to talk about their research and for the state legislature to see why they should continue to fund higher education.
It was a lot of fun! I got to talk to a lot of people about what I do and why I think it's important.
I'm so lucky that I found something that I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. And now, I know I get to do it! (See my next post.)
Friday, January 27, 2012
Miss Representation
I did something super nerdy. Even nerdier than usual. I went to see a screening of a documentary...at a museum...not for a class. And I'm so glad that I did.
It was called Miss Representation. It's all about sexism in the media. If you haven't seen this movie, you should. It completely expressed a lot of what I have been thinking for a long time.
Despite the women's rights movement women are still objectified and sexualized. Some would argue that is more true today than it was fifty years ago. The problems this creates for young girls (and boys) are so far reaching. The rates of depression in women and girls has increased dramatically in the last decade. Violent crimes against women are also increasing. At the same time, women's satisfaction with their lives and bodies is decreasing. Young girls have few role models, even fictional ones, to look up to; only 1/4 of movies have a female protagonist and most of the their stories are about finding a man. All of this leads young girls to grow into women who are less confident and empowered, and who do not believe that they are worth more than their body.
For example, did you know that for the first time since 1970 women lost seats in congress? We make up 51% of the population, but only 17% of senators and representatives! After the way that both Hillary Clinton and Sara Pallin were treated in the 2008 election, it's no wonder women stay away from politics! Everyone was more concerned about what they looked like than what they were actually saying.
Looking back I think that my feminist streak comes from the fact that I am the only girl. My brothers and my parents never made gender an issue. If I was going to play with the boys I played what they were playing; if they were going to play with me they played what I was playing. We were adventurers and pirates and space travelers, and all kind of other awesome stuff together. It wasn't until I went to school and was told that I couldn't play kickball because it was a boys game that I realized that boys and girls were expected to act differently. Another time, my friend (who was a boy) was teased mercilessly because we sometimes played Family together...it probably didn't help that I was the mom who went to work and he was the dad who stayed home with the kids. (To make it so he wouldn't get teased, we decided that the reason he stayed home was actually because he was a super hero. Having a day job would distract him from his crime fighting duties.)
The whole thing makes me really upset. It seems like this discrimination is so engrained in our culture that there is no way to root it out! But there is hope; people (obviously) are still talking about and thinking about this problem. And when I have children, boys or girls, they will be taught to respect and value everyone as a human being, based on their minds and hearts.
It was called Miss Representation. It's all about sexism in the media. If you haven't seen this movie, you should. It completely expressed a lot of what I have been thinking for a long time.
Despite the women's rights movement women are still objectified and sexualized. Some would argue that is more true today than it was fifty years ago. The problems this creates for young girls (and boys) are so far reaching. The rates of depression in women and girls has increased dramatically in the last decade. Violent crimes against women are also increasing. At the same time, women's satisfaction with their lives and bodies is decreasing. Young girls have few role models, even fictional ones, to look up to; only 1/4 of movies have a female protagonist and most of the their stories are about finding a man. All of this leads young girls to grow into women who are less confident and empowered, and who do not believe that they are worth more than their body.
For example, did you know that for the first time since 1970 women lost seats in congress? We make up 51% of the population, but only 17% of senators and representatives! After the way that both Hillary Clinton and Sara Pallin were treated in the 2008 election, it's no wonder women stay away from politics! Everyone was more concerned about what they looked like than what they were actually saying.
Looking back I think that my feminist streak comes from the fact that I am the only girl. My brothers and my parents never made gender an issue. If I was going to play with the boys I played what they were playing; if they were going to play with me they played what I was playing. We were adventurers and pirates and space travelers, and all kind of other awesome stuff together. It wasn't until I went to school and was told that I couldn't play kickball because it was a boys game that I realized that boys and girls were expected to act differently. Another time, my friend (who was a boy) was teased mercilessly because we sometimes played Family together...it probably didn't help that I was the mom who went to work and he was the dad who stayed home with the kids. (To make it so he wouldn't get teased, we decided that the reason he stayed home was actually because he was a super hero. Having a day job would distract him from his crime fighting duties.)
The whole thing makes me really upset. It seems like this discrimination is so engrained in our culture that there is no way to root it out! But there is hope; people (obviously) are still talking about and thinking about this problem. And when I have children, boys or girls, they will be taught to respect and value everyone as a human being, based on their minds and hearts.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Pennsylvania Trip
For Christmas my momma sent me off to PA to visit some friends I made there when we lived there in high school. I stayed with my BFFL Allegra and her family. They were so kind to take me in!
These are the cool clouds outside the plane over Lake Michigan.
Downtown Gettysburg
Panera...yum!
My dear Sister Wilt. I love her!
Happy New Years!
The ladies at Panera...again. I love them!
The Hershey Singing Cows!
I love chocolate world!
Me and Jen
At Tea.
Pip pip.
Yummy, delicate, tea food. When it looks pretty it just tastes better.
I had so so much fun. It was great to be able to get away and see my girls. I haven't seen these guys for way too long! I am so blessed with the most amazing friends in the world!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)