freckled confessions

Comic Sans

2016-06-07T05:35:00.001-06:00

Following is a diddy I recently wrote for my Book Design class. Just might be my favorite class so far:

Where did it come from? And why has it become the laughingstock of the typography world?

Comic Sans MS (often referred to as simply Comic Sans) was designed by typeface designer and former Microsoft employee Vincent Connare. This is the typeface that has gained the most attention, though he also designed Trebuchet MS, as well as helped to finalize the design for Marlett and Webdings (the one that was launched along with Internet Explorer).

Connare studied at the New York Institute of Technology, and got his master’s degree in Type Design at the University of Reading. He created the Comic Sans typeface while working for Microsoft, when he was working with a team on a children’s software program called “Microsoft Bob.” The programmers had created a test version of the software with a welcome screen that featured a cartoon dog speaking in a speech bubble. Much to Connare’s travail, the speech bubble featured text that appeared in the not-so-comical Times New Roman font. He decided they needed a font that mimicked what you could find in comic books. He proceeded to pull out some comic books that he had on hand in his office, used a mouse to draw the font on his computer by hand, and created the typeface in less than a week. He originally named the font “Comic Book,” but decided “Comic Sans” sounded more like a font name, and almost all of the letters (besides the capital “I”) were “sans” (without) serifs.

Comic Sans has gained most of its notoriety, however, as there have been movements against the use of Comic Sans - claiming that it is a disgrace to the typography world. Websites such as Ban Comic Sans (a campaign specifically designed to do away with the typeface), Comic Sans Criminal (a website dedicated to helping people use Comic Sans appropriately), and even an Inappropriate Comic Sans tumblr account have allowed designers from all over to unite in their mockery of the typeface. One designer even took the time to outline why it’s a painful font, citing offenses such as mismanagement of visual weight, poor kerning, but ultimately coming to the conclusion that “the story of Comic Sans is not that of a really terrible font, but rather of a mediocre font, used incorrectly on a massive scale.”

An article in the Wall Street Journal illustrates Connare’s feelings on the Comic Sans controversy: “Mr. Connare has looked on, alternately amused and mortified, as Comic Sans has spread from a software project at Microsoft Corp. ... to grade-school fliers and holiday newsletters, Disney ads and Beanie Baby tags, business emails, street signs, Bibles, porn sites, gravestones and hospital posters about bowel cancer.”

The best hope for Comic Sans is that it can be used when appropriate. To quote the Comic Sans Criminal site, these situations would be:

When your audience is 11 years old
When you’re designing a comic
When your audience is dyslexic and has stated that they prefer Comic Sans

That’s it!

An Ode to Mom

2016-05-08T05:10:00.000-06:00

I'm always so daunted by Mother's Day. How do you begin to thank the person who literally brought you into this world? I mean if she did NOTHING else for you - who else (divine beings aside) has done something like that for you? I've not been pregnant, but from what I've heard, it's no easy feat. Then there's that whole raising a child thing. Nbd.

That said, I would like to try, though it be inadequate, cheesy, and a bit braggy (it's socially acceptable to boast about one's mother, correct?), to describe why my mom is the best mom:

She loves everyone.

Like EVERYone. It's impressive. You show me someone who would drive anyone else absolutely nuts, and my mom will be able to find no less than five redeeming qualities in that same person. I'm willing to bet on it.

She's the best cheerleader.
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders listen up - you could learn a few things from this lady (plus she's hotter than all y'all). Every time I have a new idea, a new direction I want to go with my life, a new business I want to start, a new spiritual path I've decided to take, she's like, "I think you should go for it." She's always encouraging me. Believing in me. I could tell her I'm running for president of the United States, and she'd get out her computer and start making campaign posters.

She feels my pain.

From scraped knees to broken hearts and lost dreams - she hurts when I'm hurting; she cries when I'm crying. She can't take the pain away (though I know she wishes with all her heart she could), but she can take me in her arms and do that soothing thing that she's so good at. Man she's good at that soothing thing.

She's steady.

Like a rock. I've seen this woman go through some really tough stuff. And I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. But I've never, not once, seen her faith waiver. I've never once seen her lose her hope. I'm over here losing hope all the time like no one's business, but that's just not her style. It gives me hope that maybe someday I can have hope like she does.

She's just so dang fun.

I'm going to repost a video at the risk of getting in trouble, but I think it's worth it. I can only get in so much trouble now that I'm an adult, right?

See that? Not every mom can get down like that. She's a zip-lining, adventure-loving, late-night-chatting, expert-shopping, down-for-whatever kind of mom. She's not only my mom, she's my best friend. And one that I just can't get enough of.

So. That's my attempt. Thank you, Mom, for being my mom. I wouldn't have it any other way.

rain

2016-04-29T06:35:00.001-06:00

Yesterday morning it was raining.

I've tried (not that hard) to be one of those people who likes rain. One of those people who doesn't grumble the entire time her glasses are getting speckled with raindrops while simultaneously fogging up. One of those people who loves it when she forgets to wear the right shoes and has wet socks all day. Yay, rain!

However, I am reading a book that suggests looking for the good in everything - to find at least one reason to be grateful for everything.

So I tried with the rain.

I gave him a chance (I don't know why he's masculine - just go with it).

I didn't want to go with the OBVIOUS reason of it doing something like helping the earth, cause that's too easy right?

So, with that reason aside, the next one I came up with was "Hey, this means fewer people will want to make the trek across campus to go to the lunchtime yoga class!" Good job, Anna. That's the yoga spirit. Wouldn't want other people cramping your zen.

I tried to come up with a few others (I get to wear boots..??) and finally came back to the earth-helping qualities of rain. I looked around at the lush greenery on GW campus, breathed in the fresh-smelling rainy air, and just accepted the rain and the good that it was offering.

I also made my confession in said yoga class, and luckily no one (outwardly) judged me. One girl even suggested, "Just think of this - the rain helps you to appreciate the sunshine."

I guess having other people in your yoga class isn't so bad.

For Grandpa

2013-03-19T09:02:00.001-06:00

Sometimes the only way to create something new is to go all the way back to the beginning

2013-01-07T01:24:00.000-07:00

So, yeah, it's 1:00 am in the morning, and here's what I'm thinking:

I'm not really big on New Year's resolutions... not that I don't think they're great. They're great. I'm just always making resolutions for myself, so there's nothing super special about making them at the beginning of the year as opposed to any other time.

However, there is something about looking forward and realizing that you have a whole year ahead of you, and that this year could be dramatically different than the last. And sure, there are lots of factors that could affect the next year... but it's pretty cool to think that you are ultimately the one who can make it different.

So, I have a lot of things that I want to do differently this year. But I mostly want to write about one, because I want to make a public statement about it - forcing myself to be more accountable.

I am going to get healthy. I've gone through periods in my life where I'm really focusing on eating healthy, exercising, etc., and it just makes me happy. I know it's cliche. I know it's nothing new. But I am going to rededicate myself, and I'm going to blog about it. And then I'm going to pretend that a bunch of people are reading about my success and being motivated by me, so that it will keep me going (whether or not that's actually true doesn't really matter).

So, when you see me, get ready to see a happier, healthier me. Because this year is going to be different. It doesn't matter how many times I've failed in the past - because I'm starting fresh. [Insert cheesy motivational closing line here]

P.S. I'm going to be looking real hot, so keep yourselves under control.

Runnin' Runnin' and Runnin' Runnin'

2012-09-17T10:48:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I might actually start writing on my blog again! This is pretty exciting. My life has been a bit crazy lately, and to help curb some of the stress, I've started running again.

I've realized why I love running. A lot of the time (and yes, this is something I'm working on), I find that I beat myself up... I get mad at myself for eating that brownie, or for leaving my room a little too messy, or for slacking on exercise.

BUT when I run, I transform. I suddenly become this awesome coach/friend/motivational speaker. When I start feeling the burn, I hear myself saying, "It's okay, you can get through this." When I feel like I can't go any further, I tell myself, "Okay, just make it to the next stoplight." Then when I make it to the next stoplight, I hear myself saying, "It's just two more miles. You can do two miles easy." And when I finish, it's like I'm handing myself a gold medal and hoisting myself up on my own shoulders... I couldn't be more proud.

You should try it.

Wrong Number?

2012-09-09T11:57:00.003-06:00

So, I've made it a goal in life to never give up a good wrong-number text conversation. If you're not sure what I mean, reference this blog post... Eli is pretty inspirational with his command of wrong-number text conversation. Anyway, here was my attempt:

Me (thinking this was my friend, Ashley): Hey what are you up to tonight?:)

"Ashley": Not much who are you?

Me: Anna!:)

"Ashley": Anna who?

Me: B. (obviously I spelled out my last name... but to avoid stalkers, I will stick with "B" on my blog. But those of you who know my last name know that it's pretty unique and this person can now easily Facebook stalk me. Don't worry, though, my settings are super private... I think)

"Ashley": Do I know you?

Me: Anna B... from Provo... maybe this is the wrong number. Is this Ashley?

Mystery Person: This is the wrong number.

Me: Sorry!

Mystery Person: Are you hott? (We can now assume this person is Mystery Boy...)

Mystery Boy: How old are you?

Me: Super hot

(Keep in mind that at this point, I get a random call from an 801 number: "Hello." "Who is this?" "Anna." "Anna Who?" "Anna B." ...and they hang up.)

Mystery Boy: How old are you?

Me: 54

Me: That too old?

Mystery Boy: Nope its perfect :) you didnt sound 54 though

Me: I know... I sound and look young for my age. How old are you?

Mystery Boy: Im 55

Me: Oh nice. What do you like to do for fun?

Mystery Boy: I like to watch byu football and go camping (Come on, seriously? Get a little creative...)

Me: I like to play with my 10 cats and knit.

Mystery Boy: I love cats. Did you go to byu?

Me: Yes I did go to BYU back in the day. I was quite a looker back then... I must say. I lived in Helaman Halls and was a Cougarette. Did you go to the Y?

Mystery Boy: (at this point... the guilt must have set in...) I am right now I'm 22 i just got back from a mission from washington state.

Me: What??!! You mean you have been making all this up??? ;)

...no response...

Dang it... I probably just blew it with my soul mate, huh?

OneofthosesappyendoftheyearpoststhatIsupposeisnecessary

2012-01-01T23:30:00.001-07:00

Did anyone wake up today and think "HOLY CRAP it's 2012 already???!!!!

Yeah, I didn't, but it did dawn on me after my usual morning drowsiness wore off.

Seriously this last year has FLOWN by... so I guess I need to, for my own sake, go through some of its highlights:

Getting a full-time JOB. Whoa. Seriously? I've been a legit grown up for a full year now? Someone send me to Never Never Land before it gets too out of hand...

Getting my braces off: One word--finally.

Getting a Lagoon season pass. Pretty sure if I keep doing this I'll never really grow up. Wherever I was there was usually a good 5-year age gap within a 50-foot radius. It was super fun... but I'm pretty sure I'm doing Seven Peaks this year. Gotta work on that killer tan (aka see how many more freckles I can get...).

Traveling: Vegas, Idaho, Arizona, Idaho, California, Idaho... well, I could work on this one a bit...

Met Jimmer: Okay, 2011 was definitely filled with a lot of Jimmer obsession. A big highlight was getting to go to the end-of-the-season basketball banquet, and meet Jimmer. It was... yeah. Amazing.

Zumba Instructor: After many years as a dedicated Zumba STUDENT, I have now become the instructor. I was already in love with/addicted to Zumba... and if it were possible... I am now even more so. 2012 is going to be a BIG Zumba year.

Back Injury Recovery: I had my first real injury in a while... but luckily I was able to recover quite quickly. Some people told me I might never dance again... but luckily I had already dedicated my life to dance and was able to come back.

Dedicated my life to dance: This really deserves its own section. After discovering Zumba, Just Dance 2 & 3, and Michael Jackson the Experience, I discovered my true calling in life. Dance. I even got to perform Thriller at our office talent show. It rocked.

Justin Bieber: This year has been full of JB. I saw Never Say Never in theaters (even got a few people to watch it who later became beliebers), became an official JB follower on Twitter (I may or may not have created a Twitter account for that purpose. Well, I also wanted to follow Jimmer...), requested his songs at every chance possible (unashamedly), and even dressed up as him for Halloween.

Emily's wedding: We were able to have a special reunion as the first of my closest friends from high school got married this year. It was a beautiful ceremony, and so awesome to reconnect with my BFFs.

11/11/11: Classiest/most epic party I have ever thrown. Anyone up for 12/12/12?

Happy New Year!

thoughts

2011-11-08T00:03:00.002-07:00

I should be in bed

CORRECTION: I am in bed. I should be asleep.

I have lots of thoughts. Always. One time, my roommate asked me if I would rather have my heart make a sound every time I felt twitterpated or have my brain make a sound every time I was thinking pretty hard.

It was a hard decision.

I think I'm finally adjusting. I think.

Isn't it nice to talk? People. I love people.

There is no substitute for. Real. Life. People.

Some thoughts

2011-08-11T17:16:00.003-06:00

I love my food blog. It's so funny... every time I write a new post, I seriously read it... and reread it... and reread it... and stare at it... and stare at it some more. It sounds awfully narcissistic, but I suppose it's just like having a child. I bet some mothers just sit and stare at their children, amazed at what they've created. That's the beauty of creation.

Also... so I've been in an editor-type position for more than 6 months now. Something I've noticed is that it's one of those jobs where people don't notice when you do it right. It's sad. However, you do it wrong... and BAM! You are a crappy editor. Life is rough, I suppose.

But I still love it.

And if you find a spelling/punctuation/whatever error in my blog... just know I'm human too. And I speak real good (it's a joke people, A JOKE).

Last, but not least, I don't think I fit the normal stereotype of "editor." While I do cringe at the sight of a misplaced apostrophe, I will not correct anyone's speech. I think it is rude and unnecessary. I stand by the idea that if everyone spoke properly, the world would be kind of a boring place.

Seriously.

Random

2011-07-07T19:42:00.003-06:00

You know what is an overused word? Random.

"No one tells us, girls who don't go on dates, that remembering can be almost as good as what actually happens."

"Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above"

"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do;
you see I've forgotten, if they're green, or they're blue.
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean...
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen."

"To love another person... is to see the face of God"

"Love doesn't hurt, so I know I'm not falling in love, I'm just falling to pieces."

"I'm through accepting limits, 'cause someone says they're so."

"Did I say something way too honest that made you run and hide, like a scared little boy?"

I wonder if any of this makes sense out of context. Enjoy.

Ugh.

2011-06-16T23:19:00.001-06:00

SOoooo one thing I love about being single is that you get to hear a lot of theories about dating.

Seriously.

SO FUN.

But one thing I've heard is that boys are supposed to be really easy to understand.

(Don't look too much into it) they say.

I mean, I think I'm a fairly bright individual.

And I can't figure them boys out for the life of me.

Sunshine & Freckles: A charming account from a freckle-faced sun lover

2011-05-15T10:14:00.006-06:00

Okay, so I had a really angry post that I wrote while blogger was down, and maybe it's better that it's not posted.

Haha... (nervous laugh)

Anyway, summer is bomb. Let me tell you why.

SUNSHINE. Now, I KNOW I love sunshine... but I think when it's wintery and cold like death I kind of forget just how much I love it. Then I walk outside one day and feel its warm, comforting rays caressing my skin, and I just want to stand there and soak it up FOREVERRRRRRR. There is, seriously, nothing better than that feeling. I have GOT to live in California.. or Florida... or Hawaii... or Texas. Yeah, I think those are my options. I need summer to be the majority of the year. I guess I could go with Ecuador, too.

Sunshine also means that I get a lot of freckles. Now, I used to be annoyed by my freckles. I can't say I ever really HATED them... but I was definitely annoyed by them. I think I've told this anecdote before... but... once I had one of my relatives ask me if I ever tried to wash them off. I think I legitimately thought, for at least half a second, "Will that work??!" Figured that one out pretty quick.

I had another relative, however, tell me they were angel kisses. I like that.

There must be some angels out there that REALLY love me.

OMGosh maybe I should post something once in a while

2011-04-13T00:18:00.003-06:00

Well, it's been a while.

Maybe it's because nothing really changes in my life.

I wake up. I shower. I read my scriptures. I grab a protein bar on the way out the door. I go to work.

I work.

I get off work at 5:00. I eat dinner.

I usually do some kind of physical activity.

Then I have time for one optional activity, such as hanging out with friends, watching a movie (or part of one), blogging, cooking, reading... and then I'm supposed to go to bed at 11 (which I am clearly not doing tonight).

Then I go to bed.

Repeat.

I Never Metaphor I Didn't Like

2011-03-13T10:25:00.004-06:00

Sometimes, when I look at the state of the world right now, I worry about our future. I mean, what happens when all our Henry David Thoreaus are playing Call of Duty instead of musing over the complexities of life at Walden Pond? Anyway, when I read these metaphors--real metaphors from real essays submitted by real (whatever that means) high school English teachers--my fears were washed away...

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a
surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 pm instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 pm traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 pm at a speed of 35 mph

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighbourhood with picket fences that resembled Halle Berry's teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from
stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

ThoughtsthoUGHTSTHOUGHTSgetOUTofmybrain

2011-02-13T23:38:00.004-07:00

So, life. Life. Life is fun. Life is funny.

I just wrote a bunch of stuff about being grown up, and then I got bored with it. I've heard that to be a good writer, you have to be willing to throw a good majority of your writing out.

This blog is a good example. There are really only a handful of posts that I really love.

My mind goes a million miles per minute. I feel sometimes like writing is the only way to just EMPTY it out. I should be sleeping right now, but it just. won't. stop.

VISION. It's hard. Life right now. Elementary school: next step, junior high. Junior high: next step, high school. High school: next step, college. College: next step, graduation/job. Graduation/job: next step...

wait

Umm

What do I do with my life now? What do I work towards?

I mean sure, there's grad school. Or having babies. Or getting really rich.

It's kind of scary when you don't have a next step. Not scary in a oh-my-gosh-what-am-i-gonna-do-now kind of a way (though it was that kind of scary for a while), but scary in a oh-my-gosh-please-don't-let-me-stop-progressing-and-learning-and-being-an-interesting-person kind of way. It would be easy to just

become

complacent.

So, I'm going to live life fully.

What good is your life

if it doesn't affect anyone else's?

God's Army

2011-02-07T21:19:00.005-07:00

Okay, so I finally had some inspiration.

I can't take complete credit for it though. I got a letter in the mail today from one of my missionaries. There was a hilarious story in it. That made me think of another hilarious story from another letter... so I'm gonna share them both with you.

Missionary Story #1 (Elder C., South Dakota Rapid City Mission)
At the end of September, my trainer and I had invited a fellow named Jose to church. We met him in front of his apartment at 8:30 (he lived 3 buildings down from us) and were waiting for a ride from a member who also happens to live on our street. My trainer realized that we needed the "Deberes del Sacerdocio" book from the car. It was within sight and sound (I love how he includes this, you know, because I'm his MTC teacher), so I stood there with Jose. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing came. I looked down the street where Elder R was and then back at Jose, who started walking away from me. I looked back at R and when my gaze returned to Jose, he was running down the street! I had no idea what to do... so I just stood there. Jose disappeared around the corner and my companion came back.

"Where is Jose?"

"He ran away."

"What?!"

"He and his cowboy hat ran away and disappeared around the corner!"

"That's when you go running with him, Elder C!"

So yeah, that is the story of Jose who ran away...

Missionary Story #2 (Elder D., Utah Ogden Mission)
I'm sure every mission has their problems with drunks and druggies but Ogden seems to be a special place. And let me tell you something first - everybody knows who you are - member or nonmember. You knock a door and they know you're Mormon and a missionary.

But anyways - these people, as you've probably noticed, are attracted to missionaries. They sniff us out and find us or maybe it's just me. Maybe I smile too much or look approachable. It needs to stop. I'll share a story about this one guy we ran into.

So we were leaving a dinner appointment and started talking to this guy obviously enjoying life a little too much, if you know what I mean. He asks us if we baptize people and we say sure and then he tells us -

"That's good. Because I've already been baptized - in my dreams. I floated over a lake and then dropped and submerged myself."

He tells us he flies a lot in his dreams. I'm sure he does.

He then tells us one time he met the devil in one of his dreams. But like a multicolored devil. Like a rainbow devil. With three faces. Here's what his faces were - the first, the face of a wolf. The second, a monkey. And the third - the third was just a face.

He then explains that the devil bit off his fingers and when he asks, "Hey, what's up devil? Why did you bite off my finger?" the devil says, "Don't worry about it. It's just a dream."

Not as funny as the cheeses one... but still good.

Writer's block

2011-02-07T20:25:00.002-07:00

You know, sometimes I sit down to blog, and I don't really know what I'm going to write about.

But then, it just comes.

I'm thinking that right now would be a good time for it to come.

Yeah.

Any time now.

Confessions

2011-01-29T23:02:00.005-07:00

I wear a Hello Kitty onesie to bed.

I sometimes break the ten-second rule. Especially with dessert.

I listen to Justin Bieber. And I like it. Mostly to work out. But still.

I often break into dance in my bedroom while I'm getting ready. Especially if the Black Eyed Peas come up on my playlist. This occurs with varying amounts of clothes on.

I have a skinny mirror. Sometimes I pretend it is the real one, and that the other one is a fat mirror.

Asian stereotypes are some of the few that I still laugh at. I'm working on it.

I once beat all the levels of Sally's Spa on my iPod touch. It's not as easy as it sounds.

I dream of going to Harry Potter Land. I'm seriously considering it as a potential honeymoon spot.

I have a miniature version of la Virgen Guadalupe (Maria) on my keychain. I think she brings me luck.

I have a bigger celebrity crush on Jack Black than Brad Pitt.

I actually like grammar. And balancing chemistry equations.

Guess who's back?

2011-01-21T17:29:00.002-07:00

I know, I know.

It's about time.

Well, I'll skip the paragraph-long introduction that includes how SORRY I am for not writing in so long and how I really should have been posting more regularly and just how bad I feel... (well, I tried)

Anyway, I have started a new job!! Hurrah!!! I am so excited, that I am going to turn this blog post into a list. Who doesn't love lists?

Things that I like about being a full-time BYU employee that I never really thought about before:
1. Really cool BYU wardrobe. I know. I'm even excited about going to the mall and buying khaki pants. Who knew.

2. Lunch breaks. I don't know if y'all knew this, but it usually takes less than an hour to eat lunch. That means I get to eat lunch and sometimes even sneak in a nap. Or an episode of 30 Rock.

3. Parking in faculty/staff parking. I have been tortured by FOUR LONG YEARS by the "A" parking lots. I never thought the day would come where I could station my very own 1997 Isuzu Rodeo with the squeaky fan belt among such an elite fleet of employee cars. I will admit, I was still a little scared the first few days. Despite my scarred past with BYU Parking, however, I have been able to overcome my fears and fully embrace my parking privileges.

4. Benefits. Need I say more? Before this job, I thought a 401(k) was some kind of marathon or something.

5. My very own desk. And computer. With a password. I can put my post-it notes wherever I want. And I don't have to worry about some other random employee putting a weird cat background on my computer.

6. Being in Provo. I'm not trying to be sarcastic here. I am really really trying to be positive, promise. Though it has been a challenge, three things have made living in Provo still bearable: cheap housing costs, great friends, and proximity to Idaho (not necessarily in that order). There are definitely worse places to live.

7. Last, but not least, NO HOMEWORK!!!! Granted, this also means less Facebook and blogging time. I know you're thinking that doesn't really make sense, but let me explain. As I have begun this full-time job, I have noticed a significant decrease in both my Facebook and blogging activity. Why? Because I don't need to distract myself from doing homework! Hahaha. I'm not too worried about the Facebook thing, but I'll get back on the wagon with blogging. Because I really do love it.

Who wants boring friends?

2010-12-20T23:55:00.003-07:00

So, for my blog project I had to get consent from the people I interviewed to save their interviews in the BYU folklore archive. I was expecting just a "I give my permission" normal kind of thing, but I was very entertained by the various responses I received:

I,_____________________, give Anna (Insert correct spelling of [last name] here) full consent and permission to disclose any and all information and responses collected from me both during our interview and in any other informal discussions that she may consider relevant.

* * *

Dear Anna,

You may use the interview from me about blogging for whatever.

Sincerely,

_____________________

* * *

I, _____________________ The First, hereby bequeath my right to complain, demand money, or in any other way be a pooface in regards to an interview I granted one Anna [Last Name]. In so doing I present her with full right and freedom to utilize my well primed prose in any manner she see's fit. I do however reserve the right to put on a pouty face should said interview make me look less than stellar ;)

Most Sincerely,

_____________________ The First

* * *

I,_____________________, being on this day, the 15 of December of 2010, fully conscious of my actions and in possession of all my metaphorical marbles, do grant Anna [Last Name] the right to publish my answers and any information conveyed in our interview, in whatever media she sees fit (barring only the burlesque and Times Magazine).

* * *

Thanks for making life interesting, guys.

This poem I wrote once for creative writing and it's kind of corny so don't laugh

2010-12-20T10:13:00.003-07:00

I hop up to the examining chair
Left then right then left again
Through the lenses I sit and stare
The doctor stops and clicks his pen

He tells me with a serious gaze
That my life will never be the same
The remainder of my mortal days
I will spend looking through a frame

I notice first the little leaves
Their outline against the bright blue sky
How much I've missed, I can't believe
That all of this has passed me by

And after years of aided vision
My world all clear and bright;
I have come to the conclusion:
Without blindness, there is no sight

Saddest day of my life

2010-12-17T10:00:00.004-07:00

Anna,

You are on our list for December graduation. US citizen and Permanent Resident students may work through Sunday, January 2, 2011. International students must not work after Friday, December 17, 2010.

Please see your supervisor for a termination form.

(This lovely email from the MTC was sitting in my inbox this morning)

:(

So, to cheer myself up, I decided to re-post one of my favorite missionary cartoons:

Hehehe. That helped a little.

Blogging Dictionary

2010-12-15T01:14:00.004-07:00

Here are some blogging terms (more than you probably ever knew or care existed) that I found defined on the Internet:

Archives - A collection of all your posts on one page. Can be categorized by month, etc.

Bleg - To use one’s blog to beg for assistance

Blego - Blog+Ego. Measuring blogger worth

Blog - Short form for weblog

Blog hopping - Jumping from one blog to another

Blogathon - Update your website every 30 minutes for 24 hours straight

Blogathy - I do not want to post today and I do not care about it

Blogger - A person who blogs

Blogger bash - A blogger party

Bloggerel - The same opinion posted repeatedly on a blog

Blogging - The act of posting on blogs

Blogiversary - Your blog birthday

Blogoholic - Addicted to blogging

Blogophobia - Fear of blogs and blogging

Blogopotamus - A long, long blog post

Blogorific - (aka blogtastic) - Something which a blogger says is terrific

Blogorrhea - Unusually high output of articles

Blogosphere - The internet blogging community

Blogroach - A commenter who rudely disagrees with posted content

Blogroll - List of links to other blogs in your sidebar

Blogsit - Maintaining a blog while the primary blogger is on leave

Blogsite - A web site that combines blog feeds from a number of different sources

Blogsnob - Refusing to respond to blog comments from “not-friends”

Blogspot - Free Blogger hosting blog at name.blogspot.com

Blogstipation - Writer’s block for bloggers. Can't think of what to blog about?

Blogvertising - Also called blogvert. Advertising on a blog

Blurker - A blog reader not posting comments, just lurking around quietly

Comments - Enabling readers to leave their remarks

Doppelblogger - Plagiarize the content of another blogger: to Doppelblog

GAD - Google Adsense Disorder. Repeatedly checking your adsense earnings

Hitnosis - Refreshing your browser repeatedly to see if your hit counter or comments have increased

Post, Entry - Individual articles that make up a blog

Reciprocal Links - Called link love. You link to my blog, I link to yours, to improve search engine rankings

RSS - A family of web feed formats used for Web syndication. Short form for Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0), Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91, RSS 1.0), RDF Site Summary (RSS 0.9 and 1.0). WordPress generates RSS 2.0

Tags - Labeling / attaching keywords to collect similar posts

Weblog - An online dated diary listing your periodic thoughts on a specific topic, often in reverse chronological order

Making History

2010-12-07T19:07:00.002-07:00

I had to read Barack Obama's speech on race for one of my classes...

AND I LOVED IT.

Seriously, amazing. This is history in the making, my friends. I don't care what you think about his political actions, he has a way with words and has definitely made progress in the area of race relations and understanding. I recommend to every person, especially every American, this speech:

"A More Perfect Union"

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Let's fill the world with love and understanding.