I had a very interesting visit with the chiropractor/kineseologist today. When I’ve gone to Alice back home, I’m used to the muscle tests – pushing down or pulling at muscles to determine weaknesses and imbalances in the body. It’s really interesting how the body is all connected, and it’s all made sense before: but Dr. Teegarden used a new method today that kinda caught me off guard (not that I’m going to stop going to him or anything).
Well, first off, he tested a lot of the muscles and worked on them a lot: all down my leg (which felt really good: I could have had him do that all day, honestly) and up my back (he thought it was hurting me, but really I’m just insanely ticklish). He would have me lie on my back and lift up my leg – completely straight – and see how far it would go; he seemed confused as to why it was still so tight. He worked on it more – apparently there’s this layer - kind of like a shirt, he said - that covers the muscle and can get bunched in places – but it didn’t help. So he did more muscles tests: had me touch the area where the pain/tightness was while he pushed down on my arm. That did it: apparently there was something deeper there.
That’s when things started getting…new. Before I go on, I want y’all to know that I am perfectly aware of how crazy and weird this all sounds; still, I trust Dr. Teegarden and I’m not trying to call him a quack doctor or anything. Just sharing an experience.
Anyway.
He started by telling me we were going to be going deeper today, more into kinesiology, then started talking about stress. There are different kinds of stress in our lives – emotional, physical, etc. – but the body reacts to them all in the same way and with the same methods. So he thought that my body might have made an emotional connection with the injury (yes, I know how ridiculous this sounds) because of some stress, and that was preventing it from healing. So he started testing the different body systems by touching a focal point for each one while pushing down on my arm. Each one was weak except the liver; that apparently signified anger, frustration, or something along those lines. Then he started narrowing things down to find the root of the problem. He’d say something like “anger at family and friends” and then push down on my wrist. If it stayed strong, he tried something else. If he was able to push it down, he kept going in that direction. It was interesting, to say the least…I don’t know if it actually worked, but I guess we’ll see in the next few days.
Apparently I am angry at myself for not having the same kind of experience at Pageant this last summer as I did the year before (which is true: I just didn’t think it could affect a physical injury). So he had me close my eye, touch the liver-area-focal-point…thing…and just take deep breaths in and out while focusing on that anger. And that was it. I guess it was meant to release the anger, so that the body no longer connects it with the injury and my leg will be allowed to heal.
So…yeah. It sounds really quack-doctor-y, I know (trust me, I know). And I’m neither advocating nor decrying it. Just sharing. At least I know it isn’t a trick, not like the energy band thing where they totally fool you into thinking it actually gives you more strength. Liz (roommate Liz) told me about it: they don’t have you wear it and push on your hands. Then they have you wear it and do the same thing, and you’re magically stronger! *sarcasm*
…really, you just know what to expect the second time around.
With this, when he was asking what I might be harboring anger at myself about, I honestly thought some of the stuff might be it, but it turned out it wasn’t. And I was pushing just as much each time. I thought of the energy bands thing and consciously tried to resist, it just…didn’t work. And he tells you each time exactly what he’s going to be doing, so you know what to expect each time. So maybe this anger is still alive and kicking, and affecting my leg. Maybe it’s not. Either way, he gave me a few exercises to do that will flex muscles to naturally push the disc back in place. So if this whole anger-therapy doesn’t work, that should do the trick. :)
Also, there is apparently a difference between Kinesiology and Applied Kinesiology. The former is the study of how the human body works. The latter is “an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy” (to quote Wikipedia). So now you know.
Frankly, I still trust Dr. Teegarden more than Dr. Bacon, the ‘normal,’ orthopedic doctor. Because Dr. Teegarden is actually working to move the disc back into place, whereas the orthopedics with their blasted epidermals and ‘modern medicine’ are just trying to make it stop hurting. I keep thinking of that song from Next to Nowhere, when they declare the woman mentally stable once she’s so drugged up she feels absolutely nothing…ugh. *shudder* Alice has fixed tons of problems ‘normal’ doctors haven’t even acknowledged, so forgive me if I still trust a good kinesiologist with my health more so than any other doctor. They really do know a ton about how the body works, and they’re able to apply that knowledge to keep everything where it’s supposed to be!
….I’ll step off my soapbox now. That’s a rant for another day. ;D
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Health Stuff
So this is me procrastinating writing my two essays due tomorrow. *shudder*
Also, this is to update everyone on what's going on with....all this. Some of you know most of it, a lot of you know a little of it, and then the rest have no idea what's going on. So:
Early-to-mid-July, during the Hill Cumorah Pageant, I stretched a muscle in my, uh, gluteus maximus. And it didn't go away like it should have, so I went to Dr. Alice Baron - who is amazing and a miracle-worker - and after a couple visits she had me on the mend, though we hadn't had time to go enough to get me completely fixed. So she told me to avoid sitting as much as possible.
Then we went on a two-week roadtrip out to BYU. *facepalm* So the muscle got inflamed again, and started to hurt again.
I didn't go to the doctor for a while because...uh...because...actually, I don't really know why. I think it was just cuz I never had the time, and since the pain was manageable and really only present when I was in the process of sitting or standing, and I was still able to find comfortable sitting positions, I didn't worry about it too much. Except then the pain became more constant, and I started downing Motrin like candy, and I couldn't sit without pain...so I sucked it up and Sierra went with me to the urgent care place at the Student Health Center, where the doctor recommended physical therapy and that I take even more motrin to bring down the inflammation.
That didn't work. Motrin really helped for a while, and I was really hopeful that the PT would too...but after the initial visit I noticed that the girl became more causal and a little more sloppy with some of the treatments, and then I started feeling worse after doing the proscribed stretches. So after a month or so - maybe a bit more - of PT I went back to the doctor - a different one this time - and after an insanely lengthy interrogation he recommended I get an MRI.
SO. After 4 months after the initial problem, and 3 months after Alice told me my sciatic nerve is pinched, I got the MRI. And guess what?
She was right!
And my roommate wonders why I have such faith in naturopath doctors...
Anyway, the MRI got sent to Alice, and she managed to track down a kinesiologist that is not in the phonebooks, is not listed anywhere, doesn't even have a website...got his info, passed it - and the MRI report - to my mom, who passed it to me, who went to him at 8am this morning and is now feeling confident that the problem can be resolved. :)
Basically, at your 2nd lumbar vertebrae the spinal cord ceases to exist as a cord, and octopus's out into individually wrapped nerves (not for individual sale). The disc at my 5th lumbar is bulging inward and pressing on one of those nerves, thus creating PAIN. So he worked his awesome kinesiologic magic and I felt so much better coming out! Turns out my left leg is a half inch shorter than my right, since my pelvis tilted up from limping and is now misaligned (or was, 'fore he fixed it). And there's this muscle right in the front, that connects the spine and the leg that is mega-tight. And I mean MEGA. TIGHT. At the very end he had me lay on my back and move my left leg up, out, and back down while he was pushing on the muscle with his fist. My face turned red, it hurt so much. >< I think even he was surprised by how tight it was: he told me it's probably a good 50% of the reason I'm in so much pain.
So, yeah, that's coming along (please tell me you get that reference...). I'm going back on Monday, plus I have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor on Tuesday. My Mom says he'll probably recommend a series of shots, or maybe surgery - please no - and that should help fix it up really quick.
Funny story about the doctor (no, not that one): for one thing, his last name is Bacon. :) Which automatically makes him cool. Second...see, I have all these connections here in Utah. I think every Mormon has some connections in Utah, whether they are aware of them or not. Mormons are kind of like Hobbits, in that we're all inter-related (somehow), and you can call on favors based on relationships from years ago. Case in point: my ride to the MRI was my mom's old mission president (he's the one who was in charge of all the missionaries in her area, which was Anaheim, CA). He now lives in Provo, has only met me once for about an hour, but came, picked me up, drove me (and Sierra, who was wonderful and took time out of her day to come sit in the waiting room for an hour) to the doctor's office, and drove us back again. He's amazing. :)
Well, I found out today that he grew up with Dr. Bacon: they were next-door neighbors as kids. O.o Who'd-a thunk?
Anyway, that's about it so far. I'm wearing a lumbar support belt (I love it! It makes me feel SO good!!!), avoiding sitting, and currently lying in my bed, trying to write two essays without falling asleep. >< Wish me luck: I need it.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Luyi Zhang
This blog is dedicated to Luyi Zhang, in honor of her 18th birthday!
Remember:
Big rock, little rock?
Made-in-China-san?
Tohru-chan/san?
When I first tried to say Kyo's name and completely butchered it, and you an Alena wouldn't stop laughing for 10 whole minutes?
When I spent the better part of an hour (or was it more?) trying to defeat Maleficent in Birth By Sleep, but when I finally succeeded I didn't save in time and I died 5 minutes later, and you stepped in and beat her again for me...on your second try? >< (Also, Philip was absolutely useless)
When you got a singing balloon for your birthday Sophomore year, but I said something and you hit me with it and popped it on the metal spirals of my notebook? And then you tried to blame me for it, and we ended up shoving it in your locker where it wouldn't stop singing and it sounded like a dying cow?
When I first started reading Rurouni Kenshin and couldn't keep anyone straight, and I only remembered how to pronounce 'rurouni' because it rhymed with 'macaroni?'
...that confusing mass of relations that is you and Ginger and Liz and sometimes me? (I still can't keep it straight...)
The color purple (no, not the musical)? I swear, you were obsessed...I think you still are. ;D
May 14.
That fun conversation in French class with you and me and Leslie? The whole class was
out for...was it the Body's Exhibit fieldtrip? We had the blog to read but I could only understand every other word (if even), so we ended up talking about Harry Potter in Frenglish for the whole time (Pouffe-Soufle!), with much help from Madame because I had a teeny-tiny vocabulary...oh, and then there was the whole mix-up with 'exciter'...that was awkward. ><
In 7th grade, how all through French class I would draw Draco Malfoy's name all over pieces of paper and then show/hand them to you? I think I had good taste, he grew up nicely. ;D
Do you remember how we met in 6th grade? We were in the same gym class (remember Mrs. Demon-dork? How did we even come up with that???) and had to do that thing where you line up alphabetically, but without talking? Oh, and we had to stay on the same line so we were all awkwardly climbing around each other (honestly, as if Middle School wasn't awkward and terrifying enough!). But yeah, I went right to the end when, wonder of wonders, someone was after even 'Yankura!' That's when I met Luyi Zhang. :) It was the start of a beautiful friendship...
Mrs. Demondork (honestly...I kinda feel bad for the guy now...)
I know who your first crush was.... ;D (just saying, I'm not going to put it out on the internet.)
Remember that time in 8th grade math class when we did Sudoku? You finished in, what, 10 minutes? 15? And the whole class was coming to you for help... xD
Frenglish. :) 'Nuff said.
8th period 'study hall' Senior year? With Theresa? Going to the library and being loud and obnoxious and getting away with it...tue tête (which Theresa wrote (and misspelled) on all my stuff...)!!! And how I could never remember how to say 'to lie' and you had to look it up like five times (BTW, it's 'mentir.' It was one of my vocab words this semester).
The 3-hour long study sessions at your house Senior year, where we got so sidetracked (but we got sidetracked in French!) and took forever to get through stuff...those saved my life, though. Thank you so much for all your help in French! I would have died otherwise. :/ You're amazing!
Spending all of 8th period translating La madame au foulard blanche? I still remember the word 'trottoir' to this day, since we had to look it up a million times while reading that...
When your parents bought you a PS2 without your asking, and we were all super-jealous cuz you could play Kingdom Hearts now?
Cela cert à rien? (yes, that's the actual picture I used. ;D )
So, in conclusion, Luyi Zhang is an amazing person and a true friend! We go way back to 6th grade, when she'd just moved from Seymour (is that how you spell it?) and I had only been in Trumbull for a couple years (and all my friends had gone to Madison Middle School instead of Hillcrest). We stuck together, got pushed out of our seats at lunch, then founded our own table with Caitlin and Alena. :) Remember when the principle came around and commended us cuz we all had our noses in books? Yup, that was our table! And after all these years we're still friends and still share so many memories. Sharing stories, bouncing ideas off one another, countless sleepovers and meals and drama and life in general has built this friendship. So, on a slightly less sappy note, thank you Luyi for putting up with my drama and indulging my angst-mongering and (maybe, just a bit...) showing me the benefits of a good romance (as opposed to a bad one: PUN!!! xD ). Thank you for sticking with me and supporting me and just being a good friend! Words can't express how much I love you and appreciate you!! So even though this is a day late...nevermind, it's after midnight, so two days late - I hope you feel special on your un-birthday (as well as every other birthday and every day of the year) and I can't wait to see you over break! You're amazing Luyi Zhang, and don't you forget it!!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
It feels like home...
Bravo if you know where I got the title of this post. :)
Short little blurb today! ...tonight! I had physical therapy today, which is usually an 'eh' experiance by virtue of the fact that I'm put in a seperate room and leave with minimal results. However, today I got to start out in the main room...with 3 elders from the MTC (it's right down the street)!
Before we go any further, I would like to establish the fact that I wasn't excited because they were elders. I'm not boy-crazy! No, I was just happy because they were all jabbering away and heckling each other in Spanish. :) I had no idea what they were saying, but they were all just grinning and laughing so much you had to laugh with them! 'Sides, what with all the Hispanic kids in the stake - Mexican, Brazilian, Columbian, Venezualian, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican - being surrounded by Spanish felt like home! Hence the title. ;D I may not have known what they were saying, but I'm so used to the cadence and rythm of the language that I couldn't help but be happy!
I got to talk to 2 of them, while I was sitting on one of the big stretching tables (that sounds like a torture device...it's really just a low table where you can do some of the larger stretches) on a hotpack, since they had run out of private rooms for the time being and had nowhere else to put me. One of them was this short(er) black kid from the Dominican Republic whom the other 2 called 'my little chocolate.' (In Spanish, of course...something like 'mi chocolita,' or something). :)
The other was a bigger white kid from Ecudor, who kept complaining that he'd 'grown up' (gained) 8 pounds at the MTC. They were just there with their friend - I didn't catch where he was from - who was actually injured: he'd done something to his knee tendons playing soccer and his hamstring was crazy tight.
They were really friendly and didn't let the conversation drop awkwardly or anything. They started talking to me (in English, thank goodness :) ), and it turns out the Ecudorian kid had taken French in school, so we spoke French a bit! He had a bit of a Spanish accent to it, but I've heard worse. :) They were asking me how long I'd lived in Provo, if I was going on a mission...finally I told them that I was only 18 and the Dominican kid (literally!) fell over on his face! I'm not sure why...I asked him if I looked older and he said no, and I still don't really get what happened...but it was funny! But I told them I was planning on going on a mission when I was 21 (they didn't know the age for girls) and I got their stamp of approval. :) I felt cool. :)
At one point the Dominican kid started doing fancy push-ups, and the other two started yelling 'dos! dos!' to try and make him lose count. Oh, and they tried to push him over. :)
Overall, fun times! I love Hispanic people: they're so friendly and nice and not-awkward (well...most of the time). It made me miss weekday mornings, listening to Rudy and Juan Pablo chatting in Spanish and Brother/Bishop Hogan translating his testimony into Spanish...and Raquel sassing me for wasting food on Breakfast Fridays. :) I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and take Spanish: I feel like I'm kinda obligated, just cuz so many people I know speak it. (I told Liz - my roommate - and she just gave me a look. She IS obligated: her Dad's whole side is from Uruguay!!!)
OK, Mormon encyclopedia time!
MTC: Missionary Training Center (yes, the Church loves its acronyms)
Elders: men who have reached a certain level in the church become elders: you become an elder at the age of 18, then go on a mission at 19 (for boys). Thus, missionaries are refered to as 'Elder.'
Stake: a geographical area. A ward is a smaller unit, usually 3-5 towns (back East) which go to the same building for church meetings. A stake is a bunch of these wards put together.
Seminary: I jabbered enough about it that I think you know what it is, but just in case: it's religion school, only at 6 in the morning. :) It's the best part of the day! You go every weekday for your 4 years in high school.
I think I got it all, but let me know if I missed something. Being here at BYU means you use church lingo without a second thought... :)
Short little blurb today! ...tonight! I had physical therapy today, which is usually an 'eh' experiance by virtue of the fact that I'm put in a seperate room and leave with minimal results. However, today I got to start out in the main room...with 3 elders from the MTC (it's right down the street)!
Before we go any further, I would like to establish the fact that I wasn't excited because they were elders. I'm not boy-crazy! No, I was just happy because they were all jabbering away and heckling each other in Spanish. :) I had no idea what they were saying, but they were all just grinning and laughing so much you had to laugh with them! 'Sides, what with all the Hispanic kids in the stake - Mexican, Brazilian, Columbian, Venezualian, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican - being surrounded by Spanish felt like home! Hence the title. ;D I may not have known what they were saying, but I'm so used to the cadence and rythm of the language that I couldn't help but be happy!
I got to talk to 2 of them, while I was sitting on one of the big stretching tables (that sounds like a torture device...it's really just a low table where you can do some of the larger stretches) on a hotpack, since they had run out of private rooms for the time being and had nowhere else to put me. One of them was this short(er) black kid from the Dominican Republic whom the other 2 called 'my little chocolate.' (In Spanish, of course...something like 'mi chocolita,' or something). :)
The other was a bigger white kid from Ecudor, who kept complaining that he'd 'grown up' (gained) 8 pounds at the MTC. They were just there with their friend - I didn't catch where he was from - who was actually injured: he'd done something to his knee tendons playing soccer and his hamstring was crazy tight.
They were really friendly and didn't let the conversation drop awkwardly or anything. They started talking to me (in English, thank goodness :) ), and it turns out the Ecudorian kid had taken French in school, so we spoke French a bit! He had a bit of a Spanish accent to it, but I've heard worse. :) They were asking me how long I'd lived in Provo, if I was going on a mission...finally I told them that I was only 18 and the Dominican kid (literally!) fell over on his face! I'm not sure why...I asked him if I looked older and he said no, and I still don't really get what happened...but it was funny! But I told them I was planning on going on a mission when I was 21 (they didn't know the age for girls) and I got their stamp of approval. :) I felt cool. :)
At one point the Dominican kid started doing fancy push-ups, and the other two started yelling 'dos! dos!' to try and make him lose count. Oh, and they tried to push him over. :)
Overall, fun times! I love Hispanic people: they're so friendly and nice and not-awkward (well...most of the time). It made me miss weekday mornings, listening to Rudy and Juan Pablo chatting in Spanish and Brother/Bishop Hogan translating his testimony into Spanish...and Raquel sassing me for wasting food on Breakfast Fridays. :) I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and take Spanish: I feel like I'm kinda obligated, just cuz so many people I know speak it. (I told Liz - my roommate - and she just gave me a look. She IS obligated: her Dad's whole side is from Uruguay!!!)
OK, Mormon encyclopedia time!
MTC: Missionary Training Center (yes, the Church loves its acronyms)
Elders: men who have reached a certain level in the church become elders: you become an elder at the age of 18, then go on a mission at 19 (for boys). Thus, missionaries are refered to as 'Elder.'
Stake: a geographical area. A ward is a smaller unit, usually 3-5 towns (back East) which go to the same building for church meetings. A stake is a bunch of these wards put together.
Seminary: I jabbered enough about it that I think you know what it is, but just in case: it's religion school, only at 6 in the morning. :) It's the best part of the day! You go every weekday for your 4 years in high school.
I think I got it all, but let me know if I missed something. Being here at BYU means you use church lingo without a second thought... :)
Friday, October 14, 2011
3AM
So, it really is 3AM here (but that's also the name of a song by a band who's name escapes me), so I thought it would be pretty witty.
...actually, I realized it as I was typing it in. ;D
But really, all joking aside (for now), I can't sleep because my hip's being a butt (haha...! Pun...), so I figured now's as good a time as any to update y'all, since I haven't put anything up since...when was it last, September? Oh dear...
Well, for those who didn't see my frantic FaceBook post, I fear I am slowly but surely turning into a Utah Mormon. D:
1) I said 'flippin' the other day, and have said it a few times since. Fortunately I have yet to say plain ol' flip...
2) I say 'super.' A LOT. And it's really annoying, and I keep correcting myself to 'really' or 'very' (which I thought Rizza scared out of me years ago, but I guess it's still there), while shooting pointed glances at Liz, my roommate. She's enjoying this power over my subconcious. :P
But I will never say 'fetch.' NEVER!!!
>:(
Also, I discovered that the song that plays at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (you know, the one that replaces Hedwig's Theme? >:O ), is actually called 'Lily's Theme.' So, uh...I think I can begin to think about starting down the road to forgiveness on that one...maybe. They should have made it more obvious though: it sounded cool, but now that I have the name I'm looking at the movie in a whole 'nother perspective! Example:
Before, I heard it and thought, 'ooh, Celtic-y, that's cool...must be getting down to the Scottish roots of Hogwarts and all...Ok, so this part must be some sort of 'story thus far,' that's good, smart move (for once)...alright, this is a really long - wait, this is the movie????'
Now, I'm watching the opening scene and my mind and thinking 'oh my goodness that's so cool, it's like Lily's looking down on them and watching over Harry, and probably Snape and Lupin too...oh, there it is when Snape's dying, and Harry's looking at his memories! This is so cool! They should have done this in the other movies!!!!'
Could you imagine Lily's face in Prisoner of Azkaban, looking down at Sirius and Remus? She's probably just shaking her head going 'idiots...', while James throws and arm around her and says something along the lines of 'that's m'boy!'
...OK, so I've given a lot of thought to this. It doesn't help that I've discovered the song 'Lily's Eyes' from the Secret Garden musical (yes, Theresa, I remember you showing it to me, I give full original sharing-credit to you), which can be applied to Harry Potter so well it would be spooky if it wasn't so cool! :D
Speaking of Sirius, I also just found out that Sirius' tattoos in the movie (which bugged the heck outta me cuz they're not canon, for cryin' out loud!) are based off of Russian chain-gang tattoos: they were a sign of someone to be respected and feared (totally Sirius). So...that's another road to forgiveness I can begin to look at... ;D
Also, the version of the song the link leads to is sung (in part) by Philip Quast!!!!!! XD He played Javert in Les Miserables in the 10th Anniversary Concert!!! Go look him up!!! (Is that enough links? ;D)
Other things to look up, while I'm on the subject:
This is a really well-made spoof, mixing Harry Potter and the song 'Friday.' I promise, if you are any sort of Harry Potter fan, you will love it. :D
This is the same group, making fun of Umbridge (how could it not be funny?)
Let's see, what else...well, classes are good. :) Actually, they're great! It's a little unnerving not having so many graded assignments, because you think you can afford to miss one, but then you check your score on Blackboard (that's the website professors here use to post homework, grades, anouncements, etc.) and you freak out...the semester's half over already!!!! O.O
Anyway, I think I'll just go through them one by one...
I love my French class; I've already learned so much! Like how to say 'making-out,' a children's song about lice breaking someone's neck and going to jail, and the difference between war and a railway station. :) My French teacher is Kirby Childress (yes, Kirby), and he has this adorable some-months-old daughter who her roles into class every morning, and watches until his wife picks her up right before the class starts. :) He acts everything out so we can remember it, and never assumes you know something, which has saved my sanity so many times...also, for those of you back home, if you can get word back to Madame Perusi? Tell her "merci, merci, merci beaucoup!!!! Merci pour tous les jours dans le language lab! J'avais eu un examen oral l'autre jour, et tous les autres eleves m'ont dit que c'avait ete impossible, mais a grace de le language lab l'examen etait assez facile! Merci!!!!!"
Just like that, 'kay? ;D
My Anthropology 101 professor is great. :) He has this faux British accent, cuz he studied at Oxford and I guess it rubbed off...but he still has American 'r's, and apparently if you go up and talk to him personally her drops the accent; so I guess he just puts it on for giggles.
Yes, giggles. This is the guy who calls Karl Marx 'Karl-Baby.'
The class is pretty interesting, and the giant lecture hall isn't intimidating anymore. Actually, it has really comfey chairs; you just can't sit too close to the front or else you won't get to your next class on time. Also, it starts with a prayer (which reminds me, we learned to pray in French the other day), and he interrogates the volunteer. So far, they've all been premies (pre-missionaries) who are single...are Freshmen just eager-beavers in general? Cuz I don't think it's coincidence.
My Environmental Science class would be my least favorite - science and me don't mix well - except for the fact that a) I keep catching things that remind me of my Environmental/Marine Science class last year and it clicks, and b) my professor has been on multiple trips to South America studying ancient Classic and Pre-Classic Mayan ruins, which is really cool; especially when he relates it to what we're learning, or has pictures of his grad students with machetes in the bakground of his powerpoints, or starts going on about Pre-Classic Maya (coughNephitescough). :) Or when he shows us his picture of Sasquatch to start of the class: it's pretty legit. :)
Intro to Literature is fun. Again, it's my professor that makes the class: it's really easy to remember Greek theatre when your professor starts talking about Vulcan deus ex machina and calling Aeleus (The Aeneid) a fruitcake (actually, he was interpreting the other guys insults, but still). And he's learned all our names and faces, and he when he starts reading the original Greek text in what I can only assume is an impeccable accent, then putting it into modern lingo (think Mr. Banks, for those from THS)...yeah, he's a cool guy. :)
Book of Mormon is my favorite class ever; I think we established that already, but in case you hadn't heard...it is. :D Professor Merril is amazingly fantastic, and I hope I have him for the second half of the Book of Mormon next semester!!! He makes Isaiah so much easier to understand: it's the cultural and historical background you need, and he has it. I have to wonder where he learned it all: he went through 5 majors, and none of them were anything like that! He was called to be a religion professor; I wonder if you can apply normally, too...?
Speaking of the Book of Mormon, for those who have seen The Best Two Years, I found out from a friend that the correct phrasing is not, in fact, Books of Mormon: that is implying that Mormon wrote more than the one book, which he did not (as far as we know). It should be said as 'copies of the Book of Moron.' So if anyone tries to pull that on you...there you go. ;D
Folk dance!!! So fun! I want to be on the team eventually. I surprised (to put it mildly) everyone the other day: we had stayed after for a practical review session with the teacher, because we have our midterm next week and we need to know all these dances! Well, we reviewed one of my favorite dances - Yibanei Hamigkdash - my favorite by virtue of being from Israel - and out teacher was reading out the information that we needed to know.
'Country-'
'Israel.'
'Formation-'
'Single circle.'
'Meter-'
'4/4.'
'"The translation for this dance is-'"
'The Temple Shall be Rebuilt.'
'"-the Temple Shall be Rebuilt.'
We didn't need to know that last bit (at least, I think we don't...). The other kids were, uh...surprised? Startled? Awed... (OK, maybe not)?
What can I say, I love Hebrew. ;D
Well, I'm gonna sign out: it's 4:20 and I'm going to see if I can get more work done. Working through the night is very productive...maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be an insomniac...
PS: sorry for the lack of pictures...
...actually, I realized it as I was typing it in. ;D
But really, all joking aside (for now), I can't sleep because my hip's being a butt (haha...! Pun...), so I figured now's as good a time as any to update y'all, since I haven't put anything up since...when was it last, September? Oh dear...
Well, for those who didn't see my frantic FaceBook post, I fear I am slowly but surely turning into a Utah Mormon. D:
1) I said 'flippin' the other day, and have said it a few times since. Fortunately I have yet to say plain ol' flip...
2) I say 'super.' A LOT. And it's really annoying, and I keep correcting myself to 'really' or 'very' (which I thought Rizza scared out of me years ago, but I guess it's still there), while shooting pointed glances at Liz, my roommate. She's enjoying this power over my subconcious. :P
But I will never say 'fetch.' NEVER!!!
>:(
Also, I discovered that the song that plays at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (you know, the one that replaces Hedwig's Theme? >:O ), is actually called 'Lily's Theme.' So, uh...I think I can begin to think about starting down the road to forgiveness on that one...maybe. They should have made it more obvious though: it sounded cool, but now that I have the name I'm looking at the movie in a whole 'nother perspective! Example:
Before, I heard it and thought, 'ooh, Celtic-y, that's cool...must be getting down to the Scottish roots of Hogwarts and all...Ok, so this part must be some sort of 'story thus far,' that's good, smart move (for once)...alright, this is a really long - wait, this is the movie????'
Now, I'm watching the opening scene and my mind and thinking 'oh my goodness that's so cool, it's like Lily's looking down on them and watching over Harry, and probably Snape and Lupin too...oh, there it is when Snape's dying, and Harry's looking at his memories! This is so cool! They should have done this in the other movies!!!!'
Could you imagine Lily's face in Prisoner of Azkaban, looking down at Sirius and Remus? She's probably just shaking her head going 'idiots...', while James throws and arm around her and says something along the lines of 'that's m'boy!'
...OK, so I've given a lot of thought to this. It doesn't help that I've discovered the song 'Lily's Eyes' from the Secret Garden musical (yes, Theresa, I remember you showing it to me, I give full original sharing-credit to you), which can be applied to Harry Potter so well it would be spooky if it wasn't so cool! :D
Speaking of Sirius, I also just found out that Sirius' tattoos in the movie (which bugged the heck outta me cuz they're not canon, for cryin' out loud!) are based off of Russian chain-gang tattoos: they were a sign of someone to be respected and feared (totally Sirius). So...that's another road to forgiveness I can begin to look at... ;D
Also, the version of the song the link leads to is sung (in part) by Philip Quast!!!!!! XD He played Javert in Les Miserables in the 10th Anniversary Concert!!! Go look him up!!! (Is that enough links? ;D)
Other things to look up, while I'm on the subject:
This is a really well-made spoof, mixing Harry Potter and the song 'Friday.' I promise, if you are any sort of Harry Potter fan, you will love it. :D
This is the same group, making fun of Umbridge (how could it not be funny?)
Let's see, what else...well, classes are good. :) Actually, they're great! It's a little unnerving not having so many graded assignments, because you think you can afford to miss one, but then you check your score on Blackboard (that's the website professors here use to post homework, grades, anouncements, etc.) and you freak out...the semester's half over already!!!! O.O
Anyway, I think I'll just go through them one by one...
I love my French class; I've already learned so much! Like how to say 'making-out,' a children's song about lice breaking someone's neck and going to jail, and the difference between war and a railway station. :) My French teacher is Kirby Childress (yes, Kirby), and he has this adorable some-months-old daughter who her roles into class every morning, and watches until his wife picks her up right before the class starts. :) He acts everything out so we can remember it, and never assumes you know something, which has saved my sanity so many times...also, for those of you back home, if you can get word back to Madame Perusi? Tell her "merci, merci, merci beaucoup!!!! Merci pour tous les jours dans le language lab! J'avais eu un examen oral l'autre jour, et tous les autres eleves m'ont dit que c'avait ete impossible, mais a grace de le language lab l'examen etait assez facile! Merci!!!!!"
Just like that, 'kay? ;D
My Anthropology 101 professor is great. :) He has this faux British accent, cuz he studied at Oxford and I guess it rubbed off...but he still has American 'r's, and apparently if you go up and talk to him personally her drops the accent; so I guess he just puts it on for giggles.
Yes, giggles. This is the guy who calls Karl Marx 'Karl-Baby.'
The class is pretty interesting, and the giant lecture hall isn't intimidating anymore. Actually, it has really comfey chairs; you just can't sit too close to the front or else you won't get to your next class on time. Also, it starts with a prayer (which reminds me, we learned to pray in French the other day), and he interrogates the volunteer. So far, they've all been premies (pre-missionaries) who are single...are Freshmen just eager-beavers in general? Cuz I don't think it's coincidence.
My Environmental Science class would be my least favorite - science and me don't mix well - except for the fact that a) I keep catching things that remind me of my Environmental/Marine Science class last year and it clicks, and b) my professor has been on multiple trips to South America studying ancient Classic and Pre-Classic Mayan ruins, which is really cool; especially when he relates it to what we're learning, or has pictures of his grad students with machetes in the bakground of his powerpoints, or starts going on about Pre-Classic Maya (coughNephitescough). :) Or when he shows us his picture of Sasquatch to start of the class: it's pretty legit. :)
Intro to Literature is fun. Again, it's my professor that makes the class: it's really easy to remember Greek theatre when your professor starts talking about Vulcan deus ex machina and calling Aeleus (The Aeneid) a fruitcake (actually, he was interpreting the other guys insults, but still). And he's learned all our names and faces, and he when he starts reading the original Greek text in what I can only assume is an impeccable accent, then putting it into modern lingo (think Mr. Banks, for those from THS)...yeah, he's a cool guy. :)
Book of Mormon is my favorite class ever; I think we established that already, but in case you hadn't heard...it is. :D Professor Merril is amazingly fantastic, and I hope I have him for the second half of the Book of Mormon next semester!!! He makes Isaiah so much easier to understand: it's the cultural and historical background you need, and he has it. I have to wonder where he learned it all: he went through 5 majors, and none of them were anything like that! He was called to be a religion professor; I wonder if you can apply normally, too...?
Speaking of the Book of Mormon, for those who have seen The Best Two Years, I found out from a friend that the correct phrasing is not, in fact, Books of Mormon: that is implying that Mormon wrote more than the one book, which he did not (as far as we know). It should be said as 'copies of the Book of Moron.' So if anyone tries to pull that on you...there you go. ;D
Folk dance!!! So fun! I want to be on the team eventually. I surprised (to put it mildly) everyone the other day: we had stayed after for a practical review session with the teacher, because we have our midterm next week and we need to know all these dances! Well, we reviewed one of my favorite dances - Yibanei Hamigkdash - my favorite by virtue of being from Israel - and out teacher was reading out the information that we needed to know.
'Country-'
'Israel.'
'Formation-'
'Single circle.'
'Meter-'
'4/4.'
'"The translation for this dance is-'"
'The Temple Shall be Rebuilt.'
'"-the Temple Shall be Rebuilt.'
We didn't need to know that last bit (at least, I think we don't...). The other kids were, uh...surprised? Startled? Awed... (OK, maybe not)?
What can I say, I love Hebrew. ;D
Well, I'm gonna sign out: it's 4:20 and I'm going to see if I can get more work done. Working through the night is very productive...maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be an insomniac...
PS: sorry for the lack of pictures...
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Book of Mormon
So. Remember that part in Tangled when all the villains are singing about their dreams? Well, I have a dream:
Religion classes being held every. Day.
Two days of the week isn't enough! Professor Merril is the best teacher I've ever had! He's forthright, humorous (when appropriate), and knows anything you could ever hope to know about the scriptures! We just had a really intense class today; and I don't mean it in the slang sense of the word. I mean it quite literally. When Nephi's writing what's going to happen in the next handful of decades (chapters 11-14, for those who want to know. It's the vision scene), and you're reading it and looking even deeper into it, and then bringing in stuff from Revelations and conference talks...it's intense. And so exciting! Which may not be the normal reaction (fear's probably more par for the course), but think about it! I had no idea we had been told so much about the latter days! There were a bunch of conference talks from the 80's that Professor Merril quoted today, and it's really so interesting! How the world and the church will soon be physically seperated; things will be even worse in the coming days than all the mobs and persecutions of the early days of the church (ah!); and there was something about atomic holocausts...Professor Merril wished us luck. He said he'll probably be gone by then.
I think I'll be declaring a major in Ancient Near Eastern Studies next semester. I want to study the scriptures, learn as much as I can! I'm not sure whether I'll be going on the New Testement/Greek track or Old Testement/Hebrew track, but I don't think I have to decide right then. And then I'll get a job and start saving up for the Jerusalem Center. I heard a figure somewhere around $10,000.00, so I'll need to work as much as I can.
This is just so exciting! Professor Merril had mentioned a professor who retired last year or the year before, who taught a class on the Book of Revlelations: Revelations for the whole semester! But he said there's no class on that now: it all depends on when they have a professor who's willing to jump into it and teach it. They don't have Joseph Smith History classes for now, either (though I think I'll be taking Professor Merril's class on Isaiah next year). Anyway, this professor is the one who wrote the book Opening the 7 Seals, for those of you who know what that is. I remember reading it and thinking 'well this is obvious' and stopping after the first chapter...but apparently this professor is one of the best the church has, expertise-wise, on Revelations! So I'm going to have to get back to that book...
But since the class isn't offered now, Professor Merril said the best I could do was take a New Testement class from a professor who spends three-to-four weeks on Revelations; there are some who do and some who don't.
Ah! I'm just so excited right now! I can't wait to see what's to come! Probably a little morbid and fatalistic of me, but at least I'm not the only one. Professor Merril feels the same way, and there were a few murmurs of agreement when he asked "isn't this exciting?"
So...yup. I just wanted to shout my enthusiasm to the entire world. If you think I'm crazy(-er), feel free to call me and I'll recite the lecture to you. And probably send you a photocopy of my notes. :)
Religion classes being held every. Day.
Two days of the week isn't enough! Professor Merril is the best teacher I've ever had! He's forthright, humorous (when appropriate), and knows anything you could ever hope to know about the scriptures! We just had a really intense class today; and I don't mean it in the slang sense of the word. I mean it quite literally. When Nephi's writing what's going to happen in the next handful of decades (chapters 11-14, for those who want to know. It's the vision scene), and you're reading it and looking even deeper into it, and then bringing in stuff from Revelations and conference talks...it's intense. And so exciting! Which may not be the normal reaction (fear's probably more par for the course), but think about it! I had no idea we had been told so much about the latter days! There were a bunch of conference talks from the 80's that Professor Merril quoted today, and it's really so interesting! How the world and the church will soon be physically seperated; things will be even worse in the coming days than all the mobs and persecutions of the early days of the church (ah!); and there was something about atomic holocausts...Professor Merril wished us luck. He said he'll probably be gone by then.
I think I'll be declaring a major in Ancient Near Eastern Studies next semester. I want to study the scriptures, learn as much as I can! I'm not sure whether I'll be going on the New Testement/Greek track or Old Testement/Hebrew track, but I don't think I have to decide right then. And then I'll get a job and start saving up for the Jerusalem Center. I heard a figure somewhere around $10,000.00, so I'll need to work as much as I can.
This is just so exciting! Professor Merril had mentioned a professor who retired last year or the year before, who taught a class on the Book of Revlelations: Revelations for the whole semester! But he said there's no class on that now: it all depends on when they have a professor who's willing to jump into it and teach it. They don't have Joseph Smith History classes for now, either (though I think I'll be taking Professor Merril's class on Isaiah next year). Anyway, this professor is the one who wrote the book Opening the 7 Seals, for those of you who know what that is. I remember reading it and thinking 'well this is obvious' and stopping after the first chapter...but apparently this professor is one of the best the church has, expertise-wise, on Revelations! So I'm going to have to get back to that book...
But since the class isn't offered now, Professor Merril said the best I could do was take a New Testement class from a professor who spends three-to-four weeks on Revelations; there are some who do and some who don't.
Ah! I'm just so excited right now! I can't wait to see what's to come! Probably a little morbid and fatalistic of me, but at least I'm not the only one. Professor Merril feels the same way, and there were a few murmurs of agreement when he asked "isn't this exciting?"
So...yup. I just wanted to shout my enthusiasm to the entire world. If you think I'm crazy(-er), feel free to call me and I'll recite the lecture to you. And probably send you a photocopy of my notes. :)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Utah
If I end up majoring in anthropology (which I might, with a minor in Ancient Near Eastern Studies), I think I'd do a survey of cultures within the US.
Being here in Utah has been enlightening (without sarcasm or any negative connotations. Seriously). I'm afraid I'll offend people if I start mentioning these differences too much, but really...I just find them so fascinating!
For example: those of you familiar with Johnny Biscuit...he's on to something. (those of you not familiar with him, become so).
BYU? Dead on. I saw a be-bicycled police officer stopping a young man - from the looks of it, to check his registration.
There are bike racks EVERYWHERE on campus, as well as speed limit signs. True fact. I'll be posting a collage of BYU-isms as soon as I have enough pics. :)
DATING:
1) Dating must be creative. Now, I was never really asked on a date in CT, but from what I know it's not nearly as elaborate, or labor-intensive, as out Wst. Not only must the date itself be creative, but the method of asking (and perhaps replying) must be just as intruiging. (Not that I mind, or anything).
2) You must date. If I had a nickel for every 'date night' sign I've seen...I'd have 20 cents. But that's more than I'd have back home, and I'm sure I'll get up to at least a dollar by the end of the month!
SLANG:
1) They do say pop. It takes getting used to. What I want to know is, out of 'soda-pop,' how did the East take the 'soda' and the West take the 'pop?'
2) My roommate says 'oh my fetch' all the time. It's - dare I say it? - funny, just cuz it's one of those sterotypes you're not used to real people doing...
3) So, I went to the JSB for BoM, then over to the JKB for French -passing the Swicket on the way - but then I had to go to the Wilk for a DTR...and then to the bookstore to pick up my CTR (ring). Every. Building. Is. Abbreviated.
Being here in Utah has been enlightening (without sarcasm or any negative connotations. Seriously). I'm afraid I'll offend people if I start mentioning these differences too much, but really...I just find them so fascinating!
For example: those of you familiar with Johnny Biscuit...he's on to something. (those of you not familiar with him, become so).
BYU? Dead on. I saw a be-bicycled police officer stopping a young man - from the looks of it, to check his registration.
There are bike racks EVERYWHERE on campus, as well as speed limit signs. True fact. I'll be posting a collage of BYU-isms as soon as I have enough pics. :)
DATING:
1) Dating must be creative. Now, I was never really asked on a date in CT, but from what I know it's not nearly as elaborate, or labor-intensive, as out Wst. Not only must the date itself be creative, but the method of asking (and perhaps replying) must be just as intruiging. (Not that I mind, or anything).
2) You must date. If I had a nickel for every 'date night' sign I've seen...I'd have 20 cents. But that's more than I'd have back home, and I'm sure I'll get up to at least a dollar by the end of the month!
SLANG:
1) They do say pop. It takes getting used to. What I want to know is, out of 'soda-pop,' how did the East take the 'soda' and the West take the 'pop?'
2) My roommate says 'oh my fetch' all the time. It's - dare I say it? - funny, just cuz it's one of those sterotypes you're not used to real people doing...
3) So, I went to the JSB for BoM, then over to the JKB for French -passing the Swicket on the way - but then I had to go to the Wilk for a DTR...and then to the bookstore to pick up my CTR (ring). Every. Building. Is. Abbreviated.
- JSB = Joseph Smith Building
- JKB = Jesse Knight Building
- Swicket = SWKT = Spencer W. Kimball Tower
- Wilk = Wilkinson Center
- DTR = Determine the Relationship (I'll let you know what that is once I figure it out)
- CTR = Choose the Right (a popular Mormon/LDS...anthem? Theme? Motif?)
So, when they do that example at Pageant of "oh, I talked to my EAC over at the MTC, and he said I should do the HCP this summer," they aren't exaggerating. (Did you know people out West don't know about the Hill Cumorah Pageant? They only know the Manti Pageant...)
Again...I really hope I'm not offending anyone with this post. I just find the cultural differences truly interesting, and I swear I'm not making fun of anybody! I love you all!
Things I've Done at BYU This Week
(not in this order)
1) Learned to dance from the man's position for my Folk Dance class; if that doesn't mess with your brain, nothing will.
2) Got asked on my first date! Yay!!!!!! :D
3) Found out that my Anthropology 101 professor's British accent is fake: he studied at Oxford and likes to be a bit pretentious. ;D
6) Came to the sad conclusion that the Canon Center will make me fat.
7) Found myself wishing I could major in Book of Mormon.
8) Went to a birthday party, watched How to Train Your Dragon and Emperor's New Groove, and ate triple chocolate cake prepared by the birthday boy himself. Yum!
9) Went to the BYU carnival and stayed up until 3Am with some friends...talking...finally, when we were so tired we couldn't stand up straight and the temperature had dropped 20 degrees, we decided to go back to the dorms. :)
10) Went to my first BYU devotional. :)
If you want me to expound upon any of these subjects (that reminds me...just a minute), post a reply and I'll see what I can come up with. :)
What that reminded me of: Professor Merril, by BoM (Book of Mormon) professor, showed us all the Hebraisms that characterize the BoM as a Hebrew text: not an english one.
1) Learned to dance from the man's position for my Folk Dance class; if that doesn't mess with your brain, nothing will.
2) Got asked on my first date! Yay!!!!!! :D
3) Found out that my Anthropology 101 professor's British accent is fake: he studied at Oxford and likes to be a bit pretentious. ;D
4) Discovered that I love Texans: they make me smile (you know who you are).
- Found out why Austin is different, why my one friend will wear a pink cowgirl hat for a week, and to never, EVER take the rivalry between UT and A&M lightly.
- I also learned that Texans really DO get upset if you remind them that, should Alaska split, Texas would be the 3rd largest state in the Union.
6) Came to the sad conclusion that the Canon Center will make me fat.
7) Found myself wishing I could major in Book of Mormon.
8) Went to a birthday party, watched How to Train Your Dragon and Emperor's New Groove, and ate triple chocolate cake prepared by the birthday boy himself. Yum!
9) Went to the BYU carnival and stayed up until 3Am with some friends...talking...finally, when we were so tired we couldn't stand up straight and the temperature had dropped 20 degrees, we decided to go back to the dorms. :)
10) Went to my first BYU devotional. :)
If you want me to expound upon any of these subjects (that reminds me...just a minute), post a reply and I'll see what I can come up with. :)
What that reminded me of: Professor Merril, by BoM (Book of Mormon) professor, showed us all the Hebraisms that characterize the BoM as a Hebrew text: not an english one.
- And it came to pass (everywhere)
- "...and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things" (1 Nephi 2:4)
- "....I have dreamed a dream" (1 Nephi 3:2)
- "...river of water" (1 Nephi 2:6) "...alter of stones" (1 Nephi 2:7)
- "...like unto this valley, firm and steadfast" (1 Nephi 2:10)
See, the 'river of water' tells us that the river ran continuously there: it wasn't a dry riverbed, that only flowed some of the time. This narrows down their location. The 'alter of stones,' rather than 'stone alter,' is similar to Spanish or French or what have you, where you have to say 'house of mine' or 'horse of Billy.'
The reason Lehi is wishing his son to be like a valley is actually really obvious, if you know the topography of Israel. The mountains are DEAD. It's the opposite of Utah, in that the valley's have life and the mountains...don't. You wouldn't wish an absence of life and fertility and suchlike on your child (I hope).
The thing is, one of the devotional speakers spent five minutes talking about how crazy similar Israel and Utah are...which is really interesting (there's a National Geographic article on it), but a story for another day. :)
...wow, tangent. Anyway, I hope y'all are doin' well! Please reply, at least to tell me you're out there! (and that's my desperate fanfiction-author side coming out...)
Monday, August 29, 2011
First Day of Classes
So. I think my schedule will be staying the same: I was going to change it, but everything seems to interesting to drop! Unfortunately, that now means I'm even more unsure about my major...Ancient Near Eastern Studies, or Anthropology, or Environmental Science... D8 I have to choose?!?!
I think I'll be trying out for the Folk Dance Club on Wednesday. Girls have to bring a guy to dance with; only, the kid I asked turned out to be an actual dance: like, theatre ballet. :P Oh, dear...
I'm lovin' BYU! Me and my Late Summer Honors friends have had so much fun together already, and I got to see part of my Pageant Family Saturday! I'm so glad I'm here!
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