I have moved!

My new blog is:

http://ellenator.blogspot.com/

Please update y'allzez links.

Cre-Mation?

The idea of being cremated has always sounded more appealing to me than a fancy traditional-coffin funeral. It does seem to make life easier. No expensive coffins, no nasty make-up being put on my face (I vowed in 10th grade I would rather die before I wear make-up) and no dislocated shoulders of the coffin bearers.

And someone agrees with me!

I too, like the idea of my ashes being returned to the earth. I want my remains to be used to fertilize a tree! I know it sounds very John and Yoko-ish, but it sounds better than being left to decompose.

I spend more time arranging my funeral in my head than my wedding. You're always certain that you are going to die, and a funeral is a place where people remember you in a positive light. And it's also the one thing I'm not in control of.

Plus, if people want to stay in contact with me on this earth, by means of visiting something, they can visit my tree. And talk to it. I mean, me.

Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008

Thank you President.

I got the news at a Ward Dessert Night. It never occurred to me until we said a prayer: all the people in that room could be considered the Hinckley Generation. Even though there have been 2 prophets in my lifetime so far, President Hinckley is the one that had the most impact in my 'Mormondomism.'

Interesting thing. The initial reaction was shock. The second: "He's with Marjorie, his wife."

Things I wish I had said in Sunday School #1

Reading: 1 Nephi 8-11; 12:16-18; 15

Topic: Tree of life

Summary: Lehi dreams about the tree of life in chapter 8, and is interpreted in chapter 11 by Nephi.

Even though we believe that Nephi and Lehi see the same things, the context is very different. Nephi receives the interpretation directly from the Spirit of the Lord, talking to him "as a man speaketh; for [Nehpi] beheld that he was in the form of a man...and he spake unto [Nehpi] as a man speaketh with another." (v. 11)

Lehi's dream seems to be a bit more problematic. Lehi wanders around in darkness for many hours, and has to pray for the mercy of the Lord. (v. 8). Lehi also had to deal with the fact that his family is in the dream, and that Laman and Lemuel do not take of the fruit.

Poetry Dreams

A few nights ago I dreamt in poetry.

That is, I didn't have poems being recited in my head. It was the feeling you get when someone reads poetry in a soft voice, reading as if the spirit of poet was speaking through that person's physical body. When the meter and the rhythm overtake your body, synchronizing the beat of your heart with the flow of your blood.

And more happy moments on campus

Blog-a-versary

Happy Birthday little blog! Today you turn one!

Thrift store Stories

Yesterday I was at Savers with Friend. While Friend was trying something on I was sitting on a chair outside the dressing rooms, minding my own business, watching people walk by.

Standing next to me was a lady who was trying something on. I didn't pay too much attention to her, because it's a thrift store. People try things on.

I was in the middle of observing a father pushing a Maxi-Cosi underneath the door of a dressing room when the woman trying the coat on turns to me and says:

"You look like you judge everything.

What do you think of this jacket?"

Happy moments on campus

summary of Ellen's life

1. I'm in the middle of finals

2. i passed my Book of Mormon and American Heritage finals!!

3. Tomorrow I have my french final. at 7 &$# AM. i have one left on thursday, my math final

4. Life has been really quiet. I've been doing a lot of reading on the blogs lately. seems like recent speeches have sparked new activity.

5. I love Neutrogena Hand Cream. if it came in human from, wedding bells would be ringing.

6. i need a haircut.

7. i really REALLY can't think of what to write.

more excitement later

Old Navy adventures

Today at Old Navy I saw a 1.2 yo with Utah hair. I kid you not.

Her. Hair. Was. Huge.

The thing is, I didn't even know that 1.2 yo's had much hair in the first place.

Apparently this one had enough for it to be round brushed, curled AND hair sprayed.

Seriously, isn't this the one and only time in your life when you can get away with being wild and stinky?

Taking the iPod commercials a bit too far

Yesterday I was walking across campus (Holy cow!!) when I saw a scrawny kid in faux-skinny jeans (Note to self: be on the lookout for those) busting some moves while listening to his ipod. While he was making a double 360° turn I noticed some crocheted head-gear that somewhat resembled a yamaka in Christmas Colors.

EEEK!!

Really, really, really aweful AND creapy video from the 80's! It's kind of long, but the best is near the end:

The weight of my words

I got a little misty when I saw this...

Harry Reid made my day

**DISCLAIMER: I know it's been over a month since I last let my written voice ring through the bloggosphere. I do apologise for the tens of people who read this blog and had nothing to wake up to every morning.**

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695217196,00.html

Harry Reid really did make my day. Not only was the Marriott center filled with mostly Democrats or Anti-Bushians, I was sitting on the 3rd row (granted, I was there an hour in advance. Hey, it was ok for students to CAMP OUT when President Hinckley came).

And it was great. Beyond amazing.

He even smoothly incorporated his opinion of the Bush Administration.
And much to my surprise a large majority of the audience cheered and applauded him.


While I waiting for the Devotional to start, I was listening in on a conversation of 2 students behind me. They were very much Democrat, since the girl was discussing the purchase of an Anti-Bush bumper sticker and how it would lower the re-sale value of her car. They did make one remark that I thought was very true:


"The thing I like about Harry Reid is that he embraces his religious beliefs in his political career. I'm not saying he forces them into his job, but he's not ashamed of them. That's why I can't support Mitt Romney. It's almost as if he tries to distance himself from his religion, just to gain public support."

Sightings at Starbucks

He walks in. Baggy pants, huge white shoes. Football jersey. 2 hoop earrings dangle under his baseball cap as he walks up to the counter at Starbucks. He orders, he waits while looking around the room with his piercing blue eyes. The lady with the black artsy hair hands him his drink. He turns around and leaves with forceful walk.

Team of football jersey: BYU Cougars
Logo on baseball cap: Y

She needs to sort out her priorities

I went to the Congo last summer. Congo is listed number 10 on the list of most dangerous countries. Pakistan is number 11.
I was in Kinshasa, Limete, staying with my dad in a Catholic Community on the 13th avenue. We went on walks around the 'block', got lost, wondered along railways and found our ways through back alley's, with little Congolease children screaming 'Mundele'. There are hardly no white people in Limete. The Belgian embassy was about a good 45 minutes away. The violence of the elections was still lingering.
Did I ever feel threatened? No.
Did I ever feel scared? No.
Am I dying to go back? Yes.

I live in Provo. Right next to Orem. I ride my bike to BYU every morning. I take a shortcut through a church parking lot, behind the MTC.
Do I wonder about being ambushed by a rapist in the bushes?
All the time.

Philippe Decoufle

We have found the most amazing TV channel. It's called Ovation, and if you don't have it, shame on you. It's the 'artsy' channel, where they cover everything from 'The final 24 hours of Kurt Cobain' to random Euro art programs.
Such Euro art program was on last night. It was about a French choreographer called Philippe Decoufle, and the whole program was in french with English subtitles. Kudo's to the people who decided to put subtitles in.
Anyway, since I'm an internet junkie, I youtubed the man right away. Turns out there aren't too many clips of him out there, which is quite a shame.

The introduction to this clip is kind of long, and it doesn't get ADD friendly until minute 2, but it's still totally worth it:

You know you're in college when...

...you have to cancel appointments and meetings just so you can wash your hair.

yeah. it's that bad already.

I'm back!

so after spending a rough month trying to settle in, i'm finally back to the bloggo-sphere.

I started byu! yes i did! And after a minor crisis of faith/culture/direction the first week, i'm doing quite well. A few items of notice:

1. the majority of BYU males are not quite...belgian. meaning they don't seem to be quite used to the fact a female doesn't jump from the sidewalk just to make way for him. or when a female dominates a conversation. just to name a few examples.

2. HOLY. EVERYONE. LOOKS. THE. SAME. I mean, on occasion you spot those euro/eastcoasters/large city people, but in general everyone dresses and looks the same.

3. I had to help a journalist from the daily universe SPELL. you want to know the word? It was Bias. B.I.A.S. I, ellen, the foreigner who doesn't know how to spell without the use of Spell Check.

4. I'm really enjoying it. No really. I knew the transition from belgium to provo wouldn't go as smooth, but as a hole i really enjoy byu. i really enjoy it because, on random occasions, you meet someone who thinks kind of like you. and who understands that the people who scream the loudest aren't always the ones that are right. and that makes me smile.

more later.