Episode 15: In Which Jessica Goes to a Ball and Sees President Hill

Holy cow, sorry for not writing! I've been so crazy busy! Ok that's a lie...I haven't been THAT busy. Ok who even knows what I've been but life is amazing. Can anyone argue with that? No. Ok.

So the long awaited day of the Jane Austen Ball came on Friday. Oh my goodness it was so much fun!!! But let's start at the beginning. I went with Kelli on Friday after school to get our hair done at the Paul Mitchell School of Beauty. They were doing everyone's hair for free that day so it was packed with girls. We still didn't have to wait long though and soon I had ALL my hair piled on top of my head. ^_^ I never realize how much hair I have until its sitting on top of my head =P

So after that we got dressed up and went outside with Kaylynne for a photoshoot. ^__^ It was so much fun and thank you to her for taking such wonderful pictures! ^_^ Unfortunately, there was just so much going on at the dance that hers are really the only pictures I have of the dance. Sorry. Just trust me, it was the most amazing thing ever! It was super fun having my very own photoshoot too! Well, I suppose that I shared a photoshoot with Kelli, but same difference!

Once we were done with the photoshoot, Andrew came to pick me up and we were off to the dance! I have a picture I could put in here but all the pictures are crowding up here so I won't. Sorry, there just isn't a whole lot to say about getting ready, what do you want me to do?

We had dinner first and then we went upstairs for dance instruction. Oh, I should mention that the dance was at a mansion like clubhouse at a golf course. It was amazing! Anyhow, so we ate dinner and then went upstairs to the ballroom for dance instruction. It was ballroom dance...which...I'm OK at I guess. Only cuz Andrew is a good lead and I seem to have gotten over my stubborness about leading and following and dancing or whatever. Before when I used to go swing dancing I would get reprimanded for not following the lead properly. *shrug*

Anyhow, I think with a little more practice we could have gotten it down, but there were a lot of people in there so we opted just to go downstairs and look for Emily who had disappeared. We ended up staying down there just talking for a while before they started the period dance instruction. Oh yes, that was what I had been waiting for. It was sooooo much fun! I don't know how we went from those dances (which are just a whole lot of skipping and laughing) to...whatever we do now...but it was SO much fun! I loved it!

We also got our pictures taken and sat in the same room as they were playing parlor games in. We never played because I kept insisting on trying to find Emily, who...after about 8pm, I never did see again. =P

So after the dance ended we headed home and watched the Best Two Years cuz its TOTALLY related to Jane Austen right? Ok so we're returned missionary nerds...big deal!!! =P Of course, I had to put my pajamas on for the movie...I didn't want to watch it in my dress. Andrew and Rebekah helped me take my hair our and I STILL haven't counted all the bobby pins but I promise there is more than 100. =P

After the movie Rebekah and I gathered our stuff and prepared to go camp out outside the Belmont Apartments so we could get a contract for next semester. When we got there though, there was no line because the contracts were already gone! Geez! So much for that idea! So Andrew took us home and I went to bed in my nice warm bed instead of the cold hard ground. Was I relieved? Not really, I was looking forward to the adventure of sleeping outside the apartments. =P

The next morning I woke up at about 10:30am which was FAR too early for me on a saturday but what could be done. So I got up and sat around listening to Journey for a bit before finally deciding to start my laundry. Around that same time, Rebekah recieved her letter of acceptance to the BYU Elementary Education Program. There was much talk of going to celebrate before we actually got off the couch and walked to our favorite place...the CUPCAKE CAFE!!! WHEE!!! Well, we half walked there...and then we found a shopping cart and we HAD to play in it!

I was supposed to hang out with Hellewell choro cuz he was coming up from Vegas to visit but that plan fell through. Andrew and I decided to play games anyhow...but as with many things...it took us forever to actually get around to the actual activity. First, Rhiannon came in and turned on the BYU basketball game just as we were about to leave. I have NEVER been so into basketball in my life. I was squirming all over the place and praying for missed freethrows like crazy! It was a SUPER close game but alas, in the end we lost. Undefeated on our home court until last Saturday...stupid New Mexico. -__- That state isn't even cool! I can't even think of ONE thing in New Mexico worth going to...let's give it to Mexico. Oh wait...I guess there's Carlsbad Caverns...curse you! You were saved by your National Park you cursed state!!!! *shakes fist*

Then we finally left to go borrow a game from Andrew's cousin...only to come back and sit on the couch some more. Jared (Rebekah's brother) was over and he and Rebekah were watching stuff on YouTube...so then I pulled out my computer and started watching YouTube...what a sad sad society. Finally, we decided we were hungry and should eat. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and so we decided we wanted to have a picnic earlier...but then it got dark and cold so we opted for the breezeway, but then we had no food so Denny's won...an hour later =P Ugh...can someone PLEASE pin my shoulders back...my posture is driving me crazy!!!

after Denny's we played Uno and Picture Phone before everyone disappeared and went their seperate ways. It was kind of surprising how quickly it went from a group of like 10 to just Andrew and I but meh, I'm not really complaining. I don't think we did much but talk after that though cuz we didn't have time for a movie before curfew.

Sunday was Bridger's homecoming. Gah...its just too weird calling him Bridger. Anyhow, why can I call everyone else by their first names but not Elder Harris? Hmm? I don't get it. Well, I take that back, I don't think I can call Elder Howe by his first name either.

Anyhow, it was SOOO much fun being able to see my elders come full circle from the MTC to their homecoming talks. I don't think I could stop smiling through his whole talk, I'm so proud of all of my elders!

After Sacrament we were waiting in the pew for the crowd around Bridger to dissipate somewhat and I was sitting next to Andrew, holding hands when a guy came to sit next to us and leaned in to talk to me. Confused, I turned to look and holy cow it was PRESIDENT HILL! I squealed and immediately dropped Andrew's hand to throw myself at President to hug him. OH HOW I LOVE MY MISSION PRESIDENT!

He smirked and told me "Sister Halliday, you didn't used to sit this close to missionaries"

I laughed sorta nervously but he told us we looked good so I figured we had the OK from President. =P PHEW! Now I just need best friend consent! I hope Ali doesnt kill me! Oh yeah...I should probably mention the obvious...Andrew and I are dating. ^_^

After Sacrament, we waiting for AAA to come cuz Devin locked his keys in the car and then we went to Bridger's for free food. We didnt' go to see HIM of course =P Then we headed home. I got home just in time for my ward and Kelli insisted that I get into my Jane Austen dress again so I quickly changed, put my hair up and contacts in, and it was off to church! I love dressing up...and I love those pearls I wore in my hair...I gotta find another way to wear them again! =P

After church was a little stressful because I'm a bum and didn't do my visiting teaching but it was ok. Andrew came over to make me feel better and we had a good time laughing together with the rest of my roommates. Oh how I love my roommates, they're all so fun! ^___^ I got so lucky with the apartment that I moved into! ^_^

Episode 14: In Which Jessica Has the Most Perfectest Weekend Ever!

Well, this weekend was an exceptionally good one in the life of me. I am sure I've said that before and I am sure it will be said again, but at this moment in time, things can't possibly be more perfect!

I finished all my tests for the week on Thursday so Friday was a pretty chill day for me.

It all started that morning when I got out of Japanese...no it started IN Japanese class. We had a Kanji test and I pretty much aced it. It felt SOOO good to ace a test instead of flunking it! =P But after we got out of Japanese, it was snowing nice big fat drops of condensed and frozen moisture. It was so pretty and Casey and Brandon (two guys in my Japanese class) were trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues! It was hilarious and fun! ^_^ Sometimes, you just have to forget how old you are, and enjoy the same things that make kids happy ^_^.



After that, I went to the Wilk where I proceeded to spend a couple hours joking around with Rebekah and Kaylynne via facebook, and switch shoes with my friend Emily, who forgot that she needed tennis shoes for something that day. So I inherited a pair of too small, yet super cute shoes for the day and it was exciting.



It continued to snow all morning, and I was super happy. It has been ages since I've seen snow and it hasn't snowed that much this winter. To celebrate, I went and bought a loaf of fresh bread, and a cup of soup! I was hoping for cream of broccoli or cream of potato but I had to settle for chicken and wild rice. It was super delicious and a perfect way to spend the lunch hour on a rainy day! (and I got to use my umbrella)



After that, I went to struggle through Chemistry. It's honestly not so much that I hate chemistry...so much as I hate the not getting it. I totally don't know what we talked about on Friday =P Something about moles...



I went to the Clyde Building to wait for Emily to get out of class so we could re-exchange shoes and while I was there, I discovered the greatest app ever invented for iphone! I want it! I want an iphone JUST so I can have that app! It's a lightsaber app, and it uses the motion sensor in the iphone to make lightsaber noises. I laughed that I learned about that app in the Clyde engineering building...there were like 4 or 5 people in there, probably studying engineering so that they could work for LucasArts someday. (I don't even know if those guys at LucasArts are engineers haha)



That day I went to Shelia's for our weekly drama and I ate more delicious food. HOORAY FOR FRIENDS AND DRAMAS! But not friend drama...that stuff is lame.

So that same night I had a roommate date with my roommate Rebekah and also with Elyla from next door. We went to the Cannon center for dinner! It was so delicious but I stuffed myself full of food! It reminded me of being in the MTC again and eating 4 navajo tacos because I wanted to prove to Elder Harris that I could keep up with them....yeah that was a bad idea. Not that going to the Cannon Center was a bad idea of course...food is ALWAYS a good choice.

Then we went and sat in the hot tub for a bit to relax and when I came home I was so sleepy that I went to sleep and missed my relief society activity. Oh well =P I needed my sleep cuz on Saturday...

I WENT HIKING WITH ANDREW!!! OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS SO FUN! I miss hiking...I didn't do enough of it in Arizona. It was my first time hiking in the snow though! We hiked up to the Y and then went a little past that. For all the pictures you can check out my facebook album. I'll just post the picture of me in the snow fort that we found while we were hiking.

We found this snowfort in the middle of a meadow. It was really only big enough for one person to lay down in but we squished both of us in it anyhow. It was funny because it was soooooooooo quiet in there and we were laughing that maybe his brother would never find us cuz we were super quiet and he was hungry =P. (it was me; andrew; his brother, Alex; and his brother's roommate, Chris) They did find us though...and then it was an adventure trying to get out. I faceplanted in the snow trying to push myself up and out of the fort haha! But it was nice and cozy in there...no wonder its the dwelling of choice for eskimos! Who knew snow could be so warm!? Of course...then outside was twice as cold, but who's counting right?

Here's the album for you if you aren't on facebook...even though you probably are:

Hiking and Homecomings

We got off the mountain at about 1pm and then we went to meet Elder Harris and Elder Allen cuz they were visiting Provo! well, Elder Allen kinda pretty much lives here but yeah. Anyhow, we went, and Elder Bradley was there too! It was like a mini mission reunion!!! Oh how I love all my elders! I have a confession to make, though most of you always know...I didn't like hanging out with sisters on my mission =P Not that I didn't love my companions, I did and still do. But I loved the elders too!!!

Now that you think I'm a totally bad missionary...I think I'll move on =P

So then I went home and watched TV with Rebekah for a little bit before taking a shower and getting ready for that night. I went to a ballet up on campus with Andrew. It was super fun...even though I didn't get the classical ballet stuff very much. The modern ballet was really abstract but I was able to get a pretty good concrete image in my head from the dances...maybe I'm getting to be more cultured as I grow up. =P

Anyhow, it was super fun and I really enjoyed talking to Andrew about the performances. I was impressed that he knew so much (it could be cuz he's in a humanities class...I'm just inhumane apparently and know virtually nothing aboout ballet) But anyhow, I enjoyed myself. ^__^

Sunday was another exciting day! I went to Elder Allen's homecoming!!! WHEE! It was supposed to be a surprise but since I kinda saw him on Saturday it wasn't that surprising haha. I went with Tyler and Josh and then we saw Kyoko shimai there! She was a member in the Tokyo mission. It was crazy to see her!!

Elder Bradley and Elder Harris are dweebs and put on masks like the Japanese ALWAYS wear to make Elder Allen laugh during his talk. It was all in vain though because Elder Allen never saw them. We waited for a long time while Elder Allen talked to everyone after Sacrament meeting and then we FINALLY got a group picture taken! Did I mention that I missed those boys...well I did.

Hugs were given all around...except to me because I am a sister and Elder Allen just can't BEAR to hug me...so I snuck up behind him and hugged him anyways. It was pretty hilarious to watch him freak out...I should have had someone take a video of it. dang!

Oh what a fun weekend!!! Sorry for the late post! Tonight is the Jane Austen Dance so I will try hard to make a more time appropriate post! ^____^

Episode 13: In Which Jessica Is Forced to Search For the Bright Side of Life

Unfortunately, life can't be all sunshine and daisies...or maybe it can because the weather is NOT cooperating and the crocuses are poking their heads out of the ground and the sun is out ALL the time...who gave it permission? seriously!

Anyhow, enough with taking idioms literally, this has been one week where I have had to actively search for the bright side of life...but I will not be beaten! I'll have everyone relax, I've found the bright side and how very bright it is!

So this week I failed my chem test AGAIN...I am SO not cut out for chem. It's not going to beat me though...I WILL conquer it, just as I conquered physics!

My weekend was fantabulous but it threw me a little off. This week I had two exams. One in Chem and one in Human Development. I failed both of them. In fact, I did worse on them than I did previously. I'm hoping to still pull off a C on the test in Human Development cuz I got a 68 and last time my score actually went up 2 points because of a curve in the grading. So let's cross our fingers and hope.

The chemistry test still makes me mad. I got my times mixed up and thought my chem test closed thursday at 2 and my human development test closed friday at 10. Wrong! Wednesday I looked at my schedule and discovered that my Chem test closed thursday at 10...so I HAD to take it despite my lack of preparation.

I called Andrew and he was kind enough to come help me study for the next 2 hours, at which point I went to Chem, came back, and he continued to help me study for the next hour and a half.

He made it really easy to understand and I was ACTUALLY enjoying doing my chemistry for once in my life. It could be cuz he kept laughing at me...which would then make me laugh, so my stress would go away. But at the same time, I was also understanding what I was doing so it was fun too.

Unfortunately, I went to take the test and well, you know how this ends. So I was pretty upset and I knew there would be no package from Chiba kun to cheer me up this time, so I dejectedly turned to walk home, trying of course not to be TOO dejected. Well, I ran into my home teacher,Jesse, and as it was getting dark, he asked me if I wanted to walk with him and another guy from my ward, so I accepted. I was beginning to feel a little better.

On the way we ran into Jessie and Emma, from my ward, and walked with them too. It was quite fun. Then I got a phone call from Andrew...but my phone was dying so I had to wait til I got home to call him back. I plugged in my phone but here is the funny story. I have my charger cord running up through my desk, so it's not very long...certainly not long enough to talk on the phone while it's charging. =P But I tried anyhow, I prostrated myself across my desk and called Andrew. It was quite amusing because by the time I was DONE talking to andrew (probably about 15 minutes later) I had completely fallen in between my desk and my bed, with only my head holding me up. Actually it was a little bit painful, but it made me laugh.

About halfway through that phone call I got a call from some really random number that I didn't know so I switched over and was VERY confused to be met with a male voice speaking Japanese. I hesitantly answered his questions, growing more and more curious by the second until he said "Harris to moushimasu". I screamed and tried to sit bolt upright...but was held down by my cord. It was Elder Harris!!

But I told him I was on the phone with Andrew and that I'd call him back...then, in all my genius, I hung up on both of them. What the crap? Seriously? I've been using call waiting for HOW long now?

Whatever, it doesn't even matter. Andrew called back a second later so I will just pretend I didn't do something totally lame like that =P

After Andrew went to Institute (Which Kaylynne ALSO went to...I'm so proud of her!!! ^___^) I called Elder Harris...who's name is actually Bridger and I suppose I should get used to that...back and talked to him for a little bit. It wasn't a long conversation, but he said he was coming down here to Provo on Saturday. Ha! funny, I'm not really gonna be around on Saturday! I'm going hiking and then to a ballet. At least I THINK I'm going hiking...it's kinda supposed to snow all weekend...hmmm...

Anyhow, it was super exciting to hear from him.

After institute was over, I managed to convince Andrew and Kaylynne (not that it's hard to convince Kaylynne of these things) that they should come get ice cream with me. So we all went to Sub Zero ice cream. It's the perfect place to drown your sorrows after a failed Chem test. Why, cuz it's pretty much chemistry in action! They make the ice cream right there and set it with liquid nitrogen! I TOTALLY forgot my camera...its the second time I've done that! Consequently, this blog entry has no pictures...I might put some up later, at least one of me talking on my phone in my cozy little hole =P

Anyhow, it was super fun! I'm so glad I have friends who are willing to aid me in my self recovery process after a bad day.

That night I was resolved to have a better day today. I came home and started studying for my Human Development test. Around midnight I couldn't take it anymore and had to log onto facebook. Andrew had sent me another pretty picture of the night sky and it made me smile. He's always sending me way cool pictures of galaxies and nebulas and stuff. I have one as my computer background and at risk of sounding like a ditz, it's so sparkly! It makes me happy everytime I see it. If I knew where the link was, I would show you...I wonder if I saved it to my computer...dar it I didn't. Well it's really sparkly ok!

Anyhow, so I proceeded to launch into a soliloquy of how I was determined to do better on all my tests and how chemistry wasn't going to beat me. I think Andrew PROBABLY thinks I'm insane...(I would if I were him) but he's supportive at least. ^_^ I'm so lucky that I have friends who are cheering for me!

So today I went to school and then studied for another 3 hours, then went to take the test. When I got there I realized that I had left my wallet at home! SO I had to trudge back home to get my wallet and then work up the motivation to go back to campus. =P

I took the test and to be honest I didn't have a super good feeling about it. I got a lot of numbers and stuff mixed up, particularly pertaining to physical development milestones...so it wasn't any big shocker when I saw my score. I think maybe that's why I was able to hold it together...not a tear was shed. I think I finally figured out how to study for those tests though. It's a little late, but better late than never right!?

I told Brittan that I was going to throw myself down the evil staircase south of campus cuz of my grades but he pointed out that I'd probably get brain damage and then tests would be even MORE difficult...so I stopped with that train of thought =P

On the way home I could only think that Bridger had already called and that Chiba kun hadn't sent any more packages...so what could God have in store for me to brighten up my day? Then I thought about calling Kaori chan (Nagase shimai). I checked my clock and found it was 9am in Japan so I went ahead and called her.

She's been having a rough time since yesterday so it was good that I called. She was sounding kinda sad when she first picked up (and tired cuz I woke her up =P)but by the time I hung up she was sounding really happy again. It probably wasn't ALL me. I ran into Josh Doying on the way home and handed him the phone so he could talk to her. He tried to tell her he was my amazing Japanese boyfriend but she knew it was him right away...sasuga Kaori chan. =P

I was feeling much better after talking to her too. In fact, life was just amazing! THEN I got on facebook and who should I see? Elder Musashi Howe! I think I might call him Howe for the rest of his life...I don't know that I could get used to calling him Musashi, even though it's about the most epic name you could ever have.

Anyhow, it was fun talking to him and he's coming to Provo in June so we'll all be at BYU or at least in Utah soon!

After that, Andrew texted me and asked me how my test was...which I pretty much had forgotten about til just then. I told him in the most clever and round about way I could think of that I had failed again.

I talked to him on the phone for a while and we both agreed that I could be having some kind of complex with the tests. I did pretty badly last time so this time I HAD to prove to the world (or at least to myself that I could do better) which actually made me do worse. It happens with minorities all the time. It's some kind of stereotype bias, where their ethnic group is stereotyped as being lazy, or stupid or whatever. So when they go to take an IQ test they feel like they have to prove the world wrong, and the pressure actually makes them do really badly. (SEE?!? I AM LEARNING STUFF IN MY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CLASS!!!)

We agreed I could be suffering from something similar. At any rate, it's like I asked Kaylynne. "How could I FAIL!?! It's Human Development! I'm a developed human!!!" =P

And now for the freaking best news of the WHOLE day! I asked Andrew to go to the Jane Austen Dance with me so now I get to go!!! I've been debating that whole thing ALL week and finally decided today that I HAD to go because it's probably NEVER gonna happen again in my lifetime. My mom is sending my dress up this week and I'm FINALLY gonna learn all those dances I've been wanting to learn for ages! ...now I have to get over the nervousness of learning them, cuz I have no rhythm! haha! But it's gonna be fun! I'm excited! And I must say I have a great amount of respect for Andrew for going with me, even though he's appalled at how many hours girls can spend in front of the TV watching Jane Austen movies =P

Our apartment is all full of excitement cuz Rebekah is going to the Harry Potter dance next week too and she just put together an AMAZING Hermione costume. She looks better than Emma Watson!

It's going to be an exciting weekend for sure!

Other than that, I relieved some stress tonight by playing DDR (which I actually dont' suck at AS bad as I thought I would for not playing it for years...in fact...I seem to be almost better in some aspects) and a little FFIX to cool down. OH! and I talked to Jordan today too!!! (That's Elder Allen)^_^

Now I must go to bed because I have a kanji test tomorrow and I'm really tired of failing tests thanks. =P

So in case you didn't want to read this whole long pictureless entry, here are my reasons to look on the bright side of life:

-I have AMAZING friends. I can't say how greatful I am for Rebekah, Kaylynne, and Andrew who all listen to me talk almost non-stop, yet still want to be my friend...I think. If not, they're sure good at pretending. And I'm grateful that they all support me and build me up constantly...I wouldn't be surviving college nearly as well without them!

-I have people I can help, even in my seemingly darkest hour

-I do NOT have brain damage, and I have a kind friend who would prevent me from doing something that would give me brain damage. haha. thanks brittan =P

-There is much good food in the world still to be eaten, so ending my life prematurely would be a bad idea anyways. (I know I didn't mention food in this entry really but its true all the same)

-My elders are home!

-I'm going to the Jane Austen dance!!!

-I can laugh

-I might suck at chem, but I can write a hilarious blog! =P

-I am not going to give up...ever. I don't know that that is a reason to look on the bright side of life or just a resolve...but whatever

-Tomorrow (or technically today) is Friday, that means that I get to watch my drama with Shelia!


I guess that's all I can think of really...but I just have to say that God is amazing. He always knows just what I need and when. I can't say I've had a single bad day since I came to BYU. Not that he looks over me just when I'm at BYU, but I've been better at recognizing the hand of the Lord in my life since I started school here. I guess I just never had enough challenges before =P

Well, bring it on, cuz I can take it! I've got my friends and I've got the Lord...There's nothing I can't do SOMEhow or another!

was that like...sacreligious or disprespectful to use the Lord's name in a sentence with "bring it on"? if it was...oops. =P

Oh, PS. Book of Mormon was INTENSELY amazing today. I understand the Beatitudes in a way I never thought I would. I LOVE BYU!!!

Episode 12: In Which Jessica Has a Fight With Powered Sugar and Wishes She Were a Cloud =P

There are no pictures for this entry, I'll apoligize in advance. I haven't taken many lately because well...who wants to watch Jessica doing her homework? Oh wait! I lied, I do have pictures of that very thing. Behold. I am studying the chemical composition of a cupcake.


Ok, so this was Valentines weekend, and I was going to break it up into two entries but you're gonna have to deal with one long entry because well, because. And that is a perfectly acceptable answer, says me. ^_^


So, as many of you may have heard (Particularly Rebekah) In Japan, Valentines day is done just a tad differently. On Valentines Day, only girls give chocolates to boys. They dont get anything really. They get their day too on March 14th, White day, when the boys they gave chocolates to reciprocate and give them chocolate.


I've been celebrating that way for about 3 years now and its wonderful every year. This kind of celebrating usually lets me forget that I'm single, and serve other people. I usually don't get very upset over being single anyhow...but boys act like its christmas when you give them food and I find that amusing. No one here celebrates White Day so I typically don't get anything except in the MTC when my elders went all out and decorated sister webb's and my desks. It was amazing! but that was 2 years ago =P



This year I opted for making chocolate cookies so I secured a recipe from Clarissa for Chocolate Crinkles. First though, I had to go shopping to buy the indgredients. So I went down to Macey's after school on Wednesday afternoon and bought the ingredients. Well, I had to grab some powdered sugar so I picked up a bag, and it POOFED on me! there was a hole in it and it got powdered sugar all over me. Luckily for all of you and for me, I always carry my camera with me! ^_^

After dusting myself off, I continued my shopping and lugged all my groceries home. I'm often too proud or stubborn to ask for rides so I carry everything home. When you're carrying 6 bags of groceries on your arms and a carton of milk and bag of sugar in your backpack, you start to wonder where all the priesthood holders in Provo are =P ...or maybe a boy scout? =P

Thursday night I set about cooking...at about 12am. =P The recipe was easy and the bake time was short...however, at 12am, I failed to notice that 8 cups of flour was an awful lot of flour. The end result? TONS of cookie dough. =P

Yeah...it made a LOT of cookies. I think I made like 12 dozen! I'm sure my roommates thought that the cookie fairy had come to visit when they woke up the next morning.

I put them all in their little baggies and to take them to school to give to everyone at school. No, I didn't bother with my lecture classes...that would be ridiculous. Just my Japanese class which has only like 10 people in it.

The next morning, or rather 2 hours later, I woke up feeling fat and not very attractive in the least, so I put on my cute boots and walked all over campus in them! By the end of the day I felt pretty cute, despite my sore feets. haha! I watched my drama with Shelia and then came home to get ready for my date that night.

Yeah, I had a date. It was with a guy in my ward and it was pretty fun. We went to see the BYU Young Ambassadors and I thought I would die of awe and wonder. I get that way when I watch live performances and they were AMAZING! They performed "Defying Gravity" and it was amazing! I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go see a broadway play now, preferably on Broadway but I'll take a touring show too. I still can't believe I got home the day Wicked ended in Arizona! LAME!

So then I got home and me and Rebekah waited up for Kelli and Rhiannon who had gone to a formal dance. I left before they were dressed so I didn't get to see them all dressed up. They both looked super pretty when they got home though!

Saturday I made Butter Chicken Curry and naan and lassi! I made the yogurt from scratch too the night before! I find it funny to that I said there were no pictures for this entry, but I'm having trouble choosing which to show. I'll go with the naan and curry, cuz the picture of making yogurt isn't too exciting.

Shelia came over to help me and we watched Finding Neverland as well. Kaylynne also joined us of course and it was super fun! Kaylynne was quite a fan of the naan. =P

I texted my friend Andrew (aka Elder Powell) too because I remembered he said he liked Naan. Of course, I can't think of a missionary who DOESN'T like naan...cept maybe Sterling cuz he's WEIRD!

Anyhow, he was hiking so he didn't answer and then the curry was all gone before he could come over. But he invited me to go the Japanese session at the temple with him which I did...after Kaylynne bought her way into heaven by lending me money to borrow clothes with =P

Anyhow, so we went to the session, and Elder Lee from our mission was there too. It was WAY cool. And super natsukashii (I still don't have a good english translation for that..."remeniscient?) to be in the Provo Temple Celestial Room after 2 years....

Overall it was super fun. He told me about how he climbed Mt. Fuji (while I died of jealousy in the passengers seat haha) and I told him about the time me and Natalee made the road trip to San Diego.

Saturday night after I got home from the temple, I invited Kaylnne over and we ate ice cream, straight out of the tub. Normally that's something you do for a break up, but it was fun so we did it anyhow. Then I secretly started the batter for yeast raised waffles and then put my hair in curlers. I figured that it would be fun to have curly hair for Valentines day ^_^

Sunday morning I woke up, pulled the strawberries that I bought earlier, out of the freezer, whipped up some whipped cream, and finished the batter. Then I went back to bed and let my roommates figure out what was going on. =P

I got up just before church, pulled the culers out of my hair, and bounced off to church. My hair bounced too, it was super fun!

After church I watched Steel Magnolias with Rebekah. Oh so many funny/inspirational quotes. ^_^

Later, we had ward prayer and some kind of dating activity that I didn't dare participate in. The guys put a tie in a box and the girls drew one out and then they got a "free ice cream sandwich" thing for hogi yogi and they all are going out sometime this week. I'm not huge on activities where I have to match an object to someone in a crowd so I just watched.

Then we went back to Kaylynne's apartment and talked for ages. It was quite fun. I love just sitting around and talking late at night. ^_^

Monday morning I got up and Sister Yasutani's wedding invite was sitting on the table! Sister Yasutani was my trainer in the mission. I'm so happy she's getting married ^_^

Then, Clarissa came to pick me up and I spent the day with her and Jacob. We just sat talking, and played Mario Kart for the Wii...which I suck at. I don't think either of us thought we'd see the day that I sucked at video games and clarissa was better than me. I got 12th place almost EVERYTIME. But it wasn't like playing Super Smash Bros where getting last place gets lame and tiring after a while, I didn't get bored to fast even though i lost everytime.

After Jacob came home we made pizza and I played with Emily and trained her for the circus....she's going to be a trapeze artist cuz its so fun to swing her up in the air. haha. I love playing with Emily. Edward is cute too...they're both so tiny!

Today is cleaning checks so I had to clean the bathroom. It wasn't that interesting...but oh well. It needs to be done. I didn't get to the mold on the ceiling or unclogging the drain...so hopefully we'll still pass. They don't check the drain anyhow, that's just a personal desire to unclog our shower drain. I'm scared to do it though. =P

While I wasn't cleaning, I was discussing sciencey things with Andrew and he mentioned Lenticular Clouds and I looked it up and was like "hey wait! I have a picture of one of those!" I put it up on facebook to show him and it is currently my most discussed photo of my entire mission series...what the crap!?! a year and a half of strange foods and awesome people...and everyone likes the picture of a CLOUD?!

I should have been born as a cloud apparently.

Anyhow, that is pretty much how my weekend went. It was the most fun weekend I've had ever! (I think I say that every weekend)

It was just what I needed to lead me into what will inevitably be the most NOT fun week of my life. I have a chem test and a human development test. Today I have to stay on campus until 6 for a test review session....I think...I haven't heard anythign about it...lame.

I mean NOT lame! Life is amazing! despite the unfortunate existence of Chemistry...I would seriously take Physics over this...haha!

Episode 11: In Which Jessica Has a Cultural Experience and Discovers a Reason to Actually Run

Hello again everyone! This weekend was a fun one! Hooray for superbowl weekend!!! But I'm only on Friday so let me start there.

This week, after school was FINALLY out (the week was so long!) I went home and chilled for about an hour with every intention of doing homework but never actually doing it. Instead I waited impatiently for the time to come for me and Rebekah to go to the play we were going to that night.

To pass the time, we went to sit in the hot tub for a while and talked about how we used to watch Fantasia as children and we liked to pretend we were the horses, and Night on the Bald Mountain scared us.

I actually like Night on the Bald Mountain now, in fact I'm listening to it. Ok that's a lie, I'm listening to Japanese music (of course right?) But if I had that Mp3 I would listen to it!

So finally the time came and we headed out the door and up to campus for our play. We went to see "A Thousand Paper Cranes". It's the story of Sadako, a Japanese girl born during WWII who contracts Lukemia due to radiation from the bomb. To get better she starts folding 1000 paper cranes, after which she will be granted one wish. However, and I'm spoiling the ending, she only ever reached 644 cranes before she died. Her classmates finished the rest and now, in the Hiroshima peace park, it is a statue of Sadako, holding a crane in her hand, which stands as a memorial for peace.

Every year thousands of kids and probably adults, send cranes to the memorial with wishes for world peace on their wings. For more information, try this link: http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/crane.html

Anyhow, so now that I ruined the play for you, I must say the play wasn't that exciting. It was a play for children so we didn't expect it to be AMAZING but it was a little bit hard to follow. I was very impressed with their attention to detail and pronunciation though so kudos to them.

After the show we folded paper cranes to put in a box outside the theater so they could send them to the peace park in Hiroshima. I even wrote a message on them in Japanese. ^_^ And Rebekah did too! I wrote it down first and then she copies it. There are our cranes, all being peacful like, with a copy of the program in the back. I draw attention to the program because we thought it was funny how the program was a like a micro example of BYU. At the front of the program was an add for engagement rings, and as you can see, there is one on the back too. Here at BYU everything begins and ends with marriage =P

Anyhow, back to our cranes. I wrote "Mina san naka yoku nareru youni" which basically means, So that everyone can get along well.

After the play, Rebekah's brother picked us up and we went to Applebees where I ate a delicious salad with apples and pineapples and chicken and almonds and mandarin oranges and oriental dressing. SO good. And of course I got a virgin pina colada!

When we came home, we went over to Kaylynne's apartment to play DDR but we ended up talking for hours instead and then FINALLY played DDR...but it was like midnight so we only did one song before the people downstairs started knocking on the floor and we had to stop. =P

After that, we didn't know what to do so me and Kaylynne went to Denny's for milkshakes and fries. Why? because we can and because it was open at 1am. =P (not much is open past midnight here in Provo...its maybe the only bummer. The whole place shuts down at like 11. It's weird. Is that Provo or financial crisis? I don't know and don't care, Denny's is still here for me!

So that was pretty much Friday. Saturday I slept in til noon, didn't do homework, at delcious potato soup made by Rebekah and Jayna, and went to the cupcake cafe! The cupcake cafe was a stop on the way home from the grocery store. Rebekah and I had to get hamburger for break the fast the next day. After the cupcake cafe, we headed back out into the cold to walk to the dollar movies (which are really 2 dollar movies) to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox. We were too late for Planet 51...bummer, cuz the movie we saw numbed my mind it was so lame. Rebekah and Jayna liked it, but I couldn't get into it. It was really episodic and the characters were extremely flat. I found out why I didn't like it at the end, it was based on a Roald Dahl book. I'm not a fan of his, though I did like Matilda and Willy Wonka...that was a Tim Burton film though so I would hardly count it. (wait...so was James and the Giant Peach...)

Anyhow, yeah, I don't recommend the movie but it was nice to get out and do something.

When we came home, Kelli and Candace had just started "Julie and Julia" so we sat down to watch it. I actually liked it, but no one else seemed to like it, and I admit it was very long and in retrospect, it was very slow and rather predictable...but I still liked it. I say if you like food its worth seeing at least once. Plus it was about blogging, and I like blogging! Can you tell?

On sunday, I slept in again and then went to church. We had a rather amusing lesson on dating in Relief Society. I tolerate those better than I did in Young Women's. =P

Then it was home and off to Break the Fast. It was tacos but everyone brought meat and I think 1 person brought lettuce...and there was no cheese. But there were no bake cookies so I was happy! And afterwards I went over to Emily's Superbowl party because Rebekah had gone to her family's for the superbowl and I had nothing to do. I got there about midway through the 3rd quarter.

It was a rather exciting game, but the colts totally choked in the last quarter. I was cheering for the Saints so it didn't really matter to me that they choked, but it was sad to see. I was actually cheering for the Saints because I didn't think they could win. I was wrong. They deserved to win though, they had an AMAZING defense and MAN, that last interception was AMAZING!

People ask me what my favorite commercial was but I didn't much pay attention to the commercials. I am maybe one of the few people in the world that watched the Superbowl for the game? But there was a hilarious commercial for Doritos with a Dorito Samurai...that was pretty hilarious, so I guess that's my favorite =P

Anyhow, after the game I started to walk home. It was 7:50 and it's about a 20 minute walk home. I was sad because we had missed the exciting conclusion of Emma on PBS because of the superbowl, but I could watch it online later. However, halfway home, I realized that PBS Materpiece Theatre starts at 8, not 7 and I could still make it home!(that's me walking fast right there--->) And so...I started to walk really fast. Then, at 8:06pm, I sprinted the remaining 1/4 mile to my apartment and made it home at about 8:09.

As I started to run, one of my Japanese pop songs came up on my Mp3 player and I had the strange feeling like I was in one on my dramas. It was super nerdy but it was fun. Then ironically, as I had never really listened to the words of the song, I noticed it was saying "run! run!" and it made me laugh even more...or I would have laughed had I not been panting cuz I DON'T RUN! But for Jane Austen, I will. haha!

I made it home and burst into the apartment panting...but Kelli and Candace were watching Remember the Titans! Not that I don't love that movie, I do, but I needed a TV, so I left the apartment and ran over to Kaylynne's. Her roommate answered the door and said Kaylynne was home but previously she had been sleeping so I didn't want to wake her and just asked if I could use the TV. She kinda looked at me weird but said ok. So I sat myself in front of the TV and watched the exciting conclusion of Emma. Rebekah came over shortly after, and then Kaylynne figured out that we were over and came out to join us. (she had been awake the whole time anyhow haha)

After Emma, "Lost in Austen" came on so we skipped ward prayer and watched it...but it was lame and angered us so we don't think we'll watch it again. Jane married Mr. Collins!!! EWWWWWWWWW!

That was pretty much my weekend. Super fun! I think I'm ready to take on the week! nope, that's a lie...but if I face the week, I'll be rewarded with seeing my Elders again because they come home next week!!! I'm SO STOKED! Seriously, this has been the longest 6 months of my life!

Episode 10: In Which Jessica Makes Melon Pan and Falls Hopelessly In Love

Today was a fantabulous day! It's the kind of day in which nothing can go wrong and everything can go right. ...no wait...I take that back. Something did go wrong, but we won't dwell on that yet. =P

This week has been kind of quiet. I went to Shelia's house on Wednesday to watch Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge with her. That's a mouthful right? Yeah, well basically it's a hilarious new drama airing in Japan and we watch it everytime a new release comes out. So far we've done it...twice. Hey! there's only 3 episodes! But episode 4 should be airing right about now...bwahahahha!

Everytime I go to Shelia's I eat something delicious. Last time it was mochi, this time it was coconut milk with tapioca pearls! mmmm! But I don't go over to her house just to eat her food, I promise!

Anyhow, today was Thursday, that means that I only have class until 10. After class I went to the bookstore, picked up some stuff to send to Kaori chan (Nagase shimai, one of my mission companions) and sat down to write a letter. I wrote it without my electronic dictionary which means the letter gave me a HUGE headache trying to remember all the kanji I needed to write, but it was good for me right?

After eating my super healthy lunch consisting of a mexican pizza, soft taco, maple doughnut and lemon bar, I was ready to head home. I was tempted to go to the library to look around for a bit but I had things that NEEDED to be done at home. More about those things later.

Upon my return home my mind was made up, I was going to utilize this incredibly large block of time to make MELON PAN!

For those who don't know, Melon pan is a bread in Japan. It's a little roundy bun type bread with a cookie like topping. It has criss cross lines that make it look like a melon, hence the name.

I found a recipe online a long time ago but it's about a 3 hour process so I've yet to make it. Today was the day I was going to make melon pan or die trying. Luckily, I didn't have to die, not making melon pan at least. It was pretty fun, I like making yeast breads, especially punching them down when they rise!

The bread turned out ok. Not QUITE like it is in Japan...and I couldn' t figure out how to put the lines on them...but they tasted good. My roommates quickly polished off the entire plate, luckily I saved a couple for my friends and ate a few myself. The recipe will take a little doctoring and I learned a better way to apply the cookie topping so I'll probably be making it again sometime and plan to improve it each time. My next step is learning how to make those lines cuz I just couldn't do it! But they look like bread so I take that as a good sign. At least...they kinda look like bread...lumpy bread.

I'm still very pleased that they were not just edible, but edible enough that they disappeared in like 15 minutes! We'll see what my friends who have been to Japan before say about it tomorrow...

While I was waiting for the bread to rise I did exactly what I had been waiting all day to do! I watched Tokyo Dogs! I seriously love that drama...I don't know how I do it but even though I know these Japanese dramas are cheesy I fall completely in love with them!

This time around I roped Rebekah into watching it with me also, just a bit. I'm so glad she laughed at all the right places...including me as I writhed on the floor in agony because they could never DIRECTLY confess their love ooooooh no. They had to do it in a beat around the bush kind of way.


But then, as if that angst wasn't enough for my poor body, the season ended. And ended BADLY might I add. OK actually it was a good ending and made me and Rebekah laugh. But then it made me cry because NOW I have to wait for season 2!!! And Season 2 isn't even announced yet...WILL there be a season 2?! I have to know what happens!!! AUUUUUUUUGH!

So those of you who know me well are probably thinking "great, Jessica is obsessed with Asian Dramas again" And it's not my fault! OK it is my fault, but this time it's bad cuz I'm not only in love with the drama, I'm in love with the ACTOR! *sigh*

Oguri Shun is SO good looking and could possibly be detrimental to my dating life up here at BYU. OK I wouldn't go that far but I spent about half an hour in Rebekah's room recounting to her just HOW good looking he was. (Oguri Shun also played Hanazawa Rui in Hana Yori Dango and I loved him then...but THIS Oguri Shun had short hair and well it was a COMPLETELY different story this time around) Then I just...I just...KYUN to shita'd every time he was on screen in that last episode. Yes, I just threw in a Japanese word...there are just no English words to describe that feeling. Why don't we use onomatopoeia's in regular everyday English? hmmmmmm?

for those who would like to know KYUN is the sound of your heart tightening. It usually happens when you see a cute puppy or...Oguri Shun. It's usually equated with the english "so cute I could die" or other such sentences.

Anyhow, I was sitting here KYUNing all over the place and Rebekah was just laughing at me. I suppose it was pretty funny...but there you have it, I'm hopelessly in love.

HA! You thought I was going to be hopelessly in love with a cute RM or something huh!? no...just a Japanese guy I'll NEVER meet.

In other news, Tomorrow I'm going to see "A Thousand Paper Cranes" with Rebekah! And no, it's not and asian drama...its a play up at BYU. It IS about a Japanese girl, but I'm sure everyone has heard at least once in their lives the story of Sadako and the thousand paper cranes. (no, not Sadako and the Ring). If you haven't, you should google it. I read the book when I was in third grade and I haven't forgotten the story since. I'm way excited! Plus its a play! What's not to like about a play!?!

I'm excited for the weekend! are you!?!

Episode 9: In Which Jessica Encounters Vampires in the Wilk and Greatly Enjoys a Night of Culinary Delight...In Cute Boots!

Monday Monday Monday Monday MONDAY! M-O-N-D-A-Y, what does that spell?! That's right, WORST day of the week! That's why you've gotta go out of your way to make it extra special! It's also probably why the First Presidency, in all of the infinite wisdom they receive from God, decided that Monday night was Family Home Evening. But I am FAR from talking about family home evening. Which by the way was super fun. =P Nope, I'm gonna start with the most exciting thing I did today...GIVE BLOOD!

Seriously, what else do you do on your break between classes? Study?! HA! Why would I do something like that when I could give blood. It was really fun! Perhaps I'm a masochist but I love to donate blood! I haven't done it in ages due to never having had enough water on the day of the drive or whatnot but today I thought, what the heck, if I get denied at least I tried right! Well as you can clearly see, I passed with flying colors, even my iron was up! I COULD post a picture of the needle IN my arm...but I don't want to discourage people from reading my blog.

I will however tell you that it was the best experience I've ever had giving blood. The phlebotomist, who you can see above, was the most amazing ever! Not only did I never feel the needle go in, but I never felt it come out! It was craaaaazy! PS, I'm one of those crazies that likes to watch the needle go in. I am also glad to report that I have absolutely NO bruising in that arm at all. I got free lunch (they feed you well for donating at BYU) as well as a free T-shirt! It's the most awesomest T-shirt ever if I do say so myself.

Thanks so much to Shelia for documenting my blood donation adventures. She wanted to come with me to watch (it must be the pre nursing majors in us, haha) and she was so kind as to take the pictures for me. There are many others but they are not for the faint of heart. =P

After giving blood I went to chemistry, which is ALSO not for the faint of heart I assure you. We're still not getting along so well but I'm trying to at least get to the point where we can be indifferent acquaintances.

Today I came home from school JUST in time to see Mr. Darcy save the day! It was such a pleasant surprise and made my wonderful Monday just that much more amazing. The only thing that could have been more amazing would have been if I had come in just at the beginning of the movie. My roommate has her playstation and TV set up in our room so I got distracted from my resolve to do homework upon entering my room today. I gladly gave it up though...despite the fact that I own the DVD, it is not everyday I get to see Mr. Darcy. ^_^

Tonight we had a gourmet feast for dinner group prepared by Omar. It was freakin amazing with salad, soup, and dessert as well as the main course. Everyone dressed up for it. Well, most people did. Some people just wore a black tie over their shirts *giggle* and some people just wore the same thing they wore to school and swapped out their sneakers for adorably cute boots cuz they were too lazy to change. hmmmm, wonder who did that! =P

We had a choice between cheese manacotti or stuffed turkey. I had the manacotti, Rebekah had the turkey. We didn't share =P Dessert was a tiramisu cheesecake. delicious! But my favorite part was the soup. We had Zuppa Toscana. WHAT THE CRAZY!?! That soup is the single reason I EVER go to Olive Garden. Olive Garden's Soup Salad and Breadsticks with Zuppa Toscana everytime...I never stray from the path I've set for myself.

Well call me silly but the thought of making it MYSELF had never crossed my mind! I MUST get the recipe from Omar! Or online...but the last time I looked up a recipe online...erm...yeah. haha.

Tonight for Family Home Evening, we went as a ward to the dollar theater (on Monday the $0.50 theater) to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. If you haven't seen that movie I highly recommend it. It was super hilariously random, its impossible to even explain. I think there might be something in there for every type of humor out there!

After returning home from the theater, I went with Kaylynne to *drum roll* the cupcake cafe! Our freaking favorite place! duh! we were going to deviate and go get frozen yogurt, but it was cold so we opted out. I got a hazelnut cocoa bean hot chocolate and it was so delicious. But rich, I couldn't finish it all.

And of COURSE I walked there in my cute boots! Many people have complained that they have yet to see my new cute boots so here they are! I'm applying to advertise for our favorite cafe, what do you think? could I get the job? Maybe if I practiced tying the belt on my coat to give me a little more shape...right now I look like I've gotten fat off the cupcakes! haha!

Speaking of getting fat, I just might someday, because on return home Kelli and Candace were baking amazingly delicious and perfect brownies, which I also partook of, along with the ice cream so graciously offered me by Aaron.

Will I EVER stop eating?! Stay tuned to find out. =P (though if you shook a magic 8 ball it would probably say "not likely" =P)