Can't Live Without

This last week, my computer kinda...crashed. Yep, it crashed.
Then, this person I met once who's my friend on facebook graciously offered to fix it for me. AND, my amazing roommate Karina just happens to have an extra computer lying around.
So, this week as I have sojourned along on my journey through life, I have realized computers are basically vital to surviving college these days.
Most of my homework is typed or submitted online, and then all those papers I have to write...
Not only that, but I haven't had as much access to facebook lately. Which is probably a good thing...
But more importantly, what do we depend on? Do I really need a computer to survive, or have I just become so entirely dependent on one that it seems necessary...
Probably the second one, but I hate to admit that.
There's all things we can't live without.


I can't live without my fan. Living in Arizona most of my life has made me addicted to the noise and the cold air against my face, especially when I'm sleeping. 
Cole can't live without us. (sort of.)
Ellie can't live without a clean kitchen. (no really, she's used to things being spotless. I need to work on my...cleanliness so she can live better)
Karina can't live without her chocolate milk. She's gone through half a thing of Nesquick in almost the 2 months we've been here.
Hannah can't live without marching band. No joke, marching band IS her life. She's always tapping out rhythms and singing the french horn parts to all of her songs. 
Sarah can't live without her giant gumball. One time we hid it from her, and she about had a panic attack.
Jasmine can't live without exercise, and I really admire that about her.
Cragun can't live without talking, and I'd say we love him for it.


These are all a little slightly sarcastic, but I think we become quite dependent on outside things -- to the point that we lose focus on what's important.
Yes, I miss my computer. But maybe taking a media fast for a week might be an interesting experiment.


I'd probably suffer a lot of anxiety -- because technology is how I feel connected with the world. And is definitely a problem.


May we all remember the important things in life.
Plus, staring a fluorescent screen all of the time is quite bad for one's eyes.

Cyrano de Bergerac: Never Been Kissed

And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the vert 'to love.' A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bee's brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lover's lip: 'Forever.'"

muffins, parades, mountains, and awkward family photos

Friday night I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. you can find the recipe at auntmarthaskitchen.blogpsot.com

its technically bread, but muffins work just as well.

they're even better on the second day, because all the flavors absorb into the muffins.

Friday, Ellie and I went to the temple. It was busy and filled with BYU students. I even ran into Carlie from home :) I'm so blessed to have a temple within walking distance.

Last week it was freezing. You know how in my last post I'm super happy go lucky, yay, go fall, I love the cold? well. I can honestly say, the cold and I are distant friends, and hopefully someday we can learn to appreciate each other. as of right now, my relationship with the cold is pretty shaky.

it snowed this weekend. yes, it snowed.  I called my mom immediately and panicked appropriately. my roommates all started unpacking their winter clothes. I did too. you know what I have? 

5 long sleeve shirts and 2 vests.  they all have gloves and wool socks and heavy coats and rain boots and fur boots. 

me? I think I probably ought to go shopping. 

Saturday morning I was in the BYU Homecoming parade. I got a free t shirt and passed out fliers and candy to little children.  It was freezing and I was exhausted, but I fell in love with Provo that day.  There are so many young married couples, with little kids who were so excited to get free jolly ranchers.  They are sweet, and I now understand why Provo is called "Happy Valley. "

we won Saturday night against San Jose. the first half was pretty exciting but the second half...not so much. it's okay though, we still won :) I love football games, they're one of my favorite parts of the week.

Sunday night we drove up to the canyon with a bunch of friends to celebrate Lindsay's birthday. good times, many laughs, and inside jokes were created.  too many silly pictures were taken, and too many hands were cold.

awkward roommate family picture in our Sunday clothes

Monday I worked and slept at Grammie's house.  This morning I arrived to find many post it notes and hearts all over my wall, and it made my day.

Sarah (roommate Sarah) got very poetic and wrote:

auntie em --

I love you so much. your hair is like sunshine. your lips are like a velvet dress on a windy day.  your eyelashes are sexy.

-Sarah

I laughed so much I almost cried.

Last week was freezing and jumbled. Many memories were made, and I smile looking back on it.

This week is crazy.

College is a lot of work.

Monday I had 2 papers due.

Tomorrow I have a HUGE anthropology paper due.

And a Book of Mormon test.  And Book of Mormon tests aren't easy. Let me tell you. You'd think I'd know all the answers since I've been reading and studying the Book of Mormon my whole life. nope. not quite.

I better go study :)

Seasons

Don't get me wrong, I love Arizona. But Arizona lacks something I've always wanted to truly experience: seasons.
Arizona = summer. From May till October, it is basically really, really hot. Then, it begins to cool off, slowly. And from November till April it's "winter." It's perfect weather, really.
Of course, I would still wear sweatshirts and jackets and jeans, and some girls even wear fur boots (which I never quite understood, quite honestly.)
Arizona doesn't have seasons, though.  There aren't any changing leaves in the fall. I vaguely remember when I lived in Pennsylvania, going out into my front yard and jumping into huge piles of leaves.
I kind of want to relive that childhood memory, quite honestly.
And I can, in Utah.
The mountains are turning red and orange. It's beautiful.  This morning I was cold. But then I decided it's a perfect day outside. There's a slight breeze in the air, it's not too hot, and it's not freezing.  My hair kind of blows in the breeze, and I can feel the cold air against my skin.
I am so excited that it's fall.  It's October, the season for pumpkins and bonfires and football and apple cider and warm baking and winter shopping and sweaters and colorful leaves and Halloween. In Phoenix it's still quite hot outside.
I want it to stay like this throughout winter, because I don't think I'm ready for the snow quite yet.

More pictures to come as the seasons continually change. Oh, and my new background is inspired by the new month of October :)

Sundance with Grammie :)