Just for Today

Lets face it. I'm completely overwhelmed. I'm so ready for this week to be over. But I have to keep reminding myself to just take it a day at a time and remember the sage advice from an Ann Lander column. Just For Today-

Just for today I will live through the next 12 hours and not tackle my whole life's problems at once.

Just for today I will improve my mind. I will learn something useful. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today I will be agreeable, I will look my best, speak in a well-modulated voice, be courteous and considerate.

Just for today I will not find fault with friend, relative or colleague. I will not try to change or improve anyone but myself.

Just for today I will have a program. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two enemies — hurry and indecision.

Just for today I will exercise my character in three ways. I will do a good turn and keep it a secret. If anyone finds out, it won't count.

Just for today I will do two things I don't want to do, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially will I be unafraid to enjoy what is beautiful and believe that as I give to the world, the world will give to me.

And allow me to add- Just for today I will take a deep breath and realize that I can do it.

mechale lauren

Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.

I'm having Harry Potter withdrawals. I'm guessing that this will be a common occurrence over the next little while. I may or may not have just spent an hour watching HP videos and I may or may not have cried while watching these two. I've grown up with this story. I started reading the books in 2002. From second grade to senior year Harry, Hermione, and Ron have been my constant companions.

Harry has taught me to have courage even when I feel alone. He taught me to never back down and always persevere. Good will win out. The war will end.

Ron taught me to be happy. He taught me how to be a good friend even if that means standing in the shadows at times.

Hermione taught me to be feminine but most importantly smart. I honestly think that Hermione's love of learning has influenced me to love learning as well. It's cool to be the girl with the 35. It's cool to love math and be math sterling scholar. It's cool to read and learn and be the smart one.

I've learned so many other things through Harry Potter. I will always be indebted to J.K. Rowling. It's amazing to think that this entire Harry Potter world came from her mind. It's inspiring.

If you have ever loved Harry Potter, watch the above videos. They may be slightly nostalgic.

Hogwarts will always be there to welcome me home.

mechale lauren

wind?

I never thought the day would come that I would say- I'M SICK OF DEBATE!

Really, its just too stressful at the moment. let it die. But the last tournament is on Friday so I guess I'll get over it... oh wait, maybe not. It's exactly the same time as the Bountiful vs. Viewmont game. Really? yeah, not okay with that... gag me.

But other than that, it's December!! hallelujah! I love the Christmas season. I started listening to Christmas music on October 17th and I'm proud of it. Last Monday I performed in my flute teacher's annual Christmas concert. It was phenomenal, as per usual. My mother and I performed O Holy Night.

Umm... I really don't have much to blog about. But i needed to blog... just to blog...

I feel a sort of duty to mention the fact that I have survived a category 2 hurricane sans water... so just the wind. It was epic. 2 days off of school, no power for 60 hours, my finger almost getting ripped off (i'm telling the complete truth), church was cancelled so we could clean-up, baskeball game moved to Saturday only for the power to go out with 1:15 left in the game (bountiful 54, american fork 53). it was weird...

so thats about it...

mechale lauren

19 Days...

I was just reading through some of my past posts and drafts (because I write a lot of posts and either never finish them of don't post them) but anyhoo, I wa going through and I saw that last year, the first basketball game was November 23rd against Northridge. This year its on Novemeber 22nd (basically the same day....) against Northridge! weird. or maybe not weird? I don't know...

But since i've brought up basketball...

THE SEASON STARTS IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS!

i've been counting down since over a month ago...

i really am so dang excited. But ya know, it's kind of bitter sweet. Its my senior year! That means only one more season of basketball in the student section. one more season of getting checked out of school for the games. one more season of seeing the players in class and discussing the games/season/other teams with them. one more season of the anxiety that leads up to state. oh life.

i can't wait for what this season holds.

oh, also, a couple of times last week, I had to stay after school for whatever reason (i think it was debate these times...) and I was done at nearly the same time my dad was getting done with conditioning so i just stopped it. I can't even tell you how excited it made me. i had to time them on a couple of their runs and it was so fun! haha! I can't wait for this season. ahhhhhhhh.

too much excitement.... I'll try to contain myself. maybe.

mechale lauren

SAN FRANCISCO -UEA 2011

Yes, UEA was like 2 weeks ago, but you know what, I really don't feel bad about being late on this because I'm putting up pictures which I NEVERRR do so be grateful.

I have never had a better time on a trip ever ever ever. I never wanted to leave. I loved every second of this trip! By golly. So it was for a flute tour with my flute studio. We went to the San Francisco bay area and then to Stanford University for a master class with a couple of head flute lecturers there(regrettably, the only pictures I have of that are on my phone...). Let me tell you a few highlights.

1: The Golden Gate Bridge. Named for the Golden Gate Strait it spans, not the color of the bridge. Check me out- leaning on the bridge. Aww yaaaa.

2. Lombardo Street- the most crooked street in the whole, entire, wide, 7 billion person, vast world. With Kirsten my best friend ever. we used to play soccer together and now we play flute together! Yay! Her and her mom, Patrice, and sister, Klara, were my family on this trip.

3: FISHERMAN'S WHARF. I'm obsessseeedddd with this place. Seriously. One of my favorite places on this planet! It was magical. We had lunch there on the first day. Kir and I went off by ourselves and found a cute little seafood stand. I ordered clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Best food EVERRR. Once we got our food we headed over to a small square where a crowd was gathering to eat food and enjoy the entertainment. There was a street performer playing his electric guitar while singing. Oh wait, rewind. We had earlier decided that this song was our theme song- "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie. Okay fast forward to the square at Fisherman's Wharf. The man STARTED SINGING THAT SONG!!!!! whhhhat?? Never been so happy in my life. And we fed the seagulls. I guess you could say it was romantic (like the literature kind of romantic, not boy-girl romantic...)

4:Ghirardelli Square. a.k.a. chocolate heaven. I had a mint chocolate chip sundae with DARK hot fudge. I would highly recommend it.

5: ohhkay. this was the best part. like really. THE EXPLORATORIUM. located at the old World Expo but being moved to pier 15. Its a science and art museum. It was perfect. I could have spent an entire day there. easy. This picture(and the next) are from this cool little contraption. Inside this box was a mug of water and a camera. On the outside of the box you had to set how fast you wanted the camera to take the picture after you dropped a drop of water. When you were ready, you put your face next to a piece of glass facing the camera and dropped the water. 338ms after the drop, we got these lovely pictures.

The Exploratorium really was so amazing. There were tons of different areas to explore. My favorite was the "think" area. It was basically everything I'm learning in Psychology. It was so cool! AHH! I needddd to go back asap as possible.

6: Point Lobos. Basically it was just a beautiful coastal lookout. Really, so beautiful. I lurrved it.

All of Cindy's (my teacher) students. [Elizabeth,Katelyn, Kirsten, Maddie, Me, Klara, Hayley, Laura and Cindy]

Umm... it was windy?

7: CHINA TOWN! I got a piece of jade for a necklace and a pearl ring that I'm obsessed with. China Town was so fun. Just busy streets with tons of Asians and good deals.

Me and Klara:) I love this little girl! Lunch at China Town was so good. We ate at this Chinese restaurant that like a billion famous people have eaten at (Bill Clinton, Mayor Willie Brown, George Bush Sr, etc)

8: Muir Woods. The last destination of the trip:'( It was super fun though. Kir and I just went off by ourselves and took vampire pictures (haha) and made friends with these two tourist ladies.

Some of my favorite people from the trip![Cindy's best friend June, Cindy, Me, Kir, Klara, Hayley and Hayley's mom, Marie]

Some other un-photographed highlights include: Carmel by the Sea- one of the quaintest/romantic towns I've ever been in, Stanford- such a cool experience, i loved the master class, Pier 39-♥, Monterrey Bay Aquarium- oh yeah, love me some sea animals, a trolley ride, and ALCATRAZ! I'm obsessed with Alcatraz. It was one of the coolest places I've ever been. You probably think I'm a freak for saying that but it seriously was so cool.

So all-in-all, one of the most memorable UEAs of my life. Driving on the bus back to the Oakland Airport was one of the saddest moments of my life. I love the Bay Area and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be returning.

mechale lauren

oh, oh, oh! I almost forgot about Gilbert, our super cute and funny bus driver:) i'll miss him.

Wednesday afternoons is a great time to go to this place-



We were in and out in 25 minutes and it was joyous.

I'm so glad I have this friend who always is up to go with me. Love her.



mechale lauren

I haven't posted a plethora of random facts of my life for a while so here it goes-

15 hours at a debate tournament does something to you... that was WAY too long. but I did exactly how I wanted to. I didn't break to the final rounds but I was dang close. Perfect.

kiss me slowly. forever and always. philadelphia. i love parachute. i better be able to go on october 28th.

in other parachute news, this incredibly kind girl got me a signed poster from them because she works at a radio station and they came. love her!

the halloween dance is this weekend. homecoming was 2 weeks ago. crazy fast.

don't tell, but i don't really care that we got pummeled by East. we had hot chocolate (and it was incredible, i might add), everyone was way happy and super fun, and basketball season is coming so yeah..

speaking of basketball- 6 weeks from tomorrow is the season opener at home against Northridge. don't be alarmed that i have the first few weeks of the season memorized...

stats is FINALLY getting interesting. also, there's a table of random numbers. like a legit official table of random numbers. I'm not lying- see?

i love life.

debate tournaments can truly be full of awkward moments. a random kid from skyview tried to get me to feel his abs, another super awkward moment occurred but i can't explain it on this here cyber world because i don't want to embarrass anyone.. if you're curious, ask me in person and i'll share with discretion. it was painful.

the officers are my family. honestly, i love every single one of them (which for the record, I didn't at first..). i can talk to any of them about anything. i've never felt so close to people in my life. its blissful.

california/stanford is in two weeks from thursday!

Nicole and i are going to the temple wednesday:)

wx game. this friday. yeah, we better win. also, i hope highland beats east. that'll be a good game.

my bff aubz d rocked it in oklahoma! as laurie. atta baby! i think i'll go again tomorrow night.

my ipod is missing.

if anyone wants their house cleaned, just let jane busk or me know. we're in the cleaning business now and could use a few more houses.

i love serious conversations. muy bueno.

can i puh-lease go to washington d.c. for spring break?! that's really why i need more cleaning jobs, so i can save for d.c.

have you ever had a dream where you kissed someone? super weird. it feels real. and to answer the obvious question- no, i have no idea who i kissed, i just know that i basically know what its like to kiss. weird? yeah, probably.

is it weird that some things i've capitalized in this post but others i haven't?

i have a test on the elements of style tomorrow. gag me.

go seminary. my class is seriously the best. brother beynon thinks so and so does yuriko smith, she's the famous amazing asian substitute. did you know that she plans a lesson EVERYDAY just in case she gets called in? what a great lady.

go ap research. best class ever.

i love bountiful high. like i'm serious. i want to move away, get married, have a couple kids, and settle back in b-town to have more kids and raise them all here. its just a good place. i love it.

boys are dumb. i like them anyway.

pinterest.

i like meeting new people. its a good thing.

fall is pretty much here. yessss.

okay so for fhe tonight we played kick ball with all of our neighbors in the circle and had hot chocolate after. and it was fun!

i love helping people with math. its so dang rewarding. i can't get enough.

and this has been a sufficiently long post to keep all 13 of you readers occupied for a moment.

thank you for your time.

mechale lauren