It Was a One-Eyed One-Horned Flying Purple-People Eater

I had the least Halloween-y Halloween I've ever had in my life on Saturday night. But that's because I had stake conference and had to be in charge of music (wait . . . scratch that . . . got to be in charge of music) for the evening session. However, that doesn't mean I didn't get to dress up in a costume that made me embarrassed to walk into a grocery store. Oh, no. We had our office Halloween activities on Friday, and that was the day I looked incredibly embarrassing. (and really, isn't that the point?) Sylvia and I got to run around crazily that day because we were the ones in charge of setting things up and handing out awards and candy and the like, but it was a successful Halloween in the office.

Mark, enjoying a siesta before the kids come

Andy wants to be a pirate in "The Pirates of Penzance"

One of the best-themed costumes by Will and his daughter

Zarco, our "illegal alien" gets busted by his wife, the immigration officer

David's kids (probably the cutest football player i've ever seen in my life)

The pumpkin-carving contest

Once again, I am on the winning pumpkin team
But it's a tad disturbing.
Kind of a theme of the pumpkins this year, though. Disturbing.

Jared as Harry Potter

Kathy as Minnie Mouse

The back of Mike's head was "riDIkulus"!

Sylvia rocks the office as Miss Piggy

Corey as Sherlock busts Zarco

And me. The nerd. Wasn't much of a stretch.
But I got to wear the orange-and-white socks again!

-Me

"It is kind of strange watching your personal history become costume." -gadgetgirl

Music of My Heart

Music is pretty much totally amazing. I know that I'm a total sap when it comes to most, if not all things, but I tell ya . . . When the simple opening measures of an orchestra piece cause your heart to swell up with joy, God's definitely letting you know something. You love music. That's me. I love it. Love, love, love it.

Tonight I got to see a marvelous group perform. And this is not an attempt to make others jealous, unlike the text messages I sent to my mother and sister before the concert started (teehee). Really, it's not. I just feel so lucky and privileged to have heard them: The King's Singers. Ever since I was a young girl (i can't say "little girl" without thinking, "whatever, megan, you were never little"), this group has been a part of my life, thanks to a certain Christmas album with a certain version of "Deck the Hall" that wished you a "very merry, very merry, very merry, very merry, etc. . . . Christmas". Having heard more as I grew older, I realized that they were more than a silly-novelty-Christmas-song group. So I was pretty excited a few months ago when Esther and I saw the advertisement that they would be singing at BYU. And I (miraculously) got tickets a month ago, and have been uber-pumped ever since.


My enthusiasm was totally worth it. There were (no joke) three or four different times when I nearly cried because the music was so beautiful or because I was simply so happy to be there. What a talented group. What an awesome way to spend an evening, listening to music you love. And they must have known Esther and I would be there, because they sang songs directly relating to us ("it's lonely at the top" and "short people"). Now I need to get me some more music. (one more thing to add to the list, mom and dad!) Awesome.

-Me

"The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning in music?' My answer would be, 'Yes'. And 'Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?' My answer to that would be 'no'." -Aaron Copland

It's Autumn Time, It's Autumn Time!

Big decisions coming my way. Huge. Enormous, even! Dare I say, astronomical! And the biggest question is . . . what will I be for Halloween? All right, it won't be for the 31st exactly, because that night we have stake conference and I must attend because I've already been scouted out in the stake as some kind of musical proficient. Where they get these silly ideas, I don't know, but it doesn't come from me. But the day before, which is a Friday, we will be having festivities at my office, like last year. I would be willing to repeat my witch costume, but there's a slight problem with that option. Half of what I wore belonged to Esther, and I no longer live with her. Besides, I should think outside the box. So I will take suggestions. Anything, really. Doesn't mean I'll dress up as whatever you might suggest, but I need help in thinking of something, because I am drawing a blank.

Me and my roommate Lisa

I definitely have gotten into the fall "spirit", though. A few weeks ago, I put up some happy autumn decorations and put out the ceramic skeleton that Mom got me a couple years ago. He's a happy little fella, sitting on the piano. And on Friday, I went with some pals to Thanksgiving Point, where we went through the haunted corn maze! There was also a haunted blow-up dinosaur, which was our first stop that evening, and I'm sure Chad really appreciated me grabbing onto the back of his shirt when it got really dark. The biggest hoot of the night was hearing Lisa scream in the maze. I mean, I get startled, and I was definitely startled a couple of times during the night (especially when the chainsaw guy came out and we had to scurry through the abandoned school bus), but Lisa is a total 'fraidy cat, and it was pretty entertaining. Also entertaining was the hay ride, in which we were jostled to within an inch of our lives. But fun, anyway.

Jason and Tyler, who naturally refuse to take normal pictures

Danny and Chad partaking in the joys of tetherball

So yes. Fall is here, and it's a good time of year, even if I won't be warm again for another six months . . . or more. Probably more.

Oh, good heavens. How old are we?

-Me

"Nothing on earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night." -Steve Almond

One Last Kiss

It's slightly depressing to realize that your three-year old nephew is getting more action than you are. Well, maybe not for you, but just a bit for me. Apparently, little Jack (who's never really been little) is quite the ladies' man! I mean, it's only natural that young girls would be drawn to this cute lightning bolt of energy, but jeepers! He's already gotten his first kiss?!?!? He beat me by a good fifteen years to that particular milestone. Although that wasn't for a lack of trying on my part. I distinctly remember trying to pin Brandon Webb to the trampoline when I was four, but oh, darn . . . he wriggled out of my grasp. (i think if mom ever knew i tried that, she never would have let me out on the trampoline with the neighbor kids ever again.) I wonder if Tom Powers ever would have let me kiss him any of the times we played together in kindergarten. Or Taylor Johnatakis in third grade, for that matter (probably the closest i ever came to having one of those elementary school "boyfriends"). But alas, I was already scared off because of my previously rejected attempt. Oh, the times that try little girls' souls.

But really, when do kids reach that age when you shouldn't kiss without "feelings"? There's some implicit age that I just can't pin down when you would most definitely stop being so uninhibited because you know that someone is going to read into it (that someone most likely being the girl in the "relationship"). But before they reach that awful age, they'll kiss, say they've got a boyfriend (or girlfriend), promise to marry someone and promptly forget about it over a popsicle, and we adults think it's cute, innocent, and pretty dang funny in some cases.

Personally, even though I was frustrated at the time that I had to "wait" until I was 17 to be kissed, I'm glad that it was the case, because it was that blessed kind of situation where the boy I liked also liked me. (yeah, that's actually happened to me before!) I find that far preferable to any alternative. But goodness, sometimes I wish I were as assertive as Jack's "girl next door". Just need to find me a man, I guess. Then we'll see who has the last laugh! (but it won't be me because i'll be kissing . . . someone . . . i hope!)

-Me

"To me, there is no greater act of courage than being the one who kisses first." -Janeane Garofalo

Every Girl's Crazy 'Bout a Sharp-Dressed Man

Just another manic Monday, I guess. Whatever that means. Life continues to run in the same vein. Good things always happen, though. Jeremie got married on Friday, which was pretty fabulous. I was so glad I got to be there in Bountiful for the wedding. Both he and Sabra were just brimming over with glee, at least as far as I could tell. So hooray for weddings and happy times! Because I was already up north of Salt Lake, I gave my sis a call to see if I could visit her once the pictures at the temple were over. Fortunately, she said yes to a visit, so I headed up to Clinton around lunchtime. We and the two youngest kids went to McDonald's for lunch and they played around a bit. Ali attempted to use her baby blues to get out of eating the rest of her lunch so she could go play, so naturally I needed to avert my eyes. It's too easy to say yes to my adorable nieces and nephews. I stuck around for a couple hours longer and saw the other kids, and Kelly was astonished by the amount of calls and visits and extra errands she had while I was around. She kept insisting her life wasn't that "crazy", so I clearly chose a wonderful time to visit. But I am determined to visit more. I was really glad I went there. Friday was definitely a good day.

Time to wax philosophical:

Okay, so dreams are funny things. A couple weeks ago, I had a dream about a friend of mine from high school, Chip. Interesting character for a dream, considering I haven't seen or been in contact with him since graduating over seven years ago. Which begs the question: why? I'm not one to try and interpret dreams, especially after having the dream where I was dead and the entire dream was comprised of my friends' and family's reaction to hearing that I was dead. Clearly, three years later, I am still alive. (thank goodness.) However, it is kind of weird that this random old friend popped into my subconscious. The last time I had a dream about a guy I hadn't seen in years, I saw him in person just a few months later (i was 15). Coincidence? Most likely. But funny, nonetheless. So, if in the next few months, I report that I have somehow been in contact with Chip, we can all be assured that my dreams about random old friends are actually prophetic. But don't hold your breath.

Speaking of guys, isn't it amazing how a change of clothing changes our perception of them? It's the classic nerd-in-a-tux-is-suddenly-a-stud phenomenon. Put a guy you originally thought of as dim-witted in a suit, and bam! He's not too shabby. I was flipping through channels one night last week and stopped on a particular channel because I recognized this guy who was playing a lawyer. And I just thought to myself, "Woah, Roy in a suit?!?!?" I don't know the actor's actual name, but it was Roy from The Office. And considering most people know how I feel about Jim, they would know that I never rooted for Roy. Come on, who would root for a guy who says things like, "Your art . . . was the prettiest art . . . of all the art"? But man, there he was in a suit, and I couldn't get over the fact that I suddenly thought he was totally cute! Probably superficial of me to think so, but I can handle that.
And now that I've totally exposed myself to ridicule (believe me, I'm laughing plenty at myself), I believe I shall close. Besides, I'm tired out from oinking at family home evening tonight. (another story for another time.)

-Me

"If you look good and dress well, you don't need a purpose in life." -Robert Pante

Drink Up, Me Hearties, Yo-Ho!

I'm not made of money, despite what my parents say. Really. However, my spending habits on Saturday may have proved them right. Well, I didn't go on a shopping spree or anything. I only spent money in one place and on one item. But that particular item was, in fact, an iPod. I've been saying for . . . oh, I don't know . . . two years or so . . . that I would eventually get one. Well, "eventually" came Saturday. I'm already putting it to good use and everything, so I don't think it was an unwise purchase. But jeepers, do those things have to cost so much darn money? So I think any other "frivolous" purchases on my part need to be postponed for a bit. Unless, of course, some really fabulous deal comes my way. But for what, I don't know. I have everything I need, obviously; otherwise I wouldn't be dropping . . . several . . . dollars on an iPod. At least, that's the thought process.

And that is how I celebrated my "International Talk Like a Pirate" Day. You probably all forgot about that day, didn't you? Tsk, tsk. After my posting about it last year, I don't see how you did. That's okay. I was going to do a repeat of last year's activities, but when it came down to it, I was much more in the mood to watch Sword in the Stone, which I had rented the previous day, than Pirates. Sorry, Johnny. My apologies, Orlando. Better luck next year.

The previous Saturday was much more exciting than TLAPD, that's certain. Not only did I throw a fabulous party (and sorry, i'm not really willing to share the pictures . . . none of them turned out very well), I and two of my co-workers placed second in the Project Read Spelling Bee at the Provo City Library! It was a completely last-minute thing for me, considering I'd been against participating from the instant Christina sent the office an email for it, but they needed a replacement, and I was still available. And you know what? I'm a good speller. But that's of normal words. Although we lost by only a single word, I claim no responsibility for us getting as far as we did. I had no problem claiming my share of our prize, though, which was a $45 gift certificate to Carrabbas. Kind of perfect for me, eh? Yeah, I'd say so. I was pretty happy about that.

Adding to the happiness was the gathering together of my pals that night. It wasn't a terribly exciting event, but I think people enjoyed decorating their cupcakes. It was just an all-around good night, seeing people I hadn't talked to in days, weeks, months, even! So thanks go out to those who came, and I hope you enjoyed yourselves! I enjoyed seeing you!

Okay, life is beckoning, and I must return.

-Me

"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons." -Woody Allen

Movin' to the Country, Gonna Eat a Lot of Peaches

There's something about my family that always perks me up. Even when I have to deal with the barrage of questions regarding my personal life ("so are you next, megan?" "any special guys in your life, megan?" "why aren't you married, megan?"), I still love being with my family. Good thing, too, considering I saw both sides of my extended family this last weekend. First the four-hour trek out to Grand Junction. Now I will take guesses on how many hours I actually spent in GJ. Anyone? Guesses? No? Seventeen hours. I gave Mom and Dad quite the laugh when we were driving through Spanish Fork Canyon on our way to Salt Lake and I made the comment, "Hey, I was here at this time yesterday!" Funny, but kind of sad. I would have loved to have stayed longer. (several of the family members were lobbying for us to stay, as well.) But the mere seventeen hours were quite excellent with the Kelly family, celebrating Dane and Aimee's marriage.



Once back in Utah and after a lovely wait on the freeway near Lehi where it took us nearly an hour to drive five miles, we got to Eric and Erin's wedding in Salt Lake (miraculously) on time, though the actual ceremony didn't start for another . . . 45 minutes, I think. Oh, well. Eric certainly had a joyous grin when Erin walked down that aisle, which I really enjoyed observing. (usually that's a good sign, eh?) I don't see the Jensen family very often (and whose fault is that, megan? -hanging head in shame-), but I heard several opinions that it would be a good idea to re-institute the Jensen family beach trips. Maybe next summer. That would be cool. Any takers?



Last night I got to play "hostess" to my former roommates, which was totally fun and wonderful. (okay, maybe noah isn't technically a former roommate, but considering how much we saw him when he and becky were dating/engaged, he basically counts.) After a race downstairs to my bedroom, prompted by my request that someone get my desk chair (esther won that race and locked me out of my own bedroom! tsk, tsk), we had a scrumptious dinner and then an excellent dessert. I was especially excited for dessert (who isn't, really?) because it was the first peach cobbler I've made this year. Mmm. Love me my peach cobbler. And with fresh peaches, it's even better! Anyway, the whole evening was nice, seeing my girls (and guy), eating way too much food, and watching the newest BBC version of Sense and Sensibility together (even the boy . . . gotta love him . . . and becky does).



In other news: three-day weekend! No idea what I will do, but yay!


-Me

"Never judge a book by its movie." -J.W. Eagan