Hamlet

So, I just reread Hamlet, and I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed this play.  It's definitely sad and depressing, but not in a creepy way.  It's also just full of human emotion!  There's a character everyone can relate to in the story.  I definitely think Horatio has the saddest ending, because he's the one left behind. 

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

(Sorry my posts haven't been very long, lately, not much to talk about.)

Listen!

You know those days you have when no one wants to listen to you?  When you try over and over again to say the same thing, and it just won't get through?
We all have those days.  So for those of us that are stuck trying to make ourselves heard, please stop, slow down, and listen rather than just hear.  You may just save someone's sanity.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Zebra Stripes

As a writer, I have many notebooks.  Most of them contain really cheesy writing exercises (ie, stuff that no one else is EVER allowed to see), but I do have one that I consider essential to my work.  In it I keep everything on my characters, my worlds, etc.  I call it my black book, because it is black (so creative, I know). 
Well, recently my poor black book has had a rough time, and the binding was beginning to crack.  This irritated me a bit, because everything else about the book looks picture perfect.  I was miffed because gluing it wouldn't work and would still show off the crack, and Scotch tape would come off in a few days (that stuff isn't very sturdy).  Then I had a brilliant idea: duct tape!  Duct tape fixes everything, right?  Except, I didn't want to use normal duct tape, because that would look boring.  So I decided to use that fun, bright-colored tape you find in craft stores.
Yesterday I finally had time to get to my favorite craft store (Hobby Lobby if you were interested), and began hunting down my tape.  Up and down the aisles I went, and no luck.  Beginning to get a little worried, I went "upstairs" to check their painting section (it's really just up a ramp).  I wasn't sure where to look, when suddenly, glancing to the right, I spotted them!  Pink, yellow, beautiful!  I eagerly dashed down the aisle, and then I stopped in sudden confusion.  There were so many colors to pick from!  How was I supposed to choose?!
And then I noticed something rather fun.  Zebra striped tape!
I tried to avoid it.  After all, I don't usually go for the zebra stripe look.  But I kept thinking about how neat it would look on my black book, and finally, my resolve caved.  Now my black book is looking better than ever, with its attractive zebra stripe binding!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

It's Snowing... Again...

Okay, I know I've said before just how much I love the snow, but this is getting to be just a little ridiculous!  I mean, it's almost March!  The snow is supposed to be melting by now!  Just getting a little... well, bored.  There's only so much one can take, and I'm starting to go stir crazy.  I need something to change...
Sigh.  I'm such an impatient person.  At least I've got this Wednesday to look forward to! 

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

A Mystery

I have debated about this post.  Should I do it?  Should I not?  Finally, I decided that, in order to spread the word about this most mysterious cause, I would post about it.  (Actually, I decided to post about it because it was the most interesting thing to happen to me yesterday. ;))
Yesterday I was walking to class when I ran into an old friend of mine, Berry.  She is an inspiration, in both spirituality and writing, and I was so happy to see her again!  We spoke for a minute, but she was actually having lunch with another friend, and I didn't want to bother her.  But as I was leaving, she told me to look up a website.  She wouldn't tell me what it was, but my curiosity had been piqued.  So later that day, when I had a fair amount of time before meeting with my freshman mentor, I decided to check this site out. 
I had no idea what was coming.
A screen popped up, congratulating me on finding "the key."  "Only the curious find the key," it proclaimed, "but only the truly passionate will ever find what it opens."  The site left a clue on where to find the next piece to this puzzling little puzzle: the second floor of my school library, and a library book call code (is that what they're called?  The Dewey Decimal numbers?).  I checked my watch: 45 minutes before my meeting.  With a gleam of adventure in my eye, I took the elevator to the second floor of the library.
Problem:  There were many sections to visit.  Where to go, where to go?  My first stop was at a help desk, where a kind young woman behind the desk looked at my call number and referred me to another section of the library.
I arrived at the suggested section, where I found where I thought the book might be.  No luck.  However, there was another help desk in this section, and I eventually wandered my way over to ask the attractive young man in charge if he could get me a title for this particular call number (before you start teasing me, I did not visit the help desk because I thought he was cute, he wasn't even there when I wandered over!).  Unfortunately, when he put the call number into the computer, he was informed that that particular call number was not in the library's database.
I would not give up so easily!  The very kind, attractive young man was willing to look for it in the correct section with me (I had been looking in the wrong spot before).  We looked, but found nothing.  He apologized for us not being able to find it and went back to his desk.  I decided to check the call number on the site and look one more time before heading up for my appointment.
Searching... searching... THERE!  Turns out we'd been looking under the wrong call number (I'm starting to think the attractive librarian was in on this...).
I stared for a moment, stunned to have found it.  Finally, I eagerly pulled the tome from its place on the shelf and opened it.  On the inside flap was the information I needed.  And now...
I wait.  For more information will be coming soon.
What?  You didn't think I was going to give away secret information like that on my public blog, now did you? ;)

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Things You Shouldn't Do at Night

I know I've mentioned this before, this list of things you shouldn't do before bed.  I included playing Betrayal at the House on the Hill, eating sugar before bed, that kinda thing.  Well, I have something new to add to that list.
Do not ever, ever, EVER, watch the BBC version of Richard III late at night.  Being a Shakespearean tragedy, it is a little dark.  However, it's not particularly creepy until the end.  You have no idea how creepy it is to finish, at 11:30 at night, with everyone else in bed and all the lights out, with Queen Margaret sitting atop a pile of corpses cackling maniacally over the body of Richard.
I was hearing that cackle all night.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Do I Know You?

So, I was visited by my visiting teachers yesterday, and one of them asked if I knew Sal?  They said she was English, and had just moved in.  I replied that I did not.  I had seen her once at FHE, but never actually met her. 
Well, I walked into work today and ran into two of my co-workers.  One, a guy, I had met, the other, a girl, I had not.  We got to talking a little, and the girl asked me what my major was.  I told her English, and she said that was the BEST major.  Confused, I asked why, to which she replied that she was English!
O.o?  I wondered...  Quickly I asked her what ward she attended.
She attends mine!  She was Sal!
Iiiit's a smaaall world aaaafter aaall!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

A Job!

Soooo... I finally have a job!  I now have a way to pay for London!
I'm enjoying it.  The people are super friendly, and the work is actually pretty interesting.  Unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure how to explain it.  Suffice it to say it is an office job. 
Hopefully it'll stay interesting as I continue. ;)

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Why Are We Related?!?!

Now, before you all mob me over this particular title, let me explain myself.  I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all.  When I ask in aggravation, "Why oh why are we related?!?!" it means, "If we weren't related, I would totally date you."
This is brought up by the fact that yesterday I attended my cousin's missionary homecoming.  He went to MANCHESTER ENGLAND!  My yearning for the London study abroad was again rekindled (as if it had ever gone out!).  He was super sweet, super attractive, and super, super spiritual!  Like, seriously.  If I ever had a doubt that I would marry an RM, it has now been squashed to a pulp.  Seriously, this is the kind of guy any girl would want to marry.  Unfortunately, I have yet to meet one who is not related to me in some way. ;)  Oh well, I'll just have to see what my high school friends are like when they return in a few years. ;)
... It's a really thing my extended family don't read this blog.  I think I might creep my aunts out with this post.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Chocolate Nightmare

You know those dreams you have that leave you with a wild rage?  The kind where you have to remind yourself that it's just a dream so you don't go out and start yelling at the people that made you mad?  I had one of those the other night.  See, what happened was that for Valentine's Day, my friend Kay got me a box of chocolates.  The kind of chocolates that are filled with caramel and raspberry. :)
Well, the other night I had a horrible dream.  I dreamed that when I went to have one of my chocolates... the box was empty!  My jaw dropped down wide, I was so heartbroken.  Then I realized, OHHH, this must be Mia's box of chocolates!  Okay, so I'll just give them back to her.  Well, I went to give them back to her, and found her with my box of chocolates.  I explained what had happened and requested that she return my chocolate.  She said okay, but before she gave it back, she opened my box and popped one of my chocolates into her mouth!
O.O
  O
I was suddenly filled with an uncontrollable rage!  How dare she eat one of my chocolates!  Especially since she'd already eaten all of hers, and didn't have any to pay me back with.  I was even more enraged when I discovered she'd eaten one of the raspberry-filled ones, since those are my absolute favorite!
It's a good thing it was just a dream, and I woke up slowly so I knew it was just a dream.  Otherwise my poor Mia might have found herself on the wrong end of a rather severe tongue-lashing.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Anyone There?

For my American Heritage class, I'm supposed to have 10 hrs of service by the end of the semester, so I decided to volunteer at the local retirement home.  I used to sing there in Young Women's, and I have fond memories of the place.  So a few days ago I dropped by and asked if I could volunteer there.  The woman in charge was very kind, seemed very glad to have me there, and she asked if I could volunteer at their Sweetheart's Dance for Valentine's Day.  I thought that would be fun.
Then, as I'm getting ready to leave, she suddenly says, "Hey, do you have a boyfriend?" 
Me:  "Unfortunately, no."
Her:  "Oh.  Well, bring a boy."
Me:  "Uhh..."
I couldn't tell if she was joking, and all the guys I know are on missions at the moment.  She said she would go ahead and email me about it later.  This was Tuesday.  So far... no email.  And the dance is today.  At this point, my thought process is, "Well, she never told me I explicitly had to bring a guy to this thing, and it's too late to ask now, and she didn't email me, so if she really wants a guy there, oh well."
Is this bad of me?  And before you start harping on me for not asking a guy, reminder:  I know many guys from my singles' ward, but do I feel comfortable asking them to accompany me to a volunteer dance?  Nope.  Not at all. 

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Dark Lipstick

A few years ago one of my sisters-in-law gave me a bag of make-up that included a stick of purple lipstick.  I didn't wear it too much, because I thought it made me look depressed.  However, the other night I was trying to decide what make-up to wear, when I ran across this stick of lipstick.  I picked it up, looked at it, and thought, "Well, why not?"
I got a million compliments on it, and when I wore it to school, I noticed so many boys looking at me.  I was like, O.o?
Well, I guess dark lipstick looks better on me than I thought! ;)

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Random Loopy Fun.

I suppose you all think I'm going to do a post on Valentine's Day.  Nope!  Just touching on it briefly, to say, "Happy Valentine's Day, all my lovely friends!  May it be filled with the joy and love that this holiday deserves!  And chocolate.  Every Valentine's Day needs chocolate! ;)."
There.  I said it.  I feel better.  (Name that quote!)
Wow, I'm feeling a little loopy today!  Maybe it's because I actually got a good night's sleep, or maybe it's because for the past couple days I've been reading articles for my American Heritage class that all say the same thing, or maybe it's because the other night I dreamed that I was a frog-person and I had to kiss Jamie Dornan to break the enchantment.  Hey, not my fault if I thought Sheriff Graham was attractive! ;)
Yeah, life is crazy, but then again, that's life!  Hope your life keeps you on your toes!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Nephew!

So last night, my sister-in-law gave birth to an absolutely adorable little nine-pound, 21 inch baby boy with a shock of bright red hair!  He's adorable!  Of course, I haven't been able to see him yet, but the picture was sooo cute!  And lucky him, he's ginger!  Can't wait to see him.  Also can't wait to see how his older sister will handle a baby in the family.  So far she's been an only child, and doesn't particularly like sharing Mommy and Daddy. ;)

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Watership Down

So, I recently reread one of my all-time favorite books.  It's called Watership Down.  It has incredible world-building, endearing characters, vivid description, and a gripping storyline filled with foreshadowing and subtle clues.  Unfortunately, I can't seem to get anyone else to read it so we can geek out about it together.  Why, you may ask?
Because it's about rabbits.
Yeah, it may sound a little weird, but the author, Richard Adams, really makes it work out well.  And no, it doesn't make you decide to go vegan or anything.  It's not that kind of book.  It very much emphasizes the natural processes of the world while also exploring real emotions.  The characters are incredibly believable, but still very animal in their thinking.  It's a fascinating read, but no one will read it.
Why does the world have something against books about animals?  If these were human characters, this novel would be on the AP reading list.  Instead, we're stuck reading things like The Crucible.  Can someone explain this logic to me?

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Average

Soo... I'm not really sure what to write about today.  Life is pretty standard.  Everything is going according to schedule.  Nothing new or exciting going on.  Of course, the weather is being unpredictable again, but since when is that new?  And I'm really too lazy to try to blog about anything creative today.  Life is pretty average.  However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. :)  It's nice to have a bit of breathing room.  A normal life can be pretty nice.
I mean, as normal as life can be when your left hand is covered in a spiderweb of ink.  Apparently one of my nervous habits is tracing the lines on my hand with a pen.  Who knew?

However, there is one thing I would like to say as far as the promo for next week's episode in Once Upon a Time.  SPOILER ALERT!
Really, ABC?  Really?  Are you truly going to be so predictable as to make Neal be Bae.  That would, first of all, be astronomically chancy to have the daughter of Snow White hook up (pun unintended) with Rumplestiltskin's son.  Second, that would completely destroy the audience's idea of Bae.  I mean, we all love Bae because he's so good.  A character who was willing to leave everything behind to save his father would not impregnate an eighteen-year-old girl, and then ditch her, no matter what the talking puppet said (no offense, August).  So there.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Scratch

Kitty.  Oh you ridiculous cat!  When you're not trying to suffocate me by sitting on my face, you're making me bleed.
Merida does not like bedtime.
You'd think she'd be used to it by now, really you would.  We do this every night!  But no, every time I go to pick her up for bed, she goes crazy.  Last night she scratched me enough to make me bleed.  Twice.  Now I have two nice long scratches on my right hand, and three little ones.  Really, cat?  Really?
Then, of course, she has to get all snuggly at night and make me forgive her immediately.
So not fair.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Fur

So, my kitty Merida is a... well, shall we say, rambunctious creature.  She attacks your feet when she thinks you're not looking, she sneaks outside even though she hates the cold just because she wants to irritate us, and she hates going to bed at night more than anything (probably because she gets locked in my room at night).  So it may come as a bit of a surprise when I tell you that after the lights have gone out, Merida actually really loves to cuddle. 
I think it's winter's fault.  She got cold and was looking for a little extra warmth.  At first she would just camp out on my arm if I held it out, but lately she's been getting much closer.  Close enough to wake me up by licking my chin at night.  I know you're just trying to be affectionate, kitty, but your tongue hurts!  I don't know if she's getting colder, or just losing her bubble.  The point is that she seems to cuddle closer and closer every night.
Well, last night she got just a little too close.  See, I was sitting there, having a random dream, and all of a sudden I wake up with my nose full of fur.  Apparently she decided to snuggle next to my face.  :P  That happened three times last night.  Kitty, I love you, but I don't think you understand that fur in my nose will lead to suffocation.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Jack's Visit

Well, it would appear Jack Frost has decided we need a little more excitement around here.  I walk out this morning, and the sun is shining.  It's beautiful.  I can go to school without wearing a scarf.  Then I spend three hours in the basement of the Humanities building, and when I come out, it's snowing.  And it's the perfect kind of snow, too, the big, fluffy, heavy stuff, the kind you catch on your tongue!
So while unexpected, I really loved seeing the snow again.  It's absolutely beautiful!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Focus

So, I've noticed that a lot of what I post on this blog has to do with school.  Can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  I mean, I love learning, but school can be a real pain sometimes.  It was much easier in elementary school when you only had one teacher who knew just how much homework you were given and therefore knew just how much was actually healthy for you.  Now, all the different professors want to give you the same amount of homework as your elementary teachers, but there are five, six, or even eight of those.  Hm, let's think, elementary homework times eight?  And then they want to to get a job so you can grow up and make your mark on the world?  And then you have teachers that tell you to make sure you do what you want to as well, because it's unhealthy otherwise, and then you have to eat and date and sleep...
Please, teachers, tell me when I am supposed to have time to do all of this?
Oh well.  I suppose it'll all be worth it when I graduate.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Uh-oh

So, after switching my Shakespeare class around, I have realized something rather worrying.
I have a lot of catching up to do.  And I will be doing most of this catching up... the week of midterms.
I'm lucky, actually, my new professor is really understanding about everything... I'm just having a complete freak-out. ;)
So, now I'm off to fill out a questionnaire, then read all of Henry V. 
Ugh.  I love Shakespeare, but ugh.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Here We Go...

And it starts again.  The never-ending cycle.  The wheel of pain that keeps college students up at night.
Midterms.
Last semester, I had a class that had its midterm a week after everyone else, which means by the time I had it done, the first class to have a midterm, which was a week before everyone else, was ready to have another.
I reeeaaally hope that doesn't happen again.  That's just painful.  It adds insult to injury.
On a brighter note, this is the last week before I get to watch Once Upon a Time again!  Finally!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Sun!

So, I know that many times I have posted about how much I love the snow.  And I still do.  However, it is also nice to have a bit of variety in life.
In other words, I'm so glad it's finally sunny!!! 
I love winter.  I really do.  But it's so nice to finally see blue sky and yellow rays of light coming over the mountains.  And not having to wear a ridiculous amount of layers when I walk outside (even though I love fall/winter fashions). 
I guess what I'm trying to say is, winter has been lovely.  Bring on spring!

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Follow-Up

So, the party last night actually wasn't so bad.  Only five of my mother's 11 siblings actually came, and they were all very respectful, didn't let their kids go crazy or  anything.  Though one of them told me off for not telling her about the anthology.  Many apologies to her, she used to teach my English class, so I really should have let her know sooner. 
(Yes, my aunt taught my English class, and you have no idea how great it was when she would come to my brothers' missionary farewells/homecomings and all my friends would freak out at seeing their English teacher at their church. ;) ).
We ended up watching Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which, by the way, is absolutely adorable.  I love that movie.  Then we had root beer floats, and then, suddenly, everybody was gone.  It was rather abrupt, but they all left at the same time.
So, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting, and I actually look forward to doing something like this again.
Just as long as we do it at someone else's house.  ;)
By the way, my friend Kay has recently created a blog, thought you might be interested in checking it out!  Here's the link: http://theflightreflex.blogspot.com/ 

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Hostess

No, I do not mean the snack food company... though I wish they would sell their recipes.  I miss the ding-dongs. 
I mean that, tonight, I "get" to play hostess.  To a family reunion.
Now, there are a few things you should understand.  The first is that it didn't start out as a family reunion.  It was originally going to be a couple of girl cousins getting together to watch the "Mormon" Pride and Prejudice, (which is hilarious, by the way, it's the modern one with the pink cover), but then someone started calling other people, and now we have who-knows-how-many people coming over, to watch a movie, in a house that is ill-equipped to handle that many people.
The second is that this was supposed to happen next week, when Mom would be in town, but events conspired against us, and we had to schedule it this week, when Mom wouldn't be in town, which means, as the eldest at home, I will be in charge.
Do you have any idea how bad I am at being in charge?  Coach put me in charge of fencing once, and I had a nervous breakdown afterward. 
So, to sum up, in about an hour we will have a house full of too many guests, including aunts, who will be much older than the person "hosting" the whole affair, who happens to hate being in charge of anything.
Help.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira

Weeekeend!

Phew!  I have no idea why this week was so stressful for me!  Maybe it had something to do with starting a new Shakespeare class... or playing Mom while parents are on a trip... or maybe it's just that my shoulder hurts from having to lug the collected works of Shakespeare all over campus.  I mean, seriously?  I love Shakespeare, I wouldn't have taken the class otherwise, but do we really need to haul a ten-pound book all over the place?  My shoulder is killing me!  Need to take some of Mom's oils...
In any case, whatever the reason, I am sooo glad it's finally the weekend!  I plan on taking full advantage of the fact, meaning I am going to stay up as late as I can watching Merlin, and sleeping in as much as I can possibly justify.

Fare thee well, friend!
Mira