escalators be risky business

story time kids.

i took a trip up to the family history library in salt lake. (via the front runner–which is highly recommended fun). did my thing, got my class assignment done, and whom do i run into on my way out? cute boy from my class. win. (hopefully he never reads this blab i post on the internet) our conversation went something like this:

cute boy: "where did you park?"
me: "oh i took the front runner!"
cute boy: "well do you want a ride back?"
me: get to know you on the ride back for a good hour? yaaaah! "umm yeah that would be great, thanks."

so we head through macy's to get down to his car in underground parking. escalators are entertaining as always. as we begin to ride the escalator down, there is a girl at the bottom trying to run up. she has a friend at the top laughing and cheering her on regardless. well this is when stupid clarissa happens. we were just a few steps down so i turn around and start to run up too. not quite sure why still, maybe to prove that it was possible. maybe to get out of the way. maybe cause i just wasn't thinking and god needed some humor that day.

yep so i fall, both body and pride. on the last step. and as i'm flailing around trying to get up, i practically get caught in the moving contraption. all in front of the stranger who is now mocking me and cute boy i was trying to win over. yep win.

lastly, to top it all off, if my embarrassment wasn't enough, on the drive back home he gets the courage to ask me what my name is! double win. if you don't already know my name, just call me escalator girl.

I-15 & alter boys

today i was cornered in the library by noah. he's making a podcast, and i don't want to study for finals.
so he asks me, "what's a unique way you've been asked out before?"
little did he know i had two epic stories for him to record.

1. this one time i was driving back from the salt lake airport, well my friend was driving, i was riding. a cute boy is driving in the lane next to us. after lots of creative banter through car windows going 70 mph, and encouragement from other car passengers, i get brave. of course giggling the entire time, i managed to hold up my phone number written on an old receipt lying around. he almost ran us off the road trying to hurriedly pull his phone out of this pant pocket. we texted and i even got two dates out of it. the first even had a motorcycle ride bonus.

2. i volunteer at the temple. sometimes they need a few of us to step in and help out in proxy sealings. so... i have been asked out over the alter at the temple. yep, we were even holding hands at the time. complete stranger and precious fresh rm, bless his heart. he even asked the sealer for a little piece of paper and pencil to write down my phone number. would have been a beat all story if we worked out.

life should be exciting :D

my friend ben

Just want to share an article I wrote for BYU's The Universe that gives a short snippet of Deaf culture:

Provo, UT– On the top floor of BYU’s Tanner Building, students' wandering eyes peer through windows overlooking the valley, gaze at other students' pesky habits, or focus on the lecturing professor. But in one class held in this room, a student’s eyes are fixed on an interpreter whose hands and body movement communicate the same message of the professor. Ben Daniel is majoring in Facility and Property Management with a minor in Business Management and uses an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter in class because he is Deaf.

Daniel, 23, was born deaf but his parents didn’t know of his hearing loss until he was two years old. He grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, CA but moved to Provo with his family when he was in high school. He now calls Provo home.

One of just a few Deaf students on BYU campus, Daniel explains what it’s like to be a Deaf student, “Many professors and classmates have told me I am the first Deaf student they have ever had in their classes.” He says this happened once in a class of 100 students when, “One teacher kept announcing in class how special it was to have a "challenged" student in class and what a wonderful example it is to see someone overcome challenges and succeed.” However, Daniel also says that while often teachers will be really awkward for the first couple weeks, they usually get used to it, and then he feels like any other student. “I like how I don't really get any special treatment here.”

A common misconception people have about Daniel’s Deafness is that he will have limited options for the rest of his life or that he is impossible to communicate with if there is no interpreter present. Daniel says that, “Many people don't realize Deaf people can communicate in ways other than only ASL. I actually use my voice and lip-reading and hearing aids in non-classroom settings more than I use interpreters.”

Daniel works at BYU’s Office of Information Technology as a computer programmer. Daniel also works for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a translator. Post graduation Daniel plans to start his own real estate investment business as a certified Property Manager and Real Estate agent, buying, selling, maintaining, repairing, and managing different residential properties.

When asked If he could offer any advice to the BYU community about Deafness, Daniel shared his thoughts about how to interact with Deaf students. He says, “Don't make a big deal out of it. Just be yourself. We usually don't bite. If there's an interpreter, ignore the interpreter. Pretend there is no interpreter. Talk directly to the Deaf person. And be patient with us! We're patient with you, so return the favor.”

Daniel says something that would make BYU more deaf friendly would be to add subtitles on all BYU produced videos. He also comments about he would appreciate training for all employees, especially receptionists, on interacting with Deaf students.

#sharethegift

the gift of god's son, jesus christ

because of his example, i have a guiding star.
because of his gospel, i can be made whole.
because of his priesthood, my family is forever mine.
because of his atonement, i can be empowered beyond my own abilities.
because of his resurrection, i will live beyond this life.

I know that he is. 

confessions of a single co-ed

(you don't have to read this if you don't want to. really you don't)

RECENT QUESTIONS ABOUT "THE GAME" THAT I'VE PONDERED

1 how come i purposefully avoid the same person i previously would have done anything to see?
2 can i send you a christmas card? or is that weird? how about a wedding announcement? even more tacky?
3 is awkward a choice? cause sometimes i just cant help it.
4 it's been years. so why when i hear a random stranger in passing say your name do i get worked up?
5 how often can i browse your facebook page and not be creepy? cause thats a normal thing for people.
6 how do you build courage?


ANYONE HAVE ANY GOOD ANSWERS?