UpDates

I am behind in my classes. Surprise!

Another football game. BYU stomped all over Wyoming, by the way.

Yep, the entire state.
This is my view. I don't really get to watch the game, though. I'm, you know, working. But before everyone comes, we get to have a little fun. And the extent of that is taking pictures.

This tube thing is a drink dispenser. We put lemonade in it, and then various cuts of citrus fruits in the top. It's pretty cute. Our boss loves this thing, "the giraffe." He keeps it in his office and does his best to make sure we all clean it out good enough after each time. He'd be please to know that Elder Nelson went over to it first and commented on it. :)You've met Karen, right?

I saw President Uctdorf and three other apostles. And Lavell Edwards, if you can believe it. He has a pretty big frown.

I have absolutely loved today. (In our church, we have a program called Visiting Teaching. Every woman is assigned a companion and they are assigned to visit several other women in the ward once a month. We teach a lesson, and chat for a while.) They encouraged us to get it done tonight, so a lot of us did. So you'd be out and at least two other partnerships are out as well. :) My companion, Janet, and I, visited our girls, and my visiting teachers came over. It was really fun. I'm grateful for this program because it avoids isolation.

Erik Erikson had a theory about human development. He said that each stage of life has a crisis/problem/question that each individual must solve. The first is trust/mistrust. If an infant learns to trust his or her caregivers, then they have passed the test and can healthily move on to the next. If they cannot trust their caregivers, they move on unprepared for the next stage.

The crisis that young adults have to solve is isolation/intimacy- are you going to form relationships or are you going to remain alone? Visiting teaching develops friendships or at the very least, makes sure you talk to other females a couple times a month, which I am grateful for.

These are my roommates. Jenean on the left, then Kye, then Amanda, and Charissa who doesn't live here, but visits a lot. I don't mind; she's cool. Jenean's a geography major, Kye communications, and Amanda archaeology. I think they're seniors.

I came home from work friday night and they were cuddled up on the couch watching a scary movie. I thought it was adorable so I took a picture.

Amanda's sister Elizabeth visited us for a week, to get things situated to move down here after Christmas. She needed a place to stay, so I may or may not have offered to sell her my spot in the apartment. Which means that I am now house-hunting again. Like Cap'n Jack Sparrow, I get to say, "I'm in the market, as it were."



I am taking a class about the history of literature, down in the part of the library that houses really old books and such. Our professor passes around cuneiform tablets and really old books all the time. Here is a picture of an edition of the first time that Plato's works were ever published.

Busy-ness.

First of all, that awkward, blank post with one comment deleted by the administrator... I said, Heidi's last name had five consonants, which isn't that extraordinary, she corrected me that they are all in a row. Which is hard to beat. I am actually starting to look around, see how many last names can compete.

This post is really more of a journal/travel log, but I am vain/confident enough to think that my readers are interested. If not, skip to the end. Ooh, I think I will post some pictures.

Tonight was awesome. My roommates and I talked to a friend of ours, while I noodled on the guitar. (In my defense, that was homework. practice 45 minutes a day...) and then I sang them some random songs. Jet plane!!! and Fire and Rain!! I love them. They had nothing to do with what we were talking about, but they were fun. Later I taught them a few guitar chords. I have decided that they need to learn guitar so we can play together.

My religion class for the time being is the Writings of Isaiah. I completely love it. My teacher is a really cute grandmother- who knows Hebrew and ancient history and has been to the Holy Land. Cool, huh? Later I'll be writing papers called "Isaiah the Man" and "Isaiah's World." I am excited.

I was reading in the 6th chapter of the same verse, and I didn't really understand what he was saying. For the first time I assumed not that his meaning was obscured beyond discernment, but that I just didn't understand. My understanding finally came down to one thing- the meaning of the symbol "the teil-tree." If I knew what it was, I could piece together the metaphor and then get what he was saying. (Does anyone know what a teil tree is?) Anyway, it was significant to me that the very thing I usually skipped over- confusing symbols- was the key to the whole chapter.

Does it sound like I'm just playing around in my classes? Social Dance. Brass Quintet. Symphonic Band. Guitar. But the others- Writings of Isaiah, Human Development, History of writing and the History of Music- aren't just playing around. Four of them satisfy graduation requirements, and Human Development is the first class in the Elementary Education major. And I love music. (Is that enough justification? I hope so.)

Between all those, my friends, my roommates, my ward, and my job, I am pretty busy. (I will tell you about it in a second.) But I love it. I love being busy, I love it when every minute counts. I am bored in none of my classes, and I enjoy the homework. Odd, huh?

Today and yesterday were crazy. I feel the need to tell you about them.

Class from 9-10:15
Worked on a paper 10:15-11
11-12 Campus devotional
12-1 lunch with a friend (okay, not all of today was awful)
1-3 symphonic band. (awesome!)
3-4 practice trumpet (band was awesome, but I wasn't so... awesome.)
4-5:15 class
Catering meeting 5:15-6:30
Brass quintet meeting 6:30-7
Guitar class 7-8.

Let me point out that I had to carry my guitar with me all day. Everywhere I went. I've still got the hard shell guitar case... Let me also point out that there is no dinner scheduled there. I grabbed half a brownie and some water during the catering meeting...

Today was a little better, but I am lucky I got any homework done. It was class, then trumpet practice then work. (A good friend of mine was scheduled during her class and a meeting for church. So I picked up her shift. I didn't think I was going to get off until eleven or midnight, but another guy in catering covered for half of the shift I was covering. Very much grateful.)

I hope that I don't need to call these "a normal day in Holly's life." I hope things settle down. Sort of.

Okay, the long-promised pictures.



Here I am, working! Yep. Ladling punch into cups is work... in my defense I was on my feet for hours without sitting down.


This is Karen, one of my very best friends. And her boyfriend, Tyler. Of whom I wholeheartedly approve.


More friends at catering. The girl in the red and the guy are related to me! Their last name is Cluff. (Some ancestors on my mother's side are Cluffs. Moses Cluff and Rebecca Langman came across the plains in the handcart companies and got married when they arrived in the valley. Cute, huh? The Cluff family moved to Arizona, which is where I think these two were from.)

Can you read that? It says, "Where am I? Why am I here? Am I in trouble?"

I think that is exactly what I would think, if I were a large spoon taped to an ice machine, far away from home...

I don't know if we ever found out why it was up there.

Saturday Night

1. Aunt Barb- Heidi does have a blog. Take a look at the right side of mine, and her's is "Jake and Heidi Kartchner."

2. There are 5 consonants in a row in Heidi's last name!

3. I had a fabulous night tonight. I helped cater a wedding reception of a couple who met in catering. (Thus is the danger of my workplace... it could happen to you.) Since they knew what a pain it can be, they did their best to help us out. They used paper products, didn't use chafer dishes which are a huge pain to set up and clean. And they let us eat in the room. It was awkward but very fun. Only a few of us had to work, so the rest of the staff came as guests. It was weird serving people who normally helped you serve.

4. But that's not why it was fabulous. The couple told everyone that even the servers could bring dates. I didn't get this memo, and neither did another guy named Richard. They said that he earlier asked the scheduler why they didn't just schedule him a date. ha ha. Anyway, so I shouted across the room, asking him if he needed one, and he did. So we did. It ended up that he was carving meat (in that ridiculous carving jacket that I mentioned a couple of posts ago) and I ladled up drinks on the other side of this pillar. So whenever we had breaks we'd go behind and chat over a table that separated us. Later, movie at another couple's house and he walked me home. The walk ended up taking half an hour, but it was rather enjoyable.

5. No one is allowed to give him this blog address.

6 Will update that story later, if said story lends itself to updates...

7. The last five letters of number 6 really were the important ones...

Philosophical Phriday

Has anyone stopped to appreciate what a gift writing is?

No shopping lists, no ingredient labels, no directions, no signposts, no recipes, no love notes on napkins in lunch boxes, no journals, no scriptures.

We would not have history. How on earth are you supposed to remember all that? And then how do you make your children memorize it? And how do you make them make their children memorize it? How do you make sure it does not accidentally change?

We get the wisdom of the ages because it is written down. Otherwise we would just get the wisdom of the last few generations. There's a lot, but there's more.

How would we remember where we come from? Let's see. My mother's name is Virginia Adele Haws, my grandmother's name is Lorna Virginia Barney, her mother's name is... Effie Ferieda Trabant? And her mother's name is...

Let's try my dad's side. William Woods Brison. Bernard Brison. His dad: ...Mr. Brison...

Have I humiliated myself enough to make the point? I don't have to memorize it because it is written down somewhere!

An author wrote an article about the special relationship between author and reader that only exists because of the writing. An author can write about something very personal. He or she can explore the very depths of issues and feelings. Then the reader comes along and finds that the treatment of the author's subject allows the reader to understand, to feel that someone understands. This very real, very important, and very deep connection probably would never have happened- how many authors have you had conversations like that with? Writing allows that sort of connection without either the reader or the author feeling uncomfortable at such closeness.

How many discussions have you had with your journal? Who could you tell, but those blank pages that do not threaten to judge, or betray your confidences, but offer comfort and sense?

I bring you back to a discussion of scriptures. I have spoken with five Jews in my life, tops. And never did they have the occasion to recite to me all that is contained in the Bible, which I need to know. And the authors of the Book of Mormon, (which I believe is as real and as valid as the Bible) how many Nephites have you met? Did they have the opportunity to teach you in person?

Hugh Nibley summed it up like this: thought stimulation, thought preservation, thought transmission.


I think I pheel better now, having philosophized phrankly with my phantastic phriday phriends.

(That joke wouldn't exist, if not for writing. What was that? We would be better off without the joke? Thanks. I appreciate your modes of expression too!)

Facebook status

I think that facebook statues- stati? are changing the way we think.

(for those of you unfamiliar: when you are viewing someone's facebook profile, next to their name you see a sentence that they periodically update. So every time you log in, it asks you, "what are you doing right now?" it makes me feel like someone cares... jk.)

Facebookers now think in short, concise, hopefully humorous statements about our whereabouts or activities. Perhaps it started as the instant messenger status, to say things like, "at work (a.k.a. I can't talk now)." But now it has become a forum to let people know how you are doing, and hopefully get a response.

But this new form of language, this new forum, is changing our thought patterns.

Maybe just my thought patterns. Throughout the day I will say things to myself like, "Holly feels exceedingly grown-up at this moment in time." or, "Holly misses her extra-long twin bed."

"Holly realized what an absolutely ridiculous show America's Next Top Model is."

"Holly loves her new life."

"Holly has one Kung Fu Panda ticket stub for each finger. Is that excessive?"

"Holly thinks that all people should appreciate Baroque music more."

"Holly had 'sing along with Bach day' today in class. She didn't know German, but she pretended."

"Holly's apartment is slowly falling apart, one appliance at a time!"

"Holly tried a recipe that Stacy Howard gave her. It was quite yummy. And she is proud of herself for cooking. And not almost starting a fire. Like last time."

"Holly's roommate talks in her sleep. In Korean."

"Holly is starting to think that her poppyseed chicken doesn't actually need any poppyseeds. 5.79 indeed!"

Deep philospohical questions

I have been wondering a few things. So if any of you have any wisdom, please share it.

Why are palm trees tall?
It looks like this: each time they grow leaves, they put them at the very top and the leaves at the bottom die. And then another layer on top, and the second-to-bottom layer dies.
What is their survival strategy? There has to be a reason that they do it. It is probably a lot of work, which they wouldn't do just for no reason.

Why doesn't it rain in deserts?
It's a desert because it doesn't rain there, but it doesn't rain there because it's a desert?

What is the impact of wealth on the social aspect of our lives?
Here's some reasoning: The more money someone has, the more they can spend on clothes. The more money they spend on clothes, the more quality, quantity, and style the get in those clothes. If someone looks attractive, they are just that: attractive. They attract people. Therefore, they get more positive reinforcement, and confidence develops. The more confidence a person has, once again, the more attractive they are.

(does that reasoning suck? Yeah. I really hope that's not the the way the world is, because many of us are in trouble. here are my thoughts.)

Positive feedback is, and should be, given for other things too.
There are more paths to confidence and self-esteem than mere compliments.
Self-esteem based on appearance is unstable and should not be depended on anyway.
Some have argued that beauty also comes from character, health, and a well-cared-for appearance, not just a trendy one.

I discovered the above reasoning in my travels, and so I spent time watching people to see if it was true. And one often finds what one is looking for ("observational bias"). But last night, I sat down and really thought about it, especially the consequences to such thinking. A whole society of people obsessed with appearances. A society who views wealth- in money form- as the panacea. And personally, in paying particular attention to materialism, I became materialistic. where is that leading? A girl obsessed with appearances. A girl who depended on that for self esteem. A girl who would have ignored all other positive qualities about herself and other, in favor of- literally- the most superficial one.

Please comment, friends.

Victories, minor and major.

First of all, we need to have a chat. See, some of you comment on my blog. Many of you don't. And I say, no more of that! I want to hear from you! This isn't one of those, shut up, sit down, and listen to me, and then go away without having said anything. Um kay, punkin? Alright. I am glad we talked.

My camera's batteries are dead. Again. So it's in time out, until however long I feel that the batteries should have lasted.

Anyway, that is not one of the victories I will tell you about.

This is: I was opening a can of tomato sauce tonight, and it fell off the can opener AND I CAUGHT IT! Victory.

I went grocery shopping today, on my bike, and it actually worked out okay. I felt very independent.

I had two servings of vegetables today at dinner! Maybe even three. Victory.

I bought a plant today.

I got a practice room! There are about 50 practice rooms in the music building on campus, and... we could use a few more. But I found one open! Victory.

And I practiced for an hour. I haven't practiced for an hour for over a month, what with vacation and then stinking because I hadn't practiced all vacation.

A friend called me the other day, and offered me a trumpet spot in her brass quintet. Heck yes! I was in a quintet over the summer, and it was the best musical experience of my life. Even more than private lessons, even more than a bigger ensemble, even more than marching band for two weeks freshman year in high school.

But that is off topic. I told her I'd do it, because judging by my audition, I didn't make it into band. Which leads me to my next victory.

I MADE IT INTO SYMPHONIC BAND!!! Somehow. I don't know how. The day after auditions was the first day of rehearsals, from 1-3. At about 2, I am sitting waiting for this free performance to start, and I decide to check the audition results sheet just to be sure I didn't make it in.

I had to go to band without my trumpet, an hour late. It was awesome. I am sure I made a great impression on the director...

So, all y'all in Provo need to come to at least one of my concerts.

audition and football games

Sorry, friends. No pictures again. But an awesome story!!

So, I work for BYU catering, right? They put me up in the President's box for this season of football games. Heck yes. They must like me, because its the cushiest job in the stadium. (Sort of. I was still 12 hours on my feet.)

Anyway, I served water to Julie B. Beck! And Susan W. Tanner! (Sister Beck is the general president of the Relief Society, the women's organization in my church. She is really cool. Sister Tanner was the president of the young women of the church. She is pretty cool too.) I didn't talk to either. I was entirely too surprised. It was pretty funny, I just sort of stood there, Sister Beck took a bottle of water and got herself a cup from my stack. Somehow I kept my presence of mind when Elder Jensen or Elder Shumway came through, which was good. Catering can't have their employees freaking out at every important person they serve...

When there was a break, we sat down and figured out the menu for the next football game. Okay, so I wasn't on my feet for 12 hours straight. There were a few breaks. But they were brainstorming all these delicious meals, and I reflected on the current state of my meals. They suck. I have decided to turn over a new leaf. I went through my recipes the other day, found a few, and determined to make them this week. I have to ride my bike to the grocery store, and carry it all home in my backpack, but from now on, I will cook better.

Tonight my ward had their opening social. It was this barbecue up in Alpine, Utah. Great scenery, but long drive and rather cold up there. I met a girl with my name. And I have met other Holly's before, but she spelled it Hawley!! I had to take a few moments to wrap my head around it. Wow. She's really cool. I am going to have to step it up a notch, just to be in the running for the "cool Holly" category. (Or I could have an epiphany about not comparing myself to others... perhaps later.)

I audition for Symphonic Band on Wednesday. I wasn't worried until I picked up the excerpts we have to prepare and play. They are hard. Luckily, when I was walking down the hallway of practice rooms I heard another trumpeter practicing them, so I sat and listened. Ha ha! I'm pretty sneaky. I had a difficult time deciding whether to go through with the audition or not. But- I think I will. I don't need to play the selection perfectly, but I think I can handle playing it the best I can. That sounds simple, but it is extremely comforting, and long-awaited epiphany.

I don't know how you feel about this post. Very long, no pictures. I may edit it later. For now, I will leave my prose at that, and 'let it blend,' as Grandma Brison used to say.

Funny story...

I have two seconds before running out the door to tell you a funny story.

So the other day, I went to work, changed into my work shirt, left my other shirt in the dressing room. Like every other day. Like every other BYU foodservice employee. And when I get off work, MY SHIRT WAS NOT THERE!

why me?