The Inner Circle of Dante's Inferno

Oh the things I do JUST to ensure I have somewhere to live next year... (P.S. this is the very, very abbreviated version because I'm getting sick of telling the real version. I've told it in detail probably 4 times already - UGH)

Saturday morning, Sarah Gambles, Sara Jenkins, Mehlanie, Haylee and I woke up disgustingly early and voluntarily sat-slash-laid outside - on cement. Also - it was February. We sort of did it in shifts. we all were together from 4-5, then from 5-7, Haylee and I "slept" (read: talked) in Sarah's car while Sarah and Mehlanie stayed in line (watching Sleeping Beauty - not that that matters at all). Then from 7 to 9 Haylee and I held down our spots in line while Sarah and Mehlanie went to get breakfast from the vending machines back at Helaman. It was not too bad at first, but as the sun rose - the temperature dropped. Oh man. Haylee didn't even have socks on - just tights and pajama pants! It was crazy. We layed there for a good couple hours until Sarah and Mehlanie returned with a BOUNTY. Turns out they went to the Cannon instead and snuck out a bunch of food for us. The contraband included two muffins, a bagel (with 2 packets of cream cheese), a donut, and (wait for it) AN ENTIRE LOAF OF BREAD!!! It was glorious - and probably illegal so... even better.

Here are some pictures from the 5-7 shift. 

Haylee: "Get one with my signature bottom lip!"

To answer your question - yes, I'm wearing a hoodie AND a jacket. On top of the hoodie. And my hair was being Struggly McStruggleson. 

The best part about this story is that we got a contract! Despite being there at 4 in the morning, we were not, in fact, the first people in line. There was a group of guys and one of girls in front of us. So it took FOREVER. The office doors opened for registration at 10 in the morning and we didn't get in until 11:15 or so. Crazy. Also - I'm ultra, ultra excited because I have wonderful roommates!! Haylee (pictured above), Kelsey, Lizzy, Alycia, and Alanna! Also, we're right next door to Sarah and Ashley Gambles, Mehlanie, and Sara Jenkins.  Let me just explain something about Sarah Gambles. This is her profile picture on Facebook - it pretty much sums up all you need to know about her. 

And that, my friends, is one of the many reasons why I love her.

"Doofus"

I feel like this word should be spelled, "Dufuss" or "Doofuss" - I don't know exactly why. I think it's because it would imply that this person is making an unecessary fuss out of things. Or as Andrew might say, making a mountain out of clay. 

Blissfully Ignorant

I'm a learner. I LOVE seeking new facts and mastering new concepts, but I'll admit there are times when I'd prefer to be in the dark. 

Michael Phelps - This guy... MAN! For a glimmery little moment, he gave me (and many other people, worldwide) hope that there are good, hard working youth today (<--- why do I feel like a 45 year old NRA member when I say that?). I loved thinking about him just being a Mamma's boy, staying at home, eating his 12,000,000 calories a day, and swimming. But the recent news about him is so SAD! Can we not have ONE upstanding citizen for a national hero?

Hot Dogs - I don't know the scary stuff that might get put in to my Costco brand polish dog. I don't know and I don't WANT to know. All I know is that I love them. 

Jackson 5 - I went through a pretty severe Michael Jackson phase. While I'm still a big fan, and still have every little inflection in every word to each of his songs engraven upon my heart... I am not devoting as much time to him as I used to. A couple summers ago (in the heat of my fiery love for him) I read a 500+ page biography that chronicled his early life to his years with the Jackson 5, to the exciting beginning of his solo career, through the King of Pop years until around 2001. We do not discuss nor think bout his life after about 1995. But I remember that what most struck me as heartbreaking about his life (well, at least the part that I acknowledge to be his "life") was his years in the Jackson 5. That time was really Hell for him. I learned things about how awful his older brothers and Dad were. And about how Motown records and Berry Gordy took advantage of their talent and exploited them so much... more than I ever would want to believe. On stage, they'd put the brothers all up there, with their instruments, but they'd never let them actually record together, or have any input on songs. And worst of all, because they were so financially desperate when they signed on, the terms of their contracts were RIDICULOUS, and made each of the brothers basically a slave to Motown. I wish I didn't know that. I wish I could believe it when Michael belts out, "I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day!" But I can't. Because I know.

David Cassidy - Here's another celebrity. Man. I like to apotheosize people so much that when I find out they're actually human, flawed and all, I'm disappointed. With David, it was that I fell in love with him as Keith Partridge. What a dreamboat! But I did a little research on him to find out more (BIG MISTAKE). I learned that he hated Keith Partridge, and didn't want to be associated with "Bubblegum Pop" at all. So he went solo, and he lived like a true "rock" star in the 70's (I'll leave that up to your imagination, but if you're wondering whether he did, tried, or smoked it, you're probably right) and broke my little heart. The worst part is... his solo music wasn't really that different from the Partridge Family music. So he rebelled and stripped himself of all morals, but didn't even change this image, really. DUMB, David, dumb.

Lastly, Dumbledore. That is all.

F to the R to the ESCA!

I love it. There aren't many drinks in this little world of ours that I love as much as I love Fresca. I probably have a bottle like this every other day, and then I have it every time I go to the Canon Center. And I get it every time I'm at the CougarEat. Wow, I'm sortof surprising myself by how much of this I really do consume. I just can't get over how subtly tasty it is - and automatically sugar free! What a treat. 

Thank you, Fresca gods! Thank you for making such a delightful little drink for me to enjoy.