Happy "Howl"aween!

Note: Just in case we're so disguised by the face paint, It's Matt, and Me - Teri.(Left:Matt,Right:Teri) ;o)

Friday October 28th, 2005:

It was finally Friday! After a pretty laid back day of school, I greatly anticipated an exciting night of fun on my date with Matt! We doubled with Nick and Chelsee, which was also very exciting! Well, First thing when our dates came to "pick us up", we were kind of preoccupied attempting to assist in finding Rachel a costume for the tri-ward dance that was happening that night. Matt and Nick had planned the date specifically for that night and time so they didn't feel as guilty about not attending this dance. As you may have noticed, Matt isn't a big fan of dancing. He plans mostly everything according to these dances, and how he will get out of going. Let's see, after we were finished helping with Rachels movie star look, the date began! With first things first, we decided to paint one anothers faces. Chelsee painted Nick's ninja face, while I started in on Matt's scars. (I personally thought, "I see, he chose the least embarrassing idea in the book.." "Scars eh? That's all?!" I was thoroughly excited about painting something all over his face, that was bright and flashy, or just more exciting than scars, but don't worry. It was still just as exciting) Painting people's faces is just another joy of life. It was pretty darn exciting let me tell ya. Eventually, after all our fun, the girls were done. It was then Nick and Matt's turn to attack our faces with the paint. Chelsee chose a cat, and I chose a dog. Imagine that. Although I really was a little frightened that Matt would be painting my face however he pleased, the outcome was great! Thank goodness he didn't take advantage of the paint in his hands and start making me look hideous! I thought both the cat and the dog looked pretty good!

After our artistic adventures, we then headed off to "The Macey's" as many of my friends might call it. We found all the ingredients we needed for the pizza we could be making. I, yes, was a smigeon embarressed that I had paint all over my face, and I'd probably see someone I knew. Thankfully, even though we checked most of the aisles before we actually found what we looking for, I didn't see anyone that I knew. We found everything we needed, paid, and we were off again! Back to Campus Plaza we went!

When we got to Matt's (and Nick's) apartment we started creating our masterpieces. It was great. The guys did most of the work, my only job was grating the cheese. I don't know why, but it was extremely difficult for me. Nick probably felt sorry for me, and decided to take over my cheese grating attempts. Eventually, the pizza was done! It was pretty yummy, and even if it hadn't tasted so good, I still think I would have liked it just as much since we'd made it ourselves. It's always better to eat things that you've attempted to make from mostly scratch. Maybe some of you know what I'm talking about, but if not that's quite alright.

After we'd eaten our pizza, we began watching The Terminal. I think I'd tried to watch that movie once when I still lived with Skeet, but for some reason I only got through maybe 10 minutes of it, thinking it was incredably boring. I don't know what I was thinking, because this time I actually watched the whole thing, and it was highly entertaining!

After the movie, we didn't waste much time, and Matt walked me home. I had almost forgotten that I had paint all over my face, but Matt was sure to remind me. He said, "You almost don't look like you." I didn't know exactly how to respond. He said, "It's not everyday you look like a dog you know." I replied, "...And it's not everyday you can tell me I look like one either". I was in an extremely happy mood at that moment, and it was probably from the lack of sleep I'd been getting. ( That's a funny phrase.. it almost contradicts itself... lack of sleep i'd been getting... It makes it sound like your getting something, but really your not getting anything.... humm.. anywho!) Somehow I looked at the sky, and I saw the shape of a witch on a broomstick in the clouds. I'm now curious, If it weren't close to Halloween, would I have seen that witch on her broom? Oh well, I suppose I'll never know. Back to the date though, Matt and I said our goodnights, and parted.

It was a fabulous date I must say! I love having something planned to look forward to during the week. It makes the stresses of school more bearable somehow knowing that you have something exciting to look forward to at the end of it all. Not that I don't always look forward to the weekends, but it's even more exciting that way. I wasn't bummed really about not going to the dance. We saw a lot of people dressed up here at Campus Plaza, and that was fun enough. A lot of people came home pretty early, and I didn't feel like I missed out on much. Plus if I had gone, I would have had to think of a real costume!

* It was a great night of painting, pizza, and... picture shows!?

..And how does that make You feel?

Well, Today is Friday, which means I had my psychology class with Mrs. Belcher (today I had to know what her last name really was, so I wouldn't have to just call her "Jann" .. it just sounds so strange! I don't know which is worse though.. calling her by her first name, or calling her Mrs. Belcher!) Today I arrived to Psychology extremely early because Mr. Nodal let us out of English early. Oh! And in English, Mr. Nodal has us introduce one of our classmates...(we've been doing students randomly since the beginning of the year) My partner was absent, and so he had me introduce myself. So, he started out asking me questions... "where are you from?" I sometimes hate that question. I really don't like going through the trouble of explaining that I lived in Minnesota, and then Montana, but yes, I went to PHS my senior year. I wish I could just claim Montana, but I just can't get myself to do it! Anyways, so he further asked why I'd moved from Minnesota to Montana....
and I explained. The next question was "What will you major in?" and I responded "Well, right now I'm thinking Psychology... I'm not sure what exactly in Psychology." So then he asked, "Are you nervous?" ... "Well, I wasn't really, but now I am." "Teri, now how does that make you feel"... It was the stereotypical mockery of a pyschologist/therapist... but it was a pretty fun conversation. This leads me to the entire topic of my blog really. So here I go.

For some reason Mr. Nodal was in a particularly happy mood, and was trying to help us out however he could with grades. Anyways, I didn't mind one bit, nor did anyone else. Back to Psychology though, since I got there early I decided that I'd ask my professor these questions that had come up from the last lecture. So, The first thing I asked was a question or problem that Matt presented to me yesterday after I explained the object lesson that Mrs. Belcher presented to us.

The Object Lesson: You have two lists....
"I'm strong!" "I'm weak."
"I'm smart!" "I'm sad."
"I'm happy!" "I'm dumb."
"I'm great!" "I'm a loser."

Then: She had a student (who looked pretty buff) stand up in front of the class. Then the professor had him convincingly read and repeat the list of negative words aloud, and doing so in belief that they were true. So, he repeated the list about 4 times, and then on the 5th time Mrs. Belcher had him put his arms out (kind of like the scene in Titanic where Jack and whatever her name is.. are at the front of the ship with their arms spread out to seem as if they are the "king of the world" "whoo hooo!"... I'm sorry I brought that up really, but if it helps bring the right picture to mind.. .then I'm glad.) So as he had his arms out, the professor had him say these phrases one more time, and she tried to push his arms down.

The Result: As you may guess, she was easily able to push down the somewhat seemingly dejected student.

Then: So, then she started the process all over again, only this time the student repeated the positive phrases. Once again on the 5th time repeating the phrase, she pushed on the student's arms.

The Result: Our professor was unable to budge the student's arms.

It was quite interesting to think about... and I was lost in all kinds of thoughts on my way home that day. But, back to what I was talking about before, when I told Matt this, he said something to the effect that he didn't think that it worked, and that he himself would do the same thing... because he'd know that she was going to try and push down on his arms again... then of course she wouldn't be able to move them. Anywho, So I asked my professor and she said that some lady.. I can't remember her name... Suzanne something did this study in greater depth. She did the study both ways... doing the happy words first, and then the negative... doing it on males... females... differen't races... she did them in different settings, and apparently the results were all amazingly similar.

So, that just brought up many thoughts... such as... wow, I can convince myself I'm basically anything... (I even tried it at work yesteryday. For reasons.. I don't know why.. but I think most of the girls can understand... I was having a typical "fat" day. I just felt gross for some reason, and not appealing in the slightest. So because I was feeling basically appauling, I remembered the example in psychology. I tried so horribly to convince myself "No Teri, You look great! You're beautiful okay!" It worked for about 5 seconds... but there were no miraculous results unfortunately. But, eventually, after I had been playing with some kids and taking care of them I felt much better about myself. I'm convinced that's the best way to solve that problem... When you're caring for others needs, your own diminish, and you're ultimately much happier!... )
Anyways

Then I asked Mrs. Belcher about my season/colors/depression question... which would just take way too long to explain on top of all of this... but it was great! The answer to my question didn't turn out to be as interesting as I had thought, but that's okay. It was really exciting to learn so much more about all these things and talk to someone who was so passionate about all of it!

Also, today in Psychology we talked about Classical and Operant Conditioning.. and it was soooo interesting... Let's see, we talked about Thorndike and how he used operant conditioning to train these cats to push on levers and nudge these things to open a door like thing where on the other side there food was. Then we talked about B.F. Skinner and how he trained these pigeons to "read" a card and then they'd do what it said... okay the people would hold up this card that read "turn" and then the pigeon would turn. It was then rewarded with food... So as opposed to classical conditioning where by nature you've adapted to do something because of the results... now in operant conditioning the reward was controlling you... If that makes any sense. It was crazy to think about, cause then you start thinking... "does everything control you then?" I've learned to do things because of the different consequences that have resulted...so am I choosing to do them? Well, I didn't think about that too long.. because it was just too confusing, but so then on my way home I was thinking about everything that I was doing, and then I'd think.. Why did I do that? What in the past lead me to do this , this certain way.... I don't know if anyone is following me, but that is quite alright. It was fascinating, and so I thought that I would share.

I'm really just so glad that I found Something that interests me so much! I hope that doesn't change in the future... cause I don't know what else I would cling to if it didn't. Music? I guess that would be the next thing, but for some reason that doesn't sound like much fun to study. Elementary Education, that's right, I had momentarily forgotten that I was so interested in that. Maybe I'll go into Child Development... its like the combination of Elementary Education and Psychology.

Anyways, I think I shall be done now! I've written yet another extremely lengthy blog, and I know how boring those can be. I'll just stop now, before it can get any worse! Adios!

Will this do?

Hello Matt - I know that you are going to be reading this blog close to the second that I finish typing. ... You lied. But I still like you. You said something would just come to me.. but nothing's coming... sorry to disappoint you! Maybe something will just "come to me" when you write your blog.. you'll have to show me by example just how it's done!
K, Well, I hope that you have had, and if so, continue to have, a Wonderful Day!!! -Me-

****************************************************************************

Teri's Life Story...of Just This Last Weekend!

Friday, Oct. 14th, 2005 :
I'll just skip the boring stuff such as school, and work, and all that jazz! Well, Friday night Matt finally asked me to that date for Saturday. Let's see if I can remember how that happened. Somehow the topic of having any plans for Saturday came up...I think i asked "So, do you have any exciting plans for tomorrow?"And he said something to the effect " Well, a bunch of people are going to eat, and then hiking." "I was thinkin' about doing that." I said "Ohh, well that sounds like fun." So he said, "Yeah, You wanna come? Or, we could do something else..." . This conversation all happened in a pretty laid back/sarcastic manner, which made it pretty cheezy. But as you all know, I Love Cheese! Both Literally and Not... if you know what I mean! I would never change the extent of our "cheezy"ness!
{ Side Note: This is just a random thought, but somehow Matt reminds me of my dad. The way he jokes around reminds me of my dad, and his sense of humor sometimes. My dad is a complete Goof, and I love him to death. He often plays with a persons words, and finds the puns in life. (That's probably where I get my punnyness I suppose.) Anyways, Matt does this a lot too. Such as yesterday when we were IM'ing each other... anyways. Getting back on track....}
Saturday, Oct. 15th, 2005:
Sooo... Work... Took a test..swam... blah blah.. ... DaTe WiTh MaTt! Ah yes. Okay, so it was a group date. Here were the couples : Nick and Chelsee, Jon and Kimi, then Matt and I (Teri). Anyway, so we (Chelsee, Kimi, and I) were all getting ready for this date thing (Note: Getting ready meaning... putting on tennis shoes and a sweatshirt... then looking at ourselves in the mirror the rest of the time wondering if we looked acceptable. :o) ) . So we're all standing there in front of the mirror... singing all kinds of crazy songs. Mostly Disney songs, which was entertaining for a while, until all you can think about is "A Whole New World" or "When I was a young Wart Hog!....". I think you all know what I'm talking about. So then, Kimi has this brilliant idea to make her hair as BIG as possible! So she's kind of shaking her hair about this way and that. Then I whip out my comb and start ratting chunks of hair. She flips her hair back up, and we all start laughing like crazy. It was hilarious. Then we come back to reality and I start trying to help Kimi tame her hair since the guys were supposed to be coming at any second really. What an adventure!
Eventually we somehow migrated to the living room, since we were all ready and just anticipating these boys to be over at annnny second now. So of course, it came back to singing... and then more Disney, and we were basically going crazy. Then, fortunately we were saved by our dates, and off we went to Rock Canyon Park to eat our meals from Applebees (the guys picked them up for us before hand).
We arrived at the Pavillion, and got everything ready to eat, and drink, and it was spendid. . . Until! Dun dun dun, we realized we had nothing but our fingers to eat these delicious meals with. Kimi had it made, since she got the "Cowboy Burger", and Matt would have been okay too with his Fajita Wrap thing-a-ma-jigger, but as for the rest of us... not so much. I panicked when people were joking about eating with their fingers... I was just imagining myself somehow trying to "properly" eat my Santa Fe' Chicken Salad, with my fingers, and I was basically horrorstricken with the images that came flashing through my head. Thank Goodness, Jon thought of stopping at someone's house near by to ask for some eating utencils. Eventually all was well, and we enjoyed our meals.
When we were done, we made our way up to where Squaw Peak is... Supposedly. We were going to hike to the top and enjoy the view. But when we got to "Look Out Point" which is also known as "Make Out Point", we started to follow this trail, that we thought was going to lead to Scquaw Peak.. .and it may have, but we didn't get That far. We just hiked until we could hike no More.. our legs would not permit such things. The view we had was amazing. The lights looked like tiny fireflies lined up in a orderly fashion in a few areas. You could see the Mt. Timpanogous temple all lit up. And, not to forget the Provo temple too... but for some reason I thought the Timpanogous Temple to look even more amazing. But, Nick, Chelsee,Matt and I (Kimi and Jon turned back a while before) gazed at the few stars that were visible beyond the clouds, and made pictures out of the many clouds. For me, that's one of those things that just won't ever change. Making pictures in the clouds... swinging is another...and probably many others. We talked a bit, and just enjoyed the view and each others company. Eventually we journeyed back to the car, and found our way back to Campus Plaza.

Sunday Oct. 16th:
Sunday, for reasons unknown to me, I was a very emotional girl. In church, I was putting a picture to almost everything that anyone said, and I'd start to tear up. It was crazy, but i think I really learned a lot. Especially in Relief Society. Bro. Holloway (sp?) gave a lesson on Patriarchal Blessings. I really should have been listening more than I was... but somehow he would say something and it'd trigger my thoughts to my own patriarchal blessing, and I was digging into so many aspects of my blessing... and what my life was thus far. It's just amazing to think about all those great things that lie in your future if you rely on Christ, and your heart is one with him. I mean.. I don't know what all is said in people's blessings..but I know some mention their role as a mother... and bringing other souls here, to teach, and to help them return to Christ.... okay, I'm sorry about the depth, but I was just so amazed at what lies in my future, and what a phenomenal concept it all really is. Then, I thought... I better shape up and improve on the simpler things now while I have the chance... because someday it may be too late. Anywho.
Then, After church, I missed my family, so I needed to call them and see what they were up to. I called, and my dad's familiar bubbly voice was on the other end, and I felt a sudden feeling of relief. We talked, joked around, and then Tonia shouted in the background that i should come over for dinner... and make cookies... and to invite "matty" to come too. It all sounded like a peachy idea, so when I got off the phone I went over to Matt's apartment. We chit chatted for a while... and I invited him to come. He said he'd love to, but he had an interview around 6 something so he couldn't. Anyways, while we were talking he and Nick explained that their lesson in Priesthood was on "the Divinity of Women". What a great lesson eh?! Apparently they talked about marriage and different aspects of relationships. Then my mind wandered... Oh great. I thought about the future once again, and the profoundness of it all... marriage, being sealed ... loving someone That much, then raising children.......... yeah. So, eventually I snapped back into what they were actually telling me.
Off to Tonia's I went then, and again all I could think about were those previous thoughts that I had. I thought about how much I loved my family, and how different it would be without them. THen I thought of how mom and dad started mostly evertyhing on their own... they were the parents... and then I thought... wait, what happens when I'm one of the parents... from that moment on, everything will change... I will then have this soul that watches everything I do,.. which then lead to me to think... wait... they're probably already doing that right now... watching everything that I'm doing... and that was a scary thought. Then my irrational thinking said "Okay, so try to be awesome here... so then this kind of easy going - non bratty spirit will choose you!" Hahaha, wierd thought!
When I arrived at my sister's house, no one heard me knocking due to the fact they were cleaning like crazy, and Taylor was vacuuming because they thought Matt was coming along too. I didn't think it'd be that important to call and tell them he wasn't. But, anyways, it was great. My dad was cooking dinner... the house was spotless, and the ingredients for cookies were laid out on the table all ready for me to start making. I should tell them Matt is coming with more often! :o) Just kidding, my sisters house seems pretty clean most the time, and she usually has ingredients for cookies anyways!
I chummed with my family for a while, and then I thought I should go since I had to be back for ward prayer... and I wasn't positive what song I should play for it yet. When I left, my dad walked me out to my car, and he said, "Boy Teri I'm sure glad you got to come, I was missin' ya aweful bad." I am such a daddy's girl. I always have been really. I used to watch out the window so many nights in a row waiting for my daddy to get home. Then when we got here, after dinner, I'd sit on his lap while he and I watched T.V. or something. He used to let me drive his 57 Dodge ( I think ) over to Benny's (our neighbors) and I'd play with their kittens, or look at the calfs while my dad visited his old friend Benny. I was his "baby bear" and he was my "papa bear" , and surely don't forget "mama bear". Anyways, I gave my dad a hug before I left, and said I'd missed him too, i could hardly stand it. So... as you can probably guess... I What? I began to think about how much love there is in a family, and how much I loved my parents, and my siblings... and then I thought.. wow... even as great as that is, someone loves me even more. I could hardly fathom any of it... so then I shed a tear... ( I'm such a wierdo, I know) Anywho...
Then when I got home after all my contemplating, I went over to Matt's where I was able to chum and practice piano too. We all went to ward prayer. The musical number was quite amazing! Then afterwards, Matt and I went on campus ... well in that area, and we listened to the rest of Harry Potter. We were kind of sitting under a tree, but this tree had gigantic seeds. And the seeds were in this outer shell like thing that had these spikes on it. Anyways, they were huge and pokey, and exciting! Matt and I were entertained for a while. We bonded...which is always great. Then went home.

TODAY: So, ultimately those were my rendezvous's and thoughts from the weekend and onto today. Somehow they had such significance to me. Well...okay, so all of that was more like a journal entry than something that people would actually want to read... .and it's extremely long... I'm very sorry about that. But, Now at least Matt can stop checking my blog with utter dissapointment when there isn't something new to read.

Anyyyyyywho! I promise I'm done now ~ Have A Wonderful Day!!!
* Me *

Series of Fortunate Events

Hello Hello Hola! Well, so by fortunate I really mean, the things that i did this week that were interesting... I thought that it was fortunate that i did do something exciting , to me, this week! Anywho

Well, I decided it was time to write a new blog. What about you may wonder?... I too wonder that same very thing. I'm not sure... wherever my thoughts take me in the span of about 15 minutes because I'm writing in between classes.
Last week was quite nice, it went by quite smoothly/quickly which was nice. Each day I'm one step closer to being done with Chemistry, and that's such a happy thought. Let's see Matt and i went to the International Cinema and we watched an Opera which was a first for me. Not a real live Opera, but on the big screen. Anywho. That was interesting...
We also went to a Silent Film this week, and that was quite exciting let me tell ya! It really was extremely entertaining I thought. This happy older fellow played the organ while we all watched this film "Safety Last" about the different acts this man takes on to impress a girl. It was quite funny. And don't let "Silent" in a Silent Film fool you. The audience makes basically all the noise they want...if it pertains to the film and the mood of it. Anyways, that was awesome.
Then on Saturday, Matt's apartment made our apartment dinner. It was Great! We had this Korean dish... called duck something.. ( I reassure you there was no duck in the dish ;0), since Nick went on his mission to Korea, and then for dessert we had Pave ( A Brazilian dessert since Matt served in Brazil ). Oh so yummy! And then, after dinner a few of us went and played "Sardines" up on campus, which was also excellent!
Then yesterday, I hung out at Matt's apartment most of the day. Oh, and the cutest thing ever, in Relief Society/Elder's Quorum.. ( I think) they pass out pieces of paper for "Nice Notes". You just give someone a nice note if you have something nice to say about them. ANywho, I got this note from Matt just letting me know what he thinks of me/him/us. Anywho. It was adorable, and I seriously smiled like a crazy woman for about an hour afterwards, and that lingered all throughout the day.. and I'm smiling as I'm thinking about it. It's those little things that he says or does that lets me know that he does care, and that yes, he is everything that I think he is - all the time.

....

This is continued from yesterday. So, let me see, do I have any new thoughts? Yesterday we went and saw " The Island". It was....okay I do suppose. I'm not a big fan of unrealistic ideas such as aliens, and ... basically just aliens, but it was alright. I found myself not engaged by the movie and thinking about whatever else my mind could find interesting, so maybe that's why I didn't think it was great. Because I didn't understand everything there was to put together. Anywho (Did you know that Steve Urkel ... Erkel..Erkle says "anywho"..I just thought that to be interesting.. maybe that's where everyone got it)!
Well, I also just took a long nap and that was positively wonderful - dreams included! Maybe someday I can tell about those too... but.... not right now.
Have A Wonderful Day! Oh, by the way to any of you who may possibly tbe trying to call, my mom still has my cell phone, and so you can reach me on my home phone... but leave your number... cause they're all on my cell phone. Haha, as if you were trying - anywho! Ciao

"Rain Rain, Don't Go Away!"

"I'm sinnnngin' in the rainnnnn. Just siiiingin' in the raiiiiin. What a glorrrious feeelin' I'm,
HAPPPPPY
again!"

Isn't the rain just so lovely? I'm just staring out my window here at the apartment watching the splish splashing of water on the railing. Somehow the rain manages to chear up my day. I was so Happy, and motivated that I'm actually already done with my homework! Weird eh!? Well... I'm sure I didn't do allll my homework. But, it's still remarkable.

Well, I think I'll go burry myself in my blankets, find some fuzzy socks, and then drink some hot chocolate! Ah, that sounds so warm! Anyways, Hope you enjoy the rain as much as I have today!