hello there

The following is the result of excellent people who know languages other than English that were willing to help me out with a Geography project tonight:

LANGUAGE- WORD FOR "HELLO"
Spanish- Hola
French- Bonjour
German- Guten tag
Mandarin- Ni Hao
Italian - Buongiorno
Arabic - Salam Alaikum
Portuguese- Ola`
Tagolag - Kumusta Kayo
Sabuano - Kumusta Ka
Japanese - Konnichiwa
Taiwanese- Li Ho
Cantonese - Lei Hao
Thai - Sawa Dee Kaa
Hawaiian- Aloha
Samoan - Malo
Tongan- Talofa
Hindi - Namaskar
Russian- Drasvuytsey
Albanian- C'kemi
Swedish- Hej
Dutch - Hoi
Norwegian- Hei
Greek - Geia Sou
Icelandic- Hallo
Slovenian- Zivjo
Turkish- Merhaba


I'm not sure if these are all correct (or spelled correctly...) but it sort of puts the world in perspective, right?

March Love List

• strawberries
• the window open at night
• daylight savings
• peanut butter
• pie
• flats
• first grade at Burton Elementary
• vacuumed floors
• clocks
• playing guitar
• cardigans
• e-mail
• bagels
• laughing with my roommates
• my desk lamp
• old photos
• making plans
• good conversation
• not having to wear a coat
• pencils with erasers
• lemonade
• finishing projects
• counting down to the last day of the semester
• crocuses
• cereal for breakfast with fresh fruit
• visits from family
• the e-cards that my grandpa always sends to me
• Student Ambassadors
• the Anthropologie catalog
• people I meet at the Math Lab
• successful pot roast
• quilts
• showers in the morning
  

THE TOP TEN PROJECT

I love books.
I think I always have.
I remember memorizing the words to Little Mouse, the Red, Ripe Strawberry, and the Big, Hungry Bear long before I truly learned how to read. And my mom read aloud to us classics like The Wizard of Oz and The Secret Garden. My second grade teacher read to us everyday after lunch recess--books like Charlotte's Web and Ramona Quimby that not only entertain, but teach as well. Then in high school I had a stream of phenomenal teachers who encouraged risky books. It took me a while to get used to the idea that some books are not written to be liked, but rather to be respected. Over the years, I'm sure we all have books that have had an intense impact on us, whether they be large books with vivid pictures or paperback novels.

The PROJECT: Name your top ten. The ten most influential books to you, personally. (And no fair listing the scriptures--we all love them...)

Here is what I came up with (for the moment, at least):
1. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. This is a book that inspires me every time I read it. I love the illustrations and the message.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I never read this book in high school, though I always wanted to. During my freshman year of college I finally got around to reading it, and was moved by Lee's skill in writing. The character of Scout is so innocently complex- brilliant.
3. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. I actually read this for the first time in a children's literature course I took last year. Though it is not a church book whatsoever, it really gave me a new perspective on Jesus Christ. I suggest it to everyone now.
4. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. To be honest, I hated this book while I was reading it. Looking back, though, this book was the beginning of a completely new chapter in my literary growth. I appreciate it now.
5. Bloomability by Sharon Creech. One of my all-time favorite authors, despite her juvenile target audience. This book is one I can go back to anytime and learn something new every time I read it.
6. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. This is NOT a sci-fi exploration, though it is by Ray Bradbury. I love this book for the way it captures so many vivid scenes. The imagery and experiences are some that everyone can relate to.
7. Small and Simple Things by Marjorie Hinckley. I want to be like her when I grow up.
8. Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk by David Elkind. I would never have read this if it weren't for Sister McManus and Ed Psych. It really contributed to my philosophy of education.
9. Magical Hands by (I can't remember). This book is sort of a family "epic." It reminds me of my Dad. Not to mention the illustrations are excellent.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This book eased me, who tends to prefer American Lit, into British Literature. Though I am still partial to American writing, I now definitely have a soft spot for the "mother country."

There are still plenty of books that I have not read that might end up on this list as soon as I get to them. A few titles I hope to read in the near future include:
Man's Search for Meaning
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Mere Christianity
Utopia
Jesus the Christ
Catcher in the Rye

Please respond to this post with your top ten picks.

ps. Britt- thanks for the use of your photo

happy LEAP day

Days like today only come around every four years. So I was thinking I should make a time capsule to open on the next leap day. If I could, I might include:

• Something from outside. I wish I could save one of the mammoth icicles hanging just outside my window. I've been searching for a poem called "Icicles" that I read in high school; it gives images like "beards of light" that expertly describe the way the icicles look midday when the sun comes out. I guess I could just put the poem in, rather than the icicle itself.
  
• Something from my room. Maybe those crazy sunglasses that I took from Alison's car. Every time I see them I laugh. Or maybe one of the pictures from my wall. Or maybe one of those textbooks from last semester that I couldn't sell back.
  
• Something from a trip. Sometimes I miss London so much I can't even breathe, but it is primarily the people that I miss and the being there- which would be hard to include in a time capsule. I've been on some other excellent trips, though. Maybe I'll include something from New York, like a postcard from the Guggenheim. I still have my boarding passes from my most recent trip to Arizona, so those could be a possibility. There are many things in my travel journal from various places that would also be good candidates. Plus, there is always the option of including something from dear old Rexburg (because living in this place sometimes feels like a trip).
  
• Something from Hebgen. My cabin on Hebgen Lake in Montana is my favorite place on this earth, quite possibly.
  
• Something from my roommates. I think I would want to remember this part of my life in four years, and there are three specific people who are a very big part of it right now.
  
• Something from home. This category provides so many options. I wish I could take a recording of Bailey and put it in there, because she is fuuuunny. Or something crafty from my mom. Or one of my dad's guitar songs.
  
• Something from school. I don't think I have ever before been so into school. I think including an assignment or some other school-ish thing will be necessary. I like it (usually).
  

That would be a pretty good representation of my life this leap year. And every year. But especially leap year.

funny thing, that sunshine

For the most part, I like winter. I like how the night looks when it is snowing. I like wearing mittens. I like the feeling of swooshing down the mountain on a pair of skis. Yes, I like wintry things.

Even so, I just cannot get enough of that golden goodness that is the SUN. When it is a sunshiny day (like today), I feel like everyone is in a good mood, the daylight lasts longer, the icicles drip drip drip creating beautiful designs as they lengthen, and I forget about things that probably should be on my mind. Sunshine makes me want to eat Nutella sandwiches, go on hikes, fly kites, take the long way to class, and put off doing homework. During the day I think about pleasure reading and free time and writing the letters I've been composing in my mind for weeks.

It reminds me of that Beatles song: Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting. Little darling, it seems like years since its been clear. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. It's alright.

Sun. Sun. Sun.
Here it comes.

a song I like

the repetitious patterns and smooth melody of this song are soothing on a stressful day.

February Love List:

• sleeping in
• Student Ambassadors
• dedicated teachers
• mini spooners
• talking to Bailey, who makes me laugh
• good hair days
• snow flurries
  
• fruit leather
• making plans
• wisdom from my dad
• snail mail
• long conversations with old friends
• laughing until my cheeks hurt
• good poetry
• long johns
• the "sailor boy" poster Sarah and I stole from the Snow building
• Tuesdays at the testing center, where there are many interesting people
  
• the word tuesday
  
• teaching ideas from my mom
• daydreaming of Hebgen
• remembering London
• cold water
• satisfying music; new mixes from friends
• free time
• BYU-Idaho
• European yogurt
• things worth looking forward to
• sweaters and blouses
• e-mail updates from friends and family
• Burt's Bee's chapstick
• clocks
• the library at night-- it's so quiet
• obscure holidays
• postcards

to be continued...