Yesterday was my first day of school. It started out like any normal first day of school experience, and then went downhill from there. I think it was because I was dealing with the stress of changing my major, on top of switching around my classes, returning textbooks and buying new ones, along with getting to know a new and bigger campus. I signed up for a British Literary History class and started talking with a girl a few years younger than me who is in her senior year, graduating in December. I kind of felt silly that I've attended three years of college and now I'm basically starting over. On transferring to BYU, however, I was unaware that I wouldn't be accepted into the PR program right away and so it threw everything off for me; I really wasn't feeling that great about communications anyway. So I officially changed my major, called my dad for moral support, and then went to FHE later that night to scope out the hotties of my new ward. Just kidding about that last part, sort of.
So today was much better, though just as long. I only had two classes, but they were really spaced out, so I did some homework and some studying. I ran into three guys from my mission and that was cool. And today I've been feeling a lot better about switching my major to English. I'm considering doing English teaching. I used to think I would never want to be a teacher, but now I realize that I would love nothing more than trying to help people love literature. My roommates are cool. There are two of them that are book nuts (like me!) and BBC lovers (also like me!) and it was fun discussing North and South and Wives and Daughters, etc with them.
Book review:
William Goldman
The Princess Bride
I really loved this book. I thought it was very cleverly written and very hilarious. I liked it better than the movie. It is a very well-written book with some great scenes and witty humor. READ IT! Don't let it trick you, because he says it's an abridgement of the real book, but there is no real book. It's all part of the plot to draw you in. I had a good friend who loves the book say to me, "I loved the Princess Bride, but I read the abridged version. I heard it's way better." There's no abridgment. The "abridgement" IS the original. OK, that's all.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Moving, School, Sushi
So I moved to Provo! Yeah! It was yesterday (Friday) and the actual moving went pretty smoothly. I live right by the stadium in a nice apartment where (to my surprise) I am one of the youngest of 6 roommates. My room-roommate is a returned missionary from Connecticut and just happens to be the old roommate of one of my mission companions. She's seems really nice so I feel good about my apartment.
Friday night I went to a women's soccer game with some mission buddies, and we got rained on (pooh!), not to mention it was a little awkward hanging around with an elder from my mission. They'll always be elders to me. Anyway, then we went made waffles and a few other people came over and it was fun.
Today! Wow, it has been weird. At noon I went out to sushi with Kat and her hubby and some other people. I have never really eaten sushi, but it's kind of a big thing here. Anyway, I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised that much of it was pretty good. However, Kat and Trevor ordered these fish eggs for me. They're tiny orange balls (tons of them) over a bed of rice wrapped in a huge thing of icky seaweed. Anyway, they told me it was my first time, I had to have the experience, so I shoved the whole thing in my mouth (and it was big) and everybody at the table (there were about 8 people) laughed while I gagged and chewed. When you chew, the eggs go crazy in your mouth, bursting and making a weird crunching sound. After I swallowed the bulk of it, I was still finding fish eggs in my gums and teeth. You could say I lost my appetite after that. Anyway, it was a fun experience, but it may be some time before I go again.
Then I walked to campus from my apartment. I didn't realize how far away I live. It took me a while in the hot sun, going uphill, to get to the book store. When I finally got there, I was sweating so bad, it was embarrassing. The worst part was that I was wearing new shoes so all that walking and my feet were killing me and now I seriously have huge blisters on my feet. OK, it sounds dramatic, but it was pretty bad. I'm not excited to walk to campus when it's so hot outside. But oh well!
OK, I'm thinking about changing my major. Right now I'm on the communications path, doing an emphasis in Public Relations. I like it. But I'm not sure that's what I really want to do. I'm thinking about changing to English. Yes, it would put me behind, but having transferred to BYU Provo has put me behind already so I might as well change right? Anyway, if there are any comments, let me know. If you can see me doing the whole English thing or communications thing or something else, make a comment and tell me! OK, that's all I have. Boring again, yes, but that's my life I suppose. Sleep in, for me. Because I can't anymore.
Alyson
Friday night I went to a women's soccer game with some mission buddies, and we got rained on (pooh!), not to mention it was a little awkward hanging around with an elder from my mission. They'll always be elders to me. Anyway, then we went made waffles and a few other people came over and it was fun.
Today! Wow, it has been weird. At noon I went out to sushi with Kat and her hubby and some other people. I have never really eaten sushi, but it's kind of a big thing here. Anyway, I gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised that much of it was pretty good. However, Kat and Trevor ordered these fish eggs for me. They're tiny orange balls (tons of them) over a bed of rice wrapped in a huge thing of icky seaweed. Anyway, they told me it was my first time, I had to have the experience, so I shoved the whole thing in my mouth (and it was big) and everybody at the table (there were about 8 people) laughed while I gagged and chewed. When you chew, the eggs go crazy in your mouth, bursting and making a weird crunching sound. After I swallowed the bulk of it, I was still finding fish eggs in my gums and teeth. You could say I lost my appetite after that. Anyway, it was a fun experience, but it may be some time before I go again.
Then I walked to campus from my apartment. I didn't realize how far away I live. It took me a while in the hot sun, going uphill, to get to the book store. When I finally got there, I was sweating so bad, it was embarrassing. The worst part was that I was wearing new shoes so all that walking and my feet were killing me and now I seriously have huge blisters on my feet. OK, it sounds dramatic, but it was pretty bad. I'm not excited to walk to campus when it's so hot outside. But oh well!
OK, I'm thinking about changing my major. Right now I'm on the communications path, doing an emphasis in Public Relations. I like it. But I'm not sure that's what I really want to do. I'm thinking about changing to English. Yes, it would put me behind, but having transferred to BYU Provo has put me behind already so I might as well change right? Anyway, if there are any comments, let me know. If you can see me doing the whole English thing or communications thing or something else, make a comment and tell me! OK, that's all I have. Boring again, yes, but that's my life I suppose. Sleep in, for me. Because I can't anymore.
Alyson
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Summer Book List
I have read a ton of books this summer. It's probably a little pathetic. But no school and no job equals lots of free time. All of the books I post in my next few blogs are ones I read between the beginning of May and the end of August, some of which are rereads. I love reading and I love to discuss books, but absolutely ZERO of my reviews and thoughts will be spoilers. I promise. So here's the beginning of the list, these aren't in any particular order. Some of the books I post at the end may have actually been read at the beginning of the summer. Like you care. OK, for those who will actually read this, I'll start with the author, followed by the books and their reviews.
Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
OK, so overall, I loved these books. I was sad when they ended. In my personal opinion, Suzanne Collins gets a little cliche and over-the-top by the end of the books, but they're exciting, unpredictable and (in my opinion) well worth the read. Mockingjay is pretty bloody and a little disturbing in some ways. I have mixed feelings about it. Honestly, I ate it up. For those who have read them, you might be surprised that my favorite character is Haymitch. I'm not sure why, but his gruffness is endearing.
Fannie Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
LOVED this book! Seriously, it was amazing. The characters are amazing. But I have to say that I don't recommend it to everyone. There's some language and other stuff. But the story and style of writing is excellent. It's pretty hilarious (I seriously laughed out loud at some parts), but if you're looking for a book that is only action and happiness and love, with no sadness, this is not your book. I will say that I loved the ending, it was very satisfying. It's also been made into a movie called "Fried Green Tomatoes" which is also excellent, though deviates quite a bit from the book.
Lisa Mangum
The Hourglass Door
The Golden Spiral
Lisa Mangum works at Shadow Mountain Publishing and I think she probably pulled some strings so that she could get this book published. It's a fun read and I admit it held my attention, but the characters are flat and the endings left me with too many questions. I put this book in the same category as Fablehaven and Twilight, though I think I enjoyed the others more. A third book will be coming out within the next year or so, and despite my somewhat negative review, you can bet I'll run out to get that last book. Once I start a series, even if I don't love it, I usually have to finish it.
OK, did anybody read those? Does anybody love reading as much as I do? Other posts will be coming later. Tell me what you think of the books if you read them; I'd love to get in discussions, even if you disagree. Ask questions or post suggestions for my future reading lists. OK, now you know I'm a real nerd. Books are my weakness.
Over and out.
Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
OK, so overall, I loved these books. I was sad when they ended. In my personal opinion, Suzanne Collins gets a little cliche and over-the-top by the end of the books, but they're exciting, unpredictable and (in my opinion) well worth the read. Mockingjay is pretty bloody and a little disturbing in some ways. I have mixed feelings about it. Honestly, I ate it up. For those who have read them, you might be surprised that my favorite character is Haymitch. I'm not sure why, but his gruffness is endearing.
Fannie Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
LOVED this book! Seriously, it was amazing. The characters are amazing. But I have to say that I don't recommend it to everyone. There's some language and other stuff. But the story and style of writing is excellent. It's pretty hilarious (I seriously laughed out loud at some parts), but if you're looking for a book that is only action and happiness and love, with no sadness, this is not your book. I will say that I loved the ending, it was very satisfying. It's also been made into a movie called "Fried Green Tomatoes" which is also excellent, though deviates quite a bit from the book.
Lisa Mangum
The Hourglass Door
The Golden Spiral
Lisa Mangum works at Shadow Mountain Publishing and I think she probably pulled some strings so that she could get this book published. It's a fun read and I admit it held my attention, but the characters are flat and the endings left me with too many questions. I put this book in the same category as Fablehaven and Twilight, though I think I enjoyed the others more. A third book will be coming out within the next year or so, and despite my somewhat negative review, you can bet I'll run out to get that last book. Once I start a series, even if I don't love it, I usually have to finish it.
OK, did anybody read those? Does anybody love reading as much as I do? Other posts will be coming later. Tell me what you think of the books if you read them; I'd love to get in discussions, even if you disagree. Ask questions or post suggestions for my future reading lists. OK, now you know I'm a real nerd. Books are my weakness.
Over and out.
Do single people blog? The answer is YES!
Hey everyone!
This is my new blog. Have I ever blogged before? The answer to that is NO. So this is my first blog. There's nothing terribly exciting going on right now, so I don't know why I chose this moment in my life to start my blog, right before I head down to the Y for school, but I thought I'd give this thing a shot. To start it off, I sent out a few texts, asking people what they thought I should name my blog. Here are a few of the responses:
A couple of those are options I actually considered, I won't tell you which ones. OK, "Where are my chips?" was my first favorite (thank you Nina). Anyway, I thought Aly's Blog was good and professional for now. Who knows, maybe someday I will be famous and my agent will tell me that I can be even richer if I have a name like "Orphan Pants." So if there are any other suggestions fo naming my blog, especially ones that will make me famous, please tell me about them because I'm sure I will change the name eventually.
I think I'll be blogging more about books than anything else. Boring you say? Maybe. But I've got a list of books I've read this summer that would blow your mind. As in, the list of books I've read this summer is so big, the sheer hugeness of it will blow your mind. I'll be starting those posts shortly. Until I get a boyfriend, I bet I'll have lots of time for blogging. So you'll know I'm seeing somebody when all of a sudden my blog stops getting updated. OK, that may blow back up in my face (and may or may not be true, maybe I lied to you?) but I do plan on updating this thingy quite often. I read a lot of books. And I find lots of things hilarious. And I have new obsessions monthly. And my niece is the cutest thing I've ever seen. And I can really blab. And I take lots of pictures. And seaworld will forever evoke countless nights of reminiscing.
Enjoy!
This is my new blog. Have I ever blogged before? The answer to that is NO. So this is my first blog. There's nothing terribly exciting going on right now, so I don't know why I chose this moment in my life to start my blog, right before I head down to the Y for school, but I thought I'd give this thing a shot. To start it off, I sent out a few texts, asking people what they thought I should name my blog. Here are a few of the responses:
- Tenacious Alyson
- Alyson's Blog (uh, boring! Jk, not too far from the real thing)
- Alyson is the greatest and her best friend Kathryn is freaking amazing
- Alyface
- Where are my chips?
- Alytar the last blogbender
- Orphan Pants
- Alyson: One Day I'll be Famous
- Alyson June the Little Mermaid
A couple of those are options I actually considered, I won't tell you which ones. OK, "Where are my chips?" was my first favorite (thank you Nina). Anyway, I thought Aly's Blog was good and professional for now. Who knows, maybe someday I will be famous and my agent will tell me that I can be even richer if I have a name like "Orphan Pants." So if there are any other suggestions fo naming my blog, especially ones that will make me famous, please tell me about them because I'm sure I will change the name eventually.
I think I'll be blogging more about books than anything else. Boring you say? Maybe. But I've got a list of books I've read this summer that would blow your mind. As in, the list of books I've read this summer is so big, the sheer hugeness of it will blow your mind. I'll be starting those posts shortly. Until I get a boyfriend, I bet I'll have lots of time for blogging. So you'll know I'm seeing somebody when all of a sudden my blog stops getting updated. OK, that may blow back up in my face (and may or may not be true, maybe I lied to you?) but I do plan on updating this thingy quite often. I read a lot of books. And I find lots of things hilarious. And I have new obsessions monthly. And my niece is the cutest thing I've ever seen. And I can really blab. And I take lots of pictures. And seaworld will forever evoke countless nights of reminiscing.
Enjoy!
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