A Holiday Pick-Me-Up

So, yesterday was my first Thanksgiving without my parents. If I don't go home, my parents have been known to come to Utah, where I've been living since 2003. But yesterday I hung out with Meredith and Ben, and Charley, and Ben's Aunt Kay. It was fun. I ate way too much. I could feel myself gaining weight.

We also had a Thanksgiving ham, since Ben doesn't really like turkey, and there is no point making a turkey for 3. Not to mention, its a little easier to cook a ham.

I spent the night at Ben & Meredith's, and in the morning Meredith and I went shopping. In the afternoon I went home and ran a few errands. One stop was the Orem Walmart. I saw a car's lights on, so I assumed the car was leaving, and I waited a few moments. The car didn't move, and then I noticed an empty spot next to the car. So, I pull in, but NOW the car decides to pull out. But I quickly just park and leave him plenty of space. Then, the car starts to park again, and I assume he is just adjusting his car. Which, all I can say about it, is that its old, and a guy with dark hair is driving it.

Anyways, I come out of Walmart, and get in my car. And that is when I notice it. A note. All I can think is, crap. Some lame-oid guy just wrote me a note to yell at me, like I parked too close, or I pulled in when he tried to pull out or something rude and lame. So, I grab the note and this is what it says:

Hi,
I wanted to say hi but I was leaving as you were headed in. You are beautiful and I would love to get to know you. Please send me a text or give me a call. Hope to hear from you.
Tim

I thought it was hilarious. Not really hilarious, but quite amusing. This guy must be crazy. And a little blind. I had my hair pulled back with a head band because I had not washed it for 2 days, no make-up, and a BYU Law Hoodie. Trust me, I looked like a hag. If Clinton & Stacey saw me they'd book me a flight to NYC asap. This just shows how crazy/desperate this guy must be.

The question:
Do I text him back and become the next inspirational story behind Law & Order SVU?
OR
Do I safely ignore him. (I'm leaning to this. I'm pretty sure my sisters will lean towards the SVU option).

Black Wednesday

I might be a little dramatic, but I have nothing left to live for.

Flag Football broke up with me last night.

We are out of the tournament, and no more flag football. My head hurts, and my leg hurts, and I have scratches on my hands. I'm sure my head hurts because of the depression.

Ah, the depression.

We had a good run. Undefeated season. Top 6 teams. We should have won!

Here is my feelings on this break up, courtesy of Michael Scott.

Bros before hos. Why? Because your bros are always there for you. They have
got your back, after your ho rips your heart out for no good reason. And you
were nothing but great to your ho. And you told her she was the only ho for you.
And that she was better than all the other hos in the world. And then...
suddenly she's not your ho no mo'.

For Seriousness?!

For a good recap go to http://www.honorindians.com/

But, Timpview High School in Provo decided their mascot was a little tired looking...so they changed it from The Thunderbirds to a Kachina doll. Which, 1) is not logical, and 2) is quite offensive. I mean, its a religious figure. Who changes their mascot TO something offensive? What kind of idiot do you have to be. And, regardless of your position on Indians and Mascots, this is making their Native American students feel hurt and offended. Whatever their intent was--to "honor," --the real thing misses the mark.

So, Principal Bayles:

In a day where people are trying to be more politically correct and more aware of other races, why would anyone change their mascot TO something offensive? The goal for many Native Americans who have taken Indian Mascots to court was to get rid of the offensive mascots, not create more!

If you were afraid your Thunderbird mascot needed to be updated, update the bird--NOT change it entirely!

The statement that your mascot “honors” Indians is completely untrue. If you knew how seriously the Native American people take their history and culture you would not use any part of it for your entertainment. This is a Kachina doll, a religious symbol. It is to be used respectfully, and not to be on display for amusement at high school sports arenas. It is very disrespectful and not at all honorable.

How could an educational institution, whose mission statement is to help "build responsible life-long learners who exemplify integrity" put their own Native American students through this? This is rude, humiliating, and infuriating. I’m sure if you spent as much time asking the Native Americans or even looking up what a Kachina doll is to them, as you did making the offensive mascot, I’m sure you wouldn’t have started.

Please get rid of this offensive mascot as soon as you can.

Here are some quotes to think about:

"The Problem in the Non-Indian Community is that many profess a desire to honor Indians, generally through the use of Indian mascots, but in reality, know very little about Indian tribes and tribal members. Usually what they profess to know, is either very little or very wrong. It is difficult to hold someone in high respect and/or esteem, if you know very little about them." Honorindians.com

"Schools and universities are places of learning. These mascots are teaching stereotypical, misleading and, too often, insulting images of American Indians. And these negative lessons are not just affecting American Indian students; they are sending the wrong message to all students."

"An educational institution's mission is to educate, not mis-educate, and to alleviate the ignorance behind racist stereotypes, not perpetuate them and to provide a nondiscriminatory environment for all its students, conducive to learning."

"Imitation, it is said, is the highest for of flattery. But when it is viewed in the eyes of those being portrayed as hostile and abusive—no matter how well-intended—imitation becomes the lowest form of disrespect and insult."

If you want to leave a comment, please leave on at http://www.honorindians.com/ or send me an email and I'll get it to some people collecting letters to give to the school.

Diwali-the Other Indian Celebration

So, its been awhile since I actually went to Diwali, but my camera has lately been a spaz and I finally got some photos from my friend Liz.

Ankitha is my lovely friend from California, but has parents who are from India, and they are currently living there now. We've had many philosophical debates about who is the real Indian? Apparently she is still really offended. Between the both of us, the only thing we like about Columbus are his holiday sales.

Well, Diwali came to the Hare Krishna temple in cultural Spanish Fork, UT, and so we decided to make a trip of it. A few people from school came, but it was basically Liz, Ankitha and I. Ankitha was really excited to dress us up in traditional Indian clothes. And at first, I thought it would be really cool. I mean, they are gorgeous and Indians are gorgeous.

Then, I thought, would I just look like a white girl dressing up? Would I become the people I make fun of?

Ankitha said there are lots of people who dress up who aren't Indian. My response: Yes, but do they look ridiculous?

In the end, Liz and I dressed up. At first Ankitha wanted to put me in a Sari, but she forgot that I was 6 inches and all around a bit bigger than she. At first she thought it would be fine, and no, I did not look like a sausage roll. Then I refused to stretch her things out. So she had me put on a Kurtha (I think that is how you spell it.) The top was slightly tight, but the pants were like hammer pants. Pretty much a one size fits all.

It ended up being pretty fun, and we even learned the Garba. Pretty sure I wasn't the best dancer there. It was a pretty fun night all around. Here is Liz, Ankitha, Me, and Boey's Wife Christine (I hope that is how you spell her name).

PS. What did I learn that night? Something about dracula and lust...(super weird/awkward play, you had to be there)

Did You Know?

I was Miss Indian BYU

Its true. I'm pretty important. Royalty even. I just like to tell people in case they forgot. And I like to tell new people.

Like in class, a speaker came with old notebooks from the back of a storage closet. One was a tiny notebook that said Four Corners Conference, because they had a conference in Four Corners area with the Native American population. You only got these handy dandy notebooks if you made comments, so of course I said, "Oooh! I am Native American!" And that counted, and I got a notebook.

Then, he brought out another Four Corners notepad, only it was bigger and cooler! And so, I was even more enthralled. I raised my hand again, and he asked me what I could say to make him give me that awesome piece of notebook. I of course replied, "I was Miss Indian BYU!" And then the room was silent in awe.

He was like, "Really?" and I was like, "Uh, yeah! 2004-2005! I am Royalty!" And he's like, prove it. So I was like, fine.

I busted out this picture, and I googled myself. All there, in black and white and color print!

Told you I was awesome!

End of the story: he gave me both notebooks, the big and the small. Oh yeah, I'm that cool.

President Smezident

The BIG news tonight is that Blackacre Blitz WON against Hades Ladies, and they can go back down to you know where!

The night didn't start out so hot. We were so blasted cold and NERVOUS--being our first game in the upper division with actual competition. And then the other team got a quick first touchdown... but it all came together the second half. And, I'd like to thank the other team for being so--how to say nicely--bratty. We got angry soon. And we play better angry.

They pushed, shoved, ran into us and fell...and then WHINED! (And the oscar for best dramatic performance goes to....)

By half time the score was 12 to 6. Then our coach came. He calmed us down second half, gave us great pointers, and basically got us pumped and ready. We got our second touchdown, including the extra points! Then interception! And with 6 seconds to go Nikki literally just ran out the clock!

It was a pretty intense game. Many lost their voice. We were jumping up and down as we rushed the field--like it was a final game win! My good ol' friend from Jr. High days was there. I bet she never in her wildest dreams thought how serious intramural flag football games were! Oh, the yellow flags they were a flying!

We are so awesome! (Marie--this was for you! Get better soon! We need your tight end--uh, we need our tight end back!)

T-shirts, here we come!

Keys On Main

This weekend some of the girls decided we needed so badly to get out of Provo. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds, a quick trip to Hawaii was out of the question. We settled for a night in SLC.

So, Saturday we met at the law school and drove up to a Piano Bar thingy. It was fun, you requests songs and they play it. It is more fun than it sounds. Especially when you tell them its a friend's birthday and make them dance on the stage to Baby Got Back.

We get to SLC, we park, we stand on a street corner waiting for the other car to find a parking spot. A cop pulls over and we are pretty sure we are standing on a corner, but we are NOT hookers! Luckily, he went to talk to the homeless man behind us. We walk over to Keys On Main, and Jen Ha tells us all "ID's!" which I heard as "High Knees!" When did we start a workout?

Basically, the night was fun. The End.

Halloween at Jen's

Last year Jenn Tarazon had one awesome Halloween party, and this year she did it again--while dressed as Cinderella!

We danced, we ate too much food, (that could just have been me!) and we threatened to steal babies (that one I share with Ankitha).

At one point I held a little lion & a lamb. I thought it was cute. Although, it prompted my friend to say, "Ah, Jordan, always the aunt." She meant no harm I suppose, but it sounded to me as though I was forever a bridesmaid...

These pictures are stolen, as my camera isn't working. But the top is me, the lamb, and Marie, and next is Kari--as herself, Natalia as a 50s cheerleader, and a stewardess!