#47 FHE Groups

Being away at college, you can't exactly have family home evening each week. So the college wards organize everyone into home evening groups to achieve (more or less) the same purpose. And I have to say, I have a really awesome group this semester.

Take tonight, for example. My roommates' parents live nearby, so they ditched me to go home this weekend. I hate being home alone, so when I couldn't stand it anymore, I paid my FHE sisters a visit. It was a major lifesaver to be around people that time of night, especially ladies awesome enough to yell at reality TV with me.

#40 People who REALLY live in the middle of nowhere come here for a good time.

A friend of mine from high school, Heather, goes to school in Montana, just two hours away from Rexburg. Occasionally she gets these awesome four-day weekends and sometimes she uses them to come see me, like she did this weekend! The town she lives in is so small it doesn't have a Wal-Mart. There is nothing to do there. Rexburg may not be the most exciting place to live, but I'm grateful to be here knowing it could be worse. Some of the places we've gone don't have their own post yet, so I'm going to do that now.

#25 You're Not Stuck Here if You Don't Want to Be.

Last night my roommates and I left Rexburg (for the first time since January in Jenna's and my case) for an evening of adventure. Erin's friend Ana joined us on a trip to Idaho Falls. Erin knew this hole-in-the wall restaurant--Mongolian BBQ. I'm picky, so I was a tad concerned about trying it. But this is how it goes: You put the food you want for your stir-fry in your bowl, give it to the cook, and he mixes it all up for you on a heated stone thing. It's so neat to watch. And delicious. In short: 

Thoroughly.

We also went shopping. I had been told that the mall in IF wasn't that great, but I must beg to differ. It's like a one-story version of the Montclair Plaza. I approve of that as well. 

#21 Guitars Unplugged

It's basically a show where students show off their musical skills and make  you want to go home and play guitar until you're half as good as them, even if it makes that weird new dent in your finger permanent. It's a very enjoyable experience--except when a band with potential sings a Miley Cyrus song. (Really, Dinosaur Circus? For shame.)

#20 Choir

Tonight Jenna and I attended the Collegiate Singers Invitational Concert. I was practically in hysterics the whole time. I just loved it. The Collegiate Singers are...I can't even find the right adjective to describe the quality of their performance. To compare to my high school program for a moment, they're bigger than Madrigals, but smaller than Chorale. They remind me of the MTSAC Chambers in that their set was inspiring and edgy and they changed formations between almost every song.

Then was Vocal Union, the jazz group. I'm thinking I'll audition for this in the fall. Maybe then I'll stop being the family jazz failure. Also awesome. Their set included a fantastic solo by my buddy Doug (who made my American Gov class bearable this block) and the song "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing." That brought memories flooding back from when Expressions did the same song my junior year of high school. Man, I miss being in choir. (That's where I met all my friends...maybe that's why I have little to no social life these days.)

Then was Jazz Combo #1--just a rhythm section and a flute. I am opposed to flutes being used in jazz on principle, but this wasn't so bad. While they were playing, I had this crazy daydream about my brother Dallin coming up to visit during his spring break--there's gonna be a Jazz Combo Showcase around that time. I was exploring solutions to basic questions like "where would he stay?" and "what would he do while I was in class?" See, this is why I have a hard time with straight up instrumental songs sometimes. My brain gets in the way with words. I like words.

The last few songs were glorious collaborations between the rhythm section of the combo and the choirs. Brazilian bossa nova always makes my day a little brighter. The very last song was a great big gospel number with everyone all together with swaying and clapping and sheer energy and joy (just like at Upland!). 

Makes me all...nostalgic.

#15 Roommate Sleepovers

Friday night we continued the theme of roommate bonding by having dinner together ("It's our first family dinner!") and having a "sleepover." I brought Sven the Mac out to the living room and we watched Meet the Robinsons in our jammies with our teddy bears. (Yes. We all have teddy bears.) And by the way, I had forgotten what a fantastic movie Meet the Robinsons is. I think it just might be my new favorite Disney movie.

Then I showed them Sven's Photo Booth.

left to right: Sam, Jenna, me, Erin

Pop Art!

Black & White=Serious.

After we ate the rest of the rainbow sherbet (not sherbert) in the freezer, we all got to sleep in our own beds. I don't know about you guys, but sleeping on a mattress instead of in a sleeping bag is a major win.

#14 "Roommate Dates"

I have three new roommates this semester. I didn't meet them until they'd been here for three days. They're not quite as outgoing as last semester's group. So tonight we're going to have a sleepover in the living room. It will be epic.

But I also want to get to know them one on one. So tonight Jenna, my room-roommate, and I went to The Cocoa Bean. It was way fun! We went to Porters first to get stationary and a candle warmer. (By the way, our room smells like Orchard Pear now--thanks, Maddie!)  Then we both got drinks and Chocolate Marble Cream Cheese Cupcakes. 

They look something like this.

It was fun just to talk the two of us! Jenna's a music major from Las Vegas. She has a great sense of humor and excellent taste in music. This semester is going to be epic.

#13 The Guys

(from left to right: Ben, Erik, Will, Alex, Chris)

About a month ago, Shayna came home from a friend's house and insisted that I meet him and his roommates. From then on, you could usually find us at their place over on the other side of Porter Park any given non-Sunday night.

We do things like have ninja star fights. (ATTACK!) Or play Rock Band. (No, Shayna, we will not play "Ghostbusters"again.) Or watch and mock classic movies like Back to the Future.  (That defies the laws of physics because...) Or lay on the floor and sing songs because the power's out. (Will, do you know how to play...?)

 They don't mind that we're freshman and we always need rides home at curfew and that we practically live at their place. I'm comfortable at their place. They're good guys.

#12 Adventures in Cleaning

Today was the big White Glove Clean Check. We started last night. I was up until four yesterday scrubbing the oven and stove. I spent the better part of today cleaning the rest of the kitchen and my side of the room. It actually felt good to scrub the drip pans, even thought it took 45 minutes to do one of them and my hands were covered in steel wool at the end of it. It was just me, my iPod, and the task. I got all caught up on my KFI podcasts (more stuff about the traitors in Pakistan and less about Tiger Woods' sexts, please).

But the best part is right now. I had to pull out my desk and dresser to vacuum behind them and I have no desire to move them back. So now I have a little fort back here. It's right next to the radiator and I am warm. I'll be sleeping here because I also have no desire to put my newly clean sheets back on the bed since I'm switching rooms in three days. And my bed is basically one big storage unit right now.

Only things on my to-do list now: finals, party, and break out the sparkling grape juice with the roomies the last night we're all together.

#10 The Best Roommates a Girl Could Ask For

Until September, I hadn't shared a room since I was five. The only other woman I had ever lived with was my mother. I tend to be more comfortable around guys than girls. Coming up to Rexburg, I was terrified of living with three girls I'd never met before.

I got so lucky.

Iris, Laura, and Shayna have been huge blessings to me this semester.

Then when we "took in" Lyndsey and Chelsea, things got even better. It's amazing to see how we've helped each other grow these past four months. Even though I burn food sometimes and "don't know how to speak Girl*," they're there for me.

I love these girls. I'm going to miss them when they all abandon me are off-track next semester. Except Chelsea. She'll still be here!

(left to right: Iris, Laura, Lyndsey, Me, Shayna, Chelsea)

*Apparently, you can't comment on the face a girl is making in the presence of a guy. No matter what it means or how obvious the situation is to everyone else.