A-OK

Weekend recap= fantastic.
*Mini-golf and daring to eat at the ever-so sketchy Beto's.
*Passing a history midterm.
*Dylan coming to stay with me.

*Hot tubbing.
*Holly's reception.

*Driving Dylan's car.
*DI. 'Nough said.
*Colin's band playing at Sammy's. Check em out: The Lovecapades

*Dressing up as nerds (like always) to go to a dance.
*Acting like idiots at the dance.
*Hot tubbing again- different pool, this time getting locked in.
*Sleeping in.
*Feasting at Denny's.
*Hot tubbing again.
*Enjoying a shopping trip when I usually loathe it.
*BYU's rugby nationals at Real Stadium.
*Almost watching a movie in 28.
*Church.
*Skying Emalie.
*Blogging a bajilion times.

*A ward potluck in an empty, haunted house/ watching Buck jump from the tramp into the most disgusting pool in the world.
*And more.
My weekend, to say the least, was as the Lovecapades put it: A-OK.

Oh Xiaoxiao

Everyone hates those emails that go out to the whole class. My friend Kira got this one at the end of last semester. What a champ.

Hi, this is Xiaoxiao from your LDS Marriage and Family class.
I am currently looking for a single-lady partner who would love to study on this subject together sometimes. Therefore, you could totally ignore this message if:
1. you were a boy (man).
2. you were a wife already.
3. you were not straight. (just kidding)
...I am from China so that I am looked just like another 3.5 Billion Asian (Maybe not all of them). I am a convert to the LDS church. I am not a return missionary but I am looking for a partner to be life-time missionaries. I love dance and cook so that I think those might be a good start point unless you have other wonderful ideas. I do not have a car and anything more expensive than that yet. I will not judge you based on your looking even though Asian was my all-time-favor for about 20 years because I did not have others choices that time.
Let me know if you were interested. We could start anytime including tonight.
Have fun weekend,
Sincerely,
Xiaoxiao

Long-lost Friend

One of my greatest memories was when Nate and I went with Carmelle and Dave to a Jack Johnson concert. We secretly befriended the security guard who stood right in front of us the whole time. "Secretly", as in HE didn't know about it. Befriended, as in got a good laugh at.
Yesterday at the rugby nationals I SAW HIM AGAIN! Wearing the same thing even. Oh, what joy filled my heart. I wanted to run up and give that big bear a squeeze, "I have pictures of you on my computer! You make me nostalgic!" Creep. It's like that time when you see someone familiar on campus and realize you only recognize them from facebook stalking. Anyway, meet my friend. He's a very brave, talented security guard.

Yes, I'll do it if it will save her.

Once upon a time I was feeling sorry for myself so I sulked on my computer. After StumblingUpon this, I felt inspired. It's long, but it's worth it.

Five Lessons about How to Treat People

1. "Know The Cleaning Lady"

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. "Pickup In The Rain"

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3. "Remember Those Who Serve"

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. "The Obstacles In Our Path"

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."

5. "Giving When It Counts"

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.