Sometimes I'm selfish.

Today was my turn to bring treats to the Stance editing meeting, so I decided to be really crafty and try out this new cake-mix cookie recipe. Granted, the recipe only has 3 ingredients, so I wasn't THAT crafty. But the results are pretty yummy! 

And by "pretty yummy" I mean... well, yummy enough that I've decided to NOT take them to the meeting. I'll buy some Oreos on the way up to campus. Yes, selfish. But honestly, my fellow editors won't even know what they're missing! So I only feel a little guilty.

Mmmm. Just ate another cookie. Guilt gone.

In other news, BYU football is back on its feet! Riley Nelson, with whom I've had a special connection for several years now, has been starting and playing brilliantly! His passes are impressively accurate and if there isn't an open receiver, he can run with the best of 'em!

Our poor, old apartment has been going through some trials lately, bless its heart. First, our toilet can't decide if it wants to work or not. Second, our bathroom sink's plug is stuck down, so it takes about a million years (rough estimate) to empty. Third, our oven has had such difficulty turning on that we finally had to let it go. (On a side note, our management here is the greatest! Once they found out that it wasn't working, they replaced it within the week!) Fourth, our kitchen sink. That sink. On Cleaning Check Eve, it got completely clogged and started filling up with all sorts of lovely remnants from our garbage disposal. I won't go into any more detail. I try to keep this blog classy (hence the picture of the plunger). Fortunately, Spencer and Dustin came to the rescue and, by their powers combined, drained and unclogged that sad, strange little sink (name that movie). The clogging culprit (among other things)?

Yes. A butter knife.

The girliest, giggliest of my adventures this semester took place in (considering I live in Provo, this will not come as a surprise to you) Alyse's Bridal Store. My dear, darling roommate Tessa (the brunette in the green jacket) is engaged to be married! So we went on a store-wide search for the perfect dress. Let me tell you, she looked like a princess in every dress she tried on. I am so excited to see which dress she will choose!

Well, it's about time to trek back up to campus. I'll leave you with this song:

Why I shouldn't read novels during the semester

 I am a binge reader. I think it might be unhealthy. Once I start a book, I simply cannot put it down, regardless of the amount of French homework or Syntax studying I may or may not have. What book stole my heart this time? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I downed that beautiful piece of literary loving in little over 24 hours, shirking most other responsibilities during that time. I am particularly obsessed with any book whose main character is obsessed with books. I think this is why I loved this book and The Book Thief so much. TGLaPPPS is a collection of correspondence between some of the most lovable characters I've ever encountered. It takes place soon after World War II (I seem to have a thing for WWII novels) in England and the Guernsey Islands.

There they are, right near the French coast. I want them to be mine. Because of TGLaPPPS, The Channel Islands have now passed Greece on my List of Places I Currently Love from Afar but WILL Someday Explore or So Help Me. (Sometimes when I title things, I find it difficult to decide which words to capitalize. I also find it difficult to be brief, especially when the thing to be titled is of great importance.)

Once again, I can't stop thinking about how much I want to start writing again. Not boring research writing. Not even let-me-tell-the-world-about-my-life writing. Real, fictional, straight-from-my-brain-to-the-page writing. This is why I am awake at 1 in the morning. I tried to go to sleep for about 5 minutes before I realized how fruitless my endeavors would be. I want to write, but I can't think of anything to write about.

So for now, I'll just keep writing about my life. Hopefully I'll eventually have some sort of epiphany and a genius story idea will just fall down from heaven and hit me in the head.

On another note, I received this email from Grandpa today:

Just a short note to my beautiful oldest grand daughter – I love you!   Your grand Mothers ( Kate. Margie, and Lois)  love you and think you are kinda special-don’t know why-but they all agree--so there you are Katie Love!!!  You are special and loved… Talked with Heavenly Father lately?  You also have a beautiful mom and sisters. Loveyou Katie!!           -Granddad

I can't even express to you how blessed I feel! Unsolicited love notes from one of my heroes and favorite people ever? Beautifully constructed novels that leave me desperate for more? An afternoon nap on our comfy couch? Leftover chocolate pudding pie for dessert? Lovely sunshine all day followed by sweet-smelling, summer rain to lull me to sleep? Honestly, could life get much better?

Song for Athene

There is a special place in my heart for Song for Athene. It's hauntingly beautiful and it's one of those songs that is so calming that I can clearly feel my pulse drop while I'm listening to it.