Sneak peek at game night

So we have a tradition at our place: every Thursday evening, we have people over for games. The games are different every time. And this particular evening, our friend Derek brought a few game ideas with him. We had a huge group early on in the evening--probably 15-20 people. We played Swedish Twister first...and here are a few pics from when we played it for FHE a couple of weeks ago:

It's pretty hilarious. So then tonight they introduced us to "human twister" which was super funny and...as you can see...a wee bit awkward. This was just one of the rounds that we played. We had to grab a camera because we were all dying.



My cousin Bens face in this picture kills me. haha So so funny.
This last Thursday was much less awkward. We played the DVD game, mafia, and stick-in-the-jar. Other Thursday night favorites consist of smurf, psychiatrist, signs, animal signs, the couch game, etc. I kind of love waking up Thursday morning with a couple of texts that say, "We're doing game night tonight right?" haha Yep. It's the zero stress, laugh your face off evening of the week.

Awk presentations, head wrapped in fabric, Swoon-worthy music

• My sister and her two stinking adorable sons paid Bootah county a wee visit this last weekend. She is a delight and I love every moment with her, her oldest son had a birthday and his lisp and contagious laugh couldn't be enjoyed more, and her youngest little lad is darling and snugglicious! (Above photo proving this)
• I am working on a debate that I have to argue that the viewing of pornography contributes to/causes a desire to rape. Yeah, please be jealous. The reading is kind of awkward with examples and I think I'll not enjoy explaining this to the whole class. My pasty skin might go a little bit pink with some of the awkward deets we'll have to talk about. Great.
• I'm starting an internship with a bunch of refugees. We're going to teach them about finances. They were raised in refugee camps their whole lives to they don't really understand the concept of money, or checks, credit cards, budgeting, etc. So this should be a jolly good time.
• My friend introduced me to Boyce Avenue. He just does a bunch of covers. But riddle me why he covers a Rihanna song that somehow makes me swoon! What is that about?! Just saying, you could listen to "Only Girl" by him and not be displeased...or you could be displeased. I just have yet to be.
• My institute teacher pulled me aside after class today and officially pitched a guy to me that he wants me to date. Can't. Stop. Finding. This. Wildly. Hilarious. He just walked away saying, "you can't stop me!". haha I figure, with some of the dear awkward dating scenarios that I find myself in, why not let him set me up with someone? Can it really be worse? And if it can, it's to all of your benefit, because I'll just blog about it. haha
• I went to a boutique over the weekend and found some super cute headscarves. Naturally I wanted in on this goodness but it was 14 dollars for a cute strip of fabric used for the sole purpose of accessorizes your noodle. Why would I spend that kind of moolah? I wouldn't. So I went and bought my own cute fabric, my marms helped me make them and now I can't stop wearing fabric, tied in cute ways, in my hair.
• I've been looking into finding some clothes for Africa. I can't just romp over there with velvety skinny jeans, a belted cardigan, and shoeties and expect to be embraced into the culture. So I've been looking on etsy for some cute, yet light clothes I can wear there. I've never shopped for third world country attire before. My hunch is telling me that I shouldn't go searching Nordstrom or H&M for the goods. Perhaps post-Africa. :) For now, light skirts and simple tops will do.
• So...all ties with this hand-holding chap have not been cut. We've had some really cool conversations about the gospel. He's technically a baptized member, but hasn't ever really gone consistently and hasn't been going for a couple of years. He's genuinely kind, but lives a different lifestyle. Which is fine. Anywho, point being, it's been really cool to talk about the gospel with someone. I feel like if I wouldn't have gone to a different university than I wouldn't have had so many opportunities to talk to people about what they believe. It's been cool.

Well, you guessed it, part of the reason why I'm blogging is because I'm putting off homework. haha I wish that wasn't such a predictable trend, but alas. So I'll go study for my Human Resources exam that makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit. Hopefully I will feel differently post-study sesh. Loves to you all!

Awkward dating scenarios...not in short supply

Sometimes my life is super-di-duper awkward. So I feel the need to share it because people should know that such awkwardness exists in the world. So brace yourself for some stories of life as a single lady in Blowsville...

My roommate was at a football game last semester, (I was working or I would have joined them) and a balding, kind of "off", college student with his head painted white with a blue 'A', approached her. He asked for a photograph with her and said that he really liked her legs. While the picture was being taken he announced to the photographer, "Take it vertically...so you can get the whole body." Yipes. Then he turns to her and says, "You look better than the skinny girls." haha I kid you not.

Fast forward two weeks. We're waiting to go into the room where we have ward prayer. Well this very LAD comes up to her and has the picture he took with her printed off. He gave her the copy and tries to make small talk with her while we're all standing there. He then says, referencing the fact that he brought her a copy of the picture, "do you think it's funny...or nice?" As if those are the only two options. So now our favorite thing to do around the apartment is to only give each other two options. "My mom took me to the doctor today. Do you think that's funny?... or nice?" Hilarity.

Now for awkward me. I mentioned a little earlier this guy that came to country dancing night and told me we had a class together. I had no idea. haha But he sat by me at the next class, got my number, and tries to get me to dance with him when I'm at work...but I tell him I'm busy...because I usually am. So I was getting interest vibes from him so kind of asked him in text why he is so insistent on dancing with me. He said he just likes to teach people and he's just interested in me as a friend. Phew. But is my radar off or something? Because he doesn't act like he just wants to be friends. Just wait.

So he texted me on Sunday and asked if I wanted to watch a movie with him and his friends. Okay. No harm in that. So he came and picked me up but it was just me, him, and another couple that were cuddling. So...it felt a wee bit paired off. Hmmm. Then he asked, "So we can either sit on the couch or...the love sack. Whichever you prefer." I'm already confused by this evening but I say, "I think the couch sounds best."

We share a blanket. That's fine. I was rubbing my hands together because it was cold outside and he says, "What's the matter?" "Oh nothing. My hands are just a little cold." Now wait for it...."Here," he says, "let me warm it up for you." Yes, that was his way of proposing that we hold hands. So I let him do it. Not because I want to but because I just don't really have any witty comebacks at the moment. So he's enjoying himself holding my hand and....massaging it. Guh. THEN about half way through the movie he turns to me and says, "So we can keep doing this or we can cuddle. Just whatever you wanna do." Well, there wasn't an option C. But I don't want to cuddle with you. Be thankful you have my hand good sir. Don't be overzealous. haha I just didn't answer the two options. I just kind of laughed and kept watching the movie. Allow me to mention, I know hand-holding is a solid good time when there's two-way interest. But I just wasn't feeling this so it was awkward to sit through a two hour movie of him thinking this-he and I thing--was happening.

I'm plotting during the movie of what to say on the way home. I don't want to hurt his feelings. So I'm planning on going from the angle of "we don't know anything about each other and I'm also leaving the country soon." Sounds nice. I can totally work this out.

The movie ends, my hand slinks away, we get in the car and I say, "So what was that? I thought you wanted to just be friends." Awkward silence. We talked for a little about this and then I start my plan.

Me: It's just...for starters, I feel like I don't know anything about you. (he seems unhappy about this) Like, how old are you?

Him: I'm 20.

Me: Yeah...I'm 24. (this should scare him off right? He is a fetus compared to me. He's just a little guy.)

Him: Oh. I've never dated an older woman before. (Er...you're not dating one now.)

Me: You should also know that I'm graduating this semester and then moving to Africa for the summer.

Him: Yeah, I knew you were going to Africa. I dunno. I've done long distance relationships before and it sucks but I've always been able to visit them once a month or something.

Me: Yep. You can't visit me in Africa. We're talking about me living on another continent. You can't come visit.

We talk for a while and his takeaway was somehow "let's just be friends and see if anything happens. But...like...the kind of friends that hold hands--because that was nice." Oh dear.

I believe there are good guys out there. I really do. But he's twenty, not loving the church right now...so I feel okay letting this opportunity pass by. I'm game for being his friend, but am just not interested in going there. And if there was someone that I was super interested in, I don't think Africa would have to be a barrier. But I want to use it as one because I'm not interested in this guy. Who knows what the future holds dating-wise? Hopefully someone not 4 years younger than me and is pro-gospel. Those things would rub me the right way. Til then!

Word Choice

I find boys versions of compliments humorous. While I'm sure their intentions are good, their approach slash word choice is amusing to me. Examples:

I kinda sorta dated this kid a bit over the summer. Super nice guy. I think nothing but good things about him. I knew it was probably going to be DTR time and just didn't know what to do about it because it was time for me to move up here for school so...I was trying to dodge having the conversation. Well it was about a week or two before I was moving back up here for fall semester, I was at a Redbox machine (my friend waiting in the car), when I hear behind me, "Mallory?"

'Twas him. (Why I felt it appropriate to use the word 'twas is beyond me. It felt right.) He came up to me and smiled and said, "I saw that frizzy hair and knew it must be you." Huh. Trying to feel flattered by the comment...but is "frizzy" a complimentary word? It's not like it hurt my feelings or anything...I just thought it was odd. You'd never see a girl approaching another girl saying something like, "Ooo! Cute hair today. Nice and frizzy!" Right? Funny.

So the other day in one of my classes, this guy asked if he could sit next to me. Sure. He's been trying to talk to me for a little bit. I guess he goes country dancing and recognizes me from that. (I work the country dancing shift once a week and frequently people will recognize me from it...but I have no idea who they are because hundreds of people come country dancing. I either take their money or sell them a cup of water. Our encounters are brief and there are many of them.) So he sits by me is trying to make small talk and then in the middle of the lecture he looks at me and says, "Is your hair naturally that crazy?" haha Once again, word choice. "crazy?" I just laughed and said, "Yeah, my hair does naturally look this way." He said something like, "Well I really like it. It's one of the first things that I noticed about you." Perhaps I would have found that comment remotely endearing if he had previously described my hair as disheveled. haha

It honestly doesn't hurt my feelings or anything. It's just funny to me. I do legitimately have kinda crazy hair. But it's okay, I am past the high school phase of hating it and now I embrace the crap out of it because...shouldn't we all just do that with ourselves? But I just find myself fascinated noticing the difference between the ways guys and girl compliment other females. Consider me amused.

Male Pattern baldness, Reality check, Ms. Poppins

Why is it that I want to blog when I should be studying? The mind of a procrastinator, I imagine.

• I went to the crepery in town to study today. It's just a really cool old house that's decorated all swanky. I cannot study in the library. It's stuffy, orderly, and too quiet. It's so quiet that when ANY noise is made--even the slightest bit, it's annoying. I need to study in places where there's just a murmur of sound...and in a place that feels comfortable and not like all of my other classrooms. Do I sound like a high-maintenance student? Hope not.
• While at the crepery, this elderly man came and interrupted my studies to talk to me. (I had a feeling it was going to happen because he was going around talking to everyone.) He asked why I was at Utah State. He asked about Italy. "So what do they speak there? Spanish?" That would be a negative, good fellow. He complimented my hair and then pointed to his whig he was sporting and whispered, "I've got five of these. I'm totally bald." haha While the conversation was amusing, I was also ready to get back to my studying. haha
• I taught sunday school again yesterday. I really enjoy teaching. It's good for me. But yesterday was a bit rough. I think the class had a really late night on Saturday because everyone was tired. But it's okay. I should probably keep looking for ways to prepare more so that I can teach more effectively every time.
• I was able to speak on the phone today with a man who has lived in Africa---in 80 different countries in the world actually. Er...I kind of want to pick his brain for hours. He gave me the reality check of Africa that I haven't had before. It was less of a "good for you" talk and more of a "this is going to break your heart" talk. The thing is, I already know that this place and these people are going to keep a little chunk of my heart. I haven't even arrived there or met anyone in that country, but I already know that I'm going to love them very much. Seeing their living conditions and struggles is going to be heart-wrenching. Saying goodbye and the flight home are going to be appropriate times to forego mascara. And I know I will ache for them when I get back to America. Yes, with all of this being known in advance, I still want to go. And I want to soak in every moment. I want to do as much good as I can, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to do so.
• I work a morning shift at the Fun Park. Usually the only people there for the first few hours are moms and their wee children to play on the soft play. We usually have disney music playing for them. I realized...I don't really have an appreciation for Mary Poppins music. For some reason every time one of those songs would come on, I felt myself kind of groan--longing for another Beauty and the Beast song or something. PERHAPS the reason I don't like those songs, I wonder, is because I've never seen that flick. Yeah, haven't seen it. It's just never really appealed to me. Is that strange? I don't know if I should feel bad about it or not.
• I went on a cousins date with my cousin Ben. It was actually a perfect night for it because I had just got off work and my roommates had all left town. So we went to a movie together, gave some dating advice (though I'm genuinely impressed that he dates. Because that seems rare for guys to be proactive around these parts) and had some solid laughs. I'm sad I only get a semester with him but it was fun to be able to hang out with him. We saw "Red Tails". It was pretty good actually. I may or may not have adored that some of it was filmed in Italy and that there was some italian speaking.
• I actually had a nice bonding moment with my visiting teachers. After their first visit I felt super-di-duper bad because when they left one of them said, "Call us if you need anything." and I said, "I will"...but you could kind of hear that I didn't mean it. haha I felt bad. I know that they're great girls with good intentions. I just really only confide in certain people when I need something. Anywho, one of my visiting teachers was super cool this time because I'm going to the doc in the week about something...and she's had similar experiences with it. She was super sweet about talking about her problems and willing to help if I need anything. It really was one of those moments that I thought, "Okay, I'd call this girl." Which is huge for me. haha Sometimes I wonder if some of the problems that we have in life are so that we can relate and be compassionate to those around us.

Alrighty. That'll do. I should probably be all studious now...even though I don't want to. Hope you guys are doing grand. Love from Blowsville!

Teach me how to dougie

Umm...you can't tell me that you don't want to come with me. Just look at that darling face....well...all of those faces.