I listened to Disney music on my way to Jackson, which is definitely the best road trip music ever. No arguments will be accepted; this is fact. I realized that Disney shaped my worldview in more than just hair or Prince Charmings. Singing along with Belle, "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell!" or Pocahontas, "Why do all my dreams extend just around the riverbend?" My wanderlust comes from Disney! Shock, awe!

When I got to the Hughes household, Dusty's mysterious growth present was revealed! He grew a uni unibrow to match mine! Hahahaha, best present ever! The time it takes to pluck all your hairs but one until it grows out to be noticeable...brilliant.

We had a delicious dinner of steak, bread, and potatoes (my love for this meal is the greatest evidence that I am American) because it was Dusty's birthday. Then we packed into the car and went to Union's Homecoming!

I am a little insulted that the University Relations office because astronomically more awesome after I left. There were the usual booths and food and stuff on the Great Lawn, but we made a beeline to the hot air balloon. Yes. I met up with Ashley Thomas (weird new last name alert!) and we all waited over an hour for our turn.

But as we were waiting, fireworks went off! Like, better than Peoria's 4th of July show. I was a little worried that White Hall would catch on fire, but it didn't. I was holding Hannah and assuring her of their safety, and oooing and ahing over their prettiness. Then the booms started being felt in the ground, and I was saying, "How fun is this! How pretty!" while I thought, "Oh my gosh something has gone horribly wrong and we are going to die."

Then it was hot air balloon time. The Hughes family went alone, then Ashley and I went with some strangers. It was tethered, but we went up about three stories high. People looked small! And the fire above our heads was like, way closer than I imagined. Yay for another life first!

We got home, put the kids to bed, then stayed up eating cookie cake and talking about how the world should work. I'm pleased to announce that between the two of us, Jennie and I have it all figured out.

Allons-y!

When I was preparing to visit Emily and Joe for the weekend, I said I wanted to have adventures. Contrary to popular, i.e. one person's, belief, that does not mean I want to ride mechanical bulls. It just means doing as much fun stuff as possible without worrying about money or time or people's opinions.

And adventures we had! Emily and I went shopping for supplies on Friday, then went back to her dorm to carve Doctor Who themed pumpkins and watch Starship Ranger. I love the AVPM crew, but wow, that mess was all over the place. Still, I kind of loved it, and it was good enough that we quoted it throughout the weekend. Also I want the song where the evil Scorpion alien convinces Bug to infiltrate the human spaceship out of love and acceptance, or maybe to eat them. Yup, that's the kind of musical it was.

Joe came over for dinner; then we went to a Judson fall night somewhere down the road. We went on the most boring hay rack ride ever, during which students pointed excitedly to piles of smashed concrete and wondered whether anything scary was meant to happen. "Will someone with a chain saw jump out here? No? Look at that truck! Is he going to pretend to crash into us? ...no? Is anything scary going to happen?" Nope. But then I made a s'more and we left early. Also I wore my TARDIS hat and felt 100% cool. Ah, anonymity.

To watch 500 Days of Summer! And Joe stayed for the whole thing, which makes me believe in its awesomeness all the more. Emily's roommates and friends watched the end, then eight of us played Quelf! Until 1:30, which is maybe not outrageous for college students, but it is to me.

Sleep. Wake. We watched Young Victoria, and it was surprisingly adorable. Off to lunch with Joe, and this cute kid was dressed up as a cowboy but couldn't walk more than two steps before hoisting his lasso to his shoulder or hiking up his chaps. Then we went back to campus, where another fall activity was happening! Emily and I made a mediocre leaf painting, then drank hot cider and made s'mores.

I brought my fancy camera, so naturally we had to go around the fall-strewn campus and take pictures of each other. We found a blue emergency pole with a light on top, which we figured to be the modern TARDIS. I called for the Doctor, but I guess he doesn't want me as a companion. But I do not lose hope!

We started watching Sherlock so Emily could be introduced to its awesomeness. Then we ate dinner at Chiles and I went home. So much fall and so much Doctor Who! Always the best.

RTD Part Two

I flailed about how much I loved RTD's book The Writer's Tale, in which his emails about writing the fourth season of Doctor Who are bookified. When it was over, I was heartbroken, because what about the next thing!? I wanted to read all his emails for the rest of his life (me, a stalker?).

Then I found out there was a second print in which his emails through the Specials are recorded! An extra 300 pages! Naturally, I bought it, and I've been devouring it since it came in the mail yesterday.

Got to this part, where he runs into the actor who will get killed off in the script RTD is working on. "Yet again, that's one of those odd meetings where I want to say, "We're going to kill you!" I suppose only writers and hit men ever think that."

Hahaha! I love RTD. And it makes me want to be a professional writer. ...Mm, does that make me weird?

Pet Peeve

Coworker:  Did you find anything for that lady about studies on fonts?
Me:  Yes!
Coworker:  I don't understand.  Why would anyone make a study about fonts?
Me:  Oh, that sort of thing fascinates me!
Coworker:  Obviously, yeah.  It's interesting.  But what's the point?
Me:  Graphic design is huge right now, and font is a big part of that.  Makes sense to have studies on something so new.
Coworker:  Of course, yeah, they should be done.  But by the time any studies are made into book form, they'll be obsolete.
Me:  Well...most books have to be printed without a full knowledge of the subject.  There's always going to be new information in the world.
Coworker:  Naturally, yes, that's the nature of books.  But studies on fonts?

RAAARR.  You obviously disagree with me!  State your opinion with confidence rather than playing both sides.  Oh, I hate that.

Emily

I'm going to visit Emily this weekend, and I am very excited!  Mostly because I have fun with her, but also because our conversations are golden.  She fascinates me, because while it has long been established that we have the same brain, our life experiences are completely different.  We approach everything from opposite perspectives, but often come to the same conclusion.  The how is the fascinating part!

I sometimes forget how different we fundamentally are.  Her family is, well, I don't think any family is perfect, but when you have to strain to see cracks, you're doing pretty good.  At the very least, her family is nearer the ideal than my dysfunctional mess (said with affection and stuff).  And there's the fact that she's been dating the same guy since birth (or 14 or whatever), while I have not.

She tells me about a friend who is perpetually single, but creates drama with boys and tries to imagine a world where all the boys want to get with her milkshake (the rap references, I am not so good with them).  And while I totally get how that comes across as annoying, mostly while she complains about said friend I am thinking, "lol I am that girl, I empathize with everything she does."  However, as Emily pointed out, I know those habits are annoying, which is why I mostly shut my big mouth.  No one likes to hear your deep personal pain when fun times could be had.

Or as I like to think, if you're going to have deep personal pain, at least have a sense of humor about it.

So we don't connect on many life experiences.  And yet I enjoy her so much!  She is like a window into another world.  And also she fangirls about AVPM, and likes to go adventuring, and is totally up for making dance videos in a mostly danceless Peoria.  I like my brain-twin.  (Mm, I'm very aware that that makes me sound extremely prideful.  But pride is something else I share with my brain-twin, so it still counts.)

Wedding Plans

I was talking to a girl the other day, and she told me a boy had made a really bad mistake, but that he s sorry. She said she thought she was in love with him, so what should she do?? I mentally smirked and said, "You'll feel that way about plenty of boys in the future." I left the conversation feeling smug and mature, until I realized how right I was.

I still feel that way. "Oh look, a boy! He is very nice! Hm, and attractive. Oh look, I'm firting with him! THIS IS LOVE! Oops, he did this. And he said that. And, well, that's not ideal, but...I don't care, TRUE LOVE WILL PREVAIL!" Until the next guy, anyway.

All of this has naturally made me think of wedding plans! Lol. I've been told to make plans before they are necessary, so here goes.

I like fall weddings.
I have no idea what kind of dress I will have, but it will not be Strapless: Bane of my Existence.
I ike the idea of bridesmaids wearing a brightly colored dress and neutral cardigan or vice versa.
I want my husband in classic black or grey.
Bridesmaids promenade in with groomsmen.
I like the idea of family communion, but as my dad and brother aren't Christians, that might be weird. Maybe just a couple communion. Or whole church. Dunno.
Short ceremony, but long enough to be awesome.
No live music, unless I marry someone rich and have a string quartet.
Oh, lots of photographers and photographs! I will put my bridal party through every pose imaginable and it will be fun!
Reception will have food, maybe a buffet.
Cake will be mostly chocolate.
First dance will only last a minute before all couples are invited to join.
LOTS OF DANCING!
Maybe alcohol. Some people cannot drink responsibly and might ruin the event. Some people can, and will have fun! Will depend on who is invited.
Did I mention lots of dancing? That's all I care about. If people want to socialize with the bride, they will have to bust a move to talk with me.
Naturally, I will only marry someone confident enough to also dance and look foolish.

My thoughts on weddings can apparently be narrowed down to clothing and dancing. Planning done. Now all I need is a boy to irrationally love. No wonder I am perpetually single. I have the emotional maturity of a middle schooler.

Question

If you learn better one way, is it best to just go with that one way, or should you try a new way, even if it means learning less or learning slower?