A Long Time Ago

"Let's now consider the effects of a change in monetary policy. To do so, imagine that the economy is in equilibrium and then, suddenly, the Fed doubles the supply of money by printing some dollar bills and dropping them around the country from helicopters."

You guys, my Econ textbook was hilarious. Every so often I look back to that class and think fond things, but I'm mostly just glad to be done with it. I still don't know what my grade is, and to be entirely honest, I don't really mind not knowing. Sometimes it's just best to live in ignorance.

On another note, I am becoming quite the Star Wars nerd. Remember Number 28 on my bucket list?

Consider it completed.

My world has been forever changed. I will get the chills every time I hear this song, and whenever I sit down to watch a show I will wish that I owned a copy of all six episodes--or, at the very least, Episodes IV, V, and VI. So, if any of you wished to make my birthday, or Christmas, or other present-giving occasion...now you know how.

Just sayin.

-------------------

Conference Weekly here.

Carpe Diem

Bucket list numbers 14, 21.12, 42, 55, and 62 have been completed. I won't bore you with the details.

In other news, well, it would appear that I currently have no other news. But, never fear, Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society has come to save the day.

"Carpe diem! Seize the day, boys--make your lives extraordinary!"

In addition to that lovely thought, I would like to send you here for some of the best words I have read in a very long time.

Number 70, Baby

Bucket list number 70: Participate in an intense, incredibly messy food fight.

Check.

The below pictures are what we like to call a mess fest. Behold, feast your eyes upon the glory of a food fight well done.

Note: You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

The group--before

The group--after

This stuff all over me? Oh, you know, it's just a little flour, whipped cream, applesauce, yogurt, chocolate syrup, oatmeal and mud. Despite the fact that both of our showers were clogged, our entire hall was fresh out of hot water for a solid few hours, and I swear my hair is at least 10% thinner than it was before, this was absolutely fantastic. I loved every moment. This is what it's all about.

Oh Yeah

Remember how I graduated?

Well, in addition to the typical musical numbers, speeches, walking, Pomp and Circumstance, clapping, cheering, sleeping, snoring, and drooling, we did a flash mob. Rockin'.

Consider #69 complete.

It's Official...Almost

Kids, I have big news for you today. While carrying out my daily routine of fetching the mail on my way home from school, I happened upon a letter addressed to me--sent by Greg Bell himself! For those of you silly children who don't know who he is, I will tell you. Greg Bell is none other than the Utah Lieutenant Governor. And he sent me, average little me, my very own letter! Here is what it said:

Dear Future Voter:

Voting is the fundamental expression of our American freedom--The freedom to express our ideas, our opinions, and our feelings through electing our own representatives. It is a grassroots, basic principle that built and has carried this nation for nearly 230 years, and will be the sustaining force for our democracy throughout all time.

I congratulate you on your 18th birthday and encourage you to take this opportunity to register to vote.

Best Wishes,

Greg Bell

Lieutenant Governor

And do you know what I did? I sat down that very minute, filled out the enclosed voting registration form, slapped a stamp on the front, popped that baby into the mailbox, and lifted the flag as a finishing touch. Please notice the below pictures, added for your visual enjoyment.

#67 complete. 

So, it's kind of official. Not only am I now an adult, I am now a registered-to-vote-adult. Didn't I tell you I had big news?

Okay, let's be serious for a moment here. I think we can all agree upon the fact that we have something unique here in America. It is by no means perfect, but hey, neither are we. Not every country guarantees its citizens the ability and the right to vote. We are a part of a very lucky, very blessed few.

Why, then, when the U.S. Census Bureau announced that "among citizens of voting age, 68% were registered to vote in 2006," was it good news? Why is a 48% voter turnout an increase? Don't we realize that there is a good 32% of eligible-to-vote Americans who haven't even registered? And of those who have registered, 20% didn't even vote! 

The census reports, "Among those who did not vote, about 4 out of 10 cited conflicting schedules or illness as reasons. About 2 in 10 were either not interested in voting or did not like the candidates. Other reasons for not voting included being out of town, forgetting to vote, registration problems, inconvenient polling locations, transportation issues and bad weather." Admittedly, some of these reasons are legitimate. You cannot control whether or not illness falls upon you, and we Utahns are fully aware of the fact that you cannot control the weather. (Sometimes it seems the weather can't even control itself.) But let's be real here. You don't like the candidates? Come on. At least vote for the one you dislike less than the others. And you forgot? Really? This should be important enough that it won't just slip your mind in the rush of the day.

Yes, we all know that one single vote will likely never change anything. But if that 52% decided to actually utilize their right, as citizens of the United States of America, that could make a difference. That could make a big difference.

In the end, you can sit here and complain about the people leading our country and the things that they are doing. You can sit here and argue about various bills being passed. You can sit and fantasize and hope and dream, but in the end, nothing will happen if you don't do something. If you don't speak your opinions. If you don't let your voice be heard. If you don't vote.

P.S. This place is a super cool place to go as you prepare to vote. It helps to clear out all the mumbo-jumbo of debating and brings you straight to the points. Be an educated voter.

Bucket List #24

Dear Dania:

It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been named recipient of the Honors at Entrance Scholarship at the University of Utah. You are among a select group of students in the state to obtain this honor as a result of your high academic achievement. Congratulations!

Honey, Eggs, and Red Rock

It's about time I catch up on my bucket list successes. I will recount the experiences in chronological order.

#21.18--Read The Secret Life of Bees

I believe it was Tuesday night. It was end of term, my independent reading assignment was due on Friday, and I desperately needed to buckle down and read a book. I chose The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, curled up under a quilt and a lamp in the corner of my room, and read until 1:30 in the morning. It was heaven. I had forgotten how much I adore reading. And the book was just wonderful!

Photo Credit

I absolutely loved it. It is definitely feminist, which I don't necessarily agree with, but it is an overall amazing book. It's one of those books that makes me feel like I'm in the story, one of those books that I can relate to in one thing or another. It talked about the importance of having something to believe in. Though I do not believe in the same things as the women in this book, I began to feel a greater appreciation for the strength that I draw from my beliefs. It also talked about love. My favorite quote from the book was said by a woman named August Boatwright.

"And when you get down to it, Lily, that's the only purpose grand enough for a human life. Not just to love--but to persist in love."

Honestly? I want to sit right back down with it and read it again. I loved this book. Well done, Sue Monk Kidd.

#48--Cook something in the odd hours of the night

Immediately following my completion of The Secret Life of Bees, I was wide awake. I don't know if I was just giddy from the excitement of reading, perhaps the book had simply put my mind back in motion, but whatever it was, I was not going to bed anytime soon. It was then that I realized that I had skipped dinner entirely, due to the excitement of the novel. With a growling stomach, I crept downstairs and proceeded to make myself a scrambled egg sandwich.

Though the picture begs to differ, it was marvelously delicious. And satisfying.

(P.S. Don't judge my photography skills off of this photo, it was not taken in the most artistic of circumstances. AKA: I was starving in the middle of the night and wanted to eat the sandwich, not take a picture of it.)

#38--Run a half marathon

This one happened yesterday. My mom, sister and I journeyed to Moab to run the Canyonlands Half Marathon. I ran it with the time of 1:53.30 and absolutely loved it! The canyon is beautiful, the supporters were wonderful, the event was organized, and I had a great run.

This paper was in our hotel lobby.

I fell in love with half marathons--everything about them is supportive, uplifting, and encouraging. There were some 4,000 runners on that course yesterday and every one of them succeeded. Not just the overall winners, not just the top finishers in the age divisions, but every single person that crossed the finish line. The volunteers cheered for every runner as if they were setting a world record. People I didn't even know were supporting me and helping me to be my best. People I had never met were proud of me.

I may or may not get around to posting pictures. I have yet to see the pictures that were taken (they're due to be posted sometime this week), but if they're worth anything I'll put them on display for all the world to see. Since all the world follows my blog.

We saw the coolest car in the world on the way home.

The full car

Close-up on the window sticker

The license plate reads, "RUNLOCO"
The license plate cover reads, "gotta run..."

Bumper sticker: Marathon Freak

I think I'm in love.

Also, I discovered this place. Brilliant. One of these days I'll get around to purchasing the Original Black T--because you can never have enough cotton t-shirts. Especially when it has brilliance printed on it.

Number 13-2!

Dear Dania:

Congratulations! You have been admitted to Brigham Young University to begin Fall 2011. Through your preparation and personal achievements you have distinguished yourself from a very strong group of applicants. We believe you will make a positive contribution to our BYU community. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our campus to pursue your educational goals.

Dona Nobis Pacem

#65 complete.

This weekend was among the most powerful I've experienced. It's right up there with General Conference weekends, just inspirational in slightly different ways. My school's choir joined with the choirs of six or seven other schools and sang under the direction of Dr. Ryan Murphy in the Salt Lake Tabernacle - wow. There are not words that can adequately describe the experience.

Dona Nobis Pacem was written as a warning against war and a plea for peace. It's divided into six movements and the alto part is the most difficult thing I've ever seen in my life. After two weeks of daily - if not two or three times a day - rehearsals, listening to recordings on my own and meeting with the other choirs all Friday and Saturday, I finally had the majority of the piece down. One of my favorite moments was nailing a particularly difficult section in the 6th movement in the performance. But my favorite part or the entire piece was, by far, the baritone solo in the 6th movement.

Oh man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, And in this place will I give peace.

It's absolutely beautiful. After all the intensity and chaos of war, suddenly there is beauty and peace. He sings of a world that does not need to fear.

If you've got an extra 36 or so minutes, I would highly recommend listening to this music, it is outstanding. If you don't have that long, at least skip ahead to 28:13 and listen to the baritone solo.

*Disclaimer: the recording is incredibly quiet. You may want to search out some loud speakers and connect them to your computer.

Dona Nobis Pacem

I

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi

Dona nobis pacem.

II

Beat! beat! drums! -- blow! bugles! blow!

Through the windows -- through the doors -- burst like a ruthless force,

Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,

Into the school where the scholar is studying;

Leave not the bridegroom quiet -- no happiness must he have now with his bride,

Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field, or gathering in his grain,

So fierce you whirr and pound you drums -- so shrill you bugles blow.

Beat! beat! drums! -- blow! bugles! blow!

Over the traffic of cities -- over the rumble of wheels in the streets;

Are beds prepared for the sleepers at night in the Houses? No sleepers must sleep in those beds,

No bargainers' bargains by day -- would they continue?

Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?

Then rattle quicker, heaver drums -- you bugles wilder blow.

Beat! beat! drums! -- blow! bugles! blow!

Make no parley -- stop for no expostulation,

Mind not the timid -- mind not the weeper or prayer,

Mind not the old man beseeching the young man,

Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's entreaties,

Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the hearses,

So strong you thump O terrible drums -- so loud you bugles blow.

Walt Whitman.

III

Reconciliation

Word over all, beautiful as the sky,

Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must in time be utterly lost,

That the hands of the sisters Death and Night incessantly, softly, wash again and ever again this soiled world;

For my enemy is dead, a man divine as myself is dead,

I look where he lies white-faced and still in the coffin -- I draw near,

Bend down and touch lightly with my lips the white face in the coffin.

Walt Whitman.

IV

Dirge for Two Veterans

The last sunbeam

Lightly falls from the finished Sabbath,

On the pavement here, and there beyond it is looking

Down a new-made double grave.

Lo, the moon ascending,

Up from the east the silvery round moon,

Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon,

Immense and silent moon.

I see a sad procession,

And I hear the sound of coming full-keyed bugles,

All the channels of the city streets they're flooding

As with voices and with tears.

I hear the great drums pounding,

And the small drums steady whirring,

And every blow of the great convulsive drums

Strikes me through and through.

For the son is brought with the father,

In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell,

Two veterans, son and father, dropped together,

And the double grave awaits them.

Now nearer blow the bugles,

And the drums strike more convulsive,

And the daylight o'er the pavement quite has faded,

And the strong dead-march enwraps me.

In the eastern sky up-buoying,

The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumined,

'Tis some mother's large transparent face,

In heaven brighter growing.

O strong dead-march you please me!

O moon immense with your silvery face you soothe me!

O my soldiers twain! O my veterans passing to burial!

What I have I also give you.

The moon gives you light,

And the bugles and the drums give you music,

And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,

My heart gives you love.

Walt Whitman.

V

The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings. There is no one as of old . . . . . to sprinkle with blood the lintel and the two side-posts of our doors, that he may spare and pass on.

John Bright.

Dona nobis pacem.

We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! 

The snorting of his horses was heart from Dan; the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land . . . . . and those that dwell therein. . . . .

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. . . . . 

Is there no balm in Gilead?; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah VIII. 15-22.

VI

O man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea be strong.

Daniel X. 19.

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former . . . . . and in this place will I give peace.

Haggai II. 9.

Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

And none shall make them afraid, neither shall the sword go through through their land.

Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them.

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled; and let them hear, and say, it is the truth.

And it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues.

And they shall come and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and they shall declare my glory among the nations.

For as the new heaven and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,

so shall your seed and your name remain for ever.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.

(adapted from Micah iv. 3, Leviticus xxci. 6, Psalms lxxxv. 10, and cxcii. 19, Isaiah xliii. 9, and lxvi. 18-22, and Luke ii. 14.)

Dona nobis pacem.

Number !#!

Okay, that seriously is what I typed at first, apparently I was so excited that I had to hold the shift key for all three symbols. But the real title of the post is "Number 13!"

13. Get accepted to college

I often pull up to my mailbox and take in the mail when I come home. But, as of late, there's been absolutely nothing in there for me. I almost didn't check it today. Thankfully, I decided to walk over after I had parked my car to retrieve the boringsauce mail. But as I flipped through the mail, something caught my eye - my name. I looked up to the left-hand corner and saw that it was from the University of Utah Admissions Office. I frantically ran to my car, gathered my belongings, picked up the mail I had dropped in my haste, picked up the book I had dropped as I picked up the mail, speed-hobbled to my door, waited for my mom to unlock it, threw my stuff on the bench, grabbed the envelope and walked around the corner to open my letter in relative privacy.

Congratulations! You have been accepted to the University of Utah's entering freshman class for:

Fall 2011

I am thrilled. My fears of not being accepted to the colleges I applied to have been vanquished. I'm going to college!

The Kite Runner

Photo Credit

This book is outstanding. Well-written, beautifully painted, this novel tells a story different from most I've read. Obviously. It follows the life of a boy who grew up in Afghanistan and depicts what life was like there, how it has changed. It gave me a perspective I never would have found otherwise. I loved and hated characters at the same time. I laughed out loud, I panicked, I was shocked at parts. I couldn't put it down. It's a story about friendship, betrayal, loyalty, relationships, sin, and forgiveness. In the end, I guess you could say this book is about redemption. It's about life - the good and the bad, and it shifted how I view my own life. Khaled Hosseini created something absolutely beautiful with The Kite Runner.

#21-3 complete.

Number 58 -- Check

Inspired by a 50's themed New Year's Eve dance, I decided to make a poodle skirt. I hadn't used a sewing machine since middle school when I took a semester long sewing class, but after a few reminders on the basic functions of a sewing machine I started my project. Just kidding, I'm certain that you can't get a pattern that's any easier as far as the sewing goes. Pretty much all I had to do was cut out two pieces of fabric and sew them together.

The rest was, in theory, simple. All I had to do was cut out the poodle and clue everything else on. Turns out I stink at gluing. But after much frustration, I got it done and ended up with my lovely skirt to wear while I danced the night away.

While I'm On Break...

...I bake.

Tonight, while doing nothing in particular, I suddenly felt the urge to cook something. Anything. But there was a problem: it was midnight, and midnight is not exactly the most practical of times to whip out my famous five star masterpiece of a meal. So I settled for baking a classic - peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses on top. I assembled all the ingredients and set to work, thoroughly enjoying myself all along the way. Silly as it may sound, it actually is an absolute blast to mix various ingredients together in the silence of a sleeping house.

Assuming that your fellow house dwellers are accepting of this practice, you should definitely give this a try. It was a blast.

#49 is now crossed off.

Jon Schmidt Christmas Concert!

My parents were kind enough to reward me with an early Christmas present, and I can now cross off #17! Oh my, it was absolutely outstanding! This man is so talented. 

The opening act was a cellist by the name of Steven Sharp Nelson, who also played for Jon Schmidt throughout the whole concert. He was amazing. Seriously. He does things with his cello that I've never seen anyone do before. He turns his cello into about a million different instruments, it's so cool. Granted, I don't know a whole lot about playing a cello, but I'm pretty sure he's unique in what he does. Jon (I'm just gonna assume that we're on a first name basis here) said in the concert that Steve is "the world's only cello-percussionist." Take that how you will. But if you are looking for some really good cello music I would highly recommend his CD's.

Jon, of course, played a lot of songs. Seriously, I fell in love with the piano all over again. Hopefully I'll learn to play it someday. At the intermission (or, as he called it, half time), his daughter came out and quoted the classic "Charlie bit my finger" YouTube video, sang us a song, and helped him throw balls out to the audience. He said he mostly did it for the husbands whose wives dragged them to a piano concert on a Saturday night. It was funny.

After intermission, the show got even better. He played one of his Christmas songs while they ran the most darling video I have ever seen. About 7 or so years ago he and his wife taught their kids the most basic movements to each instrument so it could look like they were the ones actually playing, then put it all together to make the sweetest music video I've ever seen. Jon was watching the video the whole time it was playing, it was so cute. Seriously, watch the video (the link is above, if you haven't noticed yet.) It is so worth the 4:47 of your time.

His son came out and sang one of his songs with his little sister singing backup. Unfortunately, I can't seem to recall his name. But he is coming out with his first album soon, so look for it, cause he was good.

Jon's dad also came and played his harmonica. No one plays the harmonica like that man can, he totally blew me away.

When the concert was over, we, of course, stood and clapped vigorously until he came back on stage absolutely ecstatic saying, "You guys, thank you so much! I've never had an encore before!" Right Jon, right. But he proceeded to put on a red wig, mentioning that he should be able to get a discount at Wendy's if he wore it there, and played a song entitled Dumb Song. I love that song, it's so fun. At the very end, he ran up to a raised part of the stage and did a backflip off of it. So good.

Then he decided to do a double encore and did this really cool thing where he invited someone from the audience who had played the piano in a jazz band to come up and play with him. He said that they had to be complete strangers, they couldn't have ever met. They also had to be able to name off the notes in some blues scale (I clearly don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm hoping that those of you who understand the terminology will know what I'm getting at.) And he began asking for someone who had played in a professional jazz band to come up. No one. After a while, he went down - college level jazz band. No one. After some pleading, he finally moved down to high school. One kid raised his hand, and messed up the scale at the second note. So they moved on to the next kid who rattled them off like it was common knowledge. He went up and totally tore it up. That kid was dang good, it was so fun to watch them.

For the real last song, he played Silent Night and asked us all to sing along with him.

Seriously, that concert was such a great time. I am so thankful to have gone. I highly recommend his concerts to anyone and everyone. It seriously was an incredible concert.

Highly Entertaining

Last night was quite the adventure. To make a long story short, I will simply say this. Number 37, complete.

The Help

I highly recommend this book. Written by a fine lady by the name of Kathryn Stockett, this book will suck you in. Her writing is incredible; I am amazed at the voice each and every one of her characters carry. It takes turns you'd never anticipate and you'll find yourself turning pages faster than you can read. It makes you think and, in the end, teaches a message each of us can learn from. If you get the chance, pick this book up. You'll have it finished before you know it.

#21-3 is now complete.

Everyone Should Have a Bucket List

I love my bucket list. It doesn't matter that some of the points on this list are written down and crossed off within a second of each other. The satisfaction is just the same. As it turns out, #31 was introduced to the list in this very matter.

It was a Friday afternoon. As an editor of the school paper with a deadline fast approaching, I was spending the majority of my time in the journalism lab adjusting layouts. Mid-text box creation, McKann whipped around the corner and into the lab saying, "Tyler, the girls bathroom is locked. I need you to come and make sure the boys bathroom is empty." Recognizing this as an opportune moment, I jumped up to join her. The bathroom was in use for a time, so we waited. Once we were in the clear, McKann and I ran in. The toilets were nasty - we had to flush them prior to use. Our excitement overcame us a little more than anticipated and Tyler, standing guard, had to poke his head in and say, "You guys have got to be quiet. If anyone walks by they are going to know that girls are in here." Needless to say, we toned it down a tinge after that. As we washed our hands, we noticed that something was missing. The paper towels. Apparently the boys had proved themselves incapable of handling something so complex as placing a paper towel in the trash can and were shafted to the use of a hand dryer that blows cold air. No matter, that's what pants are for anyways. Wiping our hands on our pants, we ran out the door and back to the lab. Mission accomplished.

31. Use a boys bathroom of the non-single toilet variety

Check.

Recent Additions

21. Books continued

4. Atlas Shrugged

5. Three Cups of Tea

22. Go on a spontaneous road trip

23. Win a scholarship

24. Go on a backpacking trip

25. Run around a revolving door ten times without stopping

26. Watch every Indiana Jones movie

27. Watch every Star Wars movie

28. Watch every Lord of the Rings movie

29. Read the Book of Mormon in 24 hours

In No Particular Order...

1. Drive a human car on the range...while it's in session
2. Dive catch a frisbee during a game of ultimate
   
3. Jump catch a frisbee during a game of ultimate
4. Go on a humanitarian trip to Africa
5. Learn a language
6. Learn to play the piano
7. Cook a delicious meal entirely on my own
   
8. Run the Boston
9. Learn to tie a tie
10. Finish The Grapes of Wrath
11. Eat 20 points worth of Godfather's Pizza
12. Go on a humanitarian trip to South America
13. Get accepted to a college
    
14. Move out
15. Play intramural rugby
    
16. Play intramural frisbee
17. Attend a Jon Schmidt concert
18. Make a hair accessory
19. Sew a dress
20. Study for and take the ACT Plus Writing
21. Read a slew of books for my own enjoyment including, but not limited to, the following
    
1. Les Mis, unabridged
2. The Help
3. The Kite Runner
22. Watch every movie created by the Olsen twins
    

To be continued.

Bucket List

As of late, I've discovered that I do, in fact, have a bucket list. Unofficially, of course. Otherwise, how could I discover it? Essentially, it's a list in the back of my mind of things that I've always desired to do. They're little things, not big things. Well, to an extent. But, I've suddenly finding myself checking these things off of my bucket list.

For example. I adore Ultimate Frisbee. A lot. It's a fairly recent development. I've always enjoyed Ultimate, but I never felt that burning passion for it until Friday morning. We were playing, and I was doing next to nothing in the way of helping my team. In fact, there were quite a few times in which I was hurting them. Then everyone left. Except for the few, the proud, those who remained. We had 6 left, which meant 3 on 3. Suddenly, I HAD to do something. And suddenly, I was dominating. Kind of. But what really matters this: I dove for the frisbee, and I caught it. Among the most amazing moments of my life. Had there been a camera, a picture slightly more epic than a combination of these three would have been captured.


It was incredible. And as I quickly popped up and threw the frisbee to a teammate, I realized, through the pain of the impact, that I had accomplished a life goal. I have always thought the diving for a frisbee would be incredibly intense, and I wanted to accomplish it. And I did!

For example, Part II. On Wednesday. Not the kind of today's variety, but that of last week's. Having finished our game of Ultimate Frisbee, we sat on the turf, attempting to decide if we would play another game. Amidst our ponderings, one of us pointed out the fact that range was in session. After spending some time mocking the youngins, I remembered. Sophomore year, during Indoor Track, our senior girls were doing essentially the same thing. Then one, I don't recall which, invented a brilliant plan. "What if," said she, "we pretended to be cars and ran around on the range while it was going?" We all had a good laugh, and never mentioned it again. But as I looked on to the range a week ago, my memory was sparked. And thus began the adventure. There were seven of us, so naturally, we arranged ourselves in the shape of a van. I was the initial driver - we practiced the basics. Using the frisbee as the steering wheel, I drove us around the turf, turning as I desired. After a time, I decided to give someone else a turn to drive. My front seat passenger jumped at the chance. He, however, was driving a European van. With him, we practiced our reaction time - quick stops. We also practiced donuts. Following this, I drove again. We practiced our backwards figure 8s. Then, we were ready. We climbed through, over, or under the fence. We were in. Once our positions had been resumed, we drove. Parallel parking always being a difficult skill to master, we decided to practice. After pulling up to a spot, we found that a car had pulled up behind us. Politely moving out of their way, we made a U-turn and proceeded to prepare to back into a different spot. Just then, the driver of the car behind us told us through her window that "he want[ed] [us] to get off." Shortly following this announcement, the range instructor yelled to us to "get off!" So we did.

This long story was yet another one of my bullet points on my unofficial bucket list. And I can now cross it off.

Upon pondering these two experiences, I reached a conclusion. Bucket lists are the best idea ever. They are so exciting. They give you an idea of something to do in times of boredom, and something to work towards, and a rush of excitement when you check them off. So, I've decided that I want to bring these bullet points from the back of my mind, to the front. And write them down. And seek to accomplish them. Two down, an infinite amount to go. And I can't wait.