Long weekend.

At dinner on Thursday night, I thought about how the next day was Sunday, after which it would be back to work. And then I remembered - not Sunday, but Friday. Four day weekend! I don't think there is any better feeling in the world than that, other than sliding into clean sheets with freshly shaved legs.

Things I did with my weekend included (but are not limited to): reading, adding new songs to my iPod, listening to Christmas music, Skyping, lots of cleaning and organizing, getting a library card (my mom will be so proud), drinking Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, and seeing Four Christmases (meh) and Slumdog Millionaire (excellent). Fun fact about the latter: it's in limited release and was only playing at 32 theatres last weekend, and its per-screen box office average was higher than Twilight on its opening weekend. Anyway, it's beautiful and poignant and funny and sad, and visually it's absolutely gorgeous. I wouldn't be surprised to see it get nominated for a few Oscars. It's a little hard to describe the premise, so here's the trailer.



Oh, and both the trailer and the film itself use fantastic music, so there's a win right there.

Giving thanks.

I've only spent two Thanksgivings in my life away from my (blood-related) family. Some people dread going home for the holidays, but that's only because their family is not as awesome as mine. My first time away was in 2004 at the BYU London Centre. We played football in Hyde Park, I got tackled by a 300-pound guy, we had an amazing feast cooked for us, and then we dragged our mattresses into the classroom and snuggled in our pajamas while watching Shrek 2.

The second was today. We went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. We bought delicious hot chocolate from some kids on the steps of a brownstone for $1. We took a nap. We got dressed up and went to an excellent Thanksgiving dinner at a nice restaurant on the Upper East Side. We ate home-made pie and lounged around watching Home Alone and listening to Christmas music and laughing a lot.

I'm thankful that when I can't be with my biological family, my other family is there to take care of me. Though we meant to go around the table and each say what we're thankful for, we kept getting distracted and never actually got around to it. But that's what I would have said.

Rock star.

Today there was a special conference for the NYC area, in which I got to hear this man speak:


...at this place:



"When harder times come, stay with Him. There may be temptation to say, 'Well, I guess God doesn't care about me.' But when the winds and waves are unexpected and fierce, stay in the boat. This is no time for you to try your own little doggy paddle." - Jeffrey R. Holland

He also quoted Bryan Adams.

Punchy.

On the phone, around 12:30 in the morning.

Becca: So, when are you coming home for Christmas?
Me: The 22nd. And my flight gets in at like midnight, so I'm guessing Mom will make you and/or Dave pick me up.
Becca: Ooh, okay. Oh! And then afterwards, we should go do something crazy. Like... get milkshakes!

I laughed so hard I cried.

Princess.

This morning I was running late for church (surprise!), which was more unfortunate than usual as I was supposed to be there early to run through a song. And of course MTA's weekend subway shenanigans meant that the train I usually take wasn't running. I knew I'd already missed the bus I needed, but was hoping to catch the next one and salvage a little rehearsal time. I rounded the corner as fast as my high heels would carry me, only to see the bus pulling away from the stop down the street. I don't know if it was my exasperated groan or the dramatic slumping of my shoulders that signaled my distress, but as the driver pulled up to the stoplight right in front of me, he opened the doors and waved me onto the bus.

"Thank you so much!" I gushed as I fumbled in my bag for my Metrocard.

"I only stopped 'cause you look like a princess," he replied with a grin.

I'm glad someone finally agrees with me.

We could all use a little of this.

Puppies!

You're welcome.

History.

The reports have been rolling in today from around the world--victory parties in Paris, cheering crowds in India, shouts of "USA! USA!" on the streets of London. Nations around the world are celebrating because of what happened yesterday in our country, and the significance of that is impossible to deny. Last night the streets of New York, like so many cities across the country, were filled with people. There were crowds of thousands and pockets of a few, cheering and honking horns and hugging complete strangers. On the news today they were comparing it to the scene on V-J Day, when people swarmed Times Square in jubilation over the news that World War II had ended. Perhaps I'm being overly sentimental (I am), but I find it hard to be cynical about that kind of joy, that kind of hope.

Of course, I'm not naive--I know that Obama's victory does not mean it will be sunshine and puppies from here on out. He and we still face a long, hard road to build up a country beset by enormous challenges. But to know that we have just made history, and that so much of the world is once again standing with us, it feels, even for just this one day, like a great day to be an American.

Election night.

It sounds like New Year's Eve outside, and doesn't show any signs of letting up. I don't care who you voted for--this is an important moment in United States history, and I am thankful to be a part of it.