Since You've Been Gone....

Melissa!

It was amazing having you to visit! I'm glad I got to introduce you to a lot of my friends and celebrate my birthday. It was the best birthday I've had in a while. :)

So since you've been gone, it's just been life getting back to normal. Homework, work, a math test - but besides those oh so fun happenings, here's the highlights of the week:

First, having the 10th Doctor watch over my living room. He's still here in all his cardboard cut-out glory and it's great. He's had a number of hats, including a paper birthday hat and a flower crown, and he's successfully freaked out a couple of guests as they walked in the door.

Second, starting on my scarf. The yarn Sunny sent is beautiful and I'm a bit over a foot into it. It'll be great when it's done!

Third, delicious stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers with some onions and garlic to season and pineapple as a sweet treat. The colors were beautiful all together, but more importantly it tasted amazing. I'm very proud of myself.

So there's my life, how's yours?

 - Jessica

P.S. Also this is a highlight.

10 Things That Make You Wonderful or Why I Wish I Was You

Hey Jessica!

I am done with school until 2016. Woah. That's weird to think about. But, I've decided this post isn't going to be about me—no, it's going to be about you.

Congratulations! Your finals should end today! You made it! You are so close to being done with this stage of your schooling, I’m so proud of you. Because of this I'm going to tell you some awesome things about yourself (just in case you've forgotten). Here they are: 10 Things That Make You Wonderful or Why I Wish I Was You

1. You sew, crochet, and knit. That's pretty impressive. And you don't just follow patterns, you make stuff up too! Like the sleeve for my computer. You can sew some amazing dresses, and don't get me started on your quilt. It's amazing! You put so much hard work and perfectionism into these projects that is incredible, and it shows in the finished projects.
2. You are super smart. I don't think I need to tell you that you are the smartest one in our family. It's pretty obvious. You get the best grades because you are the hardest worker even though out of all of us you probably are studying the hardest subject. Go you!
3. You can cook. And bake. If you don’t count brownies, these are two skills of which I lack. And two skills of which people (especially of the male variety) love. You make some of the best things I have ever had. You also get excited about making things—that makes making things even more fun! (Might I add that you look super cute in your apron, the apron that you made.)
4. You are amazing at the piano. It cannot be denied, you are the most musical person in our family. You are the only one to pick up piano again, and the only one to play so many instruments. Oh, and don’t forget you have an amazing voice. Like, come on, Concert Choir, Cantores . . . leave some skill for the rest of us! Don’t forget you are awesome at saxophone too! You and the quartet gave me an appreciation for that instrument.
5. Clothes. You wear super cute stuff. ‘Nough said.
6. You have perfect teeth. The rest of us had to go through years of braces to sort of get teeth like yours. Lucky you.
7. You can take pictures like this and still look great.

   

   The turtle is not the only cute thing in this photo

8. You are great at strategy games. At least better than I am. And you are great at card games. The rest of us can’t keep up.
9. You look great in scarves. I’m a little jealous. Only a little, I swear!
10. You are beautiful. Don't go shaking your head at the screen. Don't do it. For once, let yourself believe you are beautiful, because it is the truth. You have a symmetrical face with these gorgeous eyes staring out at the rest of us. (If you think that me saying that you have a symmetrical face is a little cold, it’s really not. It’s scientific. That’s what makes people attractive.) Don’t get me started on your hair! I am soooooooooo jealous of your hair. It is a gorgeous brown, and is curly. I love the curls you have. So many people spend forever curling their hair everyday so that it will look like that. You also have long, curly, dark eyelashes. The rest of the world wishes that they had your eyelashes. I could go on, but we don’t want you getting too big of an ego.

I thought this was appropriate

Now, don’t get discouraged, there are more reasons why you are wonderful, but to state them all would take the rest of my life. These are just a few. I thought they might be able to recharge you for the next semester. I love you Jessica, keep being awesome.

Love,

Melissa

The Little Things

Melissa,

So this month has been crazy and I'm very sorry it's taken this long to get a post up. But despite all the crazy that's been going on there's always been the little things that keep me going.

First, hobbies that keep me sane. I've been going to social dance club every week and since it's in the evening, it forces me to stay on campus all day and get homework done! But more importantly, it gives me a chance to forget all the math and just waltz across the dance floor.

Second, delicious food. Lately I've been experimenting with making my own bread! It's a lot of fun, and it tastes much better than the over processed preservative filled bread they sell in the store. It also makes delicious sandwiches to take to campus!

Third, helping others. Service always makes life better, and since I'm in the math building all day, there's always someone around who needs help with math. Plus, other people's homework is much more fun!

And last and most important, all my wonderful friends that make the long days in the math building fun and my roommates that make my apartment a great place to be. They keep me smiling all day and stop me from being too stressed about the piles of homework looming over my shoulder waiting to be done.

So there's the little things that keep me going. How's your life in Hawaii going?

Jessica

Life in the Library

Hey Jessica,

I've been spending a lot of time in the library lately. A lot of time. Like, more time than in my hale. I have found that there are some pros and cons to homeworking in the library.

Pros:

• There are comfy couches in the library (and comfy armchairs)
• It gives you a new place to study so that you are not always in your dorm
• There's good wifi
• Air conditioning!
• It's quiet here
• I feel all studenty and productive here
• If you are doing research and need a book, you don't have to make a trip to the library--you're already there!
• You always know what holiday is coming up because of the decorations
• When you leave you can tell yourself (in a British accent) "Melissa has left the library. Melissa has been saved."

Cons:

• Because of the comfortable couches and chairs in the library, there are often people sleeping there
• When the wifi is down, there is nothing you can do about it
• The fire in the fireplace is fake
• In the evenings it can get kinda busy and people get talkative, and it's annoying 
• It feels like I don't have a life. (Which I don't, but it's not like I want to feel that way)
• There is no way to escape Valentine's Day--the decorations are everywhere
• When you leave and the sun is down, you feel like you lost your whole day. And to homework, which is worse

I see this guy in the library a lot. He's usually sleeping. On the couch too. Come on dude! Maybe I wanted to sit there! (mmppphhhmmmmmm . . .) He probably lives off campus and doesn't want to trek home and back again between classes or whatever. So I shouldn't judge. But I do. I'm a terrible person.

My social life has disappeared (what was left of it anyway). I haven't gone to Country Swing in two weeks! (Which is a big deal considering it has only been going for three.) I don't hang out with anyone! I haven't gone to the beach! It's a tragedy!

On another note. Kelsy and I have been working on our version of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" which is "Do You Want to go Surfing?" However, I've been using Garage Band. Big mistake. It keeps on ruining my sound files. I have no idea why. I've recorded that stupid song (completely, with multiple takes) twice. I kinda want to give up on it, but at the same time I want to prove to Garage Band that I'm superior, but I also want to do it on another program that won't destroy my work. Basically, I'm stuck. I don't quite know what to do. I don't have a sound editing program and I don't want to have to purchase one. So you'll have to wait for Kelsy and my next big musical production. But it'll be awesome. And hilarious.

Since I feel like I'm just rambling at this point,

See ya later! Have fun mathing.

Melissa

Why Applied Mathematicians Make the Best Brownies

Melissa,

So this semester I am taking a mathematical biology class. (Yes, I can hear the people shuddering in the distance) But I really like it! It's basically an overview of how math is being used to model things in biology. We started with just a basic model for population and will get into more complicated things as the semester goes on. Some things are really cool, some things are a little ridiculous. The other day we talked about how to model love affairs and a couple's feelings for each other based on how strongly they keep their own feelings and how they react to the other's. There was some really interesting outcomes just based on the parameters you picked! The math behind it is really interesting.

Anyway, the reason this deserves it's own blog post is that it's made me realize something. I really like modelling things from real life. I like seeing the math behind how nature works and being able to predict the future from finding patterns. So while I still don't know what field I want to study or what career I want, I now have a clue about where to go, and that's exciting!

- Jessica

P.S. The title came from an actual scientific article I was looking at for class. They were modelling how heat is distributed in the oven to determine the best shaped pan to use for brownies. It reminded me of you! Round pans distribute the heat most evenly, but it wastes room in the oven. They decided on rectangular pans with rounded corners.

P.P.S. Here's a song that I heard three days ago and it has been in my head ever since. I like it, it just needs to get out of my head. It's "The Walker" by Fits and the Tantrums

The BYUH Atmosphere

Hey Jessica!

While you're off saving the world with math, I just scare people. The most common response I get when I tell people my major is: "Oh" (scared look) "you're probably analyzing me right now." I usually then inform them that I'm a freshman and they don't have cause to be scared of me . . . yet. While in line for the cafeteria one day, I met another psychology major. He said that that never stops. I guess I'll just frighten people for the rest of my life . . .


BYUH has a certain atmosphere. I think this is the same atmosphere no matter which BYU you go to. The second you get on campus--marriage time. It was mentioned multiple times during orientation and we all know that that's kinda what is expected and what is going to happen, but it's a weird feeling. I'm 18, I don't want to get married yet, and neither do my friends, but that doesn't mean this feeling isn't affecting us. Here's how it is:

1. Most of the guys here are older than the girls my age. Because we're the same age as guys are when they can go on missions, they are mostly gone or soon to be gone. Why is this an issue? It's because all the guys here are looking for a wife. Or have a wife.This makes dating stressful (not that I've been on a date) because we're just like, "I wanna be friends" and they're like "you could be my eternal companion!" Awkward.
2. There's this feeling that you could meet your future husband at any time. Suddenly, you are on the lookout for guys. Impressing them is a big deal. Even I, with my "a guy just passed us? He was cute?" attitude have noticed some guys. Big deal. This feeling just gets in your head and makes you over think everything and wonder about everyone you meet. 
3. My bishop is very pro-dating. He says we can call him if our home teachers don't teach us, or about anything, including if we don't get any dates. When I had an interview with him (after about two or three weeks of being here) he asked if I had gone on any dates. He was really surprised when I said no. He then told me of how he was going to get on the guys' backs (and how he already had) about them not dating "our girls". How can you not feel awkward when he talks like that? How does that not get in your head and screw you all up inside?
4. Single girls feel really weird. So weird and left out and awkward that my friends have devised a point system. If a guy (a friend or a date) walks you to the curb, you get a certain number of points. If a guy walks you onto the curb, you get more of a certain number of points. If he walks you all the way to the door/lock thingy, you get even more points! However, making out in front of the hale loses you points. PDA in general makes you lose points. I think this point system makes the lonely feel more involved. It lets them hear all the details and revel in someone else's love life.
5. "What race are you attracted to?" is probably a question only really heard here. This means you have to have a preference, you have to know said preference, and you have to let all your friends find you guys that match that preference. Whether it be Asian, Polynesian, Caucasian, African, whatever, there's someone here for you. And don't worry, all your friends will conspire together to get that guy for you. Because that's the BYUH way.

So that's how the BYUH atmosphere is messing with my head.

On another note . . .

Trouble has struck my roommate. Her grandfather was sent to the ICU. The Lord, for some reason, sent us both to BYU-Hawaii. He sent us to be roommates. We were both together when she got the call in the cafeteria having dinner. I, being an idiot, was talking joyfully to some other people when her mom called. She had to ask me to talk to her for me to listen. As we were walking back to the hale she told me.We got a lot of weird looks as she cried  as we walked. Through the Holy Ghost I was able to tell her what she needed to hear. God put us together for some reason. Maybe it was just for this moment. Maybe it was for things yet to come. God knows every one of us and He cares for every one of us. He put our lives in motion so that we could come together right now. It was a delicate procedure, but He did it because she needed someone right then, and I would be there right then. I know God lives. I know that there is life after death and that everyone will have the opportunity to learn the gospel and to accept it. I can't claim to understand God's plan for me or anyone else on this earth, but He has a plan, people die at certain times for a reason. Trials come for a reason. Sometimes, like in my roommate's case, they come all at once, sometimes they come slowly and last for a long time. You can overcome with the Lord's help. He knows your sorrows, He knows your pains. Lean on Him.


Melissa