Labor Day Week

Another college-ful weeks has gone by.

 

For Labor Day, Bear had to be in the city parade to represent the school through the baseball team. I went and watched him. And he didn't even notice me. Baha. Anyways, can you tell how pretty it is here just by the picture above? I keep meaning to take pictures of how gorgeous the Blue Ridge mountains are, but I keep forgetting my camera. There will be pictures soon, I promise. We went out to a Chinese place that supposedly had Japanese food, but...not really. It just reminded me why I hate Chinese food so much. And I feel like the only person on the planet who feels so. We watched Insidious that night. And I was scared out of my pants. Bear thought it was a stupid plot. But I kept seeing the demon and the old lady all night. 

 

It's nice to be in a family ward again. And to actually feel like we're not just visiting. To have lots of little kids in the ward, and lots of young, friendly married couples too...I feel better. The Relief Society presidency came to see me along with the Ward Mission Leader. This ward is on top of things. There was a fun Relief Society activity of getting to know each other. It was definitely a good idea. Now I get to take organ lessons from someone in the ward too! Oh, and another exciting thing: I get to be part of the Women's Society at the school because I'm married now! I feel quite big.

 

I'm settling into my major more. I was afraid that I would graduate in December 2013, but I just went to the Registrar and found out I'm right on track to graduate April 2013! 3 years instead of 3 1/2 or 4! So just 2 more years of school, and I don't even have to take summer classes! I'm quite excited. Taking 19 credits this semester paid off after all (even if most of the classes were just ones I wanted to take, and didn't have anything to do with my major). I just need to take 2-3 upper division History classes for the next 3 semesters, take a science class I was supposed to take as a Freshman, and take 2 more exercise classes, and 2 easy Music classes for my minor. I got to change advisors and everything. It feels so official now. 

 

We got invited over to some one's house for dinner from the ward this week. I had a lot of fun. Like I said, we have a friendly ward. I love it.

 

I'm not drowning in homework, mostly because I'm not working and my weekends are free. It gives me the chance to recuperate. I feel bad, because I feel like I should be making dinner every night, but that doesn't happen with all my classes and homework. But I'm working hard to cook on the weekends. And it makes me happy. I feel like I can actually cook now. I will post another good recipe for Curried Honey Mustard Chicken soon.

 

Me and Bear went to the opening night of SVU's The Wizard of Oz. They didn't change the script at all, but kept spoofing themselves. It was very clever and audiencewas laughing and having fun. The best part was, there were only 8 or 9 actors in the whole show. They were some crazy costume changes. It was definitely worth seeing. We have a talented theater program here.

 

I've started to workout a little this weekend, and my body is happy, even from that little bit. The world just needs to be rid of soda so that I'm not tempted. But I haven't had it in awhile, and I'm quite proud of myself. And I just realized that I've used the word "quite" too many times in this post.

 

We tried to go to the football game Saturday, but Bear slept too long. So we just went to downtown Lexington to go to the Museum of Military Memorabilia. It's run by a little old lady  whose British husband opened it. Her husband has passed away, but he served in WWII, and there were some very old things, including from the Revolutionary War. I love little old ladies that love history. Because that's exactly what I'm going to be like when I grow up. And I learned something new. Japanese families wrote prayers on a big piece of fabric, and the soldier would fold it up inside his uniform. When the soldier died, he was supposed to be wrapped in the flag (although it didn't really happen all the time). And there was an actual one at the museum. I'm a history nut. Gah. It was mostly British military items, but also lots of American, and some Asian and other European stuffs too.

 

Oh, and having Andrew and Brandy S. over for dinner and having a Ligretto/Ticket to Ride game with them completed my week. I hope yours was fun too.

Letters From Iwo Jima

Please watch this movie edited. It makes me happy. Actually, it makes me cry.

I love Japan. I miss it. A lot.

And I love Ken Watanabe. He's the Japanese Liam Neeson for me. I was so happy he was in Inception. I love his voice.

War movies usually aren't set in Japan and this one felt real for me. I want to go back to Japan someday. Like right now. I wish I didn't miss so many things...

Surprise Package

This is what I got in the mail from my cousin Stephen! He's on a mission in Japan, and will come home in September. We're the 2 oldest cousins on my mom's side of the family. He has always felt like a brother, and seriously looks like he is my brother. I didn't see him too much (growing up in Japan and all), but there's always been that connection. My heart broke when he left on his mission...I just broke down and cried. It was weird. Because I was proud of him going and stuff, and it's not like he died or anything haha I'm just a drama queen.

But I have been faithfully writing him letters. It is stinky that because I'm not his immediate family, I can't email him, and have to write snail mail which takes forever to get to Japan.

We were assigned to give each other Christmas presents this year, but it had to be something handmade or used. Well, I couldn't think of something used to send to a missionary, so I wrote him a letter. But to make it more special, I only bore my testimony and had all my friends do it with me. I never got his gift, and found out from this letter that then longer he's out, the busier he gets, and the last letter he was able to send was one for his dad's birthday back in October. And he's been working on my Christmas present this whole time. He says this isn't even the real deal - this was to say sorry and to give me something for Vday. I've been craving Japanese candy lately, and so I was SO happy to get a box full. And isn't the letter folded all cute? You can tell he's been in Japan haha.

I can't wait for my gift now!

I love missionaries. I want to be one someday.

Lexi misses Japan.



(photo from Okinawa Soba's flickr)

I just went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 for the second time. I saw it when I went to Utah, (because it came out first there), but I liked it so much I went and saw it again with my Japanese friends. It's so good!

Lately I've been so busy planning Girl's Camp (I'm the secretary)that I've had a meeting almost everyday. I don't think that we need that many meetings, but oh well. It's Japan. I've been gone so much since I've gotten back from Utah that my mom says it still feels like I'm in Utah. And I think it's true. Luckily Girl's Camp is on the 3-5th of August. So it will be over soon. I'm excited, because a lot of fun things have been planned, but it's been really tiring.

Back again!

I’m alive again! (JK) I just went to Utah. You guys knew that right? Well I’m back, after being there for a month. I stayed only with my family, but I got to get together with friends too! It was great to see the Cluffs and the Rodenbergs. I haven’t seen you guys forever! And when I came back, I got to see Yuli! And I hope I get together more than once while she’s here. I really wanted to get together with Courtney and Katie!

I’m working on a quilt right now. All the pieces are hexagons (6-sided pieces), and the pattern is called "Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt". I'm going to make this bed size, so I've still got a long way to go. I'll keep posting pictures of it as I go along!