OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Here we mourn the passing of another of our fish friends.

Upon autopsy we discovered that there were three half white half orange fish, and so we used simple deduction to reveal the name of our beloved fish who passed away on December 18, 2009 between 12:00 and 9:00 am.

The official statement is that the identity of the dead fish is Mike, and the fish present in the bowl with him --to ease the passing-- was indeed Brandon.

We all mourn the loss of yet another fish, but hope that he is much loved in his afterlife with the company of Dead Tim, and Dead Phil.

We will miss you Mike.

All Drains Lead to the Ocean

Ok, who was watching Finding Nemo at the apartment? Because somehow our fish got a misconception about freedom...

Here's the story as told by my mother:

I was just washing a few dishes and wandering the counter when I hear this faint PLOP and a wriggling sound. One of your disgusting fish had jumped out of the bowl and was flopping around on my cutting board!!! I screamed, a little, and my first thought was, "Taylor isn't home!" So I put on a brave face and ran to get the fish net in the other room. I tried to scoop him up, but I don't think he liked that very much because he kept flipping away from me and it creeped me out! So I yelled for McKenzie to come help me and we finally fanagled him into the bowl using the fish net and a spoon. I am never touching those fish again.

So, apparently we have some escape artists in our little bowl! He hasn't died, which suprises me, but we are down to three still. I'm going to make a statement that Mike was the last one that died, and David, with half a fin, is still living, with Ryan and Brandon as company. Brandon was the one that escaped, so here is my conjecture about what was going through that tiny fish brain:

Brandon (the fish): Golly gee whiz! I am so bored of this tiny fish bowl! And I have to share it with three again! I was used to my own space, but now... grr. Hey! Lets have a race! First one across the bowl wins! Fine, I'll do it myself...I win...man this sucks... Hey! That was cool! What did I do with my tail? I just flipped it like this and it shot me across the bowl! Let's do that again! Hey Ryan look at me! Ouch?! What was that for? Fine, I'll get out of your way...I wonder....AHHH! I can't breathe! How did I get out here! Maybe if I keep doing it I'll get back in the bowl! Ah! Scary lady! She's got the NET! SWIM! I can't! Ah! Ah! Oooh, she hates it when I flip! Keep doing it! Stay alive man, stay alive! Ah! Who's that other one? STOP TOUCHING ME WITH THE NET OF DEATH! Ooh!? Spoon? That's cold! Swim, swim, swim, swim, swim...ouch. Glass, water, breathe, bowl....fhew. 

That...was awesome. Let's do it again.

My mom called it a suicide mission, which is partially true. If he does that again I think he'll end up down a drain, and he won't find the Ocean.

Decking the Hall

Twas the day after Thanksgiving and all through our dorm,
the smells of Christmas started to swarm.

It started with the Tree, a sad, lonely sight,
but grew with the tape, glue and paper so bright.

We dressed the tree in paperclips and color,
and filled the room leftover clutter.

Cotton was added to look like snow,
And Kelsie named the finishing hero.

Each of us fixed our sad little tree,
And made it so bright and so happy!

Next was the Hall, so sad and gloomy,
We spruced it up and made it look snowy!

Snowflakes were cut and hung with care,
lining the hall, so tall people beware!

Mike made his heart, and Tim made a cube,
I tried zebra, but it turned out skewed.

Jessica made Africa, Mexico and France,
And Michael Buble made everyone dance!

We turned up the carols and all sang along,
And finally felt like Christmas belonged.

"Official" Aggie

There must be a way to show my Aggie pride without kissing anybody or... going "Ultimate."

So I decided to make up a new Aggie status.

True Aggie: Kissing someone on the A on homecoming, or on every full moon as long as your partner is already a True Aggie, and then signing this little card and carrying evidence with you everywhere that you are in fact a "True Aggie"... blah, blah, blah...

Ultimate Aggie: ask me later.

AND

Official Aggie: attending an Aggie Football game in which you know that you are going to be trampled, go anyway, and have an absolute blast!

So, friends, I am an Official Aggie.

We played Boise State which is ranked 6th, and we knew that there was absolutely no hope for our little school, but we have so much fun! The crowd positively erupts when a good pass is made, and there is singing and laughing and cheering! Much better than the NFL for the experience. I love my Aggies.

d. r. a. g. g. i. n. g.

Why can't this semester just end? I've been through enough pain and torture. Really. Four more weeks of studying? I can't take it anymore!

Thanksgiving Break needs to come NOW. Dangit.

I have this awful pit in the bottom of my stomach, and I'm not sure if it is dread from the oncoming torrent of finals, the thought that I still have SO MUCH TO DO, or if it's the fact that whatever I ate last came from a box...

Most likely answer:
D) All of the above.

Winding Down...

Guess what? Thanksgiving is in two weeks! And after that we have dead week, and after that we have finals week. In less than a month this semester is over!!! How wonderful is this news? AND, because USU is the best school, we get an entire month off for Christmas Break! I can go home on Dec. 10th and I have to be back here Jan. 11th! I think, I just might survive this last stretch. I'll need a lot of Disney movies and ice cream, but I think I can do it...

And in this CRAZY life!

Let's be frank. I learned how to swallow pills at 18, exactly 2 weeks before I moved out. I don't like medicine, and I rarely, rarely take it. Literally.

I want to become a pharmacist.

Is something seriously wrong with me? I think so.

I've been having this huge dilemma about what to do for the rest of my life, and I feel so inadequate. I feel like a kid drowning in a sea of grown up decisions and being expected to make the right one to stay afloat. Should I go to UofU or Idaho State? Should I take anatomy over the summer? Am I even cut out for anatomy? Am I going to be eaten alive by school? How in the world am I going to make it into the UofU program? It's 2nd in the nation!!! Why me? Can't I stay in my little wonderful corner of the world forever? I don't want to restrict myself, and I (like a freak) love Chemistry! Is that too much? Will someone just tell me how I'm supposed to live my life?!

I've been praying, and getting answers. Mostly I just made a decision, and it doesn't feel wrong, so I'm going to stick with it. So I'm going to apply to the PharmD program and the U. And (try) not be crushed when I get turned down the first time. Life is hard.

I'm registering for classes now (only 23 more minutes) and I'm so scared that it's not going to work out. In order to get my prerequisites done in two years I have everything planned to exactness, including a summer semester at BYU for anatomy. (And I'll be taking it with my mom, how cool/weird is that?) So I'm just waiting for some disaster to occur...

Life is complicated. I don't like this pretending to be grown up thing...

Coney Island

Some of you, like me, love this musical called Phantom of the Opera. Would you believe me if I said they are making a sequel?

No lie! Love Never Dies is a musical coming to broadway in March and it is a sequel to Phantom of the Opera! It takes place in Coney Island 10 years later, and the Phantom is still in love.

Here is the official website: http://www.loveneverdies.com/

This is one song from the play that was performed at the press release, and it is the most beautiful song I have ever heard! I've listened to it at least 10 times already...

So click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OguIyQ1UobI

Isn't it gorgeous? I must admit that I was very skeptical at first, and still am, but even if the play isn't that good, the music is already amazing, so I am in!

What do you think?

Time?

Too much time on my hands?

I think so.

I need to find something to do. Any suggestions?

Taylor is bored.

Smile :)

I saw the most adorable lady today. She was the wife of our Stake Patriarch and was sitting on the stage during our Missionary Dedication meeting. She sat there the whole time and smiled. Usually when people are sitting there relaxed and listening intently, they have a stony face and don't look happy. Inside they are just thoughtful, but they have no expression. Everyone else looked like that, but she smiled. No, she radiated. I looked at her and couldn't help feeling all bubbly inside and smiling myself.

Someday I'll be an old lady like that. Smile all the time, even when no one is watching.

At 6:00 we went to the CES Fireside where Sister Elaine S. Dalton spoke, and it was an amazing talk about the youth of the church leading the world in a return to virtue. She talked about smiles. She said that when you smile you can feel God's love more and know that he loves you. Even smiling for no reason, or just fake smiling inspires a happy feeling inside of me. Try it. Just smile, and you feel instantly happy!

I love smiles. They are contagious, so spread them around!

Reams

Beep
Beep
Beep
...
...
Ok, it's $14.57! (As cheerfully as I can muster)
Thank you,...
Have a good day!

*terrible 60's music*
...
...
...
Beep
Beep
Beep
Do you want a bag?
Ok, $11.53
Thank you,...
Have a great day!
...
...
...
This, my friends, is life.

I FOUND THE FORKS!!!

During the past couple weeks I've done some major shopping, and I'm feeling so much better. I've found a couple forks so I wont be eating with my hands, and I even have a pot for cooking ramen noodles! I think I'll survive now! Part of my panic has come from the fact that I am leaving on August 4 to go on a trip and I'll come home on August 19. School starts one week later, and I will have barely enough time to work up the courage for goodbyes and pack all my junk into a thimble. So I have to be completely ready to go before I leave. That's about one month. The only essentials that I am missing are sheets and towels. The rest I am sick of worrying about and will figure out once the 6 of us pool everything together. :) So I'm feeling better.

But are you ever completely ready? Ready to let go of everything and start something all by yourself? I could be further away, and I could know absolutely no one. But I'm still 2 1/2 hours away and I know virtually no one. That's lame. But my roomates sound amazing, and I have maybe 3 friends going. I hope and pray that I am outgoing enough to make new friends and make it fun. I'm such a worry wart.

Utah State University

PACKING LIST:
Family Photo. Check.
Email addresses. Check.
Going Away Party. In progress...
Cell phone. Check.
Computer. Check.
Fork. Somewhere...
Cup. Next to the fork...
Really Comfy Pillow. Check.
Tissues. Check.
Free Calls Home. Check.
Everything Else. MIA

Does everyone have this problem? I feel completely and utterly unprepared and underqualified to live all by myself. I have a computer, a rice cooker, and pretty much nothing else. I'll get signed up for classes ok, I'm starting to know my roomates, but I don't have any supplies for living, and I don't have any money. Does this happen to everyone? And lucky me, I am 2 1/2 hours away from family and free laundry. I'm feeling a little scared.

For the sake of writing...

I haven't blogged in a really really long time. :) But there is nothing interesting enough in my life to talk about. Not that anyone would want to hear anyway... :) So we move to plan B. More quotes! I'll think of something philisophical later this week. :) These are the best from dear Dr. Seuss:

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams..

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!

All alone!Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot

I'm afraid sometimes you'll play lonely games too, games you can't winbecause you'll play against you.

I'm sorry to sayso but, sadly it's true, that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.

You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?

Obsession

I love quotes, a lot. :) And I just felt like diving into one of my folders and finding my favorites. These are my favorite from Winnie the Pooh, so I hope someone finds a little enjoyment out of them. :)

It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.
"So it is."
"And freezing."
"Is it?"
"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

"It's not very pleasent in my corner of the world at three o'clock in the morning. But for people who like cold, wet, ugly bits it is something rather special." -Eeyore

Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon. -Winnie the Pooh

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you sometimes find that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside of you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it. -A. A. Milne

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. " I just wanted to be sure of you."

It is more fun to talk to someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - Christopher Robin

Conqueror

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to sing, but I am absolutlely terrified of singing in front of people. I do it all the time at home, but it even took me a while to sing in front of the dear, sweet Cox's. :) Amy is perfectly amazing and that was part of it, but I truly hate singing in front of people.

So of course, without fail, I was assigned the lovely chore of singing for sacrament meeting this week. :) It was a song I already knew, which definately helped, and I was just singing the melody with Cassie, so in theory, it wasn't hard at all. The part that scared me the most, was that I knew I should be scared and have really bad butterflies, but they didn't come. I woke up this morning and had a sinking feeling of, "Oh no! It's today!" But I turned over and slept for a little longer before we met at the church for one more practice. The butterflies still didn't come, and I was frightened, because that only means that they are going to be ten times worse when they do come.

I was strangely calm the entire meeting, and I kept telling myself that I should be scared, but I wasn't. Once Sis. Munson finished speaking it was our turn, and I took a deep breath and walked up. The walk is always scary, and I had the beginning of butterflies then, but we stood there, and I looked out, and all I could see were people that loved me. They didn't care if I messed up, they probably wouldn't notice anyway. They all loved me. The beginning was a little shaky, but I did it. And the strangest thing of all, I didn't get any butterflies whatsoever. None. In the beginning I was scared, but I was singing to people I loved. I'm not sure I fully understood that everyone was listening to me, but it didn't matter. I was perfectly calm.

Today will go down in history as the day that Taylor Anderson conquered her fear of singing. I'm not afraid. Not a bit! It makes me so happy! I did it. I'm not amazing, and I'm sure I'll still get scared, but it's gone for now. :) I can do it!

I've found a bunch of scriptures that are related to fear, and I love them all, so I'm just going to list them here, but they're all amazing. :)
D&C 6:36
Deut. 31:6,8
Josh. 1:9
Dan. 10:19
2 Kings 6:16
Isa. 41:10

Creation

I did it. Krystal, I did. :P I now have a blog and I am cool like the rest of you. :) I'll try to keep it up, but I am announcing the genesis of Taylor Anderson's Blog.