A Favorite Photo

I know I have posted this photo before, but I love it. The prompt I looked at suggested posting a great photo I have taken. I don't know if this is great as far as the art of photography goes, but this is such a happy picture! I mean, look at that expression. Look at those beautiful eyes and those cute bottom teeth! This is for sure one of my favorite pictures that I have taken.

The David

Today's topic is a beautiful piece of art. The David is what came to my mind first. I have never seen it in person, but it is absolutely beautiful even without being in Italy to look at it. Michelangelo was definitely blessed with a lot of talent, and I'm glad we are able to appreciate many of his art pieces today. The body truly is amazing, and I think The David captures that. What piece of art would you add to my post?

Not Standing Up

Tonight I did something for which I am totally ashamed. I didn't stand up to the Mormons. I have always felt, I think, that it was easier to stand up to those not of my faith because they were always so respectful of things that were "against my religion." When people who have the same beliefs as you want to do something you are not comfortable with, however, it seems a little harder to me because I don't want them to think I am self-righteous or that I think I am better than them, etc.

I am 29 years old, though, so I think I should be able to live my life the way I feel I should without giving in to peer pressure. Tonight I gave in. We didn't do anything illegal, we didn't hurt anyone. It could have be so much worse; but I could have been so much better. I feel even worse because I am a teacher; I shudder to think of any of my students finding out. Teachers are some of those people who should be above reproach, I think. I was not a good example tonight, and in not standing up and being a good example - in being passive - I acted as a bad example.

Pet Peeves

• Not leaving the door to a room I am in the way you found it. I HATE that. If I am in a room with the door closed, that's probably the way I want it. Likewise, if I am in a room with the door opened, that it also probably the way I want it at the moment. Lately, I seem to have many opportunities to overcome this, as there is a door between my classroom and the neighbor teacher's classroom that keeps getting opened and left that way. It's not to be born, I tell you!!
• Toilet paper roll upside down. One of my mission companions used to leave it that way, and I didn't want to be a jerk, so I decided to compliment her when she left it right side up. When I did that, she called me on it, but it all worked out okay for us from then on. (By the way, her thing was ticking clocks - she moved it/them out of our sleeping area and into the other room.)
• Open cupboards and drawers - please close them.
• Incorrect grammar or word-usage, like your and you're.
• I have some more, but I will refrain.

Nablopomo - Year 2

Well, friends, today begins another November of Nablopomo (National Blog Posting Month) for me. You can actually participate any month, but November is when it all started, I believe, so here I go. I found a list of things to blog about from another blog (hurrah for Google!), and I think I will mostly use that for my posting prompts. I will be posting everyday this month as long as I don't forget. I am also trying Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) again. I won Nablopomo last year; I failed Nanowrimo. I'm hoping for two wins this year. Actually, I'm hoping for three wins, but the third is my own more private goal. So, wish me luck, please, especially with the third, unnamed goal - it is the most important one, and have a terrific month yourself!

Mediocre Books

Do you ever start reading a book knowing that it will be mediocre at best? And then do you ever think about how it's really a waste of your time, and you could be reading/doing something so much better? If you are one of those people, do you put the book down and move on, or do you STILL WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING? Uggh! That would be my current situation, of course. Besides wasting some of my time reading a silly book, I also spent time last week visiting friends and relatives. Hurray for Fall Break! Hurray for spending it somewhere where fall actually exists and leaves change colors. I don't think I have been around changing colors for awhile. Too bad my grandmother doesn't have a big tree with lots of leaves in her yard because the one thing I didn't get to do was stomp on crunchy fallen leaves. I did have a pretty nice week, though. Any ideas for Halloween costumes?

Birthday #29

I just had my 29th birthday on Friday. Whoa. I guess I really am kind of old. I spent it at Disneyland, though, which is a place for the young at heart, I would say. More to come on that. I also visited relatives and family over the weekend, which was nice. My mom made my traditional birthday cake - German chocolate - which was quite yummy! Thanks, Mom. We celebrated today. Then, when I got back to my place tonight, one of my roommates had invited a few friends over, and she and one of the guys had made quite the delectable cake, as well. Thanks, Roommate! How nice to be loved by many.