awk-ward

Yesterday, I wanted to get my hair cut. It turned out to be a surprisingly awkward experience.

After work I drove over to the little place where I usually get it cut. I walked in and there were two haircutters (stylists? umm...yeah) on staff at the moment, and one was already cutting someone else's hair. The other girl was sitting on one of the chairs texting. She looked up at me as I came in as if I was some sort of annoyance. Awkward moment number one. Then she came over and unenthusiastically "welcomed" me and ushered me back to one of the chairs. I proceeded to tell her what I wanted to do with my hair, explaining that I had a "love-hate relationship" with my bangs; that some days they looked cute and other days I wished they didn't exist. She looked at me blankly; then, as understanding dawned, she said, "So...some days you love them and some days you hate them." Awkward moment number two. Yes, that is what love-hate relationship means.

When it became obvious that I was not going to be able to have an on-going conversation with this woman, I tuned into the conversation betwen the other stylist and the man whose hair she was cutting. She was explaining that she and her husband had met over match.com, and the man seemed unduly surprised by this. Indeed, he began yelling, "You met on match.com?! I've never heard of that before! I thought it didn't really work! There must be something wrong with me!" Awkward moment number three. Actually, awkward moment number three turned into awkward-sequence-of-conversation-number-three as the man proclaimed his astonishment for the next 20 or so minutes. Yeah. That'll teach me to eavesdrop. Not that I really had the choice to not hear what he was saying.

I suppose awkard moment number four would be when the woman who was cutting my hair said, "I think I'm going to part your hair over a little farther just to see what's going on with your bangs, then I'll put it back." Okay. Then she said, "I think I like it better over there." Totally open to suggestions, I said, "Oh yeah, why's that?" I didn't think this was a strange question--I was just curious as to why she liked it better that way, but she just gave me another blank look and that was that. My part stayed further over on my head.

I've never really thought about this in-depth before, but since yesterday, I have come to realize that good communication between myself and my hair stylist is very important. Or any communication at all. That would be nice, too.

Fifth and final awkward moment. I walked out to my car after getting my haircut, and my truck wouldn't start. This is actually a very common occurance, so I wasn't at all surprised, and I know a few tricks that usually work to make it start. I tried the first few, and, not succeeding, moved on to my last resort. This involves (as strange as this sounds, it really does work) pushing the entire truck back and forth in quick succession. I was in the process of doing this when a mother and her teenage son got out of their car and walked quickly away from me, their eyes darting back and forth from their destination to me with just a hint of fear. Yeah, I know I might have looked crazy, but come on, people. Fear? Flies aren't even scared of me. I am not an intimidating person.

Needless to say, I am glad it will be another six weeks before I get my hair cut again.

helpful hints

As one of my assignments at work, I had to look through an old book called "The Bride Guide" to see if I could find any helpful hints for one of the many events we plan daily. Although there were no helpful hints to be found for any of the kinds of events we plan, there were some interesting facts I had not been previously aware of.

Case in point. Under the origins of traditions section, these were some of my favorites:

• Rings date back to a time when cavemen tied braided grass circlets around the bride's wrists and ankles to keep her from escaping. Later, rings were made of leather, carved stone and crude metal.

This made me laugh way longer than it should have.

• The best man and ushers were originally burly friends who helped capture the bride-to-be. Suitors often had to fend off overprotective brothers or other suitors. It made sense to bring along the best man for the job.

I'm imagining cave men here.

• Old shoes used to be thrown at the bride by her father to signify he was giving her to the groom. The shoe was a symbol of possession and authority in the good old barefoot days. Another version says they were thrown at the groom as he kidnapped his bride.

Either way...

Nothing says romance like tying the bride up with grass and kidnapping her or pelting her with shoes.

There have been approximately 32 engagements in my ward since March. I am definitely recommending this book to anyone who asks.

matt's mission

Elder Loper has hereby been called to the Massachusetts Boston mission, Haitian Creole speaking.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I originally wrote a very lengthy blog based on Matt's mission call. Then I realized...people probably don't want to read a long blog about what I was feeling when Matt opened his call. Suffice it to say...I can't remember ever being more excited about anything. And now that the shock has worn off for Matt...I'm not sure he's ever been more excited about anything.

The upcoming months are going to be some of the most difficult he has ever experienced, I believe. But I feel confident that they will also be some of the most rewarding, the most exciting, and the most spiritual of his life. They will be months (and years) that he will never forget for the rest of his life. He will reflect on them every day as his love for the people and for the Lord grows greater than he ever thought it could.

I am so proud of Matt, his life, and his decisions, and I support him with my whole heart. :)

secretly blonde

Yesterday, I was working on an event for my job. One of my tasks was to tape up a sign that gave directions to our event on a glass door. I had been rushed all day to complete my assorted tasks, and I was already mildly frustrated as I took the sign and some masking tape outside to tape it up. I held the sign and pulled some of the tape from off the roll, cut it, and exhaled loudly as the wind suddenly picked up speed and tape stuck to the front of the sign. My first reaction was to pull the tape right off the sign, which of course took off some of the lettering of the sign as well. I growled inwardly. Again I cut some more tape off the roll in an effort to tape up this sign. And once again, the wind blew with perfect timing and tape stuck to the front of the sign. This time, however, I restrained myself from pulling it off the sign, but instead left it, which still looked pretty silly considering the new shiny, diagonal streak that ran across the front of the sign. Finally, after several very frustrating minutes, I had taped up the sign to the door.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that I realized....

....it was a glass door.

I could have taped it on the inside.

*I think someone dyes my hair brown while I sleep.*

the "oh yeah?" factor

Most of the time, I don't do things to prove anything to anybody. I do most things solely to prove to myself that I can do them.

Every once in a while, however, I do something partially because someone told me I couldn't do it. That the odds were against me.

Oh yeah? Watch me.

arizona

I love sitting in the sun! This weather is perfect.

When I get out of class and have a few minutes to kill, I always grab a good book and find a quiet place to read. Outside, of course. Or, if Matt is out of class at the same time, I sit with him in the sun (which is even more preferable than reading a book!).

Arizona is the best state in the United States. No arguments.

Also, I have the best boyfriend in the world. No arguments.

happy day

Matt is going on a mission. This summer. And I could not be prouder. :) I love him!