Feedback and Other Stuff

Feedback on Last Week's Post

Since I don't have much to write about, I'll use these items as filler. There were only a couple, but that's a couple more than usual.

"Dang, I can't remember... Does [sic] your blog character McKenzie a pseudonym for Tyler, Rachel, or Christina?"

Yes. I did tell this person which it was, since he had already figured it out on his own and just forgotten, and honestly I think I probably never should have bothered with the pseudonym thing in the first place because no one cares what I write about them anyway.

"And I just read more of your blog- I have issues figuring out how to follow blogs so it always takes me forever to look it up...but anyway, congrats on getting the job!!! and I don't think your voice being monotone is a big issue in person because then people can see your facial expressions/how you actually feel more. And is dating really not talked about that much at USU? because it's everything here [at BYU]..."

1. Thank you. 2. Apparently very few people can see my facial expressions. I can count on one hand the people who have ever noticed when something is wrong, and in fairness add the couple of people who thought something was wrong when nothing was wrong. But in the past I have literally been fantasizing about suicide when someone came along and said "How are you?" and I said "Good" and they said "That's good" and went on their way. 3. Not having attended there myself, I don't want to make assertions outside the bounds of my knowledge, but it seems that BYU has a very "special" little subculture of Mormon culture. When I first watched "The Singles Ward" after three years in a singles ward, in Utah no less, I didn't think "This is so relatable" nearly as often as "Wow, Provo Mormons are freaks." With all due respect. I know we're all freaks to everyone else so we have to stick together.

Other Stuff

​Last night was the institute opening social, or anti-social in my case. After getting food I spent most of it at the jump, I mean "dance". I have written extensively about institute dances in the past, though I think it's been nearly a year, so you'll just have to look back through all the archives if you're super curious. Anyway, it was decent. "Hel-lo," I said to the giant speaker. "You sure are looking fine tonight, if I may say so. I'd like to take you home." I remained fixated on it for most of the time, which allowed me to draw off the energy of all the people without having to interact with them, and also kept them from feeling sorry for me and inviting me to join their circles. During one of the drink breaks, aka slow songs, I was leaving to get a drink when Micah, who was also leaving, said, "Ask a girl, Chris!" I said, "Ask a girl what?" I was just being facetious, because I actually knew what he meant, but I wasn't interested. Besides, he always tells me to do that and never does it himself, which is the biggest no-no of good leadership. After getting my drink I sat by the wall and pretended I had a bunch of text messages to look at.

Today we had a convert baptism at the Tabernacle. I don't know her at all, have never spoken to her in my life, but I went to be supportive and feel the Spirit and it was good. The refreshments were also good and I took a lot because for whatever reason a lot of people didn't bother to take any. I wish I had more to say about it but I really don't.

I am sharing this campaign ad because I find it hilarious. I am not telling you who to vote for. Vote for whoever you want, as long as it's not Hillary or Trump. Yay democracy! Of course, there may be a Canadian or two reading this who wouldn't be voting here anyway, but I know you're still watching our election closely because we're the most important country in the world.

Alan Silvestri - Blue Parrot

Alan Silvestri's score for "Back to the Future" sounds timeless. Then there are others, like "Romancing the Stone" or "No Mercy", that just scream "eighties". It's as if he knew the movies themselves wouldn't be nearly as enduring so he didn't bother with the effort of writing scores that would be - and maybe that, in turn, made them self-fulfilling prophecies where it was all his fault. But eighties isn't necessarily a bad thing. This track from "No Mercy" is a gem, and if they ever let me choose the music for an institute dance I would include it, though it would be kind of difficult to jump to.