This post is not Scott-approved, however...

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I am ready for fall.

Sweaters.

Actual night - not 6 pm night, but 8:30 pm night.

Wearing beanies.

Cider.

Pumpkin products. Everywhere. All day, every day.

This is possibly my last fall. Do you know how sad that is? Next year we could be ANYWHERE.

A Short and Sweet Guide to Bus Etiquette

I am quickly becoming one of the world's leading authorities on the UTA transportation system. I spend more time on it than normal people. I know pretty much every possible way to get from Salt Lake to Provo, and several other places besides. As I've developed this expertise, I have learned a few things that are are bus appropriate and a few things that are not. So, if you ever intend to ride UTA, I hope you choose to subscribe to these simple rules.

1. Do not cross the seat line. This is not a difficult concept. You have been allotted twelve inches of space to sit, and I have been allotted twelve inches of space. You are not allowed to encroach upon my twelve inches, leaving me with only eight inches. This includes your elbows and your bags.

2. If there are multiple seats open in the bus, do not sit next to a person with a very large bag. While they will probably be forced to put it in front of them at some point, leaving them with no leg room and forcing them to contort their body into all sorts of unimaginable positions in order to fit in the allotted twelve inches of space, it is nice to keep that seat open as long as possible. Go sit by the person who only has an ipod.

3. Do not fall asleep on another person, unless this person is your significant other.

4. Do not smoke on the bus.

5. Do bathe before you ride the bus. If you slept in and had to run for it and didn't have time to bathe, put on some cologne. Or deodorant. Or clean clothes.

6. It is appropriate to make polite conversation, but if you see your seat partner is studying, sleeping, or otherwise engaged, keep your remarks succinct.

7. If you are forced to stand on the bus, do not rest your elbow in the near vicinity of a seated person's head, as you will jiggle multiple times and give the seated person a minor concussion.

8. Do not board the bus until everyone else has exited the bus.

9. Greet the bus driver when you board. Thank the bus driver when you get off.

10. If circumstances require you to take a call, keep your voice soft. We don't all want to hear your conversation.

Any questions?

Temple in Versailles!

When I went to France three years ago, I had the opportunity to hear President Uchtdorf speak in a meetinghouse in Versailles about what the French members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints needed to do to receive the blessings of a temple in France. I had never been so close to a General Authority and the talk was a very special and sacred experience.

You can imagine why I was very excited to receive a text from Scott this morning saying that the Church is probably building a temple in France. The official statement is here.

Plan for the Rome, Italy temple

A temple is also being built in Rome, Italy - the first temple built in Italy, where Scott served his mission. Travel is a big goal and interest for Scott and I, and we have already planned on going to the Rome temple, although we haven't yet figured out exactly how or when we will have the opportunity to go. Now "my" country will have a temple as well, and I couldn't be more excited! The members in Versailles are such good people and welcomed us with open arms. Despite the language barrier, the Spirit was very strong in their ward and I had a lot of spiritual growth there. I am so excited for them - now they will have a temple in their backyard. I can't wait to see what it will look like! The Church is true! :-D

Perfection My Way

I just got an 89 on a test. A test that I made 638 flashcards for, read over 10 textbook chapters, and had to memorize multiple drugs with similar sounding names and adverse effects. A test for which I only spent two days studying. So I should be happy, right?

But I'm not - I'm disappointed, for two snarky little reasons: Comparison and Perfectionism.

This made me think - first of all, why do I feel bad if I score a few points lower on a test than a few of my classmates? Classmates, I might add, who don't travel almost four hours a day just to get to and from school. Second of all, all I have to do to become a nurse is pass. (In my program, a passing grade is C or higher). Obviously, I should be doing my best, but why should I beat myself up when my best is not a 100%?

I'm not sure how to combat these two little companions that follow me around almost all of the time. I think part of this is conditioning - when I am a perfectionist, when I push myself to be the best, I usually meet with at least some degree of success. I might not get the top score in the class, but I usually do well. I feel like I am praised for accomplishing a lot. This makes me want to keep up the cycle, even when I am ready to pull my hair out because I just want to stop. I feel like there has to be a balance somewhere, but the mere hint of slowing down is descried as blasphemous. You mean you want to be a slacker? You want to slow down?

I think this is a flaw in our cultural mindset (both as Americans and, for me, as an LDS woman). America is all about capitalism, and capitalism is all about competition. This is a positive thing in the business world, but I'm not so sure about day to day life. It isn't worth only getting five hours of sleep a night to have the best grades - I know this in my mind, but for some reason it doesn't translate to my behavior. In the LDS culture (not the religion, the doctrine, but the culture) women have to be good at everything. We have to bake our meals from scratch, and have spiritual experiences every day, and have perfectly behaved children and scrubbed homes. We have to be thin and have perfectly balanced diets, but can still eat the refreshments offered at every single social occasion. We need to be volunteering (prominently, of course), attending the temple, organizing social events, and still managing to be home when the kids get off the bus.

However, I'm pretty sure when the Lord said "be ye therefore perfect," he wasn't referring to home decor or report cards. He was referring to the commandments, right? We are supposed to be perfect in obedience, perfect in not lying or committing adultery or being uncharitable to our neighbor. There is more to this than avoiding bad behavior, but much less to it than living up to those Anthropologie-model-mommy-blogs we all love to read so much.

In my life my worry about what others think has decreased significantly. It still has quite a ways to go, but I think this weekend I am going to stop trying so hard. Guess what - I came to school today with unwashed hair and a shirt that wasn't the most flattering because I didn't want to turn the light on and wake up my husband while I searched for a better one. The girls behind me were perfectly made up in their designer clothes, but they didn't have to get on the bus at 5:41 this morning. Guess what - I am going to spend the bus ride reading a book instead of my textbook, because all I've done for the last few days is read flashcards. I'm still going to be behind, but I can't do more than I can do.