He is Risen:

Happy Easter! The most important and yet the least celebrated religious holiday of the year.

My life in five years:

Age: 25
Location: Upper West Side or Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City.
Marital Status: Single and dating.
Place of Employment: Church Office of Foreign and International Affairs, CIA, the United Nations, CFR, or some equally important job that involves being cool and working in IR.
Pets: Cat with human name, like George or Martin.
Friends: All smart, successful, and interesting.
Apartment: Small, but nice with roommates.
Car: none!
Fitness level: Excellent, from walking everywhere and jogging in Central Park.
Fashion level: 10
Good habits: Going to lots of shows, art exhibits, museums, concerts, plays, etc.
Bad habits: Buying too many designer shoes that I can't afford.
Current goal: Saving for another trip to Europe.

Panc Update:

For those who would like to know, my pesky little pancreatic tumor is still alive and thriving. The tumor is benign and very small right now, but will inevitably turn malignant. One day, probably in my 30s or 40s, it will either spread to my other organs, most likely the liver, and cause problems; or it will grow to a massive size, cause excruciating pain, and cut off the pancreatic bile duct; or turn cancerous. Bottom line, it needs to come out soon before any of this can happen. So, I need surgery. Wait... what? Isn't that why I came home in the first place? Didn't I already decide not to put it off, but be safe and have the surgery as soon as possible? Didn't I come home to get it out and never have to worry about it ever again? Ha. I guess I could give up more school and plan the surgery for this spring... except that there is no way in Hades my sanity could survive another 3-4 months at home. Luckily, the tumor isn't likely to make any progress for awhile. My doctor is comfortable with waiting and watching it for another year to a year and a half, but no more. Therefore, the agreed plan of is:

1) In six months, this August, have another EUS (in other words, take a looksie at the ol' tumor.) If it has grown or changed significantly, plan the surgery for the fall. (please, no)
2) If it hasn't grown or changed significantly (more likely outcome), in another six months, February/April 2013, have another EUS. If tumor is still there and looking menacing, then plan the surgery for later that year, AFTER I GRADUATE.
3) If anything changes in the meantime, like increased pain or symptoms, I need to declare a state of emergency and go to the hospital.

To conclude,

The bad news is:
1) I still need surgery.
2) I gave up a semester at school for nothing. I basically just wasted 3 months at home when I could have been having the stupid tumor scooped out.
3) Everything could still change.
4) I get to have at least two more EUSes! It's not like they make my panc hurt for two days or anything.
5) I may not be able to ever go on a mission.

The good news is:
1) Uhhh... I get to wait until after I graduate to have surgery?
2) At least I know about the tumor and I won't die from pancreatic cancer at 45.

Weekly Thoughts:

1. Winter coats are going on sale now. Must.not.buy.every.single.one.
2. Of Montreal concert on Saturday was so great. They have a flute in their band. Why did I give up playing the flute? Better question: why did I never try? It seems so so cool now.
3. Either Seattle loves me or BYU hates me.
4. Purchased a coat for $20, originally $110. Win.
5. I know what my post graduation plans are now. Or at least one aspect to the plan.
6. I think I have given up every artistic thing I have ever done.
7. Three weeks!

Apparently I'm a Man-Eater:

Me: Hey, can I go to this concert with a guy I met in Seattle on Saturday?
Mom: Yes, that's fine as long as you're nice.
Me: What? I am always nice to you!
Mom: Not me. Be nice to the boy.
Me: Are you saying I'm not nice to boys?
Dad: We know you're not nice to boys. Why do you think you they don't ask you out?
Mom: Well... we are a little concerned.

Oh, great. I'm a meanie.

Mid-Winter of Discontent Evaluation:

Number of weeks until departing for Utah: 5 (yes!)
Number of pounds gained while home: 4 (eh... could be worse)
Number of thoughts of self-pity while being home: 15,000 (very bad)
Number of times felt lucky to escape Provo and therefore learn truth about certain friends and have opportunity to reevaluate my life: 233 (good!)
Number of days since last shaving my legs: 16 (excellent)
Number of books read: 12 (not great)
Number of TV shows watched: Too gross to admit. (sickening)
Number of positive thoughts: -63 (bad!)
Number of terms/semesters to go at BYU: 4 (excited)
Number of things to look forward to: 8,000,000 (very excited)

Ben Whishaw:

How can one man have such great hair?

It must be fake.

Things I Am Thinking About Today:

1. My first impressions of people are usually right. Sometimes down the road, I deceive myself and convince my excellent judge of character that, for better or for worse, I'm wrong. But then the truth comes out and I learn that they are just who I first made them out to be.
2. You're a douche. 3. Emily Whittle is the love of my life.
4. I am probably going to die alone.
5. I'm really not very funny. Only I am. To myself.
6. I don't believe much in second chances. Except that I give them.
7. Only six more weeks of hell being at home!
8. Kroll.

When the WB Still Existed:

I've been re-watching Smallville season one the past week. I know, I'm awesome. You don't have to remind me. It was so innocent and whimsical in the beginning! I had forgotten. I don't know where it ended up because I stopped watching around season three, although it looked like it got pretty dark and weird. But, oh! Smallville in the beginning. So cute.

Now all I want to do is pretend I'm nine years-old again and watch Gilmore Girls too! Ahhh, early 2000s teen dramas. Nothing is better than Dido and Three Doors Down soundtracks, flare jeans with gaudy belts, and minimal use of cell phones. Oh and then two years later, The OC comes on the scene. Here's to living in the past.