Hair Loss

<At the hair salon>
Me: I have pretty thick hair.
Hair stylist: Yes, it really is. <after cutting for a while> Wow, you could REALLY get lost in a head of hair like this.
<she pulls out a bobby pin>
Me: <sheepishly> Oh yeah, I put that in a few days ago.  Oops.


<Sitting at the table with my head in my hands>
Friend: Regretting your haircut?
Me: No.... Should I be?

Potluck

Me: Is that my rice cooker?
Ward Member: No, sorry, it's mine.
Me: Oh, yep.  I can see that now.  I wonder where my rice cooker went.
Ward Member: Maybe your husband picked it up.
Me: That would be awkward, seeing as I don't have a husband.
Ward Member: Oh, sorry.

Running

I always gets the most compliments on my hair post-run and post-shower.

It's an unexpected side effect of running.

But I'll take it.

Actions Speak

At the start of the school year, my roommate and I made two new friends.  Except, with one, we felt that we had chosen him.  He never said much.  My roommate and I wondered if he even liked us.

Last night, my roommate came out into the living room where this friend and I were studying.  She had gone to bed earlier but due to stress from her job, couldn't sleep, "I'm kind of having a panic attack."  

Our friend went and got some scotcheroos he had made the night before, and we sat with her until she was calm.  He still didn't say much.  

As it turns out, when it comes to being a friend, words are optional.  

Reality Check

Friend: Erin, you think everyone is awesome.  You see a homeless man on the street and say, "Wow, that person is so amazing.  I wish I was just like him!"  

Do I really do this?  

Is that bad?

Dinner, Jerk?

Me: Do you want some bibimbap?
Daniel: What did you just call me?  Bimbo?  What does that mean?
Me: Haha, I didn't call you anything.  Bibimbap is what we're eating for dinner.
Daniel: Ohhh, I thought you said it with a comma.  As in, 'Do you want some, bibimbap?'
Me: Yeah.  Sorry.  No comma.
Daniel: Sure, yeah, sounds good.

Autumn

Friends roast marshmallows 

Under the bright, rabbit moon.

It's fire pit to go!

We talk about life,

Anecdotes from recent past.  

Dream of tomorrow.

Babyisms

<Baby carries a toy downstairs and drops it.  She picks it up and comes over to me>
Baby: My computer just jumped out of my hands!
Me: ?? Where did you learn that phrase?

<at dinner>
Me: Do you have a boyfriend?
Baby: My boyfriend is Nolan.
Me: Really?
Baby: Yep.  I like him.
Me: You're three!  You're too young to have a boyfriend.
Baby: No, I'm not!

<holding her hand and running to catch up with my brother-in-law>
Baby: See, I'm running just like Mommy and Sarah!
<next day>
Baby: Mommy, carry me upstairs.
Sister: Mommy is too tired to carry you.  I ran yesterday.
Baby: I did too!

<Baby very VERY angry with her mom>
Baby: Mommy, you will NOT leave this world!

<in the car>
Baby: Mommy, we both have toes!

<in the car - Baby is playing a game on the phone>
Sister: Baby, this is boring sitting next to you.  I'm going to sit next to Erin.
Baby: No, sit next to me!
Sister: But you're playing a game on my phone.
Baby: <busy playing game>
Sister: And you're not even talking to me.
Baby: <still playing her game> Mommy...

Oops

<at Sweet Frog>
Me: <singing> Again and again and again.
Sister: Is this song Korean?
Me: Ha!  No!  It's American!
Sister: <unfazed> But what language is it in?
Me: <actually listening to the lyrics> Oh, it's korean


<at the race>
Sister: We need to cross the street to let these cars pass.
Me: <while holding my crying niece, I fall in a hole and trip and fall into the road in front of the line of cars>
<My niece starts crying harder although I had turned so that I took the brunt of the impact>
Runner 1: Are you ok?
Runner 2: That was quite a fall.  Are you hurt?
First-aid biker: Do you need any assistance?
Me: <thoroughly embarrassed> No, I'm fine.  I'm just clumsy.

A Weekend with the Nieces

Some baby loves her chili

Gwiyomi has some awesome bedhead

Breakfast is always more dramatic in dim lighting

Abandoned Teddy 

Today

One of my friends is giving up part of himself to save a life.  (He's donating his stem cells to help someone with leukemia)

The funny thing is, this isn't his first time giving of himself.  He's always making meals and listening to others' problems and driving long distances to take people to places they need to go.  He goes on walks, gives blessings, brings spudnuts and shares good books.

Here's to Joseph, my friend, who saves people everyday.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

I was walking down the street reading a book and look up to see...

A woman with a smile on her face.  I start to apologize and she just points at me.

"I've seen this happen so many times.  But always, it's people on their electronic devices.  But you!  You're holding a book.  A real book!  Someone should take a picture!"

Greeting on the Street

I saw the new Chinese professors from the Bilingual Faculty Program on grounds today.  For some reason, ever since I've helped in that program, I can spot them very easily.  And I have fond memories of the experience so I always have this genuine sort of joy to see them.

As we neared each other, they smiled at me, the American with a smile on her face and, most likely, a curious glint in her eye.

"你們好," I said.

They laughed and moved on.

They probably get that a lot.

Domestic Bliss

Today,

It took me eight hours to wash and dry my laundry... after traveling to four laundromats.  (grr...football traffic)

And then another two to fold them and put them away.

I scrubbed the tub twice and the toilet twice.  (don't ask)

I vacuumed the living room and vacuumed my roommate's iPhone 5 charger... and bought her a new one.

I feel like the model of domesticity; I'm just not sure what kind.

A Song on a Wednesday

Discovered this today and I can't stop singing.
Or laughing.

But seriously, what hair product do they use?  

Dress to Impress

<conversation about the yellow pump sitting outside under a grey tarp awaiting repairs>
Me: I looked at the pump outside.  It looks so much smaller than it did in the lab.
Colleague: Really?  I still think it looks like a beast.
Me: Maybe it's because it was covered with the tarp.
Colleague:  Hmm.... Grey must be a slimming color.

Deep Down

I met a man from Harvard who told me, "Everyone at my school is insecure.  But we're at Harvard so we talk about all the great things that have happened to us to cover it up."

He told me this after I had spent enough time with him to believe that he was brilliant...

and talented...

and confident...

and someone I would always marvel at but not really understand.

Suddenly, I realized people are not as different as we might think...

and that focusing on the good in your life might actually be the secret to success.

In the Recesses of Clemons

The kid across from me is a Mac user and reminds me of Bolin Chen.  Every so often, our eyes meet and we smile in the mutual agreement of "Yep, studying."  Except that he stops to check out every single girl who walks past him.  And I stop every so often to stare at the children's books nearby and people watch in general.

He packs up his books to leave.  And then as he picks up his backpack to go, I do something uncharacteristic: I look directly at him and smile.  His face breaks into a grin and he bows his head in acknowledgement and even waves and says, "Good bye" before turning to walk away.  And then he returns a few seconds later to push in his chair and we nod again and grin at each other, as though we're both in on some inside joke.

I made a new friend today.  What did you do?

New on a Saturday

My first BYU football game.