December 30, 2011

My new project.

Three things.

First, I'm seeing Aretha Franklin perform tonight.
Second, New Year's is just around the corner. I don't have many resolutions, but I do have a big project I am working on. However, feedback on this project is well needed and much appreciated so please comment!

What I am trying to do is to consolidate all the happenings of Provo/Orem into one calendar (and should I expand?). It's a bit of a taxing experiment so I want to know if I should continue or not.
Click above or here to see the calendar. (Also, go to the January calendar to start seeing events.)
The reason I named it The Calendar Owl is first, because I like owls (the song may have had an impact on such an adoration of the animal). Second, I've practically become nocturnal trying to get the event details/finding places and such...so I've become an owl.

Third, some of my resolutions include...
1. Drinking more water.
2. Getting over my fear of the bicycle.
3. Learning Cantonese fast....before I go off to Hong Kong for the summer.
4. Working my butt off in order to get into the PR program.
5. Tweeting more.


And that's really all I can think of now...

Happy New Year, my friends. Take a cup of kindness yet, for days of auld lang syne.

December 24, 2011

The Christmas Story

Christmas traditions. I love them.

The days leading up to Christmas, we listen to Christmas music all day, erryday. My personal favorite? Frank Sinatra's Christmas record. Round and round it spins on the record player.

Every Christmas eve, my family and I gather around in the family room and huddle as we drink hot cocoa. We listen to the fire crackling as we watch "It's A Wonderful Life." One by one, we fall asleep to the film and by the end, we wake up to in time to sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Auld Lang Syne" with the citizens of Bedford Falls.

Right before everyone drudges into their beds, we read the Christmas story, the birth of the Savior of the world, the birth of my Redeemer. Christmas is a time to celebrate the anniversary of that blessed birth.

It really is a wonderful life.

Oh, then we stay up the rest of the night watching "A Christmas Story;" Deck the halls with boughs of horry, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra.

Luke 1:26-33
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her what manner of alutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

December 13, 2011

My lost wallet.

I got a bike. That's right, I got a bike despite my fear of them.
It's a beauty, though. Purple with yellow accents. But this is not the reason for this post. 

Around 6 pm Monday, I was headed out to dinner with my anthropology class when I realized my wallet was missing. Rachel, thankfully, covered for me that night.

2:21 am Tuesday, I get a phone call. It was my one chance at sleeping in, but all I heard was my phone buzzing and buzzing and buzzing. It buzzed again because the caller left a message. I went back to sleep. 

2:25 am, buzz buzz buzz. This time, noticing that it was the same number calling, I listened to the messages.

"HeyyEden," the guy slurred. I got chills hearing my name come from an unknown person. "I have yourID. So, callmeback. xxx-xxx-xxxx."

Next message.

"Hey Eden, it'sNigel again. Um, so I don't only have your ID. I haveyourwallet. And I'm going to Hawaiiin the morning and I just can'tgo, I can'tgo, there withyour wallet. Sooocallmeback."

Chills. And a pounding headache. I was pretty creeped out. I considered calling my dad, but it would be 4 in the morning there. I logged onto Facebook and saw that Daehyeon was online. I called him and he told me to wait till the morning. I think it was because it was 2 in the morning that I thought I needed to ask someone what I should do. 

December 10, 2011

Study, studyy, studyyy.....FACEBOOK

I'm sorry I haven't posted. I've decided not to have a set a day for blogging as that will get your hopes up and then I will let you all down yet again...because I know you all refresh my blog every Tuesday just for a new post. Admit it. It's what you do.
From my favorite blog, besides my own (I kid), Hyperbole and a Half.
I think I'm going to just stop apologizing for neglecting you guys. So this will be the last time.
Wait, I'll apologize now for not being consistent in the future.

Okay, now no more apologizing.

Finals. I only have two left. Score. Thank goodness for in class finals and essays. Hated doing them, but now they're over before finals week. And now I can take my sweet, sweet time taking my New Testament final and writing my anthropology essay.
I've been pretty bad at studying and writing essays though. A couple nights ago, I went to Nicol's house to study and we were planning on studying 6 pm - 12 am straight. Around 9 pm, we both got ADD and decided we wanted to watch a movie. So we called up Estelle and Jesse and we watched "He's Just Not That Into You." Ugh, Scarlett Johansson made me sick. (Christmas break UPDATE: just watched the Biography Channel's segment on Scarlett. I kept on gaining and losing and gaining respect for her again and again throughout the whole thing. Love the Biography Channel.)

Romantic comedies will be the death of me.

And Facebook. Facebook has been so entertaining lately. Thank you friends for posting awesome things.
I've tried occupying the library. There are literally no seats available. Every corner, every hallway, every elevator is inhabited by students and their books. 

But the Tanner building is completely empty. Seriously guys, study there. Or study with me. I watch movies and then pull all-nighters. It's fun.

Good luck, my friends, with your finals. If I can help you guys with anything, let me know. I am good company. And now I have a bike so I can come to you. (I'll get the brakes assembled and the tires pumped first...then I can come to you.)

Have a beautiful week, my friends. Work hard.

November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Too many things. I am thankful for too many things. But I can narrow things down to the present.

Right now, I'm thankful for especially poofy jackets that make my niece's cheeks seem chubbier.

I'm thankful for the opportunities I have to travel. My parents and I officially planned for me to go to Hong Kong this summer to work, brush up on my Cantonese and learn wing chun. Obviously not for combative situations, but for speed and agility, reflexes and awesomeness. So I can be like Ip Man (below) and Sherlock Holmes. And Bruce Lee and my dad.
(From the movie "Ip Man," based on a true story, is available on Netflix; Rated R for violence.)

I'm thankful for my health. I chugged a whole gallon of orange juice last weekend in hopes that I will avoid the stomach bug (unlike last year).

I'm thankful for the power of prayer. They will be answered.

I'm thankful for people who care. For my family and their wise advice. For my sister and brother-in-law for letting me live in their home for a couple days. For my roommates, for my good friends.

I'm thankful for the goodness of God. There was this quote that was on my friend's corkboard. It said this:
God does notice us, and He watches over us. But it is usually through another person that He meets our needs. - Spencer W. Kimball
There were a couple random days when I felt completely dejected and stressed by everything. Everything happened at the wrong time. But, there was always someone out there ready to help me out whether through their words, their hugs or their music. They do not know how much they mean to me but I thank God for them everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! Last, but most definitely not least, I'm thankful for you all!
Live with gratitude each day.

p.s. My niece is thankful for: ggggggggdsssaq15iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccc                suyyyyu zxzxzzzzzzzxzzzxzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxxxxxxxcxzxcvbvvbvbvvbbvbvbvbvbvbvbbvbvgddddddddddfdfddffdfdfffffffdd                            11111111111111111111qqqqqqq

p.p.s. This song makes me nostalgic for something...I don't know what, but I feel happy and grateful for living a good life.

November 15, 2011

And then the world will end.

I jolted up, gasping for air. I had crashed the car. The first time that I borrow someone else's car and I crash it. Ten points for Eden.

All I had wanted to do was to see City and Colour perform.

But, thankfully, the after-haze of waking from the blasted dream dissipated and I realized that it was Friday, the day of the concert. My body ached from the stress of just thinking about driving my neighbor's car. The second her keys touched my palm, every imaginable horror that could occur raced through my head.
A fifty car pileup that I caused.
A freak pillar of fire coming from the heavens.
A hoard of genetically mutated apes attacking.
Anything could have happened and I believed it.

Throughout the rest of the day, I had an annoying voice in the back of my head saying, "Careful Eden. If you crash this, not only will you die, but so will Nicolle (who was going with me) and then your family will owe Matea (my neighbor who so generously let an Asian borrow her car) a bajillion dollars! And then you'll throw your family in debt because the insurance will go up! And then...! And then...! AND THEN...the world will end!"

Sigh.

Thank heavens. It was not bad at all. I think I was freaking out mostly because I had relied on a GPS all my life. Nicolle was exceptional at giving directions and so really, thanks to her, we got there in one piece.

The opener was fun to dance to. Nuff said.

Then came Dallas Green...the man behind City and Colour. And thus began the perfect ending to a stressful day.
His tender voice never failed to hit those high falsetto notes. In many songs, I put my hand in the center of my chest as I closed my eyes and felt the bass drum beat into my soul. I almost cried. (Dang, I just realized that I'm way too emotionally attached to music...but I just love it so.)
Shaky picture #1
I realize I have shaky hands. I've always sucked at taking pictures.
This guy was pretty awesome.
My only good picture from the night.
Sigh.
And when he sang "The Girl," the song I wake up to every morning, my heart told me he was singing to me and only me.
While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl.
--Dallas Green

And then we went to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

And then I realized that the world will end with apes becoming smart via a weird virus that kills off mankind.

November 8, 2011

Music, and Musings of Eden: 11/7/11

by Eden Wen
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Frozen in time, closed off from worlds
All I can hear are dissonant chords
That resonate soundly from shadows of my past
But it’s time I renew my life so it can begin at last.

Unable to find a place where I could belong.
Each group I chose to enter just always seemed wrong.
Old friendships die (though tonight one proven true),
New friendships too young; I'm lingering in limbo, and nothing can soothe.

I compare myself to others, I acknowledge this flaw
So when they achieve wonders, I sit in awe
Feeling that time is slipping, passing me by
And I feel I can do nothing but sit and cry.

I wish I could run, fly away from my troubles
And leave my yesterdays and escape mounds of rubble.
But, alas, I am here, alive in the present
With only two goals: beating time and regaining acceptance.
--------
Written on 11/7/11

This poem may or may not be about me. And it may or may not be about Aang, the last airbender.
But just maybe.

Moving on.

Two things.
One. On the fifth of November, I watched "V For Vendetta." It was a pretty awesome film about censorship and such. I love dystopian novels (love love love Kurt Vonnegut) so this movie was right up my alley. But here's the funny thing: we had watched the edited version and they completely cut out one of the prisoner's life stories and they didn't cut out the violently graphic scenes (those make me queasy). She was arrested because of the sole reason that she was homosexual. And the editing company edited it out. And it wasn't even explicit. Ironic. Really ironic.

Two. I love Singaporeans with every fiber of my being to the point where I actually kind of want to be one. Everytime I'm with them, I feel happy. I never really understood their accent before, but after weekly dinners with my sister and brother-in-law (who is Singaporean), it's grown on me and I enjoy just listening to them talk.

And insanity, you guys! I'm starting to be consistent in my blogging! Here's a song to celebrate.
I honestly love fun. with all my heart. And adding Janelle Monae is the cherry on the sundae. Just look at their beautiful smiles and listen to their beautiful voices.

Also, I'm going to go see City and Colour this weekend!
Gah! So excited!

I only need to go through this stress-filled week. Yay. 

November 1, 2011

Happy November and review of Mylo Xyloto.

I've decided that I'm going to be better about blogging starting this month. I may have potentially found my blogging days (Tuesdays) and by having a solid day, I will blog more consistently. I guess I will confirm next Tuesday.

So, there are lots to talk about and because I've been so behind on blogging, please bear with me as I talk about past subjects (for example, my final conclusions on Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, which can be found in this post) and for this long first-post-in-a-while.  But before we go on, guess what I was for Halloween.


Yes, I was the greatest Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum and it only cost me a total of 50 cents (for the ornament, which I then painted with my neighbor's paint set). I proudly showed it off at multiple dances Halloween weekend and Halloween night. 

I need to sleep.

What were you?

Mylo Xyloto
I have already expressed my undying loyalty to the greatest band alive on this planet here, but it'd be incredibly horrid as an avid Coldplay aficionado to forego reviewing their newest album.

Words cannot express what I felt when I first listened to this album. I slipped on my headphones and sat on my couch for 44 minutes and seven seconds and it was one of the best 44 minutes and seven seconds that I have ever spent. I sobbed tears of ecstasy for the next five minutes. It was that good.

As I listened on--four, five, ten times--and as I discussed the musicality and the lyrics of Mylo Xyloto with fellow Coldplay fans (Rachel was the one who convinced me in the end), I've come to the conclusion that Coldplay has, in fact, sold out.

What had happened, Coldplay? Chris? Jonny? Guy? Will? Anyone? Though some of their best songs have been overplayed, lyrics like "Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you" stick with you and in a good way. In Mylo Xyloto, they are catchy songs and some are quite creative ("Hurts Like Heaven," instead of hurts like hell, and "Princess of China"), but really. Listen. "Para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, para-para-paradise, ohhoooh hoohoho."

On the other hand, I absolute love love love the first track "Mylo Xyloto" going into "Hurts Like Heaven," and my niece does too. That's all she dances to when I'm babysitting and we're having a private dance party. The album was an attempt at something creative and it told a story (of falling in and then back out of love and finding hope for new love), but one has to admit that Coldplay's lyric writing has gone downhill.

I guess I'm saying I prefer "Kingdom Come" and "Warning Sign" over "Major Minus" and "Charlie Brown."

Nevertheless, I still love Coldplay.

October 15, 2011

I'm alive...barely.

My friends, it's been a while. Where to begin, where to begin...

I've been really busy. When I'm not working, I'm in class. When I'm not in class, I'm at the PR lab. When I'm not in the PR lab, I'm in the Wilk eating. When I'm not in the Wilk eating, I'm at home reading Marx. When I'm not at home reading Marx, I'm in my bed sleeping with a billion thoughts running through my head.

On weekends, I make an effort to socialize. I end up internally curling up into a ball due to exhaustion from the week as I sit back and do what I do best: observe, listen and laugh.

But looking back at the calendar, here's what you missed in my life:
My article about Asians made The Student Review.
My Asian friends.
It's weird. It was like this photo was the start of something new. I met all of them (with the exception of Crystal...the one right above me) that day. And now the guy in the yellow shirt is my home teacher and the girl in the yellow shirt is my FHE mom. It's funny how the world works.

I have a newfound love for kittens. Can't you just see me snuggling up with a little kitten in my arms? Can't you?
My friend showed me this. I laughed. But it's kind of how I feel about kittens.

I found out Sunday that I'm lactose intolerant. Did you know that it is most prevalent among Asian peoples? Yeah, I found that out too. Also, it's hard to stop taking in dairy when you have been for all your life. On Thursday, I was catering with friends at a friend's friend's engagement party. They had soup shots that were to die for. I had at least fifty shots. Problem was that it was Wisconsin cheese and cauliflower. And I had at least fifty. FIFTY. I didn't feel so well, but I got paid and I got to meet and mingle with wonderful people.

There were a group of people there who had Power Ranger shirts on. They were the coolest as they are accepting me in their exclusive club and offered me a membership. I had offered to be the Yellow Ranger.
That's right, I'm popular.
I got Bradley PR labber of the week a couple weeks ago. I'm still savoring the pound of fudge and pride I received that day.

Marx has taken over my life. I'm reading him for my Anthropology class and the other day, I caught myself saying something quite Marxian. It was in a joking manner, but nevertheless, it kind of scared me.

Currently, I am in the process of creating a device that recaptures all the lost thoughts that fall through the holes of my mind. It's becoming more and more prevalent in my thought process--probably due to my lack of sleep?--and it just happened to me. I remembered something important that I had to do, but it just escaped me.....

Here is a song for you to enjoy as I close this long awaited post.
Have a beautiful day, my friends.

September 19, 2011

News flash.

I am officially changing my blogging days. I don't know to which day, but definitely not on Mondays. Too stressful.
I still love you all.

September 12, 2011

Happy Mid-Autumn!

Currently, I'm trying to breeze through this blogpost because I just received my email from Pottermore and heck, I am spending the rest of the day on it (after homework, of course, like the responsible Asian student that I am).

Quick life update: I started work today at the Blue Line Deli in the Tanner Building (visit me). Not bad for the first day, though it was kind of hectic. And it is inevitable: everytime I wear white pants, I will always spill something onto it. Also, it gets super hot there, yes it does.
This was me. But not really....it wasn't that bad.
Also, I joined the Asian Ward. Officially. Papers and records are IN.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival. I was reading up on the traditions on Wikipedia and I came across some customs I didn't know before so I'm guessing you never known either. I shall educate you:

1. Eating mooncake. Let's be honest: I knew about this because it involves one of three things that I love and are almost always at Chinese festivals (food, money/redpackets, and lanterns). I have a huge mooncake sitting in my pantry now calling to me. And when I say "sitting in my pantry," I mean "in my hands about to be devoured."
2. Matchmaking. I think of Mulan everytime. And a little of The Fiddler on the Roof.
3. Carrying brightly lit lanterns. I have lanterns. And birthday candles.
But not really. Because I'm safe.
4. Burning incense for deities. 
5. Dragon Dances.
6. Celebrating the fullest and brightest moon of the year.

So go out and enjoy the moon tonight. It should be beautiful.

And here is an unrelated song for you to enjoy as I close.

September 5, 2011

Blah blah blah.

Um. This post is mainly to keep up with my promise of posting every Monday (or Sunday). I apologize. And I need to go and do homework now because I didn't do any today. Boo.

So yes. I was going to post earlier, but I did not. I also was going to do homework earlier, but I did not. Instead, I had a "Community" marathon with my roommates and friends, worked on a 1000 piece puzzle, and made dinner for five. I also played my ukulele on a rooftop for a little bit and Crystal and I made up a song on the spot. Keep an eye out for "Ukulele Meditations," releasing soon in a music store near you.

Meh, I don't mean to get too emotional-ish in my posts, but I feel somewhat...not special. I mean, I walk outside the other day and someone down the street is jammin' on their uke with twice the skill I have. I've kinda grown into a closet musician because there are just so many here. I'm second rate, second best and I don't really deserve to be called a musician...I'm kinda...replaceable. And I am not saying this to get pity. It's really how I feel. Anyway, enough of real emotions.

I'm writing for the Student Review, as I said in the previous post. Not only that, I'm in charge of highlighting a YouTube video every issue (because I'm a YouTubaholic). So I chose five videos and now it's time to vote on one.

Ghost

Instrumental Cover

Wong Fu

Harry Potter

Dual Step

Let me know which one you like the most by commenting with the name of the video.

Thank you, my friends. Have a beautiful rest of your evening.

August 29, 2011

To the guy on his bike...

To the guy on his bike who I almost knocked off,

I apologize. Honestly, I just woke up and I didn't even see you zooming down the road and by the time I saw you (or rather, heard you...never have I ever heard "Woah!" said with such fear...), I was just like a deer in headlights. I'm sorry I just stood there and I hope I didn't completely ruin your day. Ride safe and I promise to look both ways more thoroughly.

Sincerely,
Eden
I'm glad this didn't happen.
On another note, I started school today. I'm in the middle of yet another two/three hour break and I hate it. I just want to go to school and be done, but with the classes I'm taking, the best teachers are teaching at these sporadic hours. But hey, now I know that I will have time to blog on Mondays. Maybe.

It's ridiculously hot here. I don't like it at all. Plus, I keep on forgetting that this is a freaking desert so I'm constantly dehydrated. If you see me on campus, no matter where I am, just tell me to drink water. Chances are I just forget to hydrate and I'm just drudging along. Or better yet, remind me to buy a water bottle or something. I just need to drink water....
Also, there was an independent student newspaper here at BYU back in the day that died because of lack of funds. But, it is being revived. Guess who has her own column. That's right. Me. I'm supposed to represent the Asian at BYU (I wonder why...) and it was fun finishing my first article. But anyway, if you want to see this article in all its glory, please donate a little bit. It would stink to have done all this work and not to even have a first copy. So on behalf of BYU's Student Review:
thestudentreview.org/donations

Anyway, lots of love and prayers for my family and friends on the East Coast. Update on my family: they're doing fine. All of my town has no power so that means it will take at least a week to get things running again.

I hope you all have a beautiful day.

August 25, 2011

Hurricane Irene.

Hopefully, you've heard about Hurricane Irene.

So, a couple Sundays ago, we had a whole Sunday school devoted to hurricane preparedness. An area authority of my church felt inspired to talk about it to the congregations in the area. They began the presentation with the statement, "The last major hurricane to hit the NYC area was September 21, 1938." And according to weather patterns and stuff, we were long long long overdue for one. (ready4tomorrow.org)

I was at the gym today and was gasping for air, not because my cardio workout was too much. It was because I was watching the weather.
While I am here in Utah, my family, friends, my home is in Connecticut. I saw my heart rate soar on my cardio machine.

I had just barely finished storing water for my family before I left for the airport. And the week before I left, I finished their 72-hour kits.

There was also an earthquake in Virginia that my sister felt in Connecticut. I received her text on Tuesday:
Earthquake! The kitchen cabinet was rattling but i though a big truch was just driving by the house Hehe
I had friends in Virginia, but they're all good. They just said that the "house was making some weird noises."

Blah...I'm just worrying right now. Almost every single home in Connecticut is surrounded by trees and power lines.

My East Coast readers, please be safe. Charge your phones, buy water, food, batteries.

I don't know, I may be overreacting, but I'll be praying for you guys anyway.

August 22, 2011

Back to school.

Today, I bought five college-ruled, 70 paged notebooks, two cases of 12 pencils, one case of 10 pens, and one folder. The total came out to be $1.48. Also, my most expensive textbook, coming in around $150, I got for $50. That's right. I know how to save money.
So, here I am, back in Utah. I got in late Saturday, early Sunday. Saturday was the strangest day for me. My family and I went to Flushing, Queens, with some friends when all of a sudden, I spotted someone in the corner of the dim sum restaurant we were in. My older sister and my brother-in-law's friends, who recently moved to New York, were just finishing up. Out of all the places in the world, we bumped into each other in that restaurant. I love them much. They were the ones who got me General Conference tickets last April and the October before. And they're genuinely good people.
I love dim sum.
Then, on the plane, my friend's mom had the seat across the aisle from me. And it turned out another family in my ward was on the same plane. One was attending a wedding, the other was having a wedding. Too many weddings.

Anyway, when I got off the plane, all of a sudden, I realized I couldn't really breathe. My friend's mom was trying to talk to me but I kept having to cough and catch my breath. I cursed Utah's arid air and high elevation, Connecticut's moisture-saturated air, and my own body. Had my body not been accustomed to Connecticut's humidity, then Utah's dryness probably would not have gotten to me. The high elevation...meh.

I am quite excited for this year. I'm trying to figure out if I want to change my major to Public Relation and switch my Anthropology major to a minor (which would help with my PR major). It's still in the works. Either way, it'd be easy for me to make Anthropology a minor; I just need to take 16 credits of Anthropology classes. I'm also taking a Anthropology class on China and I am totally psyched for that. I've really gotten in touch with my roots this summer.



(Sadly, none of the "good" pictures came out well...these were the best.)

Still jet lagged and tired. And it's hot here. And dry. And there are no trees. On the plus side, gas is at a more reasonable price. But I don't own a car.

August 14, 2011

Spiritual gift of faith

Being a child of a member of the bishopric means having to hide from him in your own home in order to avoid giving a talk. Inevitably, our paths crossed and I was asked. I gave my talk today and the theme was spiritual gifts. I chose to speak on the spiritual gift of faith.
--------
Reading the scriptures, saying your prayers, attending church, and so on are commonly known as the “Primary answers” but there is a reason why we have been taught these from the beginning. These are the essentials for building faith in Christ; it is how we exercise our faith in Christ.

We’ve always learned that you had to first exercise faith in order to accept the gospel and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Spiritual gifts then come through the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was initially confused when I learned of the spiritual gift of faith. One had to exercise faith to receive the gift of faith? What is the difference between the initial faith and the gift of faith?

C.S. Lewis describes faith in The Screwtape Letters as “when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God’s] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (40). Faith is actively acting on what you know you should do.

We also know that faith is one of the “first principles and ordinances of the gospel” (Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith 1:4). And Alma taught the poor in Chapter 32, our initial faith “is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” and “any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.”

The gift of faith is a stronger, deeper faith, an almost perfect knowledge that Christ is there next to you, that if you ask, you will receive. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “this gift takes root in our hearts as hope and, nurtured as a seedling, will eventually flower into knowledge and bear the fruit of eternal life.”

It was the gift of faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to crumble. It was the gift of faith of the three Nephites that they should not taste death. It was the gift of faith of the brother of Jared that allowed him to see the Lord.

August 8, 2011

Social networking.

I did it. I deactivated my Facebook.
I know, I know. "Why Eden? Why deactivate in the last month of summer?" To be honest, it's so I can see if I can do it. That way, in the middle of the year when I'm swamped with work, I can say to myself, "Hey friend, you were able to survive without Facebook for a bit in the summer, you can do it again."
Me telling (threatening?) myself "You can do it!" in the bathroom mirror, where many pep talks have been given.

Unfortunately, once my main social network was deactivated, a part of me yearned to be connected to the outside world digitally. And it burned within me with such passion, I've taken on more home projects to keep myself off my laptop. For example, I've decided to help my family update their 72-hour kits and food storage in case of hurricanes or, more realistically, zombies (I had another zombie dream except this one was a prequel to my recurring one). Also, I've been working out so I can better outrun the brain-sucking living dead.
But you can tell how well that's going because...
...I stopped working out. I was so good from April till about three weeks ago when the darn heat wave got the best of me. Though good news: I did cardio today because *drumroll* we got air conditioning! It finally happened after ten long hot summers of complaining!
...blogger was calling to me. Do you like what I've done with the blog? I decided I had enough of my "faces" background...apparently, there can be too much of my face.
Too much?
Anyway, so since I've been gone from Facebook (really since Wednesday night), I fixed up by blog, strained my thumb while texting--not really--and went crazy on Twitter--where I decided to follow as many Asians as I can--and on Tumblr--which I now admit I have had since late June (edenwen.tumblr.com). It's like I'm trying to desperately fill up the time I would have spent on Facebook on other social networks! Blah.

Also, I realize now that you guys probably won't be reading this for another two weeks (when I'll be back in the social network) since I've done all my blog promotion on Facebook. Shoots.

If you are reading this now, you are a fine, loyal follower of mine. I love you. Or I gave in shortly after posting this and decided to reactivate. If this happens, I give you permission to call me a weakling.

August 1, 2011

Worse case scenarios.

No, not a zombie apocalypse (but I will get into that recurring nightmare another time). (Oh, and can I add that I'm glad I'm not in Utah for the Annual Zombie Walk? I think I would die of a heart attack.)

I'm a thinker. Before making decisions, I like to think everything through. Oftentimes, I think too fast and miss important steps. Other times, I think myself into a hole, create implausible situations, and scare myself. For example, especially after watching "When a Stranger Calls," I start thinking of different scenarios, mainly worse case scenarios, that could happen when I babysit. 
Like getting a Calvin to babysit.
Rosalyn is my babysitter hero.
Like losing a child while playing Hide-and-Seek.
But this one scenario came to pass. You ever worry that the animal you are petsitting died? Um. Well, let me tell you that when it happens once, the worry increases. 

I was petsitting two chickens. I let them out into the gated area in the morning, I put them back into the coop at night. When I went back one evening to shoo them into their nesting area for the night, I felt like I entered a crime scene. Feathers were everywhere, the ladder to the coop was on the floor, and one of the chickens was squawking. I peeked into the coop and the other chicken was not in there. Shoots. What happened? I looked around. No blood, just feathers. Then I saw it. In the back corner of the gated area, there was a hole leading to the outside world. I slowly walked towards it and saw that the area was dugged out. Loose grass littered the area and I stood there. I stood there sweating as I thought of what I was to say to the family of six kids, to the parents who bought the chickens, to the oldest child who received the chickens for her birthday. 

I spoke with the parents who told me to keep the live chicken in the coop, but have the window open. Everyday after the...incident...my mind kept on floating back to the poor lone chicken in the coop. Will whatever got the other chicken break into the coop with superanimal strength and strangle that last one too? Gah!

But the owners returned and I have nothing to worry about any more...but I still feel bad. 

Blah.

Random update: I'm a couple weeks behind on the Bachelorette. The second I logged into Facebook, statuses ruined the surprise. I'm peeved.

July 25, 2011

Glasses--the ultimate transformation.

Glasses can change a lot about a person.
Before.
After. Big difference, yes?
So the other day, I woke up late and was rushing to get out the door. I had the sink faucet on at full blast while brushing my teeth when all of a sudden, my right contact popped out of my eye and fell straight into the whirlpool I created. Shoots.

I half-blindly rummaged through my bathroom drawers and jammed my pinky in the process of finding my pack of contacts. I was almost positive that I had extras in there, but my fingers found nothing. I stood there, staring in the mirror, and remembered that the last time this had happened was on campus, where I walked around for the next hour dizzy from the having one eye blurred.

I reluctantly took out my left contact and slid my glasses up the bridge of my nose. It was a weird Pavlov's effect--I usually only have my glasses on when I'm about to go to bed. The second I had those lenses in front of my weak eyes, I felt ready to go back to sleep.

At work that night, one of the sushi guys did a triple-take when I waved at him. "Oh, I didn't recognize you. You don't...you don't usually wear those, right?" My mind quickly replayed a previous encounter.

Four months earlier.
"Eden?" I turned and saw my classmate.
"You have glasses?"
Um. I feel that the majority of the Asian population has glasses. I replied, "Yes, but I usually wear my contacts."
"They look nice. You should wear them more often."
My mind starts racing as I wondered what that one line implied. Do I not look nice without my glasses? I mean, in movies, the girl always looks prettier once she takes her glasses off (i.e. "She's All That," "The Princess Diaries," "Scooby-Doo"). I mean, that's the reason I got glasses in the first place! (No, not really. I'm not that absorbed in my appearance. Dodgeball in gym was just brutal to my glasses and my face.)

Present.
"No," I replied and then I sheepishly recounted the tale of the morning.
"Okay." Then he gave me the thumbs up.

Glasses are what transforms Superman into Clark Kent...
I have a thing for superheroes.
...and skinny boys into fashionable hipsters.
Or it may be the plaid...
And everytime I have my glasses on, I feel like I will run into a situation where my glasses will be knocked off and I will end up dying because I can't find my blasted glasses. I guess I have Velma from "Scooby-Doo" to thank again. 
Thank you, Velma. Thank you.
And now I don't know how to end this post. That's the one thing about blogging that gets to me. I don't know how to close it off with a nice conclusio


July 21, 2011

Harry Potter. It's all over.

This is me...as Harry Potter.
I wrote this as my Facebook status soon after I dressed up and looked at myself in the mirror: 
after seeing the final product of myself dressed as harry potter, i've decided that i'm changing my costume to "the child of cho chang and harry potter had they gotten together and if scars were inheritable."
By the end of the night, I sweated my scar off. Maybe I shouldn't have dressed up two hours before I left for the theatre. But hey, it was a hectic night.
1. I spent more time than was necessary to perfect my scar. It's hard to draw just looking in the mirror and trying to figure out which way the lightening bolt was supposed to be drawn.
2. I have no air conditioning in my house meaning I'm sweating even if I'm just eating dinner.
3. Mackenzie and I got to the theatre and the line went out the back entrance. And it's hot under my graduation gown (which was my Hogwarts robe).
4. We realized that the staff was cracking down that night and forcing people to sit in their assigned theatre. I was 9, Mackenzie was 5. The others that were coming were 8, 5, and 9.
5. After Mackenzie went in to grab seats, we were asked to pose by some people.
Oh gosh. I just realized how short I really am.
5. Everyone snuck into 5. Sorry Keasha, if you're reading this...I know you told me not to.
6. For the next two hours, we watched other Harry Potter films on my laptop. And got snacks.
7. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two" began.

It was a phenomenal ending and goodbye to a beautiful legacy and childhood.

I admit, I did not cry as much as I did in "Part 1," but that was probably due to the fact that the lady two seats to my right sniffled and sobbed so loud, it killed the mood for me. Also, I prepped myself before I came to the movies. I stood in front of the mirror and said (spoiler alert to anyone who cares), "Eden, calm down. You know there'll be death in this film. Fred, Lupin, Tonks. Dobby and Hedwig are already gone. Deep breaths." A single tear rolled down my cheek.

"Deathly Hallows," both parts, were done so beautifully. Longbottom and Luna, Ron and Hermione--ah, both couples just make me giddy. Voldemort's anguish and fear as he felt each horcrux that was destroyed brought feelings of joy within me. The hug he gave Draco when he thought he was going back to the dark side made me giggle at Voldemort's naiveness: Silly Voldemort, Malfoys love their family. Snape's memory was the one part that really brought me to tears. The disbelief he had when he realized that Dumbledore had saved Harry in order to let him die at the opportune moment broke my heart as you realize that Snape did love Harry (though mainly because Harry was Lily's child). And when he scoped out the Lily's situation after Voldemort attacked, I felt my heart break as he held Lily in his arms.

I don't know...sorry this isn't really a great review. I can't really put what I feel in words. On one hand, it was just so amazing that I can't really describe how I felt about it, but on the other hand, I know I feel like I've been robbed and left with nothing. My childhood is over. Am I expected to grow up?

Either way, mischief managed. Goodbye Harry. I'll visit you sometime soon.

July 18, 2011

Mahjong and Chuck E. Cheeses.

I babysat last week at a Chuck E. Cheese's. Honestly, places like that are breeding grounds for future gamblers--bright lights, loud bells, joyous screams, heartbreaking cries. Tickets are dispensed liked rapid fire as tokens are devoured by various games. Children are begging parents to buy more and more tokens, which they waste on one unbeatable game that promises one unbelievable prize.

For some reason, I get rather competitive when I play games with little kids. I guess it's because I never win against people my age so I feel some sort of satisfaction in beating three-year-olds at target games. Pathetic, I know. But hey, you try trampling over forty-ish three- to six-year-olds on your way to the game that held the biggest jackpot: 3,000 tickets. It's another game in itself, and the prize? The realization that you possess the ability to combat scores of children jumping on you.

But I shouldn't say anymore: What happens in Chuck E. Cheese's stays in Chuck E. Cheese's.

Now, Mahjong. No, not the internet Mahjong where you mindlessly match tiles (but I admit that I play sometimes). I'm talking Mahjong. With the physical tiles.
Those are pretty awesome tiles...I want my own set...
With the gambling.
100 HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) = 12.84 USD
You know how movies always depict groups of old men gathered around a chessboard in the park (I've never witnessed them in reality...)? Well, in Hong Kong, and I'm guessing China too, they're gathered around a Mahjong board. And I've joined in on the gathering myself. There's just something about the clicking of the tiles when you "shuffle" them and the joy you feel when have a good hand. And I'm generally a good sport. That is, only if I feel I've been beaten by a worthy hand. Otherwise, all emotions break out on my part.

But in all honesty, if your hand, which would have been worth about 20 USD per loser had you grabbed a winning tile, was vanquished with someone's "winning" hand worth 1 USD per loser, you'd be upset too. And if you were defeated three rounds in a row by such cheap hands, you'd cry too...um...which I may or may not have done.

Here is a clip from a Hong Kong movie called "Mahjong Warrior" so you can get a taste of Mahjong is like. I find this clip hilarious, but that's because I understand what they're saying; you probably won't think the same, but it's here anyway.
Sorry the subtitles weren't very good. That's just how they are in Hong Kong movies. You generally don't switch tiles with your neighbors, but the version they were playing, which they called the "American" version, allowed them to do so.

And there you have it. Mahjong. I've been trying to resist the urge to play since there aren't enough players here to Mahjong with me  (you need four players and the only people I know in my area who plays is my own family, but at the moment, only two members of my family are here) and I know I'll end up sitting at the table by myself, staring longingly at the tiles, wishing there was someway we can play with only three people.

A quick shout-out to Crystal who will be satisfying my need to play Mahjong when I'm back at school. Anyone want to join? (You are a lifesaver, my friend.)

But while I'm home, does someone want to come Mahjong-it-up with me? I'll teach you.

p.s. "Deathly Hallows Part Two" review to come on Thursday...along with pictures, which I know I said I'd post last Friday. I apologize. I lied.

July 11, 2011

Harry Potter. It all ends.

The hero of our generation.

It all ends on July 15th.
I have to sheepishly admit that the first time I watched this fan-made video, I teared up.
Re-enactment of me tearing up.
Lately, I've found that I've been beyond emotionally attached to Harry Potter; I'm holding onto the last piece of my childhood. I remember being confused in "Sorcerer's Stone" when McGonagall asked Quirrell if she could "borrow wood." I vividly recall burying myself in "Prisoner of Azkaban" in my fourth grade classroom and savagely reading through the series in the following years. On July 21, 2007, my parents told me that they had never ordered "Deathly Hallows." I threw a fit, yes I did, but came to realize that my parents lied to me to see my reaction. They laughed and handed me the last book. I tore it from their hands and sat on my rocking chair for countless hours.
I love Harry Potter.
When I watched "Deathly Hallows Part I," I have to confess that I sobbed uncontrollably at the end of the film. I didn't even know why, but tears kept on falling after Dobby died. I knew it was coming, but I guess it hit me that the end was almost there. (I had a good support system composed of some of my roommates and a dear friend of mine. May Dumbledore bless them all.) Last month, when the kids I babysit went to bed, I watched "Goblet on Fire" on TV. Cedric died and I started sobbing. Why? I never cried for him in the multiple times I watched that movie, so why was I crying then?

Yes, yes I could re-read the books and re-watch the movies, but I will miss the anticipation of another movie release, just as I have missed the anticipation of another book release.

For "Deathly Hallows Part II," I decided to go out with a bang. I'm dressing up...again. I went as a Slytherin with Sirius Black's wand for "Part I," Cho Chang--naturally--for "Goblet of Fire" and "Order of the Phoenix," and a quidditch player to all the others. Heck, if one of my sisters were here with me, I'd go as Fred and George...or I could just go as George......sad thought, sad thought.

Thursday night, I will go as Harry Potter, the title character, the hero of both magical and muggle world, the best childhood friend I could ever ask for. (Photo of me as Harry Potter will be posted Friday.)

Anyone else coming to witness the last battle?