All Hallow's Eve.

The time of year has arrived for ghouls, goblins, and jack-o-lanterns. Today, campus was taken over by cows, fairies, and a dead Santa Claus. Halloween is here! Right now college girls everywhere are getting all dolled up. Meanwhile, college-age boys try to get their scare on. That sounds pretty great, right? Only one problem, I don't like Halloween. So where does that leave me? No only do I hate picking out costumes, but the candy always makes me sick.

My roommates think I am lame, but I can't help it. I was born this way. My parents don't like Halloween either. I honestly cannot remember the last time I dressed up. But let me tell you a secret ... I like it that way. Halloween is only an excuse to be someone you are not. I don't want that. I think being myself is pretty darn great. So Happy Fall! Enjoy the last weekend of October for all its ghouly goodness, because November is just around the corner!

Nothing

How much can you say about nothing? Nothing can describe any situation. Nothing has no prejudices and no boundaries. It fills any open space with, well, nothing. Some days fly by with nothing. I can't remember where I went or what I did, the hours just passed. If I didn't have to write 150 words for this assignment, this blog post would be full of nothing. However, I value my grade too much to do that.

How do you deal with nothing? Sometimes nothing is good and sometimes nothing is bad. Occasionally, I wish I had a little more nothing. I wish for nothing to do, nothing to see, nothing to say, just a minute alone with my thoughts ... hopefully thoughts full of nothing. Unfortunately, I am a college student, and so nothing will just have to be postponed until -- well, let's face it -- there is never time for nothing.

Rain.

There is water everywhere. Tonight on my way home the sky was crying. Not just a sprinkle, but a dizzying downpour. Something about the rain gets me in a somber mood. Its constant drone on my window. The blur of the world through the droplets. Rain clouds overcast the sky, covering the world in dark gray hues. Rain is the perfect weather for this time of year.

We are now in the second half of the semester. School is no longer new and exciting; it has become hard, overwhelming, and competitive. Students start walking around in a daze, weighed down by the immensity of two more months of school. Provo gets quieter, as all UVU students are on break and BYU students are left to more work and more tests. The weeks go by like a rainy day --blurred and undistinguished -- as we press forward to the first snow fall.

Like rain, we will move on to snow-filled days and relaxing breaks. But for now, the rain serves as a comforting backdrop to the midterm blues.

It's my birthday.

I am no longer a teen. One fourth of my life is complete. My twenty-first year will be the best yet!

This week, Brother Clarke challenged my class with a daunting task. We had to buy a stranger a "coke" at the store. My heart dropped. I don't talk to strangers; I barely talk. I am shy and awkward around everyone but my family. Yet here I was, left on my own in Provo to buy a random person an item. I slowly began to gain courage. "I can do this" and "you might make a new friend" filled my personal pep talk.

As I set out on this assignment, I could not find anyone to buy a "coke" for. Every time I walked in the gas station, I was alone. I went to the grocery store, twice, and no one was behind me in line. I went to the mall and couldn't find anyone to purchase a reasonably priced item for. I am in college after all, I can't buy someone's full Banana Republic purchase. By this time it was Friday and I started losing faith.

Then, late Friday night, I went to ColdStone with my friends. As the cashier rang me up, I nonchalantly-- honestly, with a little shake in my voice-- said I would like to buy the ice cream for the person behind me. The cashier looked at me curiously, but rang up for her ice cream as well. I turned around to see whom I had paid for and surprise! The person behind me was an old acquaintance. Not only did I make her day, but I also got to catch up with an old friend. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. What a great birthday wish! Thanks Brother Clarke.

Accounting.

Oh accounting, how I loathe you. Actually I love you. But I also detest you. I go to your class and understand everything then bam! A test comes along. My last accounting test was like nothing I have ever experienced. It was four hours of pure horror. Okay, so that is a definite exaggeration. But the test was really hard. Have you ever thought you were smart, then took a test and realized how much you didn't know? That was me this past week. This test required that I do everything inside out and backwards. I will never think I thoroughly understand something again. My friends always talk about how hard Accounting 310 tests are, but I didn't believe them. I just laughed it off, thinking that I would be able to handle it. Dear friends, how right you were! My first accounting test was a humbling experience. I just hope I will be ready for the next one.