"we're caught in the crossfire of heaven and hell"

-"Crossfire" from Brandon Flower's newest album Flamingo
This album is getting me through my exceedingly dull paper.
Whenever someone asks me who my favorite bands are, I always mention The Killers.  So I am in full support for Mr. Flowers doing his own thing, now.
Listen. [+ Charlize Theron? + Ninjas? Bril.]

I had a weekend of newbies, so stay tuned for that update!
Peace and blessins.
...and sweet dreams of Brandon baby.

"Sun"dance my left foot!

Today my roommates and I embarked on a journey.  We accomplished things off of our bucket list and had some quality bonding time.
I started off this day with a fabulous Temple trip with Kelly P.  We were there bright and early so it was very quiet, which was nice.
Hilary and I decided that we needed some one-on-one time together so we went to Kneaders for all-you-can-eat Chunky French Toast. Holy moly that stuff is gooood.

Then the 224 set out in the rain and snow on an unplanned road trip to Park City to try to get into a Sundance Film Festival screening.   We stopped in Heber City at Dairy Keen for lunch.  The power went out a couple of times while we were eating. Thankfully, we had all gotten our food, but Hilary was still waiting on her milkshake.  When the lights went out the first time, there was the initial stunned silence.  Hilary took advantage of this moment and yelled, "My milkshake!"  She made the whole restaurant laugh.  First bucket list item: check!

{oh Schmeagan}

{we weren't prepared for the cold}

We finally made it to Park City and tried to get tickets.  Being the amateurs we are, we couldn't get tickets since you're supposed to get them like forever in advance.  So we walked around a bit to see if we could see any celebrities or something. It was snowy and cold, so we didn't end up being there for too long.  BUT we saw a couple of people.
William Fitchner, the BA bank manager in "Dark Knight"

And Meagan, a fan of The Hills, pointed out Stephanie Pratt

But we all know who the REAL important people are...

I have always wanted to see a famous person up close and I literally almost touched William AND I recognized who he was. Second item off Bucket List: check!

We <3 the 224.

how NOT to play volleyball

AKA why Michelle never liked playing volleyball during P.E.

Today I was walking to campus by the place where I lived last year and I bumped into a friend from that complex.  I was late for class so we quickly exchanged pleasantries.  Then he asked me, "Hey. How's your face?"
I'm never going to live it down.
When I lived at this complex, we would go play volleyball at the RB on Saturday mornings.  I have never really been the volleyball playing type, but I liked to play sports and no one would listen to my basketball requests.
So one Saturday morning, I found myself with 6 guys playing a normal game of volleyball.  We were playing la-ti-dah so fun.  Little did I know that this would go down in history as the most embarrassing volleyball game of my life.
Every time someone re-tells this story, they do the actions.  So I decided to make this version in pictures.
Brian was on the other side and it was his turn to serve.

My team had our game faces on.

Me, ready to OWN this serve.

...I caught it with my face.  Remember how I said there were 6 boys there?  Just me and 6 boys? Oh, and I was somewhat dating one of them.  Yup.

My pride was hurt more than my face. I collapsed on the ground laughing and trying to hide from my embarrassment.  Since I was on the floor, there was that awkward pause when everyone is waiting to see if I was laughing and not crying so they can join in.  I've NEVER seen Brian laugh so hard.

Ever since that fateful morning, whenever I run into any of those guys, I am asked, "Hey Michelle! Remember that one time you caught the ball with your face?"  

"...YOUR face..."

I promise that I have hand-eye coordination.  Just sometimes issues with depth perception.

Cool.

http://youtu.be/Cgovv8jWETM

check

I completed a task off of my bucket list.  My bucket list is composed of mental notes of goals that I want to accomplish before I kick the bucket.  Meet someone famous.  Get published.  Go to Italy.  Stuff like that.
I have been learning Spanish since my sophomore year in high school and I took a few classes in college.  I consider of level of proficiency to be I-could-survive-in-another-country-like-finding-the-bathroom-or-ordering-food-but-couldn't-discuss-politics.  What does this have to do with my bucket list?  I have wanted to finish an entire book in a different language.  So I read the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  I just finished last night and, though it took some time, I'm so happy I did it.  Not only did I prove to myself that it could be done, but it helped to further prove the truthfulness of the book to me.  There were well-known scriptures that I read that used words that meant slightly different things in Spanish than they do in English.  This helped me to gain new insight into scriptures that I had heard multiple times.
For example, in Moroni 10:32, it says: "32  Sí, ^avenid a Cristo, y ^bperfeccionaos en él, y absteneos de toda impiedad, y si os abstenéis de toda impiedad, y ^camáis a Dios con toda vuestra alma, mente y fuerza, entonces su gracia os es suficiente, para que por su ^dgracia seáis perfectos en Cristo; y si por la gracia de Dios sois perfectos en Cristo, de ningún modo podréis negar el poder de Dios."
The phrase "y ^camáis a Dios con toda vuestra alma, mente y fuerza" in the English version means "and love God with all your might, mind, and strength."  The word "alma" in Spanish literally translates to "soul."  So we are commanded not only to love God with all of our might, but with all of our soul.  I thought that made that statement even more powerful.  And this is just one example of many.   This was a fulfilling task to accomplish.

Seattle and NYE

As shown by a previous post, this break was definitely a break. My schedule was basically non-scheduled. A few things were guaranteed: sleep, a trip to the gym, lots of food, and Vampire Diaries.  After this last semester, I needed a non-schedule.  

Except for one day, when I got up early and took a trip to Seattle with my brother.  

We had Starbucks at the first Starbucks at Pike's Place Market.  We walked around the market and watched the fish throwers.  I just love the atmosphere there.

I had a tour scheduled for the University of Washington.  I'm thinking about going to grad school there and I wanted to see what life would be like if I moved there.  It's a beautiful campus.

Then we drove by the Space Needle.

We finished off strong with Tillamook cheese pepperbacon burgers and milkshakes at Burgerville. THE BEST!

NEW YEAR'S EVE

I went to the regional YSA party in Portland at the Tiffany Center with Lindsay and Brittany Bigelow. We dressed classy and danced until 2012.

Today I watched the salt flats go by as I touched down in SLC, which was the mark of the end of my great trip.

Bye Portland :(  Hello winter semester :)

twentyeleven

HIGHLIGHTS
Ericksen's European Trip Extravaganza

*amazing vacation*

Taylor Swift/General Conference/BYU game with Momma

Annie and Bryce's Wedding

Went on a lot of hikes

Had fun working at Independent Study

Had my fabulous 21st birthday at Las Vegas with Anna, Annie, my grandma, and mi madre

Spent my first summer in Provo

roomie reunion

HPATDH, Part 2 PRE-Premier

Spencer's graduation and fun in OR (well, this wasn't in Provo, but it was summer time)

made lots and lots. and lots. of cupcakes.

4th of July

4th of July with Oregon peeps

Went to Los Angeles to see Yellowcard and the city with Anna, Ellen, and Brenna

Thanksgiving with my family

Spent lots of time at our beach house

Had fun working at Independent Study

Started my senior year at BYU!

I had a few more downs this year than I have in the past, but, as you can tell, I think I did a good job making up for it with the ups. My family has been the greatest support for me and I'm so grateful for how close we are and have become more recently.  I'm also grateful for the friends that stood by me through everything this year.  This year was a chance for me to realize how blessed I am.  I love my major and I am going to a great university.  I have the knowledge of the Gospel and of my Savior's love for all of us.  I am healthy and strong.  Two thousand and twelve, let's go!!