For the past seven years, during Utah State's Homecoming Week, the school puts on something called the "Paint Dance." While this may sound like some lame exhibit of an up-and-coming modern 'artist,' it's actually exactly what it appears to be: dance + paint. A bunch of rabid college students plunge into a huge plastic tent (as not to get the stuff on the DJ's equipment), grab cupfulls of paint, and chuck it at each other with no mercy. To make it even cooler, they installed a bunch of blacklights to make the paint glow, along with the white shirts that everyone wore.
I didn't get hit too hard. My pants were splashed on the side, but not too bad. My face was pretty covered, and my shirt got most of its battle scars from Austin using it as a handkerchief. Why? Because the guy was COVERED from head to toe in paint. I swear to you, it was in LAYERS. It soaked through his clothes, covered his hair, got in his ears, nose, and he even had a bit hanging out on his contacts at one point (hence the frequent use of a handkerchief, aka me). Under the blacklights, he glowed like a shirtless Swede.
Just how bad was it? If you wanna see, I'll have the pics up on Facebook ASAP. If you don't have Facebook:
-First of all; just get one. Seriously, the whole "I'm not conforming to a social network thing" isn't cool anymore. Even non-conformists are using it, and so that makes you a non-non-conformist. And what happens when you add two negatives? You get a positive... conformist...
-If you still don't wanna, find someone with an account. The pics are worth it, trust me. And who doesn't trust ME?
Let There Be Paint
Making Myself Sore
Almost every day, I have about 2 hours-ish after classes before I actually start to do stuff. Yeah, stuff. Most of the time, I just chill and be lazy. No more, says I. I've decided to pull a stupid: I'm gonna start working out again.
Well, I DID start working out again. Yesterday was the first day, and it was pretty cool. I'd forgotten what the adrenaline rush of pumping iron felt like. But this morning... not so good. My muscles are destroyed, and that makes the body think to itself "why did I do that? That was really stupid, why would I do that again? I need time to rest."
However, in the red corner we have the mind. "It's called working out, remember? We did it waaaay back when? It'll hurt for the first while, but you'll look better." "Are you nuts? I just ripped myself apart for this and that blah, blah...."
That's kind of how the argument goes, but the mind finally wins. So now, the body's angry at it, and I'm mad at it.
Not very good odds for my mind.
Of Boards, Tie-Dye, and Meetings
This week I had to take up my "Vice Presidential Duties" and update the display for the RHA bulletin board in Merrill Hall. Daunting task, I know. I eventually decided to go with an old favorite of mine: the list of useless facts. After over an hour and a half, I finished the thing, realizing that I took WAY too much time to do it. Next time you're in Logan, stop by and check it out. It's a sight to behold.
Yesterday, South Campus had a tie-dye party on the front lawn (I think the RA's put in on), and it was epic. They had t-shirts for people to color and design, and I, in reference to past experiences, decided to take some socks to make instead. Why? When you're my size, you can NEVER expect them to have something in your size. Adjust accordingly; hence the socks. They'll be Aggie Blue when they're finished, and they'll be my lucky hockey-game socks.
Lastly, after the hippie-inspired shenanigans, I had an Area Government meeting for about an hour, and immediately after that I had an Elders Quorum Pres. meeting. Okay, so do you know why the ward leaders keep bugging you about home teaching? Because it's HARD to set up! Take this from one with experience. We were in the meeting for TWO HOURS before we were finished. But hey, someone's gotta do it, right?
So you can see it's pretty nuts up here. Add to that homework, church, and keeping the girls from 312 away (don't ask). I don't tell you these to brag, but to say that I'm actually doing things up here that don't always rely on either sleep-drunkeness or a video game console. Shocking...
Virtual High-Five
I needed a ride down to Kaysville so I could be home for conference weekend (as my parents asked of me), but I couldn't find one. Luckily, I have the coolest grandparents in the world. I called and asked if they'd give me lift on their way down, and they said I could, but grandpa needed to drop by the bank for a bit and grandma wanted to pick some groceries out at Sam's Club, and she invited me to come with.
While we were there, I got a reminder of just how incredibly awesome our grandma is. She was telling me stories, listening to mine, and was constantly offering to spoil me by buying me food (she got me some awesome pot pies, but I wouldn't let her buy me anything else. It was tough). On the way to pick up grandpa from the bank, we continued talking and I learned a few things, as I often do when I'm around grandma and grandpa.
Basically, I'm just saying that we should all be grateful for our Grandma, as she's about the best they come. If you're one of the few that isn't in the Beckstead Bunch that actually reads this, make sure to thank your grandparents as well... even though ours are better.
So grandma, here's a virtual high-five to ya. You rock, hence the totally inappropriate tribute pic below.
Of News and Rock
A few things to report. Firstly, we have a new roommate. His name's Gene (at least his English name), and he's from Hong Kong. Yeah, he got here a little late, but what they actually do here is there's this Chinese professor that finds the best students around the world in his field and pays them to come out here and work/research with him. I don't know much about Gene, as I've only seen him three times, as he's never home. But hey, we've got a while, right?
I think my cold's finally gone, knock on wood. I also got to put my excellent paper BSing skills to use: I had to write a paper on a book that I only got 1/4 the way through, and I had to write an essay for a test on a subject that I wasn't at class for, and I got a B+. I know that this sounds like a flash of genius among my many other... mental flaws. But don't thank me, kids. This amazing talent is a direct genetic hand-me-down from Dad. His superior genetic material is what's to blame for this amazing happenstance.
Also, I've discovered one of my greatest talents: air guitar. I mean, sure, everyone can jam out to an invisible instrument of awesomeness now and again, but I've had people tell me that I can rock out (or at least I could, if it didn't look so dorky). Give me a song that I'm familiar with, and I'll make the rock gods jealous with my bodacious miming.
THIS IS NOT ME
