Busy & Important

Right now I am sitting in bed and listening to the new Katy Perry album on Youtube. Yes, Katy Perry. And guess what? Not bad. For unwinding after a long Thursday, that is. I worked from 8 - 5, attended a class from 5:30 - 7:15, then spent another 2 hours in a computer lab on campus so I could finish a project. The number of hours I spend staring at a computer screen these days is troubling... and probably not great for my optic nerves. I'm only here now because I feel restless. And because this album really is pretty good.

There's a line from Bridget Jones' Diary where Bridget sarcastically tells her boss, "Shut up, please. I am very busy and important." Sometimes I like busy because the more busy I am, the more important and grownup I feel. Never mind the fact the tasks I perform are pretty insignificant and even downright mundane at times. But cumulatively all these busy little tasks fill my days. 

Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives. 

- President Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most

Other times I feel like I'm not busy enough. Like I'm stuck, but stubbornly doing all I can to convince myself I am not stuck. "I'm not stuck, I work full time!" or "I'm not stuck, I'm back in school!" or "I'm not stuck, I could cut off 10 inches of my hair if I wanted to!" My calendar is full and change is always one bad haircut away, but it often feels fleeting and superficial. Especially when I consider all the amazing things my friends and family are accomplishing as they transition into adulthood. Baby number 3, huh? And a new house? Well, I recently watched 2 whole seasons of Parks and Rec in 48 hours and drew a pretty picture for my art class. See?? My offerings seem pretty empty in comparison to the important work others are pursuing... Even if the picture I drew really was pretty.

While this adult skin isn't always comfortable, I am thankful for what I have. I appreciate my independence and hope I will discover my very own future meaningful something. Until then I will continue being very busy and important in my own way and find time to blog about important things like books, movies, celebrity crushes, Katy Perry's latest album, and the occasional family vacation... All while patiently enduring what sometimes feels like a second adolescence.

A Great Weekend

I want a repeat of last weekend. Eight guys showed up to choir practice on Sunday, I completed a MAJOR to-do list on Saturday, and on Friday I attended the Josh Groban concert. As someone who fell for Josh (no shame!) after hearing him sing "You're Still You" on Ally McBeal over 10 years ago, I was mildly enthusiastic when the day of the concert finally arrived. But that's no secret - I did make a fake Lauren and Josh album cover and publish it on this very blog. Creepy photoshop habits die hard... Maybe it's not cool to like Josh Groban these days (or any day), but I've never been that cool anyway. 

Sometimes I feel funny about seeing performers I really like in concert. I don't know if it's because I worry about the illusion shattering or if I'm just weird about famous people in general. For example, if I saw Josh Groban at the grocery store, I would not run up to him. I would probably run away from him and find a really good place to hide where I could watch him from a distance. Hopefully this just means I'm shy, not weird and creepy. Anyway...

The man himself! - Josh looking right at me (I swear) - Lauren & Katie waiting in our seats - Lauren & Katie after the concert - Josh on the jumbotron -  Josh singing AND playing the piano (with happy feet) - Josh singing some more

I loved the concert. I cheered and hollered more than my family may have deemed acceptable, but I have no regrets. We met my aunt and cousins at the Little America Hotel for dinner then took Trax to the arena. I'll spare you the details and share just a few of my favorite things about the concert...

• The set list included old and new songs - I was surprised at how many new ones I liked. Like, all of them.
• Josh played the piano AND the drums. The drums were a surprise. 
• Judith Hill (Team Adam!) was the opening act and later joined Josh onstage for "The Prayer" and "Remember When It Rained." Beautiful!
• There was a violinist in the band who played a cool arrangement of Aerosmith's "Dream On." The hair from his bow was flying everywhere. 
• At one point, Josh and I both yelled the exact same thing at the exact same time in response to an audience member: "Imposter!" You had to be there... 
• We were treated to TWO encores. The first was "You Raise Me Up," which he invited me - I mean - everyone to sing with him. Chills! The second was Charlie Chaplin's "Smile." That may have been my favorite song of the evening!
• He seems to really love his fans. And they CERTAINLY love him back. I was happy to find my illusions of him only improved after attending the concert. He's adorable.

That's probably enough teenage swooning for one blog post. I recommend checking out the new album... It's called All That Echoes and I've been listening to it on a continuos loop all week long. You can find a youtube playlist for it HERE. Maybe we'll collaborate on his next album... A girl can dream! And dream, and dream, and dream...