Holi Fest

This weekend was the Holi Fest, or Festival of Colors, at the Spanish Fork Hare Krishna Temple.

Holi, or Holli, also called the Festival of Colors, is a spring festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others.

The main day, Holi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion (he was chanting Vishnus [Krishna] name).

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. (thank you Wikipedia)

Matt and I wore my India pants because we knew our clothes would be thrashed and I was ok with these being dyed. I don't really like that we're twins though... I'm not into the matching couples thing.

Lauren went to the morning session with her brothers, but the four of us went to the later one. I almost regret it because it was SO crowded.

We found Becky, and I look dreadful in this photo because I'm trying to hold the camera back far enough to get all of us... triple chins...

You're kind of supposed to wait for the color throwing all at once, but no one could contain the crowd or their anticipation to get people colored. Matt got me in the eye. The color is actually dyed corn starch. So it really sticks to everything.

Matt got Nicole and Paige in the face as well.

Throwing color

Sprinkling color... >:|

This was my position during the actual throwing as well. I got a great video of everything. I'll try to post it.

The temple through the colored dust.

After the coloring

The color-throbbing crowd. It was so packed. I bet this is what Holi is like in India.

The color got everywhere... And Matt looks like Aladdin.

To my love...

I loved you from the start.
I love you just the same now.
I'll never stop loving you.
I always want you.
I get excited when I think about you.
I brag about you.
You make me happy.
You fill me up.
My friends love you too, which makes this even better.
I adore everything that you are.
I love the way you make me feel.
I never want to be without you.
I want to have you for the rest of my life.
I love your sweet buns.
InNOut Burger, I'm Yours

Dearly and Forever,

Lana

{There has been some confusion, this post is actually about InNOut, not Matt}

No offense, but...

Does anything nice ever come after that intro? More than anything else, it seems to be an excuse to say something rude. You may not mean to offend the person, but you certainly mean to say something that should offend them.

No offense, but you are so blankety blank.

What if I told you a joke in French? If you don't speak French would you enjoy it? Would you catch the humor that is embedded in francophone equivocation or French incongruity? Would it seem rude if I expected you to enjoy the joke as much as I do?

Tu ne sais pas? Tu ne comprends le blague? Moi, je le comprends, mais, je ne tu comprends pas quelquefois.

If you don't speak my language, you may not appreciate my jokes. If I don't appreciate your jokes, I may not speak your language. You may find it humorous, whereas I may be offended or fail to see the humor.

We all have an access point. One thing may not seem like a 'big deal' but maybe it's a smallish deal: a smallish deal that pricks where we are weakest.

I try to understand you. Request: Try to understand me as well. We can meet halfway.
My back is starting to hurt from bending over for you.

Measure of Character

So, I hate my job. I was talking to my dad yesterday and he gave me a little piece of wisdom:

Anyone can learn how to do something they enjoy. The true measure of character is learning how to do something you hate.

So I've decided to stick out my job. It pays really well (for Provo standards) and the work isn't that hard, it's just not very enjoyable. Plus, this isn't a career choice, it's just a summer job to get me through school next fall and winter.

Paige thought I was making a "whiney" blog post, so I'll add some whine, just for her. Does anyone else HATE econ? I think the principles of it are really interesting, but honestly I'm DONE with this semester (I've been this way since the first week). Only 4 more weeks of school and then I'm free of econ forever (or until I have to take History of Economic Thought next winter...). Right now I'm living for 1. The next four weeks and finals to be done, and then 2. Mexico!

whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine whine (just for you Paige.)

Birthday pt 3: "Real" Birthday

Baby Lana

21 years old

So, for those of you who do not know. My "birthday" is the 21st of March -The First Day of Spring. It was believed to be my actual birthday until I was 12. At that age, I needed my birth certificate for one reason or another, so I rifled through the filing cabinet to find it. I found my birth certificate (from the birthing center where my mom delivered me), but the date did not say March 21. It said March 20. I looked again and found another birth certificate (this one from the hospital) and it said March 21. My head reeling I asked my mom when I was born. She said the 21st, but when I showed her the conflicting certificates she supposed that she didn't remember the exact day. So we don't really know when my birthday is. Either way it falls on the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) and it is the cut off exactly between Pisces and Aries. I like not knowing my birthday -or as I say, having two birthdays.

Today after church Lauren and I cleaned out the cupboard under the stairs. Matt came over and, while working on his paper, whined about how much the rubber band in his hair hurt him. Too bad he put it in there himself...

Matt and I got locked out of my house for 20 minutes because he threw rocks at Paige and Lauren. Good thing it was beautiful and sunny. Perfect spring day.

I bought myself a ticket to Mexico for May. One week on the beach catching fish and sun. The ticket only cost me $350. It was an awesome deal. I'm very excited.

Bishop came over and gave me three tickets to General Conference, score!

And I made split pea soup. Yum.

nice photo of Matt with crazy post-rubber band hair

Birthday pt 2: Saturday Night

Food: Cheap Chinese takeout. Miyazaki : My Neighbor Totoro. Board Games: Ticket to Ride.
Perfect Evening.

Birthday pt 1: Cocktail Party

Paige posted some other photos on her blog. I'm too tired to write much about it, other than it was fun, many of you didn't show up which made me sad, but those of you who did made it fun. We had mixed drinks (comprised of juices) and we dressed up nice, listened to rat pack music, and fancied the night away. Good birthday party.

weird fact from the night: blond boy seated there pretended to be from England all night. He was "from" The Isle of Wight ( honestly, most of us weren't fooled. He doesn't even look British!)

Matt doing his dumb "Lana" face. He claims I make that face when I pose for photos. He teases me and Jared about never smiling...

not so satisfying

today:

i needed my hair trimmed so the back was the same length as the front. but instead of just trimming the back, she trimmed the front as well so were back where we started from but shorter and less attractive. bleh...

i started my new job. i hate it. i have no interest in selling swimsuits and i talked myself hoarse praising the double-lined lycra halter tankinis to costco customers. i have no passion for it and well, i don't want to be there...

i complained about people not doing their dishes and i upset my roommate. now i feel awful and nauseous (partly due to the spicy asian noodles followed by truffles and then cereal w soy milk)...

i was awfully whiney and selfish and couldn't even suck it up to play one round of 007 with my wonderful boyfriend who drops everything to make me happy...

i need to suck it up. everything that i deem a failure today is due to my own shortcomings. i'm thankful i found a job, but man i wish i could work somewhere where i'm contributing (even if it is to peoples sugar intake) and not just promoting consumerism (especially for overpriced and unattractive swimwear). again, i need to suck it up...

Lovelies

Becky and Leslie always post lists of lovelies. And well, I have some lovelies of my own that I photographed in November and never posted. They aren't edited, and I think the soft color adds to their sweetness. I loved this store. It made me want to go home and be crafty. The three beautiful girls, are Hilary's nieces. And the last of the photos are from her sister's home in Atlanta. I can't believe I'm posting Thanksgiving photos in March...