red apples, pumpkin cookies, hmmmm and a sweater

I love fall. I love it so much. It is my favorite season. I can't get enough of it! I started looking forward to all the things that are going to happen because it's fall... These are my top 10 favorite things that I am looking forward to, here they are:
1.) This sounds cliche, but I love the leaves changing colors! Especially changing into all those lovely golden-y colors that just make my eyes pop at the sight of them.
2.) Tis the season for Sweaters! and Scarves! and Jackets! Ah! All my favorite items of clothing. They always make me feel smarter and more eclectic when I wear any of those pieces... huzzah!
3.) I think this is the best season for driving. You can roll down your window, blast some good music, and just bask in the sunny goodness that is fall.
4.) Speaking of good music, fall is the perfect time to break out some Nickel Creek! I was listening to their album at work and my eyes watered at the sound of their little mandolins and guitars plucking away...
5.) Pumpkin Cookies! I genuinely love pupmlin cookies, but eating them on a chilly October day with a glass of cold milk-- there is nothing more divine. Nothing!
6.) Along with those cookies, cuddling up at night with a nice book is positively fantastic. I like to re-read The Hobbit, or any other Tolkien book (Yes, I am an avid Lord of the Rings fan) oh! Harry Potter would do nicely, or Jane Austen, or The 3 Musketeers... Any cuddly book will do.
7.) Fall wouldn't be fall without a visit to the Pumpkin Patch. It is a family tradition that I have never gotten tired of. From the cheesy jokes placed strategically around the corn maze to the foul smelling fowl cages, I love every aspect of that place. Nothing is better than spending a good 30 minutes to an hour choosing pumpkins and gourds for our Halloween decorations.
8.) Pumpkins! I love them. Nuff said.
9.) I. Love. Shakespeare. Competition. Come this October it will be my 5th consecutive year going to Shakespeare competition in Cedar City with Orem High School. Making that long trek past fields and lakes and finally creeping into the red rock land of Southern Utah-- sends goosebumps up my arm just thinking about it. Seeing the Abbey Inn sign from the highway and falling into the silent reverence, remembering all the cheesy theatre "magic" that had taken place in that crowded parking lot. Staying up late laughing in rooms, running around like crazy trying to fix a certain costume for the 15th time... Partaking of the blessed Tomatoe Soup at the Pastry Pub (which is only served during that season) and finally, walking into the replica of the Globe Theatre on SUU campus... The first time I saw that-- I knew that this was all I wanted to spend my life doing. Theatre. It was the place I could let my imagination take me anywhere... with out being afraid of harsh judgements. hm, I almost forgot-- drinking hot apple cider right before the award ceremony, outside in that pine grove with the steel benches... the sharp smell of resin against apple is my favorite combination of smells. Some of my happiest memories are of that place. I love it.
10.) and one of the smallest, simplest, but grandest things about fall is sitting on my porch, staring at Mt Timpanogas. Listening to life. Merely passing sounds. Petting my cats (4 total) all meowing around my feet or possibly laying down next to me like stuffy little ambassadors. Smelling, Tasting, Breathing in everything around me, because life is good at that moment. Even with mounting homeowrk, stresses of work and callings, or tiny little problems about how my hair is falling on my face unflatteringly.... life is still good. And I attribute that to fall.

It's not easy being green

Today I was looking at notebooks in Harmon's. I could only find one section in the Back-to-School special that had the kind of notebooks I was looking for. All I wanted was a notebook with preferated (unsure of spelling) edges. I loathe notebooks without them because they leave a big giant mess everywhere you go. And I am one of those people that will take the time to bend the paper, lick the edges, and rip them off so it's a clean edge. BUT I cant afford to be licking papers in school because that makes me that much weirder!! Anywho, completely off topic but essential to my point. So as I was looking at this limited section, I narrowed it down to 2 notebooks (I am also one of those kinds of people that cant grab a notebook and call it good. I have to really think what notebook cover would most represent my personality and love for learning...anywho...) a green one and an orange one. Now, frankly I liked the little design on the orange one better. I really did. But, as I looked at the green, I realized it was a "Caitlin Notebook", simply because it was green. I grabbed it without another thought and bought it. I don't regret my decision at all but this experience has left me wondering. Did I really choose green as my favorite color? Or, did green choose me to have it be my favorite color? I instinctively will choose a green colored blouse over any other color blouse. There is a part of my mind that is thinking, "Ya! It's the best color and the best blouse there." but there is another part of my mind thinking, "Caitlin, look at the blue-polka dotted blouse with the puffy sleeves.... you know that that is the one you want. Put the green down." "No!" my other half says, "GREEN!" Obviously, the more aggressive side wins... Sigh, I have a lot of green clothes. I have a green room, a green jewelery box--with green jewelery in it, a green car, a lot of green buttons, green eyes (ok, hazel, but mostly green), green shoes, bags, my school colors include green, Oh and one of my favorite prayers I heard offered was from Neal in my ward and he wears green every single day of the year-only writes with green pens-and that particular prayer he was thanking Heavenly Father for all the beautiful colors in the world--specifically green, Ireland and Scotland are my favorites because they are known for green, I love St Patrick's day, Green Food is on the favorite list.... and now I have a green notebook. I just don't know what to do with myself. I think I am satisfied with just letting green take over my life. But it makes me think... hmmm... I love green.

Here's looking at you, kid

So, I have noticed that my friends are slowly uh... dissaparating, as it were. And that is a dramatic statement. But it's slightly the truth. And I'm not looking for sympathy or pity, I'm just stating a fact. And I am so happy for them and I'm good with where I am at right now too. It's just that no matter how happy/good/ content you are, that doesn't erase you missing someone. And that's where I am stuck. I just miss my friends. I keep reliving last moments with them and I wish I was the Rick, instead of the tear-faced Illsa, and with this suave coolness say, "Here's looking at you, kid." But oh well! Life goes on Lahaiem! And despite my weak tear ducts I can actually quote Casablanca with a realness all my own by stating, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Cue music.

My dear, I thought I'd drop a line....

there is nothing like a handwritten letter! I have been writing a few friends that are serving missions and there is nothing like coming home to find an envelope addressed to you, in your friend's handwriting, waiting to be opened. I love reading them and knowing that my friends sat down and wrote something to me. Because it is so not of this modern day world to slow down and write a letter. Everything is about being fast and convenient! A letter, a handwritten letter, embodies: care, concern, love, devotion, .....geunine friendship. No one has an old shoe box full of emails, or facebook messages, or texts... It's something you can carry around and read over and over again. I love it! That type of old fashioned, antique type of communication just makes the recipient feel that more important to someone else in the world. (Plus postage is ridiculous so the fact that someone would want to deal with that type of inconvienience is awesome too....)

any kind of moon will do

I was admiring the full moon we have had recently and thought to myself, "I never ever ever am bored with the moon. I always look forward to it." And that's the gospel truth! I love all phases of the moon and all colors of the moon. A favorite of mine is when its a really thin crescent and it's a very creamy yellow, ah! So beautiful! It's a celestial being that you can look at and identify personalities, moods, and feelings with it. Like, for some reason, I can never be in a bad mood when I see a full moon out-- I see that big round face and I cant help but admire it for the millionth time in my life. And I know there is the sun and stars.... but nothing is more rewarding for me than looking out my window and seeing that moon and being amazed by how much blue light it cascades into my room. Or walking at night, down a street, and having the only source of light come from the moon. It's a constant, calming light. And I love it.

well...

So for the past couple of weeks I have gotten obsessed with a couple of blogs. I thought they were super funny and just entertaining to read and I thought, "I could take a stab at this! I'm funny and just entertaining to be around!" Ok.... that sounds super conceited and stupid. Before you get too turned off my blog by my lack of good introduction pieces, let me tell you this: This is not going to be a single girl's diary on line expressing how lonely she gets or explaining in too deep a depth awkward things about her hygiene (no one should do that.) But it's simply... me! I guess I'll just be giving my thoughts on society. Weird random things that I used to text odd people I knew, but now I don't and all those thoughts are crammed up in my brain. I need to get them out! (ex. why is there so much freaking construction all over Provo? or... what a mistake it was to wear short shorts to rehersal, oy, BYU campus no likey....) Ya, pretty much I'm just growing up right now and taking a stab at society, and this blog will just be fun to read, for me at least... ok, I promise I'll get better at this. buh bye.