I skipped class today to go to the bookstore and teach myself French.

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It was officially unofficially the first day of fall a few weekends ago, and naturally I found myself sitting in Barnes & Noble with a stack full of books on my tiny table. I usually wander around the classic and new fiction section, but that day we gathered travel and vacation novels -- and then I wondered what life would be like with a bank account ending in ...000,000,000. I have come to the conclusion that my first flight out of Utah would probably be to Disneyland in Paris.

But that day I was unfortunately reminded of one sad, unfortunate truth,
and it is this:

I only survived one semester of French.

The only phrases I can really remember are enchante, leitmotiv, and je ne sais quoi - which translated means: I don't know. That was the one phrase I used most frequently in French 101 and which is why I never moved on to French 202. Je nais sais quois never failed me, except it kind of did because I still can't speak the language of love.

But that's okay because my determination kicked back in again on the first unofficial day of fall. And thanks to a rainy evening at the bookstore/and the Amelie soundtrack on repeat, we purchased our French phrase books, and officially began our Paris fund for post college graduation.

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Which is exactly why I skipped class today to go to the bookstore to teach myself French.

mission impossible: krispy kremes.

I know I say it so often, but this time I really found my kindred spirits.



Sargent
Dr. Ross
Lieutenant
Agent 89
Caroline
Heaps

And we're all off to Hollywood. I'll be sure to write a postcard.

how i de-stress my life.

You know it's been a long day/week/month (in my case) when I am building forts in my closet, or beds inside of bathtubs (long story), or decide to watch a movie on the balcony instead of on the couch. Lately, all of our movies have been hand-picked from the library, and films in black and white seem to be mandatory. So far, we've particularly taken a liking to Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, and both of them combine wonderfully in the movie *A Philadelphia Story.

*One of our favorite quotes:
Don't you agree that if a man says he loves a girl, he ought to marry her?

Oh I wish.

I think I take a liking to old love movies when I'm stressed out of my mind, because everything back then seems so simple - even love.

So I'm looking forward to another week of school.
If I make it through tomorrows 6 AM to 5 PM schedule on campus, after pulling an all-nighter on Saturday and staying up until 2 in the morning on Sunday... Angels will be singing the Hallelujah chorus.

10 years ago.

I was twelve years old on September 11, 2001.

Although I was not old enough to understand everything as I stood in front of the television that morning with my family, years later I can't quite put into words what that day did for me. There was something different in the way I felt the following days; as I saw the flag wave, as I watched the evening news, and as I read the words "God Bless America" on billboards, signs - even hanging in car windows.

This weekend, like many of you, I watched all the specials of 9/11 on TV, and I was touched by the memorials reminding us of the incredible and awe-inspiring courage of so many that day. But it was this morning, as I sat and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square, that I was truly reminded of that same way I felt as a seventh grader on that day ten years ago:




I feel so, so grateful to be an American. And I always do, but so especially today.

as is tradition...

Summer 2011. from Kelsie Christensen on Vimeo.

Another summer documentary.
Here's to: thelma and eleanor, (their new bff luna!), wesley's timeless advice - naturally shared at cafe west, utah lake, the river bank, ray charles, fireworks, emails, penpals, and sunshine.

--

And I'll miss it. Just like I do every single time school starts again.

a few love letters.

Dear Book Delivery Boy (the same one who I met a year ago!),
Thank you for the books. Break up with your girlfriend.

Dear Tuesdays,
How am I going to survive you this semester?

Dear Stress Levels,
Lower yourself.

Dear Mandy,
Thank you so much for letting me guest post on your darling blog! I think you are lovely.

Dear New Zealand,
You spoiled me.

Dear Skype,
Thanks for being invented. My Mary Kate and Ashely Olsen days aren't quite over yet thanks to you.

And most importantly:

Dear everybody reading this,
Please watch this short film. It's about 20 minutes long, but so very worth it.

That is all.

Sincerely,
Yours Truly,
Love Always,
etc.