It must be genetics

Isn't it crazy how much can change in a few years? I never think I'm changing, but when you look back six months previous, I'm a completely different person than I was. Funny how life works...

Side note: I just turned up the brightness on my laptop and I feel like I discovered a whole new world. This magic moment...

So Facebook has groups that only certain people can join, and my ward up here has one. No one in the ward even knows I exist. It's the weirdest thing. Especially since I go to church every Sunday. But anyway, so for General Conference, we had this weird guy that posted for like 2 weeks with a countdown and a video. Every single day. So every day for 2 weeks, I had a notification from James Call. "11 days until General Conference!" So today, April 5, I posted to the wall thing, for the first time ever, "183 days until General Conference" and I posted a video. Do you ever have those moments when you KNOW you're the funniest persona alive on the planet? That happens to me a lot. Anyway. My friend/future roommate Mckinlee was in her room and someone came in and was like "oh my gosh you guys I saw the funniest thing on Facebook! Some girl posted in our ward a countdown to general conference like James Call hahah"
Another girl, "Is she even in our ward?"
"I Don't know".
I died laughing when Mckinlee told me. Brighton commented on it, quoting from Mean Girls, "She doesn't even go here!"

Then, right after this, I've been needing boxes/black trash bags to pack up all my stuff for the apartment/ to go home... I go out in the hall to go to the bathroom, and theres a huge cardboard box! So I looked left and right like they taught me in school, then i grabbed it and ran back in the room. Then went back to the bathroom like I originally needed, and what do you know. There was a trash bag filled with balloons. So, I emptied the balloons and took the trash bag. I'm a klepto. But on a plus note, our hall now looks like a party with all the balloons! They'll thank me...

Brighton was gone for 10 days in Scotland on her own Spring Break with her family, so naturally, some of our future-roommates and I covered everything she owned in yellow post-it notes. It was like a post-it bomb had gone off. Brilliance at its best.


You have to get pretty creative here when it comes to things to do. Maybe that explains the multiple condoms/pregnancy tests that we've left in the bathrooms and hallways... Or when we hide in the back of Sydney's truck and wait for people to pass by and then we jump out at them. Don't judge, it's one of the funniest things we've done. We had Mckinlee in the truck, but you couldn't see her. And then she would watch for people. "Ready.......set.....NOW!" Then we would get em. Every time. I don't know if they peed from being scared, but I think I peed from laughing so hard.

We had a birthday sign that we would put in our friend's rooms, but we lost it. It was originally for me, and Brighton and Michelle got in from the dollar store. Obviously, because it was spelled "Hapy Birthday". SO funny. But Michelle got it last, and we don't really know where it is now. But the good news is, coming back from dinner tonight, Brighton and I found our new sign. It's on some girls car. And we want it. So we're waiting about 2 hours for it to get dark. Then I move in. Sorry, Hayley.

Oh good news, I passed my first kidney stone. And lived to tell the tale. I deserve a sticker, or a llama, or something.


Also, Brighton, Jessica and I set off the fire alarm. I don't remember if I told you that. I feel like I did. But I don't even remember what I ate for dinner three hours ago. But yes, we were playing soccer in the hallway at like midnight. And Brighton (obviously she doesn't play soccer), hit the fire alarm (or maybe she does, cause of her good aim, and just is playing it off?) and we had to evacuate the entire building. 250 girls. At midnight. Some were NOT happy. Also, it was freezing. Hey, it happens. Right?

Well, that's all I got for ya. I've been needing to study for anatomy for the past... four months. So here goes. Finals are in two weeks, then it's Texas Time. Also, I promise I'm not just up to no good. Good things just aren't as fun to write... But don't worry! I've changed a lot, but even still, Grady Taylor is my dad. That doesn't give you a whole lot to work with:) It must be genetics.

It's the little things in life...

The big things that happen in life are great, but I have decided it is the really things that really make it great... Some things that come to mind?

-Grilled chicken sandwiches from the Creamery. I had never had a grilled chicken sandwich, since everything down South is fried..... But seriously! This is delicious, especially with some bacon on it.

-When my laptop turns on successfully. Brighton (my roommate) and I have the worst luck with technology, so every time it turns on without any problems seriously is great.

-Colored leaves!! I love love love trees when they have changed colors... Bright, vivid red is my favorite

-Good friends... This one is truly great... I don't know what I would do if I hadn't made good friends that are supportive and hilarious

-My family... My family, extended and close, is seriously the best. The best grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, parents, brothers, and sister. I am so grateful for all that my parents have taught me and inspired me to become, they are the best role models to have.

-Straws... Yes, straws. They have to be thick though!

-Caffeine, of course. I've found that the Burger King right by campus has DELICIOUS cokes... That's the only good thing they have at Burger King though!

-A normal roommate. I look around, and am so grateful for who I got... It was meant to be. She's funny, smart, normal, pretty, and all-around awesome...

-Colored pens... These just make me happy!

-Chase Plowman. Yes, shoutout :) He's awesome and supportive and helps me with everything I need. Also, he is super talented at just about everything, especially the piano (click on the link to watch his recent video, and my favorite that he does!). He's been there for me everytime I have needed him, and has helped me more than I can ever thank him for. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nnfaR8y-I

-Gum... I don't know if it's a nervous habit, but I am chewing gum nearly 24/7...

Of course there are millions of other things, but these are some that have been on my mind today and recently... With that said, look for the little things around you that make you happy. Pearls, post-it notes, and puppies.... Simple and small, but its the little things in life that make a big difference

How to Spot a Texan on Campus

I'm in a flexibility class, and tend to sit in the back and keep real quiet. However, yesterday we had to stretch with a buddy, so as fate would have it, I was with a girl from Texas. We were completely different, but that one thing in common kept us talking the entire class period. I don't care if she is the weirdest or coolest person ever, she is a Texan. Therefore, there will always be something to talk about, and we will automatically be friends.

Walking around campus, I've been able to spot the Texans, as we tend to stand out a mile away. Why?

1. If it's 70 degrees outside, we are the only ones bundled up in layers
2. We are proud of our Texas teams! Rangers, Cowboys, Mavericks, Longhorns, Aggies, you name it, we wear it, and we wear it proud!
3. Chances are, every Texan has a flag in their window or their dorm.
4. We say words like "yall", or "fixin to"
5. We use lots of similes and metaphors that only other Texans understand
6. School work always has been less important than the football games
7. Country music is the best sound yall will ever hear!
8. We know only Ford or Dodge makes trucks... Nice try Toyota!
9. We know basic Spanish words
10. We have belt buckles bigger than our fists
11. Tornado sirens and thunderstorms don't even phase us anymore
12. We think school should be cancelled because it's snowing a little outside
13. We know what a buggy is
14. We feel sorry for those who have a Mercedes....Cause we have a Ford
15. A few bugs and spiders don't bother us
16. We save our bacon grease to use for later
17. We know that everything tastes better with Ranch
18. We know our state has a pledge, and we can proudly say it
19. Where we're from, there are more Texas flags than American


As Davy Crockett put it, "You can all go to hell, I'm going to Texas".

Our boys wear boots, not short shorts

Fall has begun, not a whole lot has changed, just more Utah girls and California boys. Clarification? Blonder hair and shorter shorts. People might think Texas has some weird fashions, but at least our boys don't wear shorts above their knee. No one wants to see that, sorry.

I switched rooms, but I hate my new room. The reason? My Texas flag that hangs in the window is covered up by a massive tree. So no one can see it now... It truly is tragic. On a plus note, class was paused today because someone said they were from Texas, and the class started clapping and cheering. The professor had to wait until we were all done cheering him on. It was a nice little 20 seconds, being a part of that pride. I have yet to see another flag hanging in someone's window... Then again, there is no other state to be that proud of. New York? No. North Dakota? No. California? Absolutely not.

The good thing about paying a certain amount of money each month for the dorm is that now we don't have to worry about saving energy. I have yet to turn the light off during the day, the air conditioning is right above frost-bite, and sometimes we leave the sink on, just because we can.

The other day, after someone found out I was from Texas, they asked me if I rode my horse to school. Sadly,  no. But for fun, I barrel race, get muddy, and kill skunks. God bless Texas, and may God have mercy on all those not from here

Dear Webster

It is 2011, and wifi is a necessity now.... So BYU, with your motto of "enter to learn, go forth to serve".... It is hard to learn when I am technologically limited. I am using an Ethernet cord in my room, which does not work 90% of the time. On campus, I have such limited Internet access that it would be faster to do things the old fashioned way, and actually "Ask Webster". So Webster, I am asking you this, why oh why is the Internet so bad in Utah? My grandma even has wifi in her house. Now granted, she didn't know this until we told her, so she still doesn't know the password, but still. Get with the times!

And Webster, answer me this. Why do people leave their laundry in the machines for hours on end, knowing there are only 6 machines for a dorm of about 200 girls? The timid girls keep coming back throughout the day, upset to see the laundry just sitting there still. So thank you, Texas, for raising us girls to be assertive and get things done! I don't sit around and wait, I just take their laundry out and move it, putting my own in there instead. Upset? Then simply be proactive and get your laundry out on time, rather than waste precious space and time!

Why is it that you always seem to run into people you wish you could avoid? There are people I have met that are absolutely hilarious! But I have only seen them once, maybe twice. Then there are those people that I have met, and regretted it. And I see them everywhere!! Getting out my laundry, going to the vending machines (which I finally found), on my way to the Cannon center (only to find it closed), in class, EVERYWHERE!

It doesn't help that I go to bed so late now... At home I used to panic a little if I went to bed after 9. I was nicknamed "grandma", because I could be in bed by 8... Here, I don't think I've gone to bed before midnight! This has not helped my sarcastic behavior... Sleep does wonders for people with snarky comments like me.... Today I was asked, because I live in Texas, if I knew the Johnsons.

Really? Texas has nearly 25 million people...... Of course I know the Johnsons, doesn't everyone else in America? And to the other kid who asked me a few weeks ago, yes! I know the Smiths too!!! Isn't Texas great? Everyone seems to know everyone.

And if you don't, just pull up your wifi back at home, and you'll be sure to find one. Until then, I'll just keep asking Webster.

You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl

July 14, 2011
Ok Mom, the Texas Tales begin now, and I'll summarize the first few weeks at BYU. Living in the dorms is nice, I don't have to clean my toilet or shower... Not that I really did it back home anyway...

The downside? The cleaning people shut down the bathrooms in the morning. Not at five in the morning, at 9:30 in the morning. You know, when everyone is trying to get to class.

Here, I am known as the Texas girl. I don't know why, maybe it's the huge Texas flag in my window. Or maybe it's the millions of Texas shirts. Or maybe it's the accent and words like 'yall'. Or maybe it's the fact that I apologize to people when they say where their from. "Hey, I'm from California!". "I'm sorry.... I'm from Texas". The other day I was joking around and said "I hate yall!". To which someone replied, "who's yall?" These poor people need to get out more. Texas is the best state ever. Why? We have TexMex! It's true, everything is bigger in Texas. Our parking lines actually are the length of the car (if not longer). And our sidewalks are even bigger! The ones here in Utah are too skinny for comfort.

The worst part of college? The cheap toilet paper. I never realized how charming Charmin was... My poor behind misses 'expensive' toilet paper. Actually no, it just misses toilet paper in general. Sand paper at this point would be a better choice that what they're offering me.

The first few weeks, I was STARVING all the time. I was so hungry, but couldn't find the vending machines anywhere. And now that I've found them, I'm so tired of vending machines! We have the Cannon Center, but nothing beats a home cooked meal... Plus the Cannon center has weird hours. Are you hungry for breakfast? It's closed. Are you hungry for lunch? It's closed. Are you hungry for dinner? It's closed.

On the rare occasions that it's open and I go, it becomes a guessing game. No one knows what it is, so we get a plate or two, then make bets of what will be inside. The other day was chicken pot pie. At home it wouldn't be questionable, but it looked more like a calzone-type mystery meal, so we just got a salad instead.

Whoever invented Freshman 15 obviously hasn't been to college, or they went to college with a car and LOTS of parking space. Because I walk everywhere... I might join a power walking team, I'm getting so good at it. The downside to walking all the time, is that I'm now hungry all the time. Good thing the Cannon center isn't open!

I love being in the library, or just walking on campus, and the first place the boys look isn't your eyes. Or your butt. Or even your chest. It's your left ring finger. When nothing is there, their eyes light up and they approach you. I'm always quick to remind them I could be their younger sister, and that I'm not 18, so I could take them to court. I might use that excuse for a year or two more, it seems to be working for me... I'm not engaged yet!

And now it's time for class, the reason I'm here. The air conditioning in my Book of Mormon class is broken, but I can't even wear Nike shorts to class. And I still can't get into the shorts-to-my-knee thing... There was a link on my homepage the other day, and it was the worst dressed cities in America. Number 15... Provo, Utah. Congratulations fellow Mormons, we did it!