facebook.

I am so happy that people can't track their page stats on facebook.I got this awesome pic of Mary Wollenzein off Whitney's facebook page and am now posting it to my blog.

major confession.

I saw this movie with Whitney, Mary, and Natalie last night.

Natalie's brother works at a theater where he can get people in for free, so we basically chose what seemed to be the worst option possible-- counting on Whitney and Mary's sarcastic whit to carry us through to the end.

During the previews, a row of women sitting directly behind us were laughing uniformly at every obvious/cliche joke. I turned to Whitney.

"Seriously, I don't get people like this at all. It's so weird that they laugh at everything they're supposed to. It makes me feel like I don't understand the world."

"I know exactly what you mean. I've totally thought that before."

Maybe it's the fact that I haven't seen a formulaic Hollywood movie like this in years; maybe it's the fact that I've found this new ability to chill out and stop analyzing everything as a piece of art; but I loved "Bride Wars." We all did.

Half way through the movie, (yes, I'm using the word "movie" instead of "film") Whitney turned to me.

"I'm glad that we've totally turned into those weird people who laugh at everything."

"Oh my gosh, I know."

Of course there were ridiculous things about it. One of lead characters who happens to be a powerful lawyer is marrying a hedge fund manager. They all had perfect skin and hair and bodies. A lot of the quips felt really scripted. It was sooo Hollywood.

But sitting in that dark theater with those girls last night, I found myself contently in its clutches. It was wonderful.

$10 hotel room & viva las vegas.

When I told people that I was staying in a $10 hotel room in Las Vegas, everyone wanted to know what it was like:




When the rest of the gals arrived, the extravagance began:





3 generations.
Truth be told, I do not love Las Vegas. But I would go almost anywhere to have the opportunity to spend time with my female relatives.

My ability to appreciate female relationships has added a depth and meaningfulness to my life that I never anticipated or even hoped to find.

I used to always need a boy present in social situations to make them seem worth it. Somehow I felt unfulfilled without that possibility for romance, excitement, or a boost to my ego. I viewed other females as competitors and compared myself relentlessly. I am eternally grateful to have grown out of such immaturity and selfishness.

If I never get married again, I know that my female relationships will be enough for me to be happy.

25: the beginning of the rest of my life.

My birthday was on Friday night. It was probably the absolute best birthday of my life. Here's a list of highlights:

Whitney let me ride her bike during Critical Mass (just a massive bikeride that happens once a month in Provo):


Then I went to the opening of the art show that I made the chickens for:Karisa made the best carrot cake I've ever tasted and brought it to the art opening in honor of my birthday.

Then we (all of my family who lives in Utah and my friends Whitney, Mike Alger, Nate, Mark, Mary, and Lauren) all walked to the local Indian restaurant and enjoyed dinner. They all said one thing they loved about me as they passed my toki-doki cell phone charm around the table. My emotions ranged from laughing to crying.



Perhaps what Mark said was the most notable:
"What I love about Laura is that no matter how dramatic my life seems, her drama can always trump mine."


Then we made this exodus in lots of different cars to my parents' house for cake and ice cream. I rode with Mike Alger along with Mary and Lauren:

Mike: Sorry guys, my heater takes forever to warm up. But I have two blankets back there.

Mary: Oh good. I'm so cold.

Mary starts wrapping herself up in the blankets as I'm giving directions to Mike about where we're headed.

Mike: ...So Laura, right here? ...Oh yeah, you might wanna watch out for the red blanket though. I think I saw a clump on it or something.

Laura: A clump? What does that mean?! (Mike's car is kind of noisy) Mary, watch out, Mike says he saw a clump on the red blanket back there.

Mary: A clump? You mean on this red blanket I'm swaddled in?

I couldn't stop laughing. Also I think that Mary just stayed all swaddled up in that clumpy blanket. It was the joke of the night for me.

The chocolate cake my mom made was divine.

My brother, Carl, gave me the kid's book Preztel (a childhood favorite of mine) and everyone humored me by allowing me to read it to them.

We did fortune telling games and stayed up late.

Me, Mary, and Whit all had a fabulous sleepover full of girl talk and went out to breakfast in the morning.

My only question: How does life get better than this? And I'm being completely serious.