I can trace all my books [March 2012]

March
23. Cold Cereal by Adam Rex
24. Brightly Burning by Mercedes Lackey
25. As The Pig Turns by M.C. Beaton
26. Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
27. Torn by Amanda Hocking
28. Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
29. The Genius Files #1: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
30. Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
31. The Genius Files #2: Never Say Genius by Dan Gutman

one step, two step, you fall behind

Things I've Been Doing Lately that are Stupid and I Should Stop

1. Taking my phone places (like class, and firesides) and not turning it on silent.
2. Thinking of things to say and letting them pass the "Do I think it's funny?" checkpoint and not making them pass through "Is it actually funny?" or even "Is it appropriate?" before I open my mouth.
3. Going to events and activities by myself, and not making friends.
4. Not putting away clothes or making my bed.
5. Having a crush on a teenager...again...


There's an easy solution to all of these!

1. I just won't take my phone anywhere anymore.
2. I just won't say anything ever.
3. I just won't go anywhere ever. Alternately, I'll make sure to take a book. Books are always my friends.
4. This really isn't a problem to me. I only assume it's stupid because my dad tells me so.
5. Have a crush on someone else. (hahahaha)


I could probably think of other stupid things I do. If I remember some of the ones I wanted to add to this list previously, I will. But I will focus on the good things I'm doing in my life instead! (I'll abstain from making that list, because I can't think of anything right now so I don't come across as bragging.)



[Mom, please don't ask me about this boy I have a crush on. You already know you're right, so let's agree to never speak of it.]

Title: "Grandmother Song" ~ Vienna Teng

[Which reminds me of the other stupid thing I did on Monday -- snowmobiling. My quads got fried and I'm only just starting to walk like a normal person. Barely. It was fun, though.]

I can trace all my books [February 2012]

I spent half the month with only one book on my list. I am sometimes picky about the books I'm willing to read -- I started and gave up on more books this month than ever. But then the library runs got useful and I read a few books. Almost a book a day, sometimes. I do like reading still.

Can't even tell you what I was doing instead. Studying? Kind of. I stopped keeping track of movies and TV shows but I didn't feel like I was watching that many. And I haven't been doing my visiting teaching either.

Anyway, here's the 8 books I managed to read in February:


February
15. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
16. Star Crossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
17. Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce
18. Extraordinary by Adam Selzer
19. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
20. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
21. Witch Song by Amber Argyle
22. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

tell your story now

The following is a story I've been meaning to tell for a while. Shortly after it happened I used it in a Relief Society lesson. Then I joined a Parables class at the Institute, so thought I'd better save it to use there -- which I did, in December. Ever since that day I've been planning to write it up and post it here, but I didn't get to it until today. It's a good thing this isn't a parable about procrastination.

In August my family decided it was time for our yearly float of the Oneida Narrows. It was my first time doing the whole run, so I was a little bit nervous. I was prepared -- I wore long shorts, sandals with backs[1], and sunglasses. Also sunscreen. (Always wear sunscreen! It's gross, but better than a sunburn.[2]) But none of those things would really protect me in the case of a spill, you know? They just enhanced my tubing experience.

One thing I did have was a length of PVC pipe to steer myself away from obstacles, and you can bet I kept a firm grip on it! It came in useful when I got too close to rocks and didn't want to (or couldn't) push off with my feet. And it made me feel more secure.

It didn't take long on the river for me to get separated from the rest of my family. (It's so typical.) Also my tube was often sideways or backwards, but I always made sure to turn it back around or at least check that I wasn't approaching rapids -- I was way scared of rapids!

Any time I was in a place of moderate roughness, I would pray constantly in my heart that I wouldn't fall out of my tube. I don't like to think about what could happen to me when I fell out -- I could pull an important muscle or break something or hit my head and go blind -- or drown. It was a scary prospect, so I just made sure to use my pole to keep me safe.

There came a place where the rapids got kind of crazy. Straight ahead I saw a dip, which meant there was a rock. Even more concerning was the fountain of water on the other end of the dip -- it seriously went up like 3 feet![3] I started praying out loud. Not very coherently -- more like a litany. The dip got closer and closer. I couldn't paddle away from it in time. I had time for one more prayer when I hit the rapid. I closed my eyes and my mouth and away flew my tube.

Oh, I forgot to mention I was wearing a life jacket. Also, I still had hold of my pole!

So there I was, floating along the rapids, banging into rocks, doing my best to swim to my tube. I was able to get to it before it got too far afield, so I held onto it while still not navigating the rapids with any efficacy. I knew I needed to get back on the tube or I could get really hurt, but it's kind of hard for me to climb into things like that, even when I'm not rushing along a river. I tried once, and got pretty close, but then I lost it. After another failed try, I got a very distinct prompting:

Let go of the pole.

Wait a second, I thought. This pole has been useful (kind of). I don't want to lose it -- what will Dad think? I'm sure I can make it.

But I couldn't.

With a sigh, I relinquished my hold on the pole and watched it start to float downstream. With one more herculean effort, I pulled myself back onto the tube. I was safe! And I hadn't even lost my sunglasses.[4]

Anything else that happened on that trip was basically nothing compared to what I'd already been through. I was even able to make it to the dock without too much trouble (which is a far cry from the year before, when I was in danger of floating away forever).

Not only that, but I was able to catch up to my pole and bring it safely home as well.

The end!

Now. I told this story to both my Relief Society and my Parables class, and they came up with way better interpretations than I did. You can probably see them for yourselves -- being prepared for the storms of life won't protect you from everything, sometimes you have to sacrifice something good for something more important (and maybe it'll still work out in the end), listen to the promptings of the Spirit (when is that not an application?), etc.

But I still like my interpretation best, because it was what I needed to hear at the time -- and, to my shame, what I still need to hear: Let go of it, Leslie.

There are things in my life that I wish were better. Nothing's bad but I could be spending my time a lot more productively than I often am. Like everyone else I'm struggling through life, trying not to get too battered by the rocks[5], attempting to get stable enough to make it. I know that if I stop wasting my time and start serving the way the Lord wants me to, He will help me do what I need to do to be safe and happy.

So, let go of it. Whatever it is that's keeping you from being the person you know you ought to be, you know you don't need it.  Just let it float out of your life for now. And it will all be okay.

(Some restrictions apply; use your own agency and inspiration to apply this counsel to your life as needed, and I will too.)




[1]My sisters were not thus prepared. They ended up duct-taping their flip-flops to their feet. Yep, pretty ridiculous.
[2]I'm trying to talk myself into this. I don't like sunburns, but I really don't like excessive sunscreen.
[3]This section works better in person. Actually I'm starting to think that this whole story works better in person.
[4]I love those sunglasses. Ironically, I seem to have lost them in the last few days. I'm not happy.
[5]That reminds me! I got an awesome bruise on my leg from my little experience! It was way deep; I could still see the outline 3 months later.

Title Text: "Shine" by Vienna Teng (until I can find a more applicable one or need this one for another post's relevancy)

I can trace all my books [January 2012]

Well hey there. It's February! I had kind of a busy month in January, I guess. It's hard to tell -- this is the first month I've kept track of my movie and TV watching, so I don't know what's normal. My number of books is what I would call "average":

January
1. Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen
2. The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
3. Epigenetics: The Ultimate Mystery of Inheritance by Richard C. Francis
4. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
5. The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill
6. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
7. A True Princess by Diane Zahler
8. PIE by Sarah Weeks
9. The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen by Geraldine McCaughrean
10. The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin
11. Johnny Swanson by Eleanor Updale
12. Angelica by Sharon Shinn
13. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
14. Switched by Amanda Hocking

I'm trying to decide if I want to post the movies and TV too. Would you guys be interested in that? It's mostly for my own benefit (and embarrassment -- do you know how much Sarah Jane I sat through?) but if anyone's really curious we can work something out.

a connection never hoped for

Sometime in the last week I seem to have somehow strained my hamstring. It hurts a lot. It's kind of funny, too, because every time I stand up and wince and limp around I remember that a strained hamstring is the initial diagnosis for the pain in my leg. Even though, having experienced both, they are nothing alike.

(Oh, I should mention that my pulled* hamstring is in my right leg. My pained leg was my left. Sometimes it still hurts...and it's still nothing like a pulled muscle.

*I'm keeping things conservative from now on. It's not like I actually know what a strained hamstring feels like.)

But I do know where the doctors came from in reaching that decision: it hurts in the same place I complained about and some of my phenotypical manifestations are the same -- that was completely the wrong word. I was being far too clever and referring to how things look rather than how they are...uh...genetically? See, the metaphor breaks down way too quickly. Anyway, I limp with both legs.

Probably strained pulled it falling down while playing basketball last week. Twisted my ankle, bumped my chin into my knee, and hit the floor heavy as a bag of rocks. I'm so hazardous.

Anyway, I'm sure that's fascinating for all of you.

I threw away most of my old papers today. I sorted them out for discarding yesterday and today I did it. Lots of them were just old church programs, because I used to hoard every blank piece of paper I got in church so I could doodle and write backwards on them. It's pretty crazy how I don't remember who a lot of those people are. Not so crazy. Now that it's 2012 it's been like 4 years. I also threw away nice notes from people that I don't care about anymore/I have no idea who they were.

I also threw away Christmas cards and birthday greetings and nice notes from people that I was way, way close to. That was harder. But if I never look through them except when I'm looking for things to throw away, what's the point in keeping them?

Goodbye, all my old friendships. Some of us still get to be friends. I just don't keep your written words anymore.

Here's the thing, though!  I have a block about throwing away missionary letters!  Any of them! I can't do it!

I mean, I still have all the letters from that one kid who ended up going off the deep end a little bit. (I initially called him my crazy ex, but I decided that was unkind and probably not even true.) And the letters from my high school friends that I never really hung out with again and then they all got married. Plus other letters that still mean a lot to me. I can't get rid of any of them.

I'm wondering if it's because they're letters from a ~missionary. (I'm fully guilty of throwing away nice notes from one friend but keeping all their missionary letters.) I'm not sure why it makes it a difference, but it must. Was it because it's so fun to get mail? And write mail? And especially when it's, as I said, a ~missionary because they're special? I just don't know!  All I know is I can't get rid of them yet.

And I don't even want to.

("Unwritten Letter #1")

I can trace all my books [2011]

It was a good year for reading. Statistics to follow.

Books
January
1. The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey
2. Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
3. Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
4. Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
5. Palace Beautiful by Sarah Deford Williams
6. The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little
7. Schooled by Gordan Korman
8. The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse

9. Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack

10. Clockwork 3 by Matthew J. Kirby

11. Star of the Morning by Lynn Kurland

12. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

13. The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
14. Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Neilson

15. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

16. The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

17. English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack

18. The Mage's Daughter by Lynn Kurland
19. Princess of the Sword by Lynn Kurland
20. Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith

21. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

22. Pillage by Obert Skye

23. Matched by Ally Condie
24. Choke by Obert Skye

February
25. Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
26. Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
27. The Rise of Renegade X by C.M. Campbell
28. Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner
29. The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman
30. Once by Morris Gleitzman
31. Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson

32. The Running Dream by Wendelin van Draanen

33. Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

34. Drive by Daniel H. Pink

35. Cast in Courtlight by Michelle Sagara

36. Cast in Secret by Michelle Sagara

37. Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton

38. Cast in Fury by Michelle Sagara

39. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

March
40. Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara

41. Courting Miss Lancaster by Sara M. Eden

42. Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara

43. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

44. Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

45. I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

46. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

47. Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

48. All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot
49. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
50. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Book 2: The Hidden Gallery by MaryRose Wood
51. Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
52. Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwood
53. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
54. Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

55. A Time to Die by Jeffrey S. Savage

56. The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley

57. Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

April
58. Entwined by Heather Dixon
59. Peasant Queen by Cheri Chelsey
60. Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson
61. Treason at Lisson Grove by Anne Perry
62. Red Glove by Holly Black
63. Murder Afloat by Jane Leslie Conley
64. Virals by Kathy Reichs
65. No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko
66. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

67. Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

68. My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison
69. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

May
70. Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
71. Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
72. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
73. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
74. The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
75. Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales by Tamora Pierce
76. Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
77. Till Death Do Us Bark by Kate and M. Sarah Klise
78. Dying to Meet You by Kate and M. Sarah Klise
79. The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanna Snow Mystery by Angie Frazier
80. Pegasus by Robin McKinley
81. My Double Life by Janette Rallison
82. Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen
83. Cross My Heart by Julie Wright
84. The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones
85. The Lost Queen by Frewin Jones
86. A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith
87. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
88. Murder By Design by Betsy Brannon Green

June
89. Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn
90.How to Take the Ex- out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison
91.The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
92. Horton Halfpott by Tom Angelberger
93. Crystal Bones by C. Aubrey Hall
94. Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway by Wendelin van Draanen
95. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
96. Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen by Wendelin van Draanen
97. Sammy Keyes and the Wedding Crasher by Wendelin van Draanen
98. Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
99. It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison
100. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
101. Soulless by Gail Carriger
102. House of the Star by Caitlin Brennan
103. The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip
104. The Moon and the Face by Patricia McKillip
105. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
106. To the Rescue by Heidi S. Swinton
107. The Girl in Blue by P.G. Wodehouse
108. The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
109. Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
110. A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

July
111. Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo
112. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
113. Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

114. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
115. Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

116. The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

117. Come Fall by A.C.E. Bauer

118. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
119. A Glory of Unicorns edited by Bruce Coville

120. Heartless by Gail Carriger

121. The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

122. Changeless by Gail Carriger

123. Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith

124. Sidekicks by Jack D. Ferraiolo

125. Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator: The Bones of the Holy by Jennifer Allison
126. The Evolution of Thomas Hall by Kieth Merrill

August
127. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
128. Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen
129. Warped by Maurissa Guibord
130. Foggy with a Chance of Murder by G.G. Vandergrieff
131. Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher

132. The Secret Prince by Violet Haberdasher
133. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
134. FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper
135. Jane by April Lindner
136. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
137. A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
138. Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks
139. You'll Like It Here (Everyone Does) by Ruth White
140. Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar

September
141. Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
142. Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse
143. Red Blazer Girls: The Mistaken Masterpiece by Michael Beil
144. Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder
145. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
146. Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright
147. Geek Fantasy Novel by E. Archer
148. Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan
149. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
150. Deadly by Julie Chibbaro
151. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
152. The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
153. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
154. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

October
155. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
156. I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
157. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
158. What Your Doctor Can't Tell You by Kevin B. Jones
159. Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede
160. Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
161. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
162. City of Orphans by Avi
163.Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
164. A Plague Year by Edward Bloor
165. Adventure at Simba Hill by Susan Runholt
166.Troublemaker by Andrew Clements
167. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
168. Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
169. The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
170. As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott
171. Changes by Mercedes Lackey
172. Snuff by Terry Pratchett
173. 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass

November
174. Sammy Keyes and the Night of Skulls by Wendelin van Draanen
175. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
176. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
177. Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
178. City of Lies by Lian Tanner
179. Secrets at Sea by Robert F. Peck
180. Conspiracies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
181. Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey
182. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
183. Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
184. Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack
185. Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
186. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

December
187. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
188. Bad Guys in the Book of Mormon by Dennis Gaunt
189. Kat Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgie
190. Genesis by Bernard Beckett
191. Flint Heart by Katharine and John Paterson
192. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
193. Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson
194. Variant by Robison Wells
195. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
196. Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac
197. Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
198. Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemmon
199. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
200. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
201. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
202. The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell
203. Possession by Elana Johnson
204. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
205. The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

Total number of books: 205
Number of First-time Reads: 183
Number of Rereads: 22
Average number of books per month: 17.1
Number of nonfiction books: 4
Number of fiction books: 201

Anything else you'd like to know about this list? I can break out just about anything.

I can trace all my books [December 2011]

Here's this.

December
187. Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
188. Bad Guys in the Book of Mormon by Dennis Gaunt
189. Kat Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgie
190. Genesis by Bernard Beckett
191. Flint Heart by Katharine and John Paterson
192. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver
193. Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson
194. Variant by Robison Wells
195. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
196. Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac
197. Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
198. Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemmon
199. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
200. Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
201. States of Wonder by Ann Patchett
202. The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell
203. Possession by Elana Johnson
204. Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
205. The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

Bible in the nightstand drawer saying "Go on, open up"

Well, that was typical.

Back in October, we had a RS training meeting where we each got a new Book of Mormon and the recommendation to read it, looking for certain phrases.  I thought, "Why not read the whole thing by the end of the year? I'll be all ready for us to start it again for Sunday School." We'd been given a 90-day schedule and I figured in order to finish in time I started reading two or three days at a time (I only had like 72 days, which is tons harder than 90).

And then I stopped being in the habit of finding this new Book of Mormon and reading from it. It wasn't in a convenient place. I had other things to do during the day, and at night I wasn't going to leave my bed and go find the special book to read from (I had a different one by my bed that I would choose a chapter or so to read instead, on those days that I hadn't read already...which became more and more frequent).  It got to the point where I was halfway through December and only halfway through Mosiah.

Kind of like last time we read the Book of Mormon on a schedule.  I was still valiantly skimming in the evening on Dec 31, wishing that I'd kept to my goals better.  I did perform slightly more admirably this year; I totally could've finished yesterday, but there's been something else going on at my house.

Appropriately, it's a Book of Mormon readathon.  It's really distracting to try and read in Mormon when people in the other room are reading in Mosiah. So I gave up and joined them.  I've had to find some quiet minutes the past two days to do my own reading.

And I finished; that's what matters.  Actually, what matters is I need better self-discipline. If I treat my final projects like this I'm going to be in a sorry state.

But I am glad I finished. I like that book a lot. I hope that I can remember to open it up and read it every day.


"Homecoming (Walter's Song)"

want me you never will

So, once upon a time I accidentally started something by posting the following video to my Facebook:

Maybe you've seen it; if you haven't, it's not long--feel free to watch it.  If you have, you're wondering what I accidentally started since there have been no flaming discussions in my comments.  No one has a strong opinion about whether this is right or wrong.

Well, I started a couple things.  A bunch of my Facebook friends (I think I've seen like 6 or 7 now) also posted the video, after me.  It's possible they got it from one of their other friends, but it could've been me, right?  It's been interesting to follow those conversations (not very interesting, but more interesting than my post).

Also I started myself thinking about this situation in my life.  Part of my ponderings have been about how the video can't be accurate.  There was definitely some editing involved, and the editing could've excluded some less savory responses.  ("Savory" meaning, I guess, "What the filmmaker intended to portray.")  There's certainly some guys out there that count girls as their friends.

What does "friend" even mean?  What would "hook up" imply in my case (or in the case of most of the people interviewed)?  How do these girls know that these guys secretly like them?

So the definitions aren't clear.

Now, as far as my life goes.  Off the top of my head I can think of two guys I would unequivocally consider my friends, currently.  If I called them in dire straits, they wouldn't hesitate to do everything they could to help.  And they'd probably do the same for any other girl they know; they're pretty solid.  Awesome friends to have.

(I do know more than two guys, I promise.  The others are either fellows I'm "actively" pursuing, or fellows that I get along with just fine in our business-related interactions but have no real interest in seeing socially, or fellows that I'm not getting along with very well.  Does that about cover it?Oh, there's also the fellows that aren't my friends anymore because we don't go in the same circles.  Makes it harder for me to call them in dire straits, especially if they're in the subgroup of "married". Edit: I also forgot the generic acquaintances. I know them too.)

Anyway, these two guys I'm thinking of.  I'm pretty sure they have no interest in dating me, and here's why:

Neither have asked me on a date.

Here's where people can start complaining, "But maybe they want to!  Maybe they've been secretly pining for you all these months, Leslie, just waiting for your word.  And don't forget that them asking you out doesn't indicate any more than just a basic amount of interest, anyway, so why are you making a big deal out of it?"

(Okay, that last part is my own personal soapbox.  I doubt that my naysayers would bring it up at this juncture.)

The only answer I have to these complaints is: They don't want to.  *shrug* Is there anything else I can say?

Also, I know lots of girls with married or otherwise-engaged (oh, I'm funny) guys as friends, and there's no reason to look for anything more than friendship.  It's no good to say that "under no circumstances" it can happen.  It happens in my life, it happens in other girls' lives.
I still laughed at the movie!  It was interesting to see a guy's perspective and for girls to admit that they're often suspicious of their guy friends' motives (is that not what they said? Trust me, that's what they were implying).  I guess it's just the sweeping generalization that bugged me.

Let's be friends!

("Unwritten Letter #1" -- full of applicable lyrics)