Annie.......

So this story requires a bit of background. When I was 13ish I knew this girl in my home ward named Carolyn. She was a senior and about to leave for BYU. She decided that for fun (mostly to ward off the guys she didn't want to date) she would go by Lyn. I thought this was a funny idea and when I was a senior I decided I would give it a shot. I decided I would chop off the Steph..and be Annie.

Then I moved in with my cousin and realized Annie would not work. You can't change the habit of someone who has known you your whole life basically.

So I vowed to do it my sophomore year. I moved into my new apartment to find that I now lived with....an Annie. DARN! I couldn't do it.

So my junior year rolled around and I am not sure why....but I didn't even think to change my name.
But then my senior year rolled around......... (aka tonight haha) Around 6ish tonight I decided to start going by Annie. (Only in my ward....family, old friends school, work, etc. would still be Stephanie/Steph/Stephie) So I sent out a text that went something like this.

"Attention everyone. I hereby change my name to Annie. That is all. Thank you. Have a nice day!"

I got several confused and stunned texts but smoothed out most ruffled feathers. Then I went to visit some people in one of the other apartments in our complex. And here the madness began. First I got a great deal of confusion. Most thought it was a joke...but they do not know me very well. People who have fake engagements and marriages are the most likely people to randomly change their name...for reals...just to confuse people. Anyway so I explained I was serious and why I was....just for fun, a change of pace, a reinvention of sorts.

Some were very supportive...my home teacher Jeff....ok so that was it really at first. Most we not supportive. They thought I should be Anie (short a sound...like a knee thank you Kevin and Eric).

Others (also eric) thought Fannie/Fanny/Phanie/Phannie would be most appropriate. REALLY!!!!!!!!!! Yes I love being called the name of someone's backside. When I pointed this out later to ERic.....heheh payback...... He became very red..started to say something then stopped....then upon our insistence informed me that there was nothing wrong with my fanny....:) THANKS ERIC!!!!! what a great friend right hehehehe
But most though just thought I should stay Stephanie/Steph

Then ward prayer happened and this is when the train really went off the tracks. I found several more supporters...Jared, Kyle, JB, Dustin, Paul, Maddie, Kelsi, Ginger---wonderful friends these people are :). And I got Holly to come to my side too hehehehe There are TONS of new people in the ward (seriously our ward quadrupled in size). So I always introduced myself as Annie. And they all believed me..what else would they do. But then the "goldie oldies" or "the veterans" as many call them began to rebel....that or they forgot. Then the poor new people started getting very confused and I had to explain and it just stopped working. Then I went to go visit some friends...and Apartment 4.....you know who you are......created the UPROAR.

They voted and decided Fannie/Phannie was the best name they could give me. As more joined the conversation all the frustration I received at ward prayer became anger and resentment (well not really but it makes for a better story). But really I think some people were genuinely upset and confused....although I am pretty sure most just wanted to give me a hard time.

So as of the end of the night I decided that it was too much. I had created a monster. And I really don't want to be called Fannie all year so I knew I had to stop things now. So I sent out another text revoking my first (which totally ruined my street cred).
Who knew that changing my name could create such an uproar! I mean really I just thought people would be like ok...weird but whatever...and call me Annie. Or just stick to Stephanie. But there was upsetness.....which totally harshed my mellow.

so yeah that is what happened to me tonight....QUOTE OF THE DAY: There is nothing wrong with your fanny. I don't even have to find the silly for this one :)

MORE TOMORROW ABOUT MY TRIP TO LAGOON....aka the trip where 5 college students kept doing really dumb stuff..........

Old People are so great

So yesterday I had to go to the Social Security office to get a replacement card. Unfortuately my card got lost somewhere back in Januaryish. We are hoping that it got dropped in a parking lot--run over a million times and then snowed on and washed down the drain......but anyway.

I was sitting there in the office and this nice old lady comes in with her husband and is talking to one of the workers. She asks several questions and then realizes that all the business she had to take care of could be done online. She turns to her husband and says "Honey I guess we need to figure out this online thing"

IT WAS SO CUTE! Especially the way she said it so exasperatedly.


Old people can be so cute! They are so much like children in that they often say whatever comes to their heads. Luckily I have been blessed with grandmothers that are not too crazy. They are the more sweet conservative types. But I have a feeling----if I am ever a grandmother or if I am that crazy cooky great aunt---I am going to be the one people don't know what to do with. You know the ones who say the most inappropriate things and someone always just cries out "GRANDMA!" Yeah that is gonna be me! I am gonna be the one who says in the middle of dinner "Ya know honey you were right is is cute". Or in the store "oh honey should go go talk to that man...he has a cute tush." Come on you guys...you know that will be me.
But I also hope along with my cookiness and my big mouth, I'll be able to be a wise old person too. My grandfather is one of the greatest men I know. He is a spiritual giant---a temple sealer and former bishop. He loves his family and doesn't show it in the conventional ways, but as he teases you-you know he cares. And if you need him to not be silly....he gets serious right away and give the best advice. I trust my parents explicitly but I am pretty stubborn and don't always follow their advice. But if/when my grandpa gives me advice, I don't even think about it or question it at all. I just follow almost blindly. I just trust him that much.
I hope that someday I can be that for someone else, cause it is such a comfort to me.

What is this thing????

So my life can be pretty amusing sometimes......although sometimes it is so not funny that it becomes funny.
Sister Marjorie Hinckley once said "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."
So here I will try to laugh...about the good and the bad. Its not always in my nature to be positive but it is something that I want to work on.
Since this will be something possibly read by a wide variety of people I will not give too many personal details. I wouldn't want the whole world learning who my current crush is. (FYI-total honesty no one at the moment unless famous people count) But don't worry you will get enough :). But I promise total honesty...other than lying by omission!

Enjoy!