Harry Potter Nerd Alert

A few months ago, J.K. Rowling announced Pottermore, a new interactive reading experience for Harry Potter fans. Then at the beginning of last month, they had seven days of early registration. If you caught the clue before all the spots for that day had filled up, you could get in early and be one of the beta testers for the site.

Anyone who knows me even remotely well knows that I am a Harry Potter fanatic, so you better believe I tried desperately to get into Pottermore early. I would check the site every day as soon as I woke up, and invariably, registration would be closed. Then, on the sixth day, I pulled up the site, and voila! There was a clue! So I answered the question quick and registered before the spots could be taken.

I was so excited. Until I realized that they wouldn't actually let me onto the site until September. I was a little bummed, but I resigned myself to the wait.

Well, this week, the wait was over. I got into Pottermore. And while I don't really know exactly what I'm supposed to do, it seems pretty awesome so far. I haven't gotten this far yet, but I do know that I will get sorted into a House and get my own wand, which is awesome. There is also a bunch of new stuff from J.K. Rowling, like backstory and little insights into why she wrote the books a certain way. This is really why I wanted to get onto the site.

General registration opens next month sometime, and I'm super excited for some of my friends to get online so I can interact with them. Because I know for a fact that at least some of my friends will join me in the HP nerddom that is Pottermore.

So here's to having yet one more thing on the internet to waste my time on. Huzzah!

Discouragement

Why is it that right after I feel really good and really optimistic about something, I crash and burn? Take the past week, for instance. I have been super social. More social than is usual for me. My roommates and I threw an incredibly successful party for the BYU football season opener. It was quite an impressive event. We had food on every surface, pretty much, and upwards of 25 people showed up to watch the game and eat. It was a blast. I had fun with people I already knew, and I got to know some people I didn't already know. I flirted with boys. I identified new boys I wanted to flirt with. I got to talk about football—a lot. So yeah, it was successful.

I also talked to a lot of people at church on Sunday. I actually felt comfortable saying hi to people and chatting. Again, that's not usually the norm for me. I went to ward prayer. I invited people over to my place. We watched Brian Regan and had a good time. I flirted some more. I was outgoing.

So why do I suddenly feel like I'm failing at having a social life? Why is it that two days after having a good time with a lot of fun people and making some new friends, I feel like I don't know anyone but my roommates? Why do I feel like I must have been stupid for thinking that anyone would want to flirt with me (even though I'm pretty dang sure at least one guy was flirting this weekend)?

This is a wee little insight into my very complex and ridiculous brain. Things are going well for me this semester (disregarding the fact that I don't really live by semesters anymore). I like the new mix in my ward. I like the new people, girls and guys alike. I've been social and made an effort to make myself known. I may have even found myself a new crush. Despite all that, I feel like I'm failing in some way. Because I'm not hanging out with cute boys (or any boys) right this moment, I'm not being social enough.

Maybe that one year at Bountiful Court when there were always at least four guys in my apartment at all times spoiled me. I apparently have this idea in my brain that I need to have some fixtures in my apartment. I need guys who just come over because they like my roommates and me and want to spend time with us. Even if there's no romantic interest, they like hanging out, and I don't feel like I have to entertain them. If I don't have this kind of relationship with any of the guys in my ward, apparently my brain convinces me that I'm a failure.

I think my brain might hate me.

Flirting Is Fun!

If there is one thing that is omnipresent in a Provo singles ward, it is flirting. Flirting is the elite way of communicating and interacting with members of the opposite sex. There are all sorts of flirting: the physical, the witty banter, the flattery, the straightforward admiration, the teasing, the texting. Those who are good at any combination of these tactics often have lots of friends, lots of phone numbers, and lots of dates. It's just the way things roll here in Provo.

My problem with flirting is that I'm not terribly good at it. For the most part, physical flirting is nonexistent for me. I have a weird aversion to breaking that contact barrier. I just get super awkward. This could be a post on its own, so I'll just leave it at that. I can hold my own with the witty banter, but I'm not the quickest thinker, and I have a tendency to trip over my words. I generally don't even try flattery, and straightforward admiration is nerve wracking. Some people pull it off really well, but I am not one of those people. And if you're not good at it, you just become creepy, and no one wants that. Teasing is another one I'm fairly good at. If it involves sarcasm, chances are I'll choose that form of flirting above all others.

Despite my lack of skills in the flirting department, I still try to flirt. I try to flirt all the time. Why do I do this when I rarely succeed? Well, that's simple.

Because it's fun.

Even if nothing comes from flirting, or even if I'm not interested in the person I'm flirting with, it is still fun. Who doesn't like to be flirted with every once in a while? Who doesn't like to be paid a little bit of attention? I know that I love to be flirted with, and to make that happen, you gotta put a little effort in.

I've actually had the chance to flirt with quite a few attractive boys lately. And I've thoroughly enjoyed myself. In attempting not to worry about whether or not these guys are potential romantic prospects, I've been able to have fun, which is really where things start anyway. The more I worry about what could happen, the worse I get at flirting.

So even though flirting can be confusing at times and sometimes sucks when I'm actually legitimately interested in someone and they don't flirt back, I'm still going to do it. I'm still going to flirt with most of the boys I come in contact with. This isn't to say I'm a huge flirt (did you not just read all the reasons why I'm bad at flirting?); it's just the way single men and women communicate. And I, for one, am okay with that.

A Promise

I need to blog more. I know that. It's been over a month, and I know of at least one person who is missing my posts. (I'm really hoping it's more than one, but I'll take what I can get.)

Here's the dealio: every time I have time to write a blog post, I am suddenly not in the mood to finish any of the 15 or so drafts I currently have saved. I have plenty of material and absolutely no desire. Maybe this is because I have been very tired lately. Or maybe it's because I've spent way too much of my free time reading about the upcoming football season. Or maybe it's the new TV shows I've gotten myself addicted to (namely Mad Men and Friday Night Lights). These are the things that have also kept me from doing important things like reading my book and writing in my journal.

Whatever the reason, I haven't blogged, and this is me making a promise: In the next week, I will publish a real, legitimate blog post. I don't know which draft I will finish yet, but I will choose one and I will post it. If I don't, anyone who really does pay attention to me and my random blog can feel free to berate me for being a liar.

So, are you dating anyone?

If this question isn't coming from a 20-something male who is going to follow up my "no" with a "do you want to go out sometime," I'm not interested in hearing it. Especially if you're a middle-aged woman in my parents' ward who is so far removed from the dating game that she thinks finding a guy is as easy as picking an apple off a tree.

I hate to break it to you, Sister So-and-So: dating SUCKS. It's hard, and even if I were going on more dates (which for me would be one every couple of months), I would still be frustrated and fed up with everything. Just because you were married at 20 doesn't mean I'm an old maid at 24. And it doesn't mean that you have to give me a pitying look every time I answer your annoying question with, "No, not currently."

This is also true for all of my girlfriends whose first question after we haven't seen each other for a while is, "So, are there any boys?" I know girls like to dish about the guys in their lives. I like to do it, too—when I have a guy in my life. But seeing as how I don't often have a guy in my life, I don't want the first thing I say to my girlfriends make me look super lame. Besides—if I have a guy in my life, you won't have to ask me if I have a guy in my life. All you'll have to ask is, "How are you?" and chances are that he'll come up. If you have to ask, there's nothing to tell. I think this is probably true for most girls.

The only thing that makes "So, are you dating anyone?" more annoying is the follow-up of "Why not?" Right, because I have so much control over what men my age do. It's entirely up to me whether someone in my ward notices me and asks me out. It's completely my fault that I haven't found someone I'm compatible with. I alone am to blame for my loneliness. Thanks for that.

To sum up: No, I am not dating anyone, and I don't know why. I am 24. I am single. And I am dealing with it perfectly fine. I don't need to be reminded of my singleness. Believe me, I am acutely aware of it.

Being Single in Provo

So I was trying to think about what I could do to make my blog more interesting, or at the very least to give me something to write about on a fairly regular basis. I wanted something that is prevalent in my life right now, since that would give me the most material to draw from. So what can a single, 20-something Mormon girl write about? Well, that's easy.

Dating.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not going to start writing about what guys need to do to date better or be more willing to go on dates or what I want to see in a significant other. This isn't going to be some advice column. That's boring. But I feel like since I am single and Mormon and living in Provo, the mecca of Mormon singles, I might as well write about life here. I can't guarantee that I won't rant and rave about why guys suck. (Because they do. No offense, guys.) But I'm hoping to have some funny stories and reveal a bit about myself and why I suck at the dating game. (I just do. Don't worry; you'll see.)

I will definitely continue blogging about sports and all those other random things I blog about. I might start book/movie/music reviews. I want to start up my short fiction again. And who knows what else could show up? This is my blog, and as such, it should be about my life and my interests.

I have a glut of ideas for dating posts, so hopefully those will start showing up soon. And hopefully you won't judge me too harshly for writing what I think. Because I have no idea where this random idea is going to end up.

Happy Independence Day!

No, not that one, silly. It's only July 1. I'm talking about BYU's independence day.

Source: byucougars.com

As of noon today, BYU is officially a football independent and a member of the West Coast Conference in most other sports. Since this is a BYU athletics subject, you have to know that I have an opinion about it, and that I am going to now write about it, whether you care or not. So there.

I think independence was a fantastic move for BYU. BYU fans are everywhere. Students are encouraged to move beyond Provo after graduation, and since BYU focuses more on undergraduates than on postgraduates, it is often better for students to go elsewhere to do their graduate work. BYU alumni are all over the world, really, and independence gives the school an opportunity to spread their brand far and wide to reach all those fans.

The partnership with ESPN gives BYU the kind of exposure it craved but couldn't have while under the absolutely atrocious MWC TV deal. Now every game will be televised on an ESPN network or on BYUtv, which in and of itself is pretty amazing. No other school in the nation has its own TV network that is already in 60 million homes across the country and is broadcasting in full HD. If you really think about that, it is phenomenal. BYU has been setting BYUtv up for independence for years. Without this network, there is no way independence would be feasible. 

For 2011, seven games have already been announced as being on ESPN or ESPN2, including the first five games of the season. Five more games are yet to be scheduled. From everything I've read and heard, as many as eleven games this season could be broadcast on ESPN, which is more ESPN appearances than BYU has had in the last five seasons combined, including bowl games. I don't care what anybody says; this is bloody brilliant. 

The main concern with independence is the scheduling. That is an issue, but Tom Holmoe is already handling it really well. The Cougars have some pretty cool opponents this year, including Ole Miss, Texas, Central Florida, Utah, TCU, and Oregon State. Of course, then you have to throw in the pancakes like San Jose State, Idaho State, and New Mexico State, which make up for a rather boring home schedule. But really, is that any different than a schedule with SDSU, Wyoming, New Mexico, and UNLV? Every team, regardless of conference, has some cupcakes. BCS teams intentionally schedule their out-of-conference games as cupcakes so they don't risk sliding against non-conference foes. Plus, it's only the first year. In a couple of years, I'm willing to bet that BYU is going to be playing against some pretty awesome teams.

Then there's the move to the WCC. Most say it's a step down in competition, especially in men's hoops, and I can't completely argue with that. But the addition of BYU raises the bar for the rest of the teams. Gonzaga will have a worthy foe after dominating the conference for the past several years. If the NCAA tourney game between BYU and the Zags was any indication, it's going to be a fun rivalry. I know that I'm looking forward to watching schools like Pepperdine and St. Mary's come into the Marriott Center and be bombarded by 22,700 screaming fans when they're used to venues that hold at most 8,000 people. I'm also looking forward to watching the other schools figure out that when BYU plays on the road, fans come out of the woodwork. I would guess that many of the basketball away games will almost be home games for BYU. I think the WCC is in for a bit of a culture shock, which will be fun to watch.

And for those fans who say that BYU only went independent because they had to show up Utah's move to the PAC-12, I say stop whining. I have been hearing and talking about BYU going independent for years. Sure, I may have been regurgitating what my dad told me, but that's not the point. The point is that independent talk has circulated around BYU for a long time, much longer than the couple of months between Utah's PAC-12 announcement and BYU's independence announcement.

Besides, when you really think about it, which schools do you think were driving the MWC to become better? Who gave the MWC credibility? Do you think it was SDSU and UNM? Yeah, I didn't think so. It was always Utah and BYU. They worked together; they were each other's staunchest supporters. They had the same goals in mind. So when Utah understandably took the much better option of going to the PAC-12, what reason was there for BYU to stay? Their conference partner had been offered a better opportunity that passed BYU by. Instead of moping and seeing if some other conference would come calling, the BYU officials took stock of their tools and resources and decided that going it alone was the best option. I wish Utah luck in their foray into the BCS world. I hope they succeed. But I don't think they did any better than BYU. Both schools made the best decisions for their respective programs, and you can't fault either one of them for it. I just hope both schools can excel with what they have and put the state of Utah on the map for college athletics.

Basically, I'm super stoked about all of these moves. BYU probably won't go undefeated and bust into a BCS bowl their first season. But they have more than a fair shot at another 10+ win season, and I can't wait to watch it unfold. September 3 can't get here soon enough. Go Cougars!