Sweeney Todd Only WISHES He Was Erik

For my musical theatre class, we have to watch Sweeney Todd. Now, don't get me wrong, I love good theatre, I love Steven Sondheim, and I love Angela Lansbury, but there's just something about Mr. Todd that I don't like. Never have, never will. So I'm not too happy about having to watch it.

On the other hand, I don't know that there's been a time in my life where I've had to struggle so hard not to giggle while in class. I mean come on. This dude is so ridiculously overdramatic. "The world wronged me and now I have to seek revenge by killing everyone." Seriously?

And then I realized something.

Sweeney Todd is basically Erik but way less cool.

Like, if Erik wasn't deformed, he would be Sweeney Todd. He would still be all angry and murdery except he wouldn't look like his face went through a meat grinder and instead of a barber he would be a composer.

Also, I'm pretty sure that Sweeney Todd might be Erik's long-lost brother/half-brother. He has this obsession with blonde women, and all he can say is how beautiful his wife was. Now flash forward to Love Never Dies and the creepy little spawn of Christine and Erik, Gustave, as he sings with his dear old daddy in "Beauty Underneath." The following is a completely accurate paraphrase of both characters in their respective shows:

Sweeney: AND SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL OH SO BEAUTIFUL OH YES SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND BEAUTIFUL AND DID I MENTION THAT THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WIFE BEAUTY WAS MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE BEAUTIFUL

Gustave: I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL OH YES IT'S BEAUTIFUL THIS BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL THING THAT IS BEAUTIFULLY BEAUTIFUL I THINK IT IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL IN ITS BEAUTIFUL BEAUTY





I think I've proved my point.

~Kylie


P.S. Also I forgot to explicitly state that even though he supposedly fathered the creepiest child in the history of musical theatre, Erik is still the best sociopath in the history of... well, ever.

I'm Not Gonna Lie...

I'm kind of legitimately upset that Amanda got her visa and is now leaving her difficult companion.

"WHAT??!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!" I know you demand, because I can hear you from here.

But you don't even know.

I just sent Hermana Lloyd an ENTIRE EMAIL with different strategies/comebacks to use the next time Hermana Crazy Pants went off on a rant about how pens are the worst writing utensils ever created.

It included such gems as:

• But Sister, we have AGENCY! I love using my agency! In fact, I think I'll use it right now! Thanks, Hermana!
• Hermana, I call you to repentance.

       And, my favorite,

• GET THEE HENCE, PEN-HATER!

So while I still want to shoot sparkles out of my hands and dance around like a mad woman, I can't be entirely devoted to this visa thing because I know she probably won't have another opportunity to rebuke her companion and tell a parable of the Hermana who wouldn't shut up about pens and was consequently hit by a giant truck.

~Kylie

Oh, Conference...

You always know just what to say.

Seriously though, from the very first talk I knew this General Conference would be great. My mom came across a scripture the Sunday after my grandma passed away, and she got a strong impression that my grandma wanted me to read it. Well, believe it or not, that scripture talked about putting on the armor of God. And, lo and behold, the first talk was about putting on the armor of God.

I think it's safe to say that Grandma wanted me to watch Conference.

That talk about depression and other mental disorders that Elder Holland gave? (The one that Korrin so AWESOMELY blogged about already) Yeah. That was about my grandma.

Every mention of death? Yeah. That was about my grandma.

Every mention of heaven, or family, or eternal life? That was my grandma.

I love the gospel so much. I absolutely love it. I love that it pushes me to be a better person and to love everyone regardless if their choices meet up with mine. I love that feeling of peace and comfort that the Spirit brings. I love how all trials we've experienced not only refine us, but bless the lives of so many others through our experiences and testimonies. I love that God prepares us for all things before we know we're about to face them. He amazes me every day with his love and His tender mercies, and I can never thank Him or our Savior enough for everything they've done for me and those I love.

I testify that this church is the true one. And that sometimes, that's all we need to know in order to keep going. And that's okay.

Because in the end, all you have to do is look up.

~Kylie

Conference is the Bestest

10/6/13

General Conference is the greatest thing ever. This one especially. I have never cried so much as I have during this conference. I was so spiritually strengthened and uplifted that I want to go to the mountaintops and sing praises unto The Lord. It was the strongest spirit I have ever felt. 

For this I want to thank my missionaries. Their leaving has strengthened me so much and built my testimony more than anything else. Every time that I hear from them, I can't stop smiling. They are so excited to be serving The Lord and through them and their excitement I have grown to love this Gospel infinitely more. 

Them leaving was super hard for me, and still is. I miss them every single day, but because I love them so much, and they love me, I feel like The Lord has extended blessings unto me. When a missionary goes to serve, their family is blessed in their absence. For some reason I think these blessings have been passed onto me in a fraction amount. Because I cannot talk to them every day my eyes have been open to the miracles of this Church. My spirit is strengthened and I am more capable of helping the people around me. 

So thank you, all my missionaries for loving me so much that you want me blessed while you are gone. I know you pray for me just as much as I pray for you and I feel your influence in my life. 

Good luck my missionaries that are still waiting to leave ( another one next month) it will be a fantastic experience for you. Know that those you leave behind will be okay. And that we miss you like crazy. 

Thank you Heavenly Father. You do so much for everyone on this planet. Thank you for inspiring our leaders to create such a spiritual amazing conference that will bless the lives of so many, especially mine. 

-Korrin 

The Prayer I Didn't Know I Made

10/5/13

I have been playing with the idea to talk about this for a while now. I didn't know if it would be appropriate. I was scared that I would make people uncomfortable, especially the people who know me and love me. But after today's general conference and Elder Holland's amazing inspired talk, I know that it is alright. 

I am suffering from depression. I have been for a long time and recently it has been pushed over the edge so that I sought professional help. (Which is free because my school is awesome). I have always had a genetic predisposition of getting depression and I am pretty sure it has been plaguing me since before high school. 

Depression sucks. Some days I don't want to do anything. Other days I am sick because of the stress churning in my stomach. Other days I cry, and I have a hard time stopping. It can come at anytime, be triggered by anything, and affect me in any number of ways. 

As mentioned before, I am in therapy. It's hard. I have to talk about the things that I am so used to keeping to myself. The flaws in my personality and the traumas of my past are things I keep locked in a box, behind a steel door, bolted shut and chained in a corner of my heart, are things that only I (and maybe my parents) know about. Now I am sharing them with a complete stranger that is there to complete their masters program. And right after all of that turmoil, I get to go to work and pretend that I'm okay and upbeat. Those days are the hardest. 

With all the problems that occur in my life because of my mental illness, The Lord blesses me enormously. Take today for example. Before conference everyone says, "Go into conference with a prayer of something you want help with, or a principle that you want more understanding of." And every time they said this I tried to think about what I needed. Depression never crossed my mind. I was doing all that I could to help myself deal with it, therapy, scripture study, righteousness, etc. I thought that what I would need from this conference was how to deal with missing people, or jealousy. I was mistaken. Ever since the words "mental illness" came out of Elder Holland's mouth, I knew this was the talk meant for me. And so I realized that I had made a prayer, a prayer I didn't even knew I said. My tender heart prayed for help. Help to feel safe in confiding my problems to others and to know that I was not alone in my issues. And to know that it will get better. To know that I will have all the blessings of the gospel and that I will overcome all of my trials. 

There is something for everyone in General Conference, if they will but listen and accept the counsel given. 

I blog these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, as his disciple. Amen. 

-Korrin

This Post Has No Purpose

Except to say that I have so much energy right now.

Like, I could go do parkour right now and jump off a building.

Okay maybe not a building.

Maybe a moderately-high ottoman.

Still. There's jumping involved. It counts.

I also want to go outside and scream REALLY REALLY LOUD AT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING SO BASICALLY I JUST WANT TO SCREAM AT THE DARKNESS BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO SCREAM AT ALL OF THE THINGS.

I don't even know what's wrong with me.

I haven't even had candy or sugar or anything.

I mean I drank lemonade at dinner around 6 but then I haven't even eaten anything else.

WHY IS THIS.

I REALLY HAVE TO SLEEP TONIGHT.

AUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH

~Kylieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee