2014

Today's realization:
"Hmm I sure wish all my friends and family would update their blogs - what are they thinking?  Wait, I think I might have a blog somewhere on the interwebs too... Oh yeah!  Maybe if I update, so will they."

A lot happened since the last post, so in true Lindsey fashion, you get a bulletpoint list!

• I did go out with "Elton" and it was 45 minutes long because he had to go to choir practice and I let him.  It took us weeks to finally go out, anyway, and I wasn't looking forward to it anymore.
• I got asked out by four guys in this timeframe.  When it rains, it pours.
• One was just a friendly dinner because we're good friends.  Nothing there.
• One was more like a joke because I accused him of never having real conversations and only banter and I guess he was showing me he could be more by asking me out on the spot.  I'm glad we didn't even end up going on that date, as he is now exclusively dating my friend.
• One was Elton.
• And the last one is a dear boy who we will refer to as "Jekyll" - and I also was simultaneously dating the same boy (yet completely different) who we will refer to as "Hyde"...
• J&H, for short, was as forward as they come.  Within the first two minutes of our meeting at a ward activity, he told me he would marry me.  Two hours later (and after the rest of the ward had been home for 1.5 hours), sweet Jekyll started dancing with me in the church parking lot.  Jekyll came over another night and played my piano while he sang to me and inserted my name in rap songs.  Jekyll made me dinner one Sunday night and then invited himself to come to my cousin Tabitha's birthday dinner that night.  He met Oma, Tom, Chris, the crew - schmoozed up to them like crazy - played Johnny Cash for Tom on the guitar, recorded a guitar duet with cousin Ben, and asked me how to say "Guten Nacht" to Oma.  He played with the babies Vera and Kinsley and that was the first time I genuinely liked him back.
• Jekyll told me he wanted me for Christmas.
• Jekyll sent me a song he is writing about being with ... me(?)
• Jekyll asked if we could hang out one night after seeing me in the temple.  He needed a ride somewhere.  In the car, suddenly, Hyde appeared.  Hyde told me about the three hours/day at the gym and protein shakes he was obsessing with and told me to do positive affirmations in the mirror every morning (Stuart Smalley, anyone?  I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it - people like me!), then proceeded to tell me about the girls on Tinder (look it up - yikes) and at the gym, the girls at work, etc.  Hyde wasn't interested in me.  He asked me about my dating history and when was the last time I made out with someone... which I didn't answer because that's ridiculous.  I was crazy confused.  Then I remembered him telling me that he went through a nutso time before he joined the church where he had a string of terrible experiences and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  I thought it was related just to that time in his life.  I was wrong and feel quite silly about that now.
• J&H continued to show both sides for a couple weeks of this.  Jekyll came close to kissing me one night, though I wasn't keen on that and didn't let him think I was.  Then Hyde told me to clean the kitchen after Jekyll made me dinner.
• Jekyll took me out the next night, and on the way back in the car, Hyde brought up Tinder and asked if he should date in the ward.  I finally lost it and said "You know, when you're trying to date a girl, don't talk about other girls with her."  Jekyll apologized profusely and realized how rude he was being, then told me how special I am...
• Jekyll told me he loves me.
• Hyde perked up and essentially told me he doesn't 3 minutes later - that I must have been led on, and I ended everything with both of them another 3 minutes after that.  It was pretty sad, because Jekyll was really hurt, and maybe still is.  It has been two months now since then, and he still looks down.  He left me a voicemail the other day thanking me for my friendship.  Breaks my heart, but... he'll find someone who is suited for him.  Sweet Jekyll.  I'll continue being his friend.
  
• I spent Thanksgiving in Pullman with my parents and Heather.  We had a blast!  We even stayed one night in Spokane because the roads iced over and we couldn't drive back.  Hello, Hilton!
• I started reading (yes, me, Lindsey) fan fiction!  The Hunger Games.  I'm LOVING it and even stay up late reading! Gasp!
• Christmas was amazing.  My parents came and Heather got surprise permission from her boss to also come, when we thought for months that she wouldn't be able to!  Spencer and Caitlyn were visiting, too.  I bought a Bosch mixer.  My life is really coming together.
• The New Year brought some good resolutions and I joined a gym.  I even went faithfully until an exciting case of bronchitis hit me so hard, I haven't had much energy in weeks.  
• Teenage Lindsey resurfaced one night last week when I got up on stage at a piano bar karaoke night and sang "Say Something" with my ward friend Jed who works as a pianist/singer there and begged me to (even pulling me up there).  The teenage Lindsey part refers to the swooning I did.  I see a gorgeous guy who plays and sings on stage and who looks at me with "wow" eyes, and I can't help it.  He said "Um, we sound really good together."  Yes, yes we do.  She thankfully is now tucked back into the THS choir room circa 2002 and adult (ish), real-life Lindsey is back.  Here is a picture of us performing:
  
• I'm looking forward to February.  I am going to Florida to visit HJolley and we're doing a game night dinner with a guy she has been wanting to set up with me.  Then, ALL the Andersens are coming to town!  We are taking advantage of the time Ryan and Marissa will be here for Marissa's sister's wedding, so everyone's coming.  So excited.  Erin is getting baptized here!
• You should all totally update your blogs.  I love you all.