"What's the problem, Sparkle?"

That phrase is how I became aware of my secret nickname today. Apparently some girls have been calling me Sparkle for like, a while, because of my email address (sparklelikeyoumeanit). And they didn't know what I would think, so they never called me that to my face. But today one of the guys saw me inspecting the bottom of my skirt (I was determining how easy it would be to shorten it when I get home) and he was like, "What's the problem, Sparkle?" and then he called me that again, and I said, "Shelby, I don't know where this is coming from, but can I just tell you how much I LOVE that you are calling me that!!" And one of the girls was like, "Oh, that's us, ya, we've been calling you that behind your back." And I was like, "Best nickname EVER!" And she was all, "Well dang, why haven't we been calling you that all semester?" And I'm like, "Seriously!" So now they're calling me Sparkle and I kind of want everyone I know to call me that. I haven't had a real nickname since like, 7th grade, and that was back when me and my friends were constantly making up nicknames for ourselves. And I've always wanted one, so I am SO excited!!! Plus it really is the best nickname. Ever. And it so fits me too. YES!!!

K, so we've been having Finals Week Round 2 around here, but we only had like, 2 and a half finals, so it's been pretty low stress, not like last time. But not much has been happening, either. Last night just about everyone went over to the Western Wall like we did at the very beginning of the semester for the beginning of Shabbat. Ken and I were the only people left in the dining hall at 6:30, which is when everyone going to the Wall left. And our Branch President and his wife (self-proclaimed resident matchmakers) saw us sitting together, so they came over and were like, "Hey, what are you guys up to tonight?" And we had talked about watching a movie, since everyone was gone, and they were like, "You can come and bake cookies at our apartment." And like, apparently they've arranged several of these kinds of dates- I'd been hearing about them, and honestly kind of wondering why I hadn't been on one- so we totally knew what they were about, but we decided it could be fun, so we were like, "Ok..." And I told Ken, "Now they think we're going to get married." And he was like, "We have to leave tonight with them absolutely convinced we're engaged."

So like, we both went into this thinking that it would be hilarious, and it was. Seriously the best awkward date EVER. We went and baked some cookies- they keep a bowl of cookie dough ready in the apartment- and they were like, "So, where you from?" that kind of thing. And we'd been talking for a while when- I'm not kidding- she winks at me, and says, "So, Ken, do you have a girlfriend?" And I was kind of like, Is this seriously happening? And he said, "No. But I'm working on it, right Lara?" And I was like, "Ya..." And the Branch President said, "Well, you guys look good together." And Ken's all, "Ya, we'd have beautiful children." And he was like, "Ya, that's what I'm saying, you took the words right out of my mouth." And she's all, "Stand up, so we can see you together." So we did, and Ken put his arm around me, and they were like, "You look good." And we sat down kind of awkwardly. And the Branch President said to Ken, "Did that feel good, having your arm around her?" And then we definitely changed the subject. Awkward! It was actually totally cool, tho, coz we're just friends and so we both just thought it was so funny. And then we went upstairs and watched Aladdin, and I put on my Jasmine pants (as in, the actual kind of pants she wears in the movie... yep) and my Jasmine shirt (don't worry, this one just has a monogram of her on the front). :D

But ya, so now I can say that I have had the full JC dating experience. It would not have been complete without that. Lol.