My "Once Upon A Time"s

Once upon a time, I watched countless Disney movies, as did almost all 90's children. The prince in the story would fight gallantly for the princess (wrestle on a rooftop/fight a dragon/jump from his rowboat to kill the evil sea witch... etc.), sweep her off her feet (kiss her awake/transform into a prince), and they would ride/dance/sail away together to live happily ever after. I wondered if life could have fairy tale endings, or if people could fall in love at first sight.

__________

Once upon a time, I was a junior at PVHS. My mother told me Michael Pergler was staying overnight with us later that day. I thought nothing of it. Later, I was at the bar doing homework (mild shocker, there) when my mother answered the door. I turned around to greet our guest, who I hadn't seen since my childhood. Our eyes met. I smiled. He smiled. My homework motivation was suddenly gone. We talked all night long.

Me: Note to self: date someone like Michael Pergler.

Him: Wow! She's cute! She's smart, fun to talk to... shame she's not a few years older.

__________

Once upon a time, I was 18 and graduated from high school. Derek received his mission call to leave in October of that year. He asked me if I would wait for him on his mission, and write him often. I unabashedly replied "Hey, don't worry about it! I'm only 18. You know I don't want to be married until 25, anyway."

__________

Once upon a time, I was a first semester Freshman at Utah State. It was an early morning in the autumn, all the leaves turning a bright yellow, the clear blue skies, and the little breezes that would dance around your feet. As I walked to class, I suddenly stopped and realized I was absolutely in love with Logan. I thought to myself: "I am so glad that a Bachelor's degree is four years! I can't imagine leaving Logan sooner than that. Even 2 years just wouldn't be enough time here."

__________

Once upon a time, Tara, Mom, and I were driving to SLC to help with Sharisa Pergler's wedding reception over Christmas break, 2010. Mom invented a wedding questionnaire, and asked both her daughters questions about their dreams of marriage. Mom asked, if we had to choose now who we would marry. Tara considered all of her options thoughtfully and eventually listed one of her previous boyfriends. I replied without a second thought: "Michael Pergler." (We had yet to go on a single date.) Mom asked what kind of details we envisioned for our wedding. Tara had a vision of an outdoor wedding, a white tent, knew all the foods and decorations she'd want, and was (by my consideration) pretty well prepared in her mind's eye. I knew almost nothing; I wanted a lace dress and a halo ring.

__________

Once upon a time,  Michael and I worked together to set up his sister's reception. He asked me on a date the next day. We walked for hours that night in streets covered with snow, talking about anything and everything, unwilling to leave. Talking that night, I realized my future had just been completely rewritten. Six days later, Michael told me he loved me and asked me to marry him.

Later, I started planning... with a lace dress and a halo ring. Then I got to figure out the rest.

__________

Once upon a time, a group of four second semster Freshmen huddled by my Mazda in the G2 parking lot outside Central Campus. The night air was bitter, but they hardly noticed. I had dropped all of my 17 credits and withdrawn from USU. Though I had postponed several days, I was finally leaving. Ari clung to me in a farewell hug, but her words wouldn't let me leave. "I don't want you to go. You can't go." I cried fiercely; my desire to do so was even less than hers. Kenny arrived just in time to say goodbye. I had never done anything so hard as to let go of him and drive away that night. I left them a group of three in the parking lot, my vision blurred by my tears.

__________

Once upon a time, a missionary in Montana had been out only three months received a letter from his ex-girlfriend, who was now engaged. He took it surprisingly well, considering.

__________________________________________________________

Once upon a time, I fell in love with Michael Pergler and it turned my world upside down. There are days when I feel like everything that was me doesn't exist anymore; like it's all just gone somehow. Everything I thought I wanted for my life is different. It used to confuse me, trying to start it all over again. 

But, you know, I think Michael is the best decision I've ever made. Marrying him is the greatest gift I've ever received. I love him, and I really want to marry him. I want my life to change. And I want to be with him forever.

So, just maybe, upside down is exactly the way my world is supposed to be. 

----------

Once upon a time, Tiffany had tried to make a huge plan for her life. 

Once upon a time, she was glad that God had something else in mind. 

A bit of theory and my life-to-be

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name


This isn't the easiest thing to explain.. simply because it involves AP theory. We'll work with it. I've been thinking about this all day. (: 
Except, the thing is, I tend to post after midnight. Which means, to post on the "next" day, I can't really do this except after midnight. Or be really patient and wait until the next actual day. Unlikely. Eh. Welcome, everyone. It's 1229am. 

A Quick Lesson in Theory:

A4 is the theory shorthand for augmented 4th. 

An augmented 4th is an interval.

An interval is the space between two notes.

Therefore, A4 stands for a certain spacing between two notes.

Great.

Who cares?

Well.. theory people do. The A4 is actually called "the devil in music". Like, it's Satan's interval. It's the worst thing ever.. if you can hear it. I think it's the worst thing ever...in music, that is.

Okay, next. Here's a solfege C scale:

Scales have intervals.. between each note. The interval we're looking for, the augmented fourth (A4) is found between the two notes/syllables FA (on the F) and TI (on the B natural). Take my word for it, or go play it. It has six half steps between the notes, if you're gonna try for it.

If you take the syllables TI and FA, you get an A4. My name, for those who didn't know, is Tiffany. I think only Trently calls me Tifa.. and Janeth does too, sometimes. 

Oh. Dang. So do the juniors. Idea fail. Mostly Trent and Jane. 

Tiffany ---> Tifa

Tifa (Ti-Fa) is an A4.

I am the dissonant satanic interval in any major scale. Yay. 

Why does this matter?

Um. It doesn't. But it was interesting, right? 

In naming a blog, I wasn't about to write "Stories about Tifa". Though I was tempted. It's just not cool enough. So, we're cheating and making this slightly more interesting. I would have written "Stories of an A4"...but then you'd just wonder and start trying to classify it as a blood type or something before you got this explanation. Plus, it sounds better this way. 

That's it.

That's whatchyaoughtaknow [about my blog name]. 

-----------------------------------------------------------next!-----------------------------------------------

There are some of you who may be wondering what the freak I'm doing with my life. You're engaged?! You're moving!?? You're dropping out of USU!!!@##@!? Whaaaa... 


And then there are some of you who don't care. 


I don't know which reaction I should be more concerned with, really. 


In wishing to make this slightly more interesting/doable to read, I sought for a photo. Not gonna lie, I wrote "moving life explodes" into google. Unfortunately, even google cannot read my strange and twisted ideas into a perfect photo. So, I attempted to map my strange new life on google, instead. See photo.

No, you probably can't see it. This is a struggle. I would draw something better, but I lack a lovely scanner. 
Logan--->Centerville---->[Aruba, not pictured]--->NYC--->Houston, TX---->Charlottesville, VA----->???
Proper reaction: *gasp, faint, groan in wtf terror* ..not in that order.


I realized several things tonight:


1. I am marrying Michael. The end. 
There's really no contest there. No matter what, no matter how crazy my life is about to be, I am marrying him and I can't wait. Literally. I'm dying.
I already knew this.. it's just an add-on to the following statements. It's first because it's most important, not because it belongs there chronologically.


2. I'm leaving everything. AAAAAAAAH.
USU, Ari, Kenny, beloved friends @ USU who all deserve to be mentioned here but aren't because I hate typing, Tomma, Janeth, all (all) of my family/support group, everything I'm used to... like cats, reading, sleeping in, waking up in a familiar city where I can find Wal-Mart or Wendy's, my job[s], my beloved dry climate (dang you, humidity!), and perhaps most importantly: knowing what the freak I'm doing.


3. It's about time I had a bit of a break down. 
Let's not lie. I've been so chill about this. 
Me: "Psh, yeah! Married, moving, in love with said most wonderful man ever, want to hear about my plans for my life?...oh wait, there are none."
So tonight I got a bit of the necessarily forthcoming freak out moment out of the way. To Michael, that is. And I realized something else.


4. I'm actually really terrified.
I don't know why this never hit me before, but the day has finally come. I'm doing what?! 
I'm leaving everything. I'm literally abandoning my life and starting it all over in new circumstances that I have no real control over and just going with it. I'm.. whew. Wow. 


Understand that, in general, me and God have a pretty quiet relationship. For most of my life I knew he was there, and wondered why he never talked to me much. It was only in my really desperate "Please help me, I can't handle this" moments that I felt it strongly. That I heard him calm me. Those moments were profound, but they were still very few. We're quiet, God and I. Until recently.
I swear, if God had more in mind for me right now I might not be able to handle it. Ha. Knock, someone, please. Let's say the past two months have been a freaking storm of new ideas for me to take on, new plans, new life... aaaah. God's given me a list of things he wants me to do. And the best part is:


5. I'm so doing it.
I want this, so much. I love Michael. I love hearing what God has to say to me, and going with how absolutely terrifying it is, taking it in a seriously-deep-breath stride. Let's try DC 111:11. I'll do it for you:


"Therefore, ...I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them. Amen."


Just accept the plan, and move on. Give you two days before he gives me something else. But, you know what? It's great. I'm so good with it. I have to freak out sometimes, but that will never stop me from trying. 


My life-to-be, everyone. Still unfolding. 

Irony and the value of being outspoken

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts


Those things in awkward group settings.. get to know you things. People ask you for something "no one knows about you". Yeah. Great idea. Except the part where I'm sitting in said room with my 4 best friends and we have a rather large issue: I'm one of those outspoken people. I divulge about my life, my thoughts, my dreams. All of it is eventually laid out on the table. I doubt there's anything I could say on this blog that someone doesn't already know. 


Really. Watch for it. 


Tomma, tell me if I ever say anything truly original on here. That means you have to read it. (: 

All right. This is me.

All right. That's a lie. 

This is me and Michael. Honestly though, this pretty much counts as me, either way.

I chose a photo most of you haven't seen. I'm cheating. 

But this is  me in my favorite jacket. A leather bomber jacket that Coj gave me for Christmas. Love it. 

Photo introductions are much more fun, no?

I love fall leaves. Hardcore. 

I made this fall leaf collage thing in my dorm. It took me a few months. I got a lot of flack for it, but they dried beautifully and it kept me happy through the winter.

I love Utah State with my heart. Really. My heart is in Logan. I miss it there.
I only spent a semester there, but it was the right choice for me, and I know that well.

I lived in St. G for about 6 years. The red rock really grows to be a part of you. I loved it there, too. But St. G has definitely fulfilled its part in my life.

Interesting facts.. no pressure.

My life is in a serious transitory stage. I've never had so many changes in such a short period of time. I'm getting married. I left USU. I'm moving (4 times...wow). I live with my father for the first time in 13 years. I've never felt so lost and guided at the same time. 

I have this inclination (more like OCD, really) to write all of this in teeeeny font. Somehow I think that looks more organized and professional. But then you couldn't read it. I'm resisting. It's hard.

My favorite colors (actually the only ones I can really stand) are red, burnt orange, black, amber yellow, midnight blue, and some variations of green. I hate pastels, pink, purple, and most colors that normal people like.

I express myself in a very direct, forward way. Apparently that offends people who don't know me well. I find this humorous, and somewhat frustrating to deal with.

I strongly dislike having ambient noise. Music while studying or falling asleep does not work. I don't know how people deal with that. It's awful.

For some reason I think of facts as elongated explanations. That's a shorter fact.

I'm incredibly picky about spelling and grammar. As such, I think advertising and people in general are definitely going to English hell. 

I have this secret love for ultra urban spaces. Stained concrete floors, old renovated brick walls, high shafted ceilings, black countertops, dark wood.. I used to want a house like that. 

Maybe I still do.

I don't eat seafood. I think it's mostly psychological, but that doesn't change my opinion.

Except tuna.. but that's really rare and doesn't count. Chicken of the sea [somehow] = chicken.

I'm the youngest of six children, and have always felt a little intimidated by the standard set for me. My family rocks. I rock a bit less, but always try my best. 

I think marrying Michael is the best decision I've ever made. 

That fact isn't going to change, ever.

I always drive with my right hand. It's a habit I'm trying to break. Eh.. a habit I'm failing to break.

I do my smileys backwards. See exhibit A. (:

Because on MSN Instant Messenger, :) shows up as an emoticon. I don't like emoticons. Therefore, (: .

I used to be a very avid reader. I'd read a book a day, standard. About 300 pages or so. I miss it terribly. It's one of the things I'm looking forward to doing in my spare time. I haven't decided what's next on the list. 

Either Wuthering Heights or Brand New World. 

I love my friends. People are everything to me. More than grades or success. More than personal satisfaction. I make an effort to let my friends know that. My blunt, open personality serves to make a lot of embarrassing and hilarious conversations there. But it's worth it. 

Intro, facts, blog.

Check.