DC = cool - lame crowds at museums.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I. Hate. Crowds. Hate them, hate them, hate them. I took a psych class and the teacher said that the fear of crowds, enoclophobia, means "fear of the marketplace" and you don't like them because you're affraid that if something happens to you there would be too many people for someone to notice. Or something like that. Either way there are too many people in one small space.

Why do I hate crowds? For starters, I have a huge personal bubble. I don't like people getting that close to me. So you better keep your distance.

Secondly. When a person is in a crowd, it seems that all previous unwritten rules that every human being knows, go completely out the window. Like budging in line, being polite, and randomly singing while in public that's not at a performance, and everything like such as.

Example.

My family and I took a trip to Bethesda, Maryland this past week to be part of a medical study. After being poked and prodded at for a few days, we had a day off. We took the metro to DC to do some touristy things. It was raining that day. Of course. So the three Smithsonian museums that we went to were super crowded. Perfect. I'm guessing they're all usually pretty crowded, but since it was my first time going, I had nothing to measure it against. And there were about 50,000 screaming kids running around that were there on a school field trip. Double perfect.

The American History Museum holds the American Flag that Francis Scott Key saw that inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. Pretty cool. Of course there was a long line, but it was worth the wait. The line went outside of the room that it was in and people were lined up in single file fashion. But once you got into the room it was like a mad house of people trying to push their way up to the front.

Really?

Wait your turn. There are lines for a reason. And people will shove all up in your personal space as long as they get to look at whatever they've been waiting in line for. In this case, a flag.

And I won't even tell about the crowds when we saw Honest Abe's hat.

As much as I don't crowds it was still a pretty sweet museum. That museum had all sorts of cool crap. And I'm sure the other ones had just as much. We only made it to three of the who knows how many Smithsonian museums.

If you go to DC, I suggest not doing it on your one day off from medical tests. Spend a whole week there.

closing time.

This is the last weekend of school.  My last weekend in Rexburg for the next nineteen months.  I'm grateful that I get to spend one of those months in Minnesota before I leave for the next 18 where time will be spent in Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland.  

I'm also grateful that I get to spend the last weekend in Rexburg listening to General Conference.  Seriously.  It's always a nice break from the chaos of life to sit back and listen to the words, counsel and advice of the leaders of the church.  

so long my favorite songs.

I know that so many of my posts have been about the mission I'm getting ready to serve, but since it's the next biggest thing in my life, I spend a lot of time thinking about it and preparing for it.  Sorry for all of the mission related posts, but here is another one.

Missionaries are supposed to lock their hearts and get lost in the work.  I'm not too worried about the things I'll be leaving behind, because I know the ones that are worthwhile will be right there when I get back.  But I do think now and then about the shows I won't be able to watch and especially the music I won't be able to listen to.

So, if one were to ask me, these are the best fifty songs.  Ever.  Or at least  the ones that I'll miss the most while I'm gone.  In no particular order.  

1.  Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band.

2.  On The Radio by Regina Spektor.

3.    The World At Large by Modest Mouse.

4.  The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson.

5.   First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes.  

6.  Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa.

7.   Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap.  

8.  Chain Me Free by the Matches.  

9.  We Intertwine by the Hush Sound.

10.  Free Falling by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

11.  The Joker by Steve Miller Band.

12.  Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn by Hellogoodbye.

13.  Love Today by Mika.  

14.  Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson.

15.  Pork and Beans by Weezer.  

16.  Super Massive Black Hole by Muse.

17.  Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers.  

18.  Wine Red by the Hush Sound.

19. We Used To Be Friends by the Dandy Warhols.  

20.  Gives You Hell by the All American Rejects.  

21.  You're My Best Friend by Queen.

22.  You Owe Me An I.O.U. by Hot Hot Heat.

23.  Do You Know by Enrique Iglesias.

24.  Mala Gente by Juanes.  

25.  My Doorbell by the White Stripes.  

26.  Taper Jean Girl by Kings of Leon.  

27.  Di Di My Doe by the Matches.

28.  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here by She & Him.

29.  Let My Love Open the Door by Sondre Leche.  

30.  Touchdown Turnaround by Hellogoodbye.  

31.  Foreign Language by Anberlin.

32.  Fidelity by Regina Spektor.  

33.  Mercy by Duffy.

34.  Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  

35.  Campus by Vampire Weekend.

36.  Come Sail Away by STYX.

37.  I'm Shakin' by Rooney.

38.  Little Razorbalde by the Pink Spiders.

39.  Brat Pack by the Rocket Summer.

40.  Let Go by Frou Frou.

41.  Honestly by Cartel.

42.  New Soul by Yael Niam.

43.  Sway Your Head by We Shot The Moon

44.  Catch My Disease by Ben Lee.

45.  All The Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople.

46.  All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar.

47.  Everyday by Dave Matthews Band.  

48.  Sea Of Love by Cat Power.  

49.  The Mating Game by Bitter:Sweet.  

50.  Superstar by Sonic Youth

This is harder than I thought, I had to change my original number about five times.  But this is it.  My top 50.  I think.  It was still a hard task.