Go start a business

Today I made a new blog. I have been job searching for the last few weeks since my job as a soccer referee is almost over and I need to occupy my time and make some money.

I realize that making a blog is not the best use of one's time when one has a quiz tomorrow and a test Thursday and a lot of reading to do. But I also have been thinking entrepreneurially. if that is a word...

So, my new blog is here. I want to start a business. You should probably call and order something. I make the best desserts. 

Go get on the wrong side of a mailbox

Today is Thursday.
I graduated two weeks ago. And I'm still in schooooool. S'cool. Or mostly not. Financial management is not really the most fun class in the world. But hey, almost done!

So my life of late is filled with WEDDING STUFF I won't bore you with all the details, I'll just invite you to it. If you stay on my good side that is. This week I have committed more time to planning this than to my job. Which is backwards: I'm spending more money than I am earning, financial failure. Budgeting. My new hobby.

Also new: I made Creme Brulee! No pictures unfortunately but trust me it was delicious--Kim gave me a torch. It's kind of like a flame thrower. But better because it's miniature.

All this driving has been taxing, gas is up at 3.65/gal and driving to Layton to taste wedding cake seems absurd. But not if you had tasted the cake! YUM! Totally worth it. Except that yesterday I backed into a mailbox while I was looking for an invitations place and dented my Smurf. So sad.

Bright side:  I ran the Bonneville shoreline trail this afternoon from Rock Canyon to the base of the Y. Something about trail running is so much better than on the street. That why I miss England so bad--all those little paths to discover. I'll go back. It's happening.

Go get a Job and do something Crazy!!

UPDATE!!

For those of you who don't know yet...I'm engaged!! I am going to marry the most wonderful man on August 5, 2001 in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. How exciting is this?!

Well, also news: I got an internship with the National Geographic. I have been sitting on this golden egg of information for awhile now, trying to get everything sorted and official before cracking it wide open. But guess what folks, my dream came true! I got it! I applied in October for the program and now I get to work with the Missions Program and the Explorers in residence this coming September.

These two bits of news may both be exciting but how, you may wonder, are they going to work out?

Remeber how I said that Jared is the most wonderful man in the world? He truly is. After much contemplation, and prayer on both our parts, we have decided that for one reason or another we are meant to go to Virginia in the fall. So, crazy as it is, our married life will begin in another state!


Prepare for the adventure of our lives together. It's only just beginning.

Go and Beg for Mercy

The last three days have been hellish. I and my Population geography group was assigned a 10 pg report based on a fertility rate/ demography project of our choosing. We decided that income, race and county type (metro or nonmetro) would be interesting. Little did we know that we would have a bear of a time analyzing this all. We were analyzing 3065 US counties. We had to make 24 categories (instead of  the original 52 our data would make) based on various combinations of above variables. We made no progress on our report for 2 days--hours in the lab and we had barely even run an ANOVA let alone make a map or a graph of our data. Why?
The teachers couldn't help us. Asked my professor about questions for SPSS--didnt know a thing.
Asked an old teacher about ArcMap--she didn't know why it wasnt working.
We finally got a student to help us make a map of our data. Thank goodness for her! Im making her cookies.

5 hours later that night our maps had disappeared. When we opened them off my flash drive, the image would not show up, although the legend would. So we had no idea where the map/data was. We were going to just redo them all. (Did I mention we had redone all our data analysis more than 3 times?) Then some kind person in the lab came over and told us that apparently ArcMap is the gayest program ever and it does not save data to a map unless you export it separately. Also, if you try to open two maps using the same data at the same time the image will not appear. So much for trial and error. Last night until 11:20 we worked on our project and analysis/report. This morning by 9:00 am we were done. I hate feeling ignorant and uneducated about things that even teachers don't know how to solve.

And I hate computers with a passion.

Going Away

Yesterday was pretty much the perfect day.

I woke up early and went to the Provo Temple.
Went to class.
Wrote an essay for my Middle East class--a five page research paper about the Nile Basszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sorry can't even finish that. So boring.
The paper took me 5 hours. I had lunch at 4:30 pm as I wiped out on the couch with Cake Boss shouting at me. But hey! Relax. I then, because it was my reward, walked to Borders. I only made it 2 miles before it started getting dark. So I turned around and ran home. Then I drove back, sat on the ground in a corner with 5 magazines and proceeded to browse, looking for suitable airplane material.
Dinner was a can of Homestyle (no MSG or HFCS) Campbell's chicken noodle soup. (I added some broccoli). Pretty gourmet wouldn't you say?
Then I curled up in my room, with my knitting and a laptop movie (the Jazz and BYU game were on and I'm all Jimmered out) and sat.
How much better can you get?

Oh, how about going for some hot chocolate with the boyfriend?
And turning in my paper today, even though it's due Monday?
And relaxing the rest of today since I'm leaving for the weekend TOMORROW!!!
And arriving in Virginia to stay with my grandparents for three days. Plus Haley!
And going to Panera, and Potbelly and a movie and Dunkin and Noodles and shopping and seeing Aunt Em.

AKA getting out of nasty nast Provo to spend time eating at my favorite restaurants with a sister and staying with three 90+ yr olds who are completely deaf and stubborn.

BLISS.

Go AWAY!!!

This post has been in the works for awhile...
There is really only one item I'd like to get off my chest:

Dear Girls who sleep/study in the 2nd floor HBLL bathroom.
Go Away. I'd like to pee in private.
Thanks


You see, there is this bathroom in the library. It's always freezing in there, but there are about 4 couches (yes guys its true! Girls do have couches!! Ha.) Anyways, these couches are 100% of the time occupied by at least one girl sleeping, eating lunch or reading some homework assignment. Why I ask you? There is a perfectly good (and warmer) library right on the other side of the door. And it doesn't flush every five minutes. Granted I understand, maybe, for the sleeping girls. But those who study in the bathroom have some serious ISSUES!!

Go feel some inspiration

Today was a fairly enlightening day.
It all started at 7:00 am when I realized that yes, 1 hr is plenty of time to get ready for an 8:00 am class and I feel much more prepped for the day when I sleep in til then than at 6:30. But I still like getting up earlier for some reason...

Then at 9, my Population geography class topped it all. First of all let me explain my teacher. He is hilarious. Not that he actually tries to be funny. But he is extremely dry and occasionally gives asides about his political viewpoints or strong opinions. Once he said, "You all are too obsessed with your grades. It's stupid." If students say something wrong, or dumb, instead of humoring them and kindly shrugging off their answer like some other teachers I've had, he just says, "No." I love it. There's no beating around the bush with this guy; he just gives it straight up.

Today he gave us his opinion about traffic cameras. First off all, that statistically they don't work. Second of all, he thinks that traffic lights in general should just be done away with. His opinion is that they cause more accidents than they prevent since people don't pay attention to each other, just to the light. His argument is that in small towns, or at intersections where there are no lights, people usually slow down and look before they go through. Obviously there are some major concerns/problems with this idea, but I think it would be an interesting experiment to try here in Provo. Since pretty much all Utah drivers suck.

The class got better. Dr. S was explaining our large group project for the semester. We have to analyze the U.S. at the county level (population data) and explain, determine the effects or causes of the 2nd demographic transition in the country. If it is apparent. We must analyze patterns and use conceptualizations to research whatever aspect of the 2DT that we want to. Not a lot of guidelines in other words. One girl was stumped. (For some reason since going to Cambridge, these kinds of assignments excite me, and those who look confused or ask, "what do you want us to do? How long do you want it? How are we being graded?" etc annoy the crap out of me. Just freaknig do the project until its done and you are satisfied with it. You're supposed to be learning something, not getting a grade! Idiot.) So, thus puzzled, she raised her hand...

the lower portion is the "explanation" of our project Dr. S then covered with more arrows.

My notebook today. Most of it is stuff he said. The scribbles at the top--imitation of his sketching...

Well his diagram was a bit confusing. He wrote a few things on the board, then kept drawing all over, connecting words and ideas in a mayhem of arrows. And this is why I love this man: When this girl asked him to explain he looked at the board, drew more arrows all over the whole thing and said, "What, don't you get it? Arrows make it more comprehensible." Chuckles all around.

Then came my favorite part of today. He said, "Are you confused?" Nods of affirmation. "Good. You should be. Out of confusion, out of chaos, comes innovation. What do you learn from a rubric, from a descriptio: how to follow directions? No, I want you to think for yourself. Do the project and you will get a good grade. Okay, do the project well..." LIGHTBULB....I swear he's a genius. 


The rest of school was the same. But Africa got me thinking. And since I'm trying to study and take my test for it tomorrow (hence the reason I am blogging). I was further inspired this evening to actually spend time making dinner. 

Thanks be to my mother. Who taught me to like healthy food. Who earlier taught at Cornell. Who taught a woman named Ellie Krieger. Who wrote a cookbook. Which my mother gave to me. Which I make things out of. Like dinner tonight. Ellie Krieger's The Food you Crave. 

I have made several delectable dishes from this book. And if it weren't for the sometimes difficult/unobtainable ingredient/time on a college students budget, I would make a new recipe each day. Tonight's choice: Sweet and Spicy Peanut Soup. Sounds gross/weird I know. But the inredients are a great blend of African flavors. Trust me, this little puppy will warm your soul. It's the ultimate comfort food. Carrots, sweet potato, tomatoes, peanut butter: all in a delicious soup. Check it:

Sweet and Spicy Peanut Soup

serves 6

1 Tb canola oil

1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)

1 med red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)

2 medium carrots, diced (about 1 cup)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper **I used 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes**

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 tsp)

1 tsp peeled and grated fresh ginger  **I used 1 tsp ground ginger**

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed (about 2 cups)

6 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

one 14.5 can no-salt added diced tomatoes with their juices

2/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter **I used Skippy Natural (my fav pb ever--no chemicals!)**

2 tsp honey

1/2 cup chopped scallion greens (about 3 scallions) ** I didnt have these so I left them out

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over med-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, carrots and cook, stirring, until the vegetables soften, about 5 min. Add the cayenne, black pepper, garlic and ginger and cook about a minute more. Stir in broth, sweet potato, and tomatoes and bring to a boil Reduce the heat to med-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 min.
Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in a regular blender in two batches and return to the pot. Add the peanut butter and honey and stir, over low heat, until the peanut butter melts. Serve warm garnished with the scallions.

**I added a little bit of plain yogurt to cool it off a bit, and for garnish.**


Again, I cannot emphasize enough how good this was. My roommate was home, and I told her to eat with me. Her comments were on how amazing it smelled until she heard the name of the soup. Then she said to cover her shock: "I like interesting foods." Although she hesitated she most definitely loved it. I went back for seconds...Yum.

Don't be fooled by the fork marks. These are sugar cookies.

Also, last weekend I made three batches of cookies. 1) Oatmeal Chocolate Chip with Butterscotch chips, 2) sugar cookies 3) peanut butter cookies. Oh and lemon squares on Tuesday. Tomorrow Jared and I have a group dinner date. We are making snickerdoodles.

Yes. I love Baking!

Go all the way to the Finish. Then realize, it's not over. It's just starting.

Two weeks ago I applied for Graduation.
Today I put my apartment up for sale/gave my landlord 120 days notification of termination of my contract.

Yesterday I gave a talk in Church.  I realized that I've been secluding myself away, being unsociable. This is unlike me. (some may disagree). But since I'm the 2nd Counselor in the RSP I've got to make sure I know people.

Yesterday at ward stare, (which I used to never go to because I would always watch Alias with Jared and Kristen) I met an extremely good looking guy from Sri Lanka. His name is Jet! I want to set him up with Haley. He's tall, muscular, has skin the color of coffee, and a silky, sophisticated accent. He went to a British school in Sri Lanka/Singapore growing up and the combination of the classic English accent with his slightly more melodic native one is enchanting. He has a friend (short, white, pimply, big fat red lips and watery blue eyes) with a sweet jacket. They both "think" Dad is in the CIA and were impressed that I knew where Singapore is. I think when I said "Myanmar" they were both shocked that I knew such a country existed. Bless my major for letting me impress people.

Highlight of the day: Email from Dr. Kerry.

Although school is almost over (I can hardly believe it) there is no cause by any means for the end of my education, nor to my enjoying my time here now. I need to engage more.

Several exciting things are in the works for the future. But more on that if they happen. You'll just have to keep checking back.

Low of the day: my facebook page got hacked. Some loser was trying to advertise the iPad. I only caught on once "he/she" had gotten through all my friends whose names start with B. A friend of said letter texted me the alert. So I had to change my password. Can you say DUMB!? If there is one thing I hate in this world it's the scum who rip people off for their own benefit. Oh. P.S. I also hate the iPad. Whatever happened to good ol' books?

Go be distracted.

Never, ever has my mind been more full of things to do as it is right now. 

Now not refering to this exact moment, but now as in my general state of existence. It's exhausting.

Boy, Job, new possibilities, school, RS, planning, exercise, personal hygiene, graduating, making time for friends, sleep. That is pretty much the order of things, but they tend to swirl around my mind like a whirling dervish, and just giving me constant feeling of dread/panic/excitement/anxiety/stress/tired/happy/expletive so that I don't know what to do anymore, and I just lay on my bed at 1:30 am as the fire alarm goes off and I just groan and cover my head with a pillow. 

Thank goodness for roommates who wake you up and don't let you die.  

Time to read about Africa.

Go Home!!

So this morning I woke up more excited than I have been on Christmas day in a long time. Something about finding out the truth about Santa tends to suck the excitement out of the morning for me. But today. Wow. I was stoked. Because Today I was finally going to go home.

I realize that it hasnt been all that long really since I've been home, but my stays are always so short that I feel like they hardly get to count. So today was finally here. Haley and I woke up early: 7 am, in order to pack and get ourselves ready for the long a gruesome travel day. Jared picked us up and we made our way slowly up University Parkway to get to the airport. There was a blanket of thick snow on the ground: about a foot since it had been snowing since yesterday morning and was continuing to come down.
About 3 miles up State St we got a call from mom. Your flight's been cancelled....


long pause...



hot chocolate at Barnes and Noble and a skype call with the family....



And so Haley and I are stuck in Provo until the 25 of December. Christmas day. When we leave at noon to arrive in Holland the 26. I leave the 31. Merry Christmas.

Go shiver in the barn

Following are some of the great, funny or cool shots we took at our photoshoot with Michele T. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Michele

by Michele

you tell me...Bristow?
by Michele

by Michele

 The day we decided to do our shoot was absolutely FREEZING!

Kristen's great Aunt had this great place with a rickety barn and a blue shed. What could have been better?

keeeeeeeeeee!! COLD
by Michele

Stunning
By Alex

Gorgeous
by Michele

photo by Michele

photo by Michele

Photo by Michele

photo by Michele

photo by Haley

haha goofing

photo by Alex

"What are you doing out here?" Oh Bertha.

Beautiful sisters by Michele

photo by Michele

Go have a reunion and take some pictures

This last week has been a Naperville throwback. I love it.

Wednesday this week I finally finished my finals. After a 7 am oral presentation that was mostly "winged" due to the 14 hours of Econ studying I did the day before, I drove up to Logan to visit Haley.

Wingers with Britt

Dear Mother. Do you recognize this sweater?...D.I. We Love YOU!

Her friends and I had a great time making picture frames and watching a show called Felicity. Basically anything J.J. Abrams does is fantastic, I've gotten hooked to almost all his shows: Alias, Lost, Mission Impossible, Star Trek, plus several more. This show is another great one. 

Chick-Fil-A with Court

Thursday saw a late morning wake-up--9:45!! Okay, so I actually woke up at 8 am despite a 2 am bedtime, but I did go back to sleep. I seriously think there is something wrong with me. (Yesterday I wanted to sleep in, another late night, but I woke up an hour before my alarm went off. At 7:30. Naturally. I got a problem.

But that is beside the point, Thursday I got to see COURTNEY!! I love that little booger. (I know she's going to read this, hence the great nickname :) We three met up for lunch before H and I drove back to Provo.

On Friday morning, Haley, me, Kristen and Jordan (her sister) and my friend Michele drove up to Great Aunt Bertha's in the mountains and took model shots. One of our favorite family activities for years, we of course had a fantastic time. Michele was a great photographer and between her, my and J's camera we got tons of great shots.

Home-made with the Girls

After warming up during a run, I made fab-o home-made mac'n'cheese. Jacey and Tiare came over to share. It was awesome. I love those girls, I'll miss Jacey next semester while she's on her mission in Chile. But I'm excited for her. Tiare and I decided that we will drive up to Logan more often to visit Court. Get ready girl--its gonna be awesome. (Also, lets please get some closure on HP. Both the new one and ours).

Seesters. We miss you Mae. Wishing you were here to hang.

All this was followed up with a wedding reception for a great friend of mine--and more photos with Kristen--and an early, WET, Sunday morning concert in Salt Lake. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed with David Archuleta. It was beautiful. Keep on the look-out for next years album, which will have the recording of David's Silent Night. It was easily my favorite song performed the whole day.

Go be sick of finals, but not actually sick

It's still the 13th...but it's been a long day and it's still not over.
This morning at 7 am I took my Europe final. It went pretty swimmingly. I got home earlier than expected and went for a nice 35 minute run. I have to say my legs are getting quite shapely ;) Especially with all the treats I've been munching on lately.

I don't think I realized how difficult of a time I would have becoming Syd. Okay, it hasnt really been that hard, but I have to keep working on that section around my middle that just loves anything with sugar. I've decided I'm somewhat like Buddy the Elf. I just love sweet things. Home-made treats especially. That is one good thing I can say about my limitations: if it aint homemade, it aint going in my mouth. Unless it's Dutch chocolate. No more corn syrup for me. Ever. It just literally makes me sick all the time. Even one bite of something with Cool-Whip in it as I found out over Thanksgiving break. So it's a good thing that corn syrup is bad for you anyways (I don't care what those commercials say about it just being sugar: I won't eat it I tell you!!)

So Haley, several months ago said something to me that I realize is soooo true: I better become a life time marathoner because I just love to bake so much. And eat what I made. My favorite part about baking however, is getting to share it with others and watching their faces as they take the first bite. And then go back for seconds.

This weekend I was able to go to a fantabulous Cambridge Christmas party with almost the entire crew. It was a blast to see everyone and Jen and Derek were so great for hosting it. For said party I decided to take chocolate chip cookies. Not the most Christmas-y treat I know, but everyone loves them. Especially these. I've made two batches in two weeks. That's 5 dozen cookies each time. I cannot stop eating them! It's a good thing other people like them too or I'd be rolling. My friend Jonathan turned up at the party late, and to my delights he ate 3 as soon as he walked in the door, then ate at least 2 more by the end of the evening. Try some. Or better yet, let me make them for you. McKay I'm talking to you... :)

So I've two finals left: Economics and an Oral Presentation at 7 am Wednesday. Fun fun fun. No. But tomorrow night I'm making dinner with Jared! Hallelujah!

Go have a birthday shout hooray!

So December 9 was my 22 Birthday.
I feel old.

I spent the most wonderful day working out, making mac n cheese and birthday cake. In the evening many of my friends came over for a wonderful and crowded celebration. Comments were as follows: "You're 22!? That's old." "You made your own birthday cake!? Who does that?" "Where did you get this cake? You made it? No you didnt." yes I did. And it was superb. Italian Creme Cake. Thanks BHG.
I came home earlier that day to a pile of roses and an awesome travel book from Jared. It distracted me yesterday while I was studying for finals, but luckily the exam I was studying for is all about Europe. So the distraction was educational.

The following day, Dec 10 I got spoiled like none other.
I did however spend almost the whole day on campus, at reviews for finals and bashing my brains in over Economics, which is the second hardest class I have ever taken.
But that evening made up for it. Jared took me to La Jolla, where we devoured bruscetta, a basket of bread, cheese tortellini in tomato sauce and pesto fusilli with chicken. Chased down by a molten chocolate cake. It was divine. He then proceeded to take me on a Christmas Cruise up Provo River. Santa appeared out of the mist, shouting for his reindeer. Then he gave us candy.
To top the evening all off, we played a smashing round of miniature golf with Jason and Katje, two of our dear friends from Cambridge. Jason soundly whooped us all, but I did get two holes in one. All in all a fantastic birthday celebration.

I was sad that the family wasnt able to celebrate with me, but I felt love emanating from across the pond nonetheless from a long phone call, several letters, and several surprise packages of birthday gifts. P.S. the flowers are still alive and beautiful.

Making the Birthday wish.

Okay the Party's here!

Even Carson made it down! I love Jeff and Mel in the background! (And I don't know the kid on the left...)

My fantastic roommates: Kristen and Melanie. They were matching.

Look who all celebrated with me!

My cake and my flowers

"Spoiled me, made me Rotten. Didn't even let me be forgotten..."

Go Speak a foreign language

Right now I should be focusing on my homework. There's a lot of it to be done. But here's the stick, the library is chock full of foreigners who insist on talking.*

Why is it so often that when people speak a different language than the majority that they believe they can't be heard? Just because I don't understand you doesn't mean I can't hear you.
Today I think it's Spanish.
Yesterday was Korean. For 2.5 hours! My table in the library was taken over by a whole group of people speaking Korean, most of them girls. It is a nice language to listen to, and they were mostly quiet. But still. We are in the LIBRARY people. Where people need to go for a quiet place to study. As it was, my efforts to cram for my Org Behavior class were mostly in vain. Especially after they started having a picnic of giant wafer rice crackers that smelled like wasabi. Korean Crunch.


*Footnote: it's not only the foreigners that talk. Americans are just as chatting and usually louder.

Go Elimination

Elimination one: Several days ago I slaughtered my wardrobe. After finally openning my boxes of winter clothes, I decided I needed to eliminate some of the items I have kept since high school. Some may call this rat packing, others may call it thrifty. The truth of the matter: I don't like throwing out that which is still decent ( I still own jeans from 20 lbs ago...) even if it is old, out of fashion, or doesn't fit extremely well. Another truth: I hate spending money. Sometimes I will splurge on things (usually at the grocery store--some vegetables or meat or something such like) but for the most part, I talk myself out of major expenditures (that is if you ignore the jeans I bought last week on the Victoria's Secret site...

Problem however, my dad recently saw a picture of me and apparently thought the dress I was wearing made me look dowdy. This is unnacceptable. Hence: wardrobe massacre. It's going to be a great day at Plato's and the D.I. for several lucky people.

Elimination two: Kristin and I will be Sidney Bristow by Christmas. No garbage eating, and work-outs every day. I feel good about this. It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle adjustment. Hence it will work.

Elimination three: An FHE activity the other day made us speak for 30 seconds without saying "like" "um" "uh" "so" or long pauses. In other words, we practiced speaking like adults. Heretofor :) My roommates and I have decided to make this our model for every day usage. Let me tell you, it is like so difficult to uhhh do this.

Go run and tell that!

we are the ghosts of bad christmas pictures

Provo Halloween Half Marathon.
5:30 am wake up
breakfast
6:55 drive to the buses
8:15 catch a bus
9:10 arrive at Aspen Grove
9:15 RACE
Finish in 1:56.

Rachael, Jeff and I ran all 13.1 miles. Jeff finished (obviously) way before Rach and I; he's a stud. We had so much fun, chatting all the way down, pushing each other along, watching the racers go by in various costumes, and making sure we staying in front of the 2 hour pacer. He was fun to listen to--he kept shouting out funny comments--but having him so close behind us during miles 5-7 was kind of nerve wracking. So we ran away from him. The race itself went by really fast, before I knew it we were at mile 10. Rach kept me going--Love you girl!

Today I am sore. Very.

Go trick and treat

So this week has been a pretty hectic one. I have gone to bed after midnight every day and woken up before 6 am three times...

Sound the Feasting Horn

TREAT:
 Wednesday Jared and I had our dinner and a movie date. The plan: beef ragu sauce on gnocchi, french bread and salad. Let me tell you it was the stinking best Italian food I have ever had in America. It was a feast. Thanks to Jared's mom for the white wine--it made all the difference. The movie: 12 Angry Men. Not your typical date movie to be sure, but I had to watch it for an assignment. And actually quite a good film as well. Also treat: below.

TRICK:

Steamy

  friday night we participated in the Amazing Race! Okay, not officially, but close enough. After driving to American Fork for dinner (45 min to Lindon because of traffic) and an Amazing pumpkin cupcake from Dippididee, we made our way to Liberty Park in Salt Lake. From there, we raced 8 other couples around the city, to grave yards, the masonic temple and several parks. At the cemetary, we had to find the gravestone of a woman named Lilly Grey, who had fallen victim to the _________-  ___________. The answer: beast 666. Creepy!!

The race truly was Amazing, and haunted. Jared and I totally won. Except again, not officially, since apparently one other couple had done one "clue" that we hadn't had to do. We finished everything first including one very tricky word scramble. We figured out all but the last one, spootin took us forever. Turns out it was potions.  We turned it in and were told, "That's it you won!" WE CELEBRATED! Then our victory was stolen from us. Lame. But we are winners at heart.

This activity made me want to come up with one of these on my own for next year. An all round fantastic night.

Go get your own kickstand

I probably shouldn't do this, but I'm going to because its late and I'm tired. Also, because it has actually turned out to be a really good day I believe its okay for me to do so because I'm in a good mood. Therefore no bitter tones.

What peeves me:

• dirty dishes left in the sink
• when you lock up your bike in a bike-rack and someone chains theirs up next to yours. Then, because they don't have a kickstand, they lean their bike on yours, ensnaring it in a handlebar,  brake-line and pedal mess that takes five minutes and grease on you clothes to untangle. 
• turning on the heat in October because it is snowing. Heavily. And you are running a race in 4 days in the mountains. 
• BYU class registration. Why is it such a pain? And why can't everyone just wait until morning so that I can go to bed?
• waking up early to finish homework and then your teacher falls behind in class and therefore you don't actually need the homework to be done at all. Spent costs. 
  



The nasty stain? It's from the pumpkin, which I carried to the trash on a cookie sheet. I had to scrape it off the floor. Yummy.

• people leave stuff that rots at your house and don't ever clean it up, leaving you to clean up their mess

The gray stuff is furry, not blurry. It's mold.

What I love:

• when my professor giggles to himself in class and none of us know why.
• when that same professor tells me and my group that we did a fabulous job on our presentation, that we did the best of anyone who has yet presented, that he wants to see the exact same combination of theory applied to case studies on the final exam
• nail polish
• herbal tea--I have been drinking at least two cups a day. It keeps me hydrated, warm, and as Mel mentioned tonight, its my stress reliever. I love to grip the warm mug in between my hands
• when my roommate made muffins and gave me one. Or my other roommate brought me a carmel apple, or my other roommate came into my room and gave me a back massage. Basically I love all three of them.
• when I run into old friends and realize that they have matured in ways I never expected, but at the same time in ways that make us better friends. 
• when my Econ professor sends out an email that says that we no longer have to turn in/do more than 60 percent of our assigned homework since we have a test on Monday. 
• When my dad sends me emails
• when my sister comments on my blog
• banana bread--all kinds and at any time of day
• hot showers and smooth legs
• spandex and boots and big comfy sweaters
• getting assigned a movie to watch for homework
• when I try to think of a really great Halloween costume and end up wearing something totally random. Except this year I'm really going to plan it out--SUGGESTIONS please.

See: more positive than negative. It has been a good day.
Go 24/7 (Although I'm not going to today because I need to catch up on sleep).

Go to school before the sun comes up

Yesterday I woke to a glorious 5:30 wake-up call, turned on my light to finish some homework, and discovered the power had gone out. Dismayed and irritated, I proceeded to flip the switches all around the apartment. No luck. I lit a candle. Yes, I did homework by candlelight...

Then what to my wondering eyes would appear, but the power went back on! I took a shower. The day went by slowly and painfully. FHE was a nice and much needed respite, as was Melanie's and my P90X workout at 9:30 pm. Did I mention that my internet isnt working?

This morning I woke at 5:50. The internet still isnt working. So here I am at school. Before 7 am. I rode my bike through the dark streets of Provo. You know how dark it is just about everywhere in the world at 1 am? Well, this morning it was darker than that since most of the sky was overcast. I could see a few stars peeking through. But the cold air mostly kept me peddling as fast as I could, hoping to make it to the Tanner Building without more delay.

I will be spending my entirety of the day here at school. Lovely.

Why? you may wonder what I am doing here so stinkin early for. Well, my wonderful European Geography professor sent out an email last night at 7 to remind us about an assignment he mentioned in the last 5 minutes of our last class period. "Find a rural village in Europe (using GoogleEarth) that qualifies as one of the 7 types and bring an image of it to class. Oh, and we will probably have a quiz on types tomorrow in class." expletive.

This is my life right now.

On a brighter note, my roommate got a electronic piano yesterday for Christmas. She came stumbling into the apartment dragging a box bigger than she is and said, "Christmas came early this year." I discovered 2 things. 1. I like playing piano. 2. I can still sight read after 5 years. There is hope for me yet mother.