26 April 2008

Weekend!

I’ve been having a nice weekend so far! I don’t know where all my roommates went, so it’s REALLY quiet at the house. Actually Nancy had to go home for a few days because her uncle died (funeral). The other two, I really don’t know where they are! It was just Nancy and I last night, and now I don’t know if anyone will be here tonight!

Yesterday I went to a cool performance of “The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion.” It was so much fun to see!!! It was very entertaining and the Spencers were very charming people (Husband and Wife). Then I got some homework done. I thought about going to a Joel Ward illusion show with a friend, but I had already seen one, and decided not to. Then Robby (from my CIT 140 class) came over and we went and played piano for a while at the Hinckley building. Robby is SUCH an amazing pianist/singer!!! He was playing awesome renditions of hymns that he created himself, and sang them at the same time! And he has a great voice too! So that was way fun! Then we went for a drive and talked. It was really neat, because to me, Robby seems way more mature than most guys his age (he’s 22), and knows what’s important in life. We actually discussed spiritual topics, and being at BYU-I, that might seem like a given, but in reality, friends usually just save their spiritual discussions for church, religion classes, (aka, whenever they HAVE to). So I really appreciated his company and getting to know him a little bit better. To summarize, Robby is really really nice, cool, neat, smart, etc. How cool is that!?

When I got home, I had a fun conversation with Nancy and her friend Catherine! We had lots of fun just talking, laughing, and having a good time! We told lots of fun stories about our lives and became better friends/roommates! Nancy is a really sweet girl. I hardly see her though! She is always so busy with classes, studying all the time, and clinicals! She is taking 19 credits right now, is a Nursing major, and will be graduating this semester with her Bachelors in Nursing! She is a very dedicated student; a nice example to me when I should be studying more!

This morning I got up and went to Nathan’s apartment to meet for our study group! Robby and I were supposed to meet at his apartment at 11:15am, but Robby works at a place called Progrexion, and he was scheduled for 7-11am today. So I got there around 11:15 (probably earlier, because Viking Village is extremely close to where I live and takes no time at all to get to, less than a minute!) and Nathan was making orange juice! And he gave me a glass!!! I was pretty thrilled, because fresh orange juice is the BEST! I also got to meet his interesting Korean roommate, haha! Robby got there as soon as he got off work and we all went to the library and got all our homework done for our CIT 140 class!

Then I got home and read a lot of my business reading. I’ve been thinking a LOT about what I really want to major in and what I want to do. The chapter I was reading in my business book had a lot of great ways of determining well-suited possibilities. It had a lot of self-assessment questions as well as ideas. I also have been spending quite a bit of time at the academic advising, and getting advice and help there as well. So I think I might have a good idea of what to study/do. I’ll just have to do more researching and praying to decide whether it’s the best choice or not.

I went grocery shopping today. I bought some bread, bananas, agave, and granola bars! So as soon as I got home (I was kind of hungry) I tried a granola bar, and it was delicious! Then I made a fruit smoothie! Now I’m not hungry anymore. Tonight (in about an hour, actually!) I’m going to a Shidara concert! It’s a group of Japanese drum performers, etc. It’ll be fun! I have more plans for tonight and tomorrow, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do all of them (especially tonight). After the concert, I really should go home and study more! I have a LOT of reading still. I have most of my business reading completed, but I still have a chapter of Microbiology to finish! So, I might have to cancel, or at least postpone plans until next week.

Also! One last note – the weather here in Rexburg is finally tolerable! Pleasant, actually! There were no bone-chilling winds, no blizzards, no below-freezing conditions for once! It was sunny, calm, and 50F! I was pretty happy about it! Yesterday I had to wear two jackets! Today I just wore a light sweater! I probably don’t even need the sweater, but with Rexburg, you never know if it will start snowing or something within the next 15 min.

I’m going to get ready for the Shidara concert now! I’m so excited!

--
ANP

24 April 2008

50 Things I Want To Do Before I Die!

This is what I wrote as an assignment the other day!

They are not in any particular order.

Now if I ever feel bored, I can look at my list and start planning!

Things I Want To Do

1. Get my Bachelors Degree

2. Live in Japan

3. Learn to kayak

4. Learn to rock climb

5. Ski in Colorado

6. Climb a mountain

7. Visit a Jamaican beach

8. Keep a journal

9. Try hair extensions

10. Learn to fly

11. Ride a helicopter

12. Ride a camel

13. Work on a cruise ship

14. Be a flight attendant

15. Collect artwork that I love

16. Skydive

17. Scuba dive in a tropical reef

18. Walk on every continent

19. Go fishing in Alaska

20. Go on a mission

21. Write a book

22. Have something named after me

23. Be on the front page of the newspaper

24. Go surfing

25. Start and run a successful business

26. Go on a sea voyage

27. Teach a skill to someone/a class

28. Substitute teach at a school for a day

29. Perform surgery

30. Drive a car in a country that drives on the left side of the road

31. Learn a martial art

32. Become a published investigative journalist

33. Visit another inhabited planet (not very likely, but it would be nice)

34. Hike in a rain forest

35. Visit an African village

36. Be like my parents

37. Develop artistic abilities

38. Get my engagement photos taken at a cool place, like Puerto Rico

39. Have a destination wedding

40. Record a CD (piano)

41. Work in the hospitality industry at my favorite hotel

42. Become a better golfer

43. Work for NASA, CIA, NSA, or FBI

44. Live off of interest

45. Become a powerful socialite

46. Live at a Kibbutz

47. Own a Lexus

48. Own a ranch

49. Fluently learn a critical language

50. Live in a luxury hotel residency

I highly recommend making a list for yourself!

It is extremely introspective and insightful.

23 April 2008

I am having so much fun being back here in Rexburg! Church was good, the people seemed very “interesting”. I have never been in a ward quite like it, but that’s ok. Everyone seems very nice and unique!

After church, I went and visited my old roommates, Amanda and Alyssa. It was fun to see them again, and I also said hi to my old bishop! After spending a little bit of time with them, I went to my friend Adam’s apartment and played “Settlers of Catan” with him, Mike, and his new wife Clarissa! It was fun, but I think I had the least points by far. Mike won, of course, after complaining about the game the entire time. Hahaha. I also met all of Adam’s roommates! Then some friends and I watched a movie at my apartment. Then I got my things all ready for classes the next day, wrote down my class schedule, classroom numbers, and went to bed!

The next morning I got up and went to my first class – Intro to Business. The professor is so cool! Plus, I already know a couple of the people in my class! One is my old FHE brother, Jordan! He got back form his mission in Brazil a little while ago. He’s cool. The other person I already knew was Tracy. She was one of my roommates for a semester! She’s really nice! There was also another girl who thinks that we took a class together before, but I don’t really remember her.

During business we got to interview the person next to us, and mine was a very handsome guy named Michael! He’s from the Bay Area, 21 years old, Leo, lives at Viking Village, and is the youngest out of 4. He was very fun to talk to. If he lived one floor down at Viking Village, he would be in my ward!

After my business class, I had Micro-Applications. It’s in the same building, but 2 floors up (4th Floor). The professor for that class is way cool as well, and kind of cracks me up. He kind of reminds me of a vampire, only not all scary like one. He’d be a happy, friendly vampire! I guess it’s just his looks that slightly make me think that. I also got to sit with really cool, friendly people in that class as well: Candace, Nathan, and Robby! Oh, very unlikely and funny addition - Michael and Nathan are roommates!!! What are the chances of that?!

After Micro-Applications I went to Microbiology! That teacher is SO odd!!! He amuses me greatly and makes me laugh! He is by far the weirdest professor I’ve ever had. But, I love that class so much already!!! Cell structure, functions, viruses, bacterica and all the different types there are!!! So fascinating! The only bad thing about that class is that the textbook required starts at $120 if you find it used. It’s ridiculous! But, I can probably sell it for around that price after I’m finished with the course. The lab for the class begins next week!

Later that night (21 April), my friend Markus and I went and studied at the library. Then we got hungry and went to Arby’s. Then we watched a movie. Then I went to bed. The next morning I went to Missionary Preparation. That class sounds like it'll be intense! And way fun! Then my roommate Nancy and I went to devotional! John met us there. President Clark and his wife gave the devotional, which was excellent as always! Then I went home and got some homework done. I got some reading completed as well as 2 papers written! One of my assignments was to make a list of “50 Things I Want To Do Before I Die!” It was really fun, but took a while to think of 50 things! The first half was easy, but then I had to start thinking about it.

Well, I have a dance board meeting in about half an hour! I’m going to probably head up there right now with a textbook and get some reading done before the meeting!

20 April 2008

The Summer Commences

Mom and I drove to Rexburg last Friday and I was able to get all moved in at my little house! I love my room, it is so cozy and cute, and has more than adequate storage and space! I am still trying to figure out what to do with the empty drawers in a couple of the dressers! I have my room all decorated and arranged the way I want it! I have two desks too, so one of them is kind of my nightstand, and the other is my work desk. I also have two bulletin boards, a HUGE mirror, five little dressers, a nice closet, and two bookshelves as well as two shelves on the wall! In addition, two chairs!

The manager lady of this house seems somewhat odd though. She was telling me where I was supposed to put all my things in the kitchen. She told me that all the dishes, silverware, etc. go in the same cupboards with everyone else’s and that everyone shares. She also “assigned” me a food cupboard, haha! Then she told me where to put my small kitchen appliances, such as my waffle maker, blender, and rice cooker! So, I have the majority of my kitchen stuff in my room! My room is RIGHT off the kitchen, so it is no different from walking into my room for a waffle maker than it is to walk into a pantry. And I definitely have the space for my kitchen stuff in here, so it is perfect! I decided to put my dishes on the first shelf of my “food cupboard.” And I moved my rice cooker from the “designated” rice cooker area! I wonder if she will protest!? Another funny thing the manager lady said was about the family room: This is the common area, so no personal decorations are allowed; we just leave it ‘as is.’ That’s ok, I guess, just kind of strange.

My roommates all seem really cool! One of the girls was actually in my ward in Fall 2006! Her name is Kyrie, and she’s from Wyoming. She is working full-time this summer. She went home for the weekend the day I moved in, but she said she’d be back today. She is a Cancer! How cool is that?!

Another roommate is from the same place as Kyrie, and her name is Hannah. I only met her briefly, but she seems way cool as well. She had to go work at Wingers though, and I have not seen her since!

My third roommate is Nancy. She is from somewhere in Utah and LOVES 4-wheeling! She can also work on cars! Moreover, she has a twin brother! She is a nursing major and this is her last semester! She’s a Pisces!!! I wonder what Hannah is, because so far HALF of the total residents are Water signs!

Yesterday Mom went to Utah. It was sad, I wish she and dad could live here with me!!! I was so thankful that she went to Rexburg with me though. I would not have known how to get here if I wasn’t able to follow her! And she always helps me so much with my luggage, unpacking, food, etc. She is the very best!!! So after she left, I continued to clean my room, get unpacked and organized, and then I got a TON of shopping done! I bought groceries, gas, and cool little containers to put all my kitchen stuff in! I love how organized everything is! I also went to school to get my parking permit and textbooks. I got a huge box of books for my classes, and they were SO HEAVY!!! Later that night John and I went to Craigo’s and watched a movie. It was fun. I also saw one of my old roommates, and talked to another old roommate on the phone! Today after church, I am going to another friends’ place to play games and stuff! Tomorrow I have classes!!! And I already have homework!!! For my Missionary Preparation class the professor emailed everyone a few papers to print out and read before the first day of class! I am also going to the bookstore (to return a couple of books that I do not need – prepare for LONG LINES!). I want to go to the gym tomorrow and the library as well!

I will write about my first day of classes tomorrow!