Little Ol' Me

After seeing a few family members follow in Funky Junk's footsteps and introduce themselves for the link up party, I thought I would play along too :)

Who I Am.

I am:

A determined college student, trying to keep my 4.0

A stubborn conservative who knows that socialism just doesn't work

A hard worker who works almost as hard to spend money as I do to make it

A little nut-case who loves to goof off with friends

A daughter of two amazing parents

A sister to two gorgeous young women

A girlfriend to one of the luckiest guys on the planet :P

And I am a follower of Christ.

Where I Live.

I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world: Southern Utah

This is my stomping ground

And this is my home!

I am so lucky to live in my apartment style dorm with 5 of the most amazing girls in the world. We are all crazy college students who listen to Eminem when we feel scandalous, and go to Walmart when we want to partyyyy :)

My Favorite Room.

My favorite room in my whole house is my bedroom. This was taken before I really settled in, but since then I have had a great time adding my own personal touches. This is where I read and study for hours, call my family, and have long-distance date nights watching House or Community over Hulu.

I share my room with another student from California, and we get along very well. My room isn't at all private or a place where I go to be alone, but I always feel relaxed cozied up in my bed :)

What I like to DIY.

I am a certified Zumba instructor, and I love to dance my heart out.

On good days, I spend hours choreographing and pumping the music!

Yes, I am aware this is super nerdy, but I love to make projects and things that help me get organized. This is a chore chart I made a month or so ago for my roommates and I. I suppose what my hobbie is, is to make daunting things seem fun.

I also love to create study tools. I never did well in school when I was a kid, but I think part of that was I never made effort to make myself enjoy it. I look forward to teaching so I can help kids  learn in ways that work for them.

One other thing I really love to do is play around with digital art. In the past I have made many handouts, school projects, desktop backrounds, and facebook pics all using Microsoft's Digital Image Suite. I have never really enjoyed sitting down to sketch with a pencil and paper, or painting things to give as gifts, but I love using colors, filters, and other computer effects :)

Here I had fun messing with saturation, shadows, and color, all to make things more interesting.

  

Talents I Wish I Had.

I absolutely love music, but I wish I were better at it. I wish I could play piano like Chopin, play the guitar like an ace, and sing like those amazing women on braodway. The truth is, I feel like these are all things that I have already developed at least a little talent in. The one talent I really wish I had, was being able to do or fix anything on the computer. Though having the smartest computer guy in the world for a father makes life easy, and does put my tech knowledge ahead of some of the other students out there, there is still so much I don't understand!

Why Blog?

At the very beginning, I started my blog so I could let other people know what I was up to while I was 1000 miles away from my old home. Now, my blog is so much more. I like to express myself. I like to write the silly and stupid things down so that months or years from now, I can look back and remember how amazing my life is. To me, what I write in my blog is proof that I am blessed. I could never ask for a better support system, a better school, or better college experiences.

Life is Beautiful :)

Why Zesta Crackers Make Me Feel Good.

Alright. So, I will start off by insuring everyone that I am not an emotional eater. If anything I am the opposite. On my most emotional days I hate eating, because I am slightly psychotic like that. However, there is one terrible vice I have acquired since I have been away at college. Zesta. Crackers.

It all started months ago when I was quite ill. I had been suffering from constant headaches for weeks, terrible doctors, stress, fevers, and terrible depression problems that most people didn't really hear about. So in a nut shell, I was miserable. One of my doctors decided a lumbar puncture would be helpful in determining what it was that was wrong with me. I will tell you guys now that it really isn't that bad. People post videos of their patients or family members screaming in pain as the doctor sticks this horrible metal spike into their spine. And this about made me wet my pants. But seriously, if your doc says you need it, do it and don't be scared. It really doesn't hurt one bit. Just feels a little...odd. haha

ANYWAYS. Afterwards I was having a few minor complications, and the nurse gave me Zesta crackers. No joke, eating those crackers was the happiest I had been in months. Everything about them was perfect, and they really hit the spot. Though I look back on this whole series of doctor visits and testing with a lot of sadness, whenever I think of sitting in that weird hospital bed eating those two little crackers, a smile goes across my face.

Just a few weeks after my testing, I was better. It was a long, horrible process, but I felt great after! I really have the most amazing life ever, and I am probably one of the happiest girls you will find in the world. Yet, for some reason, those Zesta crackers really became a big thing for me. Kind of this feeling that, though things aren't exactly as I want them to be, if I can just keep it together for a little bit longer, everything will be okay. Sorta like hope.

I am loving college, and I have amazing roommates, and my classes are going great (STILL have a 4.0 babyyyy). Sometimes I just miss my best friend in the whole world just a little bit though. And that makes me a little sad. I found myself smiling while I ate a few more Zesta crackers today. Just a little bit longer :)

Today, Eric and I got into a little (hour long) debate. I won't post the specifics on here because I think his sister reads my blog (Hey Raine! :D) and I would hate to embarass him :P But guys, I will have to call you or something. I was crackin' up.

I will also add that "ornery" is a difficult word to spell, especially when words that sound like it start with an ho- like "honest" or "honorary". However, instead of guessing, I suggest you just look it up. It can save you from an awkward conversation with a significant other :P

I have been super lazy today. I keep setting some time frame for me to sit down and read a little out of my astronomy book, but that just hasn't happened. I am not sure if I will get around to it this evening, but having it open right next to my laptop allows me to feel studious. I just finished an astronomy assignment today where I had to track the sun's shadow and do a list of responses. I actually worked really hard on this, so I shouldn't say I am lazy, but I sort of have been.

For those who don't know (which is pretty much everyone except Eric), I am having some minor issues. No no no. MINOR issues. As in, issues with my minor! I just did my "four year plan" with my major and found I could easily get out in the spring of 2013 WITHOUT taking summer classes. Which is extreeeeeeemely tempting. This is however, with graduating with a degree ONLY in history eduation, without a minor. As the president of the college of education told me, it would be difficult to find a job as a history teacher. I personally, don't think that is true, but it doesn't stop me from thinking of countless other things I would like to teach as a minor.
-French is a subject I would love to teach, but it has about 2 years worth of prereqs before I can enter into the minor, which means I would be here for four years. And I am not sure that I love french enough to stay here for an extra year just to teach it.
-English I keep falling in and out of love with. I love historical literature and looking at how it applies to a communities thinking or something, but the current english class I am in is SO BORING I can hardly stand to think about words. With this minor I could get out in the spring of 2013.
-The last thing I am considering is, don't be grossed out, okay? Health. Haha. Eric asked me if mormons were even allowed to teach health, and I am pretty sure they are...It has been on my mind a lot lately. Not like the more "adult" part of health, but how to be a healthy individual. I am really interested in nutrition, how different substances affect humans, things like that. Yes, I do realize that I would have to teach a "family life"-esque unit in the health classroom, but I think it would be cool because I could teach it in a way that I found appropriate. Okay. Maybe I am a weirdo, but its all just thoughts. With this minor, I could learn about stuff that interests me and still graduate in 2013. The only con I can really think of is that if my history classroom and health classroom were the same, I couldn't have all those cool posters about what certain drugs do to your body posted around my classroom. Talk about conflict of interest!

I am not entirely sure what graduating in 2013 would mean for my life, but for some reason I just reeeaaallllllyyy want to do it. Hm.

:)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

So today was Sunday.
Which, for me, means time to go to church. As I was sitting through my classes, a very hungry boy in Pullman kept texting me telling me how hungry he was. Though suggested he feast upon the scriptures, his hunger got me thinking about my own meal I was going to make at home. I am pretty sure it was revelation or something because seriously, that stuff was goooooooood :)

Anyways! I made a chicken shephard's pie! It was completely delicious. Here's what's in it:

About half a bag of Tyson Grilled chicken
4 oz frozen corn
8 oz. frozen california veggies
Salt and Pepper and Herbs
(I heated all of this in a frying pan)

Then, I made about 2.5 cups of insta-mashed potatos

And I also made a packet of chicken gravy

I got a square glass pan (I think it was a 9x9) and rubbed butter along the bottom and sides, and then I poured the chicken and veggies from the frying pan into the glass pan. After doing that, I poured on all of the gravy, and stired it around so everything as nice and moist. After the gravy was mixed, I got the mashed potatoes and spooned it on. After I had gotten all of it out, with my spoon I spread it out (not perfectly flat though, becaust that looks gross!)

I popped it in the oven on 400 for 15 minutes, and then I broiled it on high for 5 minutes. Out came heaven.

The taste was amazing. The only thing I would change, is I would broil on low for 10 minutes rather than on high for 5. The top layer was starting to have a nice crisp to it, but the very top bits were starting to get brown, so I pulled it out. By broiling on low, I think it would be more golden brown over all. So good :)

Best part is, there is enough left to feed me for the week! Yummy :D

...I sure hope Eric found something to eat :P

Busy. Fun. Happy.

If you are ever wondering what it is I am doing, it will pretty much always pertain to those three words.

Busy:
School work has definitely been keeping me busy these past few days. As you know I was doing my 12 hour astronomy lab friday night, and the work hasn't stopped since then. I had a huge test in the class that I was studying like crazy for, and honestly, I can't remember if I ate anything on Saturday... Yay :) haha. I took my astronomy test Monday afternoon, and it went very well. There were a few questions that were tricky, but overall I was very confident and I am excited to get my scores back. I worked really hard and I think it paid off.

Flip-Note Study Guide I made for astronomy!

As you can tell, I got a little bored, so I tried to make it fun. For example, Tycho Brahe's nose got cut off, so I wrote "I gotcha Nose" and for "Important Things I Tend to Forget" I drew a picture of underwear. I really do wear underwear, and I don't think I could forget it, but it made me laugh everytime I saw it :P

Other than astronomy, I have a pretty big rhetoric assignment due thursday, which I might have mentioned before. The rough draft is due today, but I finished it yesterday so I am enjoying the relaxation time I have.

Fun:
Oh dear. I am sure having fun. Last week, I sort of decided I need to be a bit more fun, so I am trying hard this week :) My mom has a quote in her craft room that says "if you are bored, its because you are being boring". And though I am not bored (beacause of the business I already described, I was thinking that some...situations...which are super lame *cough* Institute *cough*, are probably only lame because I am being lame! So I went a little bit crazy, and I actually had a lot of fun. My institute peeps quite like me now. Its fantastic.

I am also teaching a zumba class for my floor Thursday evening. I am pretty excited, I need to practice my set a few more times, but it will be so fun! Zumba is becoming a great ice breaker and a really fun talent to have. I haven't landed any jobs yet, but I always volunteer for activities, so people are starting to get to know me! It's really fun :)

Happy:
I am way happy. My grades are good, church is going well, and my friends are awesome. I am totally loving life :) One thing that made me especially happy this week though, was a little surprise from Mr. Eric :) He got flowers delievered to my dorm! It was so sweet and everyone was totally jealous :) heh. They are still thriving, however its only been a day... I hope they get me through these next 65 days though :)

My Beautiful Flowerrrsss (:

So another BIIIGGG thank you to Eric for totally making my week :)

In other news, my stomach has been starting to be very unhappy again lately, so all today I have been veryyyy careful about what I eat as far as dairy is concerned. Its just been Trix cereal thus far, sans milk, and it is sitting pretty well. I had been eating a lot of grilled cheese or turkey sandwiches, but they all had lots of cheese. I have plenty to eat, but it's really hard to avoid the deliciousness that is found in cheese. Instead of cereal, I think I am going to start having oatmeal for breakfast, without adding the milk to eat it with. It's how I prefer to eat it anyways, and doesn't seem as pathetic as eating dry cereal... haha

<3

It's Kinda Like Torture.

Boy. These astronomy projects can be torture. This one, is a 12 hour moon observation. I have to go out every hour and take calculations of the moon. The only problem is, today the moon is up from 5pm-2am. Part of me is really proud that I am doing this and the other half of my brain that acts like a high schooler still is wishing I could put it off forever. I made the mistake of telling my mother I had to do this project, and she freaked out. Oh dear.

I have, on the other hand, been keeping myself entertained during my 45 minutes of free time each our. Between 5:45 and 6:30, I worked on my essay thats about this guy:

As you can imagine, this is a fun essay to write.

Between 6:45 and 7:30, I continued working on my essay, talked to this really cute boy I know, ate wayyyy too much tomato soup, and I watched this video:

Needless to say, this made my night.

So there are only 8 hours left to go on my observations. I have some studying I could do, but I am thinking I will probably save that for tomorrow, as I have written down "free time" on the rest of my schedge for tonight :) Yay!

Sometimes, things aren't awesome.

I know, it's hard to believe, but it is totally true.
And sometimes, several not very awesome things grouped together make for a not very awesome day.

4 things that cheered me up today:
1) I got new vitamins from the store yesterday because my gummies ran out. I got one-a-day teen advantage for her. Its in a really cute bottle and they make the pills hot pink. I took it and it made me feel nauseous, but I was happy because they were cute pills all the same.
2) My roommates said they wanted to do Zumba tonight. I am not sure if we will actually get around to it, but it made me happy that they appreciate what I do, and they think I am good at it.
3) My english class. I made people laugh today. I was so happy. First time so far this school year.
4) My roommates and I are having a movie night tonight. I am not sure how good the movie will be, but its nice to get away from the normal nightly routine today.

Besides that, I am not 100% sure what I am going to do. I ate almost a whole box of macaroni and cheese earlier today, and it's kinda makin' me feel a little sick. Either that, or boys make me sick. I am not sure which one it is yet.

Ergh.

Patriotism

is changing.

Today in my education class, we had a member of the Coast Guard who is going into Secondary Education come in and speak to us about how patriotism plays a role in the classroom, what it means to us, etc. He showed this video:


Please watch it. There is no possible way I can express what happened to the class when he spoke. The room went from arguing about freedom and God, to all agreeing that at the very least we can be grateful for our nation. Our founding fathers were inspired by God to create a nation that would allow all Americans to thrive. Our nation is the land of opportunity. No other place on Earth is like our nation. It is our duty to protect the truths that so many have fought for. Though it's not my calling to go abroad and fight for the American people, I can still fight for those freedoms right here, just in a different way.

It is natural for humans to turn away from gratitude in times of plenty. It is natural for us to think we can do it on our own, that we have better ideas than a few people did hundreds of years ago, that what they said and wrote doesn't apply to us today:

Alma 46:8
"Thus we see how ^aquick the children of men do ^bforget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do ^ciniquity, and to be led away by the evil one."

God allowed for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have here. He has given us so much. Today, just try to have a special place in your hearts and express gratitude to our Heavenly Father that he has given us a "land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:18).

"Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Oh My, Starry Eyed Surprise!

I have regained a little faith in my astronomy teacher today. This all began with the conversation about Tycho Brahe. While most of the world pronounces it like "bra", Americans have always said "bra-hey!" because we are enthusiastic like that. Yet for some reason, my astronomy teacher chooses to say "Bray" (ya know, rhymes with grey?). After a few minutes of doubting myself, thinking that I had been saying it wrong all these years, I looked it up, and lo and behold, I was correct. Anyways. For those of you who don't know, Tycho was a really interesting guy. His astronomical theories were completely wrong, but he had a personality that is just awesome. In one story, Tycho and another kid at his college get in an argument about who is the better mathematician. Instead of settling this with some sort of test, the two challange each other to a midnight duel. During the duel, Tycho's rival cuts off Tycho's nose. For the rest of his life, Tycho supposedly wore a metal nose piece. Our teacher said he had never found a good drawing of this, so automatically I took off to google to find an image.

So there you have it. I showed the girl next to me, who seems to be my friend because she sits next to me every day now, and we chuckled together.

Further on in the class, my teacher stood on top of a scientific looking sit and spin with weights in his hands, and spun for a little bit and kinda tripped off. This was supposed to explain that planets closer to the sun orbit the sun faster than ones further away (like pluto....OH WAIT. its not a planet :P). I am not sure that I needed this deamonstration to understand the point, but it made me rather enjoy myself.

I went to institute this morning. Seems like no matter when I leave, I am always 1 minute late to that class, even though today I left 5 minutes earlier than I did last week! Perhaps its because I am so sore and I kinda hobble everywhere, but it still makes me feel awkward when 20 students look at me like I am going inactive when I walk in after the class president has said "Welcome to class! :D :D :D"

I suppose I should mention why I am so sore, or in other words my joie de vivre. On Saturday I went to my Zumba Instructor Certification. It was a lot of dancing...about 5 hours, broken up with lectures and group dancing. I had an amazing time, and now I can't get enough! I have about 45 minutes of solid choreography, and then 15 minutes that I have bits and pieces to. I usually choreograph a dance a day so I am not too worried. A few days ago I talked to our P.E. administrator about getting a class started, and she referred me to this guy who actually hires students to teach in the gym! I sent him a cover letter of sorts, and I am waiting to hear back. I think this job would be perfect for me, and I am praying hard he thinks so too!

This morning after institute I went to the gym. I did the elliptical for 45 minutes, and then did some leg weights. The weights were pretty killer because I am sore from dancin' but when you are sore, at least you know you did something right! Me and my roomies are going to an ab aerobics class tonight, which should be good. Now that I am an instructor, I feel like I have to dress all professional, which means spandex... Sooooo I think this class will be good. haha

My bed looks like a college student exploded, and I just overheard my roommate say "I want nachos" so I think there are things I must do, and snacks I must participate in :)

Love ya!

P.S.: I really should mention the Botten family in this post. I went to school with Trey Botten, and though we were never close, I have always known him to be a wonderful person and very faithful. Recently, his younger brother attempted suicide because things were extremely stressful in his life. However, by a miracle, each one in the Botten family sensed that something was really wrong, and they found Cody before he died. He is in a coma at Overlake hospital, and is not doing extremely well. Please remember to pray for this family, and pray for Cody tonight. Depression is a serious problem, and the only true cure is love. Again, please pray for the family tonight <3

Eric went to the gym.

What's up with that? Haha. Like seriously, he was all fussy that I wasn't talking with my computer mic, so I went out in the hall and got all set up. Talked to him for like five minutes, and then he left me! However, it's sort of a big production to take all this stuff and go back to my room (and also, my roommie left her essay until the last minute, so I don't want to disturb her. Tsk Tsk Sara :P), so I am just sittin' out by the coke machine. Funnn.

Actually, today was a really awesome day. I got a lot of things done. I went to my education class (arrived EARLY thank you! :P) and had a pretty good time. We talked about dicipline within schools, which I have always found interesting. Of course, I went to school in wussy washington, so I have never seen dicipline actually happen, but the concept that it exists quite entices me. My professor for my education class is really an awesome guy. I should really sit closer to the front so he gets to know me better, but I think my right-wing comments about the failures of the left-wing education system speak for themselves :)

After that class, I ran home to grab a granola bar, and then ran off to take my Information Literacy test-out exam. It was really easy, and I will be surprised if I didn't get 95% or better. If I got less than an A though, I am going to stay in the class. It's pretty lame, but I would really like to see a fantastic grade point average for this semester, and for the first time in my life, I think I can do it :)

My final class for the day was my Intermediate Writing course on Classical Rhetoric. We had a pretty big assignment due today that I had worked pretty hard on. I turned it in and everything, but I actually felt really sad when I noticed the kid next to me didn't turn his in. Does he know how poorly that will reflect on his grade? Did he just forget about it? Maybe he wasn't paying attention when she was explaining the assignment. Now that I think of it, I haven't seen him turn in any reading assignments either. Though the class is EXTREMELY boring, the work load isn't too bad. I suppose college is there to weed out the lazies from the diligent....but he also always talks smack about mormons, so maybe God is making his homework assignments slippery like he did to the Nephites and their riches (Helaman 13, if you are interested). Either way, I feel sorry for the guy. Why pay thousands of dollars just to fail?

After class I got home and saw Eric was in Engineering so I couldn't talk to him. Usually, at this point of my day, I just sit at the computer refreshing my facebook page until he gets home. Not tonight! And probably never again. I actually went and had funnnn :D I have been trying to go to the gym every day. I am not as good at it as I should be, but I usually make up for it with an hour or so of zumba. Regardless, I went to the gym today with Maryna and Mila. We had soooooo much fun. We rode the bikes for 20 minutes, lifted some weights, and got stared at by a major creeper. I haven't had so much fun at the gym in a while! The workout was a lot easier than what I was used to, but maybe next time I can convince the girls to hop on the olyptical for 3 miles :) We also made the plan to do friday night swim and movie nights with our buddies. Our first one is tomorrow! It works out pretty good because there is an institute social tomorrow too, so we will go swim, shower, go to the social and get free dinner (SCORE) and come back to our room for a movie night :) I am not a very good swimmer, but these girls make taking out trash fun, how bad can it be?

After our workout sesh, we all came home and made our various dinners. Mine was absolutely delicious. I think it was the most calorically dense thing I have eaten in a while, but calories are good for me! hahah. While we were all eating, we saw a commercial for Arctic Circle. Half of us were like "Whaaa I lovee arctic circle" and the other half were like "whhaa? Never heard of arctic circle!". So we all went there for family home evening. Yes, I know it wasn't a monday, but once your in college, you never know if you will have three dollars to spend on a milkshake by the time the next monday rolls around :P It was sooooo good. I don't really like ice cream, and as my family well knows, it made my tummy feel quite ill, but if that's the price I pay to go out and have a blast with my roommates, so be it!

After we came home, it was homework time for everyone. Of course, I did mine, but I hung around just to help them out. It was during this point that I really started to realize some serious problems I had in high school. One of my roommates was really stressing out about the Library test-out exam (the same one I took this morning). No matter how many times I told her how simple it was, how she didn't need to memorize anything, etc, she was stressing out! I got to thinking how I was like that in high school. Every little thing was such a big deal, whether I did the assignment or not. I wish I would have prioritized more, did things when they were assigned, and been more confident in asking others their input on things. If I were to go back to high school now, I think I would do sooooo much better (except for math, that will always be a...not nice name). But I suppose that is the point of life. We go through all these struggles and eventually, the fact that we struggled makes life easier later. Interesting.

I was also thinking (during my super super super SUPER boring english class) about why I was never good taking tests, but I am a fairly smart person (yea, SUU gives me a brighter confidence in my own intellect as well...). I came to the conclusion that the problem is words. I have always been able to state what I know effectively, and hide what I don't know more effectively. This is why I love public speaking and teaching too. I have a pretty great ability to manipulate the audience's perception of my understanding by not vocalizing any weakness. In a way, I even trick myself. So by the time that math test rolls around, I am unclear on what I know, and what I don't know. I don't think college will ever make me better at math, but at least now I understand why... And its awesome because history teachers aren't expected to have flawless math skills. I really am having an awesome time at college. I know not every class is going to be as easy as I find them now, but I feel like there is actually a purpose with everything we do. It's weird...I actually enjoy studying because I feel like it is helping me learn! Again, WHY did I not do this before!?

I know I am rambling. I apologize. I always do when it comes to my blog. But thanks for reading anyways! I always feel lame about my posts when they don't have a picture in them, so I just searched "Best picture ever" and this was my result.

...Alrighhhtyyy.

Good night (:

Good Things in Life...

Are pretty much free! :D

Today I:

1) Got a letter from Eric. Yea it's pretty much way exciting.
2) Made a friend in my rhetoric class! Hi friend :)
3) Got my first A on my test. Okay, it was a test on Microsoft Word, but yo, its still an A in my book!
4) Worked on some Zumbaaaa
5) Finished all of my online assignmens for the next week and a half

and last but not leastttt!
6) I am packing for my trip up in northern Utah to visit family and friends for labor day weekend!

10 Things

10 Things I like about Cedar City:
1) Weather. Yea baby, you want sun? We got it. Snow? It's coming up. Wind? Fo' Sho'. Thunder and lightening? Absolutely. 12 years ago, I remember looking out at the storm with my mom eating Ramen. I have plenty of opportunities to relive that! :)
2) Smith's Grocery Store. It's so folksy here. Everyone is laughing and chatting with everyone. The people who work there know the people who shop there. I feel like I am in the 50s!
3) My roommates. I don't even care if they like Cedar City, these girls can always make me happy <3
4) SUU. Gorgeous campus, friendly staff, great school. The atmosphere is just...good feeling.
5) St. George. Okay, yea, they are different places, But I am loving St. George and I am happy I get to be so close!
6) The Weirdos. There is never a dull moment, thanks to all you awkward utahns out there. Thank you.
7) Mountains. The most gorgeous mountains in the whole world are practically my backyard.
8) The smell. Okay yea, thats weird. But it smells like summer here. Makes me want to swim!
9) The Rain. It's only rained once in the few weeks I have been here, but when it rains, it is hardcore, HUGE drops. I love it.
10) The Gym. Never have I been in a more beautiful workout facility. Breath taking!

10 Things I don't like so much about Cedar City:
1) Eric's not here. What the heck? :P
2) Issaquah. I am not like a big Issaquah person, but it was like the perfect town with every store I liked and needed. I miss my little drives down there.
3) My ward. I know the gospel is the same wherever we go, but we are seriously lacking some priesthood... Amen.
4) The food. For some reason after I eat anything I make, I kinda psych myself out making it seem gross. I always feel a taaadddd nauseous
5) My Car is always stuffy. Yea...in Washington we don't have heat exactly...
6) Lack of adults. I really like to talk to people older than me. Here, almost everyone is a student. No interest there.
7) No puppy to cuddle with. Missy used to always keep my blankets warm and in the middle of the night she would come up by my face and start licking me and try to push me off my pillow. I miss her :(
8) Worrying. I worry my car is in the wrong spot, someone will think the food I cooked smelled weird, I will forget homework, I will have no one to sit with...stuff like that.
9) The post-office. Yea, you know my feelings. But seriously. It should NOT take 4 days for a letter to get here from Pullman. Wazzup with that?
10) Mi Familia. Last but not least, of course :) Sometimes I wake up, and everyone in my dorm is gone. At home there was always someone somewhere!

Do the goods outweigh the bads? Well... Let's just say that the good things help me forget about the bad.

School is going great. I am doing very well in all my classes, and I am very pleased that I am keeping up so well. I am even toying with the idea of adding more credits next semester. Not so much because I want to rush through everything, but because going to classes actually interests me. Can't wait to register for spring!

My education class is by far my favorite right now. I can hardly wait to be done with my astronomy class. I am already a week ahead as far as the syllabus is concerned, and I really hate the fact that I have to spend so much time in a class that has all the information in an AMAZING textbook (seriously, I love that thing!), but oh well. My english class is going pretty well. It's extremely easy, nothing like I had expected, but I am still really interested in the stuff we read and the discussions we have. I think 1.5 hours is a long time to spend in one seat, though. She seems to try to remedy this by making us do a lot of group discussions, which I personally have never been into, but all the *tries to think of a nice word to say* uhh... 'other' kids seem to enjoy them because that means that they just get to sit there and be dumb while the one sap who wants to succeed (yea, thats me) does all the work. My other few classes are mostly online. They are easy enough. I am planning on taking the library test out exam, so if I get a good grade then I will just use that as my ticket out of the class. The one nice thing about the test out is that if you pass, but don't get as good a grade as you wanted, like a B or something, you are allowed to remain enrolled in the class and those points just go to extra credit. That way you can keep your grades up. Nothing to lose there, so I will give it a shot.

Hope everyone is doing well!