Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Alpaca.

Well well well....I am a day early on the monthly recap. But, I'm so excited to move on to the next month that I decided to jump the gun!

April April April.

Maybe I didn't pay close enough attention, but my list of exciting things to share is comparatively shorter than it was in past months. I think I was so focused on the fact that it was ALMOST FINALLY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR that I forgot about things like list making and such. But, I do have some pictures to share so don't fret yourself!

So...here's the highlight reel:

- Finishing my internship. Well, it's still getting wrapped up a little BUT my first article is posted online. I'm so excited about this that it's getting its own separate blog. Which maybe you already read, I guess...

- Seminary! So, remember how I took that seminary teaching class mostly for fun/out of curiosity...well, the seminary pre-service program has three parts to it: The first class, the more advanced class, and then student teaching. You have to get selected to move up to each new level, AND....I found out a couple weeks ago that they picked me! I was pretty surprised, but the idea has really grown on me and I've gotten all excited about possibly becoming a seminary teacher! I don't want to get my hopes up cuz who knows what will happen with the next two levels buuut...we'll see :) The good news is that the only two places they have the pre-service program is in Utah and (conveniently) Tempe, Arizona! So, whether or not I move home in the fall I still get to pursue the idea :) Happy day!

- Dinner with Jane's family. My roommate Jane's family came to Utah from Minnesota and they took us ALL out to Brick Oven to eat pizza. The food was amazing, the company was awesome, and the balloon-animal man blew my mind with his skills. All in all it was a superb evening!

- Conference weekend. I already wrote a blog about this and how much I loved it...And I posted a video that sticks way out to the side of my blog...but it's still a good video....

- Becky's birthday. My roommate Becky had a birthday this month! I do love birthdays. We took her out to this place in Provo called Spark...it's an entirely non-alcoholic bar. Basically you can get neato drinks without a hangover. Plus they had good hummus. I drank an apple martini. It was delish....and no regrets the next morning. Take that, the-rest-of-the-college-world!

- Twelve Apostates. Yes, you read that right....the daily newspaper at BYU continually amuses/frustrates me with its consistent spelling/grammar errors (who edits that thing??) BUT i told myself to quit being a grammar snob and stop making fun of them. But then they had to go and make one HUGE error that took the cake entirely....the day after conference they posted a picture on the front page of the Brethren on the stand with the caption reading, "The council of the Twelve Apostates." Wow........just wow.

- Easters! Spent Easter Sunday in Salt Lake with all my roommates and a couple friends at my roommate Kelsey's house. There was so much good food...and I won the family egg hunt. Then I felt bad and gave all my candy away....It was a lovely holiday :)

- Pie eating. Went to the ward closing social....decided to be the only girl in the pie eating contest....barely missed winning the entire thing. I've never been so full in my entire life....I ate a lot of pie, very quickly. But I'm still proud of myself.

- Habitat for Humanity. My newest service addiction! I get a new one every month or two, eh? Caraline got me interested in my newest fancy....basically you go help build a house. I'm not sure yet if I am qualified for this kind of thing, but I know all kinds of random people go so I figure they can't ALL be professionals either...they can put me in charge of sweeping and painting stuff I suppose! Moral support is a skill as well. Anyways I tried to go to my first build a couple weeks ago and it was all rained upon so it didn't happen :( BUT I get to go to a build this upcoming Saturday and then another one in like 2 weeks. Woot! I did go to a carwash fundraiser a couple weeks ago and I loved it. Hooray for service time!

- Make A Wish. Ah, the monthly MAW update! I met my newest wish kid earlier this month...his name is Alan and he's 15 and he couldn't decide if he wants a new TV or a PS3. Turns out he can probably get both cuz we're sending him on a shopping spree! I've never done a shopping wish but it sounds pretty neat...they give him a bunch of money and 5 hours to spend it...plus like a limo to drive him and his family around. So hopefully that happens soon....I'm excited :)

- THE ELMS! Yes....I live in a new home. And I adore it thus far. I just moved in 2 days ago and we already had a ward activity and I think I know more people than I ever knew after 8 months in my old ward. I will miss my old roommates and a couple friends from good ol' Park Place but....I'm so excited to be outta that place!!! Ahhh!!! Just had to get that off my chest. The whole unsocial ward thing just wasn't my scene. Most of my memories from that place involve stupid winter weather and a lot of concrete walls. I'm just so stoked to be moved on I can't even say it enough :)

- Arizona trip! Ah it was blissful! So great to see the fam, see some friends, wear shorts, bask in the sunshine, forget about a little place called Provo for a couple days, go to a Dbacks game, ride the new LIGHT RAIL (ooh, ahh!), pick lemons, etc etc. I'm trying to make some big decisions about what to do with my life next fall so visiting home helps me get a clearer perspective of my options. I will let you all know when a final decision is made.....and then unmade, and then made again, etc etc. haha. Just trying to be honest.

And that's all folks! I am on to my new life of summer fun and...oh yeah, and work and summer school. haha. I started off on an awesome foot today by going to my first class in the wrong building and then arriving an hour early for my second class. Loooove looking like an idiot when I'm a senior in college. Freshmen tendencies die hard, eh? I blame it on being a transfer student. At least my classes are looking good...I have American Heritage (some hardcore LDS-based history class that was super interesting today) and then Family Adaptation and Resiliency (about how families cope with death, illness, mental illness, divorce, etc.) I'm stoked for that second one....it's my favorite kind of stuff to study in my major because it applies to real life so well. I love being more educated and more capable of understanding people around me.

But I could go on forever if I got started on why I love my major. So I'll clam up and just post some pictures....first some random ones from the school year and then a couple from Arizona! Enjoy!

Well, one time it was a Friday night and we turned down all our other awesome invitations to go do awesome things with awesome people and opted to play around in the Library instead...Here's me and Kels imitating a statue:And here I am browsing the books...

Break dancing in the lobby....


Oh, while we were on campus we decided to hit up the Quill and the Sword Club's social. Lots of jousting....lots of crazies in their medieval garb.....and one great picture with a giant castle:This is at J-Dawgs, an awesome little hot dog stand in Provo. We walked there one day and literally came across a giant blue J lying on the sidewalk. So, we picked it up and took it with us...a sign of approval from the hot dog gods:
And here I am riding the light with Bonnie Jean Jelly Bean! We are so excited to be on the light rail. Note the overly excited faces. I recommend the light rail to EVERYONE...
Ah, good ol' Dbacks game! We sat next to these crazy guys who (no joke) perform in a Mariachi band on the weekends. They danced, the sang, they yelled, they drank, they got us on the jumbotron like 4 times. Wow. One of them had no teeth but you can't tell in this picture....Viva La Baseball!
Waiting for the light rail to get to the game! It's me, Ashley, Katie Lee, and Bonnie.
Ah, this classic picture....so, we were all hungry. I bought french fries. I ate them. Bonnie bought nachos....didn't want any more....so I ate them. Then Ashley offered me some of her ice cream. Right about then Bonnie caught me on camera being awesomely gluttonous....what can I say? I love food.

And that's it! Bet you can't wait for May!!

2 comments:

The Ballard Family said...

I've always wanted to try an apple martini.
I can't believe there's not a place like that here...well, actually, I can. Only in Provo, eh? But I am stoked for you. The one time I tried to experience something club-like, I was highly...frightened.
I know what you mean about a month just slipping by and leaving you with a bit of an effort to recall what you did, pondered, etc.
I think my last three years were like that.
You are going to have so much to write about next month, with all the new stuff you'll have going on! I'm so excited for you.
My favorite part is where you talk about coming home to Arizona. But I am biased because that is the only part where I got to see you!
Keep up the awesome work you're doing. In lots of ways, you're my hero!
Mandiola

Celeste said...

Hey Katie! I was reading part of your blog and noticed you just moved into the Elms? The Elms is where I lived for a few semesters. I love it there! I have never been in such an amazing singles ward (or any ward at that) then the ward I attended at the Elms. Everyone is super friendly and it really is like a big family. I am so excited for you and everything you are doing in your life! You are so amazing Katie!