hobby shopper

Although I started a full-time job this week (I have a retirement plan. what?) I am finding I had a lot more free time than when I was in school. Therefore, I am currently shopping for new hobbies. I've tried lots of things, even going so far as wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby for some inspiration (hobby is in the name of the store and I came away with nothing.

currently my free-time activities include the following:
cooking real meals
wedding planning
shopping but not buying
reading Nancy Drew books
pinterest

Any suggestions of things I can add to this (somewhat pathetic) list? please and thank you.

live from salt lake...

I got in touch with my inner reporter yesterday and had one of my most exciting election days yet.
I'm in a poltical science/broadcast journalism class about journalism and elections. Since I am neither a fullblown polisci or broadcast student, I am a little out of my element, but it is interesting to see things from a different perspective. Our whole semester has been leading up to yesterday, our election coverage for KBYU.

I spent the day with two lovely broadcasters, following around Sam Granato and Peter Corroon, the Democratic candidates for Senate and govenor. Met at Corroon HQ, went to Granato's store for lunch with the fam, followed Corroon on a visit through the AFL-CIO. I tagged along through it all.

Then it was off to Democratic HQ at the Marriott to get ready for the results. True, Democrats in Utah aren't super exciting, but it was cool to see. We walked in to the ballroom as they're setting up; the 4 big news stations had great set-ups on the side of the room. KBYU was sitting on the floor, Internet-less. Well, we pulled some strings, made some friends, and scored ourselves some wireless and a table. We were in business. Soon they started setting up the bar right next to us, and I knew we were in for an entertaining night. I didn't have a ton to do, so I watched and soaked it in. These broadcast students sure are on top of things. They did a great job. And the emotion of the room was intense as the night wore on. Concession speeches, reactions, poll results--we were there for it all.

What a memorable/long day/night!

Setting up--news stations with their fancy set ups, and the lovely bar

Command Central--our set-up for the night

Granato's concession speech. Dems love him.

in which I am a runner...

I'm trying to be a runner.
In DC, I ran to the White House every night. In Provo, I run sometimes.
Now I have a goal:
Heck no, not the marathon, but the Utah Valley 5k. Sure, it's only 3.1 miles, but it's something to work towards. My roommates (2 of whom are on the track team) + other "I want to be a runner" friends are doing it. and not just for the free tshirt, though it's a perk.

If you'll be in Provo on June 12th, come join.

and the good news is I think I'm getting that runner's high thing. Tonight at the indoor track, I just couldn't stop running and ended up doing 2 more laps after when I told myself I would stop.
what is happening to me?

provo (does not equal) dc

disclaimer: this is a total downer. i just need to get it out of my system and then i'll be fine. i'm glad i'm here. really. i just have a lot of feelings.

not once have I heard a motorcade, or even sirens.
the cars here don't stop when you walk out into the road
everywhere seems so empty. where are the people, people?
the boys seem so young in their plaid shorts and polos. maybe they should wear fancy suits all the time.
I feel old. quite old. But up until 2 weeks ago, I felt quite young.
there are mountains and parking lots, instead of monuments and history
Coming up on the columns of the Maeser Building is not as cool as coming up on the columns of the Lincoln Memorial.
You can't just open the door of your apartment and yell out into oblivion and have someone answer you, like in the Barlow. (trust me, I tried. total failure)
Where are the minorities?

but there are some familiar things, like Barlow friends, hard beds, and garbage trucks outside my window at 7:15 am. and seeing old friends sure does feel good.

adjusting. takes time.
tomorrow will be better.

(packing...my favorite hobby)

DC to Denver
(layover)
Denver to Seattle
Seattle to Spokane
Spokane to Seattle
Seattle to Salt Lake

5 planes, 9 days. oh boy.

Tomorrow marks my return after a four-month hiatus from Provo. I'm not sure how I feel about it.
I am however, getting really good at telling how heavy a suitcase is just by lifting it, and airport security pretty much knows me by name.

Also I changed my blog header today, because "destination:dc" doesn't really apply anymore. welcome to my post-washington life.

I have a new found love:

roller derby.

A group of us braved SE DC on Saturday for the DC Roller Girls league championship bout.

I was excited, but found roller derby isn't quite what I imagined. Yes, some of the girls are quite large. Their outfits are weird. They have crazy names (Condeleeza Slice? Lois Slain?) They push each other. But I didn't realize how much strategy is in the game. After the exhibition game was the championship: Scare Force One (motto: why we gotta be so awesome alla time?) vs DC DemonCats. By the end, we had the strategy down and were getting so into the game. and sitting in the "suicide seats" on the edge of the track and having some players slide into us was quite exciting too.Salt Lake has a roller derby league. You better believe we'll be going to check it out.

coming to an end

warning: this post is probs the most emo thing I have ever written. I just have a lot of feelings.

One week from today, I will be somewhere on the road, headed towards by who-knows-how long hiatus from Provo. To me, this is bittersweet.

I am excited to go home and spend Christmas in my favorite place.
I am excited for finals to be over and to pack up everything I own, which is surprisingly fun and drive across the west with my dear mother.
I am excited to see my sister and her family and meet my newest niece.
I am excited to start 2010 off with a bang, flying across the country.
I am excited to get out of the dry cold and into wet, bitter cold.
I am excited for a new adventure and a great internship, to be a real person who takes the metro and wears collared shirts and dress slacks.
I am excited to live on my own, more than I ever have before, in a wonderfully big city.
I am excited to not have to worry about classes (as much. I'll still have 12 credits and an internship) and tons of activities and focus on what's important and fun.
I am excited to meet new people and explore new places.

I am sad to leave behind a place that is so dear to me. Seriously, I quite love Provo.
I am sad to leave my roommates, who have been lovely to me for the last 3 semesters living together. They are so fun and put up with some of my crazy mood swings.
I am sad to miss basketball season, prssa and all-men's chorus, inside jokes and random afternoons.
I am sad to leave behind some of the best friends I have made this semester, even though I have known them all for much longer. They were seriously what got me through this semester and I love them dearly. It's crazy to think that this is the last week we will all be together as students, before internships and graduation take up who knows where. luckily, we have skype and party calls.
I am sad to be so far away from everything so familiar and so close to everything that is so unfamiliar.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
-2 timothy 1:7

no crap november

Feeling that we need to rejuvanate our lives, the roommates recently instigated no crap november. the main idea is to get all the junk out of our lives and replace it will good things. We get stickers every day, and are working to an apartment prize if we all do a good job.

this weeks goals include:
5 servings of fruits and vegetables
daily scripture study
exercise
etc...

and this is just the warm-up. we're kicking it into gear for week 2.
this is our "before" picture...taken on sunday, the 1st of november. Hopefully, you'll see us all with a healthy, vibrant glow at the end of the month.

guess what

Ok, get this.

In January, I will be living here....
In this great city....

Interning...

TBA, but it will be somewhere amazing

Ahhh! Washington Seminar!! I am so excited!!

steps to moving...again

1. Sort and pack everything from home
2. Load car with packed goods.
3. Drive through 4 states, stopping at Grandma and Grandpa's for a quick visit and a care package.
4. Pray the car makes it
(She did, with no problems! Yay Sally!)
5. Crash at your roommates house for a few days (Thanks, Kylie)
6. Break into your old apartment to get the stuff you left there
7. Move into new apartment, marvel at the Native American couches and weird bed arrangement.
8. Rearrange furniture, make a desperate Wal-Mart trip with the roommates, and start to organize.

Oh boy. Craziness.
But, the new apartment is taking shape and I think it has the potential to be quite lovely. (pictures to come)

feeling creative

One of my new favorite things is picnik.com, a lovely free photo editing site. I went to explore and I got sucked in. Here some of my favorite creations:

well, i guess i'm going to guatemala...

Ok folks, change of plans. After a very up in the air trip for the last few weeks, Mexico officially got cancelled on Monday due to swine flu (oh those pigs). BUT the good news is that today our back-up plan to Guatemala got approved.

Oh yes, we are leaving on the 25th for 2.5 wonderful weeks in
Chimaltenango, GUATEMALA!
Even though I am totally bummed about the lack of Mexico, I am super excited for Guatemala. I think I checked every book about Guatemala from the HBLL and Provo libraries.

learn, do, become

You know that Allstate commercial when the man says "It's back to basics. And the basics are good"? Well, that's my motto for this spring. I've been trying to revamp my basics in the last few days, but here are my general guidelines of things to do for spring. I figure blogging them will make me more accountable, so feel free to check up on me.

I'm going to eat right. More fruits and veggies. Less cookies. For lunch today I made a turkey and hummus pita with blackberries on the side. It felt good. Then I bought marshmallow chocolate cookies. Not so good. I'll work on that.

I'm going to read my scriptures every day and go to the temple once a week. I am so blessed to have a temple so close, and it's time to really take advantage.

I'm going to savor learning. Outside reading, not just Harry Potter, going to a variety of lectures and devotionals on campus, and really trying to excel and participate in my classes.

I'm going to write missionaries. No more than two weeks to get a response back to them, none of this six weeks junk.

I'm going to sleep more and appreciate mornings. Early class will do this to you, but I'm quite excited. And I'll go to bed earlier. Starting tomorrow night.

I'm going to focus. Less facebook. More CNN.

on the fringe

After a few hours of pestering my roommates yesterday, I decided to get bangs for the first time since I was 11. My lovely roommate Wallis did the honors. And now I have bangs. I still have to learn how to say it right, but I think they're sassy.