Commencement Day

I am posting a lot because so much is going on that I know I will never catch up if I don't. Today was commencement. College convocations will be tomorrow at 11:00am in the Marriot Center for me. I have to apologize to all of my family because I made invitations, but I haven't sent them out yet. I knew that most people could not come, but I am still sending out invitations! This morning I got up and went to the Maeser Building for a Dietetics department picture at 11am. I am excited to get the 5x7 pic from the photographer. At 12:00 the Dietetics program reception start which included a slideshow, a song, and a little blurb about each student. I thought it was really well put together and afterwards Dr. Nyland read "Oh, The Place You'll Go!" by Dr. Suess. Wow, Dr. Suess really knew what he was talking about. Refreshments followed afterwards with some fruit and eclairs so we could all mingle. We decided to go out to lunch to Yamoto which is a fun authentic Japanese place and had some sushi. We half went out because I am graduating and half because it is Allison's birthday on Tuesday.

I had to line up for commencement at 3pm and it all started at 4pm! We walked up the paths to the Marriot and walked in during the processional. I didn't think I would be so excited for graduation, but I really was! The ceremony was very quick. Elder Bednar was the commencement speaker after our degrees were conferred upon us and he said that his gift to us today was to give us a short speech since most people never remember what was said at their graduation anyways. Elder Bednar went on the speak about a love of learning. He spoke on learning and said that learning is an essential principle for this world and for the world to come. I wish I had a paper and pencil to take notes because as I am typing I am remembering less and less, but I felt that his speech was very good and full of the spirit. I am happy that he was short and although it was a cold day I had so much fun and after we got out of the Marriot Center the sun came out and it warmed up and was so sunny.


The whole day was good. Drew came to my reception, but he didn't want to go to commencement. I asked him and begged him to come a couple of times, but I think he felt that it would be a long boring ceremony. I think not having Drew at commencement to support me was the only downside to the day and it hurt my feelings. The nice thing about commencement is that you can sit with anyone you want. I sat in the middle of Amber and Heather which I wouldn't have any other way. Most of the Dietetics students all sat together and we were in the very front of the line for Life Sciences so we were only five rows up! We were very close. When I got out of the Marriot Center I had the chance to walk down to the RB where Drew was going to pick me up. I couldn't help thinking of how beautiful campus looked in the evening sun and how much I loved being at BYU. It was definately the right place for me to go and I am so happy about all of my experiences there even though there were a lot of hard times. Basically I have found that it takes me a little time to adjust to new things and times have been so wonderful here so far that I am sad to leave, but I am also excited to start anew in Reno don't get me wrong. I think you can be happy anywhere. It's all what you make of your time.

Everything...

This last week has been such a whirlwind! With finals, my last day of work, packing, and the senior banquet it's been very hectic. I finished my finals finally and it was very relieving and at the same time very awkward. It felt weird to think I would never take another test at BYU or another class... after all I've known nothing but being a college student for the last five years. I am excited to go to Houston and then Reno, but it will be sad to leave all of our friends and to leave Utah!


Tuesday was my last day of work as well as the Senior Banquet. I didn't realize that Tuesday was my last day until I went to work that day. Originally it was supposed to be Wednesday, but I had made a comment or two about leaving on Tuesday because that was when Heather was leaving and when we were having our goodbye party. When I got in Marie said it would be OK that is was my last day... and so it was! At about ten o'clock Heather came in to work and we decided to head over to the new Gordon B. Hinckley Building to pick up our cap and gown. We didn't have to wait too long although there was a huge line! We were able to pick up our cap and gown and since we were one of the first 1,000 graduates to pick up our gowns we received a free Alum '08 t-shirt. Sweet! Heather and I then proceeded to walk back to work and then put on our cap and gowns and take a whole bunch of silly pictures! I brought my camera to work because we were having our farewell party that day. After we took some pictures we started our party. It was really good and Matt made us each give a speech on what we learned at BYU and what we were doing next. I wasn't expecting to be asked what I was taking away from BYU ... it's one of the those questions that you need to think about. When it came to my turn I realized how small and insignificant I felt entering the "real world" because the more I learn and the more classes I take the more I know that I don't know a lot. Cassy mentioned how important it is to get involved and I feel the same way. Almost every year that I've been at BYU I've been in some sort of student council or club office (RHA programming chair, pre-professional rep for Dietetics, and Student Dietetics Secretary). That's not exactly the way I meant to get involved though. I think you need to immerse yourself in something going on in the community. I've had so much fun going to events and college presentations, devotionals, being involved in intramurals, and participating in races on campus. There is always something going on in the community and you just have to know where to look to know about it. Anyways, after the party we took some group pictures then had a meeting. It was crazy because it was me and Heather's last day so we had to report on where all our projects were and give them to someone else (the newbies). It was hectic because I had to clean out everything... my folder, my binder, and my e-mail and I had to tie up all my loose ends. It took a little while. I am most sad to pass off my health challenge that I've been planning. It starts May 5th and everything that I have envisioned and worked on ... I will never see through. Its sad and frustrating at the same time because I can't see the fruit of my work, but let someone else take all the credit for it.


Ok, it was really sad leaving work... both Heather and Marie were a little teary eyed and it almost made me cry. It has been so wonderful to work with Marie, Matt, Anna, and Doug and esp. Heather and Cassy. This is about the best job anywhere on campus. I actually got paid to plan health challenges, health seminars, fun walks around campus, health newsletters, glucose, cholesterol, and PSA screenings, and much more! It's the best and so much fun! I've never had so much fun working for money. Heather, Cassy and I are all leaving and so is Matt. The office will definately never be the same without Matt. He has been called to serve as a Mission President in French Polynesia--Tahiti mission. I cannot even start to describe his character and leadership. He's great!


Later that night I went to the Senior Banquet! It was so much fun and I took lots of pictures! The senior banquet was at Tucanos and it was so good! I was a little disappointed that everyone couldn't sit together, but it turned out OK because we all got up and took pictures and walked around anyways. I am going to miss all of the Dietetics girls! It's been such a blast to have all my classes with the same 36 girls for the last two years and I've made a lot of good friends. I really wish that all of college could have been this fun! Of everyone I am going to miss these girls the most... Natalie, Heather, Amber, and Lynnae! I love you!

Blogging for blogs' sake. Whoever that is.

Soon we will be leaving precious Provo. I am currently torn with how I feel about leaving. Provo has provided some wonderful memories and friends these past few years. It has also provided many angry and furious moments, mostly associated with how others drive around here. I've had so many close-call moments in my car. Some people are just oblivious to others on the road. Chatting away on their cell phones, paying attention to no one but themselves. Some choose to ignore stop signs, which teases me off more than anything. The one stop sign in particular is the one in the Albertson's shopping center parking lot. Movin south through the lot, there is a stop for one direction but not for thru traffic. So many close calls there, horn sounding, bird out the window. Mixed reactions from those running the stop and almost hitting me, from a polite 'sorry' wave, to what most assuredly was profanity back at me. I think what makes me most angry is people's obliviousness to the law, and they act like they did nothing wrong when you point it out to them. Learn how to drive people!
Venting aside, I am also ending my 'career' at Nicolitalia Pizzeria in 2 more days. I will be glad to never have to do some of the things I do each and every day any more, but there will be some things I will miss. I have made some good friends over there, including Nic himself, and especially love talking hockey with him as he's one of the few, if not the only, person in the west who knows more than me about the sport. Fortunately for me, my team is good right now an his team is not. I like to tease him about it constantly to which he replies "Stop it! I hate you!" in his funny high-er pitched voice and Bostonian accent. "Ya sucha pecka!" If you are in the Provo area and have never been to Nic's pizza shop, you have not lived. Go in and get the margarita and you'll never eat another 5 dollar pizza again.
Last note, the Pens are awaiting their next victim in the second round. Will it be the Flyers? The Rangers? The Caps? I really hope Ovechkin smears the Flyers in game 7 so Crosby can show him in person who the best in the NHL really is. Go Pens!

Senior Celebration

So Drew and I were able to go to the Senior Celebration on Friday night. It was a blast! BYU puts on the Senior Celebration once a year for all of the graduating class. Since Drew graduated last year, this is the second time we've been able to attend! They provide a ton of free food, BYU ice cream, drinks, games, performances, and some prize drawings. This year we decided to pass on the games and free bowling and instead wait in line for some uncomplimentary complimentary caricatures! A man named Dean from the Museum of Art does them each year... he ends up staying at the event from 6:30pm to 10:30pm just drawing away. Since there is little time and a huge demand he only takes about 2 or 3 minutes for each one, but we thought it would be so fun to have on our wall! It was really fun to see what our cartoon version would look like! Anyways, they're fun. We went to Michael's yesterday and they were having huge frame sale and we bought some great frames for them. Although they'll go straight into a box to be moved... I am excited to get them up along with Natasha's drawing that she did for us for Christmas in our new place! Our new place is going to be great.

Ok, so we didn't have to wait in line too long so we were still able to get in the ballroom to get a seat next to some friends and just in time to see Noteworthy perform (women version of VocalPoint). After Noteworthy they started the first prize drawings, then President Samuelson addressed us, then VocalPoint performed for the next 45 min, then the grand prize drawing started. We thought we might win something after two times, but we didn't come away with anything! However, a lot of our friends won stuff. Our friends that were sitting next to us won a foosball table! Cool! We had a bunch of fun and it was all free so we definitely had a blast!!

Marco says "Oh no, poor kittty!!"

If you haven't seen our little Sake lately, well , it's quite a funny sight. Drew and I aren't quite sure what happened, but we have a few theories. Earlier this week I was sitting on the couch and it smelt abnormally bad. I was looking around and I spotted sake sitting on the ground and her bum and one side of her hind leg and tail were all brown (she's normally cream and grey). At first, I was so disgusted, I thought it was poo or something like that so I asked Drew- what's that on Sake? We were both walking towards her very interested to see and she seemed to know we wanted to investigate so she went into the lower kitty condo apartment and we had to spend at least five minutes coaxing her out! Maybe she was ashamed... once she came out I picked her up and started smelling her. Whatever it was we confirmed it was NOT poo. As I started to put my fingers through her hair and inspect her... I realized that this was singed hair. Somehow Sake had burnt her fur! Drew and I were so mystified! Leave it up to Sake to do something like this.... sometimes she is so dense. We were laughing at her and at the same time try to postulate what happened. There are two theories 1.) we think while I was boiling water she could have jumped up on the stove while I was out of the room briefly and burnt her fur on the hot coils cause it smelled bad in there too OR 2.) she could have fallen asleep real close to one of the electric heaters and woken up just in time to find her fur all singed! I don't know!

We couldn't stop laughing at her and after a while she was unbearable to hold or sit next to cause she smelt so bad. We decided the fur had to go and proceeded to get the buzzer and scissors out. Yes, we buzzed her hind leg and the middle portion of her tail to get all the singed fur off. So now she smells much better and is much more funny to look at too. She looks like she's got this crooked tail and trimmed bum!

She's such a good cat though, she sleeps with us each night and when we were working on her with the buzzer she didn't even mind like she enjoyed being doctored. Oh, poor kitty!

(I will have to post some pics later for you)

Drew writes!

My first ever blog. I just returned from another trip to UNR for an orientation. It was informative, but the most expensive one-hour event of my life! But having a day in Nevada was fun, and I got to spend some time with my dad and just me, which is something I can never remember having before. We had some great fun just hanging out and eating good food.
Once I returned to Provo, Joseph and Amanda, Christina's brother and his wife, were at our house visiting for a few days. We spent most of the day inside visiting and then went to dinner at night. They left early this morning for Colorado.
There's lots going on in the sports world, especially with hockey. The playoffs are set to begin, now that the regular season is just about over. The Penguins are looking good, which is great since they've been so bad in the last few years. Go Pens!