Published Procrastination

I had this realization that if I just type a little every few days, it will be not only more interesting, but less time consuming for me as well. . . plus, after a long day at work it's fun to see some new stuff on the good ol' blog.

Guess what I'm doing tonight?? Well, Sunday I was reading the paper and saw that Aron Ralston is coming to SLC for a book signing Between a Rock and a Hard Place-- it's the guy that cut off his arm in Bluejohn Canyon, Southern Utah last year after five days of being stranded. I am so excited. I plan to ride the bus up at 6:00 pm so that I can see him and have him sign my copy of the book. So that is pretty cool. Plus, my professor, Scott Wood may be there I would love to see him.

Also: GOOD news about NZ. . . I was unofficially accepted to the program and I recieved an invite to a chili social at the professors house. I am so excited to go next semester!

But, alas my joy is tainted by a bit of news I recieved a few minutes ago. Aubrey, my roommate invited me to a group date tomorrow, and I thought to myself, "well yes, I should go"-- but then she proceeded to tell me that Heather had asked her to hook her up with Jesse. . . one of my friends that I thought I didn't really like. . . but my jealousy told me otherwise. Now I am annoyed that 1) I admitted to myself that I liked him 2) I admitted it unwillingly to my roommate at the same time and 3) that he is actually excited about going with her.
OH well.

Catherine, Lindsey, Curtis and I are running a Biathlon tomorrow-- 5k and 1/2 mile swim. I am excited! I decided that it is a good means to get into shape, not the result of being in shape at the moment. Also, I know that I will be beat by one, if not both of my sisters. . . but hey, water off a ducks back, right?

Oh, this was also interesting: I went to the law school (I found your picture Sarah. . . but not until I realized your last name was Gerhart!) for a forum and heard Jaun Melendez speak about being on death row for 18 years for a crime he didn't commit. It was very captivating. Oh, and a few of you who know who he is: Michael Moore is coming to UVSC campus with Hannity to debate and I am going to the fo' sho'!

Welcome to Angieville

To inform:

I have been pretty busy lately and not very productive. . . so that's a little frustrating. This weekend was a lot of fun, however. On Friday, Thomas and I (this guy that Rachael's husband knows and they wanted me to go out with) went hiking up rock canyon for a bit. It was pretty fun, and he's really cool-- but personality wise we are exact opposites (for all of you color-coders out there-- he's a blue/white and I'm a red/yellow-- I know these tests are kind of hokey, but it gives you some insight into what I'm talking about). We did have a lot in common-- like we both worked at youth camps in Teton Valley, Idaho (his camp actually came to Badger the year I was there). Despite our similarities, I don't feel much chemistry and I don't see it going anywhere, so that's the end of that I suppose.

So, after hiking, I came right back and got ready to go set up for our ward social. I got called to Activities committee for the ward so it was one of my duties to set up. It was pretty cool.

Then, I came home and Nicki (my badger buddy) was at my house and so I went up to Kaysville and spent the night at her place and we went rock climbing the next day. It took us 6 hours total, and we only did two climbs, but we had to set everything up ourselves. It was so fun! I loved it! There was a mishap, however. As I was belaying Nicki-- she fell and I was not achored into a rock or tree to keep me on the ground. Instead, I flew forward towards the rock and began to rise and she began to fall. Luckily, I had the rope in "locked position" the whole time, so we ended up just hovering a few feet over the ground and everything was safe.

I rode the bus home and spent the rest of the night at Fern's place watching a movie and eating smoothies. She got surgery recently on her foot and is pretty limited in what she can do. But, she looks good! :)

Then, Ryan, Kie and family came to visit on Sunday-- that was AWESOME. It is so nice to be able to see family while at school. They are so awesome! Now I've seen the entire family again since Christmas, except for Jer and Em, who I am planning to see over thanksgiving if I can work it out.

Other than that, it's just boring stuff like school work. OH! I have been making new friends and seeing old ones, which is cool. I have been hanging out with Jesse and Daniel a lot-- but it's always late at night, so I am always tired.

I'm going to write more soon. This is all logistics, which is boring.

chatty cathy

I have found that I am a very lucky girl. In Idaho, I had friends who enjoyed doing active fun things and who also had cars, free time and "hook-ups" (knowledge of people/places/things which allows us to get stuff for free or very close to it). Now that I am in Utah, I have found that providence is on my side.

Labor day for instance, Fern hooked us up with a sweet ride to the Nutty Putty caves. They were the longest and coolest caves I have ever been too. There was one part appropriately named the "Birth Canal." It was in question whether or not we would actually do this part because it is so narrow you have to keep one arm up and the other at your side to keep from getting stuck and worm your way through for about 45 minutes. Well, in our debate I pointed out that it was in fact LABOR day and therefore necessary that we proceed through the BIRTH CANAL. SO we did. I was so awsome! Because the space is so small, there is limited oxygen and so our heads were pounding as we belly crawled over the rocks (adding to the accumulating bruises on our arms, hips and knees). Then we went for burgers at Fern's house.

Yesterday, I went to Fern's doctors apt. with her in SLC in the morning (after swimming with Lindsey at the pool). She took me out for lunch, and I got some sushi. THat evening, after class, Randy calls up and invites me over for. . . sushi! HA! I thought it was funny, but of course I accepted. Then, last night at 10:30, my roommate comes in and asks if I want to go flying!

SO-- we drove to the provo airport, hopped on a small four-person plane and flew over the city and the mountains (complete with roller-coaster like falls and turns). It was cool to wear the head set and hear them talking. . .and they gave us a mini-lesson (relief society term) on how the plane works. It was pretty cool!

I am going to go meet lindsey and cath for lunch downstairs. I love you guys! Ryan-- I'm glad you're coming through the Vo. . . let me know when so I can have your birthday card ready. Did you know you have the same birthday as Rick (that guy I used to date?)-- I saw him this weekend and it was SOO much fun-- he was skinnier and had muscles from his job and he looked different! I wanted cath and lindsey to meet him, but it didn't work out. He wanted me to tell dad "hello" since he had met him before, so there you go! :)

Between a mountain and a WalMart

Ladies and gents. . .

Since I've come to Provo, I have developed what I call "city slacker slump"ness. . . I've realized that I feel less motivated, less progressive, less outgoing in these strip-mall-plaza-to-plaza towns. I sit and stare at the mountains, but don't have time to truly enjoy them. So many people are buzzing about that it doesn't make sense to talk to any of them because your chance of seeing them again (and actually remembering them) is slight.

However, I have found a way to combat this recent illness. Reverse slump by boycotting city malls and stores (actually, I just have NO money-- I left my wallet in ID and so I've been struggling recently). No, really, I actually have had a nice talk with myself and I understand now that transitions always kind of stink and just "let is pass" (thanks em, for reminding me). My roommate is cool-- she's 18, but I swear she's 26. Her name is Megan and she is a pro-skiier and pretty crazy. The other one is Aubrey and she's Sven's sister. She's 23 and a return missionary.
I really like being at school with my sisters. And despite everyone's misgivings. . . Jo and I are still healthy and alive-- even though we aren't at the same place! SHOCK! I feel lucky to have Fern and Randy both down here. . . it really does make a difference having friends who already know you!!

Last weekend I got to go to Idaho to retrieve my things, and while I was there I got to go to Wyoming with Jo, Sven and Co. It was really fun! We went to Grand Teton National Park and hiked to these secret hot springs in the middle of the forrest. It was amazing! Then we went to a local Bluegrass festival in Jackson Hole. Fun times. Since I said I would keep you posted, Sven and I are still friends and that is all. . .and it's very good like that!

Okay, and now for my BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT INTO THE NEW ZEALAND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM! (I think). I went in for my interview today and I was nervous as heck. I knew there were only 6 spots left and he had 20 peope waiting to hear if they were in. My interview went super and he basically told me that I could relax and that he wanted someone like me on this trip. WOO HOO! It is perfect for my major. It fulfills my last requirements as an RMYL major and then I am planning on going to spring term to finish my minor and then I'm DONE! (except for my internship which I'm planning for the following fall). Here are the details of the program:

-- live with a native Kiwi family (they cook native foods for us as well)
-- we live in a small town at the southern tip of the south island-- this means no tourism, no big city, just a real cultural experience.
-- a bike tour of the island for a week
--bush treking, surfing, wind surfing, kayaking, rock climbing classes!
-- service learning (helping facilitate youth rec programs in the local area).

I have done tons of research on this and it will cost in total $6,500. It sounds steap, but if I were to go with say NOLS (national outdoor leadership school), it would cost me $12,000 for only 30 days and I'm going for 4 months!

Well, that's pretty much it for me. The sun just came out and I am VERY happy right now. I love you all so much! RY: I heard you and your family are stopping through the "VO" (provo that is). True?