Ten minutes Till

Goodmorning, Thomas (Tommy, Tom or Thomas?)! Welcome to mortal life, little buddy! Sarah, congratulations to you and James on a new baby boy. . . it looks like Jacob was really excited as well. Your family is growing so fast and it looks like you're out-numbered now.

I have ten minutes before I go take my "Facilities Planning" test. It is the most boring class I have ever taken (and that includes Mr. Whimbly's 7th grade math class). Luckily, one of the benefits of paying for your education is that now instead of staring at some bald guy, I can sneak out of the boring lecture without the threat of sitting in an empty room from 3-5pm (a-la Detention). Ahhh, the joys of adulthood. However, it does annoy me that I am paying him to teach me something I could read out of a book. Suppose I invested the same ammount that I've paid for college on just books, and acutally read them! I bet I could battle with BYU-Nerdboy on Jeopardy! right now.

Another week is almost over and I can't believe it! It's been a good one. Mary came down from SLC and we've been hanging out with Sven (who quit his job in So-Cal) for the past few days. This morning as I was swimming, I contemplated how much work an Ironman Triathlon would be. Imagine this:
2.4 mile ocean swim
100 mile bike
26.3 mile run
I am going to do it. Anybody else in?

A Simple State of Bliss

I too (like Ryan), voted yesterday using an absentee ballot that I had requested. I am actually surprised at how empowered I felt-- eventhough I know my vote is about as effective/influential as writing on spilled ink, I am at least grateful that apathy is not my excuse.

I have also realized that I am pleased with myself. I probably sound like a narcisist, but I am really happy with the natural flow of my life and what I've chosen to do. I am glad that next December I will be graduating from college with a degree in Recreation Managment, with an emphasis in leisure services and youth leadership (that's a mouthful). That seems so soon. It suits me, but I also know that graduation is not the end of my education. There are so many things I'm excited to learn! I just feel free and empowered! I am on the edge of turning 22, and I don't feel that I forced myself into being something that I am not. I'm grateful that I am not pretentious and that I have not become a woman that I don't like. Basically, I am just very happy right where I am (as long as right where I am keeps moving).

Recent additions to my top ten:

The Garden State soundtrack-- 60 minutes of CD heaven (if only I had an Ipod)
Beans- Garbonzos, Black . . . 8$ of chicken vs. $.57 for 5 cups of beans is hardly a fair match
AM excersize-- the best time to beat yourself. . . you have no idea what's going on.

This past weekend was pretty dog-on sweet. I went to Colorado with Mary (Spring Summit buddy who's going to New Zealand with me), Aubrey and Megan (my roommates). Here's the shake-down:

-- spent the night on Thursday in Delta, CO
-- The next day chilled in a mud-bath in Idaho springs and then a hot tub
-- Ate my annual pizza at Beau-Jo's, a famous pizza place in town
-- Spent the night at Janice and Lyles house
-- The next day went snowboarding all day in Colorado
-- Barbara and Steve came over, with Brian and Stephanie Hileman and we all had a great dinner and had time to talk to eachother-- it was really fun!
-- Then watched Freaky Friday with Emily and Gwen, and went to sleep
--woke up and drove to Grand Junction, went to church, drove to Mapleton UT and had a rockin' dinner at Megan's house (my roommate)

Unfortunatley, Randy, I did not have a chance to chat with Billy Corgan. . .but I did get to snowboard!

It was really great to get a way for a weekend. I missed my frequent visits to Fern's house this week, though. I was concerned about Lindsey and Catherine and from the message I recieved, I could tell Lindsey really missed me too (ha ha). Jo cut her hair (or shall I say, shaved?) and it looks good! She's such a rockstar. To view the pictures go to: www.carriejo.blogspot.com

Kickin' it in Colorado

Well, I am going to go make a hummus and tomato sandwich with Sven and Mary (summit friends down visiting). . . MOM and DAD: I liked hearing about your backpacking experience. It makes you both sound very hardcore when I tell my friends you backpacked on the AT (the cool way to say it), for a couple days.

On the Calander:

The clock is one minute past eight and I've been up for two hours. I have big plans for the weekend to go to Colorado with my roommates. Here's the plan:

--Drive to Grand Junction and camp
--on the way there or back, hike the 2nd highest peak in the lower 48-- in leadville (but wait, don't be too impressed-- you can drive within six miles of the summit)
-- Stop in Idaho Springs for some pizza (remember dad?) and then get a 5$ mud bath
--the ski resorts are open there, so see if I can scrap up a snowboard and hit the slopes
-- the BYU vs Airforce game is there in CO Springs, so we'll see if I can make that

I'm a little low on funds, but it should be fun and I think my roommates REALLY need it. Megan has only been out of Utah once, and that was through Idaho and Montana.
I am going to go home and make oats and passion tea. Hmmmm. I have two tests today, so wish me luck! And my first NZ prep class! YIPPEE!

All the world is waiting for the Sun

I've got 10 minutes until I'm meeting L and C for lunch. . .so that means quick typing. I sent a massive email to the family yesterday with a detailed account of my life for the past few weeks, so I'll make this brief (and less daunting).

This morning could be compared to sorting socks (speaking of which, I have none b/c, that's right, you guessed it, my roommates take them!!! All of the nice ones that mom bought me for Christmas!). I did a lot of mental organization and set everything straight with my teachers. I feel that all is not lost and I shall be victorious this semester after all!

It's so rainy here right now, but I'm still planning a trip to Colorado this weekend. I need some help on deciding what to be for Halloween:

1) leprachan (I know I spelled that wrong)
2) a piligamist
3) a snow leopard (curtosey of Jo-- she sewed it last year)
4) Velma from Scooby doo

I had the weirdest dream last night. I was at the "Presidential Convention" (I made it up) and everyone was screaming and holding signs. They were announcing who the next president would be and I was so nervous. There was a big map of the US and the states would light up with who one. Then they announced that John Kerry would be our next president and I felt sick to my stomach. . .like it was the end of the world. And that was it.

Saturday Evening Post

This is the picture of us at Chili's before our date. I am sitting across from Brian, Jo's brother. . . and that's who I went with. I tried to post this pic before, but it didn't work out.

Carrie JO and Ang reunited

We both look a little weird, but it was the only pic with the two of us. . . I figured the fam would like to see how sister #6 was doing.

Pancake Pals

Cath, Curt and I at the Homecoming Pancake Breakfast. I must say, it was joyful reunion between Curtis and I. I missed him last week :) Catherine almost slept through it, but I made sure to wake her up.

Eternal Sunshine of the Clouded Mind

It's Friday. You all already know that. I can't believe that I am already nealry half-way through this semester. What is time doing moving on without telling anyone??!

This morning started off wonderfully (just how I like it, of course). I met Catherine at the gym (Lindsey was sleep-deprived and couldn't make it) so we swam a mile (I am a sore little-mermaid), showered and left for Gandolfo's. This is a little bagel joint that makes a sweet breakfast sandwhich, so I grabbed my coupon and we went before class. A little event that brought me back to the days of seminary-- completely awake by 7:30, sitting with a sister and grubbing on warm food.

SO, after later this morning I recived a surprise package from Zak-attack (my tribute to old Lego commercials). He sent me the FUNNIEST vintage t-shirt that he found in Alabama. It says: "Gayle Hatch weight lifting Team" and it has a really goofy graphic. I thought it was hillarious. I thought mom would think that was funny.

It looks like I'm working in reverse, so I guess that means I should head behind me. Actually, this week has been pretty uneventful. Wake up, walk around, look at new things, looks at familiar things, have real conversations with people I know, have fake conversations with people I surface-know, read new things, read the same old stuff over and over and over again. Then, clean my room (a daily event) and head off to bed.

Despite my routine, I drink good water, smile often and find that I am still moved to build a bit more of myself today. This morning when I looked at Orion as I balanced on my bike wheels, trying to deny my natural tendency for early-morning uncoordination, I remembered my mornings a year ago when I would wake up in Tetonia, run with the dogs down the gravel road and say 'what's up' to the Grand, Owen, Middle and South. Good-morning everyone!

Desert Sunday

I can tell this photo is from a Sunday b/c I'm in my sarong (my sunday dress). These were fun days of relaxing in the desert sun, playing guitar, eating, talking, and having our own sacrament and religious discussions. There's nothing quite like ash-cake sacrament bread and singing hymns to the tune of the guitar.

Muscle-Man Arch

This is us on the White Rim in May of this year. . . we stopped and rested at this arch. It was neat b/c you could actually walk on top of the arch!

White Rim Rippers

This is an older picture of Spring Summit, the day that we rode the 104 miles of the White Rim Trail in one day. You can tell from my face that I was pretty pleased with all of us! It was Steve, his friend, Mary, Jo, Me and Sven. Behind us you can see the support truck.

Sitting with Siddhartha

I was on my way to enlightenment this morning when I came across some big-horned sheep. I have been reading about South Asian religions lately and I feel like I am always walking with a ascetic monk, his old hand on my elbow, making me more aware of the world around me.

I feel nervous right now-- I am afraid that the fall weather will end any day now and I would have missed it. I wouldn't have really enjoyed it. To avoid this, after class this morning I rode my bike on the Bonneville shoreline trail a bit and then through Rock Canyon. The lighting was spectacular and the wind blew the leaves around in circles. I stopped biking because I noticed the big-horned sheep and wanted a closer look so I scrambled to the top of some rocks. It was a great view and I spent several minutes watching them. Then, I rode home. Everything feels fleeting-- like I'm living in moments and not full days.

bug-eyed and bloated

Okay, so that was the tiniest picture ever. . . I'm going to test this again.

Fall Flashback

In honor of the Autum season, I decided to post this Bristol Manor (where "the girls" used to live) flashback from Fall, 2002. It's me, shauna, fern and Carrie.

All Roads Lead to Idaho

On the first weekend of October, the entire Mormon west heads south, north, east or west in search of the SLC General Conference Center. I on the other hand, headed up the asphalt trail in search of Carrie Cobb and the rest of the crew in Rexburg. Fern and Tyler decided last minute that they too wanted to migrate north for the weekend, and so I jumped on their band-wagon (I think Fern and I were yapping like a bunch of new pups, discussing everything from politics to broccoli, but Tyler, bless his heart, was such a good sport). We arrived late on Friday due to traffic and because I had to set up for our ward campfire dinner.

I spent that night at Carrie JO-mama's and woke up the next morning. We went running with her increadibly ripped (muscular) roommate through the dry farms above Rexburg. Then, we decided to go rock climbing about twenty minutes away. Fern had surgery on her foot, but came anyway (bless her heart). It was a blast. It was the highest climb I've ever done and very exciting!! Thanks to Jo and her stellar gear-getting abilities!

Then, we built a fire and roasted apple crisp, tin foil dinners and corn (all of the food came from the garden). I paid homage to our traditional fall campout-- and I was thrown back several times at the beautiful leaves changing color and the perfect temperatures. It was great to be there and I was reminded of how much I enjoy the simplicity of Idaho. Life doesn't seem to get jumbled up by material woes or concern for anything but the here and now. It's almost like the rest of the world doesn't exist. No fashion. No government. Nothing but the outdoors and sometimes the indoors. I love it.

The climbing group

This is the group we went with. Nicki and I are on the far right. Those are the only people you should really know about (Nicki worked with me at Badger over the summer of 2003 and she lives in Kaysville-- she's super cool).

Climb Time!

This is me rock climbing about a month ago. . .when I went with Nicki-- it doesn't look very tough, but there were very few hand holds so climbing was very difficult.