TYPICAL.

The first day back at school.

A good chunk of the guys still trying to pull off their summer-time beards before they have to shave to take their first test. Typical. It's BYU.

Everyone trying out their new summer styles. Girls in their short length baggy shirts with colored skinny pants. and guys in their slightly mismatching outfits with striped shirts. Typical. It's the new styles.

The brand new freshmen walking in roommate clumps from one building to another. Typical. It's the first day of college nerves.

All intersections in Provo blocked up in the afternoon. It used to take me 10 minutes tops to get to the store. Now, 20 minutes minimum.Typical. It's the additional 20,000 plus people who moved back into Provo.

Typical, typical, typical.

But you know what's the most typical? The professors and the things they say on the first day. Here's a little taste.

"Yes, I require hand written assignments. You won't need your 'i-gadgets' just a pen and a paper. Unless you have an app called 'the hand' you won't be needing those to do your homework. I know, it's totally Amish." **I get it. We're the spoiled technological generation

"I've been teaching this subject since before you were born!"**What does that make you? Old?

"I will never let you out of class early. That way you will never have the awkward feeling during that extra time of 'who do I hang out with at recess' you will be safe with me in the classroom."**This is just weird.

In a mono-tone voice, "Right now I am using rhetoric to interest you and keep you in this class"**If that's the best persuasive technique you've got, being my instructor for my ENG312 Persuasive Writing class could be problematic.

"Many things can be disruptive to the class, But instead of me listing all of my pet peeves, why don't you share with me some of yours"** The class response: Smelly food, people who chew loudly, people who shake their knee violently. The answer the professor was looking for and finally had to cover on his own: Texting, talking, playing games and facebooking on your laptops.

Well folks, here goes nothing. Senior year.

Moving and Grooving

We're Moving!

Sam and I are moving a little closer to campus to something above ground. My days in the basement cave are over. It treated us well but now it's my turn for a day in the sun. Literally.

New York City

Sam and I just got back from a trip to...

NYC.

The Big Apple.

The Empire City.

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made.

I did eat a big apple while I was there, I didn't visit the Empire state building, and though it's a concrete jungle I didn't have any crazy dreams. But we were able to spend time with some of the Wright family (even though we see them almost every Sunday, it's cooler when we're 2500 miles away...right?Right.)

Let's start with the Red Eye flight. I sat next to Sam (predictable) who is just too tall to try and sleep in an airplane. I woke up once to find his body sprawled across my tray table in front of me. On my other side was a man who must have been a chain smoker. I wanted to tell him that if he was having some nicotine withdrawals that he should just bury his nose into his clothing and inhale, I'm sure there was enough smoke residue to keep him satisfied because it was enough to make me feel suffocated. The good news is he seemed nice and slept the whole entire way.

Day One: Thursday.

Though we all had been tossing and turning and attempting to sleep on the plane all night we all had the bright idea to tour NYC with no rest. Sadly, the City became overrated because we were overly tired.

Nevertheless, we still look happy in pictures.

Day Two: Friday.

We went back to the City but the main event was the Miss New York Pageant in the evening on Staten Island. Hannah, my sister-in-law, was absolutely amazing. Back at the Hotel, I discovered an odd habit of mine. Most people sit on the bathroom throne at a regular 90 degree angle to back of the seat. I however discovered that I sit at a 45 degree angle, thanks to our crammed bathroom at home where if you don't sit at a 45 degree angle, you get sink-in-face. Just sayin'.

Day Three: Saturday.

This night was the last day of the Pageant and Hannah went to top 10, then top 5, then won second runner up. We love her and she is amazing.

Day Four and Five: Sunday and Monday.

These days were spent up in the beautiful town of New Canaan, CT with Hannah's soon to be In-Laws. It was a nice to relax and unwind after the busy walks through the City, countless Staten Island Ferry trips, and of course the Pageants.

I loved spending time with the Wrights! All in all it was a fun trip and I'm glad we went. But I think our next vacation is going to be a cruise, minimal walking involved.

The Proposal

Maybe you've heard it and maybe you haven't.

But I was proposed to, in a pretty perfect way.

And since this blog is shamelessly all about me, I'm about to tell you....

The Proposal.

It was a beautiful summer day. July 1st, in fact. I was spending the day at King Henry apartments just waiting for Sam to be done with work. He told me he had a shed to build that day and was going to be busy. In the afternoon he called me and said, "Let's just grab some take-out for dinner and hang out tonight after I'm done with work. I'll pick you up at 8." I took a moment to acknowledge how Sam giving me a specific time to be ready was odd. It was so unlike him because I'm used to him opening my front door, while knocking, and needing to be ready at a second's notice for an adventure of some kind. Any-who, I brushed the thought aside and did nothing what-so-ever to be ready for our little date night. Sure enough 8 o'clock rolls around and Sam came to pick me up. He was exactly on time. Another weirdy. I took a moment to acknowledge how I always tack on 15-30 minutes to the time he indicates. But, I brushed that thought aside too. I wasn't going to complain, he was on time! So, I came prancing out from my room wearing flip flops and ready to go. Sam looked at my feet and said "You know better than to wear flip flops with me! Who knows what we might do!" (It's true, who really knows with Sam. I once ended up trudging through muddy wet lands in socks, chasing carp.) But me being stubborn said, "Naw, I want to wear flip flops" Sam being so nice didn't push the subject and let me do what I want. So we jumped in his truck and started driving to a sushi place to pick up some sushi he had already ordered. I took a moment to acknowledge how Sam doesn't pre-order stuff like this. But hey, I brush that thought aside because I was distracted by the sushi that was now on my lap. We started driving towards Provo Canyon because Sam said we should just go enjoy the outdoors while we ate. This was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. As we are driving he said, " I forgot my mom needs me to pick up some stuff from the house "So we do a complete 180 and head to Springville. As we get closer to his parent's home he says, "Never mind, I'll just pick it up later, let's go up Hobble Creek Canyon." So we started driving up Hobble Creek Canyon. Everything is green and lush and the weather is just right. Sam told me we were just going to pull off the road at a nice spot near the creek. So, farther up in the Canyon he whipped off the road with no notice and started driving in a little meadow. I took a moment to acknowledge how I loved it when he just randomly pulled off the road like that and turned into off-roading mode. This happens more often than you think. He parked the car in the little meadow and we both got out. We grabbed the blanket and the sushi and started looking for a good spot to sit. I then spotted a huge log that was tipped over the creek and insisted we cross. Little did I know that's exactly what he wanted me to do. Once we both crossed it I realized this side of the creek was pretty much a steep mountain that could not be reckoned with and suggested we turn back. He insisted we go forward. I said, "I can't go hiking up this mountain... I have flip flops on" I was filled with regret for not listening to Sam when he suggested I change my footwear. As I hung my head in shame and turned to look at Sam, he was crouched over and said, "get on my back". I resisted and he insisted. So we left our blankets and the sushi at the base of the mountain while Sam literally bear crawled up an (almost) 90 degree angle. Out of nowhere, the bear crawl turned into Sam pulling our bodies up the mountain with the help of a secured rope. I took a moment to acknowledge that a rope in the middle of nowhere should be unusual, but since there was rope to randomly help us climb up a mountain on our first date, I brushed that thought aside. Suddenly I hear music or singing in the distance and started to think we were coming up on someone's camp ground or something. I started to get nervous, all while Sam is still carrying me on his back. I took a moment to acknowledge that the singing I heard was not some dude at a nearby camp ground but a country singer, singing music I know and love. By now, the sun is setting and the last rays of sunshine were glistening on Sam's sweaty forehead. I look up and to my left, there is a quaint tree house with tea candles everywhere and of course beautiful flowers. I spot the speakers, the source of the music. It finally clicked... this is all for me! He propped me on top of the tree house while he scurried back down the mountain for the blankets and the sushi (I really made him work that night). While he was gone, I was just thinking about how I was soon to be engaged. It was the best. After stuffing my face with sushi and with the backdrop of a beautiful canyon, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. By now the stars were out and far off in the distance lightening was flashing in the sky. It was as if he had even planned for that. I took a moment to acknowledge how hard he had worked for me hauling all that wood up the mountain and building in the hot summer sun. While we were dating he always told me he would build us a tree house and he did :)

It was the best summer night and one of the best memories I will ever have.

(It's hard to tell but, look how high up we were)

So Cute.

"Spanish? No, that's not. Spanish is 'como estas.' That's nothing you eat"

Don't you just love this little guy?

Cooped!

Is a bird in the hand worth two in the bush?
I don't know! But these chicken coops are worth it.

Sam builds all kinds of classy looking chicken coops.
And this is just one of them.

Growing Up

I have the pleasure of interacting with the Brigham Young University students on a daily basis. Did I just say students? I meant parents of the students. That's right 18-24+ year old students' parents call in taking care of their baby's business. Did I just say baby? I meant adults, or babies trapped in adult bodies.

Let's face it. Some of us have juvenile things about us.
Most of the time they're ok. You like Disney movies? Cool. You like to color? Fine.
The following things however are on my personal list of things you should adjust. We can't hang out in Neverland forever people. I think you'll agree with me on some, if not all of these things.

1. You must be over this by age 12. If you never do this, even better. Let's say you're filling out a resume. They ask for your email address. Easy. You write down the one you've had forever: angel_baby_gurl.007@hotmail.com <---- that was cool in junior high. In fact, that was never cool. Seriously? I've got news for you baby girl, get a new email address. It's free. It takes 2 minutes. Do yourself a favor.

2. Age you should be over this by: birth. (as in, never do it)Those T-shirts. They say " I <3 MY Boyfriend" or "Can't Touch This" . First of all, thanks for telling me I can't touch something I would never want to touch. Second, you look like you're 13 years old and you shouldn't have a boyfriend to "<3". Never choose to wear these shirts. Please.

3. The phrase "I don't know, my parents take care of it." Ok, for this one the age limit is 18, but the younger you get over this the better. So many times people don't have a clue about anything because their parents take care of it. If your parents pay for everything, cool, consider yourself lucky but make an effort to have a clue about how the world works. For those of you who do. Thank you and may you receive blessings for it. (This one is for that 24 year old guy who called into work with a question about his financial aid and handed the phone over to his Dad... Did I just say 24? yes. Believe it. If you see nothing wrong with this...it's better if you just don't tell me)

4. The facebook statuses that has an underlying message that expresses your thoughts and feelings about an individual whether it be good or bad. These are often expressed via lengthy lyrics to a song that nobody will actually read through, or cryptic messages like "...it hurst so bad" or "I won't let him bring me down. Had the BeSt NiGhT EvEr!!" please refrain from this after the age of 14.

5. Please don't wRiTe LiKe ThIs-- iT tAkEs ToO LoNg aNd iT's NaUsEaTiNg. :)


6. And if you're addicted to any of these things, watch this and you can overcome.