Winter Break

I finally got home from college for winter break on December 12th at 3:50 p.m. It was great! I made it down to Salt Lake with plenty of time so spare. I parked my car at my roommate's house, got a ride to the airport with another roommate, had some help unloading boxes from some guys at the airport, checked in, and was on my way! It hadn't snowed in Logan for a month, and the only other time it did was once only like half an inch. I was worried that it was going to snow and keep me trapped! But alas, I got out unscathed. It did, however, snow like crazy to give Logan over 5 inches the day after I left. Boy, was I glad I got out of there when I did!
Home has been nice. It's been good to see friends and family, and to be back in my hometown of the hippies. I was expecting to come home and now worry about snow, but low and behold, it snowed here! Like 4 inches maybe? Everyone is having trouble driving on the roads, there have been lots of crashes and cars are traveling super slow, but it seems safer that way. It snowed last night and started sticking around 10 or so I think. It was absolutely beautiful; t looked so pretty falling under the streetlights. It's not supposed to get too warm today, so I dont' think it will melt tonight, but I do think it will melt enough to freeze over and make driving even more dangerous again tomorrow. We'll see how it goes!
I'm working for my dad over winter break to make some extra money for christmas shopping. I still have a few gifts left to get, so it will be very helpful! I was just supposed to be organizing stuff on the second level today, but since it snowed the receptionist wasn't able to come in, so I got to fill in! The day has gone by pretty fast, I get to leave in 10 minutes and I've been here since nine. I think the hour long lunch break helped! I didn't dress up or anything today, because I was expecting to be up in the top level freezing, so I look at little tired and underdressed, but oh well! That's what I'll be doing tomorrow, so I'll be ready!

November 20, 2008

I'm going home baby! Going home in six days! I can't wait! Going home to peaceful, wonderful, lovely, family, green, hippy, friends, EUGENE! All of my roommates live very close to Utah State, so they have been home a lot of the weekend. So jealous.... I get to go home! I get to eat yummy food, relax, and not worry about school for six whole days.

Other than that, my life has been pretty good. Pulled off another solid B on my math test, and I'm hoping I can do the same (if not better) for my sociology test on monday. I feel that will prove to be very difficult to study and stay focused for, as I will be leaving for home the next day.

For my next photography assignment, it is supposed to be our final one. The big-mac. It is seven printed, spotted, edited shots that revolve around a theme, (plus seven previous ones that we have already shot from previous assignments). Guess what I have chosen? Yes, you may have guessed it already, the infamous Eugene. I want to incorporate everything about it, what makes Eugene, well, Eugene. Some of it may be a little controversial, but it's all for a good cause, right?

I have also switched my major from elementary education to art... but shh! Don't tell. My parents don't know yet. That is a surprise waiting to be known when I am home for Thanksgiving, because I'm not sure happy they'll be with it. But what can you do? It's what I like to do, it's something I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life doing. Graphic design and Photography, what combo could be better?

I've decided to incorporate a quote of the... blog? Whenever I write. So, for today, this is what I got...

"Today is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its pace is something that you have left behind... let it be something good."

-Author Unknown

I got the job! :) I am an official telephone agent of Information Alliance.

And here's a picture of the snow-topped mountains of Logan, Utah!

November 11, 2008

Even though I finally got a picture of the leaves, this wasn't exactly what I wanted but I still think it's a pretty cool picture (if I do say so myself). The Howl was pretty fun. I think it was kind of built up, but from what I saw it was pretty fun! There were lots of interesting costumes, lots of skin, lots of people, and lots of cops who were goggling at everything walking by. There was a black angel, an earth child, a greek queen, an album cover for pink floyd, a green lantern, a ladybug, a cavewoman, batwoman, and cleopatra (me) in our group; they were all great costumes!

There is snow constantly up in the mountains now, so it's good news for all of the skiers and snowboarders that live around here! The other day the snow stopped only about one hundred feet above us. It's a little higher now but the mountains are completely white where the snow has fallen. There is a mountain about forty five minutes away that most of the students go to called Beaver Mountain. I haven't ever been up there, but hopefully I'll be able to do some exploring this winter and experience Utah Snowboarding and possibly skiing!

I have hopefully gotten a job to get my bank account back in the positive numbers (above $0) I am going to be one of the wonderful people who calls absolutely everyone trying to take surveys that are 20 minutes long. I have training tonight so hopefully I'll make the cut! It's only a couple minutes away driving so it's super convenient and has hours that work great with my schedule. Not to mention schedule...

We're starting our new semester after we get back from Christmas Break and we're signing up for next semester's classes on friday. Freshman always get last choice so I'm super nervous for how mine is going to turn out. I want to be able to get it like I had this semester, but I guess it's just the luck of the draw to see how it turns out. I've also decided to switch to an art major, I have a really good feeling about it. I've been volunteering at Adams Elementary and have figured out that being a teacher just really isn't for me. It would be fun, but I don't know that I could handle it day after day after day. I want to have an emphasis in graphic design, and possible double in photography. I went to visit my advisor yesterday and I need to put a portfolio together to be admitted into the program. I hope I can get in! I can start taking classes for it now, but I need to be able to get into the program before I can start any specific classes. Wish me luck!

October 24, 2008

I got the chance to go up to Idaho for the weekend. It was fun and relaxing to get away from school for fall break, even if it was just for a couple days. On the drive to Shelley we stopped and got root beer floats and french fries at a little diner that I forget the name of. We got to Shelley, were welcomed by the fam, and got some wonderful homemade food. Friday night we just hung out, played ping pong, and watched Tye and Spencer climb up fifty-foot hay bales. 

Saturday was a day filled with Sam's championship football game (which they won 7-6), pizza with the fam at Pizza hut, and taking pictures. We climbed up the wind-caves and saw what we thought was wolverine canyon (but we later found out it wasn't). We also got another wonderful homemade meal that included Idaho mashed potatoes (very yummy!), and then we headed out to Spencer's house... this was my first ever experience with Sobe bombs. Yep, that's what I said, Sobe bombs. They were having a bonfire in the backyard and Tye brought Sobe bottles. They were sweet. You fill them about 1/4 of the way with gas, poke a hole in the top, set them upright in the fire, and wait for the magic to happen. BAM! The magic is an explosion that shoots flame 20 feet in the air. Caution, do not attempt without professionals around, this is very dangerous.

Sunday was church and more good food and the drive home. We ended up leaving later than we planned so the drive home was pretty dark and got kind of long because everyone was tired. One exciting/scary thing that happened though, however, was some idiot hit a deer and left it in the middle of the road, and it was around a corner so we didn't see it until we had run over it's legs... it was nasty. sick. gross. ew... never want that to happen again. On a lighter note...

My birthday was great! I'm officially 19 and had a really good day. Woke up to my super-duper roommate Megan making my french toast for my birthday breakfast, and to lots of happy birthdays from people in classes. Got taken out to lunch by one of my other roommates Ali, got little mini cupcakes from the roommies, and then later cake and ice cream and brownies from Kelly and Kristen. Mmm! I got calls from friends wishing me a happy birthday, and after that it was root beer floats with Heather and Rachel and Olive Garden with Ben. Oh man, I think that was probably the most food/sugar/cake I've even in one day in a very long time. It was worth it though! It was a lot of fun and everyone helped make my very special day great!

The weather is gradually getting colder and colder up here in Logan. The leaves are changing even more to make everything bright with the coming on of winter. I have yet to take a picture of the leaves... I will soon! Our last assignment for photography was night shots, and let me tell you, shooting at 1:30 in the morning makes you feel frozen. Absolutely frozen. The Howl is coming up soon and I've decided what my costume is going to be, Cleopatra! Woo! And I came up with a good idea for my roommate Megan, she's going to be a ladybug! She's perfect for it and we're going to have sweet costumes (hopefully).

It's true aggie night again tonight. They're going for the record of over 3,000 people to get kissed tonight. Oh boy. Hopefully they make it, however, I will not be helping them break that record. Kissing someone on a statue with a spotlight on you isn't my type of thing. I'm off! About to make my cleopatra costume that will be worth showing off! Woo!

October 15, 2008

I went to Ogden over the weekend with the twins and we had a great time. We had our first official snowfall over the weekend here in Utah. It was great! I went to bed and in the morning, POOF! There it was, a whole five or six inches of it. It wasn't too cold because it was dry snow so we ran outside and stomped around in it till our feet went numb. We also made a cooking video (Zonko BS 33) and made a wonderful cake that included pickles, cheese, and fruit roll-ups. Yumm! We never actually finished the movie, but I'd say it was definitely a success. I'll include a clip of it to get some of the full effect.

Today in Logan it was 29 degrees. Very very very cold. BUT! I had my coat and rain boots on; so I was just dandy scootering my way around the campus while all others were puttering through the coldness, unable to move due to the fact that some of these idiots were wearing skirts. Maybe they think they are eskimos.

I was taken for a drive up Logan Canyon. There was much mud to be run through and many corners to be slid around (and we almost fell to our death hundreds of feet below a couple times, but whatever, all fun and games right?) It was gorgeous. The snow was reflecting the sunlight and the trees were turning beautiful yellows and oranges and browns (and some green still left) and as we got higher up the leaves faded more and more into some pretty trees that all the leaves had fallen off already and were covered in snow. It reminded me of something that Ansel Adams would've taken a picture of.

 This is our fire part of the cake. Step back from the screen or the flame may burn your eyes out.

October 10, 2008

It was the coldest it's been today! My hands and face and feet about froze off going to class and in-between classes today. Next week I'm bringing out the winter coats and mittens! Tonight it's supposed to rain/snow! WOOO! My first snow in Logan, Utah as a college student. I definitely need to learn how to drive in this madness called snow (that we never have in Eugene) or else I think I shall perish.

My aerobics friend Kristen and I wore wonderful outfits again yesterday to class. Her consisted of a sparkly blue tank top with black trim and blue shorts and tights, while mine was made up of a fanciful, colorful leotard with black leggings underneath. All of these were great finds at the D.I. (it's kind of like the Goodwill of Utah). I'm going home with her over the weekend to her grandparents house and it will be GREAT to eat a home-cooked meal, I haven't had one in ages. That's one of the things I miss most about home, is good food. I suck at cooking so I don't exactly have a lot of options besides: PB & J, macaroni and cheese, rice, and spaghetti. Occasionally burnt pancakes or french toast will come along on the menu.

My photography class is officially my favorite. The first couple weeks were pretty boring, but now it's getting really interesting and I'm learning a lot. I'm saw some pictures that were taken using an infrared lens so I want to start researching that and how to do it. It makes the greens in your pictures look white because the chlorophyll from them. It makes the pictures look like they are taken in Heaven, they're very pretty and relaxing. Our last assignment was a self-portrait and I think mine turned out pretty well. My teacher said there was a lot going on, but it was still simple enough to be a good photo. Our new assignment is called "Great Artist Steal." We pick three photos that we like from a well-known artist and we try and copy the photograph exactly. An artist that I found that I like is Ralph Gibson. He's all over the board with what he takes pictures of (he likes the women photos especially) but he has some really creative ones that are of other things as well.

Tonight I will be attending a concert from a band called the Crooked Beats. I have no idea what kind of music they play or if they are good, but I got invited to go so I might as well go check it out! It's in a place called Smithfield, and I have no idea where that is. Hopefully it's somewhat close. 3 of my roommates are going home this weekend as well. Lots of them are going to farewells for their missionary friends or have a lot of family events going on right now so they have been going home almost every weekend.

I found some people that could be considered EUGENIAN! It was probably one of the most wonderful discoveries of my life. My friend Caitlyn, from photo, has a brother who is older that also attends Utah State. He is an art major and lives in a house with a couple buddies that's right off campus. There house was probably the coolest house I've ever seen in my entire life. Chris is super artistic so there house is full of really good colors and artwork that's all done by him. It's not super big or super new or anything, it's just a cool layout with good decorating choices I guess you could call it? 

October 8th, 2008

So today my dorm tie-dyed. It was probably the coolest thing to ever happen to Logan, UT (except for maybe take-home quizzes in math). Other than that... The leaves are changing even more now. The valley is getting so pretty. I can't wait to see it when all the trees are completely changed into yellows and oranges and browns, it's going to be beautiful. The mountains have managed to keep their snow over the last couple days, so we'll see how long it takes for the snow to travel down to our elevation! I won't be able to wear my birkenstocks or see the grass for much longer!

Kristen and I have decided to spice up our aerobics class. Our new attire has been of the 80's choice and the looks we have been getting have been absolutely wonderful. Lots of smiles :) In Ali's and my trip to the D.I. today we found some great clothes for me, including: a leotard, some pink shorts, a sparkly purple top, and much more. Our classmates for aerobics are going to be pretty surprised when we show up to class wearing these kinds of clothes everyday. I mean, why wouldn't we? These kinds of clothes were the best ones to be invented!

I'm going to attempt to start making my longboard. I'm still in the process of choosing the exact shape that it's going to be, but I have faith in Ben that he'll help me pick a good one! The grip-tape design is going to be lots of lines on the top with some polka-dots, and the bottom is going to have a swirly sun with some more polka-dots. I'll have to wait and see if I change my mind by the time I'm actually supposed to draw the design! Well it's time to be off to study some more math and sociology! (and possibly some physics...)

Logan

Logan... How do I describe this place? Utah is like it's own little bubble. We don't have a great mall, or a great downtown, however we DO have an awesome canyon that is amazing for camping, hiking, and driving in. I shall soon discover the benefits of having a canyon in the winter when it's absolutely freezing (well below freezing actually) and we'll see how long I live to like that for. We have one tattoo/piercing parlour, a sex toy shop, and hookah store for the extent of our edgy stores. Pretty good for a town of 30,000 people (13,000 of which are from Utah State)!

I have officially been in school for a little over a month. I'm learning to like it here. Utah is sort of in it's own little bubble when it comes to culture... It takes a lot to get used to, but once you do it's a pretty cool place. It's actually the state that buys the most hair spray out of all 50 states, not sure what I think about that, but you know, whatever it takes to get your name in the paper I guess. The campus is pretty cool, there is more grass on the campus than probably all of Logan put together (pretty much there just isn't very much grass at all in Utah), and it is right up against a huge drop off that is super pretty to look at. I can't wait to see it in winter!

There is an event called "True Aggie Night" where lots of people from school line up and go up in the spotlight and kiss someone to become a true Aggie. It happens every time there is a full-moon. There is one this month, I'm not sure if this is my kind of thing, but what I would really like to see is someone become a "True Blue Aggie..." Let me explain... Next to our football field is an entrance to the school. There is a huge bull/cow (and yes, it's balls are blue...) and it's on the corner of a pretty busy intersection. To become a True Blue Aggie one must ride the bull. Naked. Yep! That's right, I said it, absolute butt-naked. I think that would probably be one of the best sights I've seen in my entire life if I were to happen upon someone becoming a True Blue Aggie. Maybe it will happen to me someday...

... but I doubt it.