First SNOW!!!

I had this great post about the leaves changing color and all that. With some beautiful pictures to boot. (Can one really get tired of living in a world of yellow?)

However, when I awoke this morning I was greeted with this, outside my bedroom window:


So, I'm thinking I will still publish the beautiful leaf-changing photos, you'll just have to realize that now that there is snow, those pictures are in a past-life. (Which is true the moment after you take them anyway, but I digress...)

I have more pictures of the snow, which again is only a hint of what is to come. I'm just really, REALLY glad that I don't have class before 1:30 twice a week. That comforts me and makes me happy. Now, if only I didn't have to go to work at 6am. Hmmmm. What time will I have to awaken now in order to start de-snowing my car???

Blogging and TIme

I haven't been blogging. It's not that I don't have things to say or experiences to write about, it's just that I'm trying to manage all my schoolwork and homework and workwork. Blogging has fallen behind. So sorry. Hope that you will periodically check back, just to see if something has been written, or miraculously, I post a picture.

I've not really been doing anything very exciting. My cold is almost gone; just a few sniffles and cough every now and then. Reading and writing are what I do mostly, besides my few hours a week at work, which are more bothersome the more numerous they get. That's okay. It's nice not to have to think about literary theory and structures and plots for a little while every week.

I went to SLC last week with my friend, Angela. She had "dress rehearsal" tickets to see the opera, "Macbeth." Now, I didn't really love this play when I had to read if for my pre-1800 Brit Lit class as an undergrad, but it was free to me, so I decided to go with her. The real reason for this trip was for me to go to IKEA and get gelatto and buy some SLC taffy for my dad. However, only two of these happened. I have still missed out on the gelatto. Hmmmm...where are my priorities?

Back to the opera, though. It was amazing, or part of it was. Since it was dress rehearsal, the performers only sang at full voice for like half the show. Those were the most amazing moments. The soprano was THRILLING!!! The storyline was there, but sort of squished b/c of the limited time of an opera. During the whole thing, I was thinking about musicals. I know this is probably completely insolent, but I was expecting these depressed and conflicted (in a plot sense, not performance aspect) performers to break into choreographed dance routines at every moment. Horrible I know.

So that is the highlight of my last few weeks. Papers and reading are piling up. The house is no longer so silent with Anna back in it. She was gone home with her beau to meet the parents. (Maybe that's why she was watching that movie before she left...) I have to say I was jealous that she went home, but it was nice to be in the quiet of the house alone for a few days. I got so much done schoolwork-wise. Now that she's back, the little sunshine is back on inside the house as well as out.

I'll try to take pictures of the leaves so you can witness them. They're GORGEOUS, but will soon only be able to be walked on. It's amazing how fast this has happened. You should all come and witness them, SOON!

COLD...and it's not the weather!

I'm officially sick. It's been coming on since Sunday. It hit me hard Monday. Chest congestion like a ton of bricks pushing me down. Yesterday came the water faucet nose. Today, all the rest: sneezing, coughing, nose dripping, sore throat, voice lost.

At least Anna won't have to hear me talk for a while. She'll just have to put up with my hacking and sneezing at all hours.

Road Trip Update

I'm back in Logan after a short jaunt to St. George. It always amazes me how the trip "there" (wherever "there" may be) is always, ALWAYS shorter than the trip back "home." I went to meet little Olive. She is so beautiful. You can see pictures of her on Chelsea's blog or Cindy's. I have a camera, but evidently I'm incapable of using it. This is the result of a class I'm taking. It stresses living the moment, not artifact-ing by taking pictures of it. I'll try to do better.

I also go my hair cut, again. I know. It's like my new addiction. Someone should really stop me. But I got oodles and oodles of compliments on it at church in Bloomington on Sunday, my old stomping ground.

It is weird to go "home" after being gone not so long. Even when I go HOME (to Kitty in Mississippi) things have changed. It's more noticeable there, though. It's amazing how that happens. I realized after talking to my mom today that I haven't seen my nephew and niece since October of last year. It's been so long. Even Cindy's house has changed. Justus is back and my room is now spotless and organized and "Guest-roomy." It's just interesting to realize that life goes on for others, even when we're not present to witness it.

Just like my life is going on here in the frigid arctic north. It's significantly cooler than when I left this place last Friday. A minute indication of what is to come.

What Do YOU Think about This Song & Me???

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Margaritaville"

You are a true party animal, but your style is mild and chill. Kicking back with a few friends and a few drinks is all you need to be happy. You certainly don't feel pressured to be a part of any party scene. In fact, you avoid trendier spots. You've been known to kick loose anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a cooler. You might also sing: "Gin and Juice," "Love Shack," and "Red Red Wine" Stay away from people who sing: "Wind Beneath My Wings"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Adventure Week

What a week this has been! It all started last weekend when cousin Cindy came to visit. She just brings sunshine and fun with her wherever she goes. We did a night hike in the canyon with Anna and David and Zoey. It was AMAZING. There was even a full moon rising. I learned on this hike that the middle of the trail may well be safest, since I totally busted it and fell off the side. Total BUMMER!!!!! hehehee

Mountains are GLORIOUS!!!

Look! Cindy has a halo!

Full Moon Rising!

MOUNTAINS!!! and Me!

We also had the adventure of two restaurants here in town: some Thai place, YUM!!! and the Beehive grill, also YUM, but different. We also went to a movie, The Time Traveller's Wife. I got very little reading done for the week, but it was fun to hang out with my cuz. She also got to adventure with me on attending my ward for the first time. We'll continue to monitor my presence there...

After they left Sunday pm, I had the house to myself, and Zoey and I wanted to trek out and find a new park to play in. Well, the one we found was totally off limits to DOGS! How rude, I mean I was even prepared with my little baggie and all. Then I got some serious reading done.

And I started working. Can I tell you how nice it is to earn a paycheck, even if it is but a wee little thing? I feel like a productive citizen again. It's amazing how different the same company can be everywhere you go. This puts the idea to me that I should just become transient and move to a new place every year or so to try new things. I'm not married, and there is no current prospect on that front, so when I'm done with school, why not? I boldly ask.

Anyhow, the adventures continue with the return of a paper I thought I had totally bombed, but didn't really. I will take a B+ anyday. It's pretty good for not having written anything IN YEARS!!! School and work continued to Wednesday when I discovered that my conniving little roommate had somehow managed to rook me into going on a double date with her and two guys to a concert. A KEITH URBAN CONCERT!!!

So, this being my first concert I was more excited about that than the date, which was also good, but awkward. I got to see Little Big Town and Keith Urban. It was AMAZING!!! Now I want his new album. Music is just so powerful, and he has some ROCKIN' tunes. I have to confess that since this was my first concert, I really just wanted to enjoy the experience, so I didn't take any pictures. It was amazing. My pictures would never have done justice to the awesomeness of the spectacle.

Now I have a weekend free til Sunday PM, and so much to think about with school and life, that I'm glad for a lull.

Thanks for staying with me, even though I'm a sporadic poster. I appreciate all of my readers and their comments.

cOoKIng Class -- IN SESSION

I like food. I won't lie. It's always been something comforting and there. My mom is a wonderful cook. My dad is amazing at some things, too, seafood especially.

Living here in Logan, with a captive and also poor audience (my roomie, Anna), I have been allowed to start cooking again. I've made a few things that are less-scary than others. I just wanted you to know that they have been amazing successes for me at least!

Potroast for dinner!

Potroast sammy next day.

Then there was the potroast BBQ sammy for supper the third day, but alas, no pictures. :O(

There was one little problem: my bacon and eggs did stick to my pan. Not to be outdone by them: I bought a nonstick pan.