beginning at the end

Time for a facelift

2010-07-27T00:46:00.003-06:00

Not me, of course (though, seriously, what is with the obsession with cosmetic surgery in this state?...) But I am putting this dear blog into retirement and starting a new one. It's time for a new creation...

http://cvdcpc.blogspot.com/

I almost forgot this little guy!

2010-04-13T22:13:00.011-06:00

I forgot about my blog! So, what's been on my mind these days? Well...school. So, here's the funniest thing I've learned about myself moving back East. I love the history of the American West. And I even think Mormon history is interesting, especially viewed in the context of what else is going on around the country. Yikes... I never thought I would even utter such a thing!

Somewhat related (but not entirely) to that idea is the fact that I've had this guy on the brain. No, not that kind of guy... Maybe I can find a cute guy in a few weeks to enjoy the nice spring weather with, but until then, I'm stuck with this guy. This is C. R. Savage and he took a lot of pictures in Utah and the intermountain west in the late 19th century/early 20th century. My professor got very excited about the idea of focusing on photographs he took in the year 1869. So, that's what I'll be doing. (When your professor gets that animated, AND happens to be wearing a bolo tie, you can't say no.) I will be analyzing photos like the ones below. I'm actually really loving this paper...I am that lame. I just wish I wasn't bothered with other things, like a paper on the Pan-American Exposition of 1901 in Buffalo and how the Asian exhibits there affected American decorative arts in the years after. Or finishing a museum evaluation project. And that pesky little task of finding a job. In the meantime, fun photos of Utah. From 1869.

Collection at BYU: http://www.lib.byu.edu/dlib/savage/

[I wonder why spell check doesn't like the word intermountain? Don't tell my dad... he already has a complex about the West being slighted as it is!]

and just like that, I'm addicted to chapstick...

2010-02-24T13:32:00.003-07:00

This afternoon, I reached into my bag to find my chapstick, and oh no! I couldn't find it! The most surprising part of this moment was the panic that set into my heart. How would I survive the rest of the day without it? And then I stopped as I realized: I am addicted to chapstick. When did this happen? I distinctly remember what seems like just yesterday when I didn't even own chapstick. It just happened, one moment, one use at a time. [This post isn't about addiction. Though that is about how those things happen...so it could go that direction easily, I guess.]

Just like the three feet of snow that seems to have melted in a moment. It just took one degree of warmer weather, one day at a time. It is those small things that happen when we aren't watching that add up to our future. I have been reading this book called A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. This was an Oprah book club selection and I got it awhile ago. The book is not really what I would call normal. In fact, sometimes he is a bit out there, and I have to read it with an open mind and imagination to see how what he is saying might resonate with truth I know. Surprisingly, I feel that it does, for the most part. His purpose is to discuss overcoming our ego.

Anyway, the part I am loving right now is his idea of living in the present. Not a groundbreaking idea, I know. But for me it kind of is. For someone who studies and looks to the past, sometimes I get caught there. And often I am too worried about the future to be in the Now, as he calls it. But the only time that exists is now. It is what we do with this moment that makes our past okay and the future better. We only have this precise moment to work with. The past doesn't exist anymore as a moment we can do anything about. The future doesn't exist yet. It is just this moment that we have to work with.

Okay...I am going to be late for class. Yikes!

In the Spirit of the Olympics

2010-02-18T20:18:00.003-07:00

I love the Winter Olympics. Don't get me wrong, I also love the Summer ones too...but honestly, how can you not just love the Olympics where Curling is a sport! I love watching that and so many other events (um, skiing!). Here we have athletes that generally aren't household names year round. I mean, without the Olympics, would many of us know about Lindsey Vonn? Maybe... Some, for sure. But now everyone is cheering for her. At the Olympics, these athletes have trained and given up so much of their lives for a few moments, however short. In those moments they hope that the hard work pays off, and in sometimes minutes and seconds they know. It is that great sense of accomplishment of the sporting world.

But sometimes, even with all the great Olympic spirit, I am reminded about the person beyond the sport. Take for instance Roberto Clemente. (How's that for abrupt jump in topic!!) As I was doing a project for my internship today, I ran across an exhibit they (SITES) have done about him and I re-remembered how remarkable he was. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the '60's and '70's and was an amazing baseball player, but his reach extended beyond that. He worked on many charitable endeavors and always hoped to instill in other Latin American kids the sense of pride and hope of being able to achieve their dreams. In fact, he died at the age of 38 in a plane crash as he was delivering aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. This is a pretty dramatic example of having a purpose beyond even sport. But can you imagine a professional athlete saying this today?:

"Anytime you have the opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't do it, you are wasting your time on this earth." --Roberto Clemente

I can't, actually. But it was a good reminder for me today and thought I would share.

Here is the traveling exhibit by SITES (don't ask...it's the Smithsonian, everything is an acronym) and more source info so you can check up on me!
http://www.robertoclemente.si.edu/

My plan: Hawai'i

2010-02-15T15:00:00.003-07:00

As graduation is creeping up on me, the following question seems to turn up quite frequently: "What are you going to do when you are done?" Well, the thing that instantly comes to mind is to say, flippantly, "Get a job". But, that is probably just being sarcastic for no reason. My standard answer is: "I would love to be closer to my family, but if that isn't a possibility I would like to stay in Virginia. Or Hawai'i." Which doesn't make sense, I know. Hawai'i is much further from my family than DC. It has been kind of my own little joke, but no longer... the news confirmed that it is the place I need to be. Over the weekend, with snow dusting even the South, the only state in the US without snow in it was Hawai'i. I thought that was pretty amazing. 49 states at one time with snow! So, it is settled...I'm moving to Hawai'i. I've never visited, but I am sure I would adjust just fine!! I don't even care at this point if I'm at a museum. Who knew that living in DC would be the most memorable snow/winter of my life?

So, here's the source for my news:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100213/ap_on_re_us/us_united_states_of_snow

Since I haven't been to Hawai'i, I don't have any pictures (and don't feel like stealing one off the internet right now). But you all know what it looks like. If you don't, watch LOST. It's filmed in Hawai'i.

Miss Me?

2010-02-09T18:29:00.003-07:00

No, not me... Remember him?

I think this is hilarious... and would love to see it full size on the billboard it resides along I-35 near Wyoming, Minn. (Yeah... I had to read the town's name twice. I was confused). I am not making any political statement by putting this up. I just thought it was funny.

Though I do think it is interesting how we (and by we, I do include myself...I am the worst culprit) rewrite the past and suddenly think it looks pretty good when our future may not be that bright. When, in reality, the past wasn't all that pretty either. Reminds me of the lady who called me at the Heritage Center and questioned the programs we taught for our school groups. Apparently we did not portray the pioneers quite like they did on Little House on the Prairie. She wanted THAT version of history. Ahhh... the good 'ole days!

Snow Day(s)

2010-02-08T20:27:00.010-07:00

I know I am a very sporadic blogger. But out of what I am going to call official "cabin fever", I am going to start writing on this little blog again. And what better event to start it off with than Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse...call it what you will, it has been great/awful.

I love the snow. I love how quiet the world becomes. I love the chill on your face. I love being in the snow with a bright blue sky. I love being inside with a blanket, hot cocoa, and a good book/friends/ family/movie when you can hear the wind howling outside. After the excitement of the snowfall, however, I appreciate being able to do something with that beautiful snow. I prefer skiing, snowshoeing…things like that. Generally they require open space and mountains. Unfortunately, I don’t live in the mountains anymore.

So, DC got a lot of snow over the weekend. Hopefully everyone heard, because, well it feels like the world has come to a standstill. Oh, wait. I think maybe just we came to standstill. The rest of the nation is functioning just fine. But here, it seems like everyone is snowed in. Loads of snow everywhere. Schools canceled. Work canceled. Museums closed. Sections of Metro closed. Streets unplowed. Basically, all I hear is snow, blah, blah…weather, blah, blah… It hasn’t been that bad. Kind of nice, but definitely surreal. I dug my car out, but don’t really have anywhere to go. And even if I did, I would be scared because someone might take my spot. And then what would I do? So, I stay in. And shovel snow. And walk to Old Town with my roomies. And read. And shovel snow. And read.

On the street where Cornelius (my little car, there on the right) and I live.

So before I realized my school would be closed on Monday I dutifully read and read and read through the weekend. You cannot imagine how thrilling it is to read about American photography theory unless you really dig in to it, you know? That is what I would do. And take breaks to watch Alias. Or talk to my roommates. Or shovel snow. Or eat.

But, I can absolutely tell you what is bad to have happen on a snowed in weekend (quickly turning into week, apparently) is one of the below. I do recognize all of the below would be bad to have happen or hear. Only one happened to me this weekend, however.

A) Power outage

B) Power on; spotty internet connection

C) Unable to locate cell phone charger

D) Hear about ex-boyfriend getting engaged to someone seemingly perfect

E) Tree branch falls onto car

Don’t be fooled by E. That was LAST year. I am much wiser this year, don’t you worry! And yes, A would be bad. Luckily, we had power the entire time. B would almost be as bad as A. What did people do before the internet? I should remember; I am old enough to vividly remember. Luckily, we have good internet. Okay… it was D. Yep…that was fun. I am 1000% happy for him. I know we were not a compatible pair. But wow…news like that is always a bit hard to swallow (given he dumped me), but generally you have stuff to do to keep you occupied for a few days until logic sets in again. But what do you do when you can’t take a nice drive, or walk, or go to work/school/internship, go to church, go out and you are just stuck reading things like American photography theory or stuff about museum evaluation? Of course I am being a bit dramatic; I am doing just fine. But, needless to say, the timing of the news maybe wasn’t my favorite. But, bring on more snow, I guess.

Other than that…all is well in the snowed in(out) capital of our nation.

If you think you are having a bad day...

2009-11-27T16:01:00.002-07:00

consider the Secret Service agents who let two attention grabbing, would be reality tv personalities "crash" President Obama's first state dinner. Although it is all kinds of ridiculous on the level of people trying to get attention--again (seriously, doesn't anyone just want to have a nice quiet life anymore?)--it is a little alarming. What if they weren't just attention seekers? I feel very safe in DC, but sometimes I also forget I do live in the nation's capital. With the president. So, obviously, it could get a little interesting. I still trust the security of the nation, however. But I do feel bad for those who had a little slip up in their job the other night. Reminds me of why I'm not doing anything connected to the safety and security of others. I would not handle that well. But I am grateful for all that do.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/us/politics/28crasher.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1259362833-r7cVU/4B7Mq+ZC/Dz0WYbA

Do All Counties Have This?

2009-10-21T20:54:00.003-06:00

In my research I have discovered that Montgomery County, Maryland, has its own official Coat of Arms, Flag, and Official Bird and Blossom. I do not recall Cache County having the likes.I did a--very--quick search and found that the Sheriff has a flag in Cache County. No coat of arms that I can tell. No flag. No bird. No blossom. I guess the county could have a contest? Maybe an Aggie would be represented?

Montgomery County, MD
(No...I don't live here. I live in Alexandria, VA. They also, as far as I can tell, do not have an official flag, coat of arms, bird, or blossom. They have a seal, but I am sure Logan does as well. So, Logan shouldn't feel bad. Alexandria is pretty great and very old, as far as US cities go.)

Official Bird and Blossom: robin and dogwood

Official Flag:

Official Coat of Arms:

Desperate Times For All

2009-10-08T20:57:00.003-06:00

Hey, even museums have to find a way through the difficult times :) Ha, ha...

To find out what The Met is doing about it!

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/struggling_museum_now_allowing?utm_source=EMTF_Onion

You Belong To Me

2009-09-12T21:59:00.002-06:00

Surprise! Believe me, no one was more surprised than me when the song I had been singing along to happened to be a Taylor Swift song. But then again, life is kind of surprising. I am surprised I actually rooted for USC tonight. I am surprised that I love where I live so much. I am surprised that the thought of moving anywhere doesn’t scare me so much anymore. I am surprised I survived without living so close to family last year. I am surprised I enjoyed my collections management internship this summer. I am surprised that I am actually very scared to turn 31 next month and leave single ward status forever. I am surprised that I am still emotional eight years after September 11, 2001. Life is surprising. Whether it is categorized as a “good” or “bad” surprise, life catches me off guard all of the time. The trick is finding some contentment that in all types of surprises, I can rest assured I can never guess what will come next. I am also surprised I am done with my Monday assignments and it isn’t even Sunday night (or Monday afternoon!).

I Like My Fellow Commuters

2009-08-05T18:27:00.002-06:00

It is official. I am now tired of commuting. It wasn't too bad for awhile...but now I am ready for it to be over. I have to say, though, that I really like my fellow commuters. I feel that those commuting north from Salt Lake are great. Whenever I hear of accidents, traffic problems, etc., they seem to be concentrated on the commute going SOUTH. Read into that what you will...but I have concluded that I owe everyone who commutes north a thank you!! Good job! There is only one little slow down spot in Kaysville and there have only been a couple of little accidents...but nothing major. So, I have been overall very grateful. I expected much worse.

Summer Reading

2009-07-25T21:03:00.002-06:00

Ah...summer reading. Thinking of light hearted paperback reads? Ha. Well, apparently I have missed the memo entirely on what is appropriate summer reading. I will just blame it on grad school. I put off reading things I have wanted to read because of grad school, so the summer is when I do my "for myself reading." Don't judge, but these are two books I would recommend, though I must emphasize, not for any fun, or escape value. If you are looking for something to get your mind off anything of a serious nature, these books are most certainly NOT recommended.

I started my summer off with The Kite Runner. I really felt like The Kite Runner had an amazing story of confronting the awful things we do, trying to reconcile and sometimes hide from them, and finally reaching redemption and confronting the costs of our decisions. The hope of love, amidst the most awful of circumstances, was illustrated vividly in this well written story. Most people I have talked to really have liked the book, but be warned, it deals with some hard story lines and some intense violence. It is set in Afghanistan beginning with the Soviet take over. It follows the story of a wealthy boy, and his boyhood friend through a moment that alters their lives and friendship. I was riveted and could not put it down. I felt the book was beautifully and simply written.

I just finished Massacre At Mountain Meadows, and lets just say, this book makes The Kite Runner seem almost cheery. I mean no disrespect to the awful events in The Kite Runner, but at least there is a sense of hope in the power of love and redemption at the end of The Kite Runner. Massacre At Mountain Meadows just made me wonder exactly how much evil lies in each human heart. I am sure most are aware of the basic events of the horrific story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I, however, somehow have never taken the time to learn the details of what happened and was horrified at the atrocity that occurred. The book is wonderfully researched and written and tells a very clear and gripping story. I was riveted by this book. I haven't read anything else on the Mountain Meadows Massacre to compare it to, but I felt the book was fair and balanced and painted a clear picture of what was happening in Utah at the time of the event. The authors really tried to explain the actions of the leaders in Southern Utah, and how the massacre was eventually carried out. It is very informative. However, despite the explanations of what was happening with the Utah War, society, mindsets of the time, etc., etc., I was left with the most sickening feeling in my soul about what evil must rest in each individual heart if allowed to be manifest. The authors really tried to explain how such mass violence occurs, and tried to explain the context, but at the end of the day, a group of men methodically masterminded the deception of emigrant men, women, and children and massacred them with their own hands, and the hands of ill-fated Native Americans. I was, and am more than ever, unsettled at how this happened. The book did not answer that question, and I am afraid no book ever can. But it was VERY informative, well written, and--I felt--balanced in the treatment of something so horrific I can't even comprehend it.

So, hopefully your summer reading is much more cheery, but I do recommend both of my summer reads thus far!

Summer Love

2009-07-14T18:18:00.004-06:00

Things that go through my brain read a lot like news briefs from the radio these days. Wonder why? Ha, ha, ha. I have listened to a lot of NPR, it is true. I feel very informed, adequately alarmed, and cautiously hopeful for the future because of my news listening. And I like to pass on interesting things you may not hear other places.

Okay, this is why I love people. Since 1929, a giant red light has flashed on the Pittsburgh's skyline and spells out the name of the city. On July 4th, Tom Stepleton was watching fireworks with friends and realized there was a K in the morse code. It was not just an errant K...the spelling of Pittsburgh had become Pitetsbkrrh. On Monday, the name had become Tpebtsaurgh. They say the code still runs on 1930's technology. So, I'm thinking it is time for an upgrade.
NPR link: (there are You Tube videos of the blinking lights...and yes, I watched them) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106606968
I love this because a) Pittsburgh actually has a red light spelling out the city name, and b) someone actually knew what a K looked like in morse code.

[On the flip side...I don't love tourists and escalators. I thought maybe it was just a DC thing. Nope. It extends to all corners of the country.]

Other things I love this summer.
Convenience Stores. Yes, I love them. I am going to chalk it up to my drive across the country. But where else can you find only junk food, soda as far as the eye can see, snacks, and very interesting people? I find I feel compelled to stop at them now...even though my trips have not exceeded 2 hours one way thus far into my summer.

Almond Joys. This is linked to the above. When my dad shared an Almond Joy with me over the weekend, I forgot how tasty they were! AND he informed me they sell cookie versions of them. Though generally only at convenience stores. Thus, the conversation about c-stores. (And no, I have not found the cookie version yet, but I am actively looking).

21 Guns. The song (hence the italics), not actual guns. I ignore the blatant anti-war message [I will post about my views on our war(s) later...**]. I personalize the message to my own, personal, life. It speaks to me in a very bizarre way. A few songs have done so in the recent past...Viva la Vida, for example. 21 Guns is a bit depressing, so I won't quote any lines here. But, it is what it is.

Chex Mix. The kind you buy (I would never be ambitious enough to make it...). It is so good and has a much better zip than my old love, Goldfish. And I just realized a lot of my loves revolve around food. I promise I do not weigh 500 pounds yet...

**I am not pro-war (like I think war is an answer), but I am also not pro what Green Day is saying about war. I have other opinions I will share later, I am sure.

My Soap Box For The Day

2009-07-09T11:07:00.002-06:00

I am sorry, but I just have to say it. $1.4 million for a funeral?!! Are you even kidding me with that? And from a state that is in such an economic mess that they had to issue IOU's to people! IOU's! I understand that Michael Jackson was a great musician. I really do and I appreciate his music and legacy to the musical industry. I value the creative process. I value the arts. Good job. But really? Coverage and tributes 24/7. We are fighting two wars, Iran and western China are in a bit of chaos, North Korea is lead by crazy town with nuclear capabilities, but please, lets focus on Michael Jackson every second of the day. My grandma was reduced to watching a dog show on tv because there was nothing but Michael Jackson coverage (and that was before his funeral/tribute)! I too like to escape this crazy time we are in, I really do. But consider this. We (myself included, don't you worry) love to hate Bush for the way America is viewed around the world. But $1.4 million for a musician's funeral. Could the rest of the world possibly dislike us for other reasons? And it is no wonder California is millions of dollars in debt.
[I am not supporting Bush, by the way, with the above comment. No worries, I could provide another post about Bush and how I feel about him. But I won't.]

Okay, I'm done. Sorry. I tried to refrain. But for me, someone who is just trying to make it through grad school, watching her family struggle in living honest, decent, good lives while trying to raise a kid, run a farm, and pursue their own creative ventures, it is just crazy to see the focus we give to music/sports/movie stars. How about a little attention to those giving their lives for our country, working to find cures for diseases, or participating in causes to help out the human race in very personal and real ways? I know...it is a soap box.

And understand that I do think Jackson deserves tribute and more than normal recognition. The bottom line is the over the topness of it all. But the media does overkill really well. I will always, in the end, blame it on the media! Ha... I won't even get started on Sarah Palin. Overkill. Okay, I'll just say one thing. She needs to disappear and quit talking. I am bound to never vote Republican again if they use her as their poster candidate. If she would just stop whining about being picked on! What did she expect?!!

Randomness

2009-06-28T21:16:00.001-06:00

NPR tells me that the next “it” thing for movies will be making movies based on board games. I know… Who wants to see Monopoly on the bigscreen? However, as NPR reminded me, I will remind you: Remember Clue?

You think the internet is always going to be there for your news perusal, that you will be able to access it when you want and get what you want. But one person was able to cause internet sites to nearly overload and caused outages on some popular news sites. That person is, of course, Michael Jackson.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/index.html

And for things I did not know…Did you know Parley P. Pratt was murdered in Arkansas in a story full of drama? I am still a little fuzzy on how I missed this fact all my life. My dad didn’t quite know all the dramatic details either, so I feel okay.

Did you know Sir Isaac Newton at one time was also warden of the Royal Mint, and thus in charge of catching counterfeiters? Admittedly, I barely understand the science and physics behind why he is famous, but I do like to know randomness about people's lives!

Majoring In What We Need?

2009-06-24T21:26:00.004-06:00

I had a friend mention the other day that she believed people major in what they need. Her example, she says, are the countless people who go into counseling and actually need counseling. I thought this was fascinating and immediately applied it to myself (When I tried it with things like my engineering majoring friends, or computer this or that, I started drawing blanks...go figure). Jenette's undergrad major: History. Jenette's grad major: Museum Studies. Is there something that draws me to these majors? Aside from the interest factor, I think there might be something to my friend's theory (for me, anyway...).

I am fascinated by the past. And particularly the material culture left by those in the past. You've heard the phrase, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." And so I ever so hopefully look to the past. But increasingly realize that the same mistakes are made over and over and over again--and often by cultures that study the past! Yet I am still fascinated. Fascinated enough to want to work in a museum where the aim is to NOT let go of the past. And so, here's the tie to my life... I am fascinated by my past. And I search my past trying to make sure I don't repeat the same mistakes, but anyone who has read my journal (which, incidentally, is no one but me), will see I repeat the same patterns over and over. And I don't let go. I don't let go of a lot of things I should. I wrote this little thing in 2004. It applies to my life in 2009 even more...

Letting Go
Holding on--until I cannot move
from what I thought would save me.
Fastened forever to an ideal that wasn't real--
Holding back from the beauty
that could be my life.
A flash of lightening--briefly--
exposes the mountains
To show me a new beginning.
But to get there,
I must let go.

So, amidst this lame attempt at poetry (?? ha--don't judge too harshly!), I find my dilemma. How do you learn, let go, remember, forget, and move forward, all at the same time? Impossible... but I am moving on from the year of two broken hearts and an uprooted life. Let's hope I have learned from the past.

Other random history quotes I found, which I enjoyed immensely:
"History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again."
--Kurt Vonnegut

"The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different."
--Aldous Huxley

"In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future."
--Alex Haley

"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging of the future but by the past. "
--Edward Gibbon

"We learn from history that we learn nothing from history."
--George Bernard Shaw

Fail

2009-06-15T18:33:00.002-06:00

It may seem like I'm obsessed with Google, and I might be just a little bit, but Google failed me. Usually, I'm quite confident I can Google anything and within a few minutes I can find my answer. It is how I can have credibility when I give my dad a hard time for still relying on his trusty encyclopedia set. Or when I tell my mom, "Oh, yeah we can find out how to tie a quilt without knots on the internet." However, I was too over zealous. Because my quick usual searching methods left me without what I was looking for. And so now, I don't know where to go for answers! Oh, to be a product of the technological age! It's a good thing I learned some survival type skills (i.e. starting camp fires, milking cows, etc.) at the Heritage Center, just in case the world's technologies really fail.

(Oh, I started my internship at the Church History Museum. I want to share fun stories, but I'm scared. I signed some confidentiality paper and so I am lost. What will I talk about? My best stories always seemed to come from work! Actually, I think I'm fine. I am an intern, let's be honest. I will not be in on any secret meetings. Though, on the second day I was standing guard for an original Book of Mormon, handwritten Book of Commandments, and other such interesting Church stuff. Ha.)

Poor Choice of Road Trip Snacks

2009-05-27T14:34:00.002-06:00

As I was cleaning Cornelius (my car) today, I realized I made some poor choices for road snacks late in my trip across the country. Junior mints and powdered donuts are examples of such bad choices. If the junior mints get loose (which one may have in my car), they melt into a puddle of chocolate, mint goo. And powdered donuts, well, that speaks for itself. Mind you, those were my poor choices in Wyoming. By that point in the road trip, I was tired of the trip and wasn't thinking clearly. Up until then, my packed at home chex mix, apples, granola bars, water, and cherry tomatoes had served me very well (oh, and diet coke...well! I traveled over 2,000 miles after all!). I had cheerfully weathered the rain of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the miles of nothingness of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. I got to spend some quality time thinking about my life. But by Wyoming, for some reason I thought, "Hey, powdered donuts! That is an excellent idea!" Ha. Not quite.

My Perfect Evening

2009-05-05T19:00:00.008-06:00

Someone asked me this evening what I would do on my own free time in the evening (this was to gather what it is that I like to do). Right now at this time in my life? I asked. Yes. Homework. And for breaks I would do my chores, like grocery shop, do laundry, etc. But obviously, as much as I love school, this is not how I would voluntarily spend my time. So, anything in the world, how would I love to spend my evening, this evening? Maybe we always want what we can't have, but here is what my perfect evening would be:

I would come home from work (developing exhibits and educational programming, of course!), with my commute being no longer than a half hour. After some dinner and relaxation (Maybe write! Or read for fun!! How earth shattering!) I would breathe in the crisp spring air, throw on my walking shoes and head for the River Trail in Logan Canyon. Nothing grand, nothing monumental. A simple walk along the Logan River. That would be the perfect evening. The sound of the water, the birds and the smell of the fresh air and trees. And then, after the sun had set, and I was relaxing with friends, I would step outside to look at the stars. It has been too long since I have really seen the stars.

(Yes I am aware these are pictures of the Wind Caves Hike. I, sadly enough, do not have any of the River Trail that I could find quickly!! I will remedy that this summer...But it IS Logan Canyon. Close enough.)

I guess I will find a Logan Canyon/River Trail here in my new life. But to experience nature, alone, with relatively minimal people is something I miss. (I miss it so much, I am doing my entire exhibit on open space. Ha.) To be sure, there are chances for outdoor things here. It is all just so used. I can't think of a better word...but there are so many people, things just look worn out, from the city to nature. I am guessing I just haven't searched hard enough (a Logan Canyon equivalent is most certainly NOT 15 min away here...). I will find it; until then, I have my hope of the perfect evening.

[Please don't misinterpret what I am saying... I really like it here. I love the trees and the green and the moisture and the monuments at night and the hustle and bustle of the city and the amazing people I have met. But, if I am honest, I just want a simple walk along the Logan River.]

Do You Have An Alias?

2009-04-30T21:57:00.002-06:00

If you don't, you should get one. (And have an updated passport so you can quickly leave the country...though your passport should have your real name, not your alias. I think you would get in trouble with your alias on your passport.) It is very handy to have an alias, or what I like to think of as a "fake name". Fake names come in handy in many instances; with sales people, in awkward social/possible dating situations, ordering food...you get the idea. I will disclose my fake name, because people who read my blog are probably my friends and so I don't need to lie to you. My fake name is Isabella Barker. My family will catch on to the Barker. Isabella is just a name I have always loved (and if anyone is familiar with the Christmas song, "Bring a torch Jeanette Isabella", well....that explains itself). However, I am sad that Twilight has forever ruined Isabella for me. Twilight it fine, I guess...but Bella is kind of an annoying character, I won't lie. Anyway, this is the ramblings of a procrastinator. Better I ramble about this than what I should be doing! (No one cares to read exhibit labels in a museum, much less on a blog!!!)

And now an easy question: Have you ever Goggled yourself? Yes. You all have. Some of us are (un)fortunate to have strange and unique spellings of our name so we do not have to wade through pages of other people to get to us! Anyway, as further exhibit that Google IS trying to take over the world, apparently it is possible to create a Google profile that appears when your name is searched. It is supposed to be another social networking kind of thing, to take on Facebook, of course. You can read more about it here:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1893965,00.html

(I am really digging Time these days, I don't know why...)

Preparation is Key

2009-04-29T09:36:00.002-06:00

Hypothetically speaking, say you were the president of a major world country. Or, you are the head of the national health organization in said country. In a neighboring country, a deadly strain of a flu virus breaks out and kills some people. World leaders begin calling it a global pandemic problem. What do you do? Do you assume and prepare for the worst, calling for a costly production of a vaccine, talk of closing the border of your neighboring country (whom you already have tenuous immigration problems with), recommend people cease non-essential travel to that country, and suggest closing schools? Or, do you assume that, like a lot of things like this, they will fizzle out before too much damage is done? Because if you choose the later option, somehow, THIS will be the strain that truly is a global pandemic that decimates the country. So, you have to prepare for the worst. I, in my own life, often assume the worst, but never quite prepare for it. That means I am worried, but never prepared, which brings more worry. Lesson learned: Preparation is key.

In my research and reading of the news for this hypothetical situation, I discovered that something similar happened in 1976. I don’t remember this, I wasn’t born I can honestly say, nor have I ever heard about it. Apparently a case of the swine flu broke out in the US killing one individual and infecting hundreds. Pres. Ford ordered a nationwide vaccination program (costing $135 million). Unfortunately, the vaccine caused some people to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing nerve disease. And nothing really happened with the flu (thus, I have never heard about it). Anyway, those are just the facts of that one case. I thought it was pretty interesting. Lesson learned: Preparation can backfire; You cannot be 100% prepared for everything and anything that could happen, but you can do your best...

Here’s the entire article:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1894129,00.html

What Luck!!

2009-04-25T16:09:00.002-06:00

You know those moments that are so small, they aren't really worth mentioning...except somehow they mean oh so much? About three days ago, my sunglasses broke. They had served me well, in fact I considered them the most perfect pair I had ever run across. So I was sad. And I was even more sad because I knew I would need to look for a new pair soon. Choosing sunglasses seems like an easy enough task, but for me, somehow it isn't. They have to feel right, look right, block the sun right...there are a lot of variables. And unfortunately, what is popular right now doesn't really mesh with me. Last night while shopping at Target, I took a look at the sunglasses wall. I sighed...there are always so many choices! Why with all the choices?! And then, there it was! The EXACT same pair of sunglasses that had just broke! (I mean exact, not similar.) What luck!! I was overjoyed probably more than I should have been. But sometimes, those little things can either send you over the edge or really just make your day.

Google Kind of Makes Me Nervous

2009-04-22T17:10:00.003-06:00

So, does anyone else get a little nervous about opening their Gmail account? No? Well, that is good. A good sign you’re not as paranoid as I am! There I am, just innocently opening my email to see what great invitations, deadlines, or opportunities await, and my eyes are drawn to the right of the screen. There they are--Advertisements. But not just your random mortgage, loose weight, better than botox ads I get in my Yahoo account. Oh no, Google is so much better. Somehow they KNOW what your email is about. So I open a random email about tickets to a baseball game from some person on a random listserv I belong to. And then, there they are, ads for baseball stuff—baseball in general, Nationals tickets, LDS posters (since it’s an LDS listserv), etc. Granted, sometimes Google gets confused and it doesn’t quite match. But ultimately, I am pretty sure Google is positioning itself to take over the country. They know too much…now if they combine with Facebook, they would take over the world.

So apparently today is Earth Day...

And this post, my friends, is the way I get to take a break from my darn museum about puppets. I thought museums just took people’s crap (that’s what the Heritage Center did, after all). But NO, apparently there are guidelines above guidelines and forms above forms to follow and fill out. I get to make all that up (isn't school great?). Very helpful and so much fun. Seriously, who knew I would rather be writing my 25 page research paper? Not me…but somehow it seems easier.

There and Back Again

2009-02-18T15:48:00.011-07:00

Well, I just couldn’t stay away from my dear blog! It is like a friend, in a sad sort of 21st century way! I just like to write too much and share, I suppose. I tried Facebook, but I didn’t really like it too much, to be honest. This is just so much more me, I have decided.

I have nothing much profound to say, but that today was snowy (meaning a few flakes), and rainy, and damp, and dreary. Really, the perfect day for how I felt. I had to pull out the wool coat again after retiring it amidst the beautiful spring weather last week. But that’s okay, because when the weather is nice, I have a hard time studying. And I should really study. I have a lot to do… I am developing a (hypothetical) exhibit this semester after all, among other such museum like things!

So here are some random photos from the past few months…

Monticello at Thanksgiving. I want to go back at a more picturesque time of the year!

National Building Museum...

Kennedy Center and Don Quixote Statue...

Hiatus

2008-11-14T16:07:00.003-07:00

I have officially decided to cease my blog. I am not going to delete it because I like to keep track of everyone listed to the left! However, I have concluded to not continue posting blog entries of my own. It has been fun...but I think in an attempt not to bore you all to tears with my fun life of school and work, I will abstain from writing so as not to even begin that possibility!

Just imagine most entries would read like this: School is so great! We are learning about {insert topic here}. Work is really good and the kids are sure fun. {Insert random story here}. I got to go see {insert DC museum/site; VA museum/site here}. It was wonderful and there is so much to see out here! I miss my family/friends/Cache Valley, but am so glad to be here having great new opportunities!

That would pretty much be it. So long, and I will be keeping in touch in other ways!

Jenette

Job Security

2008-11-06T19:38:00.007-07:00

No, I'm not talking about my own job security. But I do want to talk about the security at my job. Just like any place in DC, you have the obligatory guards posted at every door to check your bag. When I first started at the Building Museum, I dutifully offered up my bag until I got an ID. I wore my ID diligently whenever I went to work, and then I got smart. They didn't really care/they recognized me. So, I stopped wearing it. I am not saying anything against our security guards, but they are a little lax. Sorry. (By the way, if you wonder why people do wear their IDs everywhere, that is one of the reasons...oh and people like to feel important here.)

Anyway, the time has come for our security to kick it into high gear. As you all know the G20 Economic Summit happens next week in Washington DC. (What? You didn't? Okay, I didn't either until this...) As it happens, the summit will be occurring at the Building Museum. Not too exciting really, except it means I do not have to work next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. No one will be at work. Only the world's leaders trying to come up with an economic solution to the world. Good luck to them.

It has been so fun to watch the hundreds of black suited folks wandering all over the museum for the past few days. See, they are the real, top notch security. They have maps. They have very official badges. And they all wear black (or maybe some other dark color) suits/clothes. At one point this afternoon as I was helping clean up after a program, I was down on my hands and knees gathering up small washers from the maroon colored, flower patterned carpet. Surrounding me where all of these security folks. All very much engaged in serious conversations. I had to chuckle. This place often does make me laugh!

The National Building Museum (inside the Great Hall...it really is quite large and exterior...with the 5 million bricks it is made of!!)

It's All Over But the Work

2008-11-05T14:58:00.001-07:00

The new era dawned today, a little windy, but somewhat warm, in DC. Things seemed to be quite normal. But things were a little different too. I saw more American flags than I have seen in my time here so far. I get the feeling that people are proud to be Americans a little bit more today than they were yesterday. My classmates and the snippets of conversation I heard on the bus/metro all seemed to echo the same sentiment—finally, change has come. And why shouldn’t they be happy? After all the debate and arguing and talking, an African American was elected the President of the United States of America. People can say race doesn’t matter, but the fact that this has occurred is a monumental moment in the history of this country. After all that has happened, it seems that Dr. King’s dream is becoming a little more real. There are strides to go, of course, but I just think of some young African American kid sitting in a DC public school class who is told they can be anything they want. And today that dream might seem a bit more real to that kid than it would have a few months ago. Clearly not everyone is pleased, and as happy as people have been today, people know the expectation that rests with Obama. It is monumental. The country has so many issues. But maybe for the first time in a long, long time, people will be inspired. Maybe the US’s standing in the world view can be healed a bit. I certainly hope so. I think that is why Obama won. People want to be inspired. Hopefully that inspiration will translate into action and a better country, and even world.

Okay, so enough gushing. Let’s be honest. The Democrats have control. They have no excuses, so if they aren’t able to solve the dire situations that face this country, they have no one to blame but themselves this time. I think it okay to swing to either side and give each side a shot. Random Example: I have a friend who voted for Obama as part of what he calls his “Romney strategy”. His reasoning is that Obama isn’t going to be able to fix the problems (could make them worse), and so in four years the country will be ready for something (else) new. We will have to see on the specifics of that particular plan. But honestly, the Republicans better be getting ready to reinvent some part of themselves, because if things do go badly for the Democrats, the Republicans will be in good position for victory in four years.

Well, that is going to be it for me and politics for awhile. School. Papers. Reading. That is what I really need to do…

Election Eve

2008-11-03T20:37:00.002-07:00

Well, this fine election eve finds me watching the Steelers-Redskins. I am not being as diligent in regards to my homework tonight as I should--oh well. Right now the Steelers are winning, which I hope lasts. But more than anything, I am excited to have the election over, the campaign ads over, and the political yammer over. Believe me, politics is the thing to talk about around these parts. I love/hate it. But what I really do love is that for the first time in my life, my vote will actually count. First, I am no longer in Utah, so the outcome isn't set in stone (although, apparently, Virginia has mostly been a Republican state in the past). Second, Virginia is considered one of those "battleground states". So in theory, it could be my one, single vote that the entire state is hinged on. Okay, so it's not that dramatic! But you get the idea. So, join with me in the party, Vote, and watch the election returns until the wee hours of the night tomorrow. And hopefully, we will be set on a new course that will truly help our country. Because more than anything, we need a leader that can restore people's confidence in our country and restore our standing in the world. We can only hope.

Never Say Never

2008-10-15T18:27:00.004-06:00

I have always known that you should never say never. But here I am listening to Rascal Flatts. So, if you have ever heard my tirade about "country" music today, you will know I have made fun of them, called them the Backstreet Boys of country, and pretty much dismissed them. I don't take back a lot of my arguments. They are the Backstreet Boys of country, it isn't the classic country that I do like, and it has so many pop elements. But they fill their place--and I like it! It is just I grew up listening to something else in the country vein. Old habits die hand. So, I will learn and just let things be what they are... And I will just continue listening, because I like Rascal Flatts. There, I admitted it. In a public forum!

Nothing replaces George though...

Politics at the Bus Stop

2008-09-25T18:41:00.003-06:00

When I was going to school one day and arrived at the bus stop (right outside my door!) to find this political statement. I laughed about it all day!

(Sorry about the picture size. I took it on my camera and it is a little small/fuzzy)

Museum Day 2008

2008-09-25T17:44:00.003-06:00

Apparently you can get into some museums across the country on Saturday for free. Visit this website if you are interested. There aren't really too many in Utah...which applies to most of you I guess. Sorry. But promoting museums is always a good idea!!

http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/about.html

(The Smithsonians in DC are free...just another reason to come visit! So much to do here is free! All of the time.)

I Guess I Live In DC

2008-09-24T15:52:00.006-06:00

One thing that I really do not like about DC is that it is so big. More specifically, I never run into anyone I know. This makes me feel quite lonely. But in all seriousness, this morning I got on the metro and I saw a guy from my ward! I was kind of excited and proceeded to tell him he was the first person (outside of classmates I ride home from class with) I had seen on the metro that I knew. I am pretty sure he thought I was strange and that will not help me find new friends, but I was very happy. Anyway, I liked running into random people I knew while in Logan. But there are a few more people here so I don't imagine it is going to happen that much.

And this made me really laugh... I have a new roommate moving in and she had a moving truck move all of her stuff from Arizona here to DC. The guys moving her stuff in commented on how humid it was. Ha. I said these same things when I first moved here. And today I got to say exactly what everyone told me when I moved here, "It's actually not that humid. It feels really good today." And apparently I have not experienced the worst of the humidity since August and September have been really nice. That is why I will leave next summer when I have to do an internship!

I Think I Will Like Not Being In Charge!

2008-09-18T14:57:00.005-06:00

I have been training for my new job at the National Building Museum and I have to say, I think I am going to like not being in charge for a small little bit of time. I get to come, do the program I am assigned (I don't have to dress in 1917 or pioneer clothing, start fires, or make cookies! Yeah!!), talk/teach/play with kids, and go home. Oh, and get paid. Granted, it is just a part time job, and believe me, part time jobs don't really cut it here in the land of costing a million dollars to live. But I think it will be a good job and I am excited to be working with kids again.

But it has been funny to go through the trainings, on the other end of things! Helpful hints--people really try to give helpful hints, you know, the small things such as "Don't dump the whole box of tiles out, just dump out half" and then someone else saying "I make two small piles with the tiles." I know I probably did this for the people I trained for my job, and I see that it really just takes doing the program to learn what works best for me (or whoever). The employee (I would add volunteer) who knows more than the supervisor--this also was manifest at our training. A lady had to continually add her two cents in about everything in the program. "You aren't going to take out the marble are you? You can't do that. It is the best part." I remember what I thought when staff/volunteers told me that. The nice version of what I usually though: "Well, you don't have the entire picture. You are just seeing one small aspect of this." But these people will be everywhere.

I am sure I will have more to come. But my supervisor told me one thing that made me very happy. She told us that we may have kids recognize us when we are out in DC or on the metro from doing these school programs and it made me excited! Why, you may ask. Well, I don't particularly like being recognized, but if that does happen, it is that stamp of ownership, the evidence that yes, I do indeed live here and my sphere goes outside of the campus/my neighborhood. DC is monumentally huge. But if someone recognized me from my job, it would almost feel like Logan again. Oh, how I miss the manageable city of Logan.

For now, that is it... I am sure I will have more to say about my job later, but for now, things are moving along quite nicely.

Calling All Collectors!

2008-09-18T14:57:00.002-06:00

I thought I would just throw this out there... For my material culture class I will need to interview a collector later in the semester and find out about their collection. SO, if any of you are collectors of anything fun, let me know. (Material Culture is basically the study of objects. The things that people leave behind after they are gone. Just in case there was a question about that. I am one step ahead of you!)

Am I Really Going to Class?

2008-09-10T16:00:00.004-06:00

I have to ask myself this question frequently, because to be honest, I don't feel like I am going to class...I feel like I'm on vacation. The feeling of homework and reading doesn't feel like a vacation (it is actually quite hard getting used to this again), but seeing things like the US Capitol and the Washington Monument as I head to and from my class at the Smithsonian make me think that I am really on vacation. Even when I'm on "campus" I feel like I'm in an alternate or parallel universe, because it doesn't follow my conventional thinking of what a campus is like. I mean, street lights and crossing busy city streets? That's not school! My point in all this rambling is that I am just trying to find the ordinary, the things that make up a life, in a world where I am riding the metro, going to class at the Smithsonian, and where people do things like translate Arabic for their job, work for the FBI, work for the government, or any other such random, crazy things. I am liking it, don't get me wrong. I like school. I like where I live. People have been surprisingly nice. But I am still just trying to find that place where I feel like I am living in my life. Because I don't feel like that right now. This feeling may never wear off because the Washington Monument isn't going anywhere. And that might be okay too...I am a tourist discovering something new each day!

Of Birds and Such...

2008-09-06T15:00:00.002-06:00

I always thought the Heritage Center was really unique. And it is. But as I was interviewing for a museum teacher job (basically school groups) at the National Building Museum for a part time job, I realized that I may not necessarily have to leave all of that uniqueness behind. This was the moment I had to hold back my laughter during the interview.

Interviewer: “You may have noticed the birds we have in the gallery. Well, sometimes they fly around during our school programs and are disruptive. The Kindergartners stop listening and start watching the birds. What would you do in this situation?”

Jenette: “Blah, blah, blah… (very smart, intelligent, and witty of course).” What was going on in her head [Ha. Those tiny birds? Try peacocks (Have you ever heard one? Have you seen their feathers?), or ducks, especially when they are mating. Try explaining that to school kids. Yeah, I can handle the small, common type chirping bird.]

But it does go to show me: Even though I thought issues at the Heritage Center were so unique and one of a kind, I can see that they weren’t all that unique after all. Luckily I have learned to deal with distracting birds. (And you thought discussions of fowl was over! Not so my friends!)

What's a Woman to Do?

2008-09-04T12:46:00.002-06:00

Well, it was inevitable. I am in DC, so it is only fitting that I start blogging about politics. I mean, everyone has an opinion around this town about everything political, so I guess I can too. And the air is buzzing about Sarah Palin. I don't really want to weigh in quite yet on the whole election ordeal, but the media coverage has been out of control and I do have something to say about what they are saying. We have come so far in this country as far as women go--better pay, education, etc., etc. But then we have Palin. Mother of 5 (Who has 5 kids in this day and age? note: read with sarcastic tone) and running for VP. I have to say that I have been highly disappointed in what people say. They say that it is irresponsible for her to have 5 kids and be running for VP. But really, what are women supposed to do? Many women want high powered positions in politics, etc. (not me...whew!) but they want to be mothers too. And the world is constantly telling women that they can have it all. So, I think the media has been very unfair in their coverage (Of course, who ever thought the media was fair? Ha). Men run for office and are fathers. Men are attorneys and are fathers. Etc. Does that make them bad fathers? Sometimes it does. But sometimes they are great fathers. In a world that is ever exploring and pushing the boundaries of the roles of men and women, fathers and mothers, I would have expected much more. Then the media tries to defend themselves and their coverage and attacks of Palin. But there is no question about it, if she were running on the Democratic ticket she would not get the attacks she is now. If she were from the East, she would not get getting the attacks. If she had come from a more "elitist" background...education...liberal ideas, she would not be getting the attacks she is. The more they attack, the more I like Palin, because in Palin there is something that I can relate to. I mean she went to the University of Idaho! How much closer to home can you get in a national election? Not much. There are issues that I still would like have explained, but ultimately I say, enough is enough. Coverage is biased. It always will be, and always has been. But whatever comes, it sure has made things even more interesting!

Note: This blogging thing will only be one more thing to keep me from my homework. I am remembering all too vividly how I put homework off then (and probably will now!).

Could I Have Found My Merrill Library Replacement?

2008-08-29T14:27:00.002-06:00

For those of you who may not know, I loved the Merrill Library. I know a lot of people enjoyed the more "hip" and happening Sci-Tech but I loved the slightly dim, old Merrill. I spent a good portion of my USU years at the Merrill. Yes, I even had a locker there at the pinnacle of my college days. Needless to day, when they demolished it I shed a tear and I thought I could never love another library quite like that. Now, I still don't think I can, but I think I have found a worthy replacement. The verdict isn't in entirely because school hasn't even started, but the library here at GW (the Gelman Library), is eerily similar to the Merrill. And when I say similar, I mean similar in the antiquated carpet, bathrooms, lighting and smell. They have renovated some areas, but I was startled when i realized the chairs, the desks, the carpet, the bathroom tile, the paint, and the shelving units all looked as if they came right from the Merrill. And who knew it could smell so similar?! Well, we'll see how much I study there when it is all said and done but I finally felt a bit of comfort on a campus that is so dissimilar to USU...

Let Me Find 6 Random Things About Me

2008-08-25T17:21:00.002-06:00

My new roommate, Jenny, tagged me to write 6 random things about myself. I did this once, and have since ignored all other requests. But she asked, and she has been so nice to me since I moved here, so I will do it. It will be short, but here we go.

1. Yes, I am getting a graduate degree in museum studies. It is a real thing, although not something that will bring in the big bucks. However, I never have been one to be attracted to the money/status/flashy route. So, we'll give it a try.

2. I don't swim. I just don't. I could maybe save myself if I was drowning, but that's about it. Oh, and I don't play volleyball. I am willing to try a lot of things...these are just activities I really don't ever participate in.

3. I do not drive around the parking lot looking for the nearest parking spot. I take the first one I can spot that is fairly close and call it good.

4. I have been coined a liberal by some (I will not name names...), but am actually a middle of the road kind of person. Politics, debates, and really most everything.

5. At heart, I think I really am a western girl more than I ever realized. Space, stars, no humidity, mountains... But, I am making my way in the city okay. I can do, I have to believe that.

6. I don't like wearing shoes in the house. My dad wears shoes so he doesn't stub his toe. I just like being comfortable.

Should I Feel Like a Freshman?

2008-08-25T17:11:00.002-06:00

Okay, I will rephrase...should I feel like a freshman when I am almost 30?!! Because I certainly felt like a freshman today. Today I wandered around the campus of George Washington University, and let me tell you, I was confused and lost. Because GW is an urban kind of campus, once again, without the mountains, I get very turned around as to which direction I'm going. So, basically we are taking a time machine back 11 years to those fun days as a freshman at USU. Except everyone expects freshman to be confused and lost! People expect a bit more from someone who has already gone to some college, is almost 30, and has been successfully working for some time. Ha. I have to laugh about it now... It's kind of like going to the temple. The first time you don't know what to expect, but everyone is so nice and they know you're new. It's the second time that is more scary because you just seem like someone who should know what's going on. I should know what's going on with school, but I 100% do not. Yikes. Good thing school doesn't start for a week.

American Revolution (According to TV)

2008-08-22T23:27:00.004-06:00

To keep me occupied the past little while I have been finishing up a little TV show I started watching in Logan. I know, there's tons of history and things to see here in DC, but watching this show is helping me adjust, so don't judge too harshly. Anyway, a friend of mine asked for recommendations on tv shows on one of his blog posts and I have to recommend Jericho. So, the show got canceled after a season and a few episodes, and I can kind of see why. The show is really over the top, the acting isn't always the best, it is not believable (but really, what on tv is?), there isn't any humor, and I'm not sure where they were planning on going with the show. However, I still was entertained. At the heart of the show it is about revolution and saving America. And I have to say, not a lot makes me feel patriotic, but I kind of did watching this show strangely enough. It was interesting to see the reaction of this small town, Jericho, to the devastating nuclear attack of 23 US cities and the ensuing attempts to first stay alive, and then in the end, become revolutionaries against the occupying government. It puts an interesting modern look to what we usually think of as scrappy American colonists and British redcoats, or the Union blue and Confederate gray (however you want to look at it). So if you're bored (which, frankly no one will be...isn't school starting or something?), check it out. Apparently the show had some devoted fans to pull it out of being canceled outright after the first season. You have to love devoted fans [If you do watch, it gets better after the first bit].
Stanley and Mimi.

Dreams From the Blue Room

2008-08-21T17:57:00.002-06:00

This will be short, but great of course! Sadly, despite being in one of the coolest (not temperature wise, trust me...although Julie is apparently not lying...the weather has been better than normal) places in the country, I have not done anything really that outstanding since my friends left. I have been settling in, buying a dresser, going shopping...you know, moving in stuff. I have not visited DC proper since that time--unless you count the time I got lost on Tue on my way back from the church when I practically circled DC in my car. Cornelius (my car) and I have had a time getting used to the driving. Good things/pictures will follow. Do not worry!

But here's the dream: As some of you know, I was a frequent visitor of the Old Grist Mill. Well, in my dream, I distinctly remember hearing word and seeing a napkin that confirmed one of my greatest wishes--Old Grist Mill was expanding in the East! I saw many names on the napkin that seemed very East coast like, with one being Alexandria. Now, although I live in Arlington and have a hard time driving (because I get lost), I was very excited in my dream because it meant my lunch problems were over! Ha. I then woke up and remembered I hadn't found Old Grist Mill's replacement in my new surroundings and I was disappointed.

Ready Or Not...

2008-08-14T16:04:00.012-06:00

I know…no one has to remind me that I haven’t blogged in a bit because I am very aware of that. Yes, Enna Burning was my last post. Unfortunately I haven’t been doing much reading in light of the fact that I have been moving across the country. If you would have told me at the beginning of the summer that I would be sitting here, in my little blue room in Arlington, VA and wishing to be back in Logan, UT, I would have told you no way. But, here I am…wishing I was in Logan. No one really told me it would be so hard to move!! Leaving family, friends, and loved ones is really, really difficult. Who knew I was so attached to my life there?! I didn’t—until now I guess. Fortunately the modern age makes it easier to communicate, but losing proximity to those I love has been very, very hard.

Things that may seem kind of quirky on a vacation have now become things that I may hate. For instance: humidity. Why did I think I would want to live in a humid place? I am beginning to question my sanity. The random weird bugs, the massive amounts of people…all things that while traveling are okay because you know you will be leaving. But when looking down the road of 2 years, they don’t seem so okay. On the bright side, I have a washer and dryer in my apartment and they collect my trash every day. Yes, I put it on my porch and it is gone in the morning. Brilliant. [Hey, I am looking for anything at this point…] Oh, it is also the nation’s capital, so there are some pretty great sights around. Come visit!!

I LOVE the Library of Congress and the Washington Monument (I am excluding museums right now). The Library of Congress has amazing architecture and brilliant colors and lighting. And it houses thousands of books. The Library of Congress itself (not just the Jefferson Building) has 30 million books. 30 million!! Wow. I love books, but that is too much to comprehend. And the Washington Monument is quite the landmark. There is something about it that just makes me want to photograph it all of the time.

Okay, so the three day trip across the country went well. The second day was a bit rocky, but we are just forgetting that day ever happened. We took I-80 from Logan, so we got to see the beautiful states of Wyoming and Nebraska the first day. The first night we stayed in Council Bluffs. No sightseeing—this was a trip to merely get from Point A to Point B. Plus, by the time we were there it was approximately 1 in the morning. And it was humid. I don’t think I have experienced humidity like that since China and it was pretty overwhelming. So Day 2 we started through Iowa with all of its picturesque rolling fields of corn. I only had one small emotional breakdown outside Des Moines—I believe, but then I was good to go. We passed through Illinois, which looked a lot like Iowa. Then it was through Indiana. By this time it was dark, so who knows what the state looks like (probably like Iowa and Illinois). There was a tornado warning in the counties we were driving through though, which kept me awake. I just kept thinking, I guess if this is the way I am supposed to go, I guess this is how it will be. We ended up staying in Toledo that night. Day 3 dawned much brighter than Day 2, and we made good time through Ohio and on to Pennsylvania. At this point, the scenery got much prettier as we were amongst a lot of trees. Pennsylvania was beautiful and I really would like to go explore more sometime. [Side note: Although it is very unnerving not to have mountains around, the trees are really nice. It is amazingly green and the trees can hide millions of people really quite well. The East is lucky to have them.] We made it into DC in good time, and the driving was over. Hallelujah!

We had arrived at my new place. It is quite a charming little neighborhood really. Townhomes built in the 40’s, red classic brick…very nice. But awfully confusing because everything looks the same!! Ahhh… It is very easy to get turned around as I have discovered firsthand. Just imagine my place multiplied by like 100 (more really…) and there you have Fairlington. But in all reality, it seems really nice and safe. Luckily for me, I get to dust off the parallel parking skills I never had and put them into use because that is how you park here. My roommate Jenny is very nice and helpful. She and my dear friend Julie both got me flowers and truly that was so comforting on a day that was so unnerving. My room is small (but cozy) with light blue paint, with one wall done to look like clouds. At some point I will have to repaint because I feel as if I am sleeping in a nursery, but right now I do not have the energy.

I then had visitors (YEAH!!) up until today, so I have been seeing the sights. Wow! There is so much to see. It was a little bizarre to think that I live here now, so if I miss something, I can always go back and see it later. Very strange. Washington DC has a lot to offer and I am sure it is a great place. Right now it is all so strange and unfamiliar, so I tend not to love it. Everyone I have met for the most part has been very helpful. Like I said before, I am sure I will meet great people, (I already know my friends like Liz and Julie are great! I am glad they are here!) but it is hard being away from everyone at home that I love. It was impossible really to say goodbye, but a new adventure has begun I suppose. [However, if I show up back in Logan, don’t be entirely surprised!!]

Farewell from now from the little blue room. Things should start settling into place and more posts will follow. Promise. Maybe written from the metro (Which I will catch most days from the Pentagon. Yep, the Pentagon. Makes you feel safe, until you remember Sept. 11th.)

Enna Burning

2008-06-28T12:17:00.009-06:00

Since I don't have a lot of exciting stories, I will just relate the books I have been reading! The latest is Enna Burning by Shannon Hale. This was a fantastic book about Enna, a girl who learns the secrets of fire and is able to help her homeland at a time of war with her abilities. This ability comes at great costs, however, and the book is ultimately a story of friendship and balance. In her magnificent way, Shannon Hale weaves yet again another amazing tale. For those not familiar with Shannon Hale she writes (primarily) in the young adult fantasy/fairy tale genre. She is an outstanding author and I love the way she writes. Her writing has been described as lyrical...and I have to agree. Enna Burning was a little different than Goose Girl (the first book in the Bayern series) as it deals with darker and more complex issues than those in Goose Girl. All of the characters are there, however, and it is hard to put down. I enthusiastically recommend this book (and all of her books!) to those who enjoy this genre--and really just good reading material!

Viva la Vida

2008-06-26T23:45:00.006-06:00

So, it is one of my favorite things of late. I know, I know. Coldplay is overrated. Coldplay is the most insufferable band ever. I've heard it all, so don't bore me with it. I've always liked them, and their new album is no exception. Most specifically of late, I love the song Viva la Vida. It is a song about how things can turn on you in a dime. How fitting for life, right? And perhaps a little autobiographical for the band, eh? (Only in reference to their standing amongst critics mind you...they are by no means headed for the poorhouse anytime soon) I really, really like the rest of the album (There are those moments, of course, there always are...but I'm just saying overall). It sounds like Coldplay, but sometimes it is surprising how it is pretty different. It doesn't seem quite so emotionally desperate as they sometimes come off. It is generally to the point. And there is variation. It isn't only Chris Martin and Chris Martin alone. The number one track barely features him after all! It's true. So, give it a listen. I love it.

New Perspectives

2008-06-24T19:15:00.013-06:00

In addition to the dream angle of blogging, I think I will talk about the things I love that I do each day. Today I went hiking up to the Wind Caves. I really like this hike and have done it many, many times. Today was a little different, however. It started off like any other time I have hiked it, but I ended up in an entirely new place. As I was hiking I noticed a new little trail veering off from the regular trail to the caves.

It read "To Green Canyon" and I thought, "Why not?" So off I went. It was much less traveled, but there was still a distinctive trail. I wondered how I had missed it before. Perhaps it came right at the wrong angle of the switch backs. Maybe I am usually talking to someone else and have continually missed it. Also, I think it is fairly new. Today I was going slow because, well, let's just be honest, I am out of shape and it was hot! But I was grateful for the new perspective on Logan Canyon it offered me.

Although the view wasn't probably all that different to someone who hasn't hiked the Wind Cave trail a million times, it was very obvious to me. And I thought the canyon had a new attraction today. Just like in life, you can start off on a trail with the end in mind, something that you have thought about. And along that same trail, you may take a trail that will offer fresh and exciting new perspectives. Sometimes it is as unexpected as finding that trail on the same old trail you've been hiking your whole time while in Logan. And hopefully that new trail will offer only the best...Next time I am bringing more water and hiking to Green Canyon!

Dream #1

2008-06-24T18:42:00.002-06:00

It is ironic, as someone so kindly pointed out to me last night, that since my job has ended and I have all the time in the world, I have essentially not blogged. I explained that not a lot of excitement is going on, and then it was suggested that I blog about my dreams. Now, I usually don't remember my dreams, but strangely enough I remembered my dream from last night. So here we go...

In my dream I was in the middle of a school group. The strange thing about this (aside from it no longer being my job) is that this school group was taking place inside my grandma's house. It wasn't even in their old farmhouse in Idaho, either. This is their regular, friendly neighborhood home in Ogden. Everything else was similar to the school group program--me, in my tattered yellow pioneer dress, groups of approximately 10 kids gathered around me, and groups rotating from station to station. What was so great about my dream was that all of my normal feelings associated with schools groups were there--anxiety, stress, focus on working with the kids, and difficulties with staff. I distinctly remember one staff member announcing she was going to leave mid-school group. I told her that wasn't a possibility and she stayed, but she was grumbling. Basically, your normal response it seems with this program and my job.

That was it. I don't know if I am supposed to analyze my dream, but I think it was helpful to have such vivid memories of exactly how stressed I was at times with my job. It makes me more appreciative of this little time I have of relative low stress. Because in a couple of months, the stress level will hit a level I have never experienced, to be sure.

No Longer My Problem

2008-06-12T17:59:00.003-06:00

[Forgive me for the slightly sentimental, sappy nature of this post. It is the end of an era for me, after all.]

The day has come for me to say goodbye to the American West Heritage Center. I have been involved at the Heritage Center for years—beginning as a volunteer, working as a camp counselor, being a volunteer again, working as the receptionist, and finally finding the job as Education Coordinator. I have enjoyed my job. I’m not going to say I’ve loved it, because there have been days that I have absolutely despised it. But I feel so blessed to have found a job that I really enjoy and feel compliments the things that I love to do. History is a part of me. Education is a part of me. And agriculture is a part of me. That is why it is going be so hard to leave. The unique nature of my job is going to be irreplaceable. The people I have worked with will be irreplaceable. New things will come into my life, I know that, but nothing will replace being able to walk about the grounds, being greeted by ducks, peacocks, chicken, geese, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, cats, and any sort of surprise animal. The beauty of the setting of the Heritage Center is irreplaceable. Looking out to the snow capped Wellsville Mountains, the open pasture with buffalo and cows, hay being cut with horse powered machinery, volunteers and staff bustling about in period clothing, the smell of campfire, the excitement of the kids, and the historical buildings set amid the trees and somewhat white fences …these are all things that I will indeed miss. There are people at the Heritage Center that I have grown so fond of. So many of the people that I’ve known at the Heritage Center are just good, down to earth people. There are unique personalities, wise and calming influences, and an overall feeling of being a part of something like a family. And just like real families, there are always those moments that they see the best of you…and the worst. That is how it’s been at the Heritage Center. I feel that I’ve done an okay job—probably not the greatest that could be done—but between Liz and I, I think we’ve accomplished some good things. It’s hard to leave it all behind. It has become a part of me. But life moves on as it always does. Who knows what awaits me…it could be the biggest mistake of my life (or the greatest adventure), but it is the thing that I need to do now. For better or for worse, ready or not, I’m leaving something that I am pretty comfortable at to embark on a great and scary unknown. Luckily for me, I have listened to Wayne say for our 2 ½ years of school groups, “It’ll all work out.” And it always does, even if in that moment you have no idea how it could. That is the life lesson learned from my Logan chapter.

So, today is the day things at work are officially not my problem anymore. Worrying about schedules, completing the patchwork of volunteers and staff, handling personality quirks, lateness, camp counselors on the verge of what seems to be quitting, the weather, staff telling me how to do my job, an infuriating lack of communication, school group set up, animals…well, the list could go on for awhile. Today, all of those things, all of the little details, well, they aren’t my problems anymore. And in a way it feels really good. It is time to move on to a whole new set of them.

It's Hard To Make These Things Up

2008-06-09T17:45:00.008-06:00

[Warning: The following story does involve some material that may not be suited for those sensitive to animals who, because of situations out of our control, might be harmed.]

Oh, the stories from my job. Even if you stripped away all of the personality quirks and uniqueness of working on a historical farm, you would still be left with the hard to make up animal stories. Most recently, I had the rooster incident. A little while ago there was the mystery of the vanishing buffalo. Today, we have the story of the possible rabid dog. [I say possible because the consensus amongst my co-workers is that the dog was, in fact, probably not rabid, just terribly, terribly angry/mean] This seemingly nice yellow dog was sitting by the front doors of the Welcome Center to greet all who tried to enter. It barked and chased away many, but managed to bite two of the visiting teachers who are attending the conference being held on site. Then, it successfully attacked one of our summer camp leaders, but luckily only managed to tear her dress. I began to panic slightly because in a few minutes approximately 30 camp kids (with siblings in tow) would be coming to register. Our caretaker tried to lasso the dog, but dislocated his shoulder in the process. Our director pulled it back into place. They managed to chase the dog down the road by throwing rocks at it. Animal control was called, but it was the local version of animal control, which consisted of a local farmer in his blue, slightly beat up farm truck with what appeared to be a dog carrying case in the back. I didn't have a lot of confidence in this method, needless to say. He was not successful in locating the dog. I scurried around, with a pocketful of rocks and a stick, making sure camp was situated. And then, walking back to the Welcome Center, I heard the gunshots--and the subsequent whimpering of the poor dog. There were two officers, a (seemingly) more legit animal control guy, and the first local animal control guy. They decided the animal could be rabid and shot the dog 3 or 4 times, I believe. However, they were not successful in killing the dog and it ran off into the neighboring fields after bleeding a bit by the front doors. Our poor receptionist cleaned up the blood. So, at this very moment, the dog has not been found and the health department seems very concerned about the teachers. Oh, and when the officers were at our site, they apparently got a call about 2 kids being bit by a dog at a local school. It couldn't have been the yellow dog at our site, so it makes me wonder what strange things are happening. A co-worker suggested werewolves? I don't know, it seems as logical as anything else that happens around my workplace.

**It should be noted that this dog never belonged to our site.

The Wednesday/Thursday Trend

2008-06-04T22:56:00.002-06:00

It's official. It rains on Wednesdays and Thursdays this spring. I've noticed. The weatherman has noticed. In fact, I've noticed trends in the weather since I began my job. It seems to always rain the first week in June (the first week of camp) and the first part of May and October (I remember the October event because of one incident in the rain, in the corral, trying to get the cow in the barn...oh yeah, I was in tears too). I cannot control the weather (people can continue to ask me to, but it won't ever happen) and I can't tell teachers when to schedule their field trips for the best possible weather. It's just not going to happen. I think someday I will miss the ridiculous nature of these requests, but for now, I'm really excited to be rid of those pesky questions.

No One Watching, Huh?

2008-06-04T22:24:00.006-06:00

It's been awhile since I've commented on sports, so let's take a shot at one famous golfer. Seriously. So, nobody watches hockey anymore, eh? The golfer is calling hockey boring...that's hilarious. I have never played either sport, so let's just call my opinions neutral. I do know people LOVE their golf and the Canadians LOVE their hockey. But I can honestly say that I've never watched a golf tournament--I'd rather die. I don't get it and it looks like a bunch of preppy, khaki wearing business execs ready to ink the contract on some big merger. But I've sat through some hockey games (albeit not professional grade ones) and I agree, it can be a little anticlimactic with the low scores and all. But it moves quick, there's plenty of excitement, and there are fights at any random given moment. Oh, and the fans are the most outrageous for sure. And to say that on the heels of the Stanley Cup this year. Yeah, not exciting at all. [Too bad the Pens had to lose. Because I like the Steelers, I am by default, a Penguins fan. This theory probably even extends to the Pirates...but I hear they don't win much.]

Music For My Soul

2008-05-23T16:55:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week, I had tried every bit of music I owned, but nothing spoke to my soul like I needed it too at this exact time of my life. It was strange, because I love my music and I always find joy listening to it. But everything sounded off to me; it all sounded so hollow. And then it came. I guess you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. That was the music that spoke to that part of my heart that wouldn’t be stilled. But trust me, as I switched to the local country station, I wanted to gag. What I heard was definitely not country like I remember it. So I rummaged up some George Strait. It doesn’t get any better than that.

And Just Like That, It's Finished

2008-05-23T16:43:00.004-06:00

Today officially marks the end of the school groups chapter of my life. Sure, I'll be at my job for another month, but in all reality, today means I am pretty much done. This doesn't mean I'll just sit around, by any means (I'll still work, Liz, I promise!), but my major responsibility has been finished, and now it is just tying up loose ends. It's kind of strange and a little unsettling. After doing something for 2 1/2 years, it becomes familiar and the possibility of something unknown becomes more real as the reality as you know it ends. As I end my time at my job, I am happy and can't wait to be rid of it. At the same time, it is the beginning of a new job for someone else and they are probably kind of excited (I know I was). I am beginning grad school and can hardly wait. But at the same time, those that just graduated are so glad it is over. And so it goes I am sure through all of life. Everything is a time of new beginnings and at the same time an ending somewhere else. I kept thinking all spring, this is going to be the last time I do school groups, I better appreciate it because I know I'll miss it on some level come next fall. However, before I knew it, I was helping the last students practice their spinning with the buddy spindles and sending them to lunch. And then I was done and it was a little uneventful. Although, with the end of school groups I do get to reclaim some of my life back. There are things I'm sure not going to miss, to be sure, but on the whole, it has been quite the time and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The Unbecoming Quality of Anger

2008-05-16T16:31:00.005-06:00

[Notice the Friday trend.]

Anyway, the week has been fairly quiet, except for my day where I realized that anger in the heart can lead to no good. There I was, minding my own business, taking kids on tours of the barn, when the very colorful and pretty rooster that I had previously grown quite fond of, tried to attack me. Yes, it came for me. I felt it at my skirt hem. I saw it trying to get me. Word of caution: Don't turn your back on roosters. They may be small, but for some reason they think they can do damage to you. And in all reality they can. Well, this rooster made me really mad. How dare he try and get me when my back was turned? So the anger boiled. It boiled to the point where I had the pitch fork trying to shoo it away, and I thought, "I could actually kill this rooster with this pitch fork." And believe me, for a split second I seriously thought about it. Then reason returned (After all, our caretaker-the lover of all winged creatures-would never speak to me or help me out with anything again. Oh, and it may have upset some school kids to see a rooster stuck with the pitch fork). I then resorted to trying to kick it. You don't feel as bad when you merely kick a rooster, rather than kill it. Sadly, in the process of trying to kick the rooster, I hurt my foot again. [Note: This was the foot I injured playing broom hockey. Yes, I twisted my ankle playing a pretend sport. Now you see why I avoided organized team sports for my entire life.]

The moral of the rooster story: Anger doesn't pay.

Can I Stop Praying For Rain?

2008-05-09T16:35:00.002-06:00

This is a question for my dad really (and he doesn't read my blog...go figure). As a daughter of a dry farmer in southeastern Idaho, I was trained from an early age to always pray for moisture. We are always in a drought. But is the drought over? Because seriously, I feel like it is either raining or snowing every other day. Okay, so the snow looks like it has taken a short break (I predict snow in June this year, however), but I have had the little tune "Raindrops keep falling on my head..." running around in my head for quite some time now. I get to work outdoors, so I get to fully appreciate the moisture from heaven at its best. Which translates into wet feet, wet hair, and wet pioneer dress. It also, hopefully, means full reservoirs, green trees, and the beautiful scent of rain. But I really am curious, at what point does a drought end? Because Snowbird is still open for skiing business, apparently.

Seriously Elated

2008-05-02T15:33:00.002-06:00

I am officially excited about going to grad school now. That's because I have a small change of plans from Cooperstown and will be moving to Washington DC this fall!!! Hooray! This is what I wanted from the beginning and am now officially accepted. So it's official, I can hardly wait! It's been my dream for awhile now, as Julie can attest! I will be going to George Washington University and studying museum studies. I no longer have to fake excitement for grad school because it is 100% genuine now. Oh, and everyone that was seriously annoyed by incessant "Who wants to go to Thailand?" queries can now rest easy. I no longer need a trip to make me excited about life. This move is pretty much going to do it!

The Beauty of Forgetting

2008-04-25T22:34:00.004-06:00

The approximate 2 week lull in my blogging means only one thing...school groups are here. Oh, and I've been sick, which means, when I get home from work, I just lie in bed and try to recover. The only problem with trying to get better has been that winter hasn't entirely passed here in Logan. And I get to be outside during the wind, the rain, the snow, the sun--which makes getting better hard. It must be spring when I can get sunburned one day, and it can be snowing the next.

I have decided that the beauty of forgetting is a double edged sword. For example, I forget the horrible details about school groups that make me think, sure, I love my job. Then, when those horrible details come back in full force, I remember, and somehow the remembering--after I've already forgotten--makes it that much worse. So, I propose that any painful experiences will soon be forgotten, and then never experienced again. Somehow I doubt that will happen. But it is nice to live in bliss for awhile anyway.

The Biggest Surprise Of All

2008-04-12T21:38:00.002-06:00

One month ago, I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed Kansas. After being sure Kansas wouldn't be anything to talk about because there weren't any mountains, I find myself thinking that it was actually fun. And I turned into a Kansas fan because of it. It was that surprise of life: no matter how much you think you have something categorized or figured out, the possibility exists that it will actually turn out completely different. I forget this all of the time. And I literally mean, all of the time. But today, the biggest surprise of all came. It was yet one more weekend of chaos and exhaustion, all packaged in what we call Baby Animal Days. It has taken its toll on me through the years. For example, I am fairly certain that if I am ever lucky enough to have kids, I will never take them to an Easter Egg Hunt. I get a little bit panicked and nauseous thinking about it. However, as the day unfolded, I realized that I was sad. I was sad and realized that I was actually going to miss these festivals that we do. I realized it in a very real (as opposed to purely logical) way. I can't even quantify all the ways in which I will miss it...but I will. It's the people, the setting, the personalities, the animals, the mountains, the weather all in one package that I will miss. And that was the biggest surprise of all. I don't want to forget this lesson, because most of the time I like to think that I have things figured out. But in reality, you never know what surprising events or emotions life will bring.

The Customer Is Not Always Right

2008-04-08T17:42:00.003-06:00

That is a true statement. I know, I've worked in retail. However, in my particular situation, I am right and America First Credit Union refuses to acknowledge it. I will spare you of the details...they seem to think I'm crazy anyway when I explain. In a nutshell, however, they deposited my money in someone else's account. They put it right, but not after I unknowingly spent money as if I had the money I thought I had deposited. Needless to say, my line of credit was maxed. So I paid it off (before I realized their mistake) from my savings. That money is now gone forever. But had they not made the mistake of giving someone else my money, I would never have lost that money to my line of credit. And now it's gone. (okay, so I didn't spare you the details)

All I want them to say is this: "I see why you are so upset. You are right." They could even say there is nothing they can do and I would even be okay. (I really do just want my money back that I paid to my line of credit...I know, I may be going out on a limb) But the two tellers (at two different branches, mind you) treated me as if I am an idiot. I don't like that. So, I'm waiting for my last checks to clear and then I'm changing banks. It just feels like I should. They are the ones that are crazy and I hate the feeling when people are treating me like I'm stupid.

So, that's my story for the day. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be mad about this, but I am really upset.

Oh, and then I came home and got the letter from University of Washington informing me I didn't get into their program (another wait list). So, naturally, I now want to go there more than anything else and am really upset. Pretty much describes how I handle things that either come my way or don't. When will I learn to be happy with what I have or where I am?

The Promised Pictures

2008-04-06T18:44:00.021-06:00

Kansas

The farmland and me, always on the lookout for historical sites. Who would have ever guessed the Civil War pretty much started in Kansas, just outside of Lawrence?

Downtown Lawrence. More fun than it might appear. I really liked the place. And good job on the basketball team.

You too can find this sink at a restroom at a gas station in Rawlins, WY.

Cooperstown

The houses. Those on the left are the standard. The one on the right, well, I heard he painted his house that way to make the mayor mad. It probably worked. All he needs to do is boycott Christmas and he may get thrown out.

Notice the wreath and Christmas lights. The lights are on, by the way. It is just a small picture. And this was not an isolated sight. Christmas wreaths everywhere. I was there March 6-9, go figure.

James Fenimore Cooper is buried here. The town is named after one of his relatives.

It was March, probably one of the least attractive months for places that are transitioning to spring. No exception here. But it had it charm.

And the Baseball Hall of Fame. Roberto Clemente, if you can't read the dark, tiny engraving on the plaque.

Lost in Albany (left). The blue house is where I stayed (right).

What Should I Look Like?

2008-03-31T23:29:00.003-06:00

The inevitable question is always going to arise: How old are you? For a little while I felt strange telling people my age because I was always older than the person asking the question, it seemed. But soon I became comfortable in my own age and now answer with confidence. I have earned each year of my life. I have had amazing opportunities and experiences. I have even had not so great experiences that have made me who I am. So, when people ask, I answer, "I'm 29." At this point, people seem to think they need to comment on my age, and the usual response is some form of, "You don't look like you are 29." [Although I did have one guy tell me, "No, you're not." I replied that yes, I was and he told me I wasn't. It seemed fruitless to argue with him so I let him win. He was sure I wasn't 29, but I have the birth certificate to back me up. Sometimes it is fun to let people be adamant about something when you know for certain that they are wrong.] So, here's my question: What should a 29 year old look like? Seriously. I have always just thought, oh good, I don't look old. But I'm beginning to wonder about this. 30 isn't old. 30 year olds don't look old. And heaven knows I don't want to look like I'm 22. Don't get me wrong, 22 was great. I loved it. But I want to be where I am now.

So, I posed this question to a friend, and her response was that people might say that because I still have energy. Still? What does that even mean? I have yet to meet a 30 year old that has the energy level of my grandparents. At 30, people are still fun and they still have energy--thus, I don't really think her theory is valid. For awhile, I thought maybe it was a Utah/Mormon thing and was grounded in some weird theory revolving around marriage. But no, I even got the "You don't look 29" response in New York where there wasn't a Mormon within miles. Ultimately my theory is this: people will guess your age based on their own and assume you are near their age.

The Real Thing

2008-03-21T10:17:00.002-06:00

This is it...the real acceptance! (No dreams for this one) I was accepted to the Cooperstown Graduate Program and have accepted admissions there!! Yikes!! So I will be headed to upstate New York this fall. I am excited, but nervous, and pretty sad to be leaving everything I love here. But this is a great opportunity to further my museum education, so I feel so blessed and grateful for this chance. It's a little strange this has all worked out and it's funny that I am so surprised. I just now realize all the WORK I'm going to be doing. I never thought past getting accepted, but now that I have been accepted, I have to do the work! It should be really great, though. And anyone is welcome to visit!!

http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/cgp/

I Was Accepted to Clemson

2008-03-15T22:06:00.003-06:00

Mind you, it was only in a dream, but it was fun, nonetheless. Clemson's method of letting you know you were accepted to the program--giving you a pin in class. When I would be in class in real life is still a mystery to me. However, in my dream, the box with the pin was found on the ground and the people from Clemson were really offended that their pin and acceptance would be treated with such disrespect. I guess I didn't want the pin. Or to go to Clemson*. (You really can't create the absurdity that happens in dreams.)

*Clemson is in South Carolina. It is not a school I have ever applied to.

So, I Wouldn't Suggest Driving from Kansas to Utah

2008-03-14T03:08:00.004-06:00

After just completing a 19 hour return trip from Lawrence to Logan, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I was warned...I didn't listen...and now I think I might be scarred for life. This will teach me. When will I learn to trust my car to non-family members? That may have made the trip better because I wouldn't have been the only one driving. Ultimately, though, on top of the pure hell of driving that long, what tipped the scales to traumatic was the fact that I had to drive through two snowstorms/showers today. Yes, two. One in the Colorado Rockies and one in Utah (on that lovely highway from Helper to Spanish Fork no less). I usually don't mind driving in the snow all that much, and even the driving to Kansas might not be that bad. But the two combined created a catastrophe. I am not sad I went to Kansas. But I am sad that Cornelius (my car) and I may have been traumatized for life.

Update from the Midwest

2008-03-11T15:52:00.005-06:00

So, it's been a crazy few days. It all began last Thursday, so I'll post my running diary I kept. Internet use was hard to come by in NY (because I was too busy, not because they don't have it...). Enjoy.

I will add pictures later. No time right now.

Cooperstown, NY

[Think of this as a modified journal of my trip. I say modified because y’all don’t need to know every one of my thoughts. But this will give you a feel for my trip hopefully.]

Thursday
I think Linkin Park says it best: Sometimes beginnings aren’t so simple. Sure, I can get in a plane and travel across the country to interview for a graduate program and then go to Kansas and check out the school and town I could be living in…but there is a lot more to it than the mere act of doing it. It is what needs to happen and it is the time for it to happen, but it is very hard to leave the life that I have come to love so much. But, no need to get sentimental quite yet—nothing is ever final until you actually do it, right?

Today, however, I did find myself rolling out of bed at 3:30 am. And then, suddenly, there I was at the Salt Lake airport, undressing to clear security. Okay so I only had to take off my belt and shoes, but still…awkward! Luckily for me, the weather gods are with me today, and all of my flights will be on time! Hurray!! (Kellie, I thought of you when I flew over Chicago!—I had to change plans. No incident. Thank goodness.)

Fast track to me picking my rental car up from the Albany airport. After a somewhat lengthy conversation about getting a GPS system in my rental (I declined), I ended up a little bit lost. Lost in Albany. Somehow I am wary of even GPS being able to help me in this situation. Someway, I found a road that I knew would get me to where I needed to be and followed it on out to Cooperstown. Albany seems like an alright place—except they don’t have turning lanes. It’s Preston, but 500 times worse because it is a bigger city so more opportunities to be stuck behind someone impossibly trying to turn left.

Cooperstown. Well, I was kind of in a hurry and it was dark when I got here, so I can’t say too much about it. But everyone seems nice…young, but nice. I forgot what it was like to be just out of college! Ah, to have never had the stresses of school groups yet. That would be nice. But I’m not kidding when I say I feel old. Most of these kids are pretty young.

I can see how this place would be really beautiful in the fall and summer. There are trees everywhere! And gently rolling hills. One of the other applicants made a comment about how glad they were to see the mountains here, and I just about died inside. They have a calming charm, but no, they are not mountains. I am sure compared to the plains it might seem that way, but still! With the bare trees and snow on the ground, I had visions of getting maple sap from the trees, though. Things are calming and seem to be rural-agriculture based. So, I feel somewhat okay with being here.

Friday
The day began with tours of some of the Cooperstown Graduate Program (from now on CGP) museums that they work with: the Farmer’s Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum. We also toured their storage facility. I was envisioning them having a bit more on the more high tech collection storage, but it surprisingly wasn’t. It is a step up from the Heritage Center’s sad collection storage (who can trust anything stored in the “Coke Building”?), but they do at least have it organized. The Farmer’s Museum is a “village” of living history. Closed right now, but they have a lot of buildings. Lucky them. I think the Heritage Center is cooler because it is an actual working farm…but I realized I am pretty biased. And I am apparently the only one on this tour that has been close to a cow. Everyone was pretty excited to pet the cow.

The program seems really amazing. Students are able to really work in these museums because they have such a close relationship with them. The verdict is still out on how I really feel about it…but it is a small, close knit program. After all, Cooperstown only has 2,000 people until the baseball crazies show up in the summer so the people in the program stick together.

And then the interview—the reason I am here. It was okay. If they accept me, then it went great. If they reject me, then clearly I need work on my interviewing skills. Maybe if I wouldn’t have had to walk up 2 flights of stairs before sitting down to interview, it would have been perfect. Perfect because I wouldn’t have been slightly winded for my first questions: Tell me about yourself…the easiest question on the planet! One more interview tomorrow.

So, it’s official. I am addicted to coke. I hadn’t had any soda today, and my head was pounding. So, since I had some time before dinner, I went to find a CVS. Cooperstown is kind of a fun little town. No grid system streets and really fun houses. Also, it is still Christmas in Cooperstown. I stopped counting the number of wreaths, trees, stars, and yes, even Mary and Joseph. But I wandered the streets and even found James Fenimore Cooper’s grave. (Hence, Cooperstown…named after his dad). I got my coke and was able to carry on.

And it is raining. And I am in a stranger’s house. It’s a little awkward, even though I try not to make it so. It is just naturally going to be so. Oh well.

Saturday
Ah. It is all over. My last interview was this morning and it went better than yesterday. But I don’t know what they think. We will have to see what actually happens. I am finally relaxed, which is really nice. Apparently they are deciding on who gets in tomorrow. So, I should know pretty soon just how good or bad it went.

After our interviews, we went on more tours! Yeah. (Sigh…) We went to the Hall of Fame, which was actually in a crazy frenzy. Apparently they have a Hall of Fame game in the summer (or spring) where two professional teams play an exhibition game. There were a whole lot of baseball fans there. And they seemed a little suspicious of a big group of people getting to the front of the line. But seriously, the line was so long. I guess the steroids scandal hasn’t affected the game. Although during the introductory movie, they kept talking about players stretching to the extreme limit of their physical capabilities…and I kept thinking, yeah with steroids. I got to see the Roberto Clemente stuff, so it was all good.

We had a small driving tour of Cooperstown, where we saw some deer. My favorite line: “There is a herd of deer who live in my backyard.” People are funny about animals around here. It’s like they’ve never been around them. It’s hilarious. Being in a new place, reminds me of how unique my growing up has been. And how much I do love it.

Then it was time for the formal reception. Yikes! I never go to these kinds of things. I don’t mingle well, especially with people who are in charge of things like accepting me to a program. So it was actually really good for me to try a new experience. Weird because I don’t drink, but good too. It has been good to learn new things and skills like mingling. So whatever happens, the trip will have been worth it.

Sunday
I am sitting in the Albany Airport, having just pulled out my computer to in fact verify that it is mine. The problem with owning a computer that everyone else does is that when you go through security, there is the off chance you could pick up the wrong one. But this is mine, just like the guy said.

After a rough start to the morning (what with the time change and all), it ended up going very smoothly. Once again, they tell me all my flights will be on time. I’m afraid I will be lulled back into security of flying through O’Hare. I began the day driving in the snow, with window wipers that didn’t want to work properly. I drove from Cooperstown to Oneonta to attend church at the local branch. And it was great. Everyone was so friendly, especially a couple of girls who go to a nearby college. They were so welcoming and it was nice to be out of the singles ward for a moment. In fact, it was refreshing the entire weekend to be out of the Utah/Idaho bunker. All the people I met this weekend were really nice and it was kind of nice to be surrounded by so many different people.

My drive back to Albany was much more uneventful than my drive out. No getting lost and it was actually very pleasant. Unfortunately, I was on a time schedule again and I didn’t get many pictures of the surrounding area. There isn’t a lot to see because everything is still dead, but I can see how gorgeous it would be in the summer. But it is actually very calming to drive through the rolling hills. The hills have a very relaxing momentum to them, something I think the grandeur of the mountains (that I LOVE, by the way) in Utah does not afford.

It has been a wonderful experience, and I am really glad I have been able to come out here—no matter what the outcome of the CGP may be.

On to Kansas tomorrow. Driving. Yipee!!

Lawrence, KS

Tuesday
After a day (and part of the night!) of driving, we arrived in Lawrence. I was okay, up until we got to about 4 hours out of Lawrence. Then I started going a bit stir crazy. Not tired (like yawning, running off the road tired, just ready to be done driving). But we made it, and just like I predicted, Lawrence is a lot like Logan, except there are no mountains-clearly. But who would have guessed it? I actually really like it here! The campus is nice. All of the architecture is so varied and random, although it seemed a little cramped compared to USU where we have the nice open quad. I could see myself walking around the campus because it didn't seem so different than what I knew.

Lawrence itself actually seems really fun. After all, I guess it is a college town. They have this great downtown area where they are restaurants, stores, and such--all in walking range. Whereas Logan has a boring mall, Lawrence has this fun place (although probably not so much in the winter...it probably gets pretty cold). The town has some of the fun aspects of a big city...lots going on...without the big city crazy time. I could really see myself here. I never would have guessed that I would actually think that Kansas could be an okay place for me to be.

However, the program seems to be in a bit of transition and in some flux. The program doesn’t seem as strong as I would like and had hoped for. Needless to say, I wasn’t entirely impressed. If this is the only school that accepts me I would definitely make it work to my advantage. This all seems so anticlimactic. But if I get accepted somewhere else, I will be very interested in checking out those programs. Too bad I can't have the wonderful CGP here in Lawrence (and be accepted). Now that would be something to write home about.

I have to say that it was a bit unnerving driving through eastern Colorado and western Kansas (I mostly drove through the rest of Kansas in the dark) without having any mountains to protect and keep me safe. The sun sets right into the fields, and I continually kept checking to see if I could spot any mountains. I never did.

Number 12

2008-03-02T00:27:00.002-07:00

That is the ranking Logan gets (no not in the sports world, clearly)--but on the list of places to live in the country. That's right. Number 12. Makes a person wonder why they would ever leave. I think we get the ranking in large part because of almost non-existent crime rate, cost of living, economy, university, weather, and recreational opportunities. I saw it in a book at Borders. That's about as good as my source gets tonight.

Why I Love Logan

2008-03-02T00:07:00.004-07:00

You may see a smattering of these titles from now on. I get very reflective on the reasons why I love something when the possibility of not enjoying it anymore are going to be possibly taken away. So, the reason why I love Logan today (in addition to the lovely snow) is Juniper Take Out. I love the turkey salad croissant with fries and a diet coke with cherry syrup and their pumpkin chocolate chip cookie with frosting. I get it every time. Yes, it is possibly the worst thing that I could put into my body, but it is good food. I love it! And when I go to Juniper, I have to stay and eat...the take-out part isn't an option. Part of the draw for Juniper is the atmosphere when you are there. The people there are really a little slice of Cache Valley. Families big and small, couples on dates, old couples, groups of friends, people in their grubbiest clothes, people coming back from the temple--you name it, they will be there. Of course, for someone who has been in Logan for 10 years, I do have the joy of running into people I know. For example, someone from my days in Maple View, known as Clam Chowda, made it a point to make sure we were introduced to his new wife today. And then had the gall to condescendingly ask if we had any prospects. Nice. Despite these types of awkward encounters, Juniper Take Out is truly one of the reasons I love Logan.

Things I will miss in Logan. Getting my hair done at King Hair. I have had the same girl doing my hair for quite some years now. She does a just the right job, is the right price and we have such a good time every time I go in! King Hair will never be known as a chic place, or cutting edge, but much like Juniper, it is quintessentially Logan. I will truly miss it.

Will This Be My Fate?

2008-02-21T22:56:00.004-07:00

Why I Love Winter

2008-02-21T22:29:00.008-07:00

When the inversion hits, I have to remember why I love winter. And that reason....skiing. There aren't words to describe how and why I love it, but here are some pictures I managed to get in between all of the fabulous fun I've been having this winter. Before I learned to ski, I hated winter. But now, there isn't much I'd rather be doing.

Best Story of the Week?

2008-02-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

I can’t decide which story is my favorite story of the week. And by favorite, I mean the story that just made me laugh because of the sheer out-of-the-ordinariness of it.

A) It was Wednesday morning, 7:50 am and the doorbell rings. There stood my neighbor, and his fiancée hanging around in the background. He told me he locked his keys in his brand new—terrible color of orange—car. The kicker: it was still running! So they asked me if I could “watch” it while his fiancée took him to work and then the locksmith would be coming. So I “watched” the car (that is, peeked out my window to make sure no one stole it whenever I had a spare moment). Soon it was 8:21 and I was set to go to work. But no one to come and watch the car, so I thought: Well, I’ll just call my neighbor’s fiancée to just see if by some chance she stopped by her apartment. When she answered, I was a little taken aback. And then I was just floored when she acted all confused when I told her I had to go to work. She didn’t know what to do! She kept sighing and saying, “I just don’t know what to do.” I kept thinking: He’s your fiancée…this is not my problem. And I really did have to be to work because I had story time ! I couldn’t believe they just thought I was going to sit there and watch his car for and indefinite amount of time. Moral of the story: Clarify expectations.

B) I work with a particularly unique individual. Among other tidbits, he walks his goats often, really wants to have a cattle drive at the Heritage Center, and comes up with lots of great theories (such as: the Qwest building that is really a front for the NSA). Today, he announced that it would be a great day to get a facial and/or pedicure. And after some discussion with another co-worker, thought maybe a scalp treatment would be good too. This was an actual conversation lasting a few minutes—not just a statement. And he was serious. I mean, I agree, but it is hilarious coming from a very heterosexual male. My favorite line: “It’s way better than a movie.”

The Greater Good?

2008-02-15T10:52:00.003-07:00

[This is a small post about LOST. Mom, don't read it.]

So I like LOST, it's true. Lately, some people are giving me a bit of hard time because of it. So I watched it on Valentine's Day, I think about it sometimes in my spare time (usually on Friday's)...so what? Despite this, I am going to make a quick post about last night's episode. Mostly I feel like I have to justify my affinity toward Sayid. So, if he turns out to be the bad guy, I guess I was wrong...but I hope not. But I can say this, after last night's episode I am not so sure I like the future of the Lost characters. But I am sticking with this: I still like Sayid. I am quite sure there is a purpose and a reason behind what he's doing. And I have never been more convinced than now that Ben is the one in the coffin at the funeral Jack attends.

Do You Know Where Burkina Faso Is?

2008-02-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

So I like geography. I'm a geek, but it was my minor in college after all. And lately I have been trying to pass all the levels of a somewhat entertaining, mostly time wasting addictive little geography game on the computer. All I have to say is that it is a good thing I never played video games. If I get a little obsessive about passing these levels on a geography game, I can't imagine what I would be like with actual computer games.

www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq

If you want to see how sharp your geography skills are, play! It's fun...

What's A Voter To Do?

2008-02-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well, if you are a declared Republican or Democrat, you vote! However, if you are an Independent, well, you just sit back and let the chaos begin. I am independent because I cannot commit to one party only. I know I am indecisive, but this is not a manifestation of that particular flaw of mine. Being an Independent means that I like some things in the Republican party and some things in the Democratic party. The problem: there isn't a party that represents that! And heaven forbid we ever veer from our oh so successful two party system. Things are not working as they should in our government; I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that. And I think that one of the problems is that the parties we have do not reflect everyday Americans. Who really falls under the "Republican base" and the "Democratic base?" Well, no one I know. So we continue the insane game. But it sure does make for some good drama. You couldn't make some of the stuff up that happens these days with the primary elections. Reality at its best! Okay, maybe not best, but very fascinating. So, I will sit back and see what happens. I love America. (And I'm not being sarcastic with that statement, by the way; these kinds of things really do remind me why I love America. We argue and debate and tear each other down, but at the end of the day, things manage along pretty much okay.)

It Wasn’t That I Really Wanted the Giants to Win…

2008-02-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

It was just that I really wanted the Patriots to lose. I would have rooted for the Cowboys, Packers, 49ers, Falcons…well you get the picture…anyone but the Patriots. I figured the Patriots were too good. I figured they would go ahead and have a perfect season, ensuring we would have to hear about the golden boy, team, and coach until the end of time. I think my dislike of the Patriots has been mounting over the years, but they finally became my least favorite team. And that’s saying a lot when you beat out the Cowboys in my book. But wow! The Giants actually won, making it one of the most memorable Super Bowls in my lifetime. (Nothing competes with a Steelers fans memories of a Super Bowl win, keep that in mind, no matter what happened in the game.) It’s not that I love the Giants and have now jumped on board the Eli bandwagon. In fact, I always kind of liked the fact that Eli Manning didn’t seem to be living up to that #1 draft pick and Ben Roethlisberger had won a Super Bowl. And let’s just be honest, just because the Patriots lost, that doesn’t make them a bad team. I could easily see the Giants having a fiasco year like the Steelers after their Super Bowl win because it was so unexpected. But the Patriots, well, they’ll probably go undefeated again. That’s kind of how it goes. But I will never, ever get tired of hearing about how the Patriots lost this Super Bowl. 18-1. Awesome.

So, if miracles can happen, can Mitt do it on Super Tuesday? Politics and Football. It doesn’t get any better.

The Land of Wind and Snow

2008-02-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

I visited the land of wind and snow (i.e. my dad’s house) this weekend. And it was great! When I say my dad lives in the middle of nowhere, I am not kidding. I have posted pictures to help with the visual. They may not convey much because they are from my phone, not a real camera needless to say. I drove up on Saturday, even though I knew that there would be a good possibility of getting snowed in. And the windy Idaho version of winter did not disappoint. Saturday night the weather was good enough that I tagged along with my dad to a high school basketball game he wanted to go to. I haven’t watched high school sports for quite some time, so it was quite an adventure. I got my hand stamped on the palm instead of on top like normal because, during a momentary brain lapse, I thought because that is the way my dad had the lady stamp his hand, that was the way things are done in Idaho. They don’t do anything different than normal, my dad is just funny—I should have realized.

The wind started as we drove home. Blowing snow is quite mesmerizing when you’re not driving. When you’re driving in blowing snow you just really have to pay attention, so you don’t have the chance to get hypnotized. It’s too bad because it is kind of fun. And as predicted, we were snowed in until Monday. Church was cancelled, so I spent the day listening to the wind (although I have heard it much worse) and watching the wind carve the snow up like rock formations in southern Utah. I don’t love the wind, but there are moments, when I am safe indoors, that I like it because it makes me feel safe. Sometimes I forget that if we didn’t have houses, the elements of nature would get the better of us. We watched the Super Bowl—which also did not disappoint—and made lunch. You can't ask for much more in life.

Today was such a really pretty day; sun and snow. Since the plows had not gone through on Sunday, it wasn’t until today that I could leave. But before I did, I fully enjoyed my Snow Day! I helped my dad shovel snow, I went sledding down the drift in front of our house with a sled we used when we were kids (oh and I made my dad go sledding too!), we trudged out to the windbreak, we watched Psych, I read while my dad filled out his agricultural census that was due that day (so apparently my procrastination is genetic), and I had a good fit of laughs while reading about the Howard Dean campaign moment. Overall, it was perfect.

Snow is comforting. When it blankets the earth, and the sky and snow meet with nothing in between, things seem quieter. The entire world seems to unfold before your eyes and it seems like anything is possible.

What is Wrong With People?!

2008-01-25T11:54:00.001-07:00

My roommate tipped me off to this story and I followed up with some trusty research on the internet*. Apparently, a poll was conducted asking people what they would rather have, Jennifer Aniston’s body or a million dollars. 78% said they would want the money, with 22% saying they would rather have Jennifer Aniston’s body. I thought, okay, that’s good, I’d rather have the money too. This was reported on one of those morning shows, and their spin? Well, that people are choosing wealth over health. Seriously, give me a break. The bottom line is this…people in America need money. Most have debt issues, mortgages, children, groceries to buy, gadgets to keep up with, and on and on. Tune into the news and anyone can see the economy is in crisis. So yeah, people are going to choose the money. And let’s be honest. Jennifer Aniston as the picture of “health”? Sure, she is skinny and such, but how do these celebrities end up looking the way they do? They have the time and money to work out all the time, they may even employ unhealthy health habits, and they have plastic surgery!

The survey also asked people if they felt comfortable with their body. Only 11% said great, 59% said OK, with some trouble spots, and 30% said they felt uncomfortable and ashamed. Well, of course people (women in particular) don’t feel good about their body—they are constantly told they need to look like someone like Jennifer Aniston to be of value!! I do not mean to diminish the fact that yes, we as Americans do have a problem with obesity and overweight people…but average, healthy people end of feeling ashamed of their body because of the media. The kicker to all this: this gem of a quote. "That really doesn't make very much sense," points out dietician Keri Glassman. "People are saying, 'I don't like the way I feel, I'm ashamed of my body, I'm uncomfortable, yet I'd rather have money than look great and be healthy.' " Glassman says Americans should rethink what's important: "I think this survey absolutely points to the fact that our values are a little off." Values a little off? What a joke. So seriously, what is wrong with people?

*Here is the story. This is where I got the quote, since I didn’t actually see the program. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/22/earlyshow/health/main3735785.shtml?source=RSSattr=Health_3735785

On My Honor, to Do My Duty

2008-01-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

The above line is the tag line for my personality, as I have now been fortunate to put letters to my character. My boss is taking a class all about this kind of thing for his MBA program and thought it would be helpful for us all to take the test so we can understand our fellow co-workers—which I think will be a somewhat successful idea. Mostly I just like trying to find out what makes me tick. Okay, so what’s my personality? Drum roll…ISFJ. That means, I am introverted, sensing, feeling, and judging. So after perusing the internet about ISFJ’s, this is what I came up with.

Personal note: I don’t want to be an ISFJ**, just like I never want to be a white, but I always am (referring to the color method of discovering your personality). I always want to be more assertive and someone who would be voted "most likely to succeed." But I never am. So, what is an ISFJ anyway? In a nutshell, they are reliable, loyal, detail oriented, care about others, sense of service, sense of duty, put others needs above own, hard working, good listener, likes order and harmony, and is a behind the scenes kind of person. The ISFJ doesn’t take center stage, is often taken for granted, more focused on the here and now rather than the future (doesn’t see the “big picture”), doesn’t like changing rules, serious, usually not assertive or expressive of own feelings and ideas, bottles up feelings, quiet, and shy (may come off as standoffish).

A fictional character that is an ISFJ: Melanie Hamilton from Gone With the Wind (apparently). And this typifies why I never am quite comfortable with my personality. I always wanted to be Scarlett. Yes, I know she’s pretty much an amoral character, but she is strong willed, doesn’t let people walk over her, does what needs to be done to survive, and gets what she wants. That is what I always wanted to be like; but it’s true, I am more like Melanie. The quiet one who stands by her family and friends, even when they aren’t always good to her. The one who isn’t appreciated until she’s dying. (I am not suggesting this happens to me--that is just Melanie's storyline...just to avoid confusion) Mother Teresa is also an ISFJ personality, so, that’s good company. But in the “real world” I’m not sure the ISFJ personality is going to be the one who takes anything by storm—and I guess that’s okay.

Random other facts I found:
*In national sample, among 3 types with lowest income. (I’m guessing working for a non-profit fits in this category. And while I’m not motivated by money, people are judged on how much they make. It’s just the facts.)
* Second most frequent type among education majors. (Check)
*One of 4 types in college reporting the lowest level of assertiveness. (Check)
*Among substance abusers, are attracted to heroin. (I have no personal experience on this one and I will just take their word for it.)
*They say 6% of the population is ISFJ’s. There are 4 at the Heritage Center (out of 13 people).

**But, this has made me realize that instead of being someone I’m not, I just need to be the better part of the ISFJ personality type.

Strike

2008-01-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

“Television won't last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.”
--Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946.**

HA! If only that statement had turned out to be true…Where would America be right now? TV really does sound silly, put like that. After all, what is our television but a black box full of unrealistic people and expectations that do not mirror real life in any way? But, television has not died. We love it. After all we do live in the society where life is about being entertained and having fun. Life is all about the gadgets and the technology. If it is packaged in the right way with the right colors and the right people tell you it’s “cool”, well, people can sell you anything—whether you need it or not. Even with the writer’s strike, we can see that it is going to take more than that event to kill television. And even if TV dies, it will live on in the internet. And if that disappeared, you can be sure something else would rise to takes its place. I really had hoped (and still hope) that the strike would kill television. But I see that it doesn’t matter what kind of shows they put on TV, people will continue to watch. It doesn’t matter that producers don’t have anything interesting to put on the air. It doesn’t matter how stupid these shows are, they are made just to have something on. And someone is watching them. American Gladiators? (Apparently this used to be on in the past? I missed it as I didn’t have a TV until I was about 13) Stupid game show after stupid game show? A reality show about mother/daughter beauty contestants? Are they serious? I want the madness to stop! Just give the poor writers their money, and move on with things. The greed of the producers is astounding to me.

Unfortunately, I am one of the countless numbers who, like it or not, watches TV and thus am contributing to the problem. I love LOST, for example. It’s true. I can hardly wait for the little part of the season there will be this year. I want the writers to come back only because I want an entire season of LOST. Lame, but true. So, in a small way, I guess I am part of the problem. Although, I can honestly say, I will never tune in to American Gladiators or anything like that (I saw a preview for this as I watched the Steelers game…that’s how I know about it. Why am I explaining myself anyway?) Hopefully, the rest of America doesn’t either. I think it would be great if everyone takes up a new hobby over the writer’s strike. I am in search of my new hobby as we speak. January is National Hobby Month after all. It may not be a brand new hobby…I may resurrect an old hobby that I have let die (like writing a story, for example). Anything I choose will be much more entertaining than what is currently on TV, I am certain of it.

**(Found at http://www.2spare.com/item_50221.aspx) Yes, I’m used to providing sources. Sources are important. There are 86 other bad predictions about the future to be found there.

LOST

2008-01-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

[If you have never seen, nor care about LOST, skip this post. Not only is it a lot of rambling about nothing, but if you haven’t seen it and want to, you should just watch it and enjoy it first without all the crazy theories. Also, please don't judge me based on my need to put into words my theories about a TV show. Lame, I know, but I watched X-Files as a teenager. I blame it all on that.]

LOST finally returns! I can hardly wait. Since I had a dream about LOST last night, I guess I need to put in writing what I think will happen. There’s no way I will be right, but why not give it a go, right? This is the kind of show you have to think about on this kind of level. (No one should ever give the Office this kind of thought, for example) Okay, so maybe only obsessive type personalities such as myself do, but I think it’s fun!

So, something drastic happens on that island in the time between the “rescue” (doubtful it is a completely rosy rescue judging from Charlie’s message and ominous foreboding) and when we see Jack and Kate in the future. Future Jack is one messed up guy and only a huge mistake on his part would send him into that kind of state. (And how is his dad alive?!) I think Locke is going to eventually take over as protector of the island, even recruiting people to come to the island (That part was in my dream, so I have to include it). So obviously they leave people on the island. But who? And why? I think some are going to choose to stay. But I think Kate seems cold with Jack in the flash forward because somehow he got her to get off the island (because he loves her), but Sawyer stays behind, possibly to be the leader of those who stay.

I don’t think Sawyer is going to last much longer though. It seems like people die when they come to some sort of “peace” or resolve that issue that has been plaguing them forever. Sawyer has killed the original Sawyer and found Kate, so I think it’s only a matter of time before he goes. And speaking of death…who is in the coffin?! This has been driving me crazy! I think it’s Ben. I thought it could be Locke, but I now actually think he stays on the island. I think even Sawyer would have some people there—whether he would like to admit it or not (that woman he conned and who is having his baby, for example).

I don’t know why the island is the way it is, and I can’t even guess on this aspect. I just take the supernatural elements at face value...like Desmond's flashes. I don't know how they happen, I just know they do. Anyway, the island is a special place, but whether it has always been that way or people made it that way, I’m not sure. It just has a creepy way of bringing things up that have troubled the people on the island. I really think the island is a place where these people have come to face their most private struggles and overcome them. Charlie, Locke, Sawyer, Kate, Jack, Hurley…they all face their challenges on the island and the ones who have overcome them, seem to be moving on to the next step, which may be death or getting off the island in some other way. I have no idea what this Jacob thing is all about, but I do know Ben is an impostor kind of person—and bad (there is no way the Others are the “good” people like they claim) and that is why Locke will eventually be the one in charge of the island (although Locke might be the biggest mystery of all).

Source: www.ew.com/ Source: http://www.tv.yahoo.com/

And then, Season 3 brought the saddest moment on TV for me—Charlie’s death. It was heroic and only Charlie could have done it, but he is my favorite character. He’s just kind of a normal type of guy (if normal means you are in a rock band and addicted to heroin) who has struggles just like everyone. He just makes the best where he is and does what he can for people he loves. I don’t think he will come back or anything, except in some weird flashback/flash forward type of scenario on the island. So now Sayid moves up as my favorite character. This guy is awesome. Out of everyone on the island he is the one I would want on my side. He is smart and level headed (in a very calculating way), and seriously, who can kill a guy while tied up?

And since this is quickly becoming my longest post ever (which is truly sad because I’m talking about a TV show), one last thought: The island is actually the remains of the lost city of Atlantis and Jacob is the last survivor of Atlantis. I base this solely on the statue that only has four toes. It is very indicative of something that could have been in Atlantis. This is wild speculation, but the statue does seem to mean there was an ancient type of civilization. Maybe that is when the island became so strange.

Give 'Em An Inch

2008-01-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Boy do I love the media. Anyone gives them an inch, and they run with it until there is absolutely nowhere else to go. Space does not even have enough room for what the media would take if they could get it. Call it the media tipping point or whatever you would like. The media begins to cover an issue so much, and suddenly it is everywhere. Like “going green.” Although it may have been a fringe topic of a few years ago, today if you’re not going green you might as well move to Timbuktu. For example, look at a new Dodge truck coming out for next year-hybrid possibility. Since when did farmers/ranchers get all caught up in this cause? I’m guessing most didn’t until the media started constantly talking about it. [I’m not saying this media thing is always a bad thing, by the way, as this example illustrates]. Media coverage in politics has always been out of control. Small incidents here and there become exploded into a national debate. Staged or not, Hilary’s “breakdown”* and comments about Dr. King are suddenly the main concerns taking center stage. These topics are seen as the rise or fall of a candidate. Topics such as the economy, the war in Iraq, and health care are then pushed into being the temporary sideshow. Small things are important, but I still want to hear what they have to say about the issues. One of these people is going to be our President after all (poor soul). Sports media coverage does the same thing. Two words: Tony Romo. Romo was practically inducted into the Hall of Fame after only what, two years in the NFL, as everyone thought the Cowboys would be the ones to face off against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. But then along came Jessica Simpson and the media jumped all over that story. Chances are, even those who don't like sports heard about this one. So, it was inevitable. A Cowboy loss would mean Romo’s "dating" would be blamed (although it would surely take a team effort). And sure enough…the media has delivered. But seriously, how much did I love seeing the Cowboys crumble? Words cannot describe. Romo’s meltdown was beautiful.

*To the media: If Hilary getting choked up is a breakdown, then I’m a complete emotional train wreck.

Hanging Up

2008-01-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

After a day’s worth of thought, I am officially deciding to stop talking on my cell phone while driving my car. Honestly, what do I have that is so urgent that it can’t wait until I’m parked? Nothing. We’ve heard the reports about how unsafe it is, how it is distracted driving just like drunk driving, how your response time is slowed…and on and on. The latest study (conducted by the University of Utah, by the way) suggests that drivers talking on their cell phones, hands free and otherwise, also hold up traffic, adding minutes to their (and other people’s!) commute*. Conspiracy by the government to try and scare people into hanging up their phones? Possible. But I am finally on board with the whole concept. I, of course, am the best driver in the world when talking on a cell phone. But inevitably when I am ticked off because of the lack of driving skills of someone else on the road, they are usually yapping away on their phone, not using their brains for driving, and thus making the road a nightmare for others. The decision is made. I’ll keep the phone away from reach for awhile so as not to be tempted. Hopefully this will revolutionize my life. Doubtful, but it’s worth a shot. (Can I retroactively make this a New Year’s resolution?)

And, in case you’re feeling bad about your phone getting turned off because you didn’t pay your phone bill, rest assured that you are not alone. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also failed to pay their phone bill. Of course, by not paying their bill, it opened the possibility of interference to their always popular eavesdropping and surveillance program. I guess you could have that headache to deal with. No thanks.

*Granted, 10% of my commute time is like a minute and a half (only about 6 minutes for those hour commuters). But you add up all those minutes, and I'm telling you...those cell phone talkers are taking away days of my life!

O Christmas Tree

2008-01-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. Christmas is over. However, tonight was the night I decided to take my Christmas tree to the nearest Christmas tree recycling drop off. I do my part to save the planet whenever I can. I am sure that after much thought I could have come up with an acquaintance of mine who may have a truck. But wouldn’t it just be easier to drag Esmeralda (that’s the tree) a block and a half to the drop off site? Yeah, it was easier that way. And hilarious. Big, beautiful snowflakes fell on my nose and dusted my coat and hat as I grabbed a branch and began hauling Esmeralda off down the road as she made a nice tree branch trail in all of the freshly fallen snow. I was giggling for the first part of my trip—the part where I have to cross 200 W. and 1000 N. Now this isn’t the busiest intersection in town, but it is kind of busy around 6:00 in the evening. So there I was, dragging a poor Christmas tree across the intersection. All I really could do was giggle, as if it was completely normal to drag your Christmas tree anywhere. We made it safe and sound. Now you may be wondering how I got the tree to my house in the first place. Well, a live tree fits okay in my trunk with the help of a small bungee cord and doesn’t make a mess of needles because, well, it’s still alive. But a tree that has dried, dead needles just makes a mess when you go to pull it out. Once again—it was just easier to drag it down the road. I loved my Christmas tree, though. From picking it out, to brining it home and decorating it, enjoying the pine tree smell and napping in the glow of the colored lights…it was a holiday highlight to be sure. But, Esmeralda’s time has come and gone I’m afraid, and there is a sad emptiness in our living room where she used to stand.

Esmeralda on her way to the drop off site.

Esmeralda at home!

And So It Ends

2008-01-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

It’s finished. The Steelers season that is. And it went down in glory of 3 INT by Ben. They made a valiant effort there in the 2nd half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the hole they were in. So it ends. Then begins the eternal mantra of sports fans—“There’s always next year.” I like that part about sports. Looking ahead; because you can’t change what just happened. You can’t take back anything that happened. You might want to, but you can’t. That is how life is. You can say “I should have done that or I shouldn’t have done that. If only that wouldn’t have happened.” Well, those things did happen and you stand at the point where you are—win or lose. And there is always another “year.” Sports are silly, I get that, but it is amazing to watch someone throw 3 interceptions, and then get back on the field and continue throwing the ball to come back from 18 points down. That takes a mental state I am sure I’ve never experienced for myself. To make huge errors in front of thousands of people and overcome those defeats is something that I can actually learn something from. So, despite the trivial nature of sports, there are some things I really do take away from these games. Oh, and it’s entertaining. And—spoken like a true fan—next year the Steelers will win it all.

Four To Go

2008-01-03T20:35:00.001-07:00

Okay, so my first application is done!! Only four more to go**. Now, here is my vital bit of information. Don't procrastinate. Somehow I have managed to procrastinate every major thing in my life, so you would think I would learn. But, no--I haven't. My first application is due on the 10th. Yes, it looks like I will get it there on time. But what if the mail gets snowed in somewhere? Or there is some other bizarre or freak thing that happens? In that case, I will be doomed. Maybe then I would learn. Filling out my first application was kind of unnerving. I got nervous to think that my life could be drastically different in 2008. And I have to admit, I got pretty sad about the possibility of leaving Logan. This is home. I know everything I need to know about where to go for everything, how to get around, weather, etc. My family is close. I have good friends. I love the mountains. In the end, though, it is time. It is time to have a different experience, different challenges, different people to meet. Of course, I am getting ahead of myself. I first need to get accepted. Now, I am acutely aware of all the amazing people that will be applying with me, so I will just be astounded (truthfully) if anyone lets me go to their school. Oh, and it costs approximately one million dollars to apply to grad school. From the GRE, to transcripts, to the application fee...it costs some money. I will be ticked if I don't get in anywhere for the fact alone that I could have bought a lot of cute shoes with that money.

**The five schools I am applying to are these (in no particular order, mind you): The Cooperstown Graduate Program, University of Kansas, University of Washington, University of Colorado-Boulder, George Washington University.

[I do have a backup plan if I don't get in. Don't worry. But we'll cross that bridge if it comes to that.]

Twilight Phenomenon

2007-12-17T22:48:00.000-07:00

What it is about these books that make them so popular? That is the question I have been wrestling with for the past little while. No, nothing more enlightening. Sorry dad.

Vampire books aren’t scarce, but they haven’t ever transcended all walks of life like this series has. In fact, one of my students (back in the day) was an avid reader of vampire books, and quite frankly, it was highly alarming when he would recount the stories to me. Also, I can still vividly see in my mind a CSI episode that dealt with people who were trying to be vampires. Nothing has scared me quite as much as that teeny tiny episode. But here you have it, all sleekly packaged in three books (each a mere 500 or so pages): a dangerous love story between a vampire and a human. And it is wildly popular. (I don’t think it is even near the vampire genre that my student read…don’t worry.)

I am completely baffled as to why it is so popular. If you’ve read it, tell me why you love it. I am assuming you love it because I have only one or two people who are kind of indifferent to the whole affair. From teenagers to moms, newlyweds to old ladies…everyone seems to be reading it (although I have yet talked to a guy who has read it). Let me know what you think; I'm really trying to understand the phenomenon of it all.

Here’s what I think. It is entertaining. Maybe not the best written book I’ve read lately, but entertaining and interesting. And it doesn’t hurt that Edward is gorgeous. This is where a lot of the popularity comes in. He is beautiful, albeit in a very statuesque, cold, marble way. Everyone is in love with Edward. (Personally, I like Jacob…werewolf or not he seems more real and alive. I get dirty looks when I say that. Sorry. Granted I haven’t read the third book, so I guess my opinion could change). Next, it is the whole idea of this dangerous, fateful love. It is so out of the realm of real life that it captures people’s imagination. Bella (who I think is annoying at best) is willing to give up everything—her soul—for Edward because she doesn’t seem to have any control over the love she has for him. I guess that seems terribly romantic on one hand. (On the other—more realistic—hand it just seems so weak and wrong.) But real life gets kind of hum drum; so I guess that is why we read something that in real life would be completely crazy. I do it all of the time. We all escape in one way or another—and this is just one more way. So it will continue.

I will read the third book. For me, it’s like a train wreck…I don’t want to look, but I just have to see what is going on.

An * For Them All

2007-12-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Was anyone really surprised at the widespread use of steroids in baseball as outlined in a new report out today? I would bet good money no one was. Every athlete/coach/organization in sports is going to have an asterisk by their names by the end of it all. The record books will be littered with the little things. Baseball and steroid use is the focus of this particular report, but let’s just consider the other criminal activity of athletes across the board. Well, it doesn’t affect my life directly, but chalk it up as one more thing that is gone horribly askew in the world of what’s important. I think they should create new teams and leagues for each sport. We can have the all-steroid-league [baseball], all criminal league [the football team could feature OJ as the coach and Michael Vick at quarterback], all-cheating-team [Patriots—okay, so I just don’t like them]…you get the idea. It’s amazing we haven’t just all stopped supporting this madness. I still watch football and have a favorite team; but if no one paid them and no one watched them or rooted for them, well, this whole thing would be a moot point. Here's the thing, though, I’m not going to stop rooting for the Steelers, or the Aggies**, or….you get the point; so I guess I will put up with the asterisks.

**I am by no means implying that the Aggies have a widespread problem with drugs, steroids, or criminal activity. We will always have competitive sports, so we will always have this problem it seems.

Bright Season

2007-12-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

These are 5 small things that have made this season bright for me:

1. Josh Groban’s Christmas album, Noel— Josh’s voice penetrates to the deepest part of my soul, bringing peace and joy to Christmas music again. A classic Christmas album I will forever treasure. And in a strange twist, his only non-traditional Christmas song on the album, Thankful, is the song that has brought me the most peace this season.

2. Belgian Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa (Stephen’s Gourmet, of course)—This is the most divine liquid ever. It warms the soul on any chilly Cache Valley winter’s eve. Couple this delightful confection with Candy Cane Hersey Kisses and you have a truly divine experience.

3. Gilmore Girls—I forget how much I especially loved the first few seasons of this show. The anticipation of Luke and Lorelai's interactions, Jess and Dean vying for Rory, Paris and crazy Chilton kids…the perfect remedy when you want to escape this insane world. Oh, and observing the transformation of Milo Ventimiglia from the characters of Jess Mariano to the current Peter Petrelli is amazing!

4. My Christmas Tree—I veered away from the Charlie Brown Christmas tree look this year and got a beautiful, bushy, perfect tree. I love it. It truly just warms my heart to have it around.

5. The Dark is Rising Series—This series of books was introduced to me when I was in Elementary school** (but it was written in the 70’s I believe). Classic Dark vs. Light, a search for the Holy Grail, a young hero to rise against the Dark…what more could you ask for? Re-reading it is bringing me a lot of entertainment this season.

**One of my 5 favorite books (series) when I was in Elementary School. The other 4 include Black Beauty, The Black Stallion (series), Gone With The Wind (no, I am not kidding), and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

Let’s Try This Again

2007-12-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

I will give this blog thing another go. Unfortunately, I do things on a whim sometimes and don’t think them completely through, like deleting my previous blog, for example. I miss writing my thoughts down for any random person to read. So, we’ll give it a second shot. I’ll try to be more brief in my writings. I will try not to be negative. This is actually why I deleted my previous blog; I was afraid I would begin to use it as a venting forum for the unfortunate nature of our world. SO, if I ever start down the road of rants, someone call me out on it. I love to write, but I don’t want to put my worst self forward into the world of blogs. But I love to write. Cacoethes scribendi.