Photo Friday/I am wasting time :)

This picture was taken at the fourth of July baseball game three years ago with my family. Nile's foot is on the right; her second toe has somehow become distorted throughout her life. She's calls it her Helen toe (after Helen Keller, I know, it's terrible, but very funny). My second toe is also a bit distorted, but not so bad. It's named Helen Jr.

One More Thing Before I Go

Please support! I desperately need donations in the form of baked goods. Although anything you would be willing to contribute (time, energy, a smile, spreading the word, etc.) would be greatly appreciated and completely accepted. (go here for more info)

I waste time reading blogs; in fact, I'm religious about some of them. Meanwhile, my own blog wastes away, my fan base (what little there is) waning...

So I really wasn't busy until the past few days, but I seem to have hit a small spell of writer's block. Anyway, I'm going to CA next week for the American Chemical Society national conference so now I really am busy. Plus I'm organizing this fundraiser for Japan (bakesaleforjapan.com, please support!!!) so life's just crazy.

In the meantime, check out my favorite blogs (the one's I'm religious about)

www.gardinerdirt.com

inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com

taza-and-husband.blogspot.com

That's all :D

Job

Here we are again, in the same place as before, in the catch-up zone. We seem to be here a lot, but I don't mind if you don't mind.

First things first; maybe only things first.

I will soon be leaving my comfortable life in sunny-snowy, college town Provo. Has it really been 5 years already? It seems only yesterday that I moved all my belongings into the dorms to start the chapter named "College" (ok, not really yesterday; last year, at least). We've had a good run, really, but it's high time to move on.

Luckily for me, my path seems to be laid out before me. Yes, I've already accepted a job offer somewhere. *Gasp* I know! It's truly amazing and I feel so lucky and blessed to be in this kind of position, to already have a job even before I've graduated. But with this security comes some other, undesired emotions.

If you think about it, up until now, I've spent my whole life in school: pre-school, elementary, junior high, high school, college. This is something COMPLETELY different. So yeah, it's a little scary. But, I go with high hopes :)

Now where is this job? Well, it's in the familiar (and really not too far away) town of Elko, NV. Yes, I will be traveling back to the pile of dirt where I spent last summer, this time as a full-fledged Environmental Specialist. I know that I'm so lucky to know already that I'm going to be working for a good, reputable company. I'm excited for the future!

Catch Up

There are so many things that need to be discussed, but for the life of my I can't remember any of them right now. Anyway, here's my catch up on my 30 day photo diary.

Day 4: I picture of my night

This last weekend I went to Nevada for a job interview (more on that later). This is the night that I was in Elko so Thomas and I Skyped. Interesting side note: it's amazing how many computer/internet utilities we turn into verbs (Skyped, Googled, Facebooked, etc.)

Day 5: A picture of my favorite memory

Well, I'd have to say there is absolutely no way I could pick my favorite memory, but one of them is my family trip to Glacier National Park

Day 6: A person I'd love to trade places with for a day (Warning: I'm about to reveal something very nerdy about myself)

Warren Heisenberg, the theoretical physicist who happens to be my favorite historical scientist and, coincidentally, derived my favorite quantum chemistry principle from which is derived my absolute favorite joke of all time (which I will not share here): the uncertainty principle. You can read all about the uncertainty principle here (but I really don't think you want to) or you can think about how odd it is that I would love to trade places with him for a day. I just wonder what life was like for the geniuses of his era. It must have been amazing. :)

Day 7: A picture of my most treasured item (I'm gonna go material on this one because I think that's what it's supposed to be)

My piano. Ok, it's not mine, but I'm in the market for my own. I seriously could not live without one.

Day 8: A picture that makes me laugh

Payton in her cleaning "gloves."

Alright, you have been caught up in this area. Much more to write, but it'll have to wait.

I know...

I need to catch up. I missed 3 DAYS on my 3o day challenge. And I will soon update you and make up all 3 posts. But I don't have time right now. I just wanted to stop by and tell you something:

I saw a bug today

Yep, that means spring is coming!!

30 Day Challenge: Day 3

Day 3: The cast from my favorite TV show

Modern Family is by far my favorite TV show for a few reason. First, it is hilarious; I am always laughing. Second, Claire is what I picture myself as when I'm a mom; overbearing, control-freak, but very loving. Third: Gloria.

Me

Note: Beware the heavier things in life. This post is full of them.

Something that is really important to me is defining myself. I hate that look in someone's eye when they have made a snap judgment of me based on something I've said or done. For this reason I try pretty hard to be neutral in some things until my acquaintances get to know me.

I feel like there are two things about me that make people misjudge me: my major and my religion.

Now I don't remember if I've written about what people think when they hear I'm majoring in chemistry, but I did write a poem about it (you can read it here) and I'm sure you've already formed your own opinion of me just from my blog URL. Really, this is probably the most stereotypical thing about me. Yes, I'm a nerd; I will own up to it. Yes, if given the chance, I would gladly tell you exactly how to synthesize, isolate and characterize caffeine. It is just something that I love. BUT I'm not socially inept, I don't play World of War Craft or Dungeons and Dragons, and I know how to do my own makeup and hair. Shocking, right?

Onto heavier things, religion. The best definition for myself comes from my religion: I am a divine and unique spirit daughter of my Father in heaven, created for a specific purpose and here on this earth for a reason. That does not mean that I love green jell-o with carrot shavings (seriously, who came up with that?) or that I want a zillion children or even want to stay in Provo for the rest of my life (please bless that that doesn't happen).

Arriving at the point: Stereotypes are typically frowned upon, but that doesn't make them untrue. I guess the important thing is not to group someone based on stereotype and then dismiss it at that. We're all our Father's children; if that's not enough, what is?

Photo Friday

Well, once again, Friday has arrived and I have taken no pictures this week. So we're doing Archived Photo Friday, which I think is still a good idea because, even though I've seen the pictures, you most likely haven't. So, here it is:

My super cute niece, Peyton, at our family reunion two years ago. I love this picture because of the look on her face. And because the individual water droplets can be seen. Ok, I just love my camera for that.

30 Day Challenge: Day 2

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you are closest to.

Though I love all my sisters (and of course my brother) Nile is definitely the one I am closest to. When we were growing up the kids in the family got grouped into twos: Piper and Megan, Shahn and Nile, and Sam and Zoe; that's just how it was. Though we may have resented it in earlier years, our twosome turned out to be a fine one and we get along excellently now.

30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Day 1: A picture of myself along with 10 things about me

10 things about me:

1. I forget EVERYTHING

2. I love to play piano

3. I recently picked up sewing and I adore it

4. I also adore my sisters

5. I've lived in Salt Lake City, UT, Provo, UT, and Elko, NV. Boring

6. I think Google is the internet God's personal gift to me

7. I really love to ski (as is evidenced by the picture)

8. I'm quite the nerd (major: chemistry) and I really don't mind

9. I'm a brand whore (I buy brand name stuff just so I can wear it and show it off to everyone) but only for brands like Volcom, Billabong, etc.

10. I HATE running

I Quite Enjoy the Oxford Comma

The Oxford comma is the comma used immediately before acoordinating conjunction (usually and or or, sometimes nor) preceding the final item in a list of three or more items. (Wikipedia)

Also, my favorite punctuation mark is the semi-colon. I know what you're thinking, "I haven't even thought about what my favorite punctuation mark is." That's ok. The only reason I know mine is because I find that I use it whenever possible. Occasionally I'll even go out of my way to use it (but don't tell anyone). It's just so handy! It conveys perfectly that elusive relationship between two phrases that are separate sentences but still go together.

Okay, okay, I'm done boring you now. Go do something fun and completely ungrammatical.

Jimmer, Basketball, etc.

If you don't know what Jimmer-mania is, you won't understand this post. So go here:

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/22753/jimmer-mania-gives-us-epic-facebook-thread

read, laugh, and then come back (if you don't spend all your time reading the Jimmer-isms).

Yes, I think that, in general, Jimmer-mania takes fan-ship a little too far. But I still enjoy the fruits of the fans' labors. I love hearing new "Jimmer-isms" on campus or seeing "We heart Jimmer" posters in random places such as the ID card office or the copy center. My favorites, though, definitely have to be the Jimmer jokes that combine the inside joke of Jimmer with some sort of church reference. For example:

Seen in the window of the freshman dorms:

The three-fold mission of JIMMER:

1. Proclaim his dominance

2. Perfect his 3-point shot

3. Redeem BYU athletics

I probably love this one so much because it actually has three inside jokes, the third about how truly awful our football team was this year.

The other great thing is that, yes, BYU basketball is doing phenomenally this season. We're currently ranked number 3!!! Sweet!

However, now we've lost one of our star players, Brandon Davies, due to Honor Code violation. While this is very sad, and probably will cost us a seat in the final four, it is a sharp reminder to me that there are other, much more important things in this life than basketball. It's easy to get caught up, but it's vital to remember why we're here. :)

March Favs and Craves

1. My favorite new book: Listography. What is it about lists that makes them so appealing? Perhaps it's the organization, or just putting it all down in paper. Live your life in lists.

2. Shabby Apple Champs Elysees dress: pretty much the cutest dress ever. Also available in green or yellow.

3. West Highland White Terrier: a.k.a. westie, a.k.a. the Cesar dog. I've wanted one for almost as long as I can remember. I will have one one day.

4. Nike Free: I can justify this one by saying that I really do need a new pair of running shoes (ok, active shoes; I don't run).

5. A job: I need one (maybe almost have one? I'll keep you posted on it.)

6. Serger: how much easier would sewing be with one of these?

7. Vans boat shoes: so cute!

Blog In Progress

Ignore layout etc...

It's awful, but I have to go to class. Boo.

Note: blog not in progress anymore, but I can't figure out how to completely delete a post. Further investigation needed.... TBC

My Favorite Poem About March

OK, it's the only poem about March that I've ever heard. But I still really like it.

Here it is, March on the prairie,

An improvement on February,

When daylight enlarges,

Inspire, recharges

Our spritis. Beautifully. Very.

- Garrison Keillor