jazz vs cavs

So I hit up my first Jazz game of the season. I sure do love the Jazz. Nan, Joe, Scott, and I purchased tickets last minute.

As pictured above, Hollie joined us later. Welcome back from Key West, Girl.

A few years back at a Clippers game, a mini soft basketball was thrown to me in the crowd. I caught it above my head. The ball was in my possession. But before I could pull the ball back down from a top my head, a full-grown man sitting directly behind me, grabbed the ball from my hands. He claimed it as his own. Needless to say, it affected me. Since this fateful day, I have carried a certain chip on my shoulder. Last night, a blue voice-cone-thing (pictured above) was thrown again in my direction. I wasn't going to let this one pass me by. Well, apparently the kid in the row in front of me had the same idea. We both caught it at the same time. Instead of me giving up and letting the kid win, I pulled and struggled with all my might for a good thirty seconds. When I finally came to and realized what I was doing, I released it and let the 12 year old have it. Not my proudest moment. Ha ha

Well the Jazz and King James put on a great game - until the end where we lost it. It was a heartbreaker.

Hollie, Joe, Nan (above), Scott and me (below) post-game at California Pizza Kitchen.

I got the Thai Chicken Pizza. Folks, if you haven't tried it - you're missing out.

winter

So I'll be the first to admit: I hate winter. I think the snow is not only useless, but very inconvenient. I find it very disgusting the amounts of it we've received this winter. I'm a summer person.

Anyway, I still thought these pictures were cute because my Nephew Cole thought it was soo cool that he could sled in our front yard.

honor student

I know that I have left you all on the edge of your seats with the whole "ucler" thing. I am sorry for the delay in updating. Here's how it went down:

I knew that grades would be posted on Wednesday December 24th. They're always posted the Wednesday following finals, but this didn't stop me from checking very consistently every 3 hours for a week.

But I finally went to bed on December 23rd and woke up abruptly in the middle of the night. I looked at my cell phone and it read: Decemeber 24th - 3:39 AM. My automatic thought was: It's Christmas Eve. Yes. Grades.

I hopped out of bed and ran to the computer in the living room. I started the dial-up connection (ha ha, just kidding. Just sounds funny to say these days. And more intense.) and navigated to UVU's website. I typed in my student ID and password. I followed the ever-familiar steps to my student records where my grades lie waiting.

Doubt lingered in the back of my mind because I wasn't sure if they would be up so early in the morning. As my shaky hand finally came to the right page, there it was. Fall 2008 grades. I stopped. Did I really want to know? I was about to see just how much my hard work had paid off; if any. I was sure that I would get an A- in Biology. Even Math 1050 I couldn't be sure of the results.

I finally took a deep breath and opened the page. I scrolled down to the middle of the page and to my complete and utter shock I saw my first 4.0 of my entire school career. That's right, even in Junior High and High school had I never pulled this off. I would never have to retake Biology, Math 1050 or Chemistry 1110 again. A few tears dropped from my unbelieving eyes.

I went back to bed to enjoy the most peaceful night's sleep ever. Oh wait, that didn't happen. For the rest of the night, I lay in bed with a million thoughts and scenarios running through my already overworked mind....

What if I really got into Nursing school? Would I have time to work? I have to work. Where would I work? I have to have 24 hours at IHC a week. I'm going to have to work some kind of night shift. Wait, I don't want to quit my job. I don't have any skills....My thoughts when on and on like this for the rest of the night.

Needless to say, I've been pretty ecstatic. But also this makes my future that much more real...which scares me. Am I ready to be an adult? I also want to apologize to all of you whom I've ignored through this grueling semester. I'm ready to be fun again...please call...

ulcer

I'm pretty sure that the health community has discredited any correlation between stress and ulcers. But I think they're wrong.

It was last Thursday when the reality of the semester ending and finals coming set in. Since then, I've been a slight nervous wreck.

I wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats for no apparent reason. My thoughts automatically reflect on my Chemistry class.

My Chemistry final is this Wednesday. 45% percent of my grade. Yeah. I am terrified that my 96% grade in the class right now will be blown to bits by a few wrong answers.

I need some Valium.

coldplay

They've been my favorite band for years. I can never get sick of their songs. I've never seen them in concert though; until last Saturday night.

I remember a call I got from my dear friend Tara back in 2006 while I was living in Kauai. I couldn't really hear her, but I could hear a familiar song in the background. One of my favorite Coldplay songs. Tara was in Las Vegas at the Coldplay concert. Without me. It was one of the few times I truly wanted to get off that Island.

Since that day, I've had an ever-increasing urge to see them live. Finally, the opportunity came to purchase tickets in the Springs. They were finally coming to Salt Lake City. We purchased our tickets, but the best seats we could get were the front row of the upper bowl. It didn't really matter, though. I was going to see my favorite band.

We arrived at the Delta Center (yes, I still call it that) and I immediately headed to the gift counter to purchase my concert t-shirt. I usually get one at the concerts I attend. After I put it on, we headed up the long flight of stairs to our seats.

We found our portal WW and I started to walk through the double doors. I noticed soon that Tara, Sarah, and Kelly were not following me anymore. I turned around and saw them talking to two British strangers. I went over and joined their conversation.

Marta and Stephanie introduced themselves to us in their British accents. They asked us if they could kindly see our tickets. We handed them over and they examined our seats. Marta said, "You paid all this to sit clear up here?" Um, yes.

Stephanie went on, "How's about we play a little game with you? A game of trivia - no, trust. A game of trust?"

I suspiciously looked at them, but soon my tension eased because they wore the Official VIVA band jackets. They had to be trustworthy to wear those. They continued, "You hand us all of your tickets, close your eyes, and we'll put different tickets in your hands. You must trust us that they will be better. Don't open your eyes."

I've never closed my eyes so tightly before. I didn't want Marta and Stephanie to think I was cheating in anyway. Too much was at stake.

They placed new tickets in our hands and said, "Open your eyes. You've just won 2nd row tickets on the floor!"

As you can imagine, we screamed, cried, cheered, and hugged our new friends. We were pretty much in shock. Then we screamed, cried, cheered and hugged our friends again. We seriously couldn't believe it. So lucky.

We made our way to the floor and watched as they really did let us through and lead us to our 2nd row seats. Front and center. It seemed like a dream. My favorite band. Right there. Just mere feet away.

Well, the rest is history. Chris Martin and Co. came out and put on one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was so incredible and intense being right there. I yelled out, "I love you Chris!" once, and he actually heard me. Too convenient.

Thanks Tara, Sarah, Kelly, Marta, Stephanie, Chris, Guy, Jonny, and Will for making it such a fantastic night.

flu vaccines

Hey peeps.

So with winter around the corner, so is the flu.

My office has been giving out flu shots for a few weeks now. I have become extremly jealous of those who administer the vaccines. Because, after all, that's what I'm going to school to do one day!

Anyway, my co-workers got brave all of a sudden and decided they would let me practice a bit on them.

Do you notice the look of slight panic on my face? Don't worry - I'm cool. Just concentratin'...

Another awesome shot.

Thanks to Deana, Sean, Kindi, Megan, and Deelisa! You guys are tough.

feelin' patriotic

I am feeling very patriotic today.

You could probably tell by some posts from the past, that I have been looking forward to election day for a while. I remember a year ago thinking, "Why are they campaigning already? It's a year away!" And to think it's finally here.

Anyhow, I woke up a bit earlier than usual today so I could get out the door at 6:45 AM. I was trying to beat all my neighbors to the Orem City Center where we unite in voting. Unfortunately, my crafty neighbors had the same thing on their minds. There was already a hefty line by the time I got there.

It was pretty interesting though. I mean, four years ago I voted as well, but I went then as a child; walking in the shadows of my parents. This election, I went alone. At 7 AM. With true convictions.

As I walked up to the library and viewed the growing line within, I could see my old Bishop, my fifth grade teacher, high school friends, my neighbors. It was cool to see the community come together and cast their votes. I couldn't help but feel extremely patriotic. I love this Country.

Took this pic on my phone so I could show off my "I Voted Today" sticker. It's the best part.

pumpkin carving

Last Saturday Nan, Joe, Scott, and I sharpened our knives and embarked in a pumpkin carving competition extravaganza.

As you can see, Joe carves best when he is shirtless. I came up with this beauty.

We sent Nan out at midnight to pick up some candles so we could get the full effect. After polling numerous individuals, the Halloween cat came out on top. Good effort to all contestants.

still here

I've been racking my brain the last few days to come up with something to blog about. I know you all anxiously await an update from me.

To be quite honest, nothing too awesome has happened lately. I'm basically in school mode. BOORRRING.

But, in any event, here are a few that have been on my mind...

1. You know you're becoming an adult when 10 PM hits and you not only tell yourself its your bedtime, but it feels like your bedtime. This waking-up-at-5:40-AM business is cruel.

2. I am tired of hearing about the upcoming presidential election. I am sick of hearing about how awesome Obama is because he's a Socialist who thinks that the government should do EVERYTHING for you. How we did anything for ourselves before him is beyond me. Capitalism people, Capitalism.

3. I am sick of celebrities endorsing him because its the cool thing to do. In fact, I don't want to hear anything you think because most of you are irresponsible and immoral.

4. My little brother baptized someone in the Atlantic Ocean the other day. I thought that was awesome. He's awesome. (Not being facetious.)

5. I've taught Sunday School Book of Mormon every other week since February. I just told my friend John (the SS Pres) on Sunday that I'm going to be switching wards. I am bittersweet about the whole thing. I've gained a lot from teaching, but oh yeah, I'm going to love having that bit of stress relieved for a while.

6. I can't help but be disappointed in my sports teams this fall. The Cowboys are faltering with Romo out for a few weeks. The Yankees. Oh the Yankees. WHY do you do this to me every fall? And BYU. You broke my heart last night. Please Jazz - give me something to look forward to this Spring.

7. I love the Fall and Halloween. I do not like, however, snow coming in and ruining it just when its getting good. Please, leave us be.

8. I saw my first UGG offender at the BYU game last week. It's going to be a long winter. (Read UGGLY)

9. I love any food item that has pumpkin in it. Pancakes, cookies, rolls, pie, etc. Delicious.

10. I don't know if I'm allowed to announce this yet, but I've waited so long! Please forgive me Stacey. My sister-in-law is pregnant! That's right, Brandon and his wife Stacey are having a baby in May and making me an aunt again!

Well, there you have it people.

bones

So, this is pretty much my new favorite show. Bones (a.k.a. Temperance Brennan) is a forensic anthropologist that works with FBI Agent Seely Booth. Together, Bones and Booth work to solve weird unsolved cases. I just purchased season one last night from Graywhale (got a great deal by the way). Sorry Ash.

I've noticed a pattern among my own television choices. I have figured out I am attracted to shows that have to do with the LAW. For example, I love: Alias (CIA), X-FILES (FBI), 24 (CTU), Bones (FBI), Law and Order SVU (NYPD?).

Forget medicine, I should have gone into law enforcement. I think that's where my passion may lie.

In any event, check out "Bones" on Wednesday nights on FOX. 7 PM. It's pretty good.