Winter Break then back to... Texas?

     Well, these three pictures pretty much some up my winter break, and my move to Texas. I wish I would've taken a picture of my dirty, sick, gross, practically camouflage car. Driving 1200 miles would've given a better idea of what the move was like than a box, but that's what I got folks! Let me tell you my story...

     So excited for winter break, couldn't wait! I had half my dorm room sent home with my in boxes and bags and whatever else I could fit for my trip home. I worked at IB to make some Christmas shopping money for presents, ate lots of Cafe Yumm, attempted to run a 10k race on New Years Eve, and spent a lot of time with friends and family! Christmas was a little wierd this year, I didn't feel quite as in the spirit as I usually do (I think because I was away from home for so long) but it was still fun getting to see family and eat way too much food. Christmas decorations and lights are always cheerful :)

     Over break I had time to think, and new it was time for a change. Utah State is a great school, but I wanted to try something else! Where could I go that would give me a good change, but would still allow me to attend school? Texas! Of course? My aunt Calli and uncle Joel were in town and that's what gave me the brilliant idea of asking to possibly live with them while I got settled; they told me yes without even a pause. Family is wonderful, and I absolutely love them to death for it. Then came the hard part, telling my roommate that I'd be leaving her...

     The minute I walked in and told her we had to talk I knew what she was thinking... "What a frump..." She eventually accepted that I would be moving out of our room and down to Texas. We had grown really close over the last couple months and it was going to be really hard to leave her. I didn't realize that a wierdo like me could have made such an impression her!

Anyway, she helped me pack, move boxes out to my car, move my 
boxes out to her car, take them to the post office with me, and helped me write the billion and a half labels the mailing guy made me fill out. Such a good helper!

     Now, the driving arrangements for getting down to Texas were a little difficult to figure out. My dad wanted me to drive so I would have my car, but didn't want me driving alone because it was over a 20 hour drive. Friends and family had both volunteered to fly out and drive with me, but in the end my Aunt Calli's younger brother Scott flew up from Texas and drove back down with me. Wow, wouldn't that be exciting, flying two hours only to drive back 20 hours right where you came from. The drive down to the Salt Lake Airport was a little scary, I slid a few times going 65 miles and hour (and, let me tell you, those were the scariest couple seconds of my life up 'til then) but I still made it to the airport in my good 1 and 1/2 hour time! I picked up a somewhat enthusiastic Scott and off we went through snow, rain, desert, prairie... anything you can name we went through it (including 3 birds that flew right in front of the car and got themselves hit by my bumper). We also almost went through the biggest elk known to mankind, because it just stopped right in the MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY with us going 75 miles and hour but someone must've been watching out for us because somehow we ended up slamming on the brakes and swerving around it. Cross my heart and hope to die it was bigger than my car (which happens to be an SUV). Other than stopping for gas and not really having much to look at for most of the drive nothing else too exciting happened. But we made it safe and sound, so I guess that's pretty exciting in and of itself.

     Now for Texas... the first thing I did was take my car to a carwash! Now, let me tell you, they have the COOLEST car-washes here, haha. I felt like a small-town girl when I pulled up and they had to explain to me that "around here you don't stay in the car while it goes through the car wash." Anyway, I got out and they put the cars through the car wash, with no one in them! It was very odd to see your car moving along by itself getting all nice and clean. They had me go through this little shop where I paid and saw my car going through. A nice old man there explained the whole process to me. They send your car through the carwash while you wait inside, then when it comes out of the carwash they drive it out around front. I hadn't cleaned out my car yet from the drive so I was a little embarrassed having someone else get in the car with all of my junk in it. I watched them for a couple minutes and then they waved me over to inspect it. They had dried off the car, wiped down the whole inside, and thrown away all of my trash! Oh boy, how much better can it get?

     Well, much better! But that's for another time. I'll say all the wonderful things about Texas in my next blog. 

Sneak peak:

-job applications

-family

-highway 26

-school

-dying hair

-rearranging

-malls! malls! everywhere you look!

Winter Break

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

November 20, 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Author Unknown

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

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

November 11, 2008

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

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

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

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