Blue Thunder!

One of the biggest reasons, perhaps the biggest reason I chose to do my last two years at Boise State was because of the Blue Thunder Marching Band. I visited Boise the summer before my senior year of high school and loved Boise and the spirit that the members of the Blue Thunder had. However, they were smaller than my high school band and at the time, I think I thought it wouldn't be good enough and I should just be done with a marching band career at Herndon. That would be a high enough note for me (no pun intended). I never really forgot about the marching band here and I remember watching the Fiesta Bowl at home in Herndon and wanting to throw up because I knew I could have been there. A year later I auditioned, and a year and a half later I showed up at band camp in Boise.

I don't really ever tell people I'm in band and the other day, I got caught: A member of my ward is on the cheer team and the marching band shares a (seemingly) brand new facility with the cheerleaders and dance team. I was using the bathroom the other day and ran into this girl from my ward. She said, "Hey Erin!..What are you doing here..?" Needless to say I said, "The band hall has really nice bathrooms...?" And as it was coming out of my mouth she said, "Are you in the band?!" I laughed, said yes and went along my way.

I am graduating from BSU in less than 6 weeks (this also makes me want to throw up), and after watching this video, I can honestly say that now I am satisfied with my marching band career. This was probably one of the most fun performances I have ever been a part of, and I loved every second of it. Maybe from now on I won't be as embarrassed to say I'm in marching band? We'll see.

Enjoy Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bach's Toccata and Fugue.

A message.

Graduation Day!

Mark your calendars. December 18th is the BIG day! Currently my parents and my best friend Kaitlin have their tickets to fly to Boise. It will be a party, so I suggest you come too! :)

An email I received today:

Dear Erin:

The graduation evaluators have reviewed your undergraduate Degree Progress Report (DPR) for Fall 2009 graduation. It has been determined that you are a valid candidate for graduation. This means you are enrolled in all outstanding requirements during your last semester.

Please refer to the following checklist items in order to ensure your candidacy for Fall 2009 graduation.

· Review your DPR on BroncoWeb.

· Review the University Catalog and Schedule of Classes for important dates and deadlines.

· Check your Primary name on BroncoWeb.

This is the name that will be used on your diploma.

· Verify your mailing address on BroncoWeb.

· Check your BroncoMail account regularly. Information regarding graduation and commencement will be sent to this account.

If you have questions regarding your candidacy, please contact a graduation evaluator.

Sincerely,

Graduation Evaluators

An Update!

So I have officially given myself the go-ahead! It is time to update my loyal following (which turns out to be my family and like, maybe 1 and a half friends).

Summer was fun, productive and busy! This semester is also fun, productive and busy!

These pictures are in reverse order because that is the way they uploaded. I am in no mood to reverse their order.
Here is my life the last 4 months in pictures:

Me, Jenna and Baillie (roommates) at Bear Lake!

We met up with my roommates I had at Weber 2 years ago and spent a few days. Here we were playing baseball with 1/2 pool noodles and a beach ball.

My old roommate Heather and I walked from her lakehouse, through the marshlands down to the lake early in the morning while we waited for breakfast to cook.

Heather, Tristen and I. I haven't lived with them in 2 years, but some things never change.

So we had a fairly intense roommate fight. It was settled over a surrender flag and cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.

Jenna and I went to Colbie Caillat!

Standing room only, but we were right up front (tomorrow night we go to Jason Mraz :))

We waited in line for 5 hours for Oregon vs. BSU tickets. We didn't get any. But lucky for me, I don't need any.

Band kids before the Oregon game. Which we WON!

Baillie, Maggie, Me and Jenna (roommates) at the Idaho State Fair...

...Where we saw Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.

Baillie and I eating dinner at the Fair.

Eating dinner with Mitch prior to the Gorilla Zoe concert. Gorilla Zoe did not in fact show up for his own concert. DUD.

Hanging out at work with a Summer Intern, Allie. Oh, and the band, Boys Like Girls.

Getting free fireworks from work for Jenna and I. My first experience having my own...It was time I grew up.

At a Boise Hawk's game!!

BBQing on Sunday afternoon with Meah and Dave from my ward.

Visiting my good friend Kaylie, and meeting her son Hunter for the first time.

Fallon and I on the Heber Creeper for Tys' 3rd Birthday!

Out with Dave, my cousin Travis, and Jenna at Wahooz. Doing some exciting date-like things...such as ride this virtual roller coaster.

I saw my Mom 3 times!!!!

I went to Blackfoot many times and visited Grandparents and family.

Some friends and I doing a stunt for work. Going to all the Sonic's in the Valley, before midnight to take advantage of "Free Root-Beer Float Night." We failed. But it was still a blast.

Slackage.

Well it has officially been 4 months since I last posted. I am alive. And I am doing well!

So much has happened and there isn't currently time to discuss it all but mostly I am just busy with school and enjoying my LAST SEMESTER IN COLLEGE. Which I can't actually believe I can say. But it is true; I am graduating in December.

I did find this on the internet today and it will give you a bit of an idea of what I am up to (if you'd like to know where I am, I can just say that I am on the right side of the field the entirety of the show. During the dance feature, Only the Good Die Young...I am the fourth person outside the 45 yard line, doing very scripted dance moves, with the oversized-looking trumpet):



I'll put up some new pictures and a more detailed description of what is going on in my life when I get a few more minutes.

But in the meantime, GO BRONCOS!

Blessings and Happenings.

As I sit here on my bed, in a room that needs some cleaning like no one's business, I can't help but feel sad. I am so blessed. There is no question in my mind that I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I am getting an education, I have a great job, I've met some amazing people and I know that at the end of the day I have a family that loves me. The more time I spend here in Boise this summer, the more I realize how hard it is to be away from home. But at the same time when I think about the times I do go home, after a few weeks I feel like I need to be back at school. My Bishop at home told me before I left for school my senior year, that once you come back home after being at school, it's never the same. I've realized that to be true over the last 3 years and I thought that staying at school during the summer would be easier than it is. During the day I am having so much fun at work and enjoying school at night. It's at moments like this though when I'm hanging out by myself that I realize how homesick I really am.

Last year there was a stretch of time when I was really struggling and I learned to fill my time with reading, music and I was fortunate enough to be close to Jamie's family that I often would go visit and spend time with her amazing family. I don't have the luxury of being that close to them anymore, but grateful that I had that opportunity and those experiences last year. Things happen for a reason and hard times come and go. At the end of the day (literally), when I am feeling at my worst, I recall how grateful I am for all the blessings in my life. There are too many positive things in my life, that feeling down for too long is not an option. I often feel lonely and sometimes even forgotten, but I know that that is never true. I am writing this as a reminder to myself but also to anyone else who ever feels or has felt this way. Things may seem difficult, but things aren't always as bad as they really are.


How about some positivity?
These last few weeks I have had so many amazing experiences.

1. I was hit from behind when I was stopped in traffic a few weeks ago. Plenty of damage to my car, but fortunately not too much damage to me. I was hit hard enough that my sunglasses went flying off my face and my chest hit the steering wheel, but thankfully because of my seat belt, there was no other damage. I have been having some back problems, but currently I'm getting help from a chiropractor and a physical therapist to restore some nerve damage that I have. Nothing that can't be fixed in a few weeks.


2. I hung out in studio with Mandi and Aubrey from this past season of the Biggest Loser. They're from right here in Boise, they are fun girls and they are very inspiring!


3. We interviewed and talked to your favorite 80's singer and mine, Debbie Gibson about her new RIDICULOUS movie, "Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus."

4. I was SO lucky to go to the Taylor Swift concert in Nampa. Gloriana opened, as well as Kellie Pickler. Both openers did an amazing job, but Taylor Swift is an INCREDIBLE artist. She often is given a hard time about her vocals, but this was hands down the greatest concert I've been to. Her set alone exeeded 2 hours and she just did an amazing job. I would see her again in a heartbeat (that is if I could get another ticket; she sells out EVERY show).


5. I spoke to Alison Sweeney at length. We were interviewing her about Biggest Loser, but I was the only one in the room when she called, so we discussed her 2 kids, what kind of breakfast she was making them, her guest appearance on Friends years ago, and her 15+ years on Days of Our Lives.
6. Hung out with Coach Pete for the 2nd time in studio, 3rd time overall. He is an amazing person, coach and a lot of fun to hang out with in the morning!

Makeover.

I am so lucky to work in the industry I do! I met Marie a few weeks ago when she came into the studio to help promote her daughter Lindsay's work with the Make a Wish Foundation. She heard on air (as did the rest of the Treasure Valley) that I was going on a date and she called in and wanted to surprise me with a makeover at Caliente, a local full service salon. Today was my date and I was able to spend 3 and a half hours with Marie as she highlighted and styled my hair, and did my make up courtesy of Mary Kay. She generously gave me the make up she used and I was able to enjoy my day free of charge.

Thanks to everyone who made this incredible day possible: all the great people at Caliente, and Hooker and Chad for coming to visit me at the beginning of my adventure. I am starting to understand even more just how lucky and blessed I am.

Looking rough. Hooker and Chad :)

Thanks to Marie and all the Caliente employees!

Alive? Yes.

So, I've been MIA for about a month or so. But in reality, I am alive and well! School is wrapping up for the semester, and I will starting up again about three days after they end. Yes it is true, this girl is staying in Idaho for the Summer months. I am slightly (and by slightly I mean entirely) depressed that I won't be going home anytime in the near future, BUT because of my decision to stay I will:

1. Spend less of my parents money by taking Summer school
2. Live by myself for the first time in my life
3. Be able to work at the radio station for a consecutive year
4. GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE IN DECEMBER

Needless to say, I am ecstatic!
To catch you all up on the last month or more of my life, here are some pictures for your enjoyment. I've been busy, overwhelmed, tired, frustrated (not unlike anyone else who is breathing) but extremely happy and grateful at the same time. Note: pictures are not in any order.

Celebrated my cousin Becci's daughter, BraeLynn's 1st Birthday in Idaho Falls.

Hung out with my roommate Baillie at Maverick one nice Sunday afternoon.

Worked 55 hours one week during Keke Luv's (pictured middle) 7 Marathons in 7 days. One of the jocks at our station, Keke raised awareness for child abuse in the Treasure Valley. One of the most inspirational weeks of my life.

Graduated with an Advanced Diploma from Institute. My home teacher and I ate some cake made by my roommate Baillie. Tasty. Yes.

Walked on campus (new Student Union Building pictured) with Baillie. :)

Worked at the station 5 days a week from 6 am- 9 am, having my life shared with the people of Boise. Tune in for the drama!

Visited Jamie and the kids in Herriman, UT. :)

Went to a Boise Steelhead's game with my cousin Ryan, and some friends from BSU, courtesy of my aunt and uncle.

Attended the BSU Women's Clinic with invitation extended by Coach Pete himself when he came into the studio one morning.

More of my hectic life to come in the coming weeks I'm sure! Miss and love you all!

March 21, 2009.

This past Saturday I had the privilege and blessing to be part of my best friend Kaitlin's baptism. Saturday morning we drove down to East Carolina and arrived at the chapel where I saw Kaitlin for the first time since she began taking the discussions. She was dressed and ready for her baptism, and looked more beautiful than ever.


Kaitlin is a wonderful person and I am so excited for her to be a part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Kait and I became good friends my senior year of high school and our friendship has grown since that time. I can't begin to count the number of time I expressed verbally, mentally or in a journal how much I believed she would be an incredible member of the church. I have learned that our time line is a lot different than that of Heavenly Father's and He knew that in time, she would be ready to listen to the missionaries and accept the words which they shared with her.

As I think about the last 4 years or so that I've known Kaitlin, my life has been blessed because of the person and the example that she is. She has always been a person of high values and morals, someone I could trust, and the epitome of what a best friend should be. We have had our fair share of disagreements like all friends, but I don't know if there is much I would change about the times we have been able to share together; especially her baptism day. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of this special and most important day of her life.

K and I through the years... :)