End of Summer Update.

It has been forever. I know. You've missed me, but now I'm back!
The end of the Summer was eventful, emotional and I learned a lot about myself. Sure, it was just the end of a season but, "season" has many meanings and I find myself having gone through one the last little while and find myself entering a new one as Summer ends.

First my parents and I dug up our front yard. We had some ugly shrub things there for about, sixteen years and we removed them finally. Woot.




It was time for my wisdom teeth to come out. I wasn't nervous about the surgery so much as I was about "going under." I don't like to think about sleep for too long even if I'm just going to bed. It makes me nervous, and being put to sleep made me more nervous. But, I came out alive. I wasn't in too much pain afterwards, but it wasn't something I'd ever want to do again. I got some nice gifts though: flowers, balloons and large lollipops!



I received my diploma from Weber State. Just an Associate degree, but it is an accomplishment.



I had a few friends over from '06 band. It was fun to get together again and see how much we've changed, and how much we've stayed the same.



I was finally able to visit the new Newseum. For those who might be unaware: I love the news and media. It was expensive to go to this museum but, it was worth all the money. Also you can see in this picture I bought myself new sunglasses. They are extra fly. :)



Mom, Dad and I went to Duck in the Outer Banks of NC again this year. It was a blast. We only spent a few days there but, I soaked it up in the Atlantic as well as in our backyard pool. This picture won't rotate for some reason. Sorry.



My good friend Sarah and I went to KingsD. We rode all the major roller coasters, the carousel, ate chicken sandwiches and ice cream and purchased a funnel cake for the journey home. A great day!



I finished the best summer job ever. I loved every minute of it. I already miss my coworkers and all the fun that I had with them this summer! Here are a few of those who kept me cracking up. They made me the shirt I am wearing in this picture.



I was able to see Jamie and her family for a few days as I made my way out to Boise. I will miss living so close to their family this year.



Now I am living in Boise. I just finished my first week of band camp and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and the school year. Go Broncos!

Opinions Please.

Last week I went to a lunch meeting at work where they introduced the interns to some of the VPs and we were able to ask questions and seek out any information we wanted. Our meeting was productive, and I learned a lot about what it is exactly that this market of COX is looking for. Some of the things they said I will save for another post (after I am no longer employed...) as I have many opinions on their views of college degrees, work experience, study abroad and the Verizon Company.

One of the topics we spent a large portion of our time on was real life experience in fields that we wanted to go into. One of the HR reps pointed out how important it was to get involved with organizations in your field, to join boards and to simply be involved to be in the know-how in your field and to of course maintain a solid network. These are things I had often thought about but never really pursued. I feel like sometimes I am still in the awkward stage of "becoming an adult" and I don't want to take real life (specifically a career) too seriously, but I know that it is probably time, or passed time.

So I figure, it's time to get the ball rolling (insert manditory picture or video...)



I have been doing some research since then and have been looking at becoming a member of the STC (Society for Technical Communication). There is a chapter that meets on the Boise campus and as I continue to read more about it and learn about it, I think it would be beneficial. But I am still looking around and trying to decide what organizations or activities would be best suited for me.

I wanted to seek the opinion of those who read my blog. I think there are about six of you. :) While the numbers may be few, I know that I have brothers in-law and cousins and cousins in law, and sisters and parents and aunts and uncles and friends and random readers who have been successful in their education, careers and in their lives in general. I have not forgotten what things are important to me in my life or in my future but for now I am specifically talking about moving ahead in a career and in my education. If you'd be willing to take some time to leave me a post about suggestions you have for me, regarding being successful with my own time at school and things I can do that would help me in my career, I would really appreciate it.
You are all the best!

"Call" Don't "Send" part 2.

Many of you will remember a few months ago when I first posted about a problem that is plaguing our society (see March posts to review). It's a problem that spans from old to young. I discussed the scientific aspect of it, in that it is formally considered an addiction and more specifically a mental illness. As printed in the American Journal of Psychiatry:

There are four distinct symptoms to diagnosing texting as a mental illness:

Excessive use (neglect day to day activities)
Withdrawal (feeling depressed when not accessible)
Tolerance (over texting)
Negative repercussion (social isolation)

At one point or another, I have felt all of these. But I'm at the point now where I can care less. I will check my phone to see if someone called or if someone texted me but, I'm not getting upset, I'm not constantly opening and closing my phone and I have no problem going out or spending the whole day at work without it.

This morning as I was on my way out the door to work, my mom shared this picture with me from the New Era Magazine. How perfect, how fitting, and how true.



At the bottom it says, "Those you are with deserve your attention, not just your presence. (Matthew 7:12 (Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.))

Go and "Get Smart"

First I should just be entirely honest and say I love Steve Carell. Any movie he is in I will probably think is the "best movie of all time." My bias towards him may influence my thoughts on his most recent movie "Get Smart," but that aside I can honestly say that this movie was one of the best I've seen in the last year.

For all who watched the TV show, you need to know that I haven't ever seen the shows. Immediately after watching the movie however, I came home and YouTubed the series and watched numerous clips and outtakes in order to get an idea of what the five year series was all about. The movie is not a direct steal from the series. A classic series such as "Get Smart" can't truly be duplicated. Something like that wouldn't be and is never successful.



The movie had just the right amount of action, humor and romance. I feel like in movies such as this, a lot of the time one genre often outweighs another too much and it just becomes overwhelmingly annoying. Except for humor, because one can never have too much humor I don't believe. And with Steve Carell at the lead, this is seemingly impossible to be lacking. The action scenes are fun and true to life, and definitely work for both Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell. The romance between the two is a little unnerving at first thought (for me specifically because of the real-life age difference between the two), but again it really works and is a success.



I don't know who I think I am. I am no movie reviewer and I wouldn't call myself Roger Ebert or Richard Roeper or more locally Arch Campbell. But I really am a fan of this movie and think that if you have some spare time and a spare Hamilton lying around, you should see this, keeping in mind that it is rated PG-13. So while you may approve of you children watching the show, you may not approve of them watching the movie for a few years.



My friend (who has seen the entire series) said it best as we were listening to the music during the credits (because let's be real, no one reads the credits unless they are looking for a specific person's name) when she said, "Yeah. That was really good. I didn't even want to kill myself throughout the entire thing."

Homeless No More!!!!

It's ALMOST official! When I move to Boise in four weeks, I will not be living in a cardboard box somewhere relatively close to campus as to avoid a commute. I have a great place to live thanks to a wall posting at the Boise LDS Institute that was emailed to me, and most importantly to Tami and Danko for checking out the place, ensuring that it wasn't "a dive." It wasn't thankfully and from the pictures that they emailed to me, I think I will be living well.

First, how amazing is it that you can live so close to campus without really living "on campus?" And with the wonderful price of gas (Not that I am paying..shout out to Steve and Tracey), I am quite lucky (The gray area is campus and right below it is a red marker, this is the street I will be living on)!



And yes if you are looking closely, you will notice that I am living on Yale Court. My mom really appreciated this factor. Maybe if I'm good some Bulldog osmosis will occur. The place is about three years old, and it looks nice from Google Street View. Each floor has two apartments, so technically I will only have three roommates but there are eight girls living in the house.



Bedroom.



Another shot of the bedroom with Tami and Ryan. :)



How incredible is it that I have my own vanity and toilet and shower????? While I may not be the girliest person you've met, this is something every girl wants. Let's be honest.



Desk and closet area, with Tami measuring the room for me. :)



Tiled living room, with Ryan!



Finally, kitchen and laundry room!




Come Visit!