Happy Halloween

Boo.

A few things: I found out several weeks ago that Nintendo is apparently coming out with a Nintendo DSi in the near future. First of all, DSi? That sounds too similar to Apple, I think. But oh well, I can go with it. I wasn't a fan of the name "Wii" for their newest console when it came out, but it's grown on me. The thing that really gets me, though, is that I finally bought a DS Lite this summer, after years of having the old DS. Who would've known that if I just waited a bit longer (supposedly it should come out sometime next year in the US), I could've gotten the newer one instead? I really didn't think that they would go and make another upgraded version of the DS. Maybe it's just me, but I think that's a bit much, and they should be working on something new. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the DSi will be sweet, and I would love to have one, but the whole situation just disappointed me. Just bought the DS Lite...

Also, I'm still completely hooked on Red vs Blue. I can't get enough. This past week, actually, when the new episode came out... well, to make a long story short, it was supposed to come out at a specific time, but was delayed, so I stayed up... much later than I should have... eventually went to bed, and it ended up coming out the next day (19 hours later than they initially said). And all I have to say about it, is that it. Was. Awesome. Overwhelmingly awesome.

For Halloween today, I decided to dress up as a nerd. No, not the stereotypical nerd with glasses and a pocket protector and all that jazz. I know I'm a nerd, and so by being a nerd for Halloween, I didn't have to do anything extra. Just be me, and there you have it. (That line is for you, Dad.)

And with the closing of October, I realize something... where on earth did the month go? Don't get me wrong, I am in no way unhappy about it. September seemed to go by slowly, but October just seemed to fly by. The semester is half over! A little more than that, I think. The only bad thing about that is that it means more tests are coming up soon. But I can deal with it.

That's the way things roll.

Live for the Moment

Well, Happy Hump Day everyone. Wednesdays can be so lame... especially since this weekend is going to be so nice. We're not having marching band practice on Thursday or Friday, so I just have two classes on Thursday, and one on Friday morning. Besides that, the weekend is free! Not to mention we don't have a football game to go to this week, so Saturday is also free, aside from work.

I've realized that now that I have a plan for the future, I want to just get on with it already. The classes I'm taking now are just required stuff that I need to get over with for GE credits (plus a couple art classes), and don't seem that meaningful. I'm looking forward to this semester ending, because I feel like I'm not fully invested in my classes now, and that I'm mostly just going through the motions until I finish this semester. However, I've also realized that life is a great gift, and so is the opportunity I have to get an education here, and I shouldn't take it lightly. Sure, the classes I'm in now pretty much aren't a big deal for the future, but everything I can learn here is important. Every moment of my life is special, and I take most of it for granted. I shouldn't always be looking toward the future, waiting anxiously for whatever is coming next, and ignoring the time that I have now. This stage in my life won't last forever. I have so many blessings in my life, and I will enjoy the little moments.

Conference Weekend

The past week went by smoothly enough. On Friday BYU had an away game, about three hours away. Everyone in the band had the option to go or not. I decided to go with the band, even though it meant that it would take up most of my Friday, and limit the time I spent on my computer graphics assignment that morning. As it was, I just got up a little earlier to do that, took about three hours or so, and finished that. Then I had an hour or two to have lunch, spend some time online, and get ready to go. The game was fun, but slightly disappointing. We did win (against USU - Utah State University) by 20 points, but from what I hear BYU is in the top ten college football teams and USU is in the bottom ten. Or something to that effect. So everyone was expecting to do better, maybe even get another shut-out (it would've made three in a row). But at least we still won. And we had fun.

On Saturday, I watched the morning session of General Conference in my apartment. After that was over, Debbie and I drove to Midway to visit my aunt Carisa, as well as Nana and Poppy (my Mom's parents), who were visiting from Idaho. We had a great time there. My little cousin Carson told me that I was "too skinny" when he hugged me. Haha, thanks Carson. ;) We then watched the afternoon session of Conference, and later had a delicious dinner. Afterwards, Debbie and I drove back to Provo, and she was kind enough to take me shopping. I didn't get too much stuff, just replenished some things I'm running out of.

On Sunday, Debbie and I got up early and drove to Sandy, where Trevin and Kalisha were visiting her family for the weekend. We had a great breakfast, with extra bacon. :P We all watched the Sunday morning session of Conference. Between sessions, a bunch of us played various games - pool, foosball, and Disney Scene It. Lunch was great, and then we all sat down again to watch the afternoon session. Overall, General Conference was fantastic. Very inspiring. Once it was over, we played The Great Dalmuti, which is a lot like Scum, for those who know, just a bit different. Dinner was really good, and then Trevin and I played another game of pool before he, Kalisha and I left for Alpine (where Carisa had gone back to that evening), and Debbie left for Provo. I would've liked for Debbie to come to, but she needed to get home instead. We visited with Carisa, Nana, and Poppy and played with the kids for a while, and then we all left again for Provo.

It's after weekends like these that I hate going back to school.

One Month Down

Well, I'm now about one month into school. Thinks are going pretty alright so far. At the beginning of the semester, I did end up changing half my classes. Now I'm basically taking some GE classes, a couple music classes, and a couple art classes. One of them is a beginning piano class, which is so fun! I've never had piano lessons of any kind before, so I'm really excited to learn a little. And right now, since it's for people with no piano or musical experience, it's really easy. We haven't even done scales or anything yet, actually. But it's great. Probably my favorite class of the semester.

My New Testament class I'm taking with both Trevin and Kalisha, which is also awesome! I get to see them at least twice a week, this way. We all sit together during class. Not to mention, I really enjoy my teacher. I'm taking biology, which is actually really interesting. For some strange reason, the particular class section that I'm enrolled in is focused just on birds. So while all the other Bio 100 classes are learning the stuff we all learned in ninth grade, I get to learn all about birds. Plus, there have been optional "field trips", where a small group from the class would go with the teacher at 7:00am on a specified day to go birdwatching, for about two and a half hours. I went once, and though I wasn't a fan of getting up at 6:00am, it was fun.

The other classes I'm taking are Computer Graphics (fun), Music Fundamentals (really easy), LDS Marriage and Family (really enjoy this one), Intro to Art and Drawing (fun, for the most part), and Marching Band. Most of my classes are fun or interesting to one extent or another. I have a pretty decent semester. Although, since my art classes are both one night a week for three and four hours, between that and work I have no evenings except for Friday and Sunday. But hey, it's all good.

I've also been watching Red vs Blue a lot lately, which I love. It has a bit of swearing, but it's so funny. I also work at the Cannon Dining Center again, as a custodian, which is fun. Since my school schedule is so odd, I can't work the normal shifts, which are either Monday/Wednesday/Friday nights or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday night. So I work on Monday/Tuesday/Saturday night, with both the custodial crews. I enjoy working with all of them, though.

Other than school, work, band, and the random things I do to waste my time during the day, I'm not up to anything else new. There have been plenty of confusing things going on lately, but things are pretty okay right now. I absolutely can't wait to come back home over Christmas break, but in the meantime I'm enjoying myself up here at school.

Back To School

Well, I'm back in Provo. I just finished up a week of marching band, which left me with no time to do anything else. But it was really good, because I was working hard all the time, so it took my mind off leaving home. We then had our first football game of the season, against the University of Northern Iowa, which we won. Of course. :P It was great fun.

I'm moved in to my apartment, which just so happens to be the exact same one Trevin was living in last year, and I'm even in the same bedroom that he was in before, though I'm not on the same side of the room that he was. They must have changed which side of the complex is the boys' and girls' again, but seriously, what are the odds? Haha. I also went grocery shopping for myself for the first time, which was a new experience. And one that I'll have to get used to pretty quickly. Luckily, Jeffrey took me. He offered tips, plus he gave me a ride. :)

My roommates seem to be really nice. Charlene and Allison. All of us are sophomores, which is pretty cool. I think we'll all get along great, and it'll be fun to live with these girls.

School starts on Tuesday, which seems to be later than every other school I know of. But hey, I'm certainly not complaining. This year is going to be a busy one, but hopefully it'll also be a fun one.

Back Again, Leaving Again

First off, the trip to San Antonio was fantastic. When we went to see the Alamo, I was actually pleasantly surprised. After hearing from so many people that it really wasn't a big deal and wasn't very big, I had settled on the idea that while it might not be much to look at, it was still an important piece of Texas history. But it was actually cooler than I had expected.

We then went to the River Walk, which is great. We ended up eating at Café Olé, which happens to be the same place I went to with Alex and Rachel R. on the band trip our Freshman year. Oh, it brought back memories. Only, this time Rachel wasn't there freaking out about the time and thinking we'd be late, even though a table or two away from us were some of the chaperones. :) There was also a small Mexican band, I guess you could say, who ended up playing The Devil Went Down To Georgia for us. It was awesome.

Sea World was wonderful, of course. The first day, we did mostly animal shows, which were great. The second day we did mostly rides. It was interesting, actually... the first day we went, we had to take our passes that we had purchased online and printed off, and we also had our thumbprints scanned. The second day was the same, and when I scanned my thumb again, the screen said that my bio didn't match. For a moment, I was like... what?? I swear, I didn't change myself or my thumb between yesterday and now... and then I think the guy pushed some button or something and it was fine.

Schlitterbahn was really fun, and I'd never been before. We had half a day the first day, and were there all day the following day. It was really fun, and it's been a long time since I've been to a water park. Also, the Master Blaster was awesome. I'd never ridden an uphill waterslide before, but it was so cool. In both ways, actually. It was great, and it was cold. But we had a lot of fun.

Ever since we got home, leaving for college has seemed to come closer and closer, and now the day is here. I'm leaving tomorrow, after we go to church. We're going for the first hour, and then leaving early so that we can have dinner together before I leave. I can't believe school's already about to start. I'm looking forward to it in a few ways, but it's definitely very bittersweet. It's hard to leave home. When I do get there, though, I'm planning to stay with Jeffrey and Debbie for a few days, maybe a week, until I can move into my apartment. I can move in sooner, but it costs money before the 30th. Not a lot, but still, money is money. I'm just glad Jeffrey and Debbie are willing to let me stay there for however long. After a week of marching band, classes start. We have that Monday off, for Labor Day, and we start on Tuesday. And once that comes... it'll be a busy semester.

So for now, I've just been packing and enjoy my last few days at home. Packing has been oh so fun, of course. Right... but at least I haven't had to work since Tuesday.

Oh yeah, and Chanelle's birthday was on Thursday... which was fun. I can't believe she's 12 now. She'll be in Young Women now. She's growing up... *sniff* I supposed we all have to, sometime or another. I wonder when I will... :)

To San Antonio!

So, I finally saw The Dark Knight the other day. It was really good. A little creepy, but great. I wasn't disappointed.

A week from tomorrow I have the great pleasure of leading the music in Sacrament meeting at church. And since you can't tell just by reading that, that was sarcastic. :P I already conduct the music during Relief Society, which is significantly less frightening, because there aren't so many people in there. But Becca Hay asked me if I could do it, since she'll be out of town, so of course I agreed. And you know what, it seems intimidating, but it'll be fine. In the end, I don't mind.

I also bought a DS Lite a few days ago. Sweet! It's so nice in comparison to the old DS (sometimes referred to as the DS Phat :). I decided on the white one, even though there was a decent selection at Target - Cody has black, Chanelle has pink, and the others they had were white, blue, and red. Of course, Mom liked the red one the best. The blue one was also cool. But white just looks so... nice? I don't know. I just like it. So now I'm hoping to sell my old one. If anyone who reads this (who is local) knows someone who would be interested in buying it, let me know. It still works fine and everything, so if I don't sell it before I leave for school, hopefully I'll be able to do so when I'm at BYU.

Later, also at Target, Mom and I decided to get a new bedspread and sheets for my bed, since the old bedspread I had is, well, getting old. I ended up keeping the same blue color that my walls are painted, for the sheets, and getting brown for the bedspread. We're now thinking of painting a part of my walls brown, and leaving the rest blue. So yeah... I like it.

Tomorrow, I leave with my family to go to San Antonio! Tomorrow we'll go to the River Walk, and probably will see the Alamo. From what I hear, it's no big deal, really, but at least I'll finally be able to say that I've seen it. The next two days, we'll be at Sea World, which is awesome! I've been twice in the past, on band trips, and I loved it. I can't wait to go again. The shows are cool, and the rides are great. The two days following that, we'll be going to Schlitterbahn, about an hour away. I've never been, but I've heard that it's a really neat water park. Then we come home Friday, afternoon-ish, I'm guessing.

That Friday evening, I'll be going to Allison's reception. She'll be married! It still blows me away. I can accept the fact, but when I really think about it, it's still so weird. When did we ever grow up so much?