The Mother of All Catch-ups

Believe it or not folks, I am alive. For those of you giving me a hard time for not posting since December, I'll have you know that I've started about 5 posts that I never got around to posting. I may have a few retro-posts in the next few days, if I deem them worthy...but I've decided that I have to move forward instead of fretting about the stuff I neglected to blog about before. Sound good? Good.

So, how about a little update on what I've been doing in 2008? I will add photos where available and try to keep my descriptions to a minimum so as A. not to discourage my finishing this post and B. to keep from putting you to sleep.

JANUARY

I rang in the New Year w/ a yummy Thai dinner, a dance party at my house and lots of really great friends. My roommate Amber and I brainstormed some new mottos for the new year, here's one that I tried out on Jan. 1st. Learn to skate in 2008!! (That was my first time ever on a pair of roller blades.)
Still later, Becca and I volunteered to serve food to the homeless on Martin Luther King, Jr. day. It was the first time that day held any real significance for me. It was a really moving experience...not to mention a cultural one! Becs and I were the only white folks for miles! Everyone was so nice and welcoming and I'd love to help out again next year!

At the end of this month, our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away. He is truly missed, but we also openly welcome our new prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.












FEBRUARY

Uhhh, I don't think I can remember anything significant in February, besides school and work...and neither is really noteworthy. Moving on.

MARCH

Now March was a pretty eventful month. We started off the month w/ an homage to the 80s. It was pretty much every 80's cliche that you could think of. And while the TV show "Saved By the Bell" only began in 1989, several of us chose that as our inspiration. Here is Kelly, Zack, Jesse and AC Slater! In this other group, you will see JEM (she's truly, truly outrageous) and some other 80's hotties.









Mid-March was my BIG trip of the year (so far) to Puerto Rico for some tropical fun and relaxation. Well, that was the plan, anyway, but it was foiled when a winter storm stirred up the seas so severely that no one could get into the water for most of the days that we were there. So no bio-luminescent bay, no sailing trip around the Bermuda Triangle, no snorkeling...and barely even any swimming. Sigh. In spite of all of that, however, it was one of the best trips I've taken because of the people I got to spend it with. There was a lot of bonding that went on in that rented minivan of ours. VIVA PR!! No puedo expresar! (PR buddies include, Jen, Danny, Becca, Steph, Becky and Aaron)
At the end of the month the famous DC cherry blossoms hit their prime and my roommate, Amber and I went down and took some pictures of them. In fact, we even documented a well-beloved Primary song in pictures...but you'll have to go to my Picasa account to see the whole thing.












APRIL

The month began w/ a trip up to Rochester, NY to visit my friend Jen's parents and also catch the sights in Palmyra, which is only about a 20 min. drive away. This happened to be conference weekend and we attended the Solemn Assembly in Palmyra and I was just in overcome by the universal love for our new prophet, President Monson. It was really amazing to almost physically see a change in him as that mantle was placed upon him. I'm privileged to have been a part of that experience.

Afterwards, we walked around Palmyra and had the missionaries show us around. It was very quiet due to Conference and the cold weather. It was a lovely day, though and we all enjoyed some quality time in the Sacred Grove, viewing the various Smith homes, the Visitors Center, Hill Cumorah, the Grandin Press, and the Palmyra Temple grounds. Although only a short trip, I think I gained about 25 lbs. from Jen's mother's cooking and all the food we consumed on the drive up and back down. WHEW!

It's a good thing that in the next few weeks, I joined in on a Biggest Loser Challenge put on by some friends that included approximately 75 people, I believe. Some participated in groups and others individually, but it was a really great opportunity to pay closer attention to my eating, exercising, sleeping, etc. and get myself in a better way. It was mildly annoying (read: extremely annoying) that this also fell right during finals, but I suppose it actually was a good thing since I didn't lose too many points even when I was staying up all night writing papers!

But I digress... Let's see, the next big thing was the Cherry Blossom Parade, which always takes place after the cherry blossoms have all blown away. Sigh. Kind of lame, if you ask me, but whatever. Our ward volunteered again, but I was able to enjoy it more since I wasn't in charge of it. Wahoo! We had a few showers, but mostly it was a lovely, sunny day!

The following weekend, was the Lupus Walk in DC. This is the 2nd year that I've participated, because one of my friends suffers from Lupus. I was happy for the opportunity to do even just a little bit to bring more awareness to the disorder and hopefully help w/ funding so that they can find better and better treatment and someday a cure!

The last week in April was one of the most stressful that I've experienced in a long while, mostly due to my astonishing gift for procrastination. No really, I promise I'm better at it than you. Uhhh, this blog should be proof enough. Anyway, even though I was way past my ears in papers, some great friends still got together to make me the most scrumptious dinner on my birthday. (Spencer is cutting the delicious raspberry, chocolate cheesecake he created for me and Alexia was in charge of the main dish!) I was so touched that they'd all take time out of their busy schedules and do that for me. Thanks everyone! I still have some of those Strawberry Milkshake Oreos under my bed...mmm. Why, Nabisco? Why must you torment me like this, by only making them a limited time treat? You're evil and I hate you...until next year when they come out again and then I'll be your most devoted slave.

MAY

And we're almost caught up, can you believe it? So, Mid-May, some friends and I, (Jamie, Becky and Wendi) drove up to Lancaster County, PA and enjoyed the beauty and fun of Pennsylvania Dutch country. We went to Lancaster (correctly pronounced LANK-ih-stir, rather than the more common pronunciation LAN-cas-ter) and visited a big market...and bought some apple butter, good hearty breads, some traditional crafts and had our first intro to whoopie pie. Having no basis for comparison, I don't know if it was that good, but man...it was pretty durn good!! Before I go on, I also have to comment on how genuinely friendly and outgoing everyone was. I wasn't expecting that. I didn't find the Amish or Mennonites to be reclusive or stand-offish at all. So that was a lovely surprise. After that, we made a short visit to a local museum and then caught a buggy ride. We learned a lot from our driver, who was a young woman raised in a Mennonite family, but was not a member of the church. She explained ways to tell the Mennonites from the Amish and what it was like to grow up in that kind of community. She was what could be considered a "rebel" by bucking tradition and going on to get a college education. Most Mennonite and Amish children only go to school until 8th grade because they believe that higher education is another way to become too worldly. Isn't it an interesting thought that rebellion could take the form of something good like education? Anyway, we drove around more, stopping in Intercourse to go to a Rhubarb Festival (not my veggie of choice)...eat another whoopie pie (we couldn't resist, I mean come on!!) and drink some homemade rootbeer. We ate at an Amish family restaurant and after we were thoroughly stuffed to the gills, we kept driving, hitting towns like Bird-in-Hand and Paradise, where we saw a pretty covered bridge. And yes, that's right, Paradise comes after Intercourse. Look, I don't make this stuff up, okay? And that was the end of that.

And then this last weekend masses and masses of single Mormons flooded the Outer Banks of North Carolina for Memorial Day weekend for volleyball, relaxation and non-stop flirtation. I was in a much bigger house this year than last and I got to know so many awesome people. And yes, I did take part in my fair share of flirting. How can you not when it's the sport of choice? ;) I managed to keep from getting burned to a crisp and really did have a great extended weekend with some really great people. (In the pics, L-R, Ani, Me and Becca, people who stayed in "Heart's Desire" (where I stayed) and "Of Pines and Pelicans" - thanks to Kim, Ani, Melissa and Chelsea for putting all together!, Rich, Me & Emily neither spoke, saw, nor heard any evil while at Duck Beach. And how could a visit to the beach be complete without an homage to Daniel-san? Bless you, Andrew Gibby.)
And now it's just about to turn into June. Holy crap, for REAL?! And it's summer! I want to do so many things this summer!!

• Explore DC/VA/MD and the east coast as much as I can
• Travel back to UT for a short visit, if possible.
  
• Stay consistent w/ exercise and better eating habits.
  
• Run a 5k or 8k
  
• Spend time w/ good friends.
  
• Reorganize and possibly paint my bedroom.
• Make myself a better person.

So nothing too extraordinary, right? What are your summer plans? Anyone want to come w/ me to take some interesting walks or bike rides through DC? Hit a renaissance fair? Go to Boston, Philly or any other number of east coast cities? Anyone interested in going w/ me to the Holocaust Museum? I still haven't been, but I'd really like to go and I think it would be best if I had someone to discuss it with.

Okay. That's it. This post is far too long as it is. Happy now, folks? Whew! Let's see if I can keep this up. Maybe it'll be more interesting when I'm not playing catch-up.