I Draw the Line

About a month ago I joined a group on Facebook called "BYU Freshman '08-'09." I initially believed it to be as good place to meet people who will be living near me, and make some contacts before I get out to school. Pretty innocent. However, then discussion topics started showing up like: "AP and ACT Scores," "ACCEPTANCE STORIES!" "Monson Scholars," and "Beat the Freshman 15!"

A. Don't start a discussion group just so you can brag about your full-ride scholarship.
B. The Freshman 15 typically comes from alcohol, which shouldn't be a problem at BYU.
C. Nobody cares about ACT and AP scores past high school.

My favorite, however, is the sub-group which formed off of this group called "BYU Freshman '08-'09 T-Shirts." Ok, yes, I am a freshman, but I have no desire to shout that to the entire campus by my attire. Seriously. My goal for next year is to rise above freshman status. Here's one of the four design options on which the group members can vote:

In case you can't read the quote next to Super Cosmo, it says "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all." Inspirational, right? For the low cost of just 5.50, you too can shout to the world that you just graduated high school.

Working Weekend

I'm currently at work at Evergreen Hair Company, and the day is winding down. I normally just work Friday afternoons, but the girl who works mornings took off today and yesterday for her birthday. There are only two stylists left, and it's nice and quiet.

My main duties as a receptionist include sweeping up hair when it is cut from our clients heads, ringing up clients, and taking care of the stylists' tips. I also clean around the salon and get drinks for the clients. We have a mini fridge stocked with Capri Sun, Fresca, Pepsi One, Coke, and even a couple cans of Bud Light. ??? We really care about providing something for all ages and tastes.

I never love coming to work because I feel like I have to pretend to be busy, and I make $8/hour, but have to drive 20 minutes into the mountains to get here. Not ideal, but it's money. The way I make it through these open to close days is by thinking of things to look forward to throughout the day. Much of these motivations consist of the lunch and snacks I bring. Today I had a highly enjoyable lunch break reading Pride and Prejudice and eating my PB&J and peach. I also brought 3 pieces of my Grandma's Divinity, which I ate at strategic intervals to keep me going. My main motivation today is the Office party I'm having tonight. I'm expecting a pretty good turn out, and I'm excited to watch the Office all night and eat ice cream sundaes. However, I still have all of tomorrow to work up here. Bah.

200 Have and Have Nots

I took this from Charlotte's blog, who took it from Jill's and Kristi's blog, who both responded to Neighbor Jane Payne's post. Here are 200 things I either have or have not done!
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun--C3PO in 1st grade. My friend was Yoda.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie--all self-directed and filmed when I was 12.
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone--I think that being with John and Sarah counts (ditto to that!).
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph--road trip to Utah
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch--does messing around on my brother's cello count?
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe.
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter--does this count??

Thoughts of a Graduate

Yes, I have officially completed high school! My last day of school was a couple weeks ago, and I loved walking out of Wheat Ridge High School knowing that I never have to go back! (as a student at least.) I went out to a fun little cafe' with my friends that night and it hit me that I wasn't a high school student anymore. That was a dynamite moment fo sho!

Graduation was fun. My choir sang the national anthem and "Danny Boy," which has been one of our favorite pieces this year. Sadly, starting on four different notes in a big stadium with only a pitch pipe for direction, we started in about 20 different keys. The result was a painful, creepily minor and dissonant introduction. We pulled it together for the rest of the piece, though. I'm sure glad they got that performance on DVD! ;)

It was a weird feeling last week to realize that everything to do with high school is behind me, and all that's ahead is BYU, and adulthood, a both exciting and terrifying prospect. I can't wait to move to Provo and live the BYU life. Every time I wear or buy a new outfit, I picture myself in it on BYU campus, walking from my dorm to classes, and hanging out at Charlotte's. However, adulthood and college also comes with a price tag labeled: You owe us $7,000+ sucker. P.S., you don't have that much money; neither do your parents, and there's no way you can make that much in one summer. I several jobs and settled on a nannying job for which my English teacher recommended me. I prayed a lot during my job hunt, and feel like this is the way to go. It's only for July, and won't make all the money I need, but I have some other jobs for when I'm not nannying, and I'm trusting the Lord to show me what to do. I really want to avoid student loans, and am praying that a couple more scholarships come through. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and taking whatever jobs come my way.

Oh, I also need to figure out what classes I'm going to take next fall, which was a little overwhelming last time I tried to figure something out last Friday. I'll try again this week, and make several calls to Official Supportive Advisor Sister Charlotte. (I'll have your badge and cape to you later this week. :) )

That's my life right now. It's pretty good though. Looking back, I'm happy with who I turned out to be after high school. I was worrying a couple weeks ago about how I can possibly survive I college. Will I keep up with the homework? Will I be able to get past the homesickness? Then I remembered how many hard days the Lord got me through in high school. Duh! The Lord can do anything, and He's on my side! My new motto is "I Can Do It!," because I can!