A Craven Thanksgiving

1.  7th Annual Pie Night: friends, family, and undercover vegan bean pies.

2.  Impromptu Christmas jams with Steven and Co.

3.  Foregoing Black Friday shopping with an impulsive trip to Angel's Landing.

4.  Of course, lots and lots of family time!

AMCAS, Med School, Primaries, Secondaries

Ran across this on a friend's blog and just had to share, because it makes me laugh out loud:

I am completing my last secondary application today, which is to Duke.  I am excited to be done!  It has been a long and rigorous process, which I probably made harder on myself by procrastinating.  Don't procrastinate your medical school applications!

In other news, the fall weather is BEAUTIFUL.  Each day I have set myself next to an open window and breathed the crisp autumn air, which is probably giving me a cold, so now I simply bask in the sunshine that filters through the windows.

Starting today, I will no longer need to (only) bask in the sunshine, for I will be out playing in it!  And while we're on the subject, the moon is quite full: perfect for some midnight adventures.  Go crazy, folks.

Vacation - Rochester, NY

Rochester is a beautiful part of upstate New York.  Settled right on the coast of Lake Ontario, this city is home to University of Rochester School of Medicine, where I attended a medical school interview.  The entire stay was wonderful and I had a great time interviewing as well!

Big, big sky somewhere over Iowa (hello missionaries!).

Ben and Celeste were ideal hosts, and cooked for us every night.

My friend Dave and I interviewed one day apart from each other, so we decided to spend the weekend there together.  While Dave was in his interviews, I wandered around in downtown Rochester, eating at the delicious Dinosaur Grill, visiting the Eastman School of Music, and photographing interesting architecture.

The colors in this photo are my favorite.  Also I enjoy the rhythm of the windows and staircases.

Ugliest building in Rochester.  Like a car accident, I just couldn't tear my eyes away from it.  It says "Times Square" above its gloomy double doors.

Rochester used to have a subway system, which has been abandoned, leaving behind some cool looking bridges.  I saw some amazing graffiti in there but was too afraid of getting mugged to photograph it.

Construction scaffolding at the Manhattan Park (even though Long Island is 6 hrs away from Rochester)

Dave and I both had a great experience in our interviews, and would be very happy to attend Rochester for medical school.  After Dave finished up his interviews, we rented a car together and did a little sight-seeing!  First, we drove out to Niagra Falls, then doubled back through Rochester to visit Palmyra, where the LDS Church has its roots.  We spent time in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith's home, and at the Hill Cumorah.

Niagra Falls!  There's Canada in the background.  We rode the Maid of the Mist, but naturally I kept my camera well-covered.

The Sacred Grove in Palmyra.  I was surprised to see how close it is to the Smith Family Farm.  You can tell you walk upon hallowed ground amongst those trees.

That's the Palmyra Temple you see through the trees.  They had to cut out a hole in the foliage so we could see it from where I'm standing on the Smith Family property.

Dave and I on our way home in our SWEET rental car!  Thanks Hertz!

Utah State Fair

Fresh-squeezed lemonade, corncobs dipped in salty butter, rides on the ferris wheel (or not, because the line is so long and there is so much to see), petting donkeys, plugging our noses around the pigpen, and sharing a block of fudge while perusing the shops for keepsakes.  In short, an All-American Thursday night!  Gotta love the State Fair and the friends who make it memorable.

Labor Day

Today, I caught myself wondering to myself, "why do we celebrate Labor Day?"

Wikipedia tells us this:

"Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 5 in 2011) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers."

And here is a little history as to how it came to be:

"The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York.^[1] It was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Laborin May 1882,^[2] after witnessing the annual labor festival held in Toronto, Canada.^[3]
Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.^[2]. Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congressunanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike."

I spent my Labor Day with my fam, and I'm surprised at what we were able to cram in:

breakfast of waffles and bacon, skiing on Deer Creek, swimming at the pool, watching the US Open, lunch on the go, a motorcycle ride up to Guardsman's Pass (very pretty this time of year), 9 holes of golf at the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course, then homemade pizza before coming home to my singles ward Family Home Evening.  You just can't argue with free donuts.  And now, it's time for all of us to admit to ourselves the truth of this last excerpt from Wiki:

"Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white."^[

Happy End of Summer, folks.  I am not returning to school this year, which is weird, but it feels like summer is ending just the same.  I'm pretty excited for football season though - I hope my Cougs have a good first year playing independent!

BEHOLD! PIXELMATOR!

I downloaded Pixelmator yesterday, and I tell you what this is a gnarly little program.  Look at what I made (from scratch), using free downloadable content from the internet:

(If you really want to admire these, click on the image to view it full size)

Jon of the JBB has asked me to take over some graphic design for the band.  I'm pretty excited and these are some preliminary images from what I worked on today.  Took me about 2 hours to make these guys, but they're pretty cool, right?

Sommer, wunderbar Sommer!

You know, my mom used to live in Germany when her father, my gramps, was a mission president there.  They lived in a palace.  Literally a palace.  It is sooo cool.  I've always felt a little bad that I've never learned German.  But that's beside the point!  I want to show you some pictures of my AWESOME summer!

Summer began with Ashten's return from Cedar City.  Hooray!

Lots of laughs whenever I'm around my crawdad friend Jenna.  This is us before the Bruno Mars Concert!
You really should check out her blog:  http://mouthofthesouf.blogspot.com/

Always love a visit from Marci and fun in Midway!

Janessa invited me to volunteer at the Utah Valley Marathon.  GOOD JOB, GO RIGHT! We yelled for an hour.

Rock Climbing at the Slips!  Tristyn is always a good climbing buddy.

These are some of my students - I helped them prepare for the MCAT!   Here we are blowing off some steam in the mountains.

I've joined the Jon Burgoyne Band.  We've recorded some good stuff and played some fun gigs!  This is Steve putting together a track for Clawson's wedding.

Lots of family time, which is best spent at RSL games!  Go Real Salt Lake!

Andrew and Robyn got married and it was beautiful!  This is us, waiting for the Andrew & the Guys pictures, at the Salt Lake Temple.  Later that day, we ate at the Lion House and got drenched in the rain.

Setting up to play at the Oakridge Country Club.  Loved it, not to mention the free dinner!

Lots of hikes in the canyons.  Here we are at Dogwood Lake.  Thanks Ashten!

Clawson came out of his cave (planning his wedding) to do lots of boating.  We never have many pictures 'cause we're too busy having FUN!

Practicing for Clawson's wedding.  Lucky braved the hot weather in a sexy cardigan.  A slave to fashion, that boy is.  Never looks anything but sharp.

Bear Lake Boating Trip with my singles ward!  Holy smokes it was fun, and I met some amazing new friends!

Sommer, wunderbar Sommer.  I haven't left the state, but I tell you what - I've been finding out about all the fun close to home.  I wish it wouldn't end!

Canyon Climbing!

Gordon climbing in Provo Canyon

Getting my belay on!

Lauren learning her knots.

Alaina and I, storming Dogwood Crag.

Such great heights!

One of the tallest climbs my 60 m rope can handle.

Exploring the slips with Janessa and Co.

Coleslaw keeping me on the wall.

Look at the view!

There are SO MANY things to love about climbing:  the physical exercise, the outdoors, the friends (and how you trust them with your life!), the thrilling views, and the challenge, to name a few.  It's my goal to climb somewhere every single week of the summer, so if you want to get involved - come climb with me!!

Summer!

... but it sure doesn't feel like it!

     Once again, I have been reminded that I am not invincible - I have been running daily in order train up my knee, which bothers me when I run long distances.  With the weather so bleary this week, I refused to give in and ran in the rain anyways, on some days for an hour or so - and now I have a sore throat and a headache!  In May!!

     In other news, my medical school application is due in just over a week, I start my 3/4 time job on Monday, and I officially dread going down to Provo.  I used to love it, my friends, but that city is swiftly becoming dead to me.  I love Salt Lake so much more!  Last weekend I ran around with my friends up at the Capitol Building and took pictures, experimenting with the "low light" mode on my camera.  We had some cool shots:

Front of the Capitol

 I love that they light the flagpole and fly the flag even at midnight.  God Bless America!

Back of Capitol Dome Detail

 I always struggle with compositions, but with architecture it seems a little easier.  Love that moon in the background!

Salt Lake City Capitol and grounds

If you're in Salt Lake City, I would really recommend coming here to check it out - the property surrounding the capitol is absolutely beautiful.  We're in a little park area behind the capitol here, and in the front is a large beautiful lawn with rolling hills and some trees.  Good place for a picnic this summer.  Any takers?

Springtime!

Well I can't believe it.  I am now a BYU Alumnus!

But the adventures don't stop there.  Now that I have graduated, I'm continuing a little bit of work for Altius Test Prep, while I prepare to tutor the summer program full-time.  In the meantime, I have a little extra time on my hands to take care of the essentials (like washing my car for the first time in 6 months!).  This is what I've been up to!

I graduated!

Went crazy at Missy Marlowe's that very weekend.

Played with my nephews.  Charlie is so adorable.

Went climbing with my friends in Rock Canyon!  I love climbing so much!

 Celebrated my Dad's birthday with family.  Here's Emily's one-month old baby, little Benjamin.

I'm excited to take it easy for a couple of weeks, but even more excited to really get crackin on the Altius Program with my new summer students!  I love my job, and I love SUMMER!

Hare Krishna Hare Hare!!

I attended the Festival of Colors with some of my friends this weekend.  It was CrAzY!  Photos:

I got plastered with color, like most other people.  My first bit of color:  the green around my eyes.  Somebody threw it right in my face with my EYES OPEN.  It's also the last color to come off - despite my best efforts, I still have a little bit around my eyes and it looks like I'm wearing makeup.

Usually 4-5 people were crowd surfing at any one time.  To the left of that center pavilion, they burned a "witch" doused in diesel gasoline.

Arguably the most fun and most dangerous portion of the event:  a coordinated color throwing.  After everybody screams the countdown from 10, the world explodes into a whirl of yellows, greens, and pinks, which mix together and fill your lungs until you feel like you're going to pass out from all the scented chalk.

For any who haven't been to the Hare Krishna Holi Festival, do yourself a favor, and go next year!  It was fun to mingle with the locals in mutual support and celebration of the Hindu religion.  What a fun time!  I'll see you there next year!