the same dilemma

This happens at the end of every semester!

I like to check things off my to-do list, I like to "get a lot done," and I like to stay away from stressful situations (i.e. lots of reading, homework, and projects at the last minute).

Thus, I am done with all of my reading and homework for the rest of the semester! I signed up to give my final presentations yesterday and today and to have my internship exit interview yesterday. I am done.

"Oh yay," you think. "Good for her," you think. No, not so. Because this happens every semester and every semester, for several weeks, I am bored out of my mind!

There is still a week and a half of classes left, plus a week of finals which for me this semester will be a breeze; I'll be done on the first day. But, Ben, like every other student in Provo, still has so much to do!

Why do I do this to myself? I always think it's going to be such a great idea and that I will love having everything done. But no. I am bored. This is my last semester, so obviously I never learned.

I've gone through my entire GoodReads To-Read list and BYU has not a single one of the books I am interested in. I have two books in our apartment and I've started both but neither grabbed my attention.

You can only watch so many episodes of Parenthood on Netflix.

You can only exercise so much.

You can only cross-stitch for so long.

I've already re-named and re-organized all of my Pinterest boards.

I need some ideas here!! Preferably of a good book . . . as good as "The Help" or "Sarah's Quilt" . . . After my run of amazing books last semester nothing seems to compare.

Ideas, anyone?

;)

friday favorites

1. A Thanksgiving feast with Jamin, Anne, Aunt Ellen, Uncle Creed and family. Joyous!

2. Spending Friday in the Alzheimer's Unit. Working a full day is tiring!

3. Buying a carton of Roasted Almond Fudge from the BYU Creamery. It is my all-time favorite ice cream so I am attempting to eat myself sick of it before we move so that I don't miss it.

4. We joined Netflix this week!

5. We only have 4 more items left on our Utah Bucket List!

6. Ben & I enjoyed nice big bowls of popcorn last night until I noticed a spider crawling across my shirt . . .

friday favorites

1. A 17-month wedding anniversary. We're pros by now.

2. While we're in Utah, every wedding month-iversary we get a slice of Magleby's chocolate cake to share. We had this month's slice last night and when we opened it, we both leaned down to smell the yumminess . . . and bonked heads.

3. Vocal Point concert tonight!

4. Ben's flag football team, "da ducks," is in the Elite Eight! Ben had 3 touchdown catches at last night's game.

cha cha cha!

Early yesterday morning I got to go see Scott compete in DanceSport. He competed in the Cha Cha and he did FABULOUS! He made it all the way to the fifth round! Seriously, that's pretty dang good! I was very proud to be his sister.

This is him and his partner coming off of the dance floor for the first time. He didn't know I was going to be there - SURPRISE!

His partner's sister and I happened to be sitting really close to each other, so for one of the rounds, they gave us a great view!

Doesn't he look so great!??

cool

Karin Myers

Campus Hire Spouse

San Francisco

Ernst & Young

Quality in Everything We Do

This is what my name tag looked like tonight. And I am so happy about it!

Last year, EY had this same dinner to congratulation students who had been made offers for internships or jobs. We went, of course, and were excited when we saw the spread: Italian sodas and mingling to begin, then a hearty and delicious dinner, followed by dessert which consisted of a choice of three cakes plus the cupcake tree on each table. Not even a boring speech or anything! Great!

Except last year, I had a horrible random stomach ache and I felt terrible the whole time (thank you, Mr. Parasite) - I even left early . . . before dessert! I was sad. A little vindicated when Ben brought home the cupcake tree, but still sad that I had not had an enjoyable experience.

I got over it. I did. It wasn't that big of a deal, even though it may seem like it because I am writing a blog about it.

But when I heard that we were invited to the same dinner this year, I knew that I had to redeem myself! I prepared well . . . I made sure I had no chance of a stomach ache and I made sure I was hungry, but not starving to the point of a headache. I suspected the event would be similar to last years.

It was. I enjoyed my raspberry vanilla Italian soda. I devoured my mashed potatoes, pork sirloin, steamed veggies, and salad. And I relished my cupcake and chocolate/cream cheese swirl cake. In short, I redeemed myself from last years poor experience.

The best part was my name tag. Last year we hadn't officially accepted our offer so there was no "hire" on the name tag. I'm not sure it even said spouse (although I was one). But this year I got to be the spouse of a campus hire in the BAP-Advisory office in San Francisco. It just all felt so official! And cool. Mostly, I felt cool. And that is why I'm writing this blog.

Doesn't it feel cool to feel cool?

friday favorites

1. Meeting my brother Scott on campus for lunch every Friday.

2. When, during a ballet performance at the assisted living home this week, one of the residents tried to get on stage to join the dancers.

3. Having the in-laws in town!

4. When we're at a restaurant and Ben says "You know my policy: it never hurts to ask, and always order something that's not on the menu!"

driving the alpine loop: a big fail

Before coming back to Provo for our last semester, Ben and I made a bucket list. I was adamant that "driving the Alpine Loop in the Fall" be on there - in fact, it is the first one listed. I have heard from numerous friends and cousins how beautiful the fall leaves are, but for one reason or another, fall after fall I have failed to drive the Alpine Loop! This fall, our last fall, I made absolutely sure that we did not neglect this item on our bucket list. And we didn't . . . we just did it a little too late.

Take a look:

Nope. Not a single leaf!!!

. . .

I finally managed to take this single picture of some leaves on a tree. Only part of the tree is showing because the rest of the picture would be dead leaves. Ha!

Who would have thought, because this is what the trees look like down in Provo! I guess you just have to be smarter than the trees. :-/