Bucket List

• Road trip to Texas - check
• Run a marathon or half marathon - check
• Travel to the east coast, specifically DC - check
• Go to Jerusalem - PENDING

Yay :)


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And just because I know you're curious, here are a few others on my list:

• Ride a horse side saddle in a dress
• Watch the sun rise over the ocean
• Hike the Grand Canyon

Happiness

So I read this op-ed this morning and I really liked it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17kristof.html?em

Maybe I like it because his second example sounds like an LDS woman. I like what this article says--that the truest and most lasting happiness comes from looking outside of yourself. It's interesting that so many people have trouble finding true happiness that we need to conduct studies on it and write books about it. Happiness does not need to be so mysterious and unattainable.

The things in my life that bring me the MOST joy are:

• The Gospel
• Helping others
• Positive relationships
  

Favorite Things This Week

Carrie Underwood's Cowboy Casanova.

The light of the setting sun on the mountains (I missed this while in DC, but the light of the setting sun on the Lincoln Memorial over the Potomac River puts up a good fight).

Skinny jeans and boots. I like this functional trend.

The Kite Runner.

Listening to NPR as I get ready in the morning.

Leather gloves (thanks, Mom).

Free copies of The New York Times.

Senioritis

For the second time in my life. The last time I had it started the end of my junior year of high school.

Why do I have senioritis? Because

(a) I have been at BYU for 3 1/2 years...and I still have another year to go.
(b) Many of my friends have graduated, including my good friends from the PR program. Fortunately, many of them are still around the town so we can keep in touch anyway (right??).
(c) After making the transition from school to an internship, I finally decided I LIKED having a full-time job. Right about the time I started liking it, it was time to return to school again.
(d) As many of you know, I like to move and try new things. I get antsy being in one place or doing the same thing for too long.

On a more positive note, being a senior is a wonderful thing because

(a) I see people I know everywhere I go.
(b) I feel that I have valuable knowledge I can share with the young ones that will hopefully improve their college experience.
(c) For the most part, I know the system. I know what I can and can't do, and there are few surprises.
(d) I know more about my major, and I can do more with it.
(f) Teachers don't intimidate me so much anymore. And I'm friends with many of them.
(g) I can reminisce the whole walk across campus as memories of my younger self play in my mind. It seems like every smell, song, and sight is a catalyst for one good memory or another.

Stay tuned as I attempt to figure out life's next big question:

What should I do this summer?

I may, perhaps, have a better idea after the next week or two :)

Day 1. Again.

Ok, so I know I have been horrible about updating my blog. I probably won't be any better in the future, but I decided to write some thoughts about my first day back at school:

• I felt awkward. It wasn't as easy for me to jump back into things as I thought it would be. I have to relearn to divide my attention between about 10 things, instead of just 3 or 4. I think I've gotten a little slower in my time away from school.
• I love my classes.
• I made a lunch last night. Then I forgot to take it with me to school today.
  
• I ran into lots of DC friends on campus!
• I have class with one of my new BFFs Rachel, and we had lunch together, too.
• The PR office was welcoming and wonderful.
• We had a Washington Seminar reunion tonight because it was Kit's birthday. Kelli made him a rocketship cake. I LOVE those guys so much.
• The library printers were all broken today when I needed them. On the plus side, I befriended the computer guys who had to help me print. Then I somehow spent $20 on printing. Maybe those guys weren't as friendly as I thought they were. I will see what I can do to take care of that problem tomorrow.
  
• I was late to two of my classes.
• I wore a cute outfit.
• I found out that lots of my friends from live within only a couple of blocks!
• I have wonderful roommates, a great place to live, and a big room ALL to myself (for now, at least).
• School is good. But it's hard to be back. It's good to know I am exactly where I am supposed to be. And I'll move onto something else soon enough, so I might as well enjoy it while I can.