Sophomore

I love these girls.  Loved living with them, loved growing into my new-found independence with them.

 I cherish my memories of late-night soul-searching and feeling absurdly adult-like pushing a grocery cart through Macey's with Julie (who kindly put up with my scattered papers and shoes and well, everything).

With Lindsey, movie nights, giggle fits, fantastic music (and honestly Linds, one of my favorite memories is when we washed the dishes while listening to Saturday General Conference. And the time you took me to get a slurpee that night when I thought it could only get worse).

With Rachel,  slamming tim tams, sharing missionary stories and learning from her how to be gentler, more soft-spoken and thoughtful.

Spring semester has commenced and I have officially spent one week in my new digs with my new roommates.  There is Michelle, the vivacious returned missionary, Clarissa, the sardonic novelist (a not-so-hidden part of me wants to be a sardonic novelist one day, but first I'll need something to be sardonic about), and Katie, the sweet country girl.

I knew we were going to be great friends the moment Clarissa described the shower water as being "tepid," the moment Michelle suggested we go for a midnight run (and turned up a copy of Ender's Game that she brought to college) and the moment I walked into the kitchen to find Katie eating oatmeal with fresh blackberries.

The new ward's great--I'm only in danger of not getting my statistics homework done.  In exactly four hours I will be waking up to volunteer for a marathon with some of my ward-ees. The things I will do to get to know people.

And in the way of marathons, I did half of one last weekend, checking one of my goals off for the year.  My blonde stunner-of-a-friend Tawni and I had been training for it since January, but she tragically sprained her ankle the week before so I had to run it alone.  Whole marathon next?  We'll see.

This is the part where I would like to say something profound about my freshman year.  But it is 1:26 am and I am now getting up in three and a half hours.  I'm older, marginally wiser, and a whole lot more sleep deprived.  I am blessed with so many wonderful friendships-- thank you, thank you, for making my life so rich.

Good night!

Running Phenomenon

Before the morning run:
I'm going to run a half marathon, dang it!  Where's that training schedule?

During the run:
What on earth would possess me to run a half marathon?  13.1094 miles of torture is the most unappealing thing I can think of.   Pain. Sweat. Lungs on the verge of collapsing.  Stomach twisting nauseatingly. 

After the run:
 I should go look up dates and see if I'll be in town for the big race!


Seriously though, if I'm around in July (fingers still tightly crossed for D.C.  but I have about a 4% chance of getting the position), I would LOVE to do the Bryce Canyon 1/2 . I think I'd love it.  I tell myself that I would.

. . . I'd probably love it after it was over.

But really, who wouldn't want to run through this as the morning sun rises in the east?

Image via

The Lining is Silver

I've found a new fool-proof way to boost your mood from a downer 2 or 3 to at least a solid 6.5

Step 1: Put on running shoes and prepare iPod with this song:


Step 2: Soak in the lovely, harmonious sounds of Relient K as you pick up speed and get on the running trail of your choice.

Step 3: Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Yes, exactly four times.

Step 4: Take your headphones out, tuck your iPod away in your pocket. Take in the sounds of passing cars, rustling leaves, and whirling breezes. Return a smile and wave to the cute guy (or girl, depending. . . ) running by. Breathe deeply.

Step 5: Sprint the last leg home. Gulp a glass of ice water and cook up a hearty meal.

Step 6: Recognize that you can't trust anyone to sustain your happiness for long. Except you. And maybe Relient K.

I love how Meg Fee said it:

i don't want a life that's perfect. where every day is good. where happiness never falters and gives way to longing or loneliness or pain. that doesn't interest me. why try and hide what makes us human? show me that. give me that. offer up your humanity, your fault-line of divinity, and i will spend each day forging forward into that land where language has no meaning. to that place beyond words where we find and love each other wholly and simply.

First Week in Numbers

16.5- The number of credits I'm enrolled in this semester.
5- Classes to attend on Mondays and Wednesdays
11-hours spent on campus on said days.
15- Clementines I've consumed this week. They're my new apple.
4- Mugs of peach tea (instant relaxation and deliciousness to boot).
10- Hours on the new job.  Getting paid to learn new technology?  I'm down with that.
1- Application submitted to the Department of State.  Summer job in DC?  We'll see.
1- Trip to Urgent Care.  An eye infection.  And one wild bike ride to the clinic with only one functional eye.
3-Awesome professors.  I'm excited for Media Writing, Intro to PR, and World Lit.
1- No, let's make that. . .
2-Beautiful outdoor runs.

Au revoir!