I'm going to do a Photo a Day challenge for May! I'm excited about this. Hopefully this will give me more photo fodder for the blog. And hopefully it'll give me some awesome new photos!

P.S. I just got some prints back from MPix and they turned out awesome. I only did some 4x6's to test out my monitor's calibration, so since it all looked good I'm going to order something on a larger scale. I'm way excited about this. :)

Is it just me or does everyone start their blog post about five times, erasing after each attempt, before they decide that what there presenting to the internet nether-world is adequate? I should start keeping track of how many times I write something, read it, decide it's not witty enough, erase, and start over again. This is my blog. Shouldn't I just be able to type up whatever the heck is in my head? I guess not.

Anyway, some updates on my life recently:

1. Kenn and I just got back from an awesome concert, The Black Keys:

2. My family got my mom this precious gem for Mother's Day:

Her name is Eva, she is a boxer, and she is the cutest thing you have ever seen. Schatzi and Sophie, of course, will have nothing to do with her. Mom has been spending a lot of alone time with just Schatzi, so that Schatzi knows she's still "special". Preventative measures in case Schatzi decides to go collapse into a pile of dead white fur with her last thoughts being "oh no. It's for sure this time. They didn't get it right with that little mutt they call "Sophie", so now they've really replaced me with a new dog." Like I said, Schatzi is special.

3. I am still looking for a job.

4. McKenna and I saved a turtle today while driving back from Tulsa. This is big news. Apparently it was "Community Turtle Suicide" day today, because we spotted five turtles in the middle of the highway within the space of an hour.

5. Today is Sunday! Yay for Jesus-ness!

 Kenn and I are headed to Tulsa today to see the Black Keys in concert! :) I don't know if I really need to add anything to that. That statement alone should make this blog post awesome, right?

And if you don't know who this band is, do us all a favor, including yourself, and educate your woefully uneducated self with the following video:

As much as I rat on Utah, it can be a really beautiful place. Especially southern Utah. This was taken on one of our many trips from Arkansas to Utah.

Anyway, I haven't really been up to much. It's great to be back in Arkansas, surrounded by greenery. And family. And good food. Just surrounded by goodness. 

I need to go take more photos of people. I know I have TONS of photos to share, but I feel like I've already used it all on here. Maybe I'll wrestle one of my siblings into letting me torture them with a camera....

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint on it you can."

Danny Kaye

"Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe."

Thirty-six hours later and I have arrived back home in Arkansas. Who would have thought that driving through flat, boring plains, otherwise known as the state of Kansas, could exhaust someone as much as it does?

Anyway, there is not much to update anyone on in my life at this current moment. The job search starts tomorrow... or the next day...

For now I'm just going to breathe in the wonderful scent of Arkansas-ness and enjoy being surrounded by excessive amounts of greenery.

In celebration of the fact that the two of us have officially started our summer vacations today. Wishing you all a humorous and entertaining day.

P.S. I know you're digging those leggings, aren't you?

This is what I feel like doing right now. At approximately 12:30 today, about an hour and a half ago, I turned in my final for Political Science 328. I am officially finished with that class. Do I even care what I got on it? At this point, no. The sense of accomplishment and finality that I'm feeling right now is insanely awesome. I still have my economics and history finals tomorrow, but my mood is not dampened in the least. No more 328! I just... oh my goodness. I can't even handle it.

Anyway, I thought I would just share my happiness with the world.

I've had some pretty cool adventures in my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Somewhere between Kansas City and Denver

The summer days are gone too soon
You shoot the moon
And miss completely
And now you're left to face the gloom
The empty room that once smelled sweetly
Of all the flowers you plucked if only
You knew the reason
Why you had to each be lonely
Was it just the season?

Now the fall is here again
You can't begin to give in
It's all over

When the snows come rolling through
You're rolling too with some new lover
Will you think of times you've told me
That you knew the reason
Why we had to each be lonely
It was just the season

Will you think of times you've told me
That you knew the reason
Why we had to each be lonely
It was just the season.

Shoot the Moon

Norah Jones

Because I can only sing this in my head now.

I can feel the sun peeking from behind the trees. Please come quickly next Wednesday.

This isn't much of a post. The internet is being slow, per usual, though.

Finals week, please be kind?

So I've almost made it! I survived classes! I just need to get through finals week...

My last day of classes wasn't going to let me go so easily. Yesterday I had my final project due in my stats class. That alone is saying enough. But I will elaborate anyway.

 Everything was going great on this project of mine. I worked on it a bit in the morning and all I needed to do was rerun an analysis and then edit it and make sure everything sounded fine. After class, I go to the lab, open up the document... and realize it's the wrong one. Shoot. I run the analysis I need to and realize that there is no way I can finish my project unless I get the right document. It's now three o'clock, I'm on campus, my paper is at home, I haven't actually typed up the analysis, and the project is due at five.

Crap.

I think that was the fastest time I have ever walked-ran from the SWKT back to my apartment. I work on it until 4:20 rolls around and I decide to just print it off without going over it one last time. At about 4:30 I get that stinking project turned into the box and wipe my hands clean. Of an accumulation of sweat, anxiety, and terror. Man do I hate cutting it that close. But. I am finished now. Take that Wednesday, April 11th. I got my project turned in on time, I went to ALL my classes, and I win.

I started packing up last night. I swear packing is one of the most therapeutic activities. Maybe because I've done it a number of times (really what college student hasn't?), but I love it. It's starting over fresh. Every three to six months. What am I going to do when I'm a grown up and have to live somewhere for longer than a year? 

We'll jump that hurdle when we get there... hopefully it'll be a we... and not just a me... living all alone... by myself. That's such a depressing thought.

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

J. G. Holland

This is what I feel like doing right now. The last day of classes couldn't have come soon enough.

“You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

-Benjamin Mee in We Bought a Zoo

Happy Easter! With a high of 71 degrees and perfectly sunny skies here, I really feel like emphasizing the "happy" aspect of that statement. My roommates and I are planning a nice dinner together (pulled pork sandwhiches. So good!) and dying some eggs (we bought this sweet "Glitter Eggs" kit. Our eggs are going to be totally bing-binged out.) I hope everyone else has a fabulous Easter as well!

If I am ever a teacher, I will not make the final project due the last day of class. It's cruel.

I just need to think more with this mindset:

"We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve."

Maxwell Maltz

Sometimes I don't know if I want to be frustrated with how complicated life is, or if I'm grateful it's that way. Sometimes I wish I had all the answers, and sometimes I'm glad I don't. I think it would be a little overwhelming.

Answers to prayers amaze me. He's clever, Heavenly Father. Even an answer so simple as "Don't worry about it." Not "it'll all work out" or "this is what I want to happen." Just "don't worry about it." And I feel at peace. There is uncertainty but there is no apprehension. Whatever happens, I guess only time can tell.

Even if you don't believe in God, how can you not believe that something is out there? That someone or something is guiding us, listening to us, or even just watching our progress.

It's getting to be that time again. When I just need to get out. I know you get that feeling too.

I'm ready to be back in Arkansas. I want to get a job so I can say I'm a productive member of society. I want to workout every day over the summer. My exercising patterns have been abysmal this year and my sleeping patterns are letting me know. 

Things to look forward to this summer:

1. No more Political Science 328

2. The Black Keys Concert

3. Sleeping in

4. Humidity

5. Being surrounded by trees again

6. Family

7. A lack of stress (which incidentally also implies clear skin. yes.)

8. No homework

9. NBC

10. Coming back to Provo next year with a fresh start. I need those, I think.

Well, I think I've rambled enough for one day. There's a lot on my mind lately. I just wouldn't share it here.

Sorry. Instead you just get to skim the surface.

Remember when we used to go everywhere together?

Now I never see you.

I don't think I ever thanked you for saving me from country. Thank you. So. Much.

Can we go traveling again? I'd like to see Croatia... or Washington state. Do either of those sound cool to you? 

Love you.