Sorry, didn't see you there

Ever notice how TV and movie characters seem to lack peripheral vision.  Things don't even happen behind them.  They are to the side and the characters don't even notice.

Dear Texas, How could you hold out on me?

I was reading a book and the guy wanted to buy his girl a "homecoming mum".  The florist asked if he wanted one, two, or three mums and if he wanted real mums or silk mums.  I thought, "I guess their talking about a corsage."  But then the florist asked if he wanted football and cheerleader charms on it.  I thought, "I guess their talking about a weird corsage."  But then the florist asked if he wanted a teddy bear attached to it and the ribbons to flow to the ground.  I thought, "What the...?"  Then the florist mentioned that some girls had to wear special halters to hold up their mums b/c their mums were so heavy.  I thought, "Time for Google!"

I googled "homecoming mum" and I think was speechless for a good ten minutes.  Then I called my sister-in-law to make sure they really existed.  They do.  Then I called my friend who has more Texas pride than anyone, and she confirmed that she wore one.

If you're a guy, you can wear one too.  But it's called a garter and instead of wearing it on a ribbon around your neck, you wear it on your arm.

Anyway, I've decided they are awesome.  So, I think Texas should stop being so selfish and share this tradition with the rest of the country.

Lots a Pomp and Circumstance

I graduated!

Robins

The Robins came back. This will be the third year they attempt to have babies next to our garage. For two summers we've watched the momma robin sit on her eggs. Then we've watched as the momma and poppa work endlessly collecting food for their small offspring. The little birds get bigger and slowly start getting feathers instead of the furry stuff they have as chicks. Then, just as they start to develop a little more- black birds swoop in and eat them. The first year, the black birds got a clean gettaway. The second year, the robins attacked the blackbird, causing it to drop the chick in the neighbors yard. The neighbors dog came out to investigate and scared the blackbirds away. So the robins sat on the fence and in trees calling for their chick. Finally, I snuck in the yard. The dog hadn't bothered the chick, but it was dead.
So, as you can guess, we aren't excited for another dose of nature's harsh reality this summer.

I'm a slacker

Hello 2011. I'm procrastinating my paper and what better way to procrastinate than to update a blog.
So in no particular order, here are a few pictures of things I've done this year. Well, three things anyways.

The ward volunteers at the zoo every year. After we finished we get to roam the zoo. Here's me feeding the Giraffes. I love the zoo.



Our project is to make seed sticks. The zoo sells these for a couple bucks a pop. After making them, we got to each take one to feed the birds. Here's my friend Derek feeding a bird. The seed sticks they sell aren't nearly as seed-filled as the ones we made ourselves. :-)


I just thought this was funny. I can't remember the last time I cut someone's head off in a photo. I'm not quite sure how it happened.


We had a pinewood derby in the ward. Being inspired by a photo of a shark car on my sis-in-law's blog, I made one too. Turns out the shark in her photo was built by my nephew. His was a little more impressive looking.



In January, we did our yearly trek up to the stock show. I love it. Here's me riding an Arabian. We went to a rodeo and a jumping show. It was great fun.


I've also been out to Utah a lot for school. My nieces are tottering about on their feet now. I can't believe how much they've grown!
I'm more than half way done with my Master's now. I can't wait to be done, but I dread it at the same time. What to do.....

I had a small scare the other day with my homework. I jumped on Facebook and all my class cohorts were talking about our upcoming research paper. But they were saying things like- I'm so glad I'm done and Mine isn't quite long enough, I hope he doesn't care. I thought- Wow! Everyone is really getting done early, this paper isn't due until next week. But then I thought- that's strange, EVERYONE is posting about this. Oh crap! Turns out it was due the NEXT DAY! I got it in. But that was one stressful day.

Anyway. Not much of an update, but I really need to get back to homework.

a tad behind, eh?

Update on my life. All is good. Work was really busy during the back to school rush. Now, it's empty. Here's a list of a few things I've done lately.





1.

I went to the Paint Mines a few weeks ago. This picture doesn't really do the colors justice, but it's really colorful. Apparently, the local Native Americans used to come here to get pigments for coloring stuff. I look forward to dragging my nieces and nephews there. I think they'll enjoy scrambling around.

2.



Went to the Utah State Fair on my last trip to Utah. My favorite exhibit was this sculpture made out of butter. Yum. What I wish I had a picture of was the funeral home cubicle. It was set up next to the arthritis magnet bracelet place. The guy manning the exhibit was watching Burn Notice on his laptop. I'm not sure why I found it so entertaining.



3.



I went fishing a week or so ago with Dad. I caught SIX fish. Kept three, threw three back. Dad got a few fish too. Don't feel bad about me out-fishing him, Maya brought him a dead fish on their walk the next day. Thoughtful dog, eh?





4.
I went Rock climbing for the first time. It was at an indoor rock wall. I was terrified and concerned that I would freeze at the top. But it was great. The walls went sixty feet up. Lots of fun and I didn't die. I didn't take my camera though. Boo.

So, that's it. School is coming along. I've been writing some websites. It's actually kind of fun. It'll be nice when I'm more familiar with everything. But it's kind of magical that the code I put in actually produces something.
Anyway, kind of an unexciting post, but there you are. I've updated.

Here you go!

Curtis showed me this over the weekend. Thought you all might enjoy it.