2008: My Events in Review

The ten biggest and best things I did this year.

10. Surviving my first finals
And they won't be the last...
9. Moving out
I was anticipating it all Summer and it was rough at first but now I'm having the time of my life.
8. Graduating
Surprisingly graduation wasn't all that boring. It's nice to have High School of my check list.
7. Finally driving.
I finally sucked it up and started driving (thanks Dad) and got a car (again, thanks Dad).
6. Rock Band Live
My first concert and it was so much fun! The Cab, Plain White T's, Dashboard Confessional, and Panic at the Disco. Being on the floor was definitely an exciting experience!
5. Going to Washington for Thanksgiving
It was a long drive and a short visit but it was worth it!
4. Kylie being born
Nothing says exciting like a baby being born. Especially one that cute!
3. Britney and her family visiting in the Summer
It was fun to have them here for Kylie's blessing and the 24th of July. Even though I had to baby proof my room for Ethan. And I still have his binky on my desk.
2. Going to San Francisco for Art History
Imagine being in a big city with some of your closest friends for four days. Museums, the bush man, street vendors who can spot tourists a mile away, all so much fun!
1. Going to Washington for two weeks in June
I was so glad I got to do this even though it inhibited my summer job hunt. I got to spend a lot of time with my niece and adorable nephew going to the park and having fun. It was also nice to be with my sister since she lives so far away and watch movies with her and her husband.

2008: Movies in Review

I don't think I even saw 10 movies in the theatres this year. So these are the ten that I think I saw (pretty ridiculous I know) from worst to best. Really, the very worst to the best. Not good to best. WORST to best.

10. Jumper
Yeah, it has Hayden Christensen :) but that doesn't mean it was good. It really didn't have a point.
9. Step Up 2
I kind of felt like a poser when I saw this. Cool dancing though.
8. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
I pretty much only saw this because it was the last thing I did with one of my friends before she left for college. It's just not my style of movie.
7. Penelope
Cute I guess, but again, not my style.
6. Twilight.
The book was so much better. Enough said.
5. Kung Fu Panda
It was pretty funny but I'm just not much of a Jack Black fan.
4. High School Musical 3
Haha, I didn't realize how high up on my list that movie was. I guess that just tells you how many movies I didn't see this year. It's fun to watch it and see how much it is not like High School.
3. WALL E
I thought it was pretty cute. A little long but I'm a Pixar fan so it was worth it.
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Long story short it was more fun to try and get to the theatre to see it than it was to actually see it. But it's still a good movie.
1. The Dark Knight
Easily the best movie I saw this year. If you've seen it you know why.

2008: Music in Review

My favorite songs of 2008 (This one was hard because I love so many songs!)

10. That’s What She Said – The Friday Night Boys
It sounds like it would be a bad song but it isn't. I really like the sound of these guys.
9. Touchdown Turnaround – Hellogoodbye
I like the electronic feel of Hellogoodbye. This song can always put me in a better mood.
8. Big Bad World – Plain White T’s
After seeing them in concert (totally amazing live by the way), I knew I had to give them more of a chance. This song is from their latest CD which has a lot of other good songs on it too.
7. The Resolution – Jack’s Mannequin
They actually use a piano! And you can hear it! It's hard to find bands that do that.
6. Where Were You? – Every Avenue
I was completely obsessed with this song over the summer. It's fast paced and fun.
5. Broken – Lifehouse
Lifehouse can't really make a bad song. But I do like the CD version of this song way more than the radio version. They're just a little bit different.
4. Dakota – A Rocket to the Moon
My roommate could tell you that I listen to this song a ton! Again, there's kind of an electric feel to this band but it's a good Alternative song.
3. Northern Downpour – Panic at the Disco
Really deep song with a great music video. And it was great to hear it live too!
2. Viva la Vida – Coldplay
I, along with about a billion other people, completely love this song. I think it's the bells in the background that I like most. I dont really know why...
1. Take My Hand – The Cab
I became completely obsessed with this band this year. They are completely my style. Not so great live but I still love this song. I can't explain why but it was definitely my favorite this year!

Room pictures

So it's kind of dorky but we decided to take pictures all together as an apartment. We were all going to wear white shirts but then I realized that I left my white shirt at home. So we did half white and half black. In the top picture from left to right it goes Kortney, Kara, me, Jami, Jana, and Alli. In the bottom one starting with me and going clockwise it goes me, Alli, Jami, Kortney, Kara, and Jana. We went out kind of late though so we didn't get many pictures but we're going to do it again so that we can all look "extra cute" and actually have it planned out more than an hour an advance.

Mosaic

This is the finished final project of my mosaic. It took at least 15 hours to make. You kind of have to look at it from far away for it to actually look good. In the middle is Christ holding a book and you can't see it very well but his other hand is in a blessing gesture. It looked better without the grout because there were a lot of little pieces that then got covered up by the grout. He has a halo around him, for holiness. The cross is behind him as an obvious symbol of his death. The lily is basically Mary's symbol and the pelican is a symbol of his sacrifice. So there you have it. Part of the reason as to why I was so stressed out last week! I haven't gotten it back yet with the grade but I'm crossing my fingers for 100%. The actual mosaic is only half the score. There is also a two page paper that goes with it explaining the symols, the technique, and why it is a "Byzantine style" mosaic. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it yet but I guess we'll just play it by ear.

Half way through my first semester!

I guess I supposedly started this blog just to talk about college and how it’s going and stuff. The roommate situation is pretty good. Kara and I get along really well. Throw Kortney in there and we have a fun mix. But our apartment is pretty divided. It’s become sort of an “Us vs. Them” situation. Kara, Kortney, and I against Jana, Alli, and Jami. It’s a bummer because I really would like it if we could all get along. Oh well, I guess we just can’t call our apartment Zion.
I’m not really sure what to think about college so far. Part of me wants to go back to high school just for a week. Everything there was so familiar but few things here are like that. When I was a sophomore I knew all of the classes I would take for the rest of high school and pretty much stuck with those. But now I don’t know what I’ll be taking next semester let alone next year!
I’ve been trying not to kill myself too much over homework. We spend at least 10 hours in the library every week. I have never worked so hard in my life. I never knew I could push myself this far either. I thought that taking 4 AP classes last year would be good practice but I was wrong. This is so much harder!
I don’t really have any good stories to tell. I study hard during the week and play hard on the weekends. The weeks go by so fast and I can’t believe it’s November already. Soon it will be Thanksgiving and then finals. But now it’s time to gear up for another week with a job hunt, 7 page research paper, and one test. Oh goody!

First Entry

Well, I'm finally starting a blog at someone's request. So here it is. I'll work on coming up with some sort of exciting second entry. But as for now I have some studying to do. Studying just so happens to be the words student and dying smooshed together. Go figure.