Blast From the Past

So this week has included a lot of new things, but also a lot of blasts from the past. By this, I specifically mean Michael Jackson and the Backstreet Boys.

Anyone that has known me for awhile knows that from about the ages 12-16, I was a crazed BSB fan. However, I did know my limits and never wrote them letters, chased their bus, or tattooed their names on me. I am enclosing a video of them from the Rosie O Donnell Show, maybe some of you remember this. It was the first time I had seen them, but my obsession never really began until I heard the first few strums of "I Want It That Way." And not just with the group themselves, that hot little blond one that sings in the middle was the one I had my eyes on.

I actually stayed up for awhile one night last week watching all my old concert videos I have of them, ones that I cannot find it in my heart to give away. I can laugh now at the cheesy things my brother used to tease me (and them) about (the outfits, dialogue, and dancing), but the preteen inside of me still has her loyalties.

Now you ask, what made you decide to suddenly start watching old BSB videos? Without keeping you in too much nail biting suspense, I'll enlighten you. My old friends have released a new CD, and this it's actually good. I've bought their last two CD's (Never Gone, Unbreakable) out of loyalty, but this new one (This Is Us) actually has some good songs. I popped it in the CD player when my mom and I went grocery shopping, and I knew I had to head back home and watch the old tapes. It really brings back some good memories. However lame they seem now, I really did love them, and I can't bear to rid myself of those memories, or my "Backstreet Box" containing all memorabilia.

Now moving on to a special night (this last Thursday) I went down to Provo to meet Sammy and Becks and see "This Is It." For those of you who don't follow Michael Jackson or his death, or are living in a box, "This Is It" is a documentary based on his tour that he was rehearsing when he died. I believe I can safely say that this tour would have been legendary having seen the footage just from rehearsals. I have been to a lot of concerts, and seen clips for a lot of others, and there has been nothing like this. It was pieced together so you could see performances and what the tour would have looked like, as best as they could. In between the songs, they had clips of him helping put it all together.

The reasons for this movie being amazing were 3-fold: 1) he was 50 years old and could still sing and dance like he could at the beginning, 2) he had his finger in every part of the show, and it was neat to see him put it together, 3) his songs are epic, and it was cool hearing them so loud in the theatre and see him perform them.

I will admit, I am a bit biased when it comes to reviewing this movie. I love MJ, and have for a long time. My roommate Becky and I once last year stayed up late one night watching old videos. We, on several occasions, would dance around our apartment to his music. His songs are amazing, and he is the GREATEST performer ever. I don't care about his private life, or anything like that. I like my Michael singing and dancing.

I will leave you with my personal favorite MJ music video. The dancing, tearing an air vent off the wall, and wiping his mouth are highlights of this classic video. Though I promised an update concerning my life, that will come later. I don't really feel like typing that stuff, but looking up pictures and videos has been a lot more fun!

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Ho, is my face red!

Yeah, I'm aware of the date of my last blog. I used to whine about how I never was doing anything, so I didn't have anything to say. Now, I am too busy. What a fine line.

I still don't have time for an updated, decent blog, so I'm just gonna post this to whet your appetite.

I am currently online because I am doing on on-line review for the class I TA for. No one has come into the chat room for help, but that's cool by me.

I have what is called a Journal Club Presentation tomorrow, and I'm pretty nervous. I haven't really gone over it yet........

And lastly but not leastly, I am heading down to Provo tomorrow night to see the Michael Jackon "This Is It" movie. So psyched, goin with Sam and Becks. I get to see them (at least Becky) pretty frequently still, but it's weird not seeing them every day!

Get excited, because another great post will be comin your way with lots more fun infomation. (It may not be for another couple of months, but cross your fingers!)

Beauty of Nature

I don't know how many people do this, but sometimes when I am driving on the freeway I tend to look at the sunset on Utah Lake, or the sunrise on the mountains by the point of the mountain and I just can't help looking again. If I am carrying a camera I will fumble in my purse for it and take some pictures whilst driving.


I realize this is dangerous, and probably would be for others, but since I am practically a NASCAR driver, I get away with it. Anyhow, as I was thinking of what to blog, and looking at the pictures I had, I thought I'd post these. I can never quite get enough of nature. It is so beautiful, and if I am in a bad or frustrated mood, looking at the mountains usually helps me feel so happy. And I am so lucky that I live in a place that has so many gorgeous mountains to always look at!



This is a video of nature at my very favorite. This is a sunny day that in true Utah fashion, turned very rainy and windy. I realize it is a longish video, but I love watching that tree roll around, it's pretty cool!

Big News

Well, after many months of preparation and worry, I got the letter I was hoping for. That is right folks, I am finally going to be a Running Ute. I have been accepted into the Coordinated Masters Program at the University of Utah. This is an answer to many prayers and much effort. I am excited to have a new direction in life and know what I am going to be doing. I will be sad to leave Provo after 5 years though, I have loved living here and going to school. Though I joke about it, BYU has been an incredible experience and I don't regret coming here at all.
I got the first acceptance letter about 2 weeks ago, but they still had to verify that I did indeed receive a undergraduate degree before they could send an official acceptance. I just received that official letter and I am going to start registering and all that good stuff. I have also been offered a job as a TA or Research Assistant which gives me half tuition and extra pay. I have also received some scholarship, which I am not entirely sure how I got, but I'll take it.

In other news, today has been a good day so far. Becky and I went to the Museum of Art on BYU campus and saw the Walter Wick exhibit. He is the guy that does the I Spy books. They had other photographs by him from other books, and also had some of the models they used from his books. His photographs are so creative, and he has the most clever eye. I recommend anyone to go see it, it is of course free. I feel so lucky to be able to live so close to a Museum that gets such great exhibits!!

Later today, Becky and I, and some friends from work (the ladies of Los) are going to the Festival of Colors at the Hare Krishna temple. I am trying to figure out what to wear so I don't ruin my clothes, apparently you stain everything thing you wear. I will probably post pictures, so stay tuned!!

Domestic

Yup, I made that. All by myself.

Oh Baby, What a Weekend (It's a Pun)

I was more than happy this weekend to take a couple days off and go home to Salt Lake. Why? Well because my sister-in-law Bethany and niece Ainsley were coming to town. Tom unfortunately couldn't make it because of a little complication called "being in Japan for business school". I left work and came home to Beth and the babe, and found out we were attending the University of Utah women's gymnastics meet. According to a very valid source (Anne), and most scientists agree (ha), that Utah's women's meets are the most attended of female college athletics. I remember going a lot when I was younger. I believe it is because Utah has a "dynasty" as the announcer put it, that keeps everyone coming back.

The coolest part was that it was also Senior Night. There were two seniors that were competing for the last time. One of them brought their good friend Nastia Liukin. You may remember her from her the Olympics.

They also started the meet off really cool. They had handed out those glowstick things, only to those who had assigned seating of course, and told them that when they heard a specific song to turn them on red and wave them around. It was quite a scene as you can see from the picture and video.

As I mentioned, Beth and the babe were with us from Friday until Sunday. These are some pictures of the cutest bug known to being. I like the first picture especially because it looks like those paparazzi shots of celebrities coming out of clubs kind of drunk and pushing the cameras away. By no means does this mean that it was actually vodka in Ainsley's bottle, but just a funny look-a like picture.

Valentines Day and Ace of Cakes

Though I had to work all Valentines Day, it still was a pretty good weekend. Early that day I went into work to help out in case they needed me. I got two tables, and then they let me off pretty early. Since both I, and a two co-workers, Russ and Brandon, were let off at the same time, we went to Rice King just down the street where we met my dear roommate Becky. Good food, fun chat.

We had every server, it seemed like, scheduled for work that night. And since there were about 3 people lower than me on the list, I did not have to stay until closing that night, though I was scheduled for it. I got off early and met some co-workers who were already at TGIFridays celebrating a happy Valentines Day!! The picture below is of all of us: Greta, Kymbra, Becky, Kelly, Bobby, me, and Jarom. I love Friday's, and fun company.

Then the sweetest thing happened when I got home. Becky knew that I wish I got packages in the mail sometimes. She and Sammy both got at least one apiece for Valentines Day from friends and family. So she had gotten up that morning and put together a "package" for me and set it up on my laptop so I could see it when I got home. She is so super sweet, and put a lot of thought into it. Love you Becky!!!

The next night, Sunday, I went home for our Annual Reese Movie-Thon. It started awhile ago when our mom was out of town over Valentines Day. We rent a bunch of movies and have special hogie sandwiches. This year our movies were "The Secret Life of Bees" and "Henry Poole Is Here". I give them a rating of B+ and B- respectively.

And if you are a roommate or a member of my family living in Salt Lake, you are probably aware that I have become slightly obsessed with a show on the Food Network called Ace of Cakes. It is a reality show set in Baltimore about a custom cake making business called Charm City Cakes. They make these crazy awesome cakes, and the cake decorators themselves are pretty entertaining to watch. My two favorites are Duff and Geof. What talent. If you are at all interested in my pictures (I tried to post a clip, but couldn't for some reason), check it out on the Food Network website, or fancast.com.