Alphabeat

Another post so soon??? Oui oui!

I came across this little beauty as I was doing homework. This is a fantastic Danish band that is unabashedly pop-fabulous!! This takes place at Denmark's X Factor, so the people that come in the middle are not members of Alphabeat. Please watch and appreciate the music, dancing, and tambourine!

Blog Nostalgia: brought to you by Spring Break!

So what does any normal person do over Spring Break?

Volunteer early in the morning three days out of the week to catch up on hours? Check

Plan spending 90% of the day doing homework? Check

Messing around on the computer instead of actually studying? Check

See at the Y, we never got Spring Break (I capitalize it because it is just that important). I always would say that I liked it better that way because we got out earlier than other schools, I wouldn't get lazy during the semester, blah, blah, blah..... I'm pretty sure I was just making excuses because I was subconsciously jealous. Because here is the deal: SPRING BREAK IS AWESOME!!

Sure, I haven't actually spent a lot of time doing relaxing things, gone on vacation, eat a plethora of candy and Chex Mix sitting around a pool like I had always dreamed Spring Break would be. But the fact is, I am still not in school, and that is fantastic!

I have spent a lot of time catching up on my lost love Harry Potter. I began listening to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book on tape on my iPod a couple weeks ago, and finished it up this week, as well as watched 2 of the past movies. The trailer for that movie has also come out the past weekend (see here), so I'm pretty hyped up on Harry Potter. The fly in the magical ointment is that I think I've convinced myself that this movie that I am so anxiously awaiting for is coming out in a week or two. But sorry folks, it comes out in NOVEMBER!!! I don't think I've ever elaborated on my deep love for the wizarding boy and the magical world from which he sprang (I probably won't), but I'll just say that the last book I sat down and read in one sitting (11-12 hours) and may or may not have gotten weepy when I finished at 3 am.

I can hear you all saying: "Susan, why did you title the post nostalgia?" Well, this is because I spent yesterday, instead of typing up notes, reading all my old blog posts, not a long chore I assure you. I pretty much started blogging semi-semi-frequently right after I finished my undergrad, so it was fun to catch up on what I did last year. To sum it up for you all......not much happened. I did wish that I had written more of the funny little things I know happened, but never mentioned, so I made a April's Resolution (that's a real thing...) to blog more. If not for your vast readership, at least so I can have it written down somewhere. I have about 10 journals floating about my room and my computer desktop, so I'm hoping this might consolidate everything.

Right, so since I am technically on Spring Break (school has not yet started) I actually have to try and finish up what I couldn't this last week. So, dasvidaniya!

Where were you when............?

A couple weeks ago my family and I started talking about events that have happened, and where we were when they happened. I started thinking about what events have happened in my life that I think are "Where were you when......" moments. Moments that are so big that you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when it hapened. These aren't necessarily the most important moments in the history of the world, but they obviously had some sort of impact on me.

So, Do you remember when_____________

They announced Salt Lake City got the Olympics (June 16, 1995)

I don't remember much, but I do remember my mom, Anne, and I standing in a very large lot with lots of people holding American flags. There was a giant jumbo-tron in the parking lot and a movie started showing all the different shorts from the other countries in the running (Quebec City, Canada, Sion, Switzerland, and, Östersund, Sweden). Then a very foreign man with a very thick accent said (I'm paraphrasing) "the 2002 Winter Olympic games will be held in Salt Lake City." I can totally remember his accent saying that. Everyone exploded and was cheering and jumping up and down, and I remember being pretty excited too. I thought I would volunteer because I would be almost 16.......... yeah that never happened.

Princess Diana died

I don't remember the exact date (a quick web search tells me it was August 31, 1997) but I remember the whole family was our cabin and sitting around reading or playing cards. The Utes were playing and my dad had gone out to the car to hear the score on the radio. He came back in and said something bad had happened. Someone said "the Utes lost?" He told us he had heard that Princess Diana had been in a car crash and died. I didn't really know much about her except she was on tabloids a lot, but I knew this was big news.

I first heard "I Want It That Way"

Pathetic? Yes... But I remember hearing it on the radio, instantly loving it, and running downstairs to Anne's room to see if she had it on her Backstreet Boy CD. She didn't, it was a new song, and I had to wait until every night at 9 (94.9 ZHT's interactive 5 at 9) to hear it. That moment pretty much changed the following formative years of my life.

September 11, 2001

I think this is an obvious one, everyone remembers this one. I was in high school (10th) grade and in my first period class. The principal came on the speaker and announced that teachers could turn on the TV if they wanted to, I didn't understand what he was talking about. The teacher turned it on and the first plane had hit, but not the second yet. We sat for the rest of the period watching the towers fall down in complete silence.

Michael Jackson died (June 25, 2009)

Yeah, I know this is an obvious one for me, and is also fairly recent, but still important. I was chillin with my roomie Becky and our friend Kelly in our living room. I got a call from my sister who said "Did you hear what happened?" I said "what?" She then informed me she had heard Michael Jackson died. I ran to my computer to confirm, and sure enough, MSN declared it to be true. I stayed on the phone with her exclaiming and looking shocked, while Becky and Kelly just looked super confused. I got off the phone to break the news to my fellow MJ lover, Becky. We were both just so sad and spent the next couple days watching the non stop tributes to MJ on VH1 and MTV.

There are a lot more, but unfortunately I can't remember the rest. I spose I could post more if I remember them. But it's just something to think about.

Saturday Morning

So I am just playing around on the computer until I have to start my day, and I have checked every email account, website, etc., and I find myself here. So I figure I'll update a little bit since I haven't really done much.

This semester has been so busy!! I have a lot of classes, plus I started my thesis project, which is where I am currently going. It is a 12-week intervention for young adults (18-35) with intellectual disabilities. We do a small lecture at the beginning of each class about healthy living, then an hour in the weight room. This happens every Wednesday night and Saturday morning, which is what is taking so much of my time. We also will do this with two different groups so it lasts about 24 weeks. It has been interesting, and it is nice because since I am starting with my thesis early, I may finish it a lot earlier.

In other news THE OLYMPICS ARE STARTING SOON!!! I can't say enough how much I love the Olympics, what an unhealthy love I have for it. The ice skating, the skiing, the snowboarding, the speed skating, all of it!!

So I must go now, but that was just a real quickie!!

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!