FInals are over!

I finished finals and man, does it feel good. I worked really hard this semester and I was really happy with how it ended. I got all A’s for the first time in my life, and it left me wanting more. I learned a lot and I appreciate all of the help that I got this semester from Katie Willis (chemistry study buddy) and especially Talyn Camp. She supported me all semester long and encouraged me to study when I could’ve blown off my school work to relax. I am excited for this weekend because my parents are meeting me in St George to hike the subway in Zion National Park. It will be great to have 6 days free from school before I start up again in spring.

Finals week, it’s long

So I am in the home stretch and don’t have a ton of time but I can at least keep myself in the competition, right? More like I just don’t want to eat at Texas Roadhouse, even though Talyn and I didn’t agree on that being the consequence, whatever. I have never studied so much in my life and let me tell you, it is FUN! You have no idea how great it feels to wake up and then study, for the whole day. Well, I am sure some of you do but let me have my moment, ok? Since this post is definitely content, this video isn’t so enjoy!

This is what I love about the internet, any idiot can be famous for a day.

The tests are over...well, sort of

What a great way to start the week! It was conference weekend and fortunately, I was able to get tickets (thanks again Adrian) to go on Sunday afternoon. It was sleeting all over the place but we were able to get there unscathed. I loved the messages that were given. It truly made me feel inspired

Since it was conference weekend, it also meant that I had a mission reunion to attend. It was great to see my mission president and his wife and to catch up with old companions and friends from the mission. 

It has been a busy week but at the same time not stressful. I had two different chemistry tests this week and I need to keep my streak alive of really doing well to get A's in those classes. I have studied hard all semester long and I have really tried to finish strong. I was able to get an A on the first one yesterday and I took the second one today. It was free response so I don't know what I got but I am pretty confident that I also got an A. Things are going well and I can't wait to start studying for finals that start in two weeks. I have an elder's quorum camp out, that I have helped plan, tomorrow and I will let you guys know how it goes.

Compilation of Greatness

Usually near the end of the semester, you don't have any tests to prepare for, just finals. I guess my professors didn't get that memo and instead they love doing just that. I don't understand it but, alas this is what goes on. Fortunately, through effective study times, I am able to figure everything out and participate in some great activities. Adrian (my room mate) and I went up to Park City to go snow board after a great load of powder fell (20 inches!). It was going to be one of the best days this whole season because of how much snow had fallen.

 However, on the first run of the day, Adrian fell and broke his clavicle. It was bad, ergo the awesome xray and video of the fall below.

Is he doing it right?

Everyone knows what happened last week that shook the college-kid infested town of Provo, the movie Hunger Games came out. The way it was discussed on campus, made it seem like something life changing was happening similar to everyone getting A's on their finals or having world peace. Alas, it was neither, and I had to keep studying and praying for both of those to happen. Joking aside, I got a ticket for my birthday from Talyn and her family to go see the movie. This movie experience was a little different then I am used to, but in an awesome way. We had assigned seats, we didn't have to wait in line and the movie was the night that it opened up but we got to see it at 6 pm, so no late night. The movie was pretty good and it was good to have dinner with her family before. 

Waiting for the movie to start 

The lines for the movie at 9 pm for a 12 am showing

Then after a couple of tests were slain, it was time to party it up in Salt Lake all day on Saturday. We got up early and drove to Rio Tinto Stadium where the professional soccer team plays and waited in line for free tickets to the game that night. Yes, you heard me, FREE! We couldn't pass up this wonderful opportunity, but we did pass up on sleep to get the tickets. Instead of driving back to Provo, and then at night returning for the game, we decided to make a day trip about it. We stopped by the Sandy public library so I could get some homework done and then hit up the mall and my favorite, REI. I got a gift card for my birthday and I was anxious to spend it on something. I found some great hiking shorts (they don't make hiking shorts for people that are tall, unless I want them to be the same length as my underwear) and I was willing to spend the gift card and some of my own cash to get it, but then I realized that the dividends would be ready from the last year and that there was a 20% off coupon for any item in the store. REI offers this deal to its members that you get back 10% of everything you spend. I know, they are great. It was the best day ever! Not only did I get the shorts, but I still have my gift card for another day when my dividend runs out. Then we went to the game, and boy was it exciting. We lost 1-0. There were tons of corner kicks but they just never panned out. It helped remind me of how exciting soccer can be, when you are at the game. 

I then had to wake up even earlier the next morning (what happened to sleeping in?) to have a meeting with a general authority on all the other Elder's Quorum Presidents in the stake. Elder Lund made some great points and reminded me why I serve. I know how important the church really is, and what Christ can do for me, if I let Him into my life more.

I have already gotten a 100 on one test yesterday for chemistry, and I have Bio test this week that I should do pretty well on. After that is over with, it's time for more studying (still not for finals, but for other tests), working and watching as much general conference as possible. I can't wait and of course, you guys will here about it next week.

March Madness

For those of you who know me, know I love this time of year. It is full of great things: spring skiing, my birthday, and most importantly the college basketball tournament. It also includes things like camping and hiking. I had planned with my friends to go camping in Goblin Valley.

For the last couple of weeks, the weather has been wonderful. It has tempted me, and made me want to skip class and go explore the great outdoors that Utah has to offer. It was weird though, I didn't go. I think its called being mature, I don't know, whatever, I am kind of bitter about it. The day before we were going to leave for Goblin Valley, we checked the weather and there was a flood warning for that part of the state. I was just...bummed. The one time I didn't want it to rain/snow and it did, after having 2 weeks of beautiful weather. We ended up going to Talyn's parents house and just "kickin' it". We watched a couple of movies, went to one of their friends house (major shootout to that family) and cooked food on their fire pit, and swam at their house. It was awesome to just be lazy. I have to give a big thank you to Camp family for supporting our weekend getaway. The food was great and the times were better.

Birfday Magic

For those of you who don't know, I am in another competition that I am determined to win, but probably won't. It's with Talyn, my girlfriend, and the game is this: whoever doesn't post every week has to take the other to get sweet potato fries. She may make claims that the winner gets taken to Texas Roadhouse, but it isn't true. Anyways, on to more important things. Since my last post, I

played snow football,

had a delicious bbq, and....

had my birthday!

I had my 22nd birthday and I was hoping to have a quiet evening with my friends and girlfriend; however, my plan was foiled, but in a good way. Talyn (shown above) got a hold of all of my closest friends and coordinated with her sister to throw a party for me at her sister's house. It was totally unexpected.

 Talyn is a really good liar (is that good?) and threw me off by saying we would celebrate my birthday on the 5th (the actual day). Instead, the party happened on the friday before. There were awesome treats there and the cake itself made the party. We finished the party by playing a dance game on the xbox kinect and called it a night. Thanks again to Kierra and Deveren for hosting the party. I had a couple of tests this last week and I escaped their wrath pretty well, beating the average handsomely on both. I also got to go snowboarding twice since the last post. On one of the days, there was a foot of new powder and it was awesome. The last time I went boarding, I took a nasty spill and landed right on my head. I didn't have a concussion (thank goodness for helmet that has speaker and a subwoofer in it), but I had some pretty nasty whiplash in my neck. Thanks again for the Harlan family for letting me stay with them in Park City and how awesome they are.

Top of Angel's Landing

Hiking to the top in the ice and snow

At Chichen Itza

The top of McConkey's

Well it has been awhile since my last posting but I think since I have no life (school is my life aka I have no life) its time to tell others about how awesome it is. I started back up at BYU this semester after a wonderful trip to Cancun, Mexico. Seriously, it was a great trip. Think about it, I literally walked around downtown Playa del Carmen with no shirt or shoes on and everyone still let me buy stuff. Honestly, the U.S. "hygiene standards" are a little inflated. Here at BYU I have a number of adventures so far but the highlights without a doubt are studying at the library, listening to a lot of audio books, and my personal favorite, studying at my apartment . I warned you, no life. However, in an effort to see the light of day, I have done the following: snowboarding around 15 times, gone on several dates with my girlfriend, and went camping and hiking in Zion's National Park. In all seriousness, the last three have definitely been the best times. In Zion's, we hiked Angel's Landing and honestly it was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I am sure in the summer time to hike up that ridge it is difficult because of that fatsos that take forever to walk up the trial causing a bottle neck for everyone else, but I did it for the first time when there was snow and ice covering said trail. The coolest thing is coming down because we got to slide down an ice patch and hope we didn't go too far and end up at the bottom of the canyon.  It also helped the fun factor of snowboarding to have your parents fly up and go with you. Always a plus. Despite all these great and wonderful things, I am torn. I want it to warm up so that I can go camping and fly fishing and not freeze my butt off, but I also want it to stay cold and snow more so that I can enjoy spring skiing. The difficulties I face being a 21 year old are immense.