A time to pout

It's actually happening, somehow I have convinced BYU to give me a diploma.  I guess, if you want to get technical, I can't graduate until I take finals and pay that fine for streaking through the library.  (Don't worry mom, I don't think I will have any trouble passing my finals).  But as this season is upon me, I am feeling cheated out of my exit experience from BYU.  Let me illustrate: times listened to greenday's "Time of Your Life" =0, number of novelty mugs purchased at the bookstore as a keepsake =0, number of slideshows watched that highlight my escapades in happy valley, which are designed to incur the maximum amount of nostalgia =0.  I am sensing a pattern here.  Not only have I missed out on these time honored traditions of self-inflicted sadness and introspection, but I didn't even realize that I've been missing it!  Tuesday was my last day of classes at BYU.  I was sitting in my cell bio class chatting to my group whiel we waited for our professor to come talk to us.  We weren't learning anything that day, just meeting with our groups.  Then my friend asked me how I felt on my last day of BYU.  I hadn't even though about that.  Thanks a lot for reminding me, Chad.  But this wasn't just my last day, this was my last class.  Well, when this second thought jumped into my head I panicked and screamed "EDUCATE ME".  That drew some unnecessary attention.  But it did not merit a powerpoint lecture.  So that was it.  My last class here ended with screaming and embarrassment.  Actually, that does seem about right.  Back to graduation....  Don't get me wrong, I am very excited to move on to something different...a new page in my book of life, if you will.  But I'm sad to think that this whole experience is ending without my real acknowledgment, nonetheless without my permission.  So, goodbye BYU.  You will miss me.  I have been wonderful to you.  And I guess I will miss this place just a little bit too.  Now, if you excuse me, I have a souvenir keychain that plays BYU's fight song to purchase.

NOTE:  This picture was actually taken in England after realizing that I had just stood like a human sardine for 45 minutes to see the Queen, but I was on the wrong side of the building.  But the same feeling applies to this situation today...and that's overwhelming patriotism.

(I'm working on uploading this picture, just imagine me pouting)

Another day, another life lesson

Something blogworthy happened to me on Monday as I was walking to my pathophysiology class.  As per usual I was running just a bit late, which translates into a power walking madwoman.  My thighs are ridiculous, by the way, but those things of beauty deserve a whole post to themselves.  As I reached the top of the ramp (if you didn't know, BYU is on a hill, so every journey to class is a small cardio adventure) I heard a weird banging sound coming from the JSB.  Usually I just keep power walking through the distractions, but the noise sounded so weird that I had to stop and find where it was coming from.  

I didn't have to search too long.  It was a woodpecker.  Growing up in Virginia I've heard and seen my share of woodpeckers, but this one was special.  Instead of putting his talents to use on a tree, this bird had decided that the JSB needed a small hole about one foot below the roof.  I crossed the street so that I could stand under the building for a better look.  Amazingly, and not surprisingly, the woodpecker had made no effort whatsoever in his endevours to remodel the JSB.

But that did not stop my little friend.  He just kept pecking, and pecking, and looking around nervously, and then pecking.  You get the idea.  This was a pretty incredible thing to behold, and the noise he was making was all but impossible to ignore.  When I first started looking for the source of the noise no one else was paying him any attention.  There were lots of people around, but no one was looking at this little bird practically break off his beak to no avail.  However, after about three minutes of me just standing on the sidewalk and starring at this phenomenon, I noticed that the other people around me had started to look up too.

It made me realize how easy it is to power walk through life without taking the time to look around.  Granted, this approach results in sculpted thighs and a tight butt, but so does pilates.  I also realized how dumb this animal truly was.  When I finally decided to go to class I ran into a friend of mine.  I told him about the bird and he responded that he had heard the bird at 10 am.   At that time, it was 3 pm.  FIVE hours of pecking and nervousness.  

That's just ridiculous.  I can admire the bird's ambition, but you've got to learn when to call it quits.  There are some things in life that you just can't change, no matter how noble your intentions, or how hard you try.  You just have to realize that your beak will break and crack before the brick and cement of the JSB does.  So, to all of the woodpeckers out there, just make sure to analyze the cost benefit ratio of whatever it is you're doing.  Maybe you will eventually put a dent in the building, but is it worth it?  Doesn't that tree right behind you look just as nice?  If you find yourself pecking without any results, just stop and find a new tree.  (That last bit was metaphorical...ya, I'm fancy.