Nostalgia and procrastination

I can only spend so many hours doing neuroscience homework.  And since my computer is just sitting here on my desk daring me to touch it, I often find myself wasting a lot of time on it.  Today is no exception.  I started going through my pictures, and then I started going through my pictures of my study abroad in Europe.  So now I'm procrastinating and wishing I could go back in time.  Even though I was only gone for a few months, it was such a treat to leave my whole life behind me (i.e. my cell phone).  Why was I so fortunate to have a life that consisted of traveling through the oldest and most amazing cities, studying and learning about incredible art, eating delicious food, and all the while being surrounded by the most amazing and inspired individuals.  Ya, I was pretty lucky.  Anyways, here are a few things I miss:

"The Kiss" by Rodin.  You can see a picture of something, study it, talk about it, even fall in love with it from what you read in a book.  But there are some things that have the power to make your heart stop when you walk into a room and there it is.
I miss reenacting significant events in history, like the destruction of Pompeii, and being the obnoxious Americans.
I miss the intensity.
I miss the random old man from Empoli who I decided to share a bench with.  He only had about 3 teeth, spoke Italian, and he was 93.  I don't remember a lot of conversations I've had, but I think that one will stay with me.
I miss cobblestone.  I miss Brugges, Belgium.  The coolest city I've ever been to.
I miss the people that know exactly what I miss.
I miss the forced romantic moments.
I miss the creativity, the movement, and the genius.
I miss the quiet moments and stray dogs.

I said brrrr, it's cold in here!

It's a little chilly here!  The town is beautiful when it is all covered in snow.  And to be fair, I appreciate the beauty for about 30 seconds before I start complaining of the fact that I have to take the bus to church because my car is under a foot of snow.  And I have to trudge through snow covered Harvard Square another 3 blocks to actually get to church.  And let's not forget the fact that I have to dig my car out of the snow....BUT it's beautiful.  It's also starting to get a little lighter here earlier!! YAY.  I still left for school in the dark and came home from school in the dark...but I was also there from 7 am to 5:30 pm.  But during my last class I could see through the door that it wasn't getting dark until about 4:45!  YAY.  And there were only scattered flurries today.  Not bad, not bad!

      My home all covered in the snow

        I took this picture of my street after I came home from church...but in the morning the street wasn't plowed at all and it looked really pretty.
This is what I usually wear to school.  I'm pretty sexy these days.  Showing just enough skin to keep 'em guessing.
              This is my car.  Well, there's a good chance that it is my car.

who stole the sun?

So I have a small confession.  I traveled back to Boston yesterday after my wonderful 3 1/2 week vacation in Virginia and Utah.  I guess the vacation really took a lot out of me, because I was exhausted this morning.  I woke up at 9:00, ate some cereal, and decided I was still really tired (plus, I have a cold).  So I went back to bed and finally rolled out of bed at 2:00.  Uh oh.  Does it count that my body still thinks it was noon?  Anyways, by the time I got out of the house at 3:00, there was only about an hours worth of sunlight left in the day.  Mr. sun, sun, mr. golden sun, please shine down on me!

How to stay warm in Boston...

If you are like me, you may often find yourself asking, "what in the world is a puggle". Animal, vegetable, or mineral? Judging from the wittle bitty paws and smushy face, I'm inclined to go with animal. After a quick google image search reveals hundreds of adorable creatures like those pictured above, the next logical question is, "How have I made it 22 years without one?". And unfortunately, I can't think a good reason as to why I do not own this puppy. It is adorable. it combines the zest of a beagle with the slothfulness of a pug (minus its snortiness and short respiratory tract). Now all I would need is a small monkey to ride my puggle through the streets, and all my life's dreams would come true. Oh, and merry christmas eve! (see what happens when I have too much time on my hands...)

Generic End of the Year Post!

(look how cute my parents are!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!  I can't believe another year has already gone by.  Even though I am studying for finals just like a 2 year old Chinese toddler trains for the Olympics, I wanted to take a small break and say hello.  Besides, one can only spend so many hours learning about cancer before she needs to bring some cheer back into her life.  So, this has been the craziest year of my life.  A year ago I was still applying to graduate schools and reigning my kingdom of Provo.  Now I have been living in Boston for seven months!  And there are so many good things that have come out of it.  So bear with me while I make a little list of all the things I love and everything I'm grateful for.

1.  There is a church and ward anywhere I live.

2.  My wonderful family and their generosity.  (and i'm not just saying that because December 25th is ten days away.  but it is....)

3.  Getting an education, no matter how much it hurts at the time. (like vaccines)

4.  The feeling that I get when good things happen and I know it's a result of my hard work and everyone else's prayers.

5.  My car.  Materialistic as it is, she just makes me happy.

6.  Knowing that there's more to life than Provo and McLean.

7.  Chocolate chip cookies.

8.  Having amazing friends all over the world, and my new friends here in Boston.

9.  That feeling you get when you wear new shoes for the first time.  Heaven.

10.  Being happy :)

Well, I guess it's time for me to pick up the old cancer notes again.  Thanks for letting me bore you for just a little while.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Taking a study break

 This weekend I went to my first NHL game!  Go Bruins?  The evening started off in the classiest of manners by heading over to my friend's house and eating bries and playing mariokart (I'm living the high life now, baby!).  Then it was off the to the game where we mingled with the inebriated fans, well, more like my inebriated friends mingled why I tried to figure out how people can skate backwards so fast!  Afterwards we headed out to Fanuel Hall to laugh at all of the awkward New England white boys and their sweet dance moves.  And of course, no night is complete without the obligatory street vendor hot dog, regardless of the hour of consumption.  Last night I attended my first official pub crawl.  My college organized it so there were about 70 kids all wearing the same ugly green t-shirts...we kind of stood out on a Monday night.  I was peer pressured into attending, but I actually had a really fun time and sampled all of the finest diet cokes around town.  Plus, I got to put "DANGER" on the back of my tshirt (although in hindsight, "sober" would have been more appropriate).  Like I said, living the high life.

Dress up? Yes please!

So I was reading my friend Amy's blog and saw her tribute to halloween.  And I realized that Halloween is the ideal time to dress up and act like an idiot without being judged for it.  Then I reflected on the other 364 days of the year that I dressed up like an idiot and was absolutely judged for it.  But you know what, I'll take my cheetah prints and bedazzled jacket over that smug attitude and khaki pants any day.  

   a little BYU parade...go cougars!

I am a cupcake.  And that's my nana's nighty.  PS I'm surrounded by the best girls in the world
I can even squeeze in dressing up at a flea market in Paris.
I think it's a genetic thing.
My engagement pictures.
Nothing says "I'm cultured" like a peplos.
random pile of rubble + spring semester + black tanktops = WWII reenactment?
May I present, the cheetah skirt.

The things we do...
Preppy Sunday.  Who says dress up can't be classy?

The not-so-classy side of dress up.  But I would hire us as secretaries.  
God Bless America.
Lewis and Clark have so much to learn from me.
Ok, not technically dressed up here, but we are wearing sorority jackets and goofy smiles.
This one needs no explanation.