corazones y esperanzas

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, _____?
- John 14:9

Jack and Jill are lying on the floor inside the house, dead. They died from lack of water. There is shattered glass next to them. How did they die?

well... a lack of water.

BYU game. 3rd Row. You hear me? 3.r.d.r.o.w.
That's Bronco Mendenhall.
It was pretty exciting...till we lost...
A fun day, anyhow...
Jimmy bleeds blue and white. Aimee does not.
Yeah, we were THAT close.
Lost my keys one day. Tim gallantly climbed through my bedroom cobweb-covered window. What a swell gent.And when I say 'climed through' what I mean is 'fell through'.

Twin Falls Temple - beautiful.
Butter.
Teton River.
The VIEW. Can't get over it.
Who lived here? Wish I knew...
FIRST view of the Yucatan... awww... Quiero ver de nuevo!! Pronto...
Texas!!

Today, i am doing something that I swore I would never do - wearing jeans and high heels. Now, I understand that many people do this, that it may be considered normal to some... but to me... most of the time... (not all of the time, obviously) it just looks kind of silly. I rationalized my heels by the fact that they are only an inch and half high... although now I'm not sure if that's better or worse... Anyhow, school is great, roommates are great, Angel is great, and I think I found a job today (hooray!), so life is pretty sweet.
Also, tomorrow there's a free (well, I mean, relatively free) Boys2Men (is that even how the name is written? I don't know... :S) concert at the UTAH STATE FAIR (also can't believe I am legitimately going to a state fair...wow... deffffinitely won't be wearing heels) and I'm pretty sure that I am going to go with Meg. Any other takers?
ALSO, I am going on the Getty trip (again). This makes the 3rd semester in a row that I have gone... I swore to myself that last time was the last time, but then the LACMA just up and scheduled the Pompeii exhibit - once in a lifetime opportunity, can't miss it. Therefore, I go.

hmmm... other news... I got nothing. Only that I'm still blissfull :)

I have made it one week, 11 more to go. The good news is that I can graduate next December. The bad news is that I have to have a fairly full coarse load in order to do so... sorry, friends, it likes like Hearts and Hopes may fall into the abandoned blog arena where it will mope with The Messenger, Melissa Reviews, Live Love Dream, and Life in the Kaleidoscope. Hey, at least she has good company - that's all I can say.
Also, I'm not taking any Archaeology classes this semester - well, not for credit anyway. BUT I do have my first class with Lynn (well, technically I'm not in the class, but I am attending lectures, and I think that counts), so we will FINALLY be able to think that no only do we actually attend the same University but are in the same [TINY] major... Three years, and not a single class together? Bizarre.
In other news, I am taking 7 classes this semester. That's a lot of classes.

Well, this has been a long time coming. I know that most of you know this already, but you've allll been asking for more details. What to say? His name is Angel, and we are a little in love. I met him through a mutual friend in Tulum. We like to dance, and talk, and kiss, and he is very sweet to me. We can be together for hours, just talking - which is fairly marvelous considering that I don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak English. I think that we communicate remarkably well, with the language barrier out of the way.
Angel is kind and good-natured and strong. He is the kind of person that you can trust immediately. He makes me feel... comfortable. I think I am more myself when I am with him. I absolutely adore him, every piece and part. Of course, this is a difficult situation, us being so far apart... we have temporarily solved the problem with video chat (thanks, Mercedes!), which makes it easier. And harder.
So. If anyone wants to donate to the Let The Lovers Be Together fund, please let me know. Maybe I should make it a cause on facebook... yeah... that's the ticket!
Any questions?

I drank from a water fountain, put toilet paper straight in the pot, watched cnn, straightened my hair, put on the full regimen of maquilla, slept in a bed (with two blankets), and for all other intents and purposes, am no longer in Mexico. How do I feel? A little numb. I'm staying at Hayley's house right now (thanks again, Hayley - you are my life saver...even though you almost killed me...), but I bought a ticket for the shuttle at 1:00, which means I should be home around 7... fantastic.
My skin is shriveling up - I have used sooo much of Hayley's lotion, my skin is very thirsty. My lips are chapped. Anyway, I think that I may feel a little better when I am no longer in transit-limbo-hell. Hopefully my skin will reacilimate. And my heart, too. Hopefully.

Well, there's been some excitement on heartsandhopes as of late! While I have been on my program, many people have had questions about my beliefs and religion, which I have been happy to answer. Apparently I did a bad job explaining the Temple.
The Temple is the most sacred, holy place on earth. It is a dwelling for the Spirit of God, and not just metaphorically, but literally the House of the Lord. It is a beautiful place - a place of sacred peace and beauty, where a person can go to commune with God on the deepest level. Because it is so sacred a place, access to the Temple is restricted, even for Mormons. However, it is not as if access is prevented - everyone has the ability to enter the Temple - it is merely protected. The sacred rites performed in the Temple are among the most ancient of secrets - not because they should not be given to all men, but in order to protect those who are not yet prepared for the things they will learn and covenant, and be responsible for learning and covenanting.
Because I have never gone through the entire Temple ceremony, there are still things that I have to prepare myself to learn. That is the ultimate goal of my religious practices: to prepare myself to enter the House of God and to make and keep sacred covenants with him. I am not yet prepared to do so, and that is why I cannot enter - not because "the man" says that I can't, but because I recognize the sanctity of the space, and I will protect the sanctity of the Temple from all evil, even my own. That does not mean that I will have to be perfect in order to enter, but it does mean that I will have to be as near perfect as my conscience dictates in order to stand in a place where God touches the earth. I think that this is not an uncommon idea - or at least, that it shouldn't be. As a society, we recognize that there are different levels of appropriateness that apply to groups and people. We do not allow children to watch mature films or websites; we restrict access to places where alcohol is being served; we do not allow every bank customer into the safe to retrieve his or her funds. There are probably a thousand better examples of this, in religion as well as in society.
I wanted to see the Temple while here in Merida (I decided to go anyway :) because it fills my heart with peace and joy just looking at it. When I see the Temple, I can see the map of my life, folded out in beautiful white. Which is not to say that I am not free to make my own decisions, but why must my decisions be contrary to my beliefs if I don't want to be "deceived" and "controlled"? I always find it very interesting when people suppose that when you make choices which are contrary to the boundaries of society (not even religion, but society in general), you are more free than a person who consciously decides to live in a way which benefits society. Like feminists who resent women who choose to stay at home and raise children - as if their choice is the only one that is correct. But isn't that the same trap?
More than that, I appreciate a certain element of organization in my life - that there are laws irrevocably decreed, and that obedience to those laws will result in eternal life. There are qualifications - no instant gratification in Mormon theology. The idea that the Temple should be open to everyone at every time is so ridiculous that it is almost laughable. In fact, when I read that comment, I did laugh - I have really been doing a poor job of explaining my beliefs, I suppose!
I have not entered the Temple, not because I am repressed or decisionless, but because I recognize the significance and gravity of the promises that I will make and the things that I will learn. If I wanted to, I could go to the Bishop today and tell him that I was ready, and he would be obligated to fulfil his role as a judge in Israel to recommend me to enter (unless, of course, the Spirit constrained him), and someday, that is precisely what I will do. But I would honestly, honestly rather die than make a mockery of the sacred blessings and covenants that will be mine in the Temple if I prepare myself to receive them.
So, am I sad that I will not be able to see my best friend and sister get married? Of course, but I would rather do that a million, million times over (and, in fact, I already have done that about a million times over...) than to demand that I receive blessings that I am not ready (or worthy) to receive.
But there are more questions in that statement that he or she left than about the Temple. The first of which, of course, is that some man has the power to restrict access to the Temple, which is absolutely true. I accept it and I welcome it. The holiness of the Temple is so great that it be preserved. However, it is my choice to not enter the Temple. The second thing that he or she noted is that Mormons are "controlled" and "deceived". First, control. It is true that there are requirements for being LDS, but if you do not want to keep the commandments, no one is forcing you to. I appreciate the level of control that the Gospel allows me to utilize over my own life. No one likes chaos - chaos is the anti-society. As a probable anthropologist, that person should have recognized that. Yes, boundaries are set, and yes, consequences exist. Welcome to the world. Further than that, though, is the idea that if you are following rules, you are controlled by some evil group entity which only exists in order to gain power over the herd. My dad taught me that sometimes, going against the grain is truly revolutionary. Sometimes, though, it is just stupid. It seems like so many people are 'rebelling' that to be a true rebel today, you have to do what I do - you have to sit at restaurants with your friends and order coke.
I know this post has been really long, but I have one final thought. It makes me extremely sad to know that someone who I have considered to be a very good friend, and very probably a good anthropologist, would treat my beliefs with such disdain. I wish that the person who left that comment would have asked about the Temple rather than demanding that the 'injustice' of not allowing every person wanton access to it. That's alright, though - but if anyone ever want to ask anything about the LDS faith, I am more than happy to explain. But please do so with respect - if not a respect for me, a respect for people in general. For beliefs, because whether or not that person recognizes it, there are many things that he or she is doing that make absolutely no sense to me, but that I try to understand everyday.
I told my roommate, Gabby, just the other day that I have felt more culture shock within the program group than I have living in Mexico. I hope that this exorbitantly long post helps a little, and I hope that people aren't afraid to just ask next time.
Finally, I want to bear my testimony - in the most public of forums - that just as I know that I live, I know that God lives - that He is a separate and distinct being - that he wants the best for His children. I know that prayer is the way in which we can commune with God, and I know that it works because I have felt its power in my life. I know that the stories contained within the scriptures are not just bogus myths but that they are stories written specifically to enrich and to teach. I know that the Temple is a Holy place, where families can go and be sealed for all eternity. I know that the choices that I make will lead to wherever I want to go, and I make those decisions more and more consciously everyday. I know that Christ lives, that He is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind, and that one day, He will return to the earth.
Whether or not you happen to believe in the same or other things, I hope you have read this with an open heart and mind, and I hope that the Spirit of the Lord touches your heart.

I could be responsible. I could stay in Tulum. I could even have fun here - go to a movie, go fishing. OR I could go to Merida. And see the Temple. I can't go inside, but man, oh man - it is soooo beautiful. What to do??

So many things happen here at night - I'm becoming a regular coke drinker...it kind of makes my stomach hurt, though. I need to kick the habit, right? I don't even like coke that much, but they don't have sangria here. What's up with that??

this is chewbackito. he loves me.

Today, I woke up around 7 in my sweet little cuarto after having spent a shockingly comfortable and cool first night in Tulum. Things are very different here. The way they build things - not just the materials but the designs are different. Everything is very open. Everyone sleeps on Maya hammocks, including me. This may just be the most beautiful place in the world. I love the buildings and the people and the nature and EVERYTHING. Last night, I had carne asada tacos with lime and cabbage -muy sabroso! We walked around town a bit - it was still fairly hot and pleasant outside. This morning we did more exploring, exchanged money, bought toothbrushes (mine mysteriously disappeared… Then we decided to go to the beach - BEST CHOICE OF MY LIFE, even though we were only there for about 30 minutes. The ocean is the most beautiful color I have ever seen. And the sanddddd, oh the sand! It is so fine and soft that it's a joy to walk on it. The water is the perfect temperature. As we arrived, we noticed some rain clouds a way out to sea - they looked so pretty…until they overcame us. It started getting dark and windy so we took a taxi back to town. I have class at 2:00, but I already feel like today has been a pretty full day. Here are some pictures of my adventures so far!!!

Hey all, I made it here, this is the first internet connection I've had - Mexico is beuatiful, paradisical - I don't have a lot of time, but you can stop worrying, Meg Pie!!!

Well, folks, today is Father's Day - one of my favorite days of the year, and I am so sad that I won't be able to spend it with my dad. I had intended on sending him a letter to tell him all the great things that he has taught me and how much I love him, but I figured that since he had been openly slandered in so many public arenas, it was time for someone to make a counter move, and say something good about him.

My dad is truly a great man. One of the things that I love most about him is his courage. He is so brave, especially in defense of his family and in his exactness in living the Gospel. His undaunted, unashamed, unfearful attitude for always standing up for the right - not the easy, but the right - has been like an anchor for me. I know, without a doubt, that my dad will be solid, a rock that I can help fortify, especially when it comes to menial, everyday tasks. His words are constantly in my head, "Avoid the very appearance of evil". These words have helped me to make decisions in my life that would otherwise have been easy to justify. He is like Joseph Smith when he says, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it". When he knows something, he knows that God will hold him accountable for knowing it, and so he will do all that he can to act on that knowledge. And he always acts, no matter how difficult the task, because he knows that ultimately, he doesn't answer only to his family, his bishop, and other leaders, he answers to God.

My dad is absolutely and unwaveringly moral, and he has taught me to be so. He never compromises what he knows to be true, he is kind and generous in how he accomplishes the tasks set out for him. And beyond being a tremendous person himself, he expects that level of goodness and morality from those who surround him. He has no delusions about the unconditionality of love - all things are conditional - and he can make difficult and uncomforable decisions that have horribly painful consequences becuase he knows that they are correct decisions. He truly strives to do what is right at all times, and in all things, and in all places.

When he is wrong, he makes recompence as best he can. He is always willing to make amends. He is willing to admit when he is wrong, but more importantly, he is willing to be persisant (and, often, unpopular) when he is right. He also listens to reason, and will take everyone's opinion into the decisions he makes and the way he lives his life. My dad is steadfast in every aspect of his life; when he sees a need, he fills it.

My dad is highly intelligent, and he furthers his intelligence through reading good books, and thinking deeply about matters that most people ignore. I remember once when I was younger that we were watching a movie that featured a woman singing a mournful song, but it was in Italian (opera...) and we wanted to know what the song was about. We asked my dad, and he gave us a clever answer that was obviously incorrect (I mean, really, who would beleive an aria was about a motorcycle accident?) and I was so angry with him, because up until that point, I had never encountered something that he didn't know, couldn't answer, or couldn't fix. I still find myself frusterated sometimes when I call him and he doesn't have a miracle solution for me, but usually, he does have that exact answer that I'm looking for (even if I don't want to hear it at the time). He utilizes his intelligence in furthering the Church and in helping people, and I am grateful for that example that he has set.

In coupling with his intelligence, my dad is rational. The things he does make absolute sence to me in a clear, resolute manner. He takes on the 'if..then' attitude of the world's most renown philosophers, as in, 'if something is true, then I will do all I can to advance it, but if it it not true, then I will do all that I can to frustrate it'. He not only knows what is right, he is brave enough to do what is right, to take the action that is required. And he does so without hesitation or fear or mindfulness of the consequences.

Another thing that my dad is good at is remaining calm and composed, in keeping the proper perspective, and in accepting life's challenges. He has a ‘come what may’ attitude – what will happen will happen. He doesn't get worked up about things, he hates 'drama' as much as I do, and he is always gracious - he wins graciously and he loses gracisouly. In his mind (and in mine), no good purpose can be served from getting angry or defensive - what is true is true and it will mostly speak for itself, except if and when action are required, he will step up to the plate magnanimously. He has the strength to do what is necessary to keep evil out of his life, and whether that means reproof or silence, he will always make the decision that he can live with being a worthy holder of God's priesthood power. To that end, he protects and presides over his family with such precise watchfullness that I always feel safe in his presence. I feel physically safe because he takes care of his body and is always aware of danger. I feel emotionally safe becuase he listens to me and understands me. I feel spiritually safe because I can always count on him to do what is right and let the consequence follow. He never loses his temper, never yells or cusses, and never says or does things that are harmful to those that he associates with.

Perhaps just as important to his character as the seriousness with which he treats his sacred duties is his sense of humor. I'm grateful that we get to have 'Cabo-vacation dad' all year round now-a-days. He is clever and witty and funny. He is nice to be around. He is pleasant and good-natured with everyone. He works hard and he plays hard. He knows exactly what it takes to find relaxation, and he always has time for a game of cards or scrabble (which he always wins).

Selfishly, maybe the most important of all of these things: he likes me, he understands me, he is genuinely interested in my life and the things that are important to me. We have common ground - he likes Dylan and movies and watermelon and Mexico, and heaven knows that I like all those things too.

My father is brave and honest and wonderful. And I adore him. My greatest fear in life that I will never be able to find a husband as great as my dad. Which is why it is so hurtful when people who don't know what they're talking about say bad things about him. He is human, and he has made mistakes (although I can assure you that nothing he has done is to the extent that he has been accused, but even if that were the case, the Atonement covers all the sins he may have committed).

I say, let his actions speak for themselves - if you do not know his actions, don't offer your opinion. If you do have evidence that he has acted contrary to his priesthood callings, then it is your duty to report these offences - but in the proper venues, to the appropriate authorities, and with the right spirit. Otherwise, please honor him with me as the most elect, wonderful person I know.

Today, I honor my dad, who is thousands of miles away, by eating a beautifully pink and juicy watermelon. What are you doing to honor this great man?

Well, I know you all have probably been wanting to hear about all my adventures here in the great state of Texas. It's been a blast so far - really, i would LOVE to bring all of you here. San Marcos is a college town, more organically laid out than Provo - no grid system in Texas - which I really like. It feels more free and easy, which is totally the case. The life of the town is definitely centered around the San Marcos River. It is so hot here that it is almost unthinkable to be outside without a body of water. Plus, it's just a central place where people can hang out and always be social and have stuff to do. There's a park right next to the river that the college owns, so a TON of hot-bodied twenty-somethings just laze and play frisby there. It's very chill. I haven't been there yet, though (even though I drive by it several times a day), because I have been keeping pretty busy doing my research! I thought it would be harder for me to talk to people and interview them, but it really has been fun to talk to different types of people. Last week, we interviewed a group who is in charge of the San Pedro Cemetery, and it was sooooo pleasant - they all reminded me of my dad, and it just felt so good to be connected to people that I miss. That's another thing, I never really thought I'd miss people, and I guess I really am not homesick per se, and I certainly don't wish I was home - I love it here, if not only for the adventure of it - I really do miss having my peeps around.
I've made several good friends, and I am excited about that! It's kind of hard here to hang out with people because I am so dependent on other people to drive me around and stuff (and it is driving me a little nuts - I hate being a mooch) but the good thing is that the people who have to drive me everywhere are really fantastic and I adore them all. I've been going to church at this little branch, and it is really fun to be out with people that I am totally comfortable with.
These girls are especially wonderful - they give me rides everywhere and feed me and they invited me to go camping next weekend:
Don't they just look wholesome and fun? Well, they are. That's Julie, Nicci, and Erin - they're wedding dress shopping for Nicci (she's getting married on the 15th) and last Sunday we all went to her apartment to see the wedding dress, and it is soooo beautiful, but it made me miss Dani a lot! I wish I was in Idaho to help plan the wedding, but I' pretty sure she's doing fine without me....

Anyway, so here is a picture of me looking placidly content, which is pretty much my continual Texas mood:And that's Alberta standing in the background - she's my research partner. Yay for cemeteries!!

A- Attached or single: Single. In a big way.
B- Best Friend: I've never been comfortable with that term. It's very limiting. I adore all my friends, at different times and for different reasons.
C- Cake or Pie: Hmm...I think cake. Although the right kind of pie...especially dani's pumpkin pie...it's close. I like both.
D- Day of choice: Friday. I LOVE knowing that the weekend is here and I can relax.
E- Essential Item: Mascara. No matter what else I have time for, I always wear mascara all the time.
F- Favorite Color: I like to cop out on these questions and say white, in a scientific sense, because white is the combination of all the colors. I'm not really a 'favorites' type person.
G- Gummi Bears or Gummi Worms: Gummy bears, but there's really no reason for my preference - it just happens that I buy gummy bears more often.
H- Hometown: Driggs, ID
I- Indulgence(s): TV - I really love watching TV, and marathon shows get me every time.
J- January or July: July, without question. January is the blightest month of the year. I could understand some competition between December and July (some people like Christmas, I guess), but JANUARY?
K- Kids: I'm in favor of kids.
L- Life is Incomplete Without: Life?
M- Marriage Date: Sometime in June.
N- Number of Siblings: 5 boys, 5 girls. Wierd how that worked out.
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges. With salt.
P- Phobias or Fears: Um...failing.
Q- Quotes: J. Swift "Live every day of your life."
R- Reason To Smile: Reason? I think these kind of questions are kind of lame. See "life" above.
S- Season:I like the transitions, and I like looking forward to seasons.
T- Tag Three: Can't do it. Tag yourselves.
U- Unknown Fact About Me: Haha. Unknown?
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: I would like to eat more veggies if I was richer, but I wouldn't give up meat entirely. I just like it too much.
W- Worst Habit: I don't know...procrastination?
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: This one is stupid - you know they were just scrambling for a word that starts with 'x'. What about 'xenophobe?' Anyway, I guess I'll answer this one. But I don't know what it's for... Broken arms - xrays. Babies- ulrasounds.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Again, favorites. Anything highly seasoned, cheesey, really hot. Like lasagna. Or sweet and sour pork. Yum.
Z- Zodiac: Aquarius. Not that it means anything.

Ok, it's been over a week since i twilitified my blog. why hasn't anyone commented on the vampire sidebar, the new moon movie countdown (i mean, really, who releases a sequel only a YEAR after the original???), and the OBVIOUS blog description. So, what happened? Did you all just not think it was funny? Or did you honestly think I'd gone all tweeny? I don't understand. Well, I guess it was a little too ignorable. I wish that huge picture of robert-whats-his-name shirtless would have loaded. Really, a shame. (Really, I tried to upload it. Twice.)

also, a big shout out to my dear katie jean - thanks for posting all these fabulous pictures!

For REAL. I got here Sunday afternoon. My plane flew through the HUGEST and FLUFFIEST clouds I have ever seen! It was like an amusement ride. Butterflies in my stomach - the whole deal. Ok, so, you all want to know:
1. Where I'm living: in San Marcos, Texas. In a one-bedroom apartment.
2. Who do I live with: Marta. She is soooo sweet and wonderful - I really wish you all could meet her. She is fantastic.
3. What do I do all day: I have to do 50 hours of research for the program each week. I go to class on Monday and Wednesday. Other than that, I will be reading a lot of books and talking to a lot of people about funerary practices and studying headstone iconography. Pretty fun!
4. Are there trees: YES! it is very very green - not like the desert-Texas of bad western movies. It's really rather idyllic.
5. Is is hecka hot: YES, but not in a bad way. It was 94 degrees today, but it just felt pleasant because of the humidity. I am LOVING the humidity. It makes everything feel more sharp and real.

i'd like to introducee you to my new little comp. i think i'll name her mercedes. that way, if she ever makes me want to yell 'oh, mercy!', it will be in context.
also, i can't really see right now because i just went to the eye doctor and he paralyzed my focusing-nerves (obviously not the official name...).
on purpose, folks - no law suits here. but anyway, my pupils are HUGE. i don't know if you can see it in the picture (that i took with lil' mercedes :), but they are. also, he was like, 'so...you have some sunglasses for the drive home, right?' wrong. so he was kind enough to give me a disposable pair. i'm thinking, like, dollar-store style. NOPE. they were THESE beauties (thanks again to mercedes for the high quality pic):
i considered not wearing them. that was before i went outside and was nearly blinded. who knew there was so much light in the world? is this how druggies feel all the time? no wonder.

...has become my site-of-choice. there is just so much STUFF. too bad i'm poor. i did buy a computer, however, that should be arriving TOMORROW! Yayayayayayayayyyy!! I'm so excited. It's a little guy- 8" screen. Black. Adorable.
I'm packing for Mexico - let's just say that my suitcase and I are having major problems :/
we just disagree on so many things - i say, 'hey, suitcase, wouldn't it be nice if i had this t-shirt in mexico?' and it says, 'nope.'
what now?
pack and re pack.
I'm soooooo excited (and more than a little scared) to be on my way. i can't believe it's already almost here. sometimes, i look around me and i can see the world changing. it's almost like a dance, like a ballet - sometimes i wish i could hit pause for a couple of years. or rewind. whatevs. i'm into change. i can deal.

anyway, hopefully i will have a new toy to play with until i leave so i can stop coveting the muy expensivo camera i've been tracking on ebay. but, i mean, really, who doesn't want a camera you can take scuba diving?

For non-political correctness. And humor...

Read this story.

The plan right now is to leave at the end of this month (probably the 31st) and stay in Texas until July 7th when we'll proceed to Mexico!!!! I'm SOOOOOO happy that I still get to go! I will only be down there for a month, but I think it will be wonderful and DEFinitely worth it. Also, I'm kind of excited to go and live in Texas for June. This summer will be so...diverse! and BUSY.

OOHHHHH I probably should mention (although I'm pretty sure that everyone who reads this blog already knows...) that Dani and Tim have decided to tie the knot on Saturday, August 22nd. I'm soooooo excited for them!

Alright, lets face it, I've never really thought of myself as one of 'those girls' who get sucked into TV shows -- but somehow, it happened. I'm hooked. And now -NOW - they've all betrayed me. In case you didn't know, of my three favorite shows, Bones, House, and Grey's Anatomy, two have ended for the season. But these weren't the satisfying endings I was looking for, oh no.
First of all, what's the deal with House? Kutner's suicide was totally unexpected, uncalled-for, and unsavory. I mean, really, who does that to a faithful watcher of the show? Then, I prep myself for losing Izzie - it's been a long time coming, after all. But what do they do to me? They take BOTH George AND Izzie!!! I don't care who you are, that's just mean.
And then AND THENNNNN! I decide to watch the ONE show I can always count on to be relatively drama/disaster free (minus the whole Zack being a serial murderer/canibal thing) and guess what happens? BOOTH HAS A BRAIN TUMOR!!!! Ok, that's alright - obviously, they aren't going to kill Booth. Calm down. But then he gets an operation, and after an entire episode full of absolutely no answers whatsoever, he wakes up, right after Bones has realized how much she loves him and how happy they'd be together and created an entire fantasy story about them, HE WAKES UP AND DOESN'T KNOW WHO SHE IS!!!! I mean, really! Let's just jump on the 'drama tv-show' bandwagon! ERRRRRG.


AND AND!!! They cancelled Kings, the other show I like, right in the middle of the season. Snip, gone.

Whatever. I'm OVER it. Seriously.

But, I mean, George! And Booth!

I know, I know - it's been a while. Does anyone even check this blog anymore? I'm very sorry for the absence...what can I say?
As it happens, though, a lot has happened in the past months...like the swine flu - ahem H1N1 virus - hitting. My program got moved to Texas, so I'll be leaving on May 31. My program director said that we'll only be in Texas until July 7th...I'm guessing that that means that we're going to Mexico after that...when all this calms down. Also, I'd like to clear up some things about the H1N1 virus:
It isn't a killer virus, any more than the regular flu, anyway (ie it kills people, but only if their immune system is already significantly compromised). The only reason why it's a big deal is because it's an entirely new virus and if it mingles with the Avian flu (the more deadly strain), which is a real, however improbable, concern. Also, there seems to be some confusion over it 'starting' in Mexico. First of all, it was a completely random (ie the location or circumstances had no impact on its' beginnings) mixing of virus strains. Some people seem to think that becuase Mexico is a lesser developed country, OF COURSE something like this would start in Mexico...however, Newsweek reported last week that the first known case of H1N1 was in 2005...and in WISCONSIN. The reason that it was such a danger in Mexico is becuase it spreads quickly in a culture that values close personal contact. They hug and kiss in greeting in addition to shaking hands. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to say that there have been many reported cases in the US as well, most significantly in California and Texas. One more thing: the virus is spread through airborne venues; it's still ok to eat pork.

What I'm trying to say is I'm still WAYYYY more concerned about getting typhoid than H1N1.

So...what else...well, to start with, I have gone from being surrounded by 4 best friends last year to having exactly 0 this year. Why is that, you may ask? Well, let's start at the top.

HANALEI - on a mission
STEPHANIE - married
DANIELLE - getting married
MEG - going on a mission

Oy ve.