Happy Halloween!

Casey came to visit me this weekend! We went to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and here is my probably illegally taken picture of my favorite sculpture of all time. A horse constructed from tree limbs, casted in pewter. There are a lot of neat-o things there.

We went on a little downtown jaunt to the awesomest library and came across this idea in a magazine.

The bats, pumpkins, and ghosts are a weird variation of salt dough that must be microwaved.

The tree is a cut up and twisted paper bag.

Its a nice little decoration for the microwave.

Casey's cute little bat!

Hahaha... our leaf-pumpkin creation for the door.
I'm happy for October.

I love this kind of fall weather.

Mark's got a lot of job interviews! It looks like we'll be travelling a lot this semester, previewing the various places we might live. Maybe me by myself, since Mark has a lot of school. Who knows. It's pretty exciting! The end is in sight!

Hello the blogging world!

Summer is over, which means that the months away from personal internet connection have ebbed! We have only two semesters until Mark is graduated and the proud holder of a degree!

For the summer, we lived in Price, Utah and Mark worked for Dugout Canyon Mine. We were quite impressed that despite being on fire, they decided to have Mark come to work anyways. They flooded the mine to put out the fire, and Mark got to scuba dive underground and weld some pipes and survey. Which he quite loved, a marriage of two of his favorite things. Once the zillion gallons of water were pumped from the mine, production resumed as normal for a few hours...(I cannot recall the exact period of respite and Mark is at school) when bam! There was an issue with sparks? And it caught fire again? Later it was proved that the blaze lasted 13 seconds, but hazard! And danger! The President of the United States shut down the mine. Forever. Luckily for us, the company decided to keep four people, two reclamation engineers to spiff up the countryside, and two ventilation engineers to reverse the problem and combat bureaucracy. Mark, the intern, was chosen despite his lack of actually being a ventilation engineer to fight for the cause. Lots of miners and engineers including the big bosses were shipped around the United States. This story is getting really long. In the end, production has resumed as of Monday, and everyone is very impressed with Mark, intern. Job offers galore have poured in, providing opportunities for us around the globe. So now, we settle into being homeless students. Homeless?! Yes. Our apartment doesn't become available until tomorrow morning. Oh, well that's not bad. Yes, our worldly possessions sit in the driveway of the kindly grandparents on Mark's mother's side. So that's good.

Jamie! What did you do all summer?
I'm still trying to figure that out. Perhaps when everything is unpacked I will take pictures of various projects and post them here. Most notably, I have been refining my portrait-from-a-picture drawing skills and watching Star Trek. I read a lot of books, and saw my family a lot, and Lara came to visit me. We had many traveling and "fun things to do" plans but for some reason, Mark worked every single weekend. I think he had four days off. The library and I became the best of friends. I even read the Fountainhead (don't read it) and Anne of Green Gables (I almost spelled it without an 'e'). I now have a whole notebook full of decorating-my-new-house ideas, which I will employ as soon as I buy a house. I have some ideas for paintings that I would like to do, and a fat stack of things I need to be finishing.

If you want some extra brownie points, please help us move in tomorrow. Preferable those of you with telekinesis. Thoughts of lugging that mattress up three flights of stairs makes me tired. Not that I would actually lift it, but you know. The fifth time moving in two years? Too much.

I like fun Mondays

Shmashed rocks.

The thing that saves my life all the time

El gatito. He is cute. And angry.

I really like red.

Finals are almost here, and I can't wait until they're over. Not for my sake... my classes are easy-peasy. But I'm not looking forward to moving. Again. We have so much STUFF. I wish we were buying our new house because Mark was graduating. And then I wouldn't have to move for a long-o time. And I'd have a clothes dryer. Not to wish away my life, or anything.

My classes for fall look pretty exciting! I'm thinking of registering for SCUBA. This will make Mark happy. Also, I thought I'd need some sort of exersize credit, but I already have a lot. So it would be one more class. Which not might be so smart at this point.

Today I got a million books from the library. Chances are, 75% of them are garbage, and I'll stop reading on page 3, but I got some for-sure books. Like Norse mythology and a Foxtrot compilation. And some Joyce Carol Oats short stories. Mostly I like roaming around the awesomazing library that is the Salt Lake City Main. Lots of art and crazy staircases and a zillion books. It is quite nice.

When I got home from the library, there was a gaggle of people out in the court surrounding...a telescope! Our telescope, to be precise. Just Mark, realigning something or rather and showing people the moon. I really missed our telescope. Winter just isn't very nice. I'm loving the new weather.

Are all Roberts Arts and Crafts going out of business?

I made a cute-cute necklace out of some closing sale beads.

Mark is done with classes on Fridays at 8:20 in the morning. Which means... fun things! Like going to the largest hole in the planet mankind has ever dug. Digged?

We saw a lot of copper.
And this snazzy temple

And this gigantic wheel.

This big hole used to be a mountain. And then they moved seven billion tons of dirt and rock out of it, creating something that can be seen from space.

I think this is Mark's favorite place.

Then we went to a movie. I didn't like it very much. It could have been the lack of popcorn, though...

Good day to you! I hope that you had a happy Easter.
I was hoping to do a things that I love series. I even took a million weird pictures. And where did they go? I do not know, for I cannot find them. Not a major loss... so here are some old pictures of things I love.

GREEN. My daddy. Some little bros. I love my family.

Puppies.

Peeps. Even stuffed ones.

Looking at my guts. Look! There's my brain!

This precious kitty. I probably found this little friend on deviantart.com and tacked it to my pictures for later perusal. I like the eyes. And also the dead mouse beneath. So strange.

I found an Easter egg in a bottle of pain pills. I love Mark.

Marchy March

Hello!

I uploaded some pictures to my facebook, and I figured I'd not neglect my blog. Probably a good idea. These pictures are from our outing downtown yesterday before we went to a Jazz game.

I love the Salt Lake City Temple!

We had fun. Mark yelled himself hoarse--he really likes basketball. In fact, he terrified a small child in front of us with his "yes yes yes yes!"

Definitely a successful trip. For now I occupy my time thinking about what we are going to do for Mark's spring break! I am so excited for winter to be over. I think spring officially starts this Saturday. I am happy for sunshine and the first signs of spring green. You know, the crayon color? Its real. My favorite.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello, February!

Its been a long time since I posted anything. This is for a reason. I shall describe it now.

I spent two weeks and two days in Cedar City! I stayed at Mark's parent's house and played with Becca and Jeff and Mark's family mostly. It was great, minus the reason for being there. Which was prolotherapy! For my back! Basically, its a series of injections applied directly into the ligaments that promote growth and healing. You can read about it here or possibly here.

It was a sort of miserable few days of stiffness and pain, and therefore sleeplessness, but I'm better now. I came back to Salt Lake this past monday, and I think I'm still recovering from that long drive, so I haven't really been able to tell if this procedure has worked or not. I should begin to see improvements any day now. So far I've had good days and horrible days, just as always.

I return for another round in five weeks. See my scared face?

Other than that? Things are okiedokie! Mark is busy with school and work. He takes good care of me, you see. I'm eating so much candy. Especially the Lindor Stracciatella truffles. You need to buy them and eat them. They are perfect. And apparently limited edition, which means I must go out and buy a lifetime supply. MmmmMmmm!

My classes are going well. Just pluggin' along. When I want to feel like a generous genius, I go to http://www.freerice.com/. You should as well. You can learn world capitals, vocabulary, spanish, art... lost of things. And it helps feed the hungry peoples of the planet. Eh, I like it.

The end.

Its leftover day!

In my head things are pretty slow around here. I'm sure that Mark wouldn't agree with me, though. He's keeping busy with work and school. Yesterday, he told me about this kid sawing a dent in his finger without realizing it in lab. You see, it was a rock cutting diamond bit, and as he slowly fed the drill the rock, he fed his finger in as well. He didn't feel it because of the high temperature and speed of the drill, instantly cauterizing his nerves and blood vessels. These stories are what keeps me entertained.

I'm sewing a dress! Well, just cutting it out right now. I've been having issues with leaning over things, lately. So far it has taken four days of pinning and cutting. Eh, I'm in no hurry.

Excersizing! Christmas vacation=slacking off. So now I'm starting all over again. Which isn't fun at all. I've lots of different excersizes to choose from, though. Weights, and the magic gigantic ball of core excersizes, and turbo jam, and a million videos on netflix instant watch. I think my biggest problem is not having any specific goals. Just a general one: for my back to stop killing me. Take that!

Also, I had the strangest most weird dream of my life last week. So, naturally, I've started writing about it. Something to occupy time with, you know. My goal was to work on writing it, expanding it, everyday. Today, I fixed a word by adding a "t." I wonder if I should count this.

I've been in the mood for a good science fiction. So I checked a few out from the library. But you never know what you're gonna get with a book.

I haven't felt like doing any art the past few days.

My online classes are weird. There is a lot of posting discussions and replying and things. I can never be honest with complete strangers. In fact, this week's life-span discussion is on genetic engineering, so I posted this lenghthy argument for altering humans that I don't believe in at all. Maybe because everyone else was talking about what an abomination such a thing would be. I'm not going to bore you with all the details, but genetics is really cool, and I think there are a lot of ethical things that can be done. And maybe should be.

My archaeology class is interesting. Also a lot easier than my other class. Ugh. I only have two classes.

Everything I have eaten today has been leftovers. Including the last of that delicious pasta. Also, the last of my chocolate tuxedo cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Its funny, because I didn't think it was that yummy until it was in the fridge for a few days. Perhaps it just wasn't as delicious as the "Stefanie's Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake" . That one was amazing. To explain why there has been an abundance of cheesecake here, I'll just mention that Mark's evil boss tried to make peace with us by buying us a gift card. I forsee a lot of cheesecake in my future. Also, I suppose my forgiveness can be bought.

Yeah, I think that's the end.

This is a continuation of the previous post. I'd recommend reading it first.

Here are some more pictures of Christian! These were taken to put in the photo frame he gave Becca for Christmas. It was hilarious.

The same with this one.

And this one, too.


Johnathan bein' goofy Christian's wrestling tourney.

Becca and I making faces at said tournament.

More sillies.

At the ward Christmas party in Kansas City, lil Johnathan fell asleep before eating his dinner.

This was before he fell asleep. Also Levi was showing off his lost teeth the whole time! I love it.

This is on the way TO the Christmas party. I love how wonderful I am at chronology.

Lovely suburban! I'm sorry I cut off your face, Jeff. Johnathan is mad, Logan is not paying attention. And the girlies in the back are silly.

And here is a picture I drew for a guy Mark used to work with. It was supposed to be finished before Christmas. But I'm not so awesome at deadlines.

Perhaps I shall never again do a commissioned piece. Because of that deadline problem. Also, when I look at graphite vs. charcoal... I'm always a little bit sad at my limitations with pencils.



What other goings on shall I blog about?

Mark and I saw Avatar! Well, I've seen it twice but I reeeeally like it.

Mark's only complaint was that the bad guys were miners. What can you do, though. You'll notice that the new Star Trek had the same type of bad guy, too.

Ah, mining.

'Twill one day be our livelihood. I suppose I'll have to learn a lot more about mine reclamation and environmental facts to share with the world.

Mark was asked on the plane out to Missouri to sign a petition banning a mine opening in Utah. While wearing a mining education hat.

Silly petitioner.

Also we went to the museum! It was very fun. But I hadn't unpacked my suitcase, so there are no pictures from that outing. Speaking of unpacking...

I still haven't done it.

But I have set up our new bathroom shelf thingy! Its very happy. It holds our new Christmas towels.

And now, I'm going to watch a movie.

How's that for an update!

Happy 2010!

I still haven't gotten used to writing a one between the zeros. But I figure I have all year for that. I had a super amazing Christmas vacation! Minus Mark spending much of the time underground in subzero temperatures. I missed him a lot. Oh the things you'll do for money. And college credit, I suppose.

Now I'm back in my apartment. Mark has started classes again, and is... at work! So I'm enjoying a random evening to myself. Mostly looking at my shelf of littles.

What I really want to find is a used bookstore nearby. I love buying books previously loved. With the spines creased and the smell of old paper.

But first I suppose we'd need another bookshelf. Ours is full to bursting. And our clothes in our bedroom closet have to compete for space with all the books stacked on the floor.

Also this night, my fingers are stained black from the charcoal of this horse. I have never before drawn a horse...if memory serves correctly. I forget how much I like charcoal. Hopefully he will be a good horse and turn into a fabulous late Christmas present. I'm full of late presents this year. It is only the seventh of January. Look how much is completed, right?

This is my new favorite little thing. He is a LEGO man. He eats gems and rocks. He is a miner. He is a Christmas present from my mom, to Mark. I love his angry eyes. Also his head opens, which I find particularly hilarious.



My sister is married! On a very cold snowy day in St. George.
Also, I have to mention that I didn't do as fabulous as I wanted on my physics final. And I'm blaming it on you. I love you, Becca!

Christian the stud. I think I'll upload that video of you and the glowing teeth.

Awesome.