"Me fail English? That's unpossible."

I found out today that I'm not failing Biochem. I unfortunately still have to take the final, but if I do well on it I can pull a pretty decent grade out of the course. I got my test back, and I totally aced the sucker. Not doing great on two of the four deflates my bubble a bit, but this news tells me there's still hope. I've pulled out of worse. I frankly expected to do much worse. I started off confident, and for the first half of the test knew exactly what I was doing. Towards the end I'm pretty sure there were things on there I've never seen before in my life, so I left the class dispirited. My professor is actually really nice, though he has a droning voice; I came straight from work and was a half hour late, so he let me stay an extra half hour to finish it and I was the last one in there. However, when I finally turned it in he started looking at what I'd missed right there and started laughing. Not a very uplifting experience. Basically he threw a basic math problem in there for who knows what reason, and though I've always been awesome at math, for simple math I've become so accustomed to using a calculator that it threw me off completely. I learned trying to teach math to 5th graders in Resource that my skills are a little rusty. So basically he laughed, told me how I should have done the problem, then laughed some more. I was not so happy, but he was nice in grading that problem and I feel better now. He also took my word that a problem I missed because it looked like and "n" was really indeed an "h," which is was, so I like him better now.

In other news: I finally got the internet to work on the computer in my room! It's my off week, and I had a really good week at both work and school. I babysat my nephew and nieces yesterday, and we played for hours in their sandbox. Basically it's a park playground, because my dad managed to procure all the playgound equipment from SJ Elementary when they decided they were going to close. I plan to take them to the zoo sometime soon, I plan on finally firing my kiln up in the weeks to come, and FYI: if you want a Big Ol' D shirt, let me know. I made the design better than ever and I'm excited for them, but I'm having them made professionally. I don't care if it's just me and Duckling who gets them, but I just thought I'd give everyone the opportunity before all of the swooning with envy and sheer coveting when we're seen wearing ours.

I'll write more soon, but for now I have some errands to run. I'm seriously so happy the weather is so gorgeous and summer is so close. I have big plans for it, and I'm really excited.

On a bit of a serious note...

My first day back to work this week, Tuesday, I was reading through my emails at work only to find that a good friend and co-worker of mine was killed in a car accident on her way to work Sunday morning. I was stunned. Over the past year I have truly been grateful for the opportunity's I've had to attend the Sunday pot-luck of the department next to me. They were nice enough to invite me and a friend also in my department I'll call Idaho, and though it is mostly this particular department, they are welcoming to many others. Though it's sad I can't attend church on those weeks, the people I have come to know and get closer to have made it something to look forward to, and it has been an enormous learning experience for me--as well as an incredible opportunity to come to love so many people I wouldn't have known otherwise. This friend who died so suddenly, along with her father and mother (who also work with me), were some of the life-long friends I've made. They came here from Jordan, and since knowing them I've learned so much of their culture and of Islam; I've also developed quite a craving for Middle-Eastern food also. Our little Sunday group is comprised of so many people from different life-styles and religions, yet there is this air of warmth, openness, and respect that I've never experienced anywhere else. This family embodies these qualities, and are largely responsible for this atmosphere. I was unable to attend the funeral, which happened quickly because as Muslims do not embalm, and with it being my off week they were unable to get a hold of me and many others. However, I had the chance to go visit them and offer my condolences last night, along with the friend in my department. They were so warm and welcoming, and the love and appreciation towards us radiated from them. The first thing they did was hug us, as did all of their family members and friends I had either never met before, or had met only briefly, then they brought us food--desserts specifically. They replied that that was their custom to feed guests, after we were foolish enough to say we'd come to bring them food, not the other way around. We then talked about the wonderful accomplishments their daughter made, and about how they would miss her but she would always be in our hearts, and how proud they were of the person she grew up to be. She was my age exactly, and next week would have graduated from the program I am going into. Her mother said she sees her in everything and everywhere she goes, and her memory will live forever. They knew that was the book of her life, and that it was supposed to end that way--that she accomplished what she was supposed to in her life. It made me think of my own life: about what I need to do, where I need to go. They then told Idaho and I that we remind them of her, and that they love both of us like they do her...Like a daughter. I felt such a love towards them in return, and felt sad not only because I will miss her, but because it's so hard to watch her family in pain, though their strength and hope is admirable beyond belief. Needless to say, I was bawling by the end of this visit. I just found it amazing how similar some of the beliefs and the faith they expressed towards this event and to life in general were so similar to many of my own. God is truly blessing them. Anyway... I just wanted to document this event, and express my appreciation for being gifted enough to have known her, and to know all of the many wonderful people I have been blessed to know. I have so many friends I've known for so long, some even from elementary and middle school, and I'm really just blessed in the friends and family I have been given. Fortunately a friend isn't a gift you give yourself.

A blurb for my blog

I've grossly neglected my blog as of late. I didn't want to write too many too fast, so I waited...Then my internet at home went down. I still don't have it there, so thank goodness for abusing my internet privileges at work. I'm working on getting it on my computer finally, but I've hit a road block there, so I need to talk to my a.b.i.l. (my almost-brother-in-law), who's been much more helpful with computer stuff lately than he should have to be. Also somewhat unfortunately I have a test this week. The good news is that after next week my class is over. I swear this test is supposed to be on Monday, as stated by the syllabi, but it sounds like it's on Friday. Evil professor...I'm not ready yet. I was going to take summer classes as well, but none of the classes I need are being offered, so I guess Vegas can really happen whenever. I'm excited for my break, even though I haven't really worked hard enough to deserve one. I plan to go fishing with my dad a lot, read non-school-things with no guilt, and otherwise plan all of the excursions I said I would as per my "fun week/year" post. I do rather enjoy my computer so far, and all of the stuff on it. I can now upload my ipod on my own computer, though I've realized I need to get some stuff from Frogkisser to put in my library (mainly the theme songs from our childhood). I quite like listening to "normal" songs, then having the theme to the Pink Panther or Rescue Rangers pop up. I especially like "The Pirates of the Caribbean" one--think of the Disneyland ride, not of Johnny Depp, unless of course you must. Hopefully I will get the internet soon, and I will definitely write again sooner next time.

Mondays masquerading as Tuesdays, Pt. 1

(I’m posting this in parts twofold, that way maybe Pinkie will stop whining about length and actually read my posts. Through some trickery of my own, I published the second part before the first, thus one can read them one after another.) The beginning of the week always throws me off. It’s Tuesday, and that means it’s the Monday of my workweek, at least as far as this week goes. I really didn’t want to get up this morning, but I did. And now I have a lot of free time to write.

Conference weekend was lovely as always, my favorite time of the year. I am officially moved back into my parents’ house, but it will take a while for my room to become habitable. I’m rather distressed at misplacing an anatomy cd rom as well. Surprisingly, we get our full deposit back, despite both Frogkisser and I burning the carpet, and my sister splitting the door. The first session I was up at my sister’s house, eating all the food she and Frogkisser prepared for us. What a surprise it was to find William randomly show up at the door without actually having received directions. He claims he followed tracks, which he must have up the huge winding dirt road. It was much harder for Aaron and Clark to find their way; I’m not sure about Dave and Josh. We flew kites at one point in between or after sessions. Josh managed to break the string on my turtle in a plane kite, which flew into the llama grazing area, but was retrieved. It was a nice day, but I must say I enjoyed Sunday more often. Much of that was not having to wake up and go anywhere, which is such a nice part of conference. I stayed at my own home, we turned on conference in all the rooms so we could hear it no matter where I went, and it was lovely. I also really enjoyed the actual talks. It’s amazing how they seem to be talking right to you. President Hinkley’s was incredible, and I also enjoyed Elder Holland’s and Elder Nelson’s. I did hit the second session at my sister’s house, and we watched Wallace and Grombit before the session started, so that was nice. There were also crepes made this time, which is how Conference Sunday should be. After it was all over we got to play with the llamas because the owner took them on a walk, then tied them up in the front yard. I touched the nose of one, then they avoided us like the plague, that is till we were holding a bucket of oats, then we were suddenly their best friends.

Mondays masquerading as Tuesdays, Pt. 2

Right, so I don’t know if I mentioned that someone in Mexico was trying to use my debit card, but I got a new one. It’s such a relief to not have to carry around cash or borrow money from someone. For instance, last night I went to a diner with friends. It was one of those last minute non-planned plans, so that was nice. We first went to the game store as planned, and we played Ticket to Ride, the Europe version. It really is rather quite a unique environment. They have games there I’ve never heard of in my life, and they let you try them out. Next time we’re playing a game involving monks and a mysterious abbey where one of them mysteriously falls to his death. How great does that sound?! I won this time, which I did when we played the United States version of the game. I also ordered it in, because it’s been sold out since Christmas.

I don’t remember what the name of the diner was. It was clever, had the word “plate” in there, and also cleverly put “Diner” on the end of the name, as all good diners should do. I think it was 1960’s themed, but it could have been 50’s like Pinkie insists her dream diner will be. Of course this inspired Duckling and I to go on about our own never-will-exist diner, which we only decided to elaborate upon when Pinkie so rudely vetoed our name suggestions and ideas for her diner. I must say, it’s rather amusing to get her riled up with the subject, because never in a million years would Duckling and I actually open a diner across from hers, yet every time we bring it up she gets all huffy. That’s probably why we still bring it up. Anyway, The Big Ol’ D will now have it’s own t-shirts and kazoo’s, which makes my mother’s pencil/book inscriber machine finally useful for the first time in about a decade. The logo may be changed at any time. Kyle came with us for the whole adventure, though he didn’t so much enjoy the game store. Afterwards I ended up driving him and Ashley around till we found the Second Kingdom Hearts PS-2 game that came out the day before. The diner guy tipped them off to it’s being out. I would be more excited if I had any spare time that could be devoted to video games.

This brings me to today. We are, as we so often are, experiencing instrumentation problems, and only in my daydream are all the problems fixed by kicking it really hard. Somehow we experienced an overflow of immunocaps on the conveyer belt. I’ve never seen such a sight. I also am becoming increasingly worried about my class. I really have to shine on my last exam and the final, and there are only three weeks of the class left. This worries me more than bringing relief.