Graduation

Friends and family on Graduation Day

After having terrible weather the days leading up to graduation weekend (try to act as if you're surprised, please) the clouds cleared and the sun came out for graduation.

So to the person who payed off Mother Nature, I thank you times a million.

An Apology and a Manifesto. An Apologesto?

With my college career thus far nearing its end, this seems like a fine time as any to make a long overdue apology to someone. And if you don't know me well, I can be stubborn and not inclined to admit when I'm wrong, or when I've made a false judgement about someone, so please know this is a pretty big step for me. Maybe even a monumental one.

You see, I had a bad habit of giving Utah a hard time. I visited it quite a bit when I was growing up, and even at my young age I knew Utah was different than what I was used to. Granted, that was mostly because I found myself having to apply lotion in the summertime just to not crumble in pieces and didn't understand why, but you catch my drift. The western half of our fine country can be an easy target, especially from us Easterners with our humid climate and black clothing.

You poke fun at Utah or Idaho and you're likely to get an angry face as a response. You poke fun at New York or New Jersey and, well, it'll probably be a few weeks before they're able to recover your body from the bottom of the Hudson. That's just how things go.

So, Utah, I hope you can accept my apology. Because you're a fun state with great people and pretty great snowboarding. And I've loved my last four years here. And that high elevation doesn't hurt when I want a tan in the summer either. And Jamba Juice. And Cafe Rio. And good concerts. And Zions National Park.

I digress.

Now that that's out of the way, I propose my manifesto: Give people (and states too) some time to surprise you, because chances are they will. Nobody is ever as simple as we make them out to be. I can't tell you the number of people who are surprised by my taste in music, art and other things just because I'm known to occasionally wear ruffles and heels. It's just a good thing I don't wear pink because that thrown into the mix too would result in some sort of brain overload, I'm sure.

Loggers Ball

On the weekends I moonlight as a lumberjack.

As if you didn't already know.

Better than the choir

Didn't you know? We all turn into annoying sports fans during basketball games.

And I love it.

Oh, Internet

Although my emphasis in school is in public relations, and it's also the profession I'd like to pursue, I was required to take a lot of news writing and journalism classes as core and prerequisite classes. And in these classes, aside from learning stylistic rules and practicing writing, you're also taught a lot about new media and how it has changed the way business is done. Almost everything is Internet-based these days and so much more of our life is published for the world to see. Our lives can truly be completely published on the Internet if we choose. With that in mind, one of the topics taught that I thought was really interesting was regarding ethics and the permanence of what we publish online. In fact, one form of that even has it's own name - Netiquette. Emily Post would be so stinkin' proud.

The Internet is such a free forum for expression and there are many times we forget its content is very public and available to a general audience. And very permanent as well. Whatever we write or say is most likely going to be seen by potential future employers, or really anyone else for that matter. A little creepy but very true.

My church also put out this article on compartmentalization of ethics last month I thought was really neat. It's nothing religious, but just talks about the change in journalism and how those ethics we're taught are being transferred over to life in the information age; how we need to be more aware and conscious of our life online as much as we had to be aware of it in real life in years past.

A MAJOR journalism nerd moment, I know.

And then I'll grow up, I suppose.

Since about age five I've done little other than be a student, but in six months I'll be an adult, I guess. Or someone posing as an adult because really, being an adult sounds so stuffy and boring.

In six months I'll listen to a lot of speakers commending me on my four years of work and telling me I have such potential in the world. I'll walk across a large stage in the basketball arena and try not to break into the fight song. People will clap. There will be an unnecessary amount of photos taken of myself holding a diploma and wearing a robe that makes just about everyone look terrible. I'm sure there'll be hugging, laughing and maybe just a little bit of crying.

I'll take my parents all around campus, showing them my favorite spots; the giant vents I jumped off freshman year when I almost broke my ankle, all for the sake of a photo, my favorite spot to study in the library, and the Performance Hall, one of the coolest buildings on campus. We'll drive down to Federal Ave and 100 East to eat and see where my favorite place to listen to jazz used to be. And of course we'll eat ice cream followed by two of us complaining of stomach aches due to that pesky lactose intolerance we always seem to temporarily forget. After there will be packing of many things, donations to the thrift store and a whirlwind of emotions. When the car is ever-so-professionally packed (the dynamic duo have a lot of practice at this), I'll drive. Somewhere. Somewhere yet to be decided.

I know I'll be happy wherever I end up (Of course fingers are VERY much so crossed for the City) but I'll certainly never forget this place. I learned a lot, laughed a lot and finally figured out which directions the mountains face (It's a trick question. They face both ways). I met a lot of people, some I liked and some I didn't, and refined my dance moves and ability to make any theme into a really great themed party. I learned how to live with females that aren't my sisters, that I wasn't meant to eat "college" food and the importance of snow tires. And somewhere in between I also learned a little bit about myself.

But the best part? That's the part that comes next, the part I don't know.

It's no secret

... that our football team isn't exactly the greatest in college ball. But hey, we're working on it and I love them for it.

I also love the new marketing around campus which includes cardboard cutouts of our coach. Now it's just taking all I have NOT to steal it and make it the newest decoration in the house.

I'm not making any promises

Two weeks ago I started my last year at college.

It was a completely lovely day, but it made me realize how quickly the past three years have gone by. I have only two semesters left to really make those memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. My experiences so far have been amazing.

Not perfect, but amazing.

Sure, there were times when I dreaded my classes and wondered what I was doing, when I was sure I'd had enough, but those times have been overshadowed by the good memories. They have been overshadowed by the time I went sledding down Old Main for the first time. By the annual 80's dances. By The Howl. By everything.

I told my sister, Amy, how I was a little apprehensive about the future and growing up. Things here are comfortable, and as much as I like change, I'm happy where I am. I told her I didn't think I was ready to leave. She laughed, and said not to become a perpetual student, or that kid who never leaves their college town.

I'll do my best, Amy, but I'm not making any promises.

Packing: Not my forte

Well here I am already, with the summer almost over and getting packed and ready, and wondering how it was that I managed to get my things here in the first place.

Soon I'll be heading back to school, back to what will be my last year of college and back to the last few months I have before I have to become a grown-up. You better bet I plan on making them good ones.

[Image via Black Eiffel]

Au revoir

Dear Logan,

I've had fun but it's been two years since really being home. I thought it time for a change.

I'll miss you very much (along with hiking in the mountains, those heavenly raspberry shakes in Bear Lake and buying fireworks legally) and I'll see you again in August.

With all my love,

Nicole

Image via flickr

Photo browsing is a good way to procrastinate packing

I found this photo in my files from last summer and it made me smile.

Partly because last summer makes me smile, partly because it's obvious by my attire that I hadn't been able to make a decision when I got dressed that morning, and partly because I can tell you exactly about the day this was taken. Two friends and I drove out to Middle of Nowhere, Cache Valley, and spent the day at a farm owned by his grandfather. It was surrounded by gorgeous mountains and the most breath taking landscape you'll see.

Then we broke out the shotguns and had it out with some clay pigeons.

I'm sure this summer will be similar. Except minus the shotguns. And the goats. And hopefully the weird outfits.

I'm already counting down to next season

Don't forget to click the HQ button, it's ten times better that way.
You can also turn your volume to the max and it'll be half as loud as the real game.

Justification of my college career, Part III

It's a great thing my school spirit is genuine and full-fledged because it's a little late to change my mind now. Especially when there's photo documentation of you showing your Aggie Pride for the world to see.

But really, I was just glad I managed to control the pull-an-ugly-face-in-photos urge I tend to get.

And as for our NCAA game, we lost by one point. ONE POINT?! Let's just say my frustration is the reason it hasn't been mentioned yet.

21-1

Dear AP Top 25 Rankings,

We're 21-1 and have a 16-0 winning streak, the longest in the nation. We've been listed in the "Others Receiving Votes" category for a few weeks now. Even ESPN has us at #25 for their power rankings. You know you want to give us the #25 spot, so please remember that when you post the rankings Monday.

With Love,

Miss Brown

The Spectrum

Section F

Row 3

Edit: The polls are finally out and we're in: #25 in the AP and #22 in ESPN! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about, kids.

I'm swear they're not paying me

So I feel a little bit like a walking ad right now, but I swear I'm not. I just think it's cool.

Anywayyyy, the director of PR & Marketing at the University did a guest lecture a few days ago for PRSSA and talked a little bit about this video, so I was excited to finally see the end result. And, It doesn't hurt that I love seeing people I know in the video.

The reason why I almost lost my voice this weekend

Jared sent this article over to me, published in the Deseret News.
It's true, we lost and it was a hard fought game, but I'm still proud of our students. I always will be.

"While both sides drew great fan support, we learned the Aggies can transfer their legendary spirit of the Spectrum home court.

The Aggie student section killed the BYU side. They arrived earlier and were louder. It was like USU students came wired for an organized, orchestrated cage fight with a script. BYU's side sounded like they were at family home evening without a lesson plan leader.

"I've never played Utah State before," said BYU's Jonathan Tavernari, who led all scorers with 24 points. "This will help me for when we go up there next year."

Sort of. It will be twice as loud. And personal.

"Both fans are crazy," said Cummard. "Their fans are crazy; our fans are better. I'm glad we got the victory. Their fans have a lot of mean things to say and our team didn't let it bother us today,"

"Tonight they got after Lee, next year, it'll be me," said BYU's Jackson Emery."

Sometimes I address letters to myself

Dear Self,

It's a good thing you love your major and enjoy the work that you're doing because come next semester you are pretty much going to be HATING life. That's right, the dreaded time has come. You've toiled and figured out your semester for the next three semesters, or also known as the rest of college, and you're hoping it'll all work out. You've managed to find a RAD class about the science of textiles that will fulfill two of your upper-lever requirements and also happens to be about textiles, so naturally you'll love it. You're also hoping you can remember how to audition for something and will get into the Chorale, seeing as you had a lapse of judgement and thought being a music minor would be a GREAT idea. You know, because minors full of the dreaded one-credit class are the best!

Unfortunately, you've also managed to sign up for three of your major classes, one of which won't be hard because, let's be honest, you've learned to love writing, one that will be semi-hard, and one that will make you want to cry on many, MANY occasions. You know it's not that bad, or at least that's what you keep telling yourself, but you can't help but think that all that horror stories you've heard probably have at least a LITTLE truth to them. A class all about the study of law cases regarding media, etc. is bound to be fun, right?

At least you know that doing this, although temporary social suicide for a semester, will hopefully allow you to take it a little bit easier the last two semesters.

And if that doesn't work out we can hope that the stress will turn you into an emotional eater, and then you can go on Oprah and talk about how college made you fat and you had to wear sweats all the time because that's the only thing you could fit into. Yeah, that's sounding pretty good to me, too.

With love,

Nicole

P.S. Sorry about the whole having-an-8:30-class-during-the-winter thing. I really didn't do it on purpose.

Another reason why I adore where I live

There are occasions when I wish I lived somewhere else, as I think many people often do. I doubt it's that we're unhappy with our lives or the place we are, but rather it seems like human nature to always want the unattainable, that thing that we can't have or can't have right now. Like Trader Joe's, which I think should be built in Logan. I mean come on, me and the hippies would be ALL over that.

This season in Cache Valley is not one of those times. If there's one thing I might miss about New York it would be fall, so it's pretty lucky that I get to live somewhere that is just as gorgeous as the area I grew up in.
My sentimental feelings about the Valley will maybe probably definitely change when the snow starts to fall and the snot in my nose freezes on my walk up to campus... but until then, I'm content.

Home, Sweet Home

My friends and I were able to find the raddest house ever to live in this summer and next year. It's an old home (someone told us 1910?), and it goes without saying that it is just filled to the brim with "character"... lots of "character". But that's why we love it. There's just something about creaky stairs, creepy basements and crazy roommates that make things fun. I was outside a few weeks ago spray painting my pretty rad DIY thrift store chair and remembered I hadn't taken any pictures of the house yet (and yes, we actually do refer to it as "the house"), so here ya go, here's a sneak into our house!

the house, and the trellis that we always feel obligated to walk through.the basement, now lovingly named the dungeon. it now also doubles as the movie room.
the infamous red door, as well as the now infamous sign.

Homeless No More

Finals are stressful enough on their own. Then add in having to pack, clean and move into the mix and it turns into a whole other dilemma. Yeesh! I swear there must be a group of old men that meet in some secret room somewhere and plot ways in which they can make big events even more stressful.

Okay, in all fairness, I actually had a super easy finals week this semester but I still don't like how they make everything happen within the span of one week. Not nice!

On the bright side of things, I'm almost all packed up and, more importantly, I'm not temporarily homeless anymore! Seeing as my current landlord isn't letting us stay an extra day in our apartment (which will be vacant during the summer anyway - not that I'm bitter of course), my poor future manager took pity on us and is letting us move in on Saturday rather then making us wait until the formal check-in date on Monday. I seriously could have hugged him. Without that, we would have had nowhere to live for two days which as you can imagine wasn't really how I wanted to spend my weekend.

So aside from working tomorrow, I will spend the duration of the next two days trying to make my apartment check-out worthy. It's not really that dirty, but I definitely have been slacking off a bit in the cleaning department as of late. Hopefully this will redeem me.

_____________________________________________________

I've realized that I hate non-picture blogs. I'm know that sounds like something a five-year-old would say, but it's true. So in honor of that, here's an obligatory picture:

A roommate, a friend and I in our 80's drab (yes, that's a mohawk and all real!) before the big annual 80's Night at the beginning of the fall semester. Ohhhh the memories. And the hairspray. So much hairspray.