Interview Jitters

I have an interview with Cisco tomorrow! I know that I am what they are looking for and that I could do an excellent job. Hopefully this all comes across in my phone interview! I don't enjoy talking on the phone because I like to actually see the person and be able to interact with them. I have a hard time allowing my personality to shine through in a phone conversation. Something that I apparently need to work on by 1:30pm tomorrow! hahaha... Well wish me luck... we will see how this goes. If this doesn't work out, I know that there will be something just as good if not better waiting for me just around the corner!

Celebrating the Fourth on the Third, Fourth and Fifth

I love the Fourth of July. It is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time for us to ponder on how blessed we are to live in a free country and on the many men and women who have paid with their lives to ensure that it continues to be free. It is also a time for overeating and blowing stuff up... that is my kind of holiday!


This weekend I have experienced more fireworks than I have in the past 10 years... probably combined. We began our experience on Saturday night. As we live in the heart of Mormonville, the fireworks display in Idaho Falls was held on the 3rd so as not to disturb the sabbath day. A little strange for me but alrighty... it just means that I can enjoy the fireworks a day sooner!

In Idaho Falls they shoot the fireworks up over the river. As Outback steakhouse is also right by the river, we decided to eat at Outback a few hours before the show and then relax on their grass to watch the display. Many of our fellow ward members had the same idea, as did our bishop. The fireworks were very good. We could feel the explosion rattling in our bones as we laid there watching them. Literally the second the fireworks ended our bishop drove by waving goodbye. Man, he sure got out of here fast... we all thought. We looked around, seeing the thousands of people all around us, we too booked it to our car to hopefully beat some of the rush.

The Fourth itself was looking to be a pretty tame day. The plan: watch The Phantom of the Opera. What really happened: We heard about a fireworks show down in Pocatello and booked it down there. We crammed into Ryan's little car and drove down to Pocatello to meet Stacy's brother and watch the fireworks. We made a pit stop in Fort Hall(the Indian reservation) for Stacy and Ryan to pick up some mortars and other various explosives.

We then continued on down to Pocatello. The fireworks show was pretty good. Their fireworks seemed to be a little bigger than the ones in IF but they weren't constant and the show still did not last as long as the ones on IF. So... IF:1 Poci:0. We then blew up some of our own fireworks to keep the celebration going followed up by a midnight run to Dennys.

I realize that this blog post seems never ending but that is how the celebrations have felt this weekend! Today we are having a barbecue at the park... because you can't truly celebrate this great countries independence without grilling up some hot dogs. Tonight is going to be quite a bit of fun. We have quite a few of our own fireworks to set off. A few of them may be a little south of the legal border, so lets hope we don't get busted! ...but if we do... I am sure anyone reading this blog would know long before I could post it on here!

Anyways... long story short... America is awesome as is this weekend.

Relaxation... Sort Of

Summer has finally hit! It has been so warm this week. I just love it... but it does make this whole still being in school thing more difficult. Totally fine though because I graduate exactly a month from today! Woot!

My classes tomorrow are canceled because of the Newel K. Whitney summit, so I am headed down to Utah for some fun and relaxation. I am gonna lay out by the pool and soak up some rays. (Not too many though! No worries, I will be bringing some major sunscreen.) I will also get to see Craig this weekend! I haven't seen him in so long. I can't wait! It is bound to be full of fun and some good laughs!

It will be nice to get out of Rexburg for a little while and relax. Unfortunately, I can't relax too much. I have to keep studying for the CCNA. As much as I wish I would just magically know all the information, it doesn't seem to be happening. I am for sure gonna have to crack down on my studying! I guess that means I know what book I will be "enjoying" poolside.

It's All Coming Together

Last week my new cluster was accepted and I went in to talk with someone in my advising office... again. Finally I heard the words I have been dying to hear, "You are all set for graduation. Congratulations!" I have been so stressed trying to jump through all of their hoops... and attempting to crawl under a few of them, it was such a relief to finally hear those words. Looks like I am all set to get out of here... and they are even gonna let me take a degree with me!

I can't wait to walk across that stage! The only worry now is to avoid tripping... but lets be honest its me... so the real worry is how to trip with grace, class and in a way that says, "I'm a college graduate, baby!"

I miss my friends...

Being one of last ones to graduate out of your group of friends is no bueno. It is so sad to be in the same place as they move on with their lives, meet new people and have fun without you. Don't get me wrong, I still have friends up here in Rexburg, but some of my bestest friends have graduated and left me over the past couple semesters. Stevie, Brooke, and Craig... I am talking about you! How dare you guys leave me here! You should have stayed so we could all enjoy another semester in one anothers presence!

I miss late night chats with Stevie back when we shared a room. We shared our hopes, dreams, aspirations and deepest fears. We used to play shadow puppets, she would hold her rubber duckie and my hand(snake) would gobble it right up! We always got the biggest kick out of that! I loved that I could corrupt her with my amazing music taste aka. Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana! (You are SO welcome Kyle! haha..) I miss all the times that we dressed up in crazy outfits and ran around town taking awesome pictures. Our foray into dating services will forever be ingrained in my mind... thanks a lot Brooke! Although our dates were AWESOME, somehow neither of them resulted in marriage... or even a second date! hahaha... I miss you Stevie and am sad that we didn't get to spend more time together your last semester.


Brooke I just love you! You are one of my best friends! I miss all of our slumber parties and random adventures. From going to the cemetery at 3 in the morning to celebrity stalking in Hollywood, we always had a blast. I loved all of our pranks that we attempted to pull on different people with varying success... hahaha. The most epic part of my last summer was when we pulled off the most amazing surprise visit! That was one of the funnest weeks of my life. I miss our paint/mud wars. Those will be some of my favorites memories from college. I miss our "Core Four" adventures staying up until the wee hours of the morning "making memories," as Mike would say. I miss you so much Brooke and wish you were still here with me! Either you move to San Jose or I move to Phoenix... we have to make this work!

Craig you were the light in my life! I miss our arguments over tv shows and movies (and your lack of taste in both!). I will always think of you and our midnight adventures whenever I pass a Denny's. It still kills me when you send me a text or facebook message saying "Dennys?" You know that I am always down! I miss our movie nights and chilling on the 70's porn couch. I miss our awesome game nights. I even miss you dragging me to happy holiday films, "Everybody's Fine"... really Craig? That was not happy in the slightest. I miss our random road trips to Utah, Pocatello and Arizona. I could always count on you to be up for a spur of the moment trip! Basically, I miss you and need you to come visit because I am having some serious Craig deficiencies.

Miss you guys tons! We legit need to have a reunion stat!

I Am Ready but Apparently BYUI is Not

So there has been major drama this semester over me graduating. It started within the first couple weeks of the semester. I went in to the advising office, as I had for the past few semesters to ensure that I was on track for graduating at the end of this semester. Only this time I was told a different, less cheery, story. Apparently I still had a couple classes that I needed to take that every previous adviser had failed to mention. Awesome, right?

It turns out that I still had a class for my minor and for my major. To solve the issue with my minor, I dropped it and condensed it to a cluster(a half minor). I then had to pick up another cluster, luckily I had all those education classes from way back when I thought I had the chops to be a teacher(hahaha... yeah that would have never worked!). The major class was a different story, there appeared to be no way around having to stay another semester to take ONE class. I begged and pleaded and made my way to the head of our department's office and he took pity on me! He was able to swap the class out for another class that I am currently taking! He said, "Katie, I know you. I was just like you when I was your age. I liked to play a lot more than going to class too. Now, if I do this for you, you can't succumb to the nice spring weather, you need to go to class." Luckily for me, the weather hasn't been that great!

It seemed everything was back on track for graduation... until I went to see my adviser again today. Apparently, one of the classes for my education cluster had been pulled from my generals. Now my generals were incomplete. I just can't win! BYU-Idaho just doesn't want to say goodbye to me(and who could blame them!). I mentioned that I had already received my Associates degree so that my generals didn't really matter any more. The advisers and I had a good laugh about how I had found a loop hole that apparently no one had thought of before. I thought maybe I was in the clear until things turned serious and I was told that I needed to take another class.

"Seriously?!? Am I ever getting out of here?!?!" rang through my head as I sat there dumbstruck. Then I had another stroke of genius and suggested just revamping my education cluster. So... I had to make the treacherous up hill walk to the Hinckley building, 3rd floor, to the education advising center. I swear everyone in the advising centers know me really well, I see them almost on a weekly basis!

Once I arrived all huffing and puffing from over exertion, I had the delightful opportunity to explain my long confusing situation to someone else. I didn't have any more education classes to use for this cluster and was a little scared they would tell me that there wasn't anything that they could do, when the head adviser suggested I use one of my CIT classes in the cluster. What? CIT and ED classes together? Who would have thought? She just told me that I had to write a very convincing story of how the CIT class fit with the ED classes and how the combination of those classes would assist me in my career goals.

I had no idea how they were related but I just started writing and put my immense BS skills to work. When I finished, everyone was impressed with my awesome BS skills, as they should be! The head adviser immediately approved my cluster and I just had to take it down to the main advising office for them to approve it. So fingers crossed that they accept it! I was told that would accept it because they want to get students like me (super seniors) outta here! I will keep you all updated on the drama that is attempting to graduate from BYUI and just know that if this marvelous plan fails, I will channel Veronica Mars and uncover another unknown loop hole... hopefully one that does me some good!

Well Golly Gee

It has been such a long time since I have sent a lovely blog out into the world. I would say that I have been much too busy with school and wrapping things up in preparation for graduation... but I don't want to lie to you, we are friends after all. I have been doing the required work and then chilling with friends and catching up on a bunch of tv shows. I have definitely hit the mark... super senioritis has hit! I need to get out of this place! I know that once I graduate I will miss all of the good times had here and the amazing people that I have met... but for now I cannot wait!
BYU-Idaho is a great place but it is time for me to move on with my life. I need something new in my life to challenge to me, I have kinda fallen into a rut and need to mix it up a bit. If only the weather would warm up so that we could do fun stuff and have a semblance of a summer. Today was really nice so hopefully that will just continue!
I am currently studying to take the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) exam. I swear this test is gonna be the end of me! I am steadily doing better on the practice exams but still have quite a ways to go before I take it in the beginning of July. I am losing steam on it but am going to redouble my efforts and hopefully pull this thing off! The Computer Information Technology faculty have been a great help to me in studying. They go out of their way to ask me how I am doing and how they can help me. I can go to them at any time to ask them questions and they are always willing to sit down and explain it to me. I will be sad to leave my little nerd "family!"
Sorry I don't have anything totally awesome to say... maybe someday I will have amazing stories to tell... just stick around!

Mid-Semester Crisis

It happens every semester. You are tired and burned out. You are procrastinating at a level that is unimaginable to who you were at the beginning of the semester. The mid-semester crisis has struck again!

I started out so good! Getting my homework done way in advance, keeping up with all my reading, maintaining a clean bedroom, working out at the beginning of my days... but that has all gone out the window.

My car of motivation has just about run out of gas and is just idling towards the end of the semester. I don't want it to be like this anymore. I feel like I am just living a half life and that I am being buried by the things that I keep putting off.

I am going to be better! I am going to get my butt back into gear. I was much happier at the beginning of the semester because it all felt so new and like anything could happen. I was doing everything that I was supposed to. I am going to get back to that.

The semester isn't over yet. There is still time to turn it around and open up many new possibilities. As I began writing this entry, it was merely as a way to gripe about how unmotivated I am. As I finish this entry, I am excited at the prospect of beginning again.

I just need to get back to what I was doing and those feelings will come back; the feelings that anything can happen. Because it can.

New Years Resolutions: An Update

I had planned to do an update on the first of every month but things have been crazy around here. I figure better late than never though! I have been doing pretty good on my resolutions thus far... YAY! As a reminder to myself and to you(who I am expecting to hold me accountable), I will list each of my goals again along with an update on my progress.

1. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover- I have been reading pretty regularly, but I definitely need to be reading it more. In order to finish by the end of the year I need to read at least a page and a half a day... a little behind but I am well on my way!

2. Exercise at least 4 times a week- I have been doing really well on this. As my readers know, I and some of my friends joined a local gym here in Rexburg. My original goal, as stated, was to work out 4 times a week, but I have actually been going 5 to 6 times a week. It has been going great!

3. Graduate College- I am doing really well in all of my classes and graduation is definitely looking good!

4. Eat dinner at home at least 4 nights a week- This one has been kind of rough. There isn't much to do in Rexburg so my friends and I usually go out to eat pretty regularly. But I have managed to do this one! My friends and I even made a goal to not eat out at all this next week. We are going to go Sunday to Sunday as a way to save money and eat better.

I am excited that things have been going so well. Hopefully I can keep it all up! 1 month down, 11 to go! Thanks for all your help and support!

Ian Will Pump YOU Up!

As per my New Years Resolution I have joined a gym here in Rexburg. I realize that we have a gym on campus for free but it is always super crowded and the machines aren't really top notch. So a couple of my roommates and I drove down the hill to World Gym and signed up! We have been going for a couple weeks now and I am really enjoying it. (As much as you CAN enjoy exercise anyway. Let's face it, nothing beats sitting on your butt all day watching TV and eating.)

As part of our package we receive two free training sessions. Yippee! So I scheduled a time to meet with the trainer, Ian. He guided my roommates and I on our weight loss goals and how best to achieve them. Told us what we should be doing everyday and what our ideal heart rate range is. He was so informative!

On my next meeting with Ian, he took me on a walk-through of the gym. This was very helpful because many of the machines just looked like a bunch of twisted metal torture devices. It turns out that they are twisted metal torture devices but at least I now know how to properly use each one! Enemies beware!

After each new machine that Ian showed me, he would turn to me with a big smile (as if he had created the machine or something) and say, "How do you feel about this machine?" What the heck? What do you want me to say? I hate all the machines. I didn't put on a bunch of weight because I love to workout! But after every machine I would say, "I love this machine, Ian. Thank you for introducing us. You will definitely be invited to the wedding." Well, not those words exactly... but trust me those are better!

"I Am Damn Harry Potter!"

This morning I awoke in my bed in Rexburg. I laid there wishing that I did not have to get up quite yet. 7:45 am class is much to early... especially during a Rexburg winter! As I laid there, stretching, something began tugging at the corners of my mind. Suddenly it all came flooding back. One of the strangest dreams I have ever had and let me tell you, I have had some CRAZY ones!

The scene opens in a Costco. I am there, along with several of my friends and family. The Costco is closed yet we are all there playing around and shooting at each other with sniper rifles. I suddenly get this overwhelming urge that I need to hide and protect myself. I run over to the clothing section and begin burying myself down into the great masses of clothes.

My aunt comes over to me and begins uncovering me. "What the heck?" I say.

"Katie, you need to get over there and help them fight those aliens!"

"I can't! The aliens are here for me. I need to stay here and protect myself. They can handle themselves just fine but I cannot be sacrificed!" I exclaim.

"Katie, get over there now!" she yells. I extricate myself from the clothes and stomp off in a huff towards the fighting.

"FINE!" I scream. "But the aliens are going to kill me first because I am damn Harry Potter!" I begin running with reckless abandon towards the far end of Costco. As I am running, I turn to my left and begin running down a darkened aisle. I see shadowy figures running in the distance. I sped up and began chasing down these shadowy figures.

Once I catch up to them, I realize that these are the aliens that are trying to kill me... and I have nothing to defend myself. I turn tail and run as fast as I can in the opposite direction. The aliens were in hot pursuit. My fastest was not fast enough and they were soon gaining ground on me. I knew at any moment they were going to catch me and go through with their dastardly plan.

Just as I was about to lose all hope, the wall to my left slides open and bright white light beams down on me as fog billows out of the opening. A disembodied voice says, "Come to us, we can train you to fight them." I had no idea who they were but I was much more willing to take my chances with them.

I turn to go in and feel as if I am being sucked in by some kind of vacuum. As I was being pulled into the portal I can feel the enemy aliens' fingertips brush my ankles. I had just barely made it to safety. This next part of my dream is a white, foggy blur. All I remember is that the beings that trained me were of a rival alien sect.

I walked out of the portal triumphantly. The white light glaring from behind me as the fog billowed around me. I was ready to take down some aliens!

Then I was snuggling with some guy on a cloud watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform on a larger nearby cloud. The End.

Dreams are so funny!

Rexburg or Bust!

It has come time to return to school for yet another semester. For the first time in a great while, I am not eager with the anticipation of returning to my beloved Rexburg. Usually at this time I can barely contain my excitement at returning to the 'Burg, as we so lovingly call it. I am just plain tired. This break seemed to fly by and I feel even more exhausted than I was before the break.

I am not looking forward to the LONG drive back to Idaho. I only hope that we have good weather the whole way and that there are no more semi-truck incidents. (Once was way too many times too many!) I am writing this from the floor of my bedroom at home, just wishing that I had another week to be here at home. There are so many other things that I wanted to do. I just ran out of time. I kept thinking, "I will do it later. I have plenty of time." Sadly, my time has come to an end.

I have put off the drive back as long as I dare. Kristi and I were supposed to leave this morning, but we hadn't packed and were just plain tired. So we pushed it back until tomorrow. I wish I could push it back another day but sadly, tomorrow is the day!

I am sure once I get back to Rexburg I will be fine. Although it is freezing and covered with snow, I have great friends there that make it all worth it. I hope this semester is as good as, or even better than those prior to it. My college career is ending and my life will change... hopefully for the better! I would like to leave having even more great memories. Something to look back on and laugh about with my future children. So ready or not Rexburg... here I come!

My Cat is Bulimic

I was just laying in bed staring at my computer trying to think of what I wanted to write today. I kept thinking and thinking and thinking... nothing came. As I was getting frustrated, my Mom calls me from the other room. "Katie, jsklfjaslkj fjflsfjlas sjlkajlf hj kasjdh and I can't do it." I had no idea what she had said... but I knew that it required me to get out of bed. I was more than a little bitter at having to get out of bed, but me being the amazing daughter that I am *wink* did just that.

"What did you need my dear, sweet mother?"

"Rascal ralphed in the other room and I need you to clean it up." For those of you who have been hiding under a rock the past 15 years, Rascal is my cat... and I may be a little obsessed with him. Keep checking my blog, there is bound to be a post all about him one of these days!

I walk into the kitchen expecting to see a big pile of nastiness and that Rascal (or Rascoliosis, as I like to call him) had fled the scene. Well the big pile of nastiness was there... but so was Rascal! I was surprised to find him still there. There he was chowing down some more autumn colored cat food not even 2 feet from where he had thrown up said autumn colored cat food. He just threw up, why the heck was he binging out again? The little freak!

"Rascal, what the heck?" I say to him. He just stares at me. "This is disgusting!" He just stares at me. "Why couldn't you at least throw up on Kristi's bed again?" He grins at me... not really... but I like to imagine that he did!

I throw down some paper towels on top of the mess to begin picking it up. It soaks through the paper towel and coats my hand... I legit almost ralphed myself. (Maybe then I could have called Kristi in to clean both messes... hmmm... an intriguing thought) Rascal just stares at me as clean up the nastiness he had expelled from his stomach. I love the guy, but he is as helpful as a bowl of oatmeal.

I am going to have to sit down with Rascal and talk to him about his Bulimia and skewed self image. All this throwing up is not good for him. He is already quite thin. He needs to focus on getting better and maybe someday he will see what I see; a freeloading sack of fleas. Just kidding, I love you Rascal!