that one time I graduated college

It's been awhile, but I'm a college grad! 'sup!
My family got into town Thursday afternoon and we ate at Which Wich, which is a sandwich place by the University Mall where you can choose from many different types of 'wiches!  It's yummy!  My sister and I also staked out the competition at Sweet Tooth Fairy (it's a tough place to beat...).
That afternoon, I had Commencement, so I waited in the hot sunshine to go inside, fidgeting with my stupid collar and worried that all of the water I was drinking would make me need to pee in the middle of the ceremony.  Our speaker was David Beck, a leader in the LDS Church.

Me ~ Mars (aka Margaret from my study abroad program) ~ Jenny

That night was my official graduation celebration dinner with the fam at Texas Roadhouse.  My family is so thoughtful and I'm so glad that they were able to come out to support me and celebrate with me!
Then, of course, we watched the Olympics.
Friday, we got up early to hike the Y.  Conquered that mountain.  Then we did the BYU thing: visiting the bookstore, eating at the Cougareat, etc.

That afternoon was my Convocation and I got to be a part of the ceremony as the musical number, so that was a great time!  I went early for sound checks and, while I was goofing with the tech guys, they showed me how the grand Steinway in the Marriott Center is signed on the inside board by John Steinway, himself! And a bunch of other legit pianists.

Here is a sample of the piece Justin and I played for our Convocation.

my comp's being funky, so I'll upload the full video soon.

Also because I was performing, I got to sit onstage, which was pretty cool.  

(third from bottom=that's me!!)

My parents treated me and my roommates to Bombay House that night. Yum!

My roommates then gave me a 224 send-off of a lifetime.  I miss those girls :(

Saturday, I drove from Provo, UT to Portland, OR with my dad. I didn't think it would be so hard to leave Provo, but that's because I was leaving my life for the past 4 years.  That mainly means leaving those great people I got to enjoy my time with during my stay in Utah.  I hope to see you guys soon and that we can stay in touch :)

YAY GRADUATIONNN!

my final days in Provo, UT

We went bowling a couple of times.  One of Provo's secrets: Miracle Bowl on State Street in Provo is super cheap some nights.

Tasha, her sister Jackie, Meagan, Lizzy, Shalene and I went to the Rooftop Concert. Allred, Book on Tapeworm, and Isaac Russell.

insta courtesy of Tasha :) 

I liked Book on Tapeworm (despite the fact that we couldn't get it right the whole night..."Booktapes with Worms?" "Worms on Booktape?" "Books on Tapeworm?")

Piano and cello=love.

http://youtu.be/iE_psU0BDgo

Saturday, Lizzy, Megan, Hilary and I went to Kneaders for breakfast.  Then Lizzy, Hilary and I saw "Step Up: Revolution," which delivered on the dance moves.  We were saying how we couldn't sit still the whole movie because we just wanted to dance!  

http://youtu.be/9ZhaXfm4MeA

Dinner at Zack's on Sunday.  He works at Los Hermanos so he had the hook-up with salsa and chips.  Yum!

insta courtesy of Zack :)  Lizzy--Hilary--me--Meagan

I had my last day at Independent Study on Tuesday.  They surprised me with Donut Tuesday instead of Donut Thursday.  I teared up a little when I had to say bye.

I have worked side-by-side with these girls in the same room for the past year and worked with Cort in the mail room for the year before that. Cortney--me--Roberta.  Love these girls!

 Wednesday, I took my last final at BYU!! Then I packed and all that fun stuff.  That night, Hilary, Lizzy, and Meagan treated me to dinner at my fav, Buca di Beppos in SLC.  We ate until we had to be rolled out of the restaurant and laughed until we cried.  I have so much fun with these girls, it's crazy.  I miss them so much!

photos courtesy of Lizzy

And you better believe we jammed to the "Step Up: Revolution" soundtrack the whole way there and back.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. "Let's Go" -- Travis Barker (the drummer for Blink 182!), feat. Yelawolf, Twista, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Jon

2. "Hands in the Air" -- Timbaland, feat. Ne-Yo

3. "Live My Life" -- Far East Movement, feat. Justin Bieber and Redfoo

4. "This is the Life" --My Name is Kay

Clearly, the thing I will miss most about the last 4 years and Provo are the people who made it fun and the music we jammed to while we were making fun :)  

4th of July Holiday according to the pictures I took.

Overnight French Toast Casserole w/ creme cheese (click for recipe: it's not the one I found online and used, but I think this other one will be more flavorful, from my experience)

I have never seen anything like this aside from tent protests in bigger cities.  Provo each year camps out the night before the 4th along University Ave.  I mean EVERYONE does this. Families with children, single college kids, high schoolers. It's so they can have good seats for the parade.  I live on University Ave and this is the view outside our window from the morning of the 4th.  We didn't camp out (well, we moved our mattresses to the living room away from the street so we could get some sleep), but we walked out and had a perfectly fine view in the morning.  I don't really understand it, I mean, I did it last year for kicks and had a miserable time getting 2 hours of sleep on the ground like a homeless person, but it's part of the culture.  Like a big community sleepover.

Stephanie Nielson was the Grand Marshal of the parade along w/ her cute family.  She's our local celeb due to her blog and her book (I follow the blog and have read the book, so it was fun to see her in person!).

Tasha-Kimberly-Hilary-Me-Meagan @ dinner @ Deidre's place before fireworks time

fireworks from Stadium of Fire that we watched from by the baseball fields

Annnd you should go see "The Amazing Spider-Man"!!! I loved it!

Happy 5th of July!

being grateful

One of my biggest pet peeves of people is when they think they are entitled to have/be something or when people are ungrateful.  What happened to "thank you?"
Off of that soap box and on to another.
I am so grateful for being born in America.  I'm grateful that I am a woman living in America.  And I hope that you are, too (man or woman), and here is why.  I am currently in a women's culture course for my English capstone and I am loving what insights I've gained.  I have known about the troubles in other countries or cultures, but I haven't read much from a personal point of view.  Right now we are reading Reading Lolita In Tehran, which is about a woman professor who taught at the University there in Tehran.  She relates her life during the Revolution from her perspective as a woman, professor, and lover of literature.  It is written looking back on the times that she spent with a group of women she hand selected from her past courses to participate in a sort of book club where they read and discuss literature that has been banned from their country.  Like Lolita and The Great Gatsby.  It makes me furious and heartbroken at the same time to realize what these women have to go through.  Head coverings used to be worn by choice and religious fervor.  Now they have to wear them because hair is too sensual.  They can't wear pink socks because it is too sensual.  Nail polish. Make-up. Women are beaten, jailed, and killed for participating in these so-called "sexual" practices.
That's not the worst of it.  I am grateful for being a woman in America because I am (almost!) a college-educated woman who wasn't married off when she was 15.  Women were kicked out of professional positions and political offices during this tumultuous time and behind locked doors just because they were women.
I'm so grateful for the men and women who put their lives on the line so that I can have these freedoms and live comfortably in a country that promotes these freedoms.  We owe our lives to them, but they don't want anything in return but knowing that their work is appreciated.
Thank you! God bless you!

Happy Independence Day!

my cool life

Sometimes when I stress about life after graduation, I step back and remind myself to live in the moment.  Planners sometimes forget to enjoy the here and now because they are so concerned about the future. I'm working on that.

So here are some things that are super cool and stuff:

1. I started the second half of my internship for Special Collections today.  For Spring term, I worked on a research project that compiled the history of the HBLL.  Now I'm working with the rare book curator on a conservation project with the Victorian Collection.  Aka I get to hang out with old books aka an English major's dream (especially since my master's work is probs gonna be in Victorianism. what what!).  The curator showed me some stuff in the Extra-Special Collections today for kicks and giggles (they are off-limits to students like me).  I mean, it's like cocaine for a bookie for me (don't do drugs stay in school).  

2. I am working at Independent Study, again, with my favorite coworkers! It is a blast and a half there.  

3. As of 1 o'clock tomorrow, I am done with the class from hell.  And my paper is gonna kick butt, no matter what grade I get.  So there.

4. I love Seven Peaks and live there on every sunny day I get the chance to. Can I get an amen for a Pass of All Passes? A-MEN.

5. Less than 2 months until I have a degree under my belt. Or robes. Or whatever the saying is. Meh, English.

My friend Lizzie and I are going to make a music video. Here is our inspiration and idol:

http://youtu.be/94Yyv0iUppU

spring/summer 2012

Here are some things I've been doing since Winter semester finished, according to my iPhone:

won the bonus at Nickelcade! celebrating Hilary's bday

Meagan went to driving school (finally!)

my former roommate got married! and then Karah came into town :)

celebrating Kimberly's bday with a cute bearded server at CPK

hiked the Y with some UVU peeps...and reenacted Titanic

Cinco de Mayo at Mi Rachitos

Spanish!

started working at IS, again, where we celebrate EVERYTHING!  love my job!!

lots and lots of movies

my parents came into town for a weekend for my great-grandma's funeral. sad about the funeral...but happy about chillin with my parents. this is my dad's first time at In-N-Out

first time on a tandem! check off of bucket list!

doing some fun reading=favorite thing about summer

intermural soccer!

Memorial Weekend in Midway with Lizzie, Chelsea and Hilary

I helped organize a Seder (Passover) feast for my Bible as Lit class. Very cool experience!!

Deidre's bridal shower w/ the roomies

I go to concerts, day and night (#provorooftopconcerts)

#sweettoothfairy

and taking over Provo, UT on my bike

my thoughts on LBGT

I have been thinking about this for awhile and have been delaying blogging about it imply because it's such a heavy subject and I did not know enough.  I still don't know everything, but after tonight I have a pretty solid opinion and insight to the LGBT community and gay Mormons specifically.  Tonight, BYU had a gay BYU student panel where the sociology department had four people who were openly gay and attending BYU answer questions and talk a little bit.  They had a HUGE turnout and I was sitting on the floor.  It was very very interesting.
First of all, I want to give some background information on the LDS Church's and BYU's standing on gays in the Church and in general.
This is what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says officially: look at lds.org and here and here.
This is what the honor code at BYU-Provo says:
"Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code.

One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings."

Basically and overall, homosexuality and bisexuality is still a controversial subject that everyone, no matter who they are, are having to learn about for themselves.  We have standards in the Church that go for everyone.  Being sexually chaste is very important to us and so that is what we support.  PROP 8 and other political and religious movements that the Church supports is in support of chastity and the family unit.

Even though I have had lots of interaction with gays, I have not sat down with someone of gay sexual orientation and asked them questions, so tonight was a great opportunity for me.  They had an openly gay man who is married to a woman and has a daughter, a lesbian, a single gay man, and a bisexual man.  All are LDS and active in the Church.  They started out with telling their stories about when they knew for sure, what they did after they found out, and how they came out.  Then they answered questions from the students who were in attendance.  They wanted us to not be afraid about asking questions not just at the panel, but with their LGBT friends and family.  They truly believed that they were born this way and it wasn't just a "choice."  

The thing that stuck out to me the most about Mormons having to deal with being faithful members of the Church while struggling with their sexual orientation is that they all thought that they had failed the Lord as a person.  But they all emphasized that they all were at peace with their lives when they realized that their Heavenly Father loves them no matter what.  They all said that they grew closer to God and Christ while searching for answers.  I whole-heartedly agree with this because I have been there.  I haven't had questions about my sexuality, but I have definitely had to deal with other things in my life that not a lot of people understand.  But throughout the whole thing, I have never doubted my Heavenly Father's love for me. 

I think that homophobia is something that comes from ignorance and fear.  Homosexuality is a fairly new thing for a lot of people to deal with, since it has been taboo for so long.  I think that there is also issues with retaliation on both sides.  There are people who have been categorized as "Christian until homosexuality," where they are Christ-like people until they have to talk about homosexuality.  But there are people from the LGBT community who say that people are stupid for not fully supporting who they are.  Either way, it is just because not everyone knows everything about everyone else, just like every other controversial issue in this world.  My advice would be to talk to people who are homo- or bisexual and ask them questions.  Form your own opinion and stick to it.  Then love everyone and be Christ-like no matter what.

lately

PRESIDENT'S DAY WEEKEND
I don't know why I put that in bold except for organizational purpose because I had a pretty non-bold President's Day weekend. It wasn't boring, just uneventful.  Did some shopping, worked on homework, read The Hunger Games again.  The highlight of the weekend was going to the Nickelcade for the first time. That was bundles of fun with Kimberly and Hilary!

MADISON LYNN WHITELEY
...is an absolutely adorable child with whom I am just smitten.  My good friend Amber was the first to get married out of us Oregon peeps and she is now the first to have a baby. Crazy grown-up time!  I visited them in the hospital last week and got to meet Madison for the first time.  Then last night I went over to hold her while mom got some things done.  So cute!

Meeting Madison

She fell asleep while I was holding her on Monday

Sheesh, if I'm this way with my friends' babies, what am I going to be like with my own children??  (Maybe it's because I attend a singles ward and live with single girls with no babies around...have more children, married friends!!! I need to get a dog or something to tide me over.)

ELDER ERICKSEN
My widdle brudda Spencer was called to the Salt Lake City South mission and reports to the MTC on April 25th!  I'm so proud of him and his decision to serve a mission for the LDS Church.
He had his 19th birthday on Sunday and, following tradition, my mom posted this on facebook:

Huppy Birfdee, Pencil!

IN OTHER NEWS...
I really love my job.

I went to my last home basketball game as a student of BYU.  It was senior night for the players and cheerleaders, so I felt like I was honored, too.  Jimmer made an appearance.  And we won.  Good last game!

photo cred to hilary

MISCELLANEOUS THINGS THAT I'M COUNTING DOWN TO

-Graduation!

{162 days}

-My family is going to Hawaii the weekend before finals week.  I have never been to the big island and we have great things planned, so it will be great.  It will also be our last family vacation before Spencer heads on his mission. 

{44 days}

-My roommates and I bought our tickets to the midnight showing of the"Hunger Games" movie!

{24 days}

-I also bought tickets for the Imagine Dragons concert at Velour.

{22 days}

-I will be 22 very soon!! [I accept both monetary and tangible gifts]

{10 days}

Hope you are having success beating the winter blues!