I think it's been at least a month since my last post, so I have some catching up to do if I am to fulfill my New Year's resolution of making two blog posts each month. I guess I'll have to post something in the next couple days on top of this. Well, the first thing that comes to mind about this past month was that it was FREEZING COLD! For those of you in Utah, I need not share details, but for those out of state, please bring out your box of kleenexes and mourn with me. For literally about a month and a half, we had highs around 25 degrees or lower. I would check the weather forecast almost daily and I couldn't remember ever seeing the temperature hit the 30 degree mark during that time. We're finally getting a little reprieve (aka highs in the mid-30s) this week, so we are counting our blessings by the degrees. What made the cold weather especially tedious was the inversion that trapped the pollution in the air. The weather was below freezing with pollution without breaks. We are craving a nice warm weather vacation this summer, so we'll see how that goes! I'm already more than done with winter, but I'm afraid it's not done with me. Hopefully we'll get in some skiing soon to at least get some recreation out of it besides skidding on the roads in our cars.
Last week, we enjoyed visiting my old junior high (Oak Canyon) so we could watch our nice Rachel play in her basketball game. While she played for rival Lakeridge, I definitely cheered for her team. She played well and is a great defender. They pulled off the upset, and it was fun to watch. Also, during our visit at the school I made sure to look up one of my favorite teachers, Doug Andersen. He was my geography teacher in 9th grade, and he was exceptional. He is a genius, and truly devoted to his students' learning. I'm sure he could have had any number of lucrative careers, but he wanted to share his gift of learning. He was patient with me as I would often visit his classroom after hours to discuss politics and current events. He always had great insights, and I've always had a lot of respect for him. We talked about what we've been up to the last several years, and he was excited to learn of my plans to take the Foreign Service exam (more on that later). If I end up passing it, I would owe much of it to him and the other excellent teachers I've had throughout my life.
As mentioned earlier, I will be taking the Foreign Service exam I will do so at 9:00 on February 8, so wish me luck! My interest in the Foreign Service began on my mission, when I met a couple officers in Prague who are members of the Church. They told me about their careers and the experiences their family have while in the service, and I was intrigued. After my mission, I was part of the BYU Model UN class and I took various languages in order to prepare myself to work abroad. I've also considered the JAG Corps and international law, but of all the options I have considered, I always seem to come back to the Foreign Service. I have been talking with a few Foreign Service officers lately who have answered my numerous questions and provided advice during the application process. I'm still planning to take the LSAT in June, but if I get accepted to the Foreign Service this year I will have to make some tough decisions.
One of the best things about January was that I officially became employed again! Although it's a part-time job, I'm working in an industry I'm very passionate about: FOOD! My brother Ryan helped me secure a job at Los Hermanos, one of my favorite restaurants in the state. I just passed the test to become a waiter last week, so next week I will begin shadowing the pros. For the last couple weeks I have received training on hosting, bussing, cashiering, and, my favorite, bartending! They have some of the best specialty drinks ever at Los Hermanos, and now I have the inside scoop on how to make them (pun intended). While the pay isn't the highest I've ever had, I'm grateful to have a steady, flexible job for the time being.
Another highlight of the past month was a date night at the Wild Mustang, a restaurant only a quarter mile away from where we live. I saw an advertisement on the Deseret News that they were going to have guest artist Michael Murphey play while people enjoy their meals. I've never been much of a country music fan, but I thought since we wanted to try the restaurant sometime anyways, we might as well have some entertainment added to the experience. It was a fun atmosphere, and we all thought Michael Murphey was exceptional! Not only is he talented, but friendly and sincere. He even included Mason in the fun:
Just this last week, we had a mid-day date strolling around BYU and reminiscing about the good times as well as looking at some of the things that have changed since we were students, and changed they have! When Joanna and I attended BYU, we had to walk uphill both ways, but now it sounds like the new pedestrian development that was just announced this past week might change that. We took a quick glance at the inside of the gorgeous broadcasting building. We plan to take a tour over there sometime soon. We took a glance at the new Heritage Halls buildings, which don't resemble in anyway the one I lived in during my freshman year. We were reading a few homemade signs on one of the doors in the dormitories, when a girl stepped out and almost fainted from shock when she saw us staring in her direction a foot away. We all got a good laugh. After that, we feasted on a doughnut and life-changing Cookies 'n Cream milk, then dropped by the Museum of Peoples and Cultures just to see what it had on display. All in all, a great day date!
Another super fun thing we did at BYU a couple weeks ago was attend the Phantom of the Opera. Alissa gave us the tickets for Christmas, and the program was fantastic! This season is the first time that colleges have been given the rights to the show. The crew was talented and the music, as always with Phantom, was beautiful. I only wish Joanna could have given the orchestra a hand :)
Mason has been going through a little emotional phase. I've just come to accept the fact that he's not quite as cuddly anymore. Thankfully, he hasn't learned the word "no," but he has learned other ways to express his displeasure:
However, we try to focus on the fun, singing times:
Now that Joanna is playing in the orchestra some more, Mason and I are having more and more one-on-one time, which I've thoroughly enjoyed. He loves playing with his sports set,
reading,
and eating:
and eating:
and eating:
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