Midterms = CRAZY!

Wow, where to begin... well it's midterms, I've taken two test which I did well on both but those aren't the classes that have me swamped. The thing that kind of makes me laugh is that when it would be really nice to be able to do homework while working I'm swamped and have a giant box of thank you letter that I have to read and file away I got through the B's today. 3:30 a.m. has become my new bed time and I'm still up no later then 7:15 for my 8:00 classes. I have a stack of articles I have to read for Ed Psych as well as a book by Friday, I'm not sure how I'm going to make that work.

My art classes are keeping me plenty busy as well. In fact this weekend well consist of me doing some final touches of this acrylic painting (we were working on light being warm, shadows be cold and making them very exaggerated). As well as starting and finishing another acrylic painting by tuesday and 3 head drawings!

I've had more mixed feeling about school this semester then I have in the past. In the past I mostly have just not liked it but this semester I go through many different feelings, one I really just want to be done and start working, then I just feel like there are so many classes I need to take and not enough time or money, third I want to take time off and travel. I've always wanted to go on the Humanities trip now if any of you know how I can make an extra $3,500 by spring 2013 just let me know and I will be on that trip. Well, back to work.

A Weekend Away

Earlier this week I was talking with my good friend Melanie about how weekends have been difficult for the both of us and how it really isn't fair we live too far away from each other and why have they not invented teleporting or phone travel by now. Anyway, she mentioned how she would be going home this weekend and that I should come home too, so that's what I did and I brought with me a straggler.

My friend Julia who has kinda become my Melanie of Rexburg texted me around 1 yesterday seeing if she could tag along and so at 3:30 we were both in a car of a stranger on our way to Kaysville.

So far of our weekend started out with a trip to Bowmans and the Movie, "Another Cinderella Story: Once upon a Song." Which of course is a Melanie and Caitlyn kinda of movie. What we really wanted to see was, "Unitards" because this is a true Melanie/Caitlyn movie, but sad day we couldn't find a theater that was playing it.

Anyway, we now have 2 days left to soak up as much of each other before we both go back to different schools. I will try to keep you all informed about our adventures here in Davis County and maybe even have some pictures to share. Until then hope your weekend will go as well as mine is!

First Oil Painting

Feel free to check out my fist oil painting HERE.

Classes and Work

To say that I love my classes is probable an understatement. But I do! Don't get me wrong I am probable more intimidated then I have felt in the past but I don't care because I love what I am doing.

My hardest class and most time consuming is probable my media experimentation class, and most expensive. This class I learn how to use different types of paints and techniques. For example my first assignment is a photo Rendering assignment. If you have every seen photo-realsim art (aka the paintings of the prophets) paintings that look like a photo. That is my first assignment. Everything we paint is taken from a picture that we take. This fist painting will take around 40 hours to complete and I have one week to complete it! But when I was talking with one of my art professor about it he said I would be fine and that this is the hardest assignment for the class then they get easier.

My second Art class that I was scared about was my head drawing class. I was scared up until today (first day) when the models came in a we were asked to draw them! I was not ready for this at all. But then the words of Bro Call (my teacher I've had before and love) came to me just start don't spend time worrying how to do it just do it. I honestly don't think I would be able to do art if it wasn't for Bro Call. He will sit down right next to you and draw so that you can watch and he'll talk out loud so you can understand what he is thinking and doing at the same time. He also encourages us to talk and will ask us questions about our lives which always make class more enjoyable.

So the best part of being hirer up in your major is the fact that you know people! I know quit a few people in all my art classes which is great. Even better is that even though I haven't been here since last winter semester a girl I formed a study group with for Art History happens to be taking it this semester too! We both figured the other person would have taken before now. (We have to take quit a few art history classes)

I'm also taking my Edu 304 class which is Educational Psychology. So far it seems interesting and the teacher seems willing to help out if we need it. This class and New Testaments are the classes that I actually get homework that I can do during work.

Yep, thats right I have a job where I get payed to do my homework! I am a receptionist for the LDS Philanthropies office here on campus, and its great. I mostly answers phones and direct people where to go. I also stuff envelopes and file stuff. But since I work in the afternoon most of the actual productive things have already been done so I spend about 30 mins of work actually doing work and then the rest of the time doing homework, reading, or writing this blog post.

Freezing!

Okay, so I'm back in Rexburg and the weather has actually been very kind to me. There is no snow and it's been between 35 to 50 degrees these past couple of days. My problem is that even now as I sit in my apartment I'm shivering. My family knows that I am cold all the time. In fact I were my North Face coat over a hoody most of the time at home. The problem is I'm sick of it! I have sweats on, I'm wrapped in a blanket, I'm using my computer cord that has a surge protector thingy that gets warm to try to warm up my freezing feet that are in slippers. Now I know the first thing people would say is turn up the heat. Well first I grew up in a house were you don't touch the thermostat second there's a box around mine were I need a key to get to it so it's stuck at around 69. Anyway I know there's nothing you can do for me but thats all thats really on my mind seeing that I'm all alone up here with nothing to do. Maybe I'll post more about my job tomorrow.

Update of the damages

So as you saw with the previous post there was quit a bit of damage done but our damage is nothing compared to other areas around Kaysville. Signs are down everywhere as are so many of the trees. It was kinda fun to see the backyard of so many houses along 50 west that in all my life I have not seen. The golf course looks like a giant went in and ripped up all the trees. I saw a brand new house with part of the siding ripped off. What was really fun was to see so many people helping out around the community. The roof I mentioned earlier was already being rebuilt, trees have been chopped up and are ready to be picked up by the city, and yes school is cancelled for tomorrow as well (to much damage on school property and to the buses). This is not so good for me it means I don't work :( but not much I can do about that. So there you have it.

East Winds

Our neighbors shingles that were in our yard. One of those hit me in the head hard enough that it still hurts after 4 hours.

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Mail Boxes are quit a bit shorter since they were knocked down and Dad just stuck it back in.

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Gutter is now gone.

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The side of our house has been beaten up by our neighbors shingles.

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Tree fell on the gutter.

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That whole thing ended up in our yard in pieces, we brought them back over to there yard and Ellie and the neighbor kid put it back together.

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We are pretty lucky we know of a house that part of their roof came off, much larger trees blew over ripping sidewalks up, and our trap didn't blow over on to highway 89. Plus it ment school was canceled for the day!