Well, I did it

I graduated from college yesterday. Super weird! I know I keep saying that, but it's true. I just changed the little "about me" thing on the side of my blog and it seems so strange. I don't feel like I'm supposed to be big enough to be done with school and having to find a big girl job. Anyway, here's how the day went:

I got up at 6:30 am because I had lots to do. Once I had eaten breakfast, read my scriptures, showered, made my bed, and gotten ready, I then had to hurry and get EVERYTHING off my carpet (in my room) because they were cleaning the carpets that morning. Super lame and bad timing. Oh well. So when Snow and I were ready, Kaela kindly took a couple pictures for us and then drove us up to campus. We then headed to the Quad where all the graduates were gathering. There were some pastries and stuff for us, but we were both too nervous to eat. My family found us there and after putting like 6 leis on me, my parents took pictures of me and my friends that I could find.

me and Desiree on the walk through campus

At 9 am we lined up based on our colleges and did a little walk through campus. My parents (and Emi) were there to take pictures and video as I passed by and the rest of the time was spent trying to keep up with the crowd and waving and calling to our friends' parents. My friend Stacy said she felt like a celebrity, and I have to admit it did feel a little red carpet like, with all the people on the side and the cameras going off. We then entered the Spectrum for the morning ceremony where some speakers spoke about stuff (not gonna lie, I couldn't tell you what...China was mentioned...life throwing bricks at you...something like that) and the our degrees were conferred on us one college at a time. It was exciting. Oh, we also sang the Scotsman. Awesome!

friends from my college...and college in general

After that was over, I went with my parents, Emi and my Allen Grandparents to Texas Roadhouse for lunch. Delicious! I freaking love steak! Then, after some not so subtle hints from Mom to Dad, we went to Aggie Ice Cream for some fattening delite. Aggie ice cream is truly the best there is.

1:30 pm found me lining up once more at the Spectrum, this time just with my college and then getting separated into my department. We took lots of pictures out in front while we were waiting to go inside. It was actually nice weather yesterday (thank goodness! it was supposed to rain!) but I think wearing those caps and gowns upped the degrees a big, because we were all boiling out there. Still, once we started moving into the Spec, things got really exciting and we were all having a great time.

At 2 pm-ish, the ceremony started for the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. Yeah, I'm pretty sure we have the longest name at the University. This one was pretty short and sweet (well, except for the names part. we have one of the biggest colleges). There was a speaker, some kids from the on campus elementary school sang and then we did the Scotsman again (bonus!) and then the names went. We cheered for all our friends and finally the moment came for me to go! I almost forgot to move because I was busy cheering for Des, who crossed before me. I also almost slipped going up the ramp. Then I handed the man my card and he said my name wrong before seeing my phonetic spelling and then correcting himself. Once I said it right, I walked across the stage, handshake, diploma cover, hug, handshake, walk off the stage. I had to stop a couple times because my friend's parents kept stopping me to take pictures of me too. Then back to my seat to wait for the other half of the college to graduate.

It was so surreal. Walking across that stage, I totally forgot where I was, what I was doing. I didn't hear a single thing. Everyone in the Spectrum could have cheered for me and I wouldn't have heard it. Strange how that happens. Then it was over. Kind of anti-climatic. After everyone walked, the dean said a couple closing remarks and then adjorned us. We didn't even get to walk out together! So my friends all scattered and I'm sure I missed saying some good-byes to people I may never see again. The rest of the day was spent at Lundstrom Park, where my parents hosted a family picnic. I really appreciate my extended family that came, as well as my roomies and the Erin and her family. It was a nice time and then I just relaxed the rest of the night.

Even now, I am still so exhausted from the day. But it was seriously so much fun!!! I really enjoyed the whole graduation scene and even though it still doesn't feel totally real, I really do feel very accomplished and proud of myself. I did it and I did it for me. I didn't have to and it most definitely wasn't easy on many different levels. I love, love, love Utah State and know with my whole heart that this is where I was meant to be. It gave me so many different experiences and I am so glad for the person I've become while I've been here. I will always be an Aggie and my children will know the fight song before they can sing anything else.

right after I walked off the stage

On a very different note, Happy Mother's Day to my AMAZING skiing, scuba diving, race car driving, sky diving, business owning, exercising, silly, beautiful mother!!!!!! I love you sooo much and I love living closer to you guys now!

Also, I got to talk to my baby brother today! Not only is it Mother's Day, but it's his birthday, which made it even more special. He sounds great and he informed me that he can now grow facial hair. Round of applause for him, everyone. We are truly proud.

Well, here I go, off into big girl world. I'm interested to see what's in store for me! Peace!!!

Foggy Abyss

I was watching Gilmore Girls sometime last week and happened to be watching the one where Rory has a breakdown because she's graduating from college. This is what she said and it hit very close to home:

"It just feels like I'm standing on a cliff looking out into this huge, foggy abyss. Like a HUGE, foggy abyss. And my whole life, there's never been an abyss. It's been abyssless. And I've always known exactly what is in front of me. I've known exactly where I'm going and now I don't know what's out there. Except fog. A lot of fog. And I hate not knowing what is out there."

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

One week from today, I'll have taken my Fitness Assessment Practical. Two weeks from today, I'll have taken my last final. 17 Days from today, I'll be graduating from college. I'm freaking out. But I have to keep it together. I have to keep it together for grades, for myself and my sanity, and for my friends that are experiences some tough times in their lives who need me. I'm trying really hard to keep it together. What I really need right now is a nice long drive, some good tunes, oreos, and someone to talk to as we drive away from reality for just a little while. Otherwise, I might have a breakdown of my own. But you know, sometimes it just feels good to cry it out. Stupid foggy abyss...

I might be crazy

Last night I signed up for this:

Which means I should probably get a new pair of these:

My roommate has been trying to convince me to sign up for it for months and I think finally gave up. Then yesterday I ran 4 miles in the gym with relative ease (compared to the beginning of this semester) and after seeing a training schedule for a Half, realized that I am basically already workout out to the training schedule, minus the long runs each week. After convincing myself that the $40 entry fee was going to be worth it, I registered!

I'm excited and nervous! Not looking forward to the days that I know it will be difficult to work out and I'm sure I'll face an injury or two. After cross-country in high school, I'm aware that my joints aren't the strongest. But I'm really looking forward to this. I have been wanting to have the guts to do one of these for a couple years and I think this is what I really need right now. A new goal, a new dream, a new something to be working toward.

So August 27, I will be running 13 miles. Go Alyssa Go! (What I will have to repeat in my head for many, many miles)

Oh this weather!

So everyone has been freaking out about the bipolar weather, which has honestly been pretty annoying to me. How long have you been here?! This is what Utah (especially Northern Utah) Spring is like. One day it's beautiful and sunny and people get their little hopes up and the next day it's a blizzard and everyone whines and complains. Just suck it up. It will be over in the next month-ish. Now, I don't particularly like this weather, I've just accepted that this is what we have to go through. Whining about this is just like whining about 100 degrees in July or snow at Christmas...that's just how this season goes!

Well, you would think that since I've been so loyally defending this season (regardless of it actually being my least favorite of the four...go Autumn!) that it would cut me some slack. False. Spring decided to be a total bitty today.

I checked the weather this morning and it said about 50 and rainy. I can handle that. So I put on my comfy shoes and rain jacket and headed to campus. By noon I was walking through two inches of slush because the sky couldn't decide if it wanted to rain or snow and every time I walked outside, my shoes and socks were soaked within seconds.

Thursday is my long day on campus, but due to an event that some of my friends were in, I stayed even longer. By the time I left campus, it was about 8:15 pm and both of my roommates that are still in town (Kaili is in Vegas) were at work, so I started the trek home, knowing it would be a cold one for my poor feet. By the time I reached the Institute (a 10 second walk from the student center) my feet were already soaked. No biggie, I thought. I'll just hurry home! I got to the intersection to cross the street and as I was standing there, waiting for the light to change, a jeep screamed by splashing me with slush. Great! I continued my walk home and decided to stay with the longer hill because it had a side walk and I didn't want to get splashed again. Bad idea. First off, I got stuck behind a girl taking up the whole side walk and walking incredibly slow! I mean, yeah she had on cute galoshes that matched her cute umbrella, but some of us wanted to get home before their toes fell off. I finally passed her and as karma would have it, I fell. Yes, I fell!!!! I have prided myself on not having fallen ever since I've been to college, so I knew it had to happen. My bum was wet and my pride hurt but I laughed it off and continued my walk home. At this point I was really cold and had about another 4 minutes to go, which isn't bad unless you have wet, frozen feet, a wet bum and hurt pride. With about 1.5 minutes to go, I fell again! This time right on my right knee. It hurt like none other. For some reason this made me angry so I got up and with all the energy I had hobbled home (yeah I might have limped like a gimp for a little bit) until I finally got home when I quickly discarded my soaking clothing items and exchanged them for warm sweats.

Here are my battle scars...I know it doesn't look bad, but it looked worse at first and if you can see those little bruises, you would know I must have hit the cement really hard because I don't easily bruise, a trait I wish I could trade for amazingly colored bruises.

Moral of the story? Don't try and befriend Mother Nature in the Spring. She's a bitty that will ruin your perfect no fall record with exactly one month til graduation and practically ruin your favorite shoes.

Love...

I have a new love in my life...

We call it Green Machine Naked Juice....soooo yummy!

I used my boss's Sam's Club card on Saturday and went and bought these bad boys for about $6 each. Lovely.

So far it's going well. Pretty sure it's the healthiest thing I've consumed in a long time...except for that salad and the strawberries I had the other day..."dirt" as my friend called them. What does he know....

Sunshine!

I knew today would be a wonderful day when I walked out of my apartment at 7 am and didn't feel even a little bit cold. In fact, it even felt a little warm. Wonderful! The sun came out today, and even though my schedule requires me to be inside a majority of the day, I still appreciated it quite a bit! Wow, did that sun feel good or what?! I was starting to think it was just in the sky for decoration.

But wait, my day got better! I had an awesome work out at aerobics, came home and got ready, went to my Biomechanics class where I found out I got a 58/60 on our last test (yeah, I may have missed the easiest question on the whole thing. I was so worried about the rest I just over thought it! and from what my teacher said, it sounds like a lot of the class did that. oops). Next there was Institute and great friends in the Institute building. Always great! Even when I'm accused of being a heathen. I went to work for about 30 minutes, went to the dentist (ew. I hate the scraping sounds on my teeth. and being told to floss), but then it was my boss's birthday so we had some delicious cupcakes! A-Team class was great today and somebody brought us Grasshopper cookies!!! yumm!!!! I love all things mint flavored. Ice cream, cookies, oreos (specific cookie!), gum, toothpaste...the list goes on. The walk home from campus was great! I just can't believe how nice this weather feels!

And now, after eating dinner, I am sitting here wondering what I should do with my night. Homework?? Maybe..probably not. I don't have much and nothing is due tomorrow. I just want it to be the weekend. I have a fun night planned tomorrow ("Tangled" movie night, oreos and ice cream....why can't it be Friday now?!), then there's Conference this weekend, which is not only great all on it's own, but also means I get to do church in pajamas/sweats on Sunday. Lovely!

So I just looked out my window and this was the amazing view I saw. The colors were a lot more vibrant in person. This picture doesn't come close to showing how amazing the pinks and purples were.

Life is good, people. Enjoy it! <3!

All About Us

I love this song so much. So dang cute.