BYU Guard Girl Goes to Hong Kong: December 2012

12/30/12

25 More Days

So you know how people have like special traditions for the 25 days of Christmas?

Okay, maybe the only tradition is the 25 days of kids movies on ABC Family but just keep with me.

So, in 25 days I am making a pretty big move in my life. I mean, a BIG move. I'm moving to Hong Kong. Which happens to be 7573.4 miles away.

Only 25 more days in the United States and more specifically my home Mesa, AZ.

So I made a challenge to myself. I am going to have an adventure every day until I step onto that plane to Hong Kong and start that BIG adventure.

Adventures on the list?

Hike Camelback Mountain
Ride the light rail the whole way
Cook a complicated, impressive meal for a group of people
Lady Gaga photoshoot

Don't worry, there's more to come.

Stay tuned.

PS. If you have any suggestions or want to join me on my adventures, just comment. Thanks!!

12/18/12

Bus Rides and Gold Spandex

Hello everyone!

I am sitting in my king size bed at the Paradise Point hotel in San Diego!!! And I feel like I should be on my honeymoon or something because this place is SOOOOO romantic. But I'll talk more about the hotel later.

The Bus Trip

After sleeping in, Angela, Nuffer, and I got up at 5:15, gathered our things together and headed to the stadium. And we paid for being late. Since I was sick I was hoping to have a seat to myself so I could sleep. But alas, I was sharing a seat, a seat with Malicious, a malicious tuba player who likes to hang around the guard.

Ugh.

But we made do and I was able to get some sleep on the bus.

Other than that, the ride was pretty uneventful. I mostly just watched movies and kept myself drugged up on Advil Cold And Sinus.

The Hotel Room

The room is actually a bungalow with a patio. WHAT!!! And 15 feet away from the door is a lake. DOUBLE WHAT!!

Inside is a large room painted a warm yellow with African-inspired art. There's a flat screen TV and a stereo for an ipod. We use that stereo a lot. For dance parties. And we've had like 5 in the past 12 hours.

One of those dance parties was more a dance exhibition from my roommate and captain. When we were musing about new costumes for the colorguard, a (great) idea was thrown out that we should wear gold spandex and wrap a bow around our chests, thus looking like a present. Adorable, right? Well, when we turned on Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You", my captain flung open the door wearing gold spandex and a cranberry bow and proceeded to dance for us. This was complete with body rolls, booty shakes and an awkward "Santa's lap" moment.

And who says that my life isn't interesting?

12/16/12

Off to San Diego

After a weekend of packing and moving and being mothered, I am about to embark on the grandest of semester finales. I get to go to San Diego.

One of the many perks of being on the colorguard. For the next 4 days, BYU will pay for my food, transportation, Seaworld, and lodging on a private island. WHAT!!!!

So stay tuned as I write about the crazy adventures of a BYU guard girl in San Diego.

P.S. That's my hotel.

12/14/12

Thoughts on a Nasty Cold

You know that part in the movie Hitch, where Hitch has an allergic reaction and his face gets all puffy?

That's how I feel right now. Like my face is one big puffy mess. But luckily, in reality, I look just fine. And thank goodness for chambray-- it's super comfortable and I still look trendy.

I don't look like I'm sick right? Excuse the lack of makeup.

And really, a crazy cold isn't all that bad. It's just the combination of moving out, trying to get to Arizona, and crazy snowstorms that kind of pushed me over the edge.

But this sickness does have some perks. I get to spend a few extra days with my best friend before not seeing her for 18+ months. I have a bed to sleep in. And honestly, this sickness is nothing when compared to the malady that struck our country today.

Because children being gunned down is probably the worst thing ever.

My heart goes out to the survivors and the victims' families. Although I am not yet a mother, I have often tried to imagine what it would feel like to lose a child. And it felt terrible. And I know that the feeling must be 100 times worst than what I felt in my inexperienced imagination.

May they find peace.

12/12/12

Wonderful and Weird Wednesday

Wonderful

Finals are over!!!
I found my anklet from India, strong desire to be barefoot ALL the time.
Saw my darling ex-roomie, Becca, and I just luv her.

Weird

Being sick and finals is a total bummer.
Packing, there's SOOOO much!!

Love from the sassy Junior Two.

12/5/12

Wonderful and Weird Wednesday

Wonderful

Homework for Fall 2012 is over!!
Friends who help you finish your homework. :)
Colorguard sleepover in Park City this past weekend. I love hanging out with my guard sisters.
The weather!!! Like no snow and it's December. I am one lucky Arizonan.
Found a place to keep my stuff while I'm in Hong Kong.

Weird

Being a girl. SOOOO many emotions!!!
Watching a pedestrian get hit by a car. That was scary.
The fact that it doesn't feel like Christmas at all. But I think that's because of the lack of snow.

But here's a video that brings a little Christmas Spirit into my life. Hope it does the same for you.

PS. The guy who plays the piano, Jon Schmit, was my high councilman while I lived in Bountiful.

12/3/12

Clay-tivity

It was our final Home Evening of the semester (and for me, in Monticello) and crisis had struck.

I could not contact the girl who was in charge of the activity tonight.

*insert dramatic gasp*

In a frantic search on Google for an acceptable Christmas activity, I stumbled across a recipe for salt dough to make ornaments. And I had an epiphany. What if we made a salt dough nativity?

So that was our awesome activity. Each member of the group had a certain character to create and with the extra dough we made a few extra characters.