Christmas Time!

Christmas came and went so fast. I got my presents all rapped and under the tree just in time for us to rip them all open. My family tradition is that we open all of our presents on Christmas Eve night and then open our stockings that Santa leaves on Christmas morning. My mom got me and my siblings footie pajamas which we all put on and hung out around the house in. It was very rainy and windy on Christmas so it definitely wasn't white but my father decided that we did have a white Christmas after all because when we woke up on Christmas day the fog was so thick we could barley even see the trees right across the street. It is so great being home and spending time with my family again. :)

My Journey Home

My brother and I had quite the adventure trying to get home for Christmas. The whole fiasco started out when we found out that our flight left Sunday morning @ 7:45 out of HELENA?! It was such short notice that both of us decided we would just pull an all nighter and leave for Helena at 4am. I was trying to stay awake on the drive to Helena to make sure that Thor didn't fall asleep at the wheel but I drifted off and started dreaming that I was awake driving to Helena... We finally got to the air port, checked in and went straight for the nice couches in the terminal. The trip all the way to Anchorage is a blur because I slept every second that I didn't have to walk on and off the airplane. We then had to spend the night in Anchorage because our flight home was at 6am the next day. We got a hotel room, watched some sunday night football and then went to Avatar 3-D, which was AMAZING! 

Monday morning we got up 6 hours before the crack of dawn to head to the airport only to have our flight be delayed due to weather in Kodiak (typical) until 2pm. So we headed back to our hotel to get a few more hours of sleep. 2pm rolled around and they decided to just cancel so we were stuck in Anchorage for another night with about 25 other college kids from Kodiak just trying to get home. Six of us decided to get two hotel rooms and keep each other company while we were stranded. The hotel was super night and had a hot tub so the night ended up being pretty good. We got coupons for a restaurant across the street and went there for dinner while we watched the Washington Redskins get annihilated. The next morning the weather had cleared and we Landed! Back to Kodiak Alaska where it was 40 degrees and raining. We were finally home sweet home :) 

Week Before Finals

Finals are next week! I can't believe they came around so fast. In reality though, this week is more like finals week to me and most people I talk to as well. I have two big projects due, a band concert and three of my professors decided to have our final this week instead next to reduce the stress during finals week. Well I sure won't be stressed out during finals week because I won't have anything left to do. It just seems silly to me. School could have been out a week earlier. 

F-f-f-f-f-freezing

I learned in my Geography class that the Jet stream is moving south right now and that is why all the sudden the United States has been pounded with cold temperatures across the map. The first sign that told me to bundle up before I go outside was when I took the garbage out right after I had taken a shower and my hair instantly froze solid. There have been temperatures down to -30 degrees here in the past few days. When I walked to school on Monday morning it was 20 below and I thought I was going to die. My face felt like it was going to crack and fall off. 

The cold also ruins the fun on the mountain. I was so excited to go snowboarding for the first time this season last saturday. I got up there and on the first chair ride up I was already too cold to have any fun. I took a few more runs and by then I couldn't feel my toes or my nose so I decided to call it a day once I had warm soup in my stomach. I then preceded back into the comfort of my queen size bed and slept the afternoon away as snug as a bug in a rug. 

Now are the times you wish you had a nice wood stove to cuddle up next to.

<---- Before I got cold...

Thanksgiving in Fargo

Seeing as I live 3000 miles away from Montana State I couldn’t just drive on home for the Thanksgiving holiday, so I decided to join my friend Liz and go home with her to Fargo North Dakota.
It is a 10 hour drive to Fargo so we packed up the car and headed out after our classes were done on Tuesday. We arrived late Tuesday night and I got to meet Liz’s Mom and sister. I kind of felt like I was going home to meet my boyfriends parents or something but it was my best friend instead.
College friends are different from the friends you had all through high school because you always knew your friends parents and siblings. I feel like you family is a big part of who you are and being at school away from your family no one gets the chance to get to know that side of you. So I took the opportunity to go home with a friend and see the other side of what makes Liz who she is. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. Liz’s family was so welcoming, friendly and hysterical. Not far from what I was expecting from what I had known about Liz in the short year we became such good friends.
I had never spent much time in the planes of our country and that turned out to be really strange. Not having mountains anywhere in site was a new and alien experience for me. As much fun as it was I think I choose to stick with my Mountains.
The hockey games sure were a treat!

Undie Run!!!

This past weekend was the big Cat/Griz game and sadly we lost :( but our students still had a blast and joined in many fun festivities for the big rivalry weekend.

The very first Montana State Undie Run was held on friday and I just couldn't help but join in and run through campus in nothing but my skivvies. My theory is that when you are naked you run faster and so wearing just your underwear has somewhat of the same effect. It must have been true because everyone was running SO fast and the air was so cold so I basically died, it was a blast though. I loved being a part of the very first Undie Run. Being at the start of a tradition makes me feel like I have done something meaningful that will continue on into the future. 

Everyone arrived at the east end of campus at noon on Friday which is the time when campus is the most crowded with people going from class to class and people going on lunch breaks. The event in itself also drew a large crowd. People lined the course all the way across campus and the crowd probably quadrupled the amount of people running. There I was standing proudly in the middle of my educational institutions campus in nothing but blue and gold striped underwear, a bright yellow braw, knee high socks (one blue and one gold) and two scarves to fly my proud colors behind me as I ran so swiftly through campus. 

The course was a lot longer than I expected and there were way more people there to watch than I thought there would be but this all just contributed to the great experience and the beginning of a wonderful tradition. 

I hope to see EVERYONE out there next year!!! ;)

Oh the Places You'll Go

Montana is such a great state. From the mountains to the rivers and the gorgeous Big Sky, everywhere you look you just can't take your eyes off the beautiful world we live in. 

This blog is more just for the pictures and to make sure that everyone realizes how wonderful and beautiful this place is. 

In Montana you can find places that will take your breath away and make your heart beat fast, almost like your falling in love or something... 

Art History Test

On Monday I had my third art history test. Art History is honestly one of the most difficult classes I have taken in my life. There are so many pictures, time periods and cultures that you have to memorize. 

Usually before my Art history exams I put a good 12 of studying in. Most of which I do in the library. The library becomes my second home for the weekend and especially the night before a big exam. 

I studied super hard for this last test and Im really hoping that it payed off. 

I feel like I went into this test much more prepared that the previous two, so we shall see! 

-------------> Thats my studying hard in the Library face. (really I just procrastinate by taking funny pictures of myself. oops...)

Band Concert

I am in University Band and on tuesday night we had our first band concert of the semester. I was a bit nervous because I haven't had a band concert since the end of my senior year in high school but it ended up going great. 

Another guy and myself had a small little solo but he ended up getting sick right before the concert so I had to play it by myself! I was so scared but I played it perfect and it was amazing!

Being a band geek is so much fun :)

Snowy Days on Campus

This morning I woke up to look out my window and find about a foot of snow on my window sill. Last night at midnight there was absolutely no snow. I was so excited because wearing my snow boots is one of my favorite things to do, so I crawled out of bed put my long johns and thick socks on, found my mittens and warm coat and trudged off to class in deep fresh powder. 

Walking on campus in the snow on a day like today makes a smile appear on my face. I know I'm not the only one either. When the snow comes you know who the skiers and snowboarders are because they are chipper and excited and have no problem walking through snow up to their knees. The only reason there is to be upset is because we are stuck on campus instead of spending this wonderful powder day up in the mountains making some beautiful fresh turns. 

There are also the people who hate the snow. This makes me sad because its so beautiful and everything looks so peaceful and serene, and then you see someone with a scowl on their face. I just want to give them a big hug and tackle them into the snow. 

As my facebook status says... I feel like I woke up in a snow globe and someone won't stop shaking it.

I think tonight I'll make a snowman!!!

Road Trip Nation

This summer I had the opportunity to go on a road trip from Kodiak Alaska to Bozeman Montana. My brother and I were going to make the drive anyway but when this organization called Road Trip Nation came to MSU last spring I had to jump on board and apply for their grant. 

Road Trip Nation is an organization based out of costa mesa California and they travel the country interview people who inspire them or who they believe truly love what they do in life. State Farm teamed up with Road Trip Nation to get more kids out on the road to "define their own road in life." State Farm provided the funding for eight groups of kids from eight different college campuses to go out and film their own road trip.

I applied for the one thousand dollar grant, and to my surprise I actually got it! Road Trip Nation sent us a video camra, free hats, atlases and a check for $1,000 and we were off. 

We filmed 20 hours of footage and by the time we got back from our 9 day trip we were exhausted and sick of each other. We then sent road trip nation our footage and they made it into a ten minute highlight video of our trip. 

Road Trip Nation came back to our campus last Wednesday to premiere our video and they had free pizza for anyone up in the center of campus. 

Road Trip Nations purpose is to get kids out on the road to start looking at their lives and really thinking about what they love so that they can be successful in whatever way they think that is. 

Through my experience I can say that getting out on the road really does open your eyes to what is out there. There are so many things in this world that we don't even realize exist, and those could be the opportunities that you need to make your life what you want it to be. 

So my advise to anyone and everyone is get in the car and go see and experience something that you never though possible!

Here is the link to our video and team profile online: 

http://www.roadtripnation.com/roadtrips/media.php?roadtrip_id=1457

Halloween

As everyone knows this past weekend was halloween. Most college women take halloween as an opportunity to dress up in as little clothing as possible and call it some sort of ferry or princess or something. But on the other hand many people take this holiday and go crazy with creativity. There were so many great costumes and excellent ideas walking around town on Saturday night. 

I decided to be a cow. To put a spin on it I was a classy cow and I do admit that I did try to make my costume somewhat attractive, considering I was a cow I think it was needed. I spent the full week before halloween staying up late and slaving away on my sewing machine to make sure my costume was done and ready for the weekend of dressing up. I made myself ears, a tail, and even an udder bag. I then accessorized added jewelry, my necklace had a cow bell hanging from it. 

The whole costume made my weekend. I had so much fun dressed up as a cow and it was so much fun to make it too. I feel like the costumes that you see in college are far more advanced than costumes people wear earlier in their lives. 

I know that this halloween I had the best costume I have ever had in my life and I hope to wear it on many other occasions. 

College Halloween is so much FUN!

Away Football Games

Our dear old Montana State Football team travels to away games on the weekends that there are no home games. 

Due to my brother and my absence from last weekends game we decided to go to Eastern Washington University to cheer on the Bobcats at an away game. 

We drove six hours Friday afternoon and stayed at my friend Erika's house. Saturday morning it was Game Time!!! Thor and I were super excited and got fully dressed in our Blue and Gold Bobcat attire. We headed to the game hit up a few tail gates and went into the game. 

The atmosphere of an away game is very different from a home game. There were very few Bobcat fans strewn amongst the sea of Red Eastern Eagles. Every time we past people wearing blue and gold I would give them a "Go Bobcats" yell. 

There was a little girl wearing a blue mesh skirt with a yellow feather trim. She told me she is going to be a fashion designer someday and she inspired me to make a skirt just like hers for Cat-Griz.

Sadly our team lost it was a fairly close game most of the game but we just couldn't hold out and lost in the end. 

I have faith that we are just saving up the wins for November 21st when the Griz head our way. 

GO CATS!!!

Where the Wild Things Are

Movies are great things and one of my favorite pass times. Not only are they very entertaining but they often show you things and help you learn lessons as you go along the trip with the characters. 

On My trip to Billings my cousins and I decided to go see Where the Wild Things Are. None of us had read the book and really had no idea what to expect. 

The movie was great! It brought me back to my child hood days when my imagination was booming and I was loving every minute of life. There was actually a way deeper meaning to the movie that I was totally not expecting. I expected it to be a little kids movie that was funny and cute and all of that fun stuff but it turned out to have a great message attached. 

The movie is from a young boys prospective and he starts off very confused and distant from his family. This drives him to run away and while he's away he stumbles upon this mysterious land filled with giant beasts and he just so happens to feel right at home. He forgets all about home and what had happened their until his new friends start to quarrel and its not such a peaceful place anymore. 

One of the girl monsters helps him come the the realization that the reason his mom acted the way she did was because she cared so much about him and only wanted the best for him. 

This was a great movie for me to see right now because I have recently been feeling as if I am starting to understand where my mom has been coming from for my whole life. I called my mom up the other day just to tell her that I was sorry I never helped out around the house more because now I see how hard it is to keep a house with five people living in it clean all the time. 

Its always strange when you step into someone else's shoes, but I feel like you always come out on top with some sort of lesson you can go on to share. 

Greyhound Bus

Sometimes in college you come up with great ideas of a sweet trip you could take this weekend but then realize that there is no way for you to get there. But wait! there is always the handy dandy Greyhound! 

Last weekend my cousin and I wanted to go to Billings to see her mom and sisters but my brother had gone two days earlier and left us in Bozeman with no way to get there. So, we got online and ordered ourselves a Greyhound ticket!

The ride was very interesting, the people you see on these busses are great. There is anyone from a grandma going to see her grandchildren to some crazy dude who has been riding Greyhounds around the country for the past five years. Who knows why you would want to do that but I suppose its a good way to see the country. 

For entertainment, I studied! I felt like such a good student! It was the perfect opportunity to get some stuff done before I spent the weekend goofing off with my family. The bus ride game me two and a half hours of good quality text book reading and when I wanted a break I would just look out the window and the scenery passing by. 

If you ever run into a transportation problem and need a quick fix, don't forget about the great Greyhounds!!!

Ceramics Wood Firing

This semester I am taking Beginning Ceramics and so far it has been a blast. One of our first assignments was to make a pot inspired by the ancient Japanese Jomon pots. The second part of the assignment was to make a box out of slabs big enough to fit your pot into. We then had to put the pot in the box and fill it with organic materials that would combust and make crazy designs all over our pots. For my pot I used some isolated wire which came out as spirals on the side of my pot. I also used cheree-o's which made clusters of small rings. I tried toothpaste with coal stuck to it, which I expected to turn out really cool but that part came out pretty lame. I even ended up with some greens and some really vivid red colors on my pot. The whole process was exciting and I really had no idea what to expect. 

For the actual wood firing our class signed up for shifts during the day to go in and stoke the fire. I worked for about an hour and a half throwing wood on the fire about every three minutes. It was handy because it was a really cold day but the kiln got really hot and kept us warm.