Holy cow! We're parents!

This lovely lady arrived Saturday morning. We love her SO much!

I'll write more about her when we are home and not in the hospital.

Goodbye cruel world! Also, when it rains, it pours.

Okay, so the title is a little bit over dramatic.  I scheduled my defense for my Plan B Report (thesis) this afternoon during my graduate committee meeting.  I am going to defend my report on Wednesday November 16th in the afternoon.  So, what does that mean?  I'm not going to be doing much of anything fun until that point.  I also have revisions to complete for my portfolio and projects that aren't going to create themselves.  I know I can do it.  I HOPE I can do it.  That means for the next eight weeks I'm going to be a writing machine. Ugh.

Proof had its final dress rehearsal this evening and we open tomorrow.  Here are some pictures I snapped with my cell phone during the rehearsal process.  Most of the pictures are from tonight with the exception of the first picture.

Felicia and Kent as Catherine and Robert

Adam as Hal and Felicia as Catherine

Nikki as Claire, Adam as Hal and Felicia as Catherine

Felicia and Kent as Catherine and Robert

Adam as Hal and Nikki as Claire

Felicia and Kent as Catherine and Robert

Felicia and Nikki playing Catherine and Claire

Adam as Hal

I'm going to try to balance out everything that I need to to with the things that I want to do.  Hopefully I don't go crazy!

Happy Pioneer Day!

Because it's July 24th, I'm going to start this entry with a photograph of my great-great Grandpa Keller. Joseph X. Keller was born in Switzerland and came to the United States with his widowed mother and two of his sisters. They didn't have to walk across the plains because the railroad had already been built. He served two missions in Switzerland, married a Swiss born girl (Mary Frankhauser) with whom he had six children and then he tragically died in 1905 at Stake Conference. Mary was a widow for 51 years! Did I mention she was PREGNANT with her last child when her husband died suddenly? It's amazing.His second youngest son was my great-grandpa Mitt. Joseph's only daughter was named Hazel and her daughter was named Dorothy who was my friend. She died this week, unfortunately. I'm grateful for the time that James and I were able to know her and her sweet husband.

I spend part of this week at home, working on my thesis/Plan B report. It's been slow going but I only have one more section to finish before I can submit a draft to my committee. I guess it's kind of nice that it has drawings and photographs instead of just looking like this:

Depressing.

I took some breaks and tried some tutorials I had watched a while ago. You can see them here and here. They worked. Sort of.

We saw a deer near our house as we were driving home. I think it's kind of funny that we've seen deer at both places we've lived.
Even though our anniversary is two weeks away, James surprised me with this beauty:

It's a food dehydrator. Words cannot express the excitement I feel about this machine. I've wanted one for a really long time. James knew about this and he realized that we had a ridiculous amount of bananas from two consecutive weeks of Bountiful Baskets. I have such a wonderful husband. Case in point: I was at the theatre all day and when he texted me about the dehydrator I texted back to suggest drying bananas into banana chips. His response? Already in.

He's the best!

What else happened recently? We finished our good bye quilt for our boss Amanda:

We used the same fabric in the quilt that Amanda used in a lot of her shows and then we wrote messages on plain white fabric:
My friend Courtney took pictures at the park when we presented it to Amanda. You can see them on her blog.

YES!!!!

Some things that I am particularly jazzed about:

• I got an A in my Theory class. AN A!!!!!!!
• I won best costume design at the department banquet last night (yeah, we didn't go. Ironic.)
• Annie's dress is coming right along (pictures will follow after the wedding, just to be safe.)
• We met with our new landlords yesterday (again) and they are still wonderfully sweet.
• Last up, my last spring semester EVER is over!

How I Spent My Christmas Vacation (warning: there be lists)

This past Christmas was part of many firsts. There was the obvious, (our first as a married couple) but there were also a few that weren't as...obvious.

1. Raclette. It's a cheese and a meal, all in one. Apparently it got started when some Swiss shepherds placed some cheese on rocks near a fire and realized that melted cheese tastes really good. Anyhow, it's a tradition that James brought back from his mission to Switzerland. We had it three times over the break, coincidentally, every Friday. We ate on the 17th at a party with James' parent's friends, then we ate it Christmas eve and on New Year's Eve. It was really good.
   Note: If you purchase this type of cheese, melt it first. It stinks and it isn't as good unless it has been cooked.
2. My Mom turned 50! We (the kids) threw our Mom a surprise party. I think a good time was had by all and Mom was mostly surprised.
3. I got a kiss at midnight on New Year's. Yep. First time. I'm glad I finally hit that milestone.
4. I got sick, twice. The week of Christmas I got a stomach bug and then this past week I've had a cough. It's been sort of frustrating but hopefully it means I won't be sick during the semester. And last up, related to #4...
5. I took my first pregnancy test. I was throwing up and as much as people like to tease newlyweds I didn't want to chance it. No worries, it was negative. As much as we would like to start our family right now, it's not the right time. I mean, we're BOTH in grad school and we're lucky if we take care of each other. We plan on starting that project next year. Uh, I'll keep you...posted?

And that's it! That is basically the exciting parts of the break. James worked a bit (got sick right before Christmas) and I watched an unhealthy amount of TV. Looking back at it I sort of shake my head in disgust but it's not like I'll be watching a lot once school starts. But, I did sort of learn stuff:

1. As conservative as I am I felt like a total wild child when I watched part of the wedding special for the Duggar's oldest son. It was a re-run, apparently they are working on their second baby. I was shocked when I heard that the two had never been alone together and their first kiss was going to be as a married couple. Yowza. I understand waiting until you're married to have sex (hello, we did) but not spending ANY time together? James and I were able to get to know each other because we spent so much time together. Like I said, I sort of felt like a hellion watching this special.
2. If Gordon Ramsay tells you to do something with your failing restaurant, it's probably a good thing to do it. If not, you'll probably continue to fail and he'll spew a stream of profanity at you. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares was oddly watchable, especially when the restaurant owners do exactly what he says without throwing too much of a tizzy fit.
3. MTV's I Used To Be Fat. Hello, awfulness! I watched one episode and it was like a train wreck. The episode I watched featured a girl named Marci who had been home-schooled and enabled by her mother. She didn't eat dinner with her parents who ate "normal" food, instead Marci would eat fast food in her bedroom, purchased by her mother. Enter a tough talking trainer (there are no other kinds according to television) and she is on track to lose 90 lbs in 90 days. Just like "The Biggest Loser" I found myself sucked in, wondering if she was going to reach her goal. Spoiler alert: she does.
   
4. The E! channel is awful. Full of garbage. Hardly redeemed by the Soup. Ugh.

That's about it. I can't believe I'm starting my last year of grad school. Heck, it seems like just yesterday I was starting my first year. Wow. It'll be December before I know it and I'll be DONE.

Crazy.

Uhhhhh

I promise that I will blog about the following things:

• round two of macaroon madness
• official wedding pictures by the talented Becky at Ravenberg Photography
  
• grad school projects
• fall break time with family
• DISNEYLAND and California

Our computer has been in the shop so I haven't been able to blog like I've wanted to. Although I guess I could use our Wii, it's sort of time consuming to type using the controller. I made macaroons for Conference and we're flying to California tomorrow for a baby blessing.

Have I mentioned how excited I am for my sister and her family? Really excited.

More later...hopefully.

How has it been almost three weeks?

James and I finally got internet at our apartment in Logan, horray! However, last time I tried to hook up my camera to upload my pictures, the computer reset. Huh.

Here is a list of things that have happened in the last three weeks:

1. James and I got married! It was a windy day but it was perfect!

2. We went to Ouray, Colorado on our honeymoon. We stayed here, Mike and Joyce are great!

3. While in Ouray we went on a Jeep tour.

4. It was terrifying. Need proof?

We went down those VERY narrow passes in a truck with 4 wheel drive, courtesy of this great company.

It was really exciting but scary. If you want a really good description, ie, one where you actually want to book this tour, ask James. Seriously though, it was really exciting and probably a once in a lifetime opportunity or something like that.

5. We opened up our wedding gifts AND wrote thank you cards.

6. We still need to deliver them...

7. We moved all of our new stuff into the apartment.

8. James and I went to the Scorpion's concert with his sister and her husband and brother in law. Holy cow, for a bunch of old guys, they were amazing! (Three of the guys are 60+)

9. We played Lego StarWars, a lot. We bought a Wii with part of our gift cards.

10. We visited family. I love family.

That brings things just about up to speed. School starts on Monday. Grad school for both of us!

Wish us luck!

And, 11. I love James and I can't believe I got so lucky to marry such a wonderful guy!

We're getting married in the morning...

I've sworn my fiancé away from my blog for the next...16 hours (yipes!) so he will still be surprised when he sees me tomorrow. I'm finally posting some of my bridal pics, courtesy of the wonderful and lovely Becky of Ravenberg Photography. We took them at Trolley Square and a few outside places. I am really thrilled how they turned out!

Funny story: according to my brother Alex, my hair made me "look like a first lady, circa 1935." Meh. I did it myself and I'm really happy how it turned out!

I have been very busy this week...

So, why am I blogging?

I am done* with this:

*I'm ready for dress rehearsal on Monday, it's a type of done.

I need a serious break from this:

Renderings for design studies, due on Monday! They'll be ready. I hope. I've been listening to audio books as I work. They are entertaining AND there is nothing visual to distract me! I've made my way through Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and I'm currently listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (don't judge.)

I took this picture as I was walking home yesterday. Unfortunately, I'm still figuring out the best settings on my camera so it looked much better in real life. The sky was a brighter combination of yellow, orange and purple. The ground was a fantastic mixture of greens and blues. I guess the silhouette isn't too bad. It reminds me of an art project from third grade.

Just a reminder for anyone who reads this (this means you, Mom) The Glass Menagerie opens this week! The show runs from Thursday the 26th through Saturday, and then next Wednesday through Saturday. The seating in the Lyric theatre is general admission so arrive early to get the seat you would like!

I found this on my car...

Technically, it was rolled up and wedged in the handle on the driver's side. At first I thought it was a flier for some stupid party (I found a lot of those on my car while I was rehearsing at Weber) as soon as I realized it was a note I was pleasantly surprised:

In case you can't make out the writing, here is a transcription:

"I used to own this

beetle! Custom daisy wheels!!

She looks beautiful

great memories...

I'm glad to see her

still in great shape!!

Lindsey"

First off, I was just tickled that the former owner left a note about the car. Secondly, the first owner was named LINDSAY! Okay, she spelled it differently but when you say it out loud, it sounds the same. Also of note is the stationary: it is the dealership that we both used. Small world!

In terms of a "Lindsay update," I'm starting my fourth week at the Lyric theatre, making costumes and working on a wardrobe crew. It has been pretty stormy today, lots of lightning and tons of thunder. The rain was ice cold New York style: huge drops and lots of them! It was really COLD. It's supposed to be pretty mild this whole week. I'm not sure what else I can write as far as an update goes. I'm really digging frosted mini wheats but that's not really blog worthy.

It's a first!

Actually it's two firsts. First of the firsts, I earned a 4.0 GPA this semester. It's fantastic because it is my first 4.0 ever. I don't think I earned one even in grade school. It's sort of exciting and I'm going to try to follow in my Mom's foot steps of a 4.0 all through a Master's program. I think I can do it. I just have to work really hard.


That's not so hard, right?

In other news, I have started to like running. I've been at it in theory for about a week and in practice for the past four days. I'm thinking about what time I need to be up tomorrow to make it to a session at the temple and have time for a run before. It's like an addiction! But a good one. Now I can be one of those people. The kind of people that cause my Dad to say, "That's too bad their car broke down." I just hope I can keep it up!

When?

Do you ever feel like something is going to happen? That sort of feeling that makes you want to get up in the morning. Or it makes it sort of difficult to go to sleep at night, like a kid at Christmas. I've felt this way for the past couple of weeks now and I'm not sure why. It's not a feeling of foreboding or doom, it's more akin to the last day of school.
Maybe I'm crazy but I still feel like something great is going to happen.

Things that ARE going to happen in the next month:
Hilary and Avery are going to come for a week long visit.
I am going to my mission reunion.
I'm going to find out my design assignment for this fall at Utah State.

One thing that I hope happens, sooner than later:
A DATE!

That's all. Back to school on Monday.

It finally happened (happened)...

I graduated today, FINALLY! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Okay, except for this one. My friend, Kristen, and I did a simliar thing at our High School Graduation. She graduated last year.

Afterwards we ate at Texas Roadhouse.

I've decided to use song lyrics this month as blog titles. This time around it's Queen's "I'm Going Slightly Mad."

Dinner with Friends

I went to dinner with some friends from Buffalo last night. What I mean by "friends from Buffalo" is they are all friends that I met while I was serving on my mission in Buffalo. From left to right in the picture below: Jess Piwko, Kim Allen, Natalie Lund, Me, Lexy Hjelm, and Amber Ackerson. I met Kim and Jess when I was serving with Lexy. Kim was investigating the church and Jess was her fellowshipper and roommate (convienent!) Amber lived in the Buffalo ward and is friends with Kim and Jess. Natalie took Lexy's place after transfers. It was really great to have everyone together for the last time. Not to worry, we'll probably all get back together when Kim gets back from her mission to Canada. It was a fantastic night!

Lexy, Me, Amber

Jess, Kim, Natalie

Jess, Kim, Natalie, Lexy, me, AmberJess, Me, Kim

I forgot to mention that we were only going to have 5 people at dinner. Right after we were seated Jess walked up, a massive surprise for everyone but Amber. Not only was the company great but the food was fantastic too (thank Buca!)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

This past week was extra exciting. I had a day off of work (horray for veterans), my niece reached an important milestone, a package from Sephora arrived, I got my hair cut, AND my acceptance papers from Utah State arrived!

I tried to get a better picture of the envelope but it was harder than I anticipated. I'm going to start on January 5th and I'll finish in December 2011. It seems like a long way off but I'm sure it will go by quickly. I'm so grateful to the many people who have made this possible. I am so unbelievably fortunate! I'm really looking forward to moving and finally experiencing the whole college away from home experience.

My sister called and said that her daughter had a bowel movement last night. This is so exciting! Hopefully Avery will continue to improve and then she'll be able to go home. For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about check out my sister's blog. My niece is so stinkin' cute.

I got my hair cut last Saturday and the jury is still out on the cut. Youngest sister thinks it looks stupid while a lot of other people have paid compliments. It's tough to figure it out sometimes.

On a good day I think it's cute, ala, Agent Fields in Quantum of Solace.

However, on other days it's like a mix Mary Alice from Ace of Cakes and that girl from Madmen. Nothing against those two, I just wasn't going for that kind of look. Although, they all sort of have a retro edge to them. I think I was a little too vague when I talked to the girl who cut my hair. She was really nice, but I forgot that your hair sort of shrinks when it dries. I should have been more specific, maybe.

Before:

After:

Oh dear... Hair grows, right?

The Week In Review

This week was sort of weird as far as consistency goes.
Monday: I spent the day doing homework and working. Not too strange.
Tuesday: Not only did it snow but I drove up to Weber twice, all in the name of my patriotic duty. I'm so glad that I voted. I'm pretty sure that I giggled a little out loud. I've noticed that I do that, it's something I'm working on. Unfortunately I had a set back at school and for about 24 hours I thought that my chances of graduating were out the window (Midterms are VERY important.)
Wednesday: I had a bit of a realization, I'm down to mere WEEKS at Weber. I made a cool hooter-hider for Hil. Although I had instructions, I didn't follow them so it took a lot longer to make it. It turned out.
Thursday: I turned in my midterm, with a penalty of some kind. A lesson to everyone-keep an iron grip on EVERYTHING. Yeah, it's vague. I went to the temple after work with my ward and it was wonderful. I'm really going to miss my kickin' ward. They are fantastic.
Friday: Apart from receiving a very reassuring e-mail concerning Utah State, I spent the morning watching: The Office, Life on Mars, and 30 Rock. It was fantastic (ooh, I already used that word) it was splendid.

My favorite moment from 30 Rock:
Kenneth: "Oh I don't believe in hypothetical situations, Mr. Donaghy. That's like lying to your brain."

Which brings me to Life on Mars. I was fully prepared to hate this show because I loved the original so much. Here's how they stack up, character-wise.

On the top is the US version, and the UK version is on the bottom.
First up, the battle for Sam Tyler.

UK Sam earns points for being the first but US Sam earns more points for showing more emotion AND being more attractive. Sorry John Sims but Jason O'Mara is just hotter than you.

Next up, Gene Hunt.

Sorry Harvey Keitel, but Phil Glenister will ALWAYS be Gene Hunt. He's guv. No contest. (And apparently not very many words either.)

The Annie throw-down:

Not only did the US writers totally change Annie's last name (from Cartwright to Norris) but they also totally changed the character. Annie Norris is much more intellectual and ballsy than Annie Cartwright who was more sympathetic and girl-friendish towards Sam. It's a bit of a toss up here. The UK Annie seemed much more emotionally invested while USA Annie is more logical, especially when talking to Sam about his theories. I was fully prepared to hate Gretchen Mol because I was under the impression that she was a terrible actress whereas I hadn't ever heard of Liz White.

Ray Carling:

Michael Imperioli wins this one based solely on his impressive mustache and hair. Dean Andrews loses it further due to the horrible perm his character gets in the next series, "Ashes to Ashes." US Ray is also much tougher, and he is slightly more intelligent. UK Ray seemed a little too blunt, not too much activity going on upstairs, just lots of punching and stupid comments.

Which leaves...

Chris Skelton

Once again, the US version is much more attractive than the original. Despite that I'm going to have to go with Marshall Lancaster as UK Chris. His depiction seemed much more real, he seemed like he had much more of a inward wrestle between his loyalty to Gene and his admiration for Sam. He also seemed to have much more of a personalty. Granted, Jonathan Murphy does cut a cuter figure.

And the results:

Sam Tyler: Jason O'Mara

Gene Hunt: Phil Glenister

Annie Cartwright: Liz White

Ray Carling: Michael Imperioli

Chris Skelton: Marshall Lancaster

UK: 3

USA: 2

I really enjoy this show. It's like a cop version of Pushing Daisies.