Started school...

Yep! Bummer. I have a feeling I'm pretty much going to die this semester. Every class is super intense and I'm going to be working on a lot of stuff for homework.

My Design class seems alright though. The teacher seems nice and all. I'm not sure how I'll do on the drawing part of things. I used to be into drawing but now I usually stick to photography. Maybe all my visual design classes will contribute and make this not so hard.

My Visual Editing class is probably the one I'm most excited for! First of all I have one of my favorite people in the Comm dept. as my professor. And he said today that we will leave the class with the knowledge and skills to do this kind of work at a 'real' job. Basically we'll be designing layouts...including posters, magazines, flyers, advertisements, etc. Stoked on that!

And last but not least for today's schedule: Math. I didn't have high hopes to begin with but now I feel I'm doomed. My teacher is asian and has a very bad accent. Combine that with him talking about statistics and its twice the foreign language to me. I'm looking to transfer to a different class....one that has a professor I can understand. I'll see on Wednesday.

Only one class tomorrow...probably my most intense of all: Intermediate Reporting. Wish me luck.

Work, work, work!

Yea, there's an exclamation mark at the end of that! I love my new job! I'm working at Backcountry.com again but this time I'm a LiveChat Gearhead! I get to chat online with people all day and talk about gear! Yea be jealous haha! I've been training this week, and I start next week. Then after a month I'll go remote....which means I get to work from home!!!! SICK! I talked to customers for the first time today and loved it! It was like talking to my friends about what snowboarding gear they should get! I also decided that I HAVE to keep track of funny stuff people say (we did it at Fro-Yo and it was so funny to read through).

So.....Quote(s) of the Day:

"I'm a backcountry.com virgin."

"You're a LEGEND!"

Oh and if you like gear, reading blogs and laughing...check this one out: The Goat

Olympic Swimming!

I've been watching the Olympic swimming religiously. Like...I've had to see every final...especially if it includes Michael Phelps! And because of that I've definitely witnessed history. Tonight I watched Phelps get his 7th gold in these games to tie Spitz and tomorrow it's pretty likely he'll get his 8th. This last one came down to a hundredth of a second! He was behind in the 100 fly until like the last 10 meters and while the guy in front kicked to the wall, Phelps took one last stroke and beat him! It was amazing! Seriously, he beat him by .01....WOW! (No wonder our swim coaches always said to finish into the wall and not glide in haha!) I was in a little panic because it was so close...I've been rooting for Phelps since 2004 when he had his first shot at the record. I'm so glad he's gotten this far! Can't wait to see the 8th gold race!
And of course Dara Torres! She's 41, the oldest swimmer and she just won her heat of the semi-finals in the 50 free. Can't wait for that final either! I hope she shows those doubters what's up! Age doesn't matter...at least in the pool. (Gymnastics may be another story...but wowzers to Shawn and Nastia!)

Oh and to all my swimmer girls....remember when we got to see Phelps in person? Ahhh...we're so rad! Hahaha little girls today would kill to be us!

Hiking The Subway

Jodi, Jake and I hiked The Subway in Zion's yesterday. Took a little over 8 hours but it was awesome. Today my legs are super sore, stairs hurt and I don't want to move. Here's some pics I stole from Jodi since my camera died on my last day in Hawaii. *Disregard the date haha.

The beginning.

We found our way following the "Zen Rocks" as I dubbed them.

So little.

The first pool of freezing water we had to swim through. It was a little stagnant and stinky.

Jake setting up our first waterfall rappel.

Basking in the sun...trying to get warm.

Not even halfway.

Inside The Subway. Named so because of how the rock is shaped...like a subway tunnel.

Our last rappel where the rope was too short. Had a little panic attack at the end...while gripping a wet rope.

Jodi's waterfall slide.

Cute.

We came from way back in that valley...like around several curves and a few miles back. You can't even see where our half point is probably.

Then for the last leg of the hike...we had to climb UP from the river...way down there.

3's Tag

3 Joys

1. Being outdoors doing something, anything: surfing, hiking, snowboarding, camping, etc.
2. Hanging with my friends and family. Always fun.
3. Having my life organized and looking forward to doing the goals I have. (And by life I mean school, work, a house...you know the things that need to be organized.)

3 Fears

1. Failing...at anything.
2. Committing to the wrong thing.
3. Snakes! Egh!

3 Goals

1. Graduate.
2. Work at a magazine.
3. Snowboard in a foreign country: New Zealand, Chile, Japan.

3 Current Obsessions/Collections

1. Surfing.
2. My collection of bad luck.
3. The Olympics...swimming mainly...Michael Phelps specifically.

3 Random Surprising Facts about Me

1. I eat everything...except mayo, sour cream, cottage cheese and other weird tasting white, creamy foods that I can't think of right now.
2. I don't want to grow up.
3. I could live without tv....except during the olympic swimming.

Tag 3 people:

1. Brooke
2. Bre
3. Tiff

Back Home

Soooooooo.......I'm home now. Had a long night in the Seattle airport...like 10 hours. But I kept myself occupied by reading Twilight. (yea I know I'm behind haha) Then I passed out as soon as I got on the plane to Salt Lake...I don't even remember taking off haha.

Well, things are going great so far. I have a house to move into on September 1st! It's near 3300 South and 2700 East. Great spot for me! Right on a bus line to the U and still close to the mountains and snowboarding! And it's close to Molca Salsa...only my favorite place to eat EVER! The girl I'll be living with is really cool and she snowboards too! I'm super excited for that!

AND if that wasn't good enough...I got a call from backcountry.com today and I have an interview tomorrow for the gearhead postion I've wanted forever! I even think it's the online chat one...which means after a month of working in Park City, I would be able to work from home!!!!! I'll let you know what happens!!!

Bye Hawaii

I can't believe I leave today. My suitcase is sitting next to me...mostly packed. I didn't even start until this morning. This summer flew by and I've had so much fun, indescribable amounts. I honestly don't even want to leave. And I've already cried about it a few times haha. I surfed for the last time (at least for now) yesterday and watched my last Hawaii sunset (at least for now) from my board. I caught a few more waves after it set and paddled back in, taking everything in for the last time...and yea I cried a little then too. I'm going to miss this place soooooooo much. And I'm always going to look back on this summer as the most memorable yet.

I'll be home tomorrow. Hope you guys are ready to see me!

3 DAYS....

I'm going to miss:

Surfing. I've fallen in love with a new sport. It's so relaxing and mellow...really changes your life. I look at the ocean and waves totally different now. I only have 2 more days to surf...maybe 3 if I go out for an early morning sesh on Monday. I wish I had a picture of me surfing but then again it doesn't really matter cuz it's all up in my head...best place to be.

I'm excited for:

Some hiking and camping in Utah! I love being in the mountains. It's much cooler than the valley, and it's gorgeous. Lake Blanche, Brighton and the Living Room are some of my favorite hiking spots. I need to go on a couple camping trips too...that's for sure on the list. Oh and I need to go rock climbing too...man, lots of mountain stuff. Anyone want to come?

5, 4...

I'm going to miss:

The island life. Relaxing and taking life slower. Riding bikes to the beach and enjoying sunsets. Not worrying but being really happy with everything. Surfing and lounging in the sun. Best summer ever...hands down.

I'm excited for:

Some end of summer concerts. Especially the outdoor ones. Good way to wind down the summer and get back to the real world.