Only recently have I come to realize how much I absolutely love Summers in Idaho Falls. Granted, you can't beat a Summer in London. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But Summer time in Idaho Falls is absolutely glorious. This is largely due to the fact that 1) The temperature never gets too high like it would in Arizona, Southern Utah, California or some where that is typically warmer year round, 2) the air is rarely if EVER muggy and gross, and 3) I get to live at home while I eat watermelon and hamburgers straight from the grill while sipping homemade lemonade (which I didn't have to make myself nor did I have to go grocery shopping for the food which I have eaten) then proceed to sleep in a giant bed in a room that is all mine. Really, not much can be wrong with this picture. Plus, I get to play with my nephew all the time (yeah, he loves me best), watch all the TV shows I have missed, read more books than I have been a been able to in the last three years of college, enjoy snow cones from the shack by Albertsons, see the best fireworks ever on the 4th of July, go to the cabin, go boating, and play Guitar Hero/Rockband/Mario Kart Wii all the days of my life. And even the whole job thing is great. Not only do I get to draw blood, learn what various prescription drugs do, and shadow doctors, but I actually get to help with research and meet with patients! I get to do my very own research project. It's basically a dream come true for the nerdy pre-mad student deep within me.

But the purpose of this blog is not to tell you about my life this summer. It is to tell you about the object that will make my summer true, unadulterated BLISS. This object is a hammock.

Just last summer, my sister Kate purchased a hammock from an unknown store. For an entire summer, my family enjoyed the hammock until one fateful night, my dog, a chocolate lab named Molly, became exceedingly bored and proceeded to rip the hammock to shreds. We woke up to pieces of nylon rope scattered across the yard. Molly was very proud of her work despite the fact that it tore up her mouth. My dad almost killed her. Needless to say, we were all pretty depressed about it and I felt slightly robbed because I had been at school and in London when the hammock was in use. I had only been home for about a week when Molly murdered what was left of my summer. So, as I came home this summer to do a medical internship, I decided I needed a hammock to enjoy the back yard.

Consider the benefits of having a hammock: no lying on the ground with the bugs. Instead, you get to lie cradled in a colorful bed that swings back an forth. Plus, it's totally great for snuggling with someone you happen to like. Also, it's perfect for reading in while listening to some great summer music. Next, it's portable so that if you decide to go camping or something, you can totally take it with you. This feature is particularly important for me because that means I can take it away from Molly every night. And, you can feel like 1) a pirate 2) a soldier 3) a vagabond. SWEET. Last, outside is so much better than inside so why not spend as much of your time outside as you can. Hammocks are genius! HANDS. DOWN.

Just a Little Tidbit from the Reader's Forum

Everyday in BYU's student newspaper, there is a section called the Reader's Forum where readers write in about previous articles or pertinent issues. This is what the Forum is INTENDED to be. But it is NOT what actually happens. Instead, the Reader's Forum has become a source of entertainment for hundreds of Daily Universe readers. Today's article about Saved By The Bell, the television show from the 90s, made me laugh out loud in the library. I will share it with you. (And I'm putting it in quotations so as not to cite it as mine. Because it's not.)

MORALLY CORRUPT

"It has come to my attention through reading two recent letters to the editor ("Saved by the Bell," March 6 and, "The shorter the better," October 3,2008) that some students at BYU believe it is acceptable to derive moral lessons from episodes of the television series, "Saved by the Bell." I am extremely troubled by this mode of thinking. "Saved by the Bell," or SBTB, as it is know to the extreme followers of the show, is morally corrupt. If we use the show as a moral compass, surely we will be led astray.
For example, in an episode titled, "Screech's Woman," Zach cross dresses and tried to make Screech think Zach is in love with him (Season 1, Episode 5). In season 2, episode 5, the "gang" holds a house party when a parent is out of town. Jessie is addicted to caffeine pills in season 2, episode 9. The list goes on and on. Cross dressing? Disobeying our parents? Consuming caffeine? Whatever happened to the essential nature of manhood, honoring thy father and thy mother and condemning all those who dare to sip a Coca-Cola?
I call on all BYU students and alums to boycott any reruns of SBTB and any further use of it as a moral scale. No longer may Zach lead us astray, as he did with his friends on "Day of Detention" when he convinces them all to help get him out of detention. Need I remind you that in the end, rather than freeing Zach, everyone winds up in detention (season 4, episode 8)?"

by Maria Miles
East Walpole, Mass.

Here and now, I offer my congratulations and my gratitude to the author of this letter to the editor. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. And even though I am 146% sure that she is being totally sarcastic, I am still just as grateful for the laugh. So here's to you and your sarcasm, Maria Miles of East Walpole, Massachusetts.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: March Madness

So, this week, March Madness begins and I just wanted to talk a little bit about how much joy The Big Dance brings into my life. Selection Sunday is literally the best Sunday of the year...except when Christmas is on Sunday or my birthday. (p.s. Isn't that picture of Chalmers making the game tying shot a beauty?)

There are four things that I love about the beauty that is March Madness and the Final Four:
1. Basketball all day, everyday.
2. The hilariousness that are the fans of college basketball
3. I really enjoy the fact that out of a group of girls, I am usually one of the few that actually knows what she's talking about. Talk about confidence builder
4. Beautiful men that know how to play basketball on television. ALL DAY LONG. For a week.

Number one is the very best part of it all. All I have to do is turn on the TV and there is bound to be some kind of game on that is AMAZING and intense. I love Kansas basketball. It's a family requirement it seems. Last year was basically the best year ever for us when they won a thriller against Memphis. We will see if they can defend their championship. Plus, with March Madness comes a combination of coaching greats like Coach K (best coach ever to coach basketball, hands down), Roy Williams, and so on. The thing is, every good team plays at the same time with all of their really good coaches going head to head. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE!!! It's so AMAZING!

Number two just makes me laugh all day long. There are normal fans, but they aren't the ones I'm talking about. Sure, there are fans that are a little crazy and paint their faces and dye their hair the school colors. What has to be remembered is that most of them are students. The fans that I'm talking about are the older men. The fans make it all great. And hilarious.

Number three is a bit prideful and narcissistic, but I totally don't care. I LOVE getting into in depth conversations about basketball. And I just love blowing their minds with knowledge. Mostly, it makes me feel really awesome.

Last, but not least: Beautiful Basketball Men. They're everywhere! The thing that makes them beautiful is the arms. I'm sorry, but basketball players arms are AMAZING. They don't have to have hot faces, but all of them have hot arms. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule in that their faces AND arms are a one-two combo of beauty.

And this year it will be complete and utter craziness because there are no standouts. Having the "Number One" ranking means NOTHING. It's basically a curse. I have no idea how my bracket is going to work out...it's going to be ugly. Unlike last year when I ROCKED IT and picked both the Final Four AND the National Champ! Holler.

So my children. Enjoy the madness.

All You Need is LOVE...in the "Libary"

Yes. "Libary" is the word. It's how my little nephew used to say "library" when he was little. I am in the Harold B. Lee library right now, in the Accounting computer lab. And even though I have been coming here for months now, I have only just come to realize that it is CREEPY down here. No windows, weird accounting kids, and every other screen has some kind of online role-playing game like War Craft or something. I can't believe it took me almost three months to realize the strangeness of this place...oh well.

So the other day, I was facebook stalking one of my friends and I saw a continuing conversation between her and another of my good friends about grad school and summer plans. This link was in the post. And I must say that it just made me smile from ear to ear. I would like to comment briefly on the AWESOMENESS of this article and what it means.


If someone can get a Master of Arts in The Beatles, why not expand it? I would DEFINITELY try to get a Masters in Muse or maybe a Masters in Pride and Prejudice (which you can kind of do...meh) or a Masters in Comic Books/Star Wars. OR (personal favorite) a Masters in College Football! Shoot. I would do that. To know everything there is to know about every team ever and every player...I'd totally take that on. Maybe I'll submit something to BYU and show them this article so they might listen to me. Cecil and I could work something out for sure. Plus, I'd have to convince the Church Board of Education too. But they're all nice old men. I'm sure they'll listen to me.




(Side note: last night I hit my head really hard on the corner of my roommate's drawers. I knew head wounds bled a lot, but not THAT MUCH. It wasn't even that big of a cut! Good night, it was bleeding for forever. But I forgive my roommate for basically throwing me against the drawers. It was actually really hilarious.)

Playlist Time

Lovers In Japan by Coldplay- Heard this song during the Oscars (Romance Recap for 2008 presented by Robert Pattinson...now do you see why I watched?) and developed this deep love for it. What can I say? Coldplay SPEAKS to me. And makes me want to play the piano again.

Syndicate by The Fray- The second this song started, I almost passed out because I automatically became obsessed with the beginning and lost all brain function. If the beginning is awesome, I'll want to listen to the rest. And the rest of this song is pretty ding dang good too.

Feeling Good by Muse- This cover is a little piece of Muse heaven. Takes the classic song and turns it on its head, "Muse-ifying" it, if you will. Eat that Michael Buble.

Crack the Shutters by Snow Patrol- Rarrrrrr. That is all I will say.

A Mirror is Hard to Hold by John Foreman- Jon Foreman of Switchfoot fame made some pretty awesome EPs last year. Not only do I love his voice, but I love these chill, sometimes super religious songs.

Abel by The National- Still can't get enough of them. They are just about the most awesome thing since sliced bread. His voice...

Brazil by The Arcade Fire- Ah! The beginning of this song is mostly awesome. And this song makes me want to sway back and forth while I do my homework like a little nerd.

Unconditional by The Bravery- I'm on a mission to find the full song to put on here. But I want to (and often do) yell this song while I drive. Not mad.

Can't Let Go by Landon Pigg- Um, this song hurts my little heart. I just want him to be with this girl. Plus, I love Landon Pigg (Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop? Listen to it.)

Brick by Ben Folds- Even though it's been forever and a year since this song was released, I still love it. It kind of makes me hate life a little, but I just the piano, lyrics, and Ben Folds in general. It's just that good.

Cleanse Song by Bright Eyes- Heh. A happy-ish Bright Eyes song! It's a miracle.

Delicate by Damien Rice- There is so much love in my heart for this song and for Damien Rice. I can fall asleep anywhere when I listen to this song. Damien Rice has succeeded where no other artist can. And that's not to say I think he's boring. He's soothing and mostly awesome.

Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf- Don't judge me. I LOVE this song. It almost makes me wish I could go to a high school dance again just so I could dance to this song. I DO dance to it. Everyday. And it's a great walking to campus song.

Decatur by Sufjan Stevens- This is the first Sufjan song I ever heard. He makes me chuckle and makes me smile. I want to go to Decatur now...weird.


And just a p.s. for all of you who love orchestral soundtracks like I do: If you ever want to listen to a soundtrack that will blow your mind, just listen to the Revolutionary Road soundtrack. The music for the film is AMAZING. Maybe it's because I watched the movie and loved how they integrated music with images so flawlessly. And because the music was sweet and simple perfection.