Zoo Lights

Yep, two posts in one day. Last night, Syd put together a big group date and invited us. There were all kinds of people there; some that we knew well, some that we knew their names, and some that we haven't met before and will probably never meet again. We all got together at Heier's in SLC then headed up to the zoo to go to the zoo lights. For the Zoo Lights they decorate the zoo up with lights and some of the animal exhibits are open to the public.

Lindsay and I loved it. Their were two great parts that we loved. We loved being out with friends such as Jenn and Carter, and Syd and Clif. The other part that we loved were the big cats. Most of them were out and about because it was so cold and dark. The snow leopard was our favorite. Syd does fun dates.

Lindsay, Syd, and I at Trolley Square before we left to eat.

Us in front of a lit up nutcracker outside the zoo.

Us by a large elephant.

Holding up her fake giraffe skin purse in front of the fake giraffes.

Christmas

Christmas came and went in a flash. A large amount of time and effort goes into the preparation of Christmas, and then it is gone in about twelve hours. It was a fun Christmas because we were all together.

Christmas Eve was fun to have Syd and Jenn around when we were making candy and doing all of our traditions. The girls are great because life is one big joke. We all feed off each other while cracking jokes. We ended up cracking up all night. Most of our jokes come from remembering past events and making fun of ourselves. That is something that I love about my family, is that we can make fun of ourselves while not stepping on anyone’s toes. It makes for some good memories.

Lindsay showing of a ribbon that she added to some gifts on Christmas Eve.

Lindsay and I about to open our Christmas Eve gifts.

I'm asking Lindsay to smell the lotion from her Christmas Eve gift.

As I tried to smell the lotion, I squeezed it just a tad too much and it got all over my upper lip.

Syd is looking perplexed as she opens her Christmas Eve gift.

Jenn and Lindsay as Jenn opens her Christmas Eve gift.

Schools Out

Yesterday, I finished up my last oblations to Utah State until next semester. Earlier in the week I had 4 finals to study up for and finish. This finals week seemed to be harsher than some in the past. I remember having tests or reports or nothing to finish out the semester. This semester I had both, a test and a report, in two classes, a project and a test in another, then just a test in the last. It kept me quite busy. On Thursday of finals week, I had a large presentation to give for my internship over the summer. I gave it in front of the environmental facility, Jon Farrell, a co-worker over the summer, and Syd and Jenn. It was a 45 min presentation and I feel like I did an okay job. It is over now, and I have no other oblations until I start working on the first Monday of January.

Lindsay will still be working a bunch in December, so I will probably spend a bunch of time in Henefer helping grandpa feed the beef or cut the meat. This is always a huge project, and this year grandpa is going to try to get it over with before Christmas. I will also have more time to write in the blog for all 3 of you that read this, that is including Lindsay and me. It is good to be done with school and start some other work for a change.

Scholarship

About two months ago, I wrote a report on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) that are being found in wastewater. The problem with these chemicals is that they are not being cleaned by wastewater facilities. Therefore, they are being found in the fresh water rivers around the united states. Fish have been found to have both sex organs because of these chemicals. Common EDCs that everyone is aware of are pharmaceuticals, such as birth control pills which include estrogen. Anyway, I wrote this report for a scholarship for the Water Environmental Association of Utah. I received a e-mail the other day and I am the winner.

On Thursday I went to their mid year conference and they awarded me with a huge check (literally huge not $$$ huge). It is like a publicity check, just like the ones that Happy Gilmore sticks in the back of his car to save his grandmother's house. Now it is hanging above the computer. I guess I can mark that off my list of things to do before I consider myself successful, receive a large publicity check. The next thing on my list is to cut the ribbon at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Review Session

Today I was in a review session for my Public Health class. The review was held at six at night, and I'm sure nobody wanted to be there. Brittany, one of my environmental friends, was no exception. She leaned over to me a couple of times to tell me that she didn't want to be there. Then she proceeded to tell me that she had 'Eye of the Tiger' stuck in her head. Throughout this time I made an effort to pay attention so that I could get something from the review session. I glanced over at Brittany while our professor flipped through the slides and I knew that she wasn't going to get anything out of being there. She pulled a ruler out of her bookbag and was measuring the length of her own hair. I busted up. I couldn't believe she was doing that during a review session. After she saw that I noticed her, she started laughing as well. It took us a while to regain our composure.

The best part about the story is when I got home; I recounted the story to Lindsay. She loved it. I get a kick out of watching Lindsay laugh. Seeing her happy makes my day.

Its Official

Today I let Vince Hamilton, the group leader over the drinking water division at WesTech, know that I decided to go another way. I think that he was expecting both Lindsay and I to work there. I decided to go with Forsgren Ass., a engineering consulting company. I will be working with a group to develop and design drinking water and wastewater facilities. I will be starting part time in January while finishing up my degree in Logan.

O Presidente

Tonight, I watched the vice-presidential debate on the television while Lindsay slept. I thought it was interesting but I think that the sleepiness was too much for her. NPR stated that this debate may have more viewers than the presidential debate last week.
They both did very well. I enjoyed the debate because they didn't end up becoming angry with one another and yelling. They both acted very professional. Personally, I am surprised at how well Sarah Palin acted under pressure. She hasn't been doing very well on her television interviews. The vice presidential debate is not going to move my vote. I am not going to vote for a vice president, I will vote for a president. Overall, they did well and they didn't hurt their party at all.

All is going well for Lindsay and I. Lindsay is still working at WesTech in SLC. I am getting closer and closer to finish school. I will be done with my BS in May 2009. I am still debating to go on to grad school or to get a job. WesTech, where I worked over the summer, has asked me to come on in January part time when I finish my BS. Today I recieved a call for an interview at another engineering firm called Forsgren Associates in downtown SLC. The guy who called me seemed interested to meet and get to know me. I need to update my resume. My interview is on the 14 of October, we will discuss my future over lunch.


All in all, life is treating us well. Time will tell what the future holds for us.