Finals!

I got to go to the testing center for the last time this semester and actually come out happy. I actually jumped with joy after seeing my grade on the TV! A Congratulations from that screen means so much to me!
I'm so happy that I already have four done with on the first two days of finals and I didn't procrastinate, so now I only have one more final to master on Wednesday. That would be my hardest one...OChem. :S But I know I can do it!
And now I'm off to play....will post pictures later.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This weekend, I actually took the time to read a book merely for pleasure. I have missed reading so much and it was so worth it. I first picked it up in the bookstore for a few minutes while I was waiting to go to work because it was by the author of the Twilight series. Twilight is not even a comparison to this book which is a million times better. I would seriously recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to read. What's great about it is even by the first page, you trying to figure out what is going on in this strange new world that is given almost no introduction and there is action all the way through the book. It is not drawn out like in Twilight and not as obvious as, oh look his skin is cold, he is super fast, ...he must be a vampire. You are constantly turning the page trying to see how everyone can get there happy ending, even the "soul." The only objection I do have is why do Meyer's characters have to be SO emotional all the time? But I do give her so much credit for making up this new world that I could have never thought of before. You see, "souls" have taken over the human world, and they are injected into human (and other kinds of) bodies, and while the human is still present in the body, the soul is much stronger and it controls thoughts, actions, speech, everything. The body in this story is so unique because she fights back for control over her body and eventually they become friends. All the drama and history that goes into making these completely different worlds like in Harry Potter and Twilight must be so incredible for the author. If I could pick a talent, that would be it because I am in such awe of authors that can do that.

"Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind."

Seriously, read this book!

Christmas Vacation...Finally

All the fun we had really wore us out this vacation. My family got to come out this winter break to see all the family out west. First my Grandma took all of us to Disneyland to the place where all your dreams come true. We were in Provo for Christmas and then went up to Idaho for New Years. Sorry for all the pictures but just bear with me. There were so many good ones and I couldn't leave any out. Let the good times roll...

The best man made hill ever!

We went to Gertie's all you can eat pizza. Every kind of pizza you could possibly imagine. Some of the favorites included: Idaho, Seafood, Meat Lovers, California, Hot Mama, Ranch & Cheese and the desserts: toffee, Butterfinger, Reeses Pieces, and Oreo. My mom and aunt kept a tab on all the pizza they ate...but I just ate to my heart's content.

We got to do baptisms for our family at the newly dedicated temple in Twin Falls, Idaho. All of the family together!

He's the cutest Grandpa ever!At the Sephor at Disneyland. Who knew?

With Goofy

Bug's Life: It's a Tough World

All of us girls with Minnie

Colton hasn't got his muscles yet

Poor ducks. Patrick shot them both. And Amy caught 12 fish so we had a feast that night.

At night in Disneyland. We went on all the rides the first day.

Being in the front is scarier than you think. You literally go straight down vertically into the water.

All of the cousins with Grandma

The best roller coaster in Disneyland: California Screamin', even my 10 year old cousin went on it, and my grandma, and my carsick mother.

Pipelinin' Patrick with Tubular Toby. Dude...totally awesome

Amy's favorite character Woody

Scared out our minds. This is the most thrilling ride ever

Smiling like the chestershire cat

Be a blueberry! very nice

Sad day. It actually started raining one day we were there so we got very fashionable raincoats to wear instead of bumming it inside. They didn't really work anyways and we went on the wet rides too so they didn't really surve a purpose.

My family is too cool

roar!

haha

double haha

AmY and AubreY

We also went to do baptisms at the LA temple where Patrick served his mission.

Leftover coats and hats on the farm are the best!

Playing airplane, which sadly they had to leave on the next day. I miss them!

A banana a day keeps the doctor away

Everything I love about bananas:
1. Isopentyl Acetate is the banana oil that gives bananas their fruity smell.
2. A banana can be split into 3 equal parts without a knife.
3. During the superbowl, the players ate bananas so they wouldn't get cramps in the humid stadium.
4. Don't put bananas in the fridge, they turn bad quickly.
5. The expression "going bananas" has to do with the effects of banana on the brain.
6. Banana is the number 1 fruit among the world's leading athletes.
7. Boosts brain power.
8. Known to make you relax, improve your mood, and generally make you feel happier.
9. The inside of a banana skin can reduce swelling and irritation due to a mosquito bite.
10. 4x the protein of an apple, 2x the carbohydrate, 3x the phosphorous, 5x the vitamin A and iron, and 2x the other vitamins and minerals.
What more could you ask of a fruit?

A is for aging

Normally I get B's and C's on tests so I was stoked when I took my first test of the new year and I didn't get the scores back but I'm pretty sure I got an A! It was just a safety quiz for OChem but it means a lot to me to start the year off right. Oh and yesterday I told a friend that I had never gotten an A before on a test at the testing center, but I realized that that was a lie, so I just wanted to clear that up. Last semester I got an A on my Math 302 final. That is a great score for a hard class and I now feel qualified to use words like diagonalizable and photoisomerization. Now if only I could transfer that success to my basketball games. Today was our first game and we lost by a lot, too much to say to online, but it was fun to get out there and play with my cool basketball shoes. Too bad I now feel like an old person; my back is aching from falling down and my calves are totally shot. I also just peeled off a whole layer of skin from my feet. I feel like I'm 40 but I'm really the youngest person in my apartment and only have half a year of teenager left in me. Better live it up!

Inventing Human Flight

I just finished a physics problem that I thought I would share with the blogger world:

In order to lift a 200 lb. man with a single helium balloon off the ground, the diameter of the balloon would have to be 5.4 m!

So to put worrying mothers at ease, NO, your child will not fly away if you leave him/her alone at an amusement park with too many balloons.

Check out this guy who set a record for highest flight with ordinary helium balloons getting to a height of 11,000 feet before the balloons started popping like a machine gun going off, and parachuting back down:
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2001/10/47965

Or this other guy: who flys in his lawn chair with helium balloons and a BB gun to pop the balloons to bring him safely over the Oregon border. Unfortunately, we'll have to get costs down before we can make this an effective air travel option to get to work everyday:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/05/kent-couch-tries-flying-l_n_110980.html

New Year

Well I was gonna write a post about the start of a great new year with my awesome new years resolutions...till I read my horoscope.

2009 Cancer Forecast : You may have to work hard during this period but will be unable to do so. Continuous hard work will tire you easily hindering your capacity to work. There will be a tendency to do bad deeds. You may be engaged in unscruplous activities. Ill health of parents may cause worries. Do not be rash while driving.

Horoscope 2009 for Cancer : You will look forward to life with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm during this time. At the same time you will be bold and courageous but violent in temper. This period is unfavourable for love and romance. Contemplation may cause losses hence it must be avoided. Children may suffer from diseases or ill health. There might be a possibility of sudden travel.

Kind of a downer, isn't it? Everyone should stay far away from the new unscrupulous me, especially when I am driving!

Note to self: Check up on parents more often this year. Try my hardest to not do bad things. Work as hard as I can but try to sleep too. Try to control my temper. Don't lash out at friends. Don't get my hopes up for love. Don't contemplate too much. Keep a couple bucks out for any sudden road trip that may present itself.

Then again, maybe I'll just keep my new years resolutions.