Shrimp, family, cows, veggies, friends, cake, chicken, professors, beans, kafka, potatoes, fruit = gumbo.

It's strange. I just feel so happy, in a sad knowing sort of way, that I could cry! My chest, err I'm a Mormon- my bosom, is brimming with a weight, a happy weight! You see, I am back in Buena Vista, VA- the lovely town I went to college in. I missed it so much and it was hard to leave it last year, but I feel like I have grown up so much in this last year in St. George, UT.
This year has been strange. I feel like I have done so much, and yet so little.

I went on my first foreign trip- Europe.
I am officially graduating.
I'm deciding what sort of 1st career path to head in.
I have made a new group of friends in Utah, and they're wonderful.
I've repeated the same romantic sort of mistake I made when I was 18.
My father has undergone a lot of health problems from stroking to practically croaking.
My mom was laid off and and then hired, but looking for more.
My sister came home from Au Pairing in Holland.
My niece Lucy is growing up and starting to talk.
I watched more TV than i would ever like to fully contemplate or figure out.
I hiked some, but not enough.
I ran some, but not enough.
I hated southern Utah, I love southern Utah.
I found out I am severely allergic to Zofran, a anti-nausea medicine that thousands of people get at the hospital and are never allergic too. I got some nasty hives.
I lost 15 pounds.
I became blonde.
I came to love astronomy.
I did not create enough.
I ate too many cookies.

So I am back at college, getting ready to walk this Saturday. It is so strange and surreal being back here. It's like I never left. It's like I was just here last week or I was just gone for the summer. I've talked to and visited with friends and mentors. I've heard stories about people from my past, stories that change my present in a way.
It's weird, I'm only 22, soon to be 23, but I feel like I'm at a place where I can look back and see the different phases of my life so far and evaluate and learn from them.
I wish in my childhood and adolescence I would have known that being mean to people does not make you friends. I wish had focused on learning as opposed to grades alone.
I wish I was more rational and thoughtful when making decisions during my years at SVU.

If wishes were fishes I would have salmon or fish sticks because they're my favorite.

I apologize for this muddy mess of a blog. I have so many thoughts flushing through my mind right now and I haven't organized them properly.

It's just so strange being here and getting some closure. When I first arrived I felt like, "oh no! I miss this place and now I might hate southern Utah because I love VA!" Luckily I have transitioned to a more sane thought process. I loved and love Virginia, but I love southern Utah too. SVU was fun and it made me who I am, but it's done and time to move on. I'm okay with that. I do plan to stay in touch with several people from college, there's no reason I shouldn't. I have so many blessings and I can't wait to explore life and see what happens! Life is hard and long, but it is also so short and wonderful!

Talk about blogumbo!

Laura

PS. I don't know how to pronounce my own name.

A little update on my life-a.

So life is good, nothing too extraordinary right now, here are a few updates:

I got a car, which is awesome! The only problem so far is that I don't quite know how to drive stick.. Oh well, it's a new adventure! My car is a 1991 Geo tracker! It's 4WD and it's cute and very me! I'm thinking of naming it Shia LeBeouf.My sister recently came home from Au pairing in Holland for a year! I'm so happy to have her home, she's one of my best friends in the whole world! When she came home she wanted her big bed back (I've been sleeping on it), so I opted for a new twin in my room! The reason I'm so happy about having a twin bed is because now I can fit a huge bookshelf and a drafting desk in my room! I'm so excited to get the desk in there, but I can't get it until I get some help moving it (it weighs a million billion pounds!) Lately I've been pretty happy to live in Saint George. I still miss Virginia terribly, and it will always be my home in one way or another...but it's nice to not hate Saint George anymore. Saint George is beautiful to behold, and perfect if you like the outdoors. I have friends and things to do, and the dramas of life are calming down a bit... Here are some pictures I took from the top of Dixie rock:Other than that I'm applying to the masters in education program at Weber State, in Ogden, Utah, for the fall! I'm so excited to have found a program, and school, that seems to be just what I'm looking for! My only real concern about it so far is the weather up there, I don't know if I can handle that much cold and snow! At least now I have 4WD car to attack northern Utah with!



And for your viewing pleasure, an amazing music video from the one and only Queen! Warning: this video includes scantily clad cross dressing men and spandex interpretive dance, it could offend you.