Ogden in the New York Times!

I literally had tears in my eyes. I think the idea of leaving home and hating where you're from is ridiculous. I have so much love and pride in this place, and I'm so thrilled that some of you will get to get a small feel for it in just about 6 weeks (!).

Check it out!

Wednesday.

Today began the first of an eight week "Cross Training" series at the gym. We did fitness tests to that in the end we have something to compare our new fabulous selves with. We did the shuttle run, sit ups, push-ups, and then measured, weighed, and measured body fat. The shuttle run TOTALLY took me back to the gymnastics room at the lower school of Rowland Hall when Charles was our slave-driving teacher. No one who reads this blog will remember this, but I bet you had your share of little pt tests, and perhaps even got one of those little cardstock certificates with Bill Clinton's signature on it, yeah?

Anyway, kind of a blast from the past... and hopefully going forward it'll be a blast to the gut!

Check THIS out... my dear friend Beth put this link up, and i thougth I'd share it cause its neato, to be sure.

Things here at GOAL are good. We've had lots of changes lately but I'm excited to work with the new director who is coming in until at least October- I think I'll learn a lot and have fun in the mean-time. She'll be more of the mentor-figure than what the other lady had turned out to be, so that is good.

52 days and counting to the wedding! Crazy, eh? Which reminds me... if you're reading this and haven't told me if you and when you're coming out this way... do!

Matthew and I had a great time in Vegas last weekend with my parents. We had AMAZING food (the tasting menu at Tableau at the Wynn... amazing!!!), saw some awesome shows (Hello Celine!), and some shopping success too! It was great to have the time with my parents, and with eachother. I'll be loading those pictures... I dunno.. someday, I suppose! Probably this weekend!

So there you have it- a little update! Love to all y'alls!

Pictorial: Graduation.

Here are some pictures from Graduation! Finally!

Me and Staci- the night before it all began, sportin' the ridiculous (but so cool) mortar boards!

This is at the Gallating Graduation. Since NYU had about 15,000 Graduates they separate the graduations into school so that everyone can WALK. So... our Gallating Graduation was on Wednesday, May 9 at the Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center (Which was so cool cause Staci and I LOVE Lincoln center. We were so happy our ceremony was at such a classy locale). Below you'll find Tina... you can't see the other girls, but there was a poet/speaker, and a pianist/guitarist, and then Tina, the dancer. There is no irony to be explained, except for you to know that yes, Staci and I thought the dance was ridiculous too (but oh, so Gallatin).

Post-Graduation Ceremony (and me, post-champagne) outside at the center!

Everyone gets to wear the fabulous purple- girls and boys all together (Because what would the poor transgender kids do if they had to choose what color they were going to wear? Maybe that's mean, but I'm pretty sure that's one reason we all wear Fightin' Violet).

That night, the school puts on something called Grad Alley. It was surprisingly cool and felt very much like a party in our honor (and really, anything in our honor at NYU is a BIG deal :))

Aren't we cute! Wearing our lady liberty foam Grad Alley hats... ridiculous, but hey, you've got to get into it!

That man (and they lady above) are why I was even there. Thanks to them for funding my wonderful experience at NYU! I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING!

There was a cardboard standup for the University President (very cool guy, in the end) and we each got polaroids of a full-length photo, but I snapped this picture too! I LOVE IT!

Lots of people. Lots of carnival-ish snacks weren't really on our menu since we were about to go to dinner, but it was very exciting, none the less.

They even had NYU fireworks on top of the Stern School of Business Graduate Building (which secretly thrilled me to see it on fire... ahem. Heh, just kidding Stephanie! I love you!)

You'll get a better idea of the fireworks in a second...

Here! Little 2007, NYU, and Torches! I'm pretty sure I teared up during this- who knew?

Woohoo!

And if it wasn't cool enough, the Empire State Building was lit PURPLE in OUR honor! YES! That was pretty exciting, I have to say!

The next day was the All University Graduation- all million of us in the park. Not everyone who graduates walks (some certificate programs, and then Associate degree people don't usually walk) and there were about 18,000 people in Washington Square Park that day. This is the dean of... some school.... giving us instructions from this weird little ladder.

Ain't we cute? And Amn't I tired looking?

The Walk begins. We got to process in lines (by our college) into the park. That was pretty exciting too. It all felt so... monumental. Hard to explain now, but it was very cool.

Here's a view from the back- behind us, hundreds of fellow students! The yellow fry-like things were our "cheer" element... each school had their own little thing. Unfortunately most schools' made noise, whereas ours were just... yellow. And Foamy. But still... you can just TELL Gallatin is better :)

YES! I got a picture with the Bobcat! Thanks for snapping that Staci!

View of the Park.

This is a picture of the Bobst Libary- note the little heads on top.

Closer shot- we were well guarded... unforunately that's the world we live in, I suppose.

The Stage.

Our Graduation speaker Wynton Marsalas, who, rather than speaking (Thank you!), played a jazz solo on his trumpet. All I have to say, and forgive me for this, but... my school's better than your school! :)

Another view of the park, fountain, arch, and all!

There we are again!

And again!

YAY! My mom, me, and my dad (in front of 22 Washington Square North which is where I worked for the last 2 years!)

There we are!
Gallatin Pride!

Laura Rogers, Laura Lorenzetti, Me looking caught in the act, and Megan Smith. If you're from Utah and coming to the wedding you'll get to meet miss Laura Rogers and Megan Smith for sure! They are friends from navigators.

Here I am with all the seniors from my work. Tear.

The seniors, and our two bosses down front. It really was a pretty great job. But I'm SO happy to be at GOAL now, of course!

After graduation and turning in Cap and Gown, my parents and I went and mailed home my bedding and Staci and I said goodbye, which totally sucked- thank goodness I'll get to see her so soon (50 days til she gets in town!). Then we went to Laura and Megan's apartment (what IS the correct grammar for that? Staci? Whitney?) for a little graduation party. Here is a view from their roof- and of course going up there for the first time the day before I left the city was pretty heart-wrenching- Man, I just love New York!

Here we are, Laura R, Me, Katherine Milliken, and Megan Smith.

Susan came to graduation and was also there for pictures at the party! Hopefully you'll get to meet this lady in August too- she's just absolutely WONDERFUL!

And one more picture. Man- isn't it a pretty day there?

And thats the end of graduation pictures. I have to say it was all very bittersweet. It was great to have my parents there, but also very stressful and crazed. I'm so glad that Staci and I were able to share those days and also talk out our thoughts because they were racing! I love you Staci!

The next day at 4:45am I was headed out on the Williamsburg Bridge as the city's lights broke through dawn's darkness. I cried from the moment we got on the bridge until we got to the Van Wyck Expressway. It was very hard to leave... but of course, I had some pretty fabulous things to come back to!

Thanks everyone, for the love and support and cheering on that you gave in the last four years! I'm truly convinced it wouldn't have happened without you!

Holy Crap, Its June.

There are three things I think of when I think of June.

Libby Brown, Blair Dantz, and my Dad.

Its odd, yes? But for the first 16 years of my life I knew Libby's birthday was the first summer birthday- June 2. ANd Blair's was right around the corner at June 6. And My Father's was always close behind- sixtimessevenisfortytwo- June 7th.

So here we are in June! And I still think of those things, even though the only one I celebrate anymore is my Dad's. I do like June though, I consider it a close friend.

And so, how am I, you might ask? Or maybe you're not asking. Maybe you're one of those picture hungry non-commenting blog readers. Well... to you I say... I'llputpicturesupjustassoonasiloadthemontomycomputerwhichwillprobablyhappensoon!

And to the rest of you, faithful readers and primarily bloggers-in-crime, I am well.

Work is going well- things have slowed down since the marathon, and I think I'l have a nice paycheck once I actually get paid (it will be in about 2 weeks so I should have a whole month stored up- thank goodness I'm not paying rent, eh?).

The wedding is in... hold, let me check my count down tool in my widgets....71 days and about 4 hours 40 minutes. So yeah- CRAZY! We're working on invitations tonight, and some other little projects. Should be a great time.

I had my bridal photos on Tuesday. But for a minor (at the time quite major, mind you) hair crisis, it went well. Davina will be posting the pictures on her blog as a preview in the next few days. Please be warned that if you happen to look at them while a certain M. W. Teter is in the room, or you post them on a blog, or you send them in an e-mail, or in ANY way he sees them, you will be held solely responsible and will carry the burdensome weight of knowing you ruined any and all surprises that are in store for him regarding my dress/appearance/etc. the day of. Heh... not to get too carried away or anything. I have no choice on the matter though- she has rights to the pictures and it will be fun to see-just please make sure he's not around if you're checkin' 'em out! And of course, Matthew.... you know you're banned from all things Davina related until AFTER August 11!

Anyway, in other news.... it turns out the eggs that are growing in my neck (Elizabeth named them Frank and Vinney) have not gotten smaller. I've been taking medicine for about 6 months now and the doc was hoping that they'd be smaller. After the ultrasound on Wednesday they've decided I don't need surgery for now. I think the plan of action at this point is to keep a close eye on those guys and make sure they don't get any bigger, keep taking the medicine, and probably have them out at a later date. I'm fine with that, though knowing I have aliens growing in my thyroid is disturbing, but I suppose skipping another surgery is a good idea for now (2 in one year seems a bit much, eh?). And... I didn't have to have any biopsy or antyhing since as of my birthday last year I was cancer free. They'll, of course, keep careful watch over that. And so there's the medical update- sorry to bore those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about or who are just not interested. And for those who have been praying for me consistently, thank you very VERY much. Peace is a rare thing, yet it is whelming.

And what else? My dearest friend Melissa is coming to town next weekend! YESSS! We're having a party for her at the Cain home on Saturday night so everyone can see her and catch up with her life! I'll send out an e-vite, but definitely plan to come! And for those of you not in UT but coming to the wedding- just you wait til you meet this fabulous woman!

Anyway... I think that is all I gots for now! I really will try to put up some pictures soon! Really!