Goodbye 2011

2011 has been a really interesting year for me. Here are some of the things I've done (in the order that I can think of them):

-I took my first trip to Park City and didn't take nearly enough pictures. 

-I restored my grandpa's camera from 1948 by looking at it for about a million hours (give or take three) and pushing every button the same amount of times to discover what they do. I also cleaned that camera with cotton swabs. Obsessive? Absolutely.

-I went to two funerals in one week, each for grandparents on different sides of the family. -I sang at both those funerals.
-I promptly vowed to never sing at another funeral again. 

-I photographed my grandpa's funeral with the aforementioned camera, which he used while he was serving in the Korean war. 

-I started going to school year-round and, after year one (a year and a half of school done over 10 months), I want to poke my eyes out with those little swords that are sometimes in sandwiches and/or fruity drinks.

-I got called as relief society president and had the biggest melt-down to date. Take all the melt-downs I've had in the middle of all six previous finals, combine them, multiply them by the power of a thousand suns, and that was this meltdown. I hope you get the point by now that it was bad.

-I got over my feelings of inadequacy and did a fair job in my calling. 

-I drove an hour in the middle of the night to go hot-tubbing at a place that, upon arrival, was closed for maintenance, but got to know the people in the car really well. 
-I got a new niece!
-I got accepted to go to Russia, again, and had to turn it down, again, and my heart broke, again.  
-I got my car stuck in a hole in a field in the middle of Idaho Falls...yeah...

-I got better at shooting film, especially medium format, which I love. I LOVE medium format film!
-I shot a lot of guns, yo. A lot of guns. 

-I didn't take nearly enough pictures. 
-I learned how to talk about my feelings without my brain shutting down. This is a big, big thing for me. 

-I met and talked to some really cool hot-air ballooners!

-I took some really cool pictures in some really neat places. I think the Pallisaides was my favorite.
-I had two people pay me to take their engagement pictures. This taught me a lot of things, like not to let clients walk all over you, and that everyone is happier when you stay true to your own style. I also decided to take a break from that kind of photography, and I'm not sure I've completely recovered yet!!

-I bought three four new cameras and coveted a lot, LOT more cameras.

-I lost touch with some friends that I used to think I couldn't live with out. Turns out I can. It stinks, but I can. Who would've thought?

-I made some amazing, amazing friends that I hope I never lose touch with.
-I TOUCHED A CADAVER! One that has been at BYUI for 10+ years!! I HATED touching the cadavers and did it as little as possible

And that's a little bit about my 2011.

2012 is already shaping up to be a big, big year!
I'm working in the preschool on campus, which, contrary to how it sounds, is going to be my very most stressful class. My first lesson plan is due tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm doing! The kids start coming on Thursday though, and I'm so excited for that :)
Also, I tried out for a fireside choir on Sunday and yesterday I made it to the first round of callbacks! We get the final word sometime tonight and I don't think the butterflies in my stomach will go away until then. (UPDATE: I MADE IT IN!! More to come on this later)
2012 will also bring:
-Three more semesters of school
-The GRE
-Grad school applications
So those things all have to do with school...I don't know what else 2012 will hold, but I'm excited to see :)

oh brother

Don't I have the most handsome little brothers?

I agree

failing

I'm done with the fall semester and I couldn't be happier! Going to school year round is really starting to drain the life out of me. I did get all A's this semester with the exception of a B in anatomy and physiology, but for someone who's been taking finger painting and nap-taking classes for the last three years of college, I count this among my successes (don't take it away from me, I don't have that many). 

So I'm home(ish) in Logan with the apartment all to myself while Mom and Phil spend a few days in Park City (to be joined by the rest of us on Wednesday). 

I thought this alone time would be good to unwind from the last week of 4-hour-long nights of sleep and the last three months of living with five other girls...

but today was just a big gigantic fail. 

1. I fail at watering the Christmas tree

First of all, we have a real tree for the first time in my life (that I can remember, which is the important thing). When mom talked to me about it--while I was still in Rexburg--she sounded completely in love with this tree. 

"You need to water it every morning at 9:03 sharp with one of those big plastic glasses full of 3/4 water and the rest orange pedialyte with some vitamin D and omega 3's mixes in or he gets kind of fussy. You must also sing. "Oh Christmas Tree" is his favorite."

At least I think that's what she said. 

Anyway, I shimmied under the tree my first morning here and started dumping water in the base, but the water level reached the top and hasn't gone down since, so I'm thinking I put the water in the wrong place, and I'm too scared to call my mom and ask what I did wrong. 

2. I fail at being productive

 There was absolutely no chance of going Christmas shopping in Rexburg, a) because it was finals time and I was too busy, and b) because...come on. It's rexburg. Where would I get Christmas presents? CAL ranch? The Walmart? Family Dollar? So I made up a list of everything I needed to buy/make and planned to get it all done before I left for Park City. So, today and tomorrow. Did I get anything done today? Why no, no I did not. Tomorrow is going to be greaaaaat.

3. I fail at something reeeeeaaallly embarrassing

So...those of you who know me well, know what kind of hair I have. Tons. Tons of super frizzy, high maintenance hair. For the most part, I've learned to manage it.

My hair does wonderful in Boise, it blows dry in about 5 minute's work with a round brush and I don't even have to straighten it and it's silky and shiny and soft.

Rexburg is slightly worse, it takes a while, but blowing it dry and straightening it usually does the trick.

Logan, Utah hates my hair. Or my hair hates Logan. Take your pick. 

It takes EONS to blow dry and an equally long, boring time to straighten, after which I still resemble Medusa's slightly better looking, slightly snake-less sister. 

This morning I mustered up the productivity to take a shower, and upon blowing my hair dry, I realize that it feels really weird. 

The conclusion that I've come to is that

a) My hair is rebelling against being in Logan

or

b) I didn't wash all of the conditioner out. 

So either way...I failed at washing my hair. This should be a basic functioning skill for a 21-year-old college senior, right?

And I thought I'd made so much progress folding that fitted sheet on Saturday...

women

"The battle should not be over individual women finding equality, but womanhood, and those characteristics that make it unique, finding equality. Equality for all womanhood, not individuals. Women shouldn't have to become like men to make a difference in this world."

Carol Gilligan

(emphasis added by me, Hailee)

going home

going home going home going home going home going home

I'm going home* on friday and taking Nate with me! And Erin will be there too! And Will and Jessy! And my babies Lexi and Paisley! And mommy! And Phil! And my cousins!

I have two huge tests to take before I leave and another one to take the day after I get back and homework to do and I'm TRYING to concentrate, but there's this constant buzzing in the back of my mind saying

going home going home going home going home going home

*when I say home, I don't mean Coeur d'Alene, where I WISH home was, but to Logan where my parents and Will and Jessy live. Which is starting to feel a little bit like home. But still isn't my Coeur d'Alene.

today

Today I miss my Grandpa

remember remember the sixth of november?

When you date long-distance, pretty much all of your "pictures together" look like this:

Seriously, Nate and I have been dating for six months and have one legitimate picture together, and that stinks. Something is wrong here people! For someone who owns upwards of 10 cameras, you'd think there would be massive amounts of picture taking going on.
Nope.
Mostly just screen shots.

Someone fast forward to January. Go. 

AAAAANYWAY

It snowed here on Friday night, so on Saturday I felt justified in making the most bomb christmas music playlist EVER and listening to it while I did homework.

Until they make a genre of music that is legitimately classifiable as "thanksgiving music," I reserve the right to listen to christmas music starting the day after halloween. 

the end.