Speaking of Family Portraits

Well folks, the Overson family has finally done it. We've had new family portraits taken. They're pretty classic - white shirt and jeans was the attire, but I honestly love em.

Here's a shot of us kiddos:

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." ~ Jane Howard

Photo Credit to awkwardfamilyphotos.com, of course.

Speaking of Turbulence

I"m finally on my way home! And when I say on my way, I literally mean on my way! That's right, I'm blogging from 30,000 feet! I had to do it. I couldn't resist. So, thanks to gogo inflight internet, here is yet another post.

I would like to take this opportunity, not to thank The Academy, but to declare my love for flying. What other time can you make delightfully, awkward light conversation with the person sitting next to you, speak in other languages, or get food that should never be put in a to-go-box ordered in just that way. It's just great.

I arrived at the airport and got through security with plenty of time to spare, and as a result I sat down at my gate, Starbuck's Oatmeal in hand, to do some legitimate people watching. Before I had even added the dried fruit, a man sitting on the bank of chairs across from me started up a conversation. Yes, I said man. I'd guess he was maybe in his his early 30's. And I didn't need him to tell me he was on the flight headed to Austin, Texas--his cowboy boots and drawl definently gave that one away for him. He was traveling with two buddies, for business. They all just got Blackberries (courtesy of the business?) and were comparing notes about how to do different things.

In talking about where I was headed, we of course started talking about souvenirs and then, of course, tequila. The conversation then took a turn when he suggested I mail him some of the best Mexico has! I laughed thinking he was joking, then realized he wasn't. He then glances at his Blackberry and asks for my email so he can add me on facebook! He'll just send me his address and I'll just mail him some alcoholy goodness! Sounds great. Oh wait, it sounds like a horrible idea! I immediately thought of all those lessons Officer So-And-So taught my second grade class about stranger danger. I kind of just played down the request and managed to turn the converstion without screaming like a fire engine. Kasey entered Gate C11 moments later, and lets just say I was more than happy to see her!

Oh and don't worry. This man only caused me some slight worry, hardly enough to change my views on flying. I still love it.

"Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price." ~ Amelia Earhart

Speaking of December 19th

In a mere six days I will be home! And you know what, I might just be the teeniest, tinyist bit excited. This week better go by fast because...

I'm excited to fly into this city

With this girl...

And be greeted by these boys

And see these great parents!

Sometimes I wish I was flying into the airport with this view

and wish I was going to see this sign on my drive home

and hang out with these people.

But I'm excited to drive down this road

and walk through these elevator doors

and sit on the barstools now found in this kitchen

and talk to these sisters!

All in only six days!

"My home is not a place, it is people." ~ Lois McMaster Bujold

Speaking of The Prowl

Today, I got an email from the Cannon Center telling me I had a package to pick up. The other two times I have got such a notification I was so surprised, and yet again today, so surprised! Packages are always great, so of course I immediately went over to the Cannon to see what had been delivered! It was a large Manila envelope with, you guessed it, a copy of The Prowl! In case you haven't heard of this great publication, it is Westview High School's most esteemed newspaper. Its basically the best high school newspaper in the nation! You may have even heard about it last year on CNN! If you didn't, you can hear about it here

It was so refreshing to pick up the ol' thing, soak in its refreshing liberalism and football hate. Articles repeatedly reminded me of how bullying is wrong, national service recruitment it up, swimming is the best sport and too often overlooked, gay people are not just accessories and how transfers students are loved but have led to overcrowding. I feel like the paper hasn't changed at all! I honestly read just about every article in the paper and loved every single one. Even the controversial ones, I loved the fact that I was reading a controversial article (those are sometimes hard to come by in Provo)!

So thank you Mr. Duncan for sending me a copy of The Prowl. Thank you for taking me away from my little Provo bubble, if only for a few minutes. Thank you for publishing articles that I personally think shouldn't be published in a high school newspaper. Thank you for making the school district pay the $1.06 shipping fee. And thank you for reminding me of why high school was such a great time of my life, a time I will never forget!

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." ~James Dean

Speaking of Snow

On Tuesday, there was warning of a harsh blizzard. It was predicted to be the worst blizzard Provo had seen in years! Classes were let out early, cookies went on sale at Subway, people went home and then we all waited for this blizzard to come around. News reports cited massive snow fall in Idaho, Ogden, Salt Lake... and then six o'clock rolled around. At some point there was a light skiff of snow that fell. But was there a blizzard? Nope. Nothin. Nada.

So, last night made for our first real snow fall! I woke up to about three or four inches of powder, covering everything! It was so pretty and so powdery! The snow made for such a great Sunday! I went for multiple walks, made some soup, decorated our room more for Christmas with Julie, made an awesome snow angel (pictured to the right), and of course, listened to more Christmas music!

Today made me so excited for the coming months of snow! The walks were good practice for walking to class. I'm a tad worried about slipping and falling to my social doom, but honestly, me falling could also be pretty funny. So, maybe I'm ok with that. Make someones day, maybe win a little money from good ol' America's Funniest Home Videos. Who knows, this whole snow thing could be just great!

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event."

Speaking of Provo

As Julie and I were getting ready to head out for some Saturday errands, we realized we would be passing the Provo Library while we were out and about. Harold B. Lee has been treating us well, but we'd both been thinking of trying out the local biblioteca. Housed in the old (and now renovated) Brigham Young Academy, the library is gorgeous. It is definitely a staple of Historic Downtown Provo and makes my day whenever I drive past.

Julie had been to the library once before but hadn't explored too much. So we set out together to find the perfect, casual, study area. Remember, it's Saturday, we were attempting to act reasonably and only committed ourselves to casual studying. After walking past ballrooms, a wonderful children's area and a Mary Kay convention, we finally found some comfy chairs, and took our seats. We both just sat there for a minute, not ready to start studying just yet. Scanning the books on the aisle we both noted large, coffee table, style books featuring Kentucky and Oregon. We both pocketed the idea of looking through them for another time.

We needed a guest passcode to use the internet so Julie headed to the front desk to get the information, I stayed with our stuff and sat there eating my new Santa shaped chocolates. When I got up to throw away the rapper I stumbled upon their Christmas book section! I preceded to pile up quite the collection then headed back to our chairs. Julie was still gone, so I enjoyed my first Christmas Tale of the season, it was truly quite touching! Then Julie returned, without a passcode. Next time, we are bringing proof of Provo residency so we can fully utilize this great resource we have!

We were both a little put off by not having the internet. I needed the grading rubric for a paper I was working on writing, so sadly, ever so sadly, I had to postpone writing my paper. This is when Julie and I turned to our coffee table books. We both reminisced about our old homes and all the good times we had there. At this point, I am completely relaxed. Julie curls up with her ipod for a nap and I flip through a chapter of my textbook, reshelf the Christmas books I can no longer take home with me, and explore the library a little. Soon it was dark, and we had spent a good part of our Saturday just soaking in the library.

It was so refreshing to step away from the stress and efficiency of the Harold B. Lee Library on campus. I sure hope, and know we will, make another trip there soon. After all, there are more than a few books I would love to check out.

"Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm not cold, light nor dark . . . In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed." ~ Germaine Greeer

Friday's Five

I have decided to merge two of my favorite things for my weekly Friday post. I introduce "Friday's Five"-- merging Lists and Alliterations, it will be a weekly list of, well, just about anything. You all should be very excited! So here we go:

Five Reasons Why I Check my Mail Everyday:

1.) There might be a letter addressed to me

2.) There might be a promotional flyer with a piece of attached candy

3.) There might be misdirected mail in my box

4.) There might be a very important political flyer and...
5.) There just might be a cute boy checking his mail too!

"Discourse is fleeting, but junk mail is forever." ~ Joe Bob Biggs

Speaking of Chestnuts

Earlier this month by roommate and I made a pact that we would not bring out the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving Break. It seemed like the right thing to do. Hold out for its greatness. But then today happened. It was chilly and we were both enjoying pleasant enough moods. But we were both fighting that little itch for the smooth sounds of the Season. Like with most other things in life, we eventually succumbed to temptation. Julie made our holiday Pandora station while I plugged in our colored twinkle lights! For a good thirty minutes now I have been enjoying this warm, fuzzy feeling that I know only comes once a year! We do not regret caving in. In fact, I think it might just be the best decision we've made all semester!

I can not wait for the momentum called the Christmas Season to keep building. I'm already enjoying the faux evergreens in the Wilkinson Center and Library. Oh, and rumor has it they've already begun stringing lights around Brigham Square. So far, BYU has not failed any of my expectations and I sure hope they won't start with Christmas.

Sweaters, Scarves, Twinkle Lights, Hot Cocoa, Candy Canes, Chocolate, Advent Calenders, Nativities, Evergreens, Friends, Shopping, Snow, Temple Square, Food, and of course, Family are just a few other things I'm looking forward to this December.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." ~ Normon Vincent Peale

Speaking of Blogs

Well, I have decided to start a blog. I'm mostly making it for family and friends. I figure at least a few of you might be interested in my doings and musings here in Utah. I don't find my life too terribly interesting. And I don't think my opinions on any particular matter are too extreme. However, I am excited to see what this blog will become. I'm hoping it will grow into something at least semi engaging, informative and perhaps even intriguing. I hope that through blogging I will not only become a better creative writer but also understand myself better as I have the opportunity to write about, well, myself. Perhaps, I have high hopes for this little URL but frankly, I'm okay with high hopes!

I'd like to include a quote that I find inspiring, hilarious or just plain great at the end of each post. For my family out there here's number one:

"No matter where you live, brothers are brothers and sisters are sisters. The bonds that keep family close are the same no matter where you are."