Friday, January 21, 2005

Foot fun

My foot seems to be healing quite nicely. It's great to have people stop asking me about it. Hopefully this means I don't look like a gimp anymore when I walk. Today I even wore the new shoes I got in Quito instead of Danny's boots that don't let my feet move. Hopefully I'll be able to actually get out soon and be active for once this semester. I'd never realized how active a person I am until I suddenly had to stop doing stuff. I have a checkup appointment with the doctor on Monday.

As for school, things are finally looking up. I got to Provo a few days late at the beginning of the semester, and then I sprained my foot like two days later. As if all that wasn't enough, I had signed up for two classes that I really did not like. It took me a while to come up with a schedule that works, but it was worth all the hobbling and hassling because I like all of my classes now.

I am taking:

TTE 255...a class for Technology Teaching majors actually. My communications counselor recommended it to me to help develop more creative skills for my major. It's essentially a graphic arts class--just what I need. So far we've studied layout, lettering, advertising, etc. My favorite part is all the training in Adobe PhotoShop and Illustrator.

Span 451...a Spanish literature class for my minor. Right now we are in the Romantic period. Individualism, liberty, nature, and indigenous pride. Heck yes.

Comms 365...Photojournalism. This will also help me with my ads. I did not want to leave BYU without taking a photo class. If I’m good enough, my photos will end up in the Daily Universe.

Comms 319...Communications research. I love my professor; who knew a Comms class taught by a sociologist could be such a great idea? My big group study is going to be about the positive and negative effects of cell phone usage among students.

That's it. Just 12 credits. As if that wasn't awesome enough, I'm only working 11 hours a week in the MAD library. After I started having stomach problems last semester I decided that less stress is better for me. I am also learning that less credits means more learning. I have more time to actually care and study about the things I am taught in class. Oh, and I am awake for more of class than ever before too.

My other reason for taking a light semester is that I will soon be devoting more time to my ad portfolio. It's going to be so much fun. Right now I'm still brainstorming. The deadline for the creative track is April 9.

In other news, last weekend Jamen and I hung out with Camille and her roommate Stacie. We went to a benefit concert at the Hollywood Juice Cafe for the tsunami victims. "The Otters" and "Saint Sebastian's School for Wicked Girls" were good. We also saw "Saints and Soldiers" with hometeachee Mallory. I should also comment that on Monday I got my first (and most likely last) facial. Don't worry, it was only because these girls in my ward really, really, REALLY wanted to give some guys some facials. How could I refuse?

Jamen and I have been practicing like mad for some upcoming events. Next weekend we will be playing a private show for this girl in our ward and her roommates. On February 4 we will play at the BYU 83rd ward talent show. This is going to be so much fun. I can't believe it's taken so long to get started. Guess we just needed Jamen's cowbell to come in the mail. Now we can rock.

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

My new map

As many of you know, I just got back from a whirlwind visit of South America. I feel it an appropriate time to update my "Countries Visited" map. I will shortly be posting the day-by-day travel log of the trip for your enjoyment.

In the meantime you should all know that, after spraining my foot this Saturday, I am hobbling along just great on my new crutches. Who knew flying onto lightly snow-covered parking lots in inflatable rafts was a bad idea?