After Christmas update

So... it's been a while since I've written... and since I'm enjoying myself so much this is just going to be a short post. I'm in Minnesota! Woohoo! It's been great seeing my family and grandmother. This weekend I'll relearn how to ski... be prepared people of Spirit Mountain because I might severely hurt you if you aren't paying attention! he he he Yesterday my home ward had a nice Christmas program and I was able to sing in the choir. They were severely lacking in the alto section, and even though I am usually a soprano, I sang alto. My parents and some others said I helped them out a lot and that they could tell a difference (not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing... :-) This year for Christmas I got a candle and candle warmer (something I'm sure my apartment will use a lot), a digital camera, gloves and a hat (not sure if I'm going to actually wear the hat...) a new larger capacity memory stick for my GIS projects that were too big for my old one, Swedish fish, and some money. I also recieved a cute new pajama set. It's in a really pretty bright blue color... Anyway, my little sister is wanting to get on the computer to figure out how to put songs on her new iPod nano. I like my mini, but can't help feeling a little envy about that gift... hehehe Well, I'll let you know how skiing goes..

One day left until Minnesota!

I'm trying to finish up everything (finals, packing, etc) so that I can head home on Saturday morning. It will be so nice to finally be home with my siblings and parents... my grandmother is also spending all of the break with my family in Minnesota. She lives in Wisconsin, so it is a special treat. It is very strange thinking that this is going to be my last Christmas with my family for two Christmases! I have to make the most of it :-) Once I'm on that plane, my stress levels will drastically drop :-) (Although I'm not really into flying. I love to travel to other places, but the plane right is the least fun part for me) Well... I'd better stop procrastinating and get my to my prep work! Next time I blog I'll be in my homeland! Woohoo!

Full vs. Wide

I was watching a movie last night and it was brought to my attention that I was watching Star Wars in fullscreen (which is apparently a sin) After this little experience I've pretty much decided that it is not really an issue of wide vs. full but rather men vs. women. Let me explain... Have you ever heard a woman complain that the movie she is watching is in full screen? I haven't. Women seem content to see the whole T.V. screen filled up with the pictures. However, men (like my incident yesterday) seem to have a big problem with fullscreen. They want to see the WHOLE frame of video taken... I think this is the reason they want huge T.V.s and surround sound... so they can have the "full experience" Women however, just want to get the plot and feel good and such. Another reason why I am glad there are both men and women on this earth... so we can balance each other out...

Cooking with Jess

I'm not sure how I've got this reputation... but apparently in my circle of friends I'm know as the cook. In all honestly, between my sister, my mom and I, I am the worst cook. But I guess here at college if you can actually make something like bread, pie, or a meal that doesn't come from a box, you are considered a gourmet chef :-) hehehe I think it's rather funny. For example... yesterday my ward had break the fast and the activity co-chair handed me a 10 lbs Ham and asked me to have it cooked by 4:30...
Is he nuts?! A 10 lb ham in a hour? Luckily it was already pre-cooked... but still... this ham had been sitting on his balcony for a few days... so it wasn't exactly thawed...
I just turned up the heat on the oven and high as I thought I could get without burning it poured a Sprite and some brown sugar on top and started cooking...
It turned out pretty well... although the middle was only warm... I think the basting with the warm Sprite and brown sugar helped at least the outside get hot...
I think that if everyone here is so cooking hanicapped that they should require at least one cooking class as a GE... I mean, we have to take Physical Science... why not make us take something more useful like a cooking class? :-)

Donating Blood and Volleyball

Well last night my sister and I decided to go donate blood. I try and do it frequently because apparently my blood (O negative) is the stuff that can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type or rh factor (positive or negative) It was my sister's first time going. We got through it... but it wasn't a very plesant experience. Both she and I have not been feeling the best today. However, right afterwards I was foolish enough to go to the ward co-ed volleyball game. I'm the captain so instead of playing I just captained and line judged. I started feeling lightheaded during the game since I was yelling and cheering so loud... but it didn't show its effects until I got home. I slept for a REALLY long time (almost ten hours) before I woke up this morning. I felt much better, however the moral for this story is: Blood loss and volleyball do not mix :-)