Meg's Blog

I am getting MARRIED!!

2010-03-03T22:36:00.001-08:00

The week after this, my Mom, favorite twin sisters in the world, and my best friend Brooke from home came up to go wedding dress shopping with me. I had a blast and was so grateful they made the long drive up. Friday, they got here and we went shopping and swimming that night at the hotel...we worked on our synchronized swimming routine until we saw people staring through the window at us.

Saturday we started the search in Rexburg, at the Circle of Love and the Millenial Man. (A name only found in a mormon town) At the first store we found very nice people and a beautifully promising dress. Next, we traveled to Idaho Falls. Before this day, I didn't know that it was possible to get kicked out of a wedding dress store. But it is. Apparently at Margene's Bridal's you have to have a two hours appointment. If you don't, they don't allow you to try on dresses. Odd...because last time I checked, I was the customer. But oh well.

After five dress appointments, I was exhausted and sick of wedding dresses. I never thought that would happen, but it did.

Sunday was filled with church, and lots of fun catching up.

The next day was Monday..and we looked one more place before we decided that we should get the dress from the first place. Shopping, and a yummy dinner at Craigo's followed.

It was a great weekend, spent with the people that I love. Here's some pictures of my dress...I am not sure why I am not smiling...

A Day in Jackson Hole

2010-03-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

A couple Saturdays ago we went down to Jackson Hole. Raymond drove and I sat in the front, with Karla and Randy in the back...we played the alphabet game, the "I am going to the moon and bringing 'this' game," and stopped at McDonald's for fries. Yum.

We started our day with a tour of the National Elk Refuge. We drove around looked through binoculars at all the different animals. For an hour and a half.

After this, we split and my half of us went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. Never been to a museum like this before. Huge bugs, and yucky shriveled heads were topped by a room that made you want to fall over because the walls rotated, topped by the biggest belt buckle collection I have ever seen.

When Randy and I'd had enough Believe it or Not information, we went and found all of the art galleries. We looked at oil paintings, modern photography, and all kinds of other mediums. I had the best time ever!! Randy is an art major, so he commentated and I learned. Way fun.

After this, we went and found a hamburger place to eat dinner at. We were all starving and while waiting, we watched a slightly inebriated man hit on our waitress, multiple times. Very entertaining. The hamburgers we got had more meat on them than anything else. Finishing dinner around 7:30ish, we headed back home.

After getting lost, even with Raymond and his GPS, we made it home. Here are some of the pictures we got while there.

Meet the Parents...week

2010-01-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

So...good news. I am engaged!! And life is just plain good. Tony came to visit my family for about a week after Christmas to meet them, and to make us officially official. We had a blast, and created many unforgettable memories. Tony landed late Monday night and I picked him up completely ecstatic. Luckily we got home...I was maybe not paying as much attention as I should have been. My condition that night might have been due to the fact that my future fiance was finally sitting next to me...

The next day we drove out to the coast. Tony and I stopped at the Tilamook Cheese Factory, a must for any visitor/tourist on their way to the Oregon Coast; I had not been there for a couple years and thought it would be a fun detour. It was. However, I forgot just how many cows live in Tilamook. Holy Cow:) Too many, because I almost didn't make it into the factory with the contents of my stomach still inside of me. I managed, and we saw all the cheese makers working to make huge blocks of cheese, which were then cut into smaller blocks, which were then packaged and weighed. I don't think I have ever seen that much cheese in one place in my entire life. This particular excursion reminded me of why I am going back to a blow freezing climate in the middle of nowhere We bought Tilamook ice cream, cheese curds, and fudge (all the essential things in life.)

As we continued on our way it poured, as it characteristically does in Oregon. Luckily, we missed the apparently terrible snow storm that trapped my grandparents back in Tigard and prevented them from coming to the beach with us. We stayed in a house about a block and a half from the sea shore, which, I guess was too far; every time we tried to enjoy the beach it started pouring while we traveled there or shortly after we arrived.

That day we had pizza and watched Ice Age 3, (who knew they even had an Ice Age 2) and went to bed. The next day was Tony's 26th birthday, and I came down early to surprise him and wish him a happy birthday. However, as usual, he beat me to the case and surprised me more with a ring and a proposal, (on both knees of course,) and made me a very happy girl. I don't think I stopped smiling that day...actually, I don't think I have stopped smiling since.

That day was beautiful, considering it was a December day on the Oregon Coast. We took tons of pictures as my feet froze as a result of my bringing only one pair of "cute" shoes, and no "beach" shoes. (Multiple pairs of shoes are the things that I can never seem to remember to bring on vacation.) We drove home that day, stopping to have Tony meet my Uncle Evan and Aunt Theresa and their children. Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's was a blast, and of course, Tony was a hit with them too. Finally we made it home...to a house that was freezing and smelled of our lovely cat. Awesome.

The next day was Thursday, the day we had scheduled for engagement pictures. Once again, deterred by the rainy weather, we went to lunch with my Grandma and Grandpa Reid instead. Tony was again, thought very highly of.

The next day we were off to Bed Bath and Beyond after that to start a registry list. How fun is that? Ask for anything your heart desires and to get some of those things for free!! Yup. Best thing ever. 7 hours later, we had the bulk of what we wanted registered for on amazon.com. The rest of Friday we talked wedding plans...never knew how much planning went into one of these events. Shoot.

Saturday we must have done something right, because it stopped raining for a couple hours in the morning and we took pictures. I was very happy with them...but what can I say? I love pictures, and they love me. After this, I drove Tony to the airport, and mentally prepared myself for the miss I would inevitably feel the next day. Yuck.

Over all the week was super fun. My family loved him, (almost as much as I love him:) They are so excited that I am so excited to take this new step in my life.

Ward Talent Show

2009-12-21T17:31:00.001-08:00

Wow...it has been a long time. I promised myself that I would make one post a day this winter break to make up for all the slacking I did this semester. I was on the ward activities committee this semester, and had a blast. Alex Spencer and I probably planned some of the best ward activities ever. We had a ward talent show in which our FHE group participated. I think that this particular skit would really only be funny at BYUI...oh well. Such is life, huh? As a side note, Tony: don't worry. I did not actually kiss that boy...and that boy did not actually kiss me. It was fake.
SO...here it is.

While we were there we got roommie pictures...minus one roommate...she disappeared. Here they are, and yes we all meant to wear red shirts, yes, I am really a foot taller than all of them.

FHE...An Inspired Commandment

2009-10-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Family Home Evening. Ever wonder how you can accomplish this when you are away from home at college??

In college wards you are assigned a family, with which you have FHE each Monday night from 7-8pm. I have decided that I have the best FHE group ever this semester. We have had some fabulous activities thus far.

Last week we carved pumpkins, ate pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that Chloe and I whipped up at the last second, and ate roasted pumpkins. The whole shebang. Each of our FHE brothers adds a unique aspect to our weekly meetings.

Mark, is fabulous at playing the piano. He looks like the actor that is in Red Eye...can't remember his name at the moment, and is amazing at separating the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin guts.

Daniel is tall, skinny, and I love his glasses. However. He certainly makes his rounds. The first FHE we had, he asked Char, my roommate on a date while playing the "What-If" game...not how I would want to be asked on a date. Not to worry though, the next week was my turn. The second thing that he asked me was whether I wanted to go on a date with him. (The first was what my name was.) In response to this new and improved way of asking a girl on a date, I informed him that I was already dating someone after making sure that he took Char on her date. (Probably not the most polite response, but how else was I supposed to respond to that? SHOOT.) He has since asked two more of my roommates on dates. I swear he is in some kind of dating competition. Or something.

Heath is a master texter. I don't think that I have ever seen him without his phone out in one hand. This is very impressive, as he is usually engaged in some other alternative activity in addition to his side conversations.

Luke is tall, dark, and what one could call mysteriously handsome. He has a quick smile, and aparently only lets his true, life long comrades be his friends on facebook.

Curt is quiet and has a sort of nerd humor. He carves frogs in his pumpkins, but cannot stand to gut the them. Too slimy, I guess. I did it for him. He has "great and terribly side burns" because I like them and Chloe absolutely does not.

David reminds me of a business man. He is cute, and gives the impression that he has his life together. He plans to finish his BA here at BYUI, then get his graduate and take over his father's business. Sounds like he has life figured out. All he needs is a girl, huh?

Between all these different personalitities, very interesting dynamics are created. It is always intiguing to see how these and other people interact, and what people choose to do with their lives.

One other activitiy we did one night was to have a photography scavenger hunt. This was a competition between groups within our FHE family. We had an hour to take random, candid photos that responded to a set of prompts that were as follows: "Honey we shruck the kids", "Another Rexburg proposal," and "Disney mocie scene." We were also to take pictures with everyone in the group wearing hats, or posing like a particular statue. When we came back we exchanged photos, warmed up with hot chocolate and cookies.

Last week we met at the Hart gym to play wallyball. This is a sport that mixes the rules of volleyball and raquetball. It is played in a raquetball court, with a volleyball sort of ball. You hit the ball over a volleyball net like you would a volleyball, but you play off the walls. When there are so many people crammed into this one little space, all trying to hit the same ball over the same net, you get a bunch of crazy college kids bouncing off the walls, instead of just one volleyball being bounced back and forth.

So. I am a fim believer in FHE, Family Night, Family Home Evening, or whatever you call it. The prophets know what they are doing, huh?

The Cell Phone: A Vital Part of One's Self

2009-09-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

This past week has been quite the adventure. Sunday night my phone charger died...How does that happen, one might ask? I have no idea. Usually it is the phone that dies, right? Who knows.

You would think easy fix, right? mmm...no. Even after calling the AT&T store, (with the limited battery power that remained in my phone,) to confirm that they had the charger I needed, I was informed upon arrival that they didn't have it in store and were not able to order it.

(AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!)

However, I suppose it was for the better, because chargers there were 30 buckaroos at that unhelpful store...who wants to pay that much for a lousy charger anyways? So, off I went searching deep into the world wide web..and I found one for $3.50. Score huh? The Drawback-(Which I didn't know until after I ordered it) the package takes seven whole days to get from California to Rexburg, ID. SEVEN!!! Yup.

So. I have come up with a list of reasons why having a phone is vital in one's life and how inconvenient it really is to not have a phone on you at all times.

1. When I can't remember how to cook something, I can't call my mom.
2. When I know that like seven people who go to school in Utah (and one who lives in Burley) think I am dead, I can't let them know that I am in fact, still in tact:) I suppose I could have used facebook..but I think we all know my relationship with that thing...
3. When I know that I have something that night but can't remember what it is because my calendar is all contained in my DEAD phone.
4. When I don't have a phone, I don't have an alarm clock. Problem? I think so. Thank heavens for roommates who care...and who have extra alarm clocks:)
5. When I have been at the Clark for 13 straight hours, and I just need a break, I can't call anyone.
6. Not talking to your mom for a week isn't that fun.
7. Don't get me wrong--Oovoo and Skype are great...but a phone is just more convenient sometimes...not as fun, but convenient.
8. Completing your calling is made practically 1000 times harder with out a device that can be used to communicate with the other members of your committee.
9. Making last minute plans happen (the only kind of plans that exist in my life) doesn't ever happen.
10. Oh...and trying to get on any new account that I have started within the last month? Can't remember the passwords or usernames which are conveniently stored on my phone in the lists section.

Confession: I think the real reason my phone charger died was because I took my phone to church- it rang in ward council (BIG no-no), and then used it during Bishop's lesson about not bringing your cell phone to church.. oops. I was obviously being struck down.

So. Lessons learned.
1. I will not be using my phone ever again at church...only sometimes when there is no other option. AND
2. I will be eternally grateful for a phone. Never knew life could be so tough. They say you never know the value of something until it's gone? Agreed, 100% (in this case).

Good news: When I got the charger it was the right one. (I was a little worried). It now charges my phone regularly every night. Can I have a halleluiah!!

Spelunking...a Life Long Dream

2009-09-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

Spelunking has always been one of my aspirations...not just taking guided tours through lava tubes, or walking through the Ape Caves with lanterns, but to really go exploring.

Last Saturday we went to the ice caves and I have finally got the pictures...yay!! This was actually the funnest thing I have done in a long time...what an adventure. It starts by driving forever out into the middle of nowhere, (like anywhere else you go in Rexburg:) to an aboscure dirt road. The secret to actually finding these caves is to go with a local, because all the dirt roads off the "main" road look the same. (Surrounded by endless sagebrush and going nowhere). This particular dirt road is five times longer and five times bumpier than the dirt road to the civil defense caves (which I might add, is marked by a humble pile of rocks, right Tony?).

You then hike down a small precipice of jagged black rocks and climb into a small opening through which you would never expect anything spectacular. However, what is behind that small opening is actually the most spectacular thing you will ever behold.

Once you are inside, you are forced to get down on all fours, and slide along in a channel. At this point, the ceiling is only about three to four feet high. Or, you lie on your back and use your feet, and the ceiling, to scoot yourself along. Then, you reach a slight drop covered in slick ice. Luckily there is a rope provided for assistance on your decent. Otherwise it would be like a frozen water slide with a rock wall waiting for you at the bottom. (Not so fun??)

After this comes more scooting, and soon you encounter a large room with an extra smooth ice floor, perfect for sliding long distances, which we did. More scooting after this, and then you reach the end, a room with a giant ice ramp that extends upward until it hits the cave wall. On one side of the ramp are miniature craters, just large enough for your foot, so you can carefully make your way up them to the top, where, on the other side of the ramp, a small channel waits for your rear to coast right on down it and into a big puddle of mud at the bottom:)

We also had contests to see who could make it furthest up the ramp. This was actually ridiculous, because the reality of it it was that you were running up a hill of ice, and all that happens is that you slide back down-if you are lucky. If you go with someone who chooses not to balance, well, then, you fall all the way back down-all over each other. (Awkward). Fun though, for sure.

After you are sufficiently cold and wet, and your hands are scraped up and three quarters of the way numb, you begin the retreat out from below the earth's surface. When we finally emerged into the open again, you experience minor agaraphobia, (fear of open spaces) and have to wonder at how the sky can be so spacious.

All in all, this venture to the ice caves was a remarkable episode. I got my chance to do some real live spelunking...another thing to check off my Rexburg to-do list:)

oh and PS...Tony...remember when we went to the caves:)??

Meghan got a BLOG?

2009-09-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

The other day I was talking to an old friend; we were playing the "remember when" game. You know, the "remember all the crazy things we did that we thought would be fun...that maybe ended up just being ridiculous" conversation? She said, "Remember when we stole the blow-up crocodile swim toy when we were second years at Girls' Camp?" and I have to admit I met her comment with a blank stare. As I racked my memory for any recollection of what she was talking about, it slowly came back. All the pranks, and, consequently the punishments, of those midnight excursions all came back. I had not thought about those weeks of girls camp for years.

So, in an effort to never have this happen to me again, I am starting this blog. Maybe I will be able to look back at my posts on here and again laugh as hard as I did that day while remembering events of my life. Who knows...maybe even despite my efforts on facebook, (still resulting in a slight inadequacy on my part), this endeavor may be a success.

So hopefully "Meg's Blog" will be my story; not only of the rest of my college career, but of my few triumphs and many catastrophies, of the adventures, the significant and insignificant, the beautiful and maybe the not-so-beautiful scenes of society, and of the people who pass through or touch my life. So, cheers to having a happy life of remembering.