the four things to get me through this week.

today is sunday, and i feel anticipation. as if it's hours before a big game (not that i know exactly how that feels because i have never been on a sports team in the entirety of my existence), or the feeling you get on the way to the mailbox. full of hope and expectations. i have a handful of random things i have to do this week, and an even bigger handful of planned things. classes, study groups, review rooms, enrichment, home teachers, give blood, write a paper or two, family home evening, try to squeeze some sort of physical activity in there, possibly eat food, and if i have extra time left over i hope to spend it in a deep sleep. i have come to grips with the fact that there are a few things in this world i cant live without that i might as well document for my posterity:

1. this book. this book contains every major/minor/insightful detail involved in my day. if something is not in the planner, there is a good chance i will completely forget about it (even something big that i should be able to remember on my own.. woops). whether it be quotes, phone numbers, birthdays, tests, meetings, to-do lists, shopping lists, assignments.. it's all in there. i love to-do lists, by the way. they motivate me and bring a sense of order.

2. the daily phone calls. unlike the thousands of other independent, care-free, fun-loving freshmen out there, i actually want to keep in close touch with my family. rain or shine, i call my mom every single day. even if the conversation lasts no more than 5 minutes, it still feels like a daily check-point. like an "okay, everything is going to be fine. keep going" moment. they mean a lot to me and well, lets just leave it at that.

3. byu creamery chocolate milk. i realize now that this is undoubtedly the place i belong as i have unlimited access to this delicacy.

4. running. if you asked me six months ago if i enjoyed running, i would have responded with one of three different comebacks. 1) laugh in your face. 2) compare running to lighting myself on fire or stabbing pins in my eyes. 3) plainly state "no. i hate it." BUT. seeing as i would like nothing more than to triumph over the "freshman 15" phenomenon, i have taken up this new hobby. if you can even call it a hobby. I know im not fast, and i certainly cant go farther than four miles, but i am kind of obsessed. its the one time a day i can listen to my music and fully forget about school work. my only concerns are which playlist i will to listen to and which route i will take. its nice. yesterday i ran in the rain, and despite the rash i got from my wet shorts rubbing together (sorry. graphic.) it was a way nice experience. everyone was out with their ponchos and umbrellas, while i'm sporting an 09 shirt and random shorts. i got a lot of crazy looks and a few utards stopped me to make some witty comments. "it's kinda cold to run huh!" whatever. dont talk to me while i'm running. everyone in utah feels like its okay to talk to anyone you want to.. complete strangers, even. do that in vegas and you get shot. the rain felt so good, and it was the perfect temperature to cancel out the hotness from running. haha. here's a picture i took from my dorm.

all i know is its gonna be a long week, but luckily i have my family's visit to look forward to! they are coming to provo on friday. i couldnt be happier.

-ashley

we're halfway there -bon jovi

i would just like to take this moment to say that i am HALF way done with my first semester at college. tomorrow will be the end of the 7th week of school... leaving me with 7 more.

halfway done with the first semester. thats weird. i feel like i just got here. i suppose i've learned a few things. like the scientific equation for cellular respiration. or like make sure you set 3 different alarms to wake up on your early days. or the back right shower comes out the hardest... definitely go back to your room and wait for it if it's in use. or how cougars dont cut corners. or limit yourself to tomassito's pasta once a week (or less). or if its the big manly girl working at subway, go to the other line... she freaking works that sandwich like its her demolition project. or if you are having a really hard time concentrating on school work, just have a friend change your facebook password. makes a huge difference.

basically. that picture is how i feel right now haha. theres so many things i love about BYU, but at the same time i do not love getting horrible grades, or feeling like everyone here is 5x smarter than me, or seeing my breath in the morning when i walk to school or the snow on the mountains. yuck. and i've said it a million times, i'll say it again... i miss my mom.

she's pretty cool. this is us at the BYU/UNLV game this past weekend when i finally got to go home for once. it was great. how bout them cougs?! woo. i cant explain how nice it felt to be in my own bed and drive my car and have a delicious roast and see baby afton and tease tanner and see mitchell and john. it was great.

40 days till thanksgiving break :)

-ashley

sleep deprivation.

this weekend was so fun because one of my best friends KRISTINE came into town! love her. we hung out with leah all weekend! except when we went to lagoon because leah has school. LAME. and shout-out to katherine for turning 19 over the weekend :) PARTAAY!

fab five minus two. we wish alex and kami could have joined us...

monday: woke up before 8 (gasp!) to go observe the children in the preschool on campus for my human development class. talk about creeper status. i had to go sit in this booth that has a one-way window, pick a kid, and take detailed notes on him for 50 minutes. ew. but it was pretty funny this week- my kid wet his pants! poor guy. at least it gave me a lot to write about. then, prepare to be amazed, i ran FOUR miles after classes got out. woo. and in the middle of those four miles i made a pit stop at the gym and did some squats and weight lifting and even rode the stupid bike thing for a while. then ran back to my dorm. if i recall correctly, i stayed up somewhat late doing an assortment of things (doing sit-ups while i watch the sessions of conference i slept through, homework, showering, washing my face, reading my scriptures, and facebook stalking people. you know the drill) which was perfectly fine because tuesdays i dont start class until 12! its beautiful. i look forward to it every week.

tuesday: my roommates alarm goes off at 8. fine, it keeps me up for five seconds and i immediately doze back off into sweet slumber. 8:30 "ashley, wake up!" "no." 8:40 "ashley, you have to get ready! dont you have class today?" "no. no class." 9:00 "ashley its 9:00!! you have to get up" "NO!!!! MY CLASS ISNT TILL 12!!" hahahha. i am not a morning person. and she might have been scared for her life. i was so pissed. but now i feel really bad. love you katherine! at least she was trying to look out for me. so then i go back to sleep till 11 :) mmmm. i love it. but despite how much i love tuesdays, this one wasnt that great. i spent all afternoon/evening on campus doing random crap. BUT then we had this awesome huge group date... we played MEGA twister and had a bonfire up in the canyon. fun!

today: i've done something i have never done (and will never do again) in my life. I woke up early to RUN! what the..? i dont know whats gotten into me. especially since i live in poop town where its 40 degrees in the morning. but yeah. two miles! next thing you know i'll be running marathons. haha psych. i'll admit it was kind of nice. i had breakfast for the first time since i've been here (wow) and i showered and got all ready. sent off a package for connor cuz its his birthday this week. i feel like i accomplished so much! i got my favorite at subway, and i'm trying to be healthier so i gave 3 cans of my dr. pepper to the nice boy who works at the creamery because he is so tight and knows me by name. i want to sell the rest but i dont know if thats legal here in good ole utah.

now its 9:37 and i have a load of laundry in the dryer, all of my homework done and printed out for tomorrow, just sitting here rocking out to the mamma mia soundtrack. its a fave. and in precisely 48 hours i will be home!! i cant explain the excitement. i miss my family. i'll only be home for two days but heck, i am so stoked.

i miss this crap.