BOZEMAN, MT

(Top: Me on our way home through the beautiful canyon. Bottom: Claire, Me and Megan going out on friday night - shortly after we arrived in town.)

BOZEMAN

Claire and I roadtripped to Bozeman, MT to visit Megan. We were roommates this last semester and couldn't stand to be away from each other much longer so we got in my little geo and headed the 5 1/2 hours up to see Megan.

On the way there we found some guys that were driving to Yellowstone from GA. We car flirted for about an hour through the Targee National Forest. They were a nice form of entertainment. We got a flip chart of messages and some funny memories of them rocking out. Silly boys.

Once we got there we went out to a Restraunt called The Bacchus. It was a fun place and we were out late. So the next morning we slept in, took it easy and then floated the Madison River. It was about 20 miles west of Bozeman. I swear all of Montana was there, just floating along. We were on the river for 2 hours, but we only put in half way. It was a nice way to spend a lazy saturday. That night we went to the Montana Ale Works restraunt. I liked the atmosphere and I decided Bozeman is where I need to live - everyone drives Subarus and wears Chacos. We took a tour around campus on Sunday and had a potluck with Megan's friends. It was a really fun weekend and so nice to get away from Logan for a while.

Backpacking Adventure

The pictures are from the end to the beginning: 1. A cool tree that tipped over in a stream bed.
2. One of the many beautiful views 3. Glacier Cirque 4. Our campsite the first night - cool lake 5. Part of the steam Mill (I think) that was on the trail 6. Cole and I before we started out - see how fresh we looked...

We started our trip Friday afternoon after a couple backtracks to get items we forgot but we were finally on the trail at about 6. The terrain was steep (kicked my butt for sure) and I was slow, but the landscape was very pretty. We hihked through wildflowers and aspen groves. Finally two and a half hours later we made it to the lake. I set up the tarp with mats and sleeping bags while Cole cooked mexican rice (yum!). We had a pretty satisfying meal, considering our intense first leg.

The stars started coming out and man, was it beautiful! I love stars anyway, and the fact that they were out in such abundance with no moon and a very vibrant milky way just took my breath away.

The next day camp was collapsed by 10 and we were on the trail by 10:45. We hiked through the glacial cirque (see photos) which again, was some stunning landscape. Three hundred feet of fast verticle gain later was yet another gorgeous view. We pretty much wandered peak after peak with nearly no luck at finding a trail so we just went which way seemed right. After about 4 hours of hiking we came to a place the seemed familiar. We had done some kind of loop and had no idea how we ended up there. We had planned a two night stay on the Steam Mill/Steep Hollow Canyon trail but somehow ended up a day early back to the car.

So after washing off my dirty feet and legs in the cold, refreshing stream we took off to Bear Lake for raspberry shakes and then back to Logan for a night of nice clothes, dinner and a movie. What a way to end the backpacking trip ;)!

Week of Adventure!

My workweek last week seemed to go on F-O-R-E-V-E-R! But, after work the hours would fly by. I spent the evenings with Cole and we came up with some pretty great adventures. We jumped off the baby cliffs at first dam, hiked the Jardine Juniper trail, watched V for Vandetta, rode dirt bikes, ate at Beehive Grill, tie dyed and I went to the Reggae Festival in Park City. My summer weeks couldn't be any better, although you would think I would want to rest on the weekends, I'm more exhausted Monday mornings than I should be.

First dam is cold. I thought that I would be able to swim across it after I jumped off the rocks but all I could think of once I hit the water was to get out! Luckily the sun was shining bright and I warmed up quick enough to think that getting in again was a good idea. On Wednesday, after putting it off for two days, we hiked Jardine Juniper (see photos). The hike was about 9 miles round trip and it was beautiful because the wildflowers were in bloom and the view was worth it. It wasn't too hard of a hike and if you're around Logan with 4 or 5 hours to kill I would recommend it!

I have a few friends that work at the new restraunt called Beehive Grill and have been wanting me to try it so we gave it a whirl. I was pretty satisfied with my homebrewed rootbeer and blackened tilapia. I even went back last night to try something new! Later that night we had my favorite ice cream mixture of vanilla with raspberries and brownies. Cole says that I need to stop having a sweet tooth because it gives him one by default.

On Friday I got a brilliant idea to tie dye. It just popped into my head at work and I got so excited and couldn't stop thinking about it. So I got some input from Mariah and got to work. We tie dyed wife beaters and whitey tighties. The end result is priceless! I'm wearing one of the shirts right now. Cole told me today that he wants to dye sheets and more shirts and I definately want to try some socks and maybe some underwear. It was just so much fun!

The new ampitheatre in park city featured the RootsRock Reggae Festival this weekend and I went with my friend Kiera. We got there about 3 and enjoyed the music til the concert was over at about 10. The weather was decent although it got hot and cold like Utah does. We ended up in Midway for the night, but I really enjoyed the outdoor concert. It had been too long and I realized how much I miss concerts!

That is just a sneak peak into my weeks of summer! I'm sure there will be more fun to come!

*Fourth of July*

(From top to bottom: Cole and I dirt biking. Dad and Brad grilling for the BBQ. Sisters before the pool party. Boating with the Milne's.)

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. Every year is a little different, but I always end up having so much fun. Unlike other highly anticipated holidays, the fourth always just creeps up on me and out of the blue is some of the most fun memories I have.

This year my celebration began on the 3rd in Logan. I got an early morning invite to go boating with Kyle's family at Hyrum Dam. I tubed, wakeboarded and napped on the beach - not getting too fried, but just sunburned enough to have a nice tan today. After boating I headed to Emma's house for her family BBQ. We feasted and had some really great food. We ended the night on the trampoline, watching the fireworks from the stadium. It was well worth staying in Logan for them. It took me 20 minutes to get the 3 miles from Emma's to my house because the fireworks are so popular.

I got up bright and early on Saturday morning so I could make it to Utah Valley in time for the annual 4th of July neighborhood breakfast. I was just in time for the second feast of the weekend. After breakfast, I headed home and took some time to rest from the drive. Family and friends started showing up at about 1 for the Hill Family BBQ. We had nearly 40 people over to swim, play games, conversate and eat. Brad grilled his delicious teryaki chicken, we had burgers, brats, potatoe salad, bean dip, chips, homemade rootbeer, homemade ice cream with fresh raspberries and pies.

After a nice swim and a great BBQ, I headed up to Oakley for the Rodeo. People who rodeo are a whole different breed, but so entertaining. I stayed at Cole's cabin about 15 miles above Oakley. We slept out on the deck and when the sun came up in the morning, it took my breath away. After breakfast we took the dirt bike out and farther up Weber Canyon. It was beautiful and relaxing. Then we romped around on NFS land. I love being up in the mountains - it was a great way to end my vacation.

This afternoon I drive Kalli and our cousin Kayleigh up to Logan for EFY. It should be an entertaining car ride.

Life is good.

(From Top: Cerissa's Bridal Shower back in April. Me, Cole and Emma at Summerfest)

Its summertime, and as every collegeaged student knows, bring on the weddings! Today I'm going to Cerissa and Rodney's wedding. I'm very excited for them. Rissa led Chi Omega through the hardest time, and did all while being a great fiance. She and Rodney have been together for a long time and the wedding was the perfect way for them to finalize their relationship. I'm so excited for them to finally be married, and in addition to a great party tonight, I get to see those people I haven't seen all summer or for a longer time for that matter. Congrats Rissa and Rodney!

I've been shopping around for an apartment for the fall, and it's a little more pressure than I thought apartment shopping should be. I know that I want a dishwasher and to hopefully not live in an apartment, but a house. I know that I want my own room and decent rent prices. I feel like such an adult having to look for houses and compare features and prices. Sometimes it makes me want to never grow up, but then again, that's what we're supposed to do... grow up.

Things are going really well with the guy that I'm seeing. We have fun cooking dinner and going and scrapping up activities to do in Logan over the summer. It's a lot harder than you would think to come up with things to do when it's actually nice weather. We like to play frisbee in the parks. Since I work in the parks we've probably hit most of the good ones this summer which is branching out I guess. We went to the zoo the other day and last weekend we checked out Logan's Summerfest! Tomorrow we're meeting up at the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake. It's one of my favorite summer activities so I'm excited to go with him. It's great to have someone in my life to learn about and to do things with over the summer and hopefully longer.

For the most part, all is well in Logan for the summer. The weather is finally clearing up, I got sunburned at work this week, although thunder storms keep popping up somehow. I'm enjoying just having a job and friends to worry about rather than tests and schoolwork and everything else that comes with being a student.

JOB!

I finally found a job after about 6 weeks of brutal searching and more interviews than normal people should have in their whole lives. I applied for this job late april, which was too late for first time around hiring. But, my new boss called me a few weeks ago for an interview which I passed with flying colors. I had to have a background and drug test which I obviously passed and was then hired for the Laborer III position in the Parks and Recreation department of Logan City!

I've worked doing this kind of stuff before, so only the people and the way things are run are different to me, which is nice. I have a lot of experience and enjoy what I do. For the most part. The worst part is getting up at 6 a.m. to be at work on time every morning.

It's another Parks and Recreation job to put on my resume to match the nice Parks and Rec bachelors degree that I'm going to have soon enough. I'm always looking for a part-time afternoon/evening job so if you know of one in Logan - let me know!

Missing Chi Omega

Fall Formal 2008- Blackout!

Spring Formal 2008
Recruitment; Fall 2007

Spring Formal 2007

“To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive' and lovable rather than 'popular'; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note."
Written by Ethel Switzer-Howard, 1904, Xi Chapter

Like I’ve said before, I'm living in a fraternity for the summer. You would think it would be smelly, lively and full of commotion - likewise, it’s quiet, monotonous and lonely. I thought that I would like living here, with my social lifestyle and genuine interest in people but the guys aren’t around as much as I had anticipated and people keep to themselves.

In a way, it’s nice because I’m not interested in entertaining a lot of various people, but I wish that I had someone here a lot of the time. I miss living in Chi Omega very much. My sisters were always interested in my love life, my busy schedule and at the very least what I was cooking. Chi Omega was a place for gossip, laughs, solitude, understanding, learning and so much more. It was a home, my home, and it brought me through many dark times in my life. I can’t explain what the sisterhood did for me. All my life I had wished for people who seemed to want to understand my life, dreams and goals and finally through Chi Omega I achieved that internal need. Those women helped me learn countless things about myself that I never would have learned. They contributed to my realization of religion, lifestyle choices, right and wrong, what ‘not’ to do and how to be happy. My sisters taught me about myself, about leading, teaching, loving, understanding and anticipating human action and reaction.

Chi Omega teaches and supports 6 purposes; Friendship, High Standards of Personnel, Scholarship, Community Service, Campus Activities, and Career Development. I met women who showed and taught me the real meaning of having friends. No matter what they are still my friends today, I’m invited to weddings, birthdays and just to hang out at their houses. I learned and sought to have high standards of integrity and good character. I strive for honesty and to be an example to younger women around campus and in my life, especially my little (blood) sisters. I have worked hard to get an average GPA which has been hard for me in college because of all the opportunities I have had for leadership and friendship, but Chi Omega taught me that I could have a social life as well as an academic life and that studying didn’t have to be boring or worthless. Everyone has something scholastic to add to my collection of knowledge, no matter their major. As an Alpha Gamma Chi Omega of Utah State I got to participate in the annual Chi Omega Halloween Carnival that we hosted for the community. Each club was invited to attend and host a booth and in addition to collecting food we also reached out to the community to donate money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Our goal for Spring ’09 was to host an incredible service project to make enough money to grant a wish for a local child. Since I was a freshman I got to cheer on my sisters in the intramural bracket for flag football and soccer at the least. But, this last fall our team made it to the finals for the flag football championship. I was part of the team and I can’t tell you how exciting it was to be a part of the championship winning team! It had been a long time and it was so worth the practices and the hard work to finally be called the winners of the women’s league. Finally, to development my career interests we had speakers and each week we had a resume building tip. I know that in the long run I will have benefited from the networking and the relationships that the Greek community and my time in Chi Omega gave me.

Right now I’m just trying to find my place again. In Chi Omega I had found a place; I was working my way to being a serious leader in the organization. I had worked my hardest as treasurer to figure a budget that worked for each council member and position. I had given Monday afternoons to the Greek Council by establishing an honors society and by giving a few early mornings to the Student Advisory Board who worked with President Albrecht and as a contributing member of the Greek community. I strove to make friends with people from each fraternity and sorority so that I could stand up for them and be an advocate for the whole community. I still work to keep these bonds, but since the respect of Chi Omega as a whole has been lost, it’s hard to keep up these bonds as a professional.

After the Alpha Gamma chapter of Chi Omega closed on January 23, 2009 I put myself into STAB through USU. It was so hard to not have that support system to lean on. I didn’t know who I could go to and trust after we closed. I had close friends in other organizations but it wasn’t the same. I didn’t know who or how to talk to anyone, even my close friends and roommates. Even after a few months it was still hard to talk about it. Even today I want to avoid the subject because it just makes my heart hurt.

Chi Omega made my initial three college years more than I could have dreamed of. That organization taught me more about life that I ever wanted or could have hope for and for that I am so grateful, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t miss the opportunities that I had or could have had. I miss living with my sisters and the activities that we planned or didn’t plan but just had fun doing. I miss the crazy, late nights and the stupid reality TV marathons we would have. I wish we could still road trip to Salt Lake for a weekend night of fun or just going on campus causing mischief. I’m forever in debt to the organization I joined when I was a freshman that changed my outlook on Greeks, college and life in general.

“Chi Omega yours forever, loyal we will be, to our symphony and colors our fraternity. Rho, beta, upsilon, eta, sigma, bear your standards high. For our bond shall ne'r be broken, Chi Omega Chi.”