In Which: We put our noses to the grindstone

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for the dry reading of last week. It was pretty bland for such an event-filled post.. I think after such a long week, my brain was fried and not in the writing mode, but I wanted to fill you in. So I wrote it anyway. Maybe one of these days I will go back and revise it so the tone is a little more peppy.

But not today!!

Today, I am writing about WORK. The end of my summer job, WORKing a yard sale, starting the school year, Scott's recognition at WORK. Work, work, work.

The end of my summer job: For those of you who were unaware, I have been working at BYU Mail Services since the summer after my Freshman year. I have pretty much worked in every department at that place. All the supervisors joke that someday I will come back and take over, because I know everything!! This past summer, for my last hurrah at Mail Services, I worked under Martha Gunter in Campus Mail. Which means, I drove the trucks!! It was probably the best summer job I have ever had! It was active--lots of walking, climbing stairs, lifting heavy boxes, loading and unloading trucks. I got to be outside and enjoy the summer weather. And I got to DRIVE, which I love. (Did you know that I love driving??) It was relaxed and fun, and I was sad to leave. 

Working a yard sale: We are moving to Salem, Oregon in 4 months!! (WOOOOO!) And...we have So. Much. STUFF! Our little two bedroom apartment is stuffed to the gills--and there is a LOT that we can sell, donate, or put in the trash! (My goodness, don't we ever throw anything away????) Anyhow, I worked all week to sort through every single bin, box, closet, nook, and cranny that we own to get rid of anything and everything that we don't NEED in Oregon. On Labor Day, I woke up at 5:30 am and set up my very first yard sale as an adult. It was a LOT of work! Now I understand why my parents were never as excited as we were when the Grange Girls wanted to join in all the neighborhood folks in the GIANT garage sale spree. However, it was all worth it when I saw my large furniture and small junky items disappearing, and when I put $180 into our Salem Fund!! We didn't sell everything yet, but I am still hoping we can get some worthy college students to care for our fantastic green recliner and other prized items.

School work: On Tuesday of this week I had my last First Day of School!!! I should have taken a backpack and lunchbox picture, but to be honest...I barely made it to class on time. No time for beautiful pictures. For this half of my program, I am taking Clinical Chemistry, Parasitology, the labs for both of those, and then the second half of Clin Chem--which I think is something about Molecular Chemistry. I have class from 8-4 every day with a few hours of break in the middle. So not too bad! At least, not until the tests on Friday! Our whole class was very upset to learn that our test taking window has been cut by 2 hours this semester. TWO HOURS!!! We have to take two exams within a five hour window, and they each have the potential to be 3 hour tests. (WHAT? This would never happen if we were math majors!) Also, we have a mandatory class on Friday mornings from 9am-10am, so we lose an hour of study time. And all of this is AFTER the practical exam starting at 7am!!! CRAZY!!!!! It is a very good thing that I love my major and my future job, because it is a ton of work! I am excited to be on my last semester and approaching my future career as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist!! Hooray!

My new home! The brand new Life Science Building...fancy

Scott's Work: And now, the husband update! Scott is still working for Vivint and is pretty much loving it, now that he is off of the customer service phone call center. He was chosen a while ago to be the head of a special projects team, and he has done an awesome job! We all know Scott is such a people person. He loves talking to people and has an easy time making friends and earning the respect of those around him. And I was so proud that the bigwigs at Vivint have noticed! He earned the "Professional of the Week" (basically, employee of the week) Award! He got a prize, his picture taken, and recognition in an email that went out to the entire company! I just think he is the greatest, and I am glad he is doing good things and happy at work. Keep your fingers crossed that we can find something even better for him in Salem!

Well... I think that is it for now, folks. I am beginning the four-month adventure of Fall Semester 2014. My last classes at BYU. Stay tuned!!

Tilly!!! Because I hadn't posted any pictures of my favorite tortoise yet!!!