click.

10.30.2009

Okay. One thing you need to know about me. I am obsessed with photography. Right now I am completely obsessed with one photographer and one photography company.

Photographer: Matt Clayton

Photography Company: Icon Memories

Love. Love. Love.

Dear For Good,

10.29.2009

Well. This last few week has been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. Someone close and special to me passed away. You can read about his accident here, here, or here. Robison Sundell was such a great example in my life. I honestly can not think of a sad or dull moment since I met him. Memories like New Student Orientation and the creation of the super group with our cohorts Cassidy Berghoff and Blake Behnke, long afro-curly hair, well kept mustaches, random conversations, laughter, sardines in the library, hospital food, Indian food, and lots of other meals with Robi. He is the perfect example of someone who loved life, lived in the moment, and served with all his heart. When I found out about his accident a week ago I kept telling myself, he will be okay. Things will work out. People have been injured like this before and they have pulled through. I was physically sick to my stomach and tears poured from my eyes. They said he wasn't going to make it, for sure. They waited until the next day to take him off the respirators so his whole family could come say their goodbyes. Friday night there was a celebration of Robi's life at the Armada. So many friends gathered, you could tell that Robi touched just about all he met. "The Armada bids a safe voyage to our Captain Robison Sundell"... His memorial was last night, and his funeral was today. I had been praying to the Lord asking him for strength and I received that strength last night. The words were so comforting. I am so thankful for the speakers and their inspired messages. I know that Heavenly Father is watching over me, and he knew what I needed to hear during this time. I am so thankful for a gospel that teaches the plan of happiness and salvation. I can look forward to a day when I will be with my family and friends again, Robi included. The atonement is so important at this time. I have faith that it is a true principle, and that Jesus Christ went through that for each and every one of us. He knew that it would be needed throughout all our lives, and I am reminded right now of why I need it. The Lord knows what I need, and this trial is something to build my faith, I am sure of it. It has changed me in a way no other experience could. From Robi's death I have learned that I need to live in the moment. Live my life to the fullest. I can't look at tomorrow and I can't look at yesterday. I need to look at now. President Monson said "And so I ask, 'What are we doing with today?' If we live only for tomorrow, we'll have a lot of empty yesterdays today. Have we been guilty of declaring, 'I've been thinking about making some course corrections in my life. I plan to take the first step — tomorrow'? With such thinking, tomorrow is forever. Such tomorrows rarely come unless we do something about them today." Robi would always say similar things to me. I like to stay busy with school, work, and whatever else I can get my hands on. Robi would always say, "Deidre... stop being busy! Things are so much more fun when you can actually come play." He is right, I need to stop worrying about what I can do it be better tomorrow, but what I can do to be the best today. That is a lesson I have learned from Robi, and I have been needing to learn forever.

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Dear Robi,

I just want to say that you have meant a lot more to me than I could ever imagine. I am so thankful for your friendship in times when I probably didn't deserve it. You are everything that should be good in a person; service, love, compassion, laughter, random moments, loyal, true, loving the Lord, loving the gospel, and so much more. You have shown me an honest person from the first time I met you, and I appreciate that more than you can ever know. I have never had a more loyal and helpful friend in my life, and there are so many times I took that for granted. There are so many good memories I have shared with you, and I am thankful for that first day when you invited me out of the mud to come sit on the hill by you. Thank you for always inviting me out to get away from my busy life, thank you for always talking to me when I was sad, and thank you for encouraging to live life, every single day, to the fullest. You are a friend I will never forget, and I know that because of you I will be a better person. You are like sunshine in my life, always happy and never a dull moment. Thank you for your friendship. You have made me the best Deidre I can be. And I will never forget that about you. I will always love you and keep a special spot for you in my life.

Love, Deidre

there was blood.

10.15.2009

Tonight was crazy. That is the most simple thing to say. Honestly. Here are some things that need to be said about a football team. The Man Eaters.

They do not:
like cheaters.
enjoy playing man-girls.
take losing lightly.
give up a fight.
want to be talked down to by other teams and/or coaches.
like stupid girls.
want to be mauled.
always run a good play.
stop playing.
like refs that are friends with the other team.
like when calls don't get called.

They do:
get even.
have great coaches.
need a few more good woman for their team.
drink squeeze-its.
get feisty.
argue with refs.
have some bomb plays.
play better when boys are there.
make code names and nicknames for everyone.
have a good time.... no matter what.

This is all a lead into what happened tonight. The Man Eaters is my football team. Women's flag football. We got to the field. The other team all had cleats (only one of our players even owns a pair of cleats, but she is fast.. let me tell ya!) and they prayed to start us off (my team need to pray more, then we will win more). Game starts. These girls are deceiving. They don't look like they would be good at sports. But they are good at flag football because they attack and they flag guard. They were vicious. Someone made Talia bleed. Someone else hit Mekelle in the face. Someone else elbowed Nicole in the ribs (her rib is already cracked). They were literally crazy. And the refs didn't call anything. Because of that.. I got very angry. At one point this girl came and rammed right into Talia and me, and I was not very happy so I said to the ref "ARE YOU GOING TO CALL THAT?!" And he said "I didn't see anything..." And I said "Oh so you didn't see two of us got knocked down because she ran right into us?" And he said "Is that why you guys were down?" And I said "Yeah, and ya know what, go ahead, don't call it.. but don't be surprised if I do the same thing. If you don't call it for them, you better not call it for me or I will be ticked!" And he said "Kay..." So we decided to attack. ATTACK. For all the times they flag guarded, for every single body slam, for the pass interferences, we came back three hundred sixty eight times their power. If nothing else, they were scared of us. Not because we passed them in points, but because we would break them. BREAK THEM WE DID. I make us sound so violent. We aren't... But we are. That is all I have to say. We can be just as viscious as the most viscious. I am honestly surprised someone didn't get kicked out. Many penalties called. Many yards gained. But all I can say is my girls are competitive. We are a team. If you mess with one of us you mess with all of us. We back each other up. We let the tough ones take out the mean ones. And even though we lost, we had fun. We are just competitive.

news.

You know that kind of news? The kind of news that just makes you happy. The kind of news that makes you think. The kind of news that makes almost every emotion and scenario run through your head. The kind of news that is exciting and emotional. The kind of news that when you think about it you can feel it rushing through your body. I love that kind of news.

Dear Blog Day,

10.14.2009

Today has been blog discovery day. And I have loved every single second of it. I decided to tell people last night to read my blog. I didn't actually tell them... I just posted it on my facebook status. And to my surprise, a few people actually listened! How do I know? I know because they commented on my blog. Best feeling ever. Let me tell you why I liked getting comments:

1st. Now I know people actually read my blog. Now I don't have to type something that I think is fantastic, or that I want to share and think, "Oh! I wonder who will read this little treasure!"

2nd. It is confirmation that I am funny. The reason it is confirmation is because of this comment I got... "hahaha I laughed out loud on this one deej!" Thank you for posting that. It made me feel like I have actually accomplished something.

3rd. I found out some of my friends have blogs. And I didn't even know.

4th. When I went to read my friends' blogs, I found out that even more of them have blogs when I saw their name on the side column of the blogs I was peeping.

It turned into a blog realization day if you will. I realized that my blog is not pointless, I realized that everyone has a blog if you just peep around the internet, and I realized it is time I update the look of my blog. The end.

Dear College Campus Rules,

10.13.2009

Rule #1 - Never run on campus. You are already late, running isn't going to change that fact. Plus you just look like a crazy person. This morning I saw someone running to class and she couldn't keep her backpack on and she looked so worn out. I felt bad. Class had obviously already started, it was 10:02. She was also yelling hi at people she knew as she ran by them. Have you ever noticed when you are running you seem to talk louder? Maybe because you think that people wont hear you over the wind while you are rushing past them? False. They can hear you. You are loud. What is even worse about running. You get sweaty and look a hot mess. Then you get to class and you wonder why you ran. Don't run... problem solved.

Rule #2 - Do not wear noticeable high school apparel. There is a big difference between regular high school apparel that just has maybe a logo or something like that and something that says "SENIORS '09 RULE!" If you wear those shirts not only do you look like you are stuck in high school, you also have just labeled yourself a freshman, eternally. No matter how mature you act people will know, you are a freshman. I admit, I have broken this rule. I was a fool. There was this cute boy in my class freshman year, and I was wearing a "Bruin '07" shirt. We were chatting and he seemed like he thought I was cool. And then I took off my jacket and he saw my shirt and then he was like, "How old are you....?" Ruined all chances. Never again did I wear high school apparel to campus. Although I do wear it to the gym. Because that is the time when I do not care what I look like. Save high school attire for working out.

Rule #3 - Socks with sandals. Don't do it.

Rule #4 - Walking, merging, and stopping. Let us talk about campus sidewalk etiquette. I am just going to go through a few key rules within this rule"
1. If you are going to chat with a friend, do not stop in the middle of a hall or sidewalk, kindly move to the side.
2. If you are going to merge in front of someone, do not slow down, stay at the same pace because it will cause a collision otherwise.
3. If you want to text, please do not text and walk at the same time unless you can clearly see you will not hit a single person.
4. Stay with the flow of traffic, do not walk extremely slow.
5. Do not cut someone off and then stop walking to talk.
6. When you are walking straight at somebody and one of you needs to move just pick a side and commit, you'll run into somebody half the time but they'll be the one feeling guilty for not picking the right way to go.

Rule #5 - High heels are not needed to look mature. I understand that sometimes people have interviews, presentations, meetings, and other things that require dressing nice. I wear high heels on campus sometimes too. But everyday... not so much. A few things I have learned from when I tried to be a "classy dresser".
A. They hurt SO bad walking on campus all day.
B. They make somewhat annoying noises.
C. Most boys aren't impressed my the ability to wear uncomfortable shoes all day.
There are shoes that look just as nice, and are flat to the ground and have all day comfort, just remember that.

Rule #6 - Carry your back pack. Really? A rolling backpack? How lazy are you? Backpacks are meant specifically for that, your back. If you are going to have a rolling one, you might as well just get a nice rolling suitcase so it can be multi-purpose. Once my friend saw a girl with a rolling crate of some sorts and inside was her instrument, backpack, and some other surprises. College is about growth. Lets all grow some muscles and carry our backpacks.

Rule #7 - Wear clothes. It would seem so simple to someone over the age of... 16? Pajamas are meant for sleeping, not for wearing to school. Yes, I understand you are tired. We are all tired because we stayed up late last night on facebook, in the library, or doing some sort of activity. In fast, I can guarantee at least 50% of the people you see stayed up just as late if not later than you last night. They are all wearing clothes, whether it be sweatpants, jeans and a t-shirt, or a skirt among many other options, it is still clothing and not nightwear. Join us in getting somewhat ready for the day, okay?

Rule #8 - Do not complain about the weather. You can not control it. In fact, none of us can. Chances are, you are complaining because you are not wearing the right clothing for the weather. For example... It is 57 degrees outside, cloudy skies, a little windy, looks like it might rain, can you picture it? A boy walks into my class wearing flip flops, jeans, and a t-shirt. He sits next to me and says "Man, I hate this weather, so much! It is so cold out there. Don't you think it is cold?" I just say, "It wasn't too bad." And in my head I am thinking. It wasn't too bad because I wore boots and a jacket... Maybe if Mr. Sunshine would have thought about wearing even a sweatshirt or closed toed shoes he might not have been that cold. And him telling me how much he hates the weather is just slightly annoying. We are in Utah. It is cold. Deal.

These are a few rules. If you have any alterations, or suggestions, please share.

obsessed.

Thanks to my friend Annalece Boothe's blog. I am now obsessed with this song.



Sometimes good things happen.

10.12.2009

Well. Today I was thinking. Nothing good will happen. It is Monday. Monday is always a day when I can say, nothing good will happen. But today I was proved wrong. I forgot to pack a lunch... it seems to be a common trend these days. Probably because I don't have any bread... minor detail. Anyways, I grabbed a few dollars on the way out the door so I could purchase a delicious hot pocket from the vending machine. I have become quite fond of the pepperoni hot pocket. So there I was, sitting at work, thinking man. I am hungry. I could go for a hot pocket. So I got out my dollars and walked upstairs to the break room where the vending machines are...when I was walking up the stairs I realized, oh man. I bought the last pepperoni hot pocket last week, so I would have to buy something else. Maybe pretzels or a ham and cheese hot pocket... I did not love that idea. But to my surprise when I walked around the corner, the vending machine man was there restocking. I was happy to wait my turn, because then I knew for sure there would be a new row of hot pockets in the machine. You probably think this is the end of the story. False. It gets better. I was standing there waiting for him to finish so I could buy my hot pocket when the man turned around and said "Are you waiting to use this?" and I said "Yes." He then said "Oh, well... what did you want?" To which I responded, "A hot pocket..." Then he pointed at the pepperoni hot pocket and said, "This one?" and I said "Yes." Then he said, "Okay," and reached to the back of the row and handed me a hot pocket and said , "there you go!" I just smiled and said "Thank you!" and he said, "Yep." I GOT A FREE HOT POCKET FROM THE HAPPY VENDING MACHINE MAN. It was so great. I cooked my hot pocket for one minute and walked towards the door and once again said, "Thank you!!" He just smiled. That man made my day and helped me realize Mondays can be a good day. Thank you Mr. Vending Machine Man.

Ikea lamp.

Thanks for sharing this with me.

The Font Feed.

10.08.2009

Lovingly hand-crafted by BYU design students and faculty, the 5th Typophile Film Festival opening titles are a visual typographic feast about the five senses, and how they contribute to and enhance our creativity. Everything in the film is real – no CG effects!

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles from Brent Barson on Vimeo.

Greatest Mind.

10.05.2009

Here is a letter that was in the Times News yesterday. It mentions my dad, and I am so proud of him that I wanted to share it with everyone. I am so lucky to have a dad who is passionate about what he does, people can tell he cares, and they support him in his choices.

The clock's ticking for Idaho higher education

Posted: Sunday, October 4, 2009 1:00 am

It's kind of hard to tell amid all the falling plaster and cracking foundations of Idaho higher education, but there is a plan in the works to make it survive - and thrive. Some of the best minds in Idaho - including Twin Falls' Ken Edmunds, a member of the State Board of Education - have a vision for a higher-ed system that is nimble, accessible, affordable and more effective than the one we have today.

Question is, how much of that system will be left by the time the reformers get a chance to reform it?

Sept. 25 was a brutal day for higher ed statewide. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced 6 percent mid-year budget cuts for universities, colleges and community colleges and gave the institutions just three weeks to get them done.

That's $5 million out the door at the University of Idaho, $4.7 million at Boise State University and $4 million at Idaho State University. Six percent of the College of Southern Idaho's state appropriation works out to a cut of $705,700, but careful management and use of reserves will temper the pain.

State spending on higher ed next year will be less than this year, which will trigger tuition and fee increases that will price out many students. Annual room, board, tuition and supplies at the University of Idaho now top $13,000; it's $11,000 at BSU and Idaho State. Sixty-two percent of ISU undergraduates now receive financial aid, 62 percent at BSU and 58 percent in Moscow.

Cost matters in Idaho because half of the freshmen in the state's colleges and universities don't stick around to become sophomores. Just 22.5 percent of Idahoans 25 and older hold bachelor's degrees; among residents between 18 and 24, only 31 percent are in college.

Certainly, money isn't the only reason. This is an agricultural state with a long tradition of sending high school graduates directly into the workforce. But the bottom line is that our higher ed system isn't serving enough Idahoans well enough to make the state competitive in a global economy.

So college has to count, Edmunds and others believe, in real-world earnings potential. They envision using dual-credit programs - high school students earning college credit - and the newly minted Idaho Education Network to get students invested in Idaho higher education before they leave Idaho high schools. They also champion the community colleges' role as gateways to cost-effective education.

(CSI - which actually enrolls more lower-division academic students than either ISU or the U of I - remains a bargain at about $2,300 in tuition and fees per year.)

The four-year schools, the reformers believe, must prove they're relevant in specific ways because that's the only way to justify all that expensive bricks-and-mortar and all those highly paid academics in Boise, Pocatello, Moscow and Lewiston.

Programs should be located where the needs are greatest. Half of Idaho attorneys, for example, work in Ada and Canyon counties, but the state's law school is 220 miles away, in Moscow.

And colleges must decide what they want to be. Is it realistic, for example, for ISU to continue to function as an advanced research institution and what amounts to a community college?

Reform has been tried before in Idaho higher education, and has run into the brick wall of regional politics - as the U of I's attempt to shutter ag research facilities in Parma, Sandpoint and Tetonia this year illustrated so vividly. Worse, the rivalries tend to be zero-sum - any significant higher ed investment in, say, Boise is resented by citizens of eastern and northern Idaho and the legislators who represent them.

That's a recipe for decline. In the long run, Idaho probably can't afford the higher ed system as it exists today.

So higher ed reform in Idaho isn't just a political and economic imperative, but an existential one. How long will Idahoans be willing to export their best-and-brightest high school graduates? How can the state attract the good jobs of the future with the educational system of the past?

And at what point is pretty good just not good enough?

Friday, October 2, 2009.

10.02.2009


We will work together
with patience, never losing
sight of the great mission
given us by Him who is our
leader and whose Church this is.

Thursday, October 1, 2009.

10.01.2009


The noblest worship is to make yourself as good and as just as you can.


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