Graduation Gift?

I have decided I want a piano, so I've done a search on KSL.com for a piano.

Dream piano: Steinway Louis XV Grand Piano in East Indian Rosewood

$59,000

Step down from the dream piano: Yamaha P660 45" Upright

$5,000

Realistic piano: Arion Grand Upright 1920s, needs to be refinished

$150 

I guess I like brown pianos? And I would love a Steinway (since that is what I played on through my adolescence) but I am really not that good.

So if you want to buy one of these for getting my Master's degree, I would be very happy (especially if you got the Steinway for me).

New Hiking Boots!

My Valentine got me new hiking boots! Yay! They are leather, have Gortex on the inside, have a high top, and so far I really like them!

Me on our first adventure around the block. Yes, we went to the side of the street that didn't have a sidewalk. It blends in with the dead grass.

 And today we went on a hike on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail between Logan and Green Canyons. There was no snow and we got hot. What a weird winter, to be hiking (not snowshoeing) in February and wanting to take off our jackets! But there was a lot of mud so we got to try out the Gortex.

And we found this solitary tree, to which I cried, "How artistic!" Andrew agreed and took some pictures.

The solitary tree

How tranquil.

Tranquility and Tai Chi

My new boots! And they are so muddy already!

Making another dorky face while showing off my boots.

And a picture to prove that Andrew came on the hike, too.

Moral of the story: You should all buy new hiking boots and go hiking!

We bought these at a website called Camofire, and they have one deal a day.

We also got my hiking shoes (which I also love but are not waterproof) at a similar website called Steep and Cheap, where they have a new deal every half an hour.

So check them out and maybe your hiking dreams will come true!

Goals

I'm sure you've all heard an inspirational quote or two or three about goals and why they are important and blah blah blah.

They really are important. And it feels really good when you accomplish goals.

On Sunday, I made a few goals.
1) Prepare well for the Spanish test on Wednesday.
2) Finish writing Thesis Chapter 1.
3) Edit, have Andrew read, and edit Thesis Chapter 2.
4) Give Thesis Chapter 2 to David, my adviser.

And I am happy to say that today has been the day for goal accomplishing--and it is only Wednesday!
1) I studied hard for the test and felt pretty good about the test before I took it. I did not do as well as I wanted to, but I did my best.
2) Three minutes ago I typed the last word of my first draft of Thesis Chapter 1! YAY!!!! (Only one more, plus a conclusion, plus finishing the introduction.)
3) I edited Chapter 2 again, Andrew read it and didn't die of boredom AND gave me some good clarification comments.
4) I'm giving the thesis to David tomorrow morning and yes, I am scared out of my mind that he will kill it and I will have to completely start over.

Anyway. It is very good to make goals cuz then you know what you want to do. And now that the week is only half over, I have plenty of time to make some more goals and to achieve them.

Ugghh

Ugghh because:

Sometimes Spanish makes me want to slit my wrists. I used to be that student who always scored the highest. Now I'm probably at the bottom of the heap.

Ugghh--why do I have to show competency in a language that is not even applicable to my research?

If you go to an Institute class that is in Spanish and therefore full of fresh returned missionaries, no one will want to be your friend when they notice your wedding ring. And you will sit all alone. And then you will be sad. But then not too sad cuz you are  happy you are married to a handsome man who speaks Chinese instead of Spanish. And then you will realize that it is probably better this way since all the fresh returned missionaries are 2 to 3 years younger than you.

Ugghh--why can't people just be friends instead of always being on the hunt?

and

Ugghh--when did I get so old?

I didn't go running today. I like running but I don't like exercising in the afternoon. I should have gone running right after my swim.

Ugghh--why am I so tired and dead in the afternoons?

and

Ugghh--when did I turn into one of those crazy active athletic people? It is exhausting.

That is all.