"We're Burning Down The Night, Shooting Bullets At The Moon."

Summer is here, I don't care what anyone says.

My shoulders are sunburnt, I come home every day covered in dirt, almost all of the ice is off the lake (we all know what that means - swim time this weekend!), calving/lambing season is over with, and leaves are imminent. 

Sounds like summer to me. 

Other than sorting seed potatoes and doing some planting prep on the farm, work has been pretty uneventful, which honestly I'm kinda thankful for. I forgot how much I enjoyed the mellow season on the farm, before all the people start coming out and the place turns hectic. 

Catching the sunset has been crazy hard this week on account of all the 4-wheelers and trucks down on the river bed kicking up the dust, but I got a shot this weekend sitting up top on the deck. Even though I complain about living out in the middle of nowhere, it does have its perks. 

Met with a personal trainer this week at the gym (apparently its mandatory for new members, psh) and got some tips for building my core. I've had sore stomach muscles ever since too, thank you sir. 

Went a looked at more lambs this weekend. Gosh dang it they were beautiful! Now that I've spent a year at school and gotten just a little taste of what the stock is like down in the lower 48, I had a good time checking out the newborns here. 

I pretty much fell head-over-heels in love with this ram lamb. He made me want to start up a flock of my own even though I have sworn to myself I will never raise sheep again. I may or may not have lied. 

After looking at sheep, there was grocery shopping that needed to be done for the cow, which just kinda made me laugh. 

I did get some funny looks in Walmart. Oh well - farmin' and proud of it. REPRESENT. 

This weekend was pretty chill though otherwise. I helped out with a Relief Society function (I taught a little restorative yoga session, fun!) and spent alot of time in the sun. I figure I gotta get all the time in I can before it snows randomly in July. 

And I even made it to the YSA ward this week. It felt good to be back around people my age. Family wards just don't feel quite right anymore. Gotta enjoy my youth! 

Well enjoy your Sunday evening, mi amigos!

(Four more months 'till Rexburg!)

"This Is How We Roll - This Is How We Ride."

It's been another week back in the 'ole AK. 

I almost forgot what life was like here - muddy boots, my ball cap, cow riding, and clothes that are somehow always covered in dirt, hay, and probably some sort of animal hair. Started work again on Monday - potato sorting season - woot woot. I actually don't mind it - I missed coming home dusty and done for the day. It definitely confirms the fact that as dumb as the major sounds (beef production, I'll never hear the end of it here), I've definitely gotta go into something where I can get muddy and wear my boots (which are in sore need of replacing - just about breaks my heart). 

So yeah, worked this week, ran the Butte a few times. I'm not quite as fast as I was last summer, but I'll get it back before long. I'm figuring I've got to beat my 10 minute up record before I leave for Rexburg again. I think it can be done. 

Crazy how a baby mountain can have so many memories attached. I can hardly run the thing anymore without being back in last summer all over again. Guess that's a perk and downside simultaneously. 

This weekend I got out and went to the play over at the high school. It was fun being back and watching everyone on stage again. And of course, it was good to spend time at the VHO afterwards that night. I got to be with some people that I really missed (who woulda thought ;) - it felt alot like high school all over again. 

Then it was a girl's night with the little adopted sister - mostly consisted of eating our body weight in peppermint patties and Doritos, but hey, that's how we roll. Oh, and satisfying our latest obsession with Luke Bryan's angelic voice. I think we listened to Play It Again on repeat for about an hour. A little ironic, actually. 

(Dismiss the dumb facial expressions - Like my football blankie? Just checked out the 2014 NFL schedule. Gettin' excited. Go Broncos!)

Oh yeah, and snap chatting happened too, as is shown by the selfie above. But for some reason everyone was asleep when we snapped them. Crazies. It was only like 3am for pete's sake. 

Hand milking has also been a thing. I've lost my touch. I mean, I ain't bad, but I'm no where near as fast as I was when I left. Guess it's a good thing I'm not goin' into the dairy industry (just watch... I'll end up doing dairy.)

And I've seen a few moose! They're comin' out in full force. Probably outa be having their calves before long too. I felt a little like the city folk stopping on the side of the road to take this picture, but oh well. It was exciting. I didn't see a single moose in Idaho, despite the fact that there were apparently a couple there.

Annnnnnd that was my week. I've been tryin' to avoid thinking about the 'burg too much - I get homesick when I do. Got my grad plan all figured out though, so I know what classes I'll be (hopefully) taking next semester. Fingers crossed I get into the AI class... and the meats class. Talk about a fun semester if everything goes as planned. ;) 

Oh and a wonderful roomie from my first semester got married this weekend! So sad I had to miss the wedding (gosh Alaska, why you gotta be so far away), but so, so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Howard! :)

Keep it real this week y'all! I'll just be here in Palmer... playing with my cow. 

#signinout

"Don't Let What They Say Keep You Up At Night."

I can't believe there's only like, three weeks left to the semester. I feel like I just got here and at the same time, I feel like I've been in college forever. Funny how that works.

I meant to get this written yesterday, but ended up getting a little distracted and then was up 'till three working on an English paper. Sleep is so overrated, after all.

Sooooo, highlights of last week -

Got a 92% on a math test. Heck to the yeah. Might just pull an A in that class.

Watched the cattle slaughtering and butchering process in one of my ag classes, which wasn't like super exciting, but the entertaining part was the offended princesses who sit in the very back. Come on ladies, where did you think meat came from?

I went rock climbing for the first time this week too, which let's be real, was actually a good time. I suck at it, but hey, I got to the top of the wall a couple times and that's really all that matters. And the next day I was so sore I thought I was gonna die, so that's always a bonus.

Talked to my bestest friend from back home, who I suck at keeping in contact with. Can't wait to see her again and get back to our Alaskan shenanigans.

Roommate night was Friday night (who needs date night when you've got your girls) and we went to see Monument Men. I'll be honest, I fell asleep partway through, but we went to the eleven o'clock showing so I really can't be blamed for that.

Saturday we decided to have a Harry Potter marathon. We really only got through the first three movies so obviously marathons are not a skill we possess, but it was a good time and made me realize how much I'll miss my people here.

That's basically my week summed up, I'd say.

The closer it gets to April, the more I wish things could slow down just a bit. I mean, I'm looking forward to seeing the family and some specific folks back in the Last Frontier, but a big part of me wishes it could be like a two week visit and then I could get back here to Rexburg. I'm already homesick for the burg and I haven't even left yet, how pathetic is that. When I left Alaska six months ago, I didn't really believe anyone when they said that things would be different when I get back - but it's crazy how right they were. I just hope that the next few months go by fast, so I can get back here to my cows in sexy rexy. And the people are pretty great too.

'Til next week y'all... #butfirstlemmetakeaselfie

"Let Me Hold Both Your Hands In The Holes Of My Sweater."

IT'S WINTER TIME, FOLKS.

You see that? Snowwww! Of course, this was a couple days ago and now that snow's gone, but that's completely beside the point.

I don't understand it, honestly. At home I was never a huge fan of snow. But here, when the white stuff starts coming down and I'm like the energizer bunny on crack - it's amazing. Maybe it's because everyone here has some kind of vendetta against snow, so I feel obligated to defend it as an Alaskan... who even knows. It's a mystery, I tell ya, a gosh darn mystery.

Anyway, so it snowed this week, as I already said. And it's finally starting to get that Christmas-y feel around here. Like the neighbors have been putting up lights, and paper snowflakes, and crap, and I've been in the mood for apple cider 24/7. I've even had this inane desire to bake cookies recently despite the fact that I'm pretty sure it would kill our apartment. The roommates and I have talked about getting a tree - the plan is still in progress because I'm pretty sure it's illegal to take one from the park. We'll figure it out, no big deal.

So I went to the temple again this week. Looking for a little inspiration and I figured that'd be the place to find it. It's so awesome being able to just walk up the street and go to the temple whenever I feel like it. Points to you, BYU-I.

Went to see Thor 2 with Kenzie and Brooke Friday night. The theater was crazy packed - obviously everyone and their brother wanted to see Chris Hemsworth shirtless too, which I completely understand and am not judging them for. So that was fun.

Last night Kenzie and I went to Battle of the Bands on campus. It was fun - my favorite band won, so obviously someone has good taste, just saying. Also, turns out there are alot of good-looking guys in the music department here. I should start on the piano again...

Registration for next semester starts in eight days! I've already gotten all my classes (hopefully) written out and I'm gettin' kinda excited about them. I'm about 97.3% positive that I'm going to change my major from Exercise Physiology to Beef Production. I still plan on taking all the kinesiology classes at some point and my plan is to get into a weight lifting class next semester, but I think I'd be better suited trying for a career in the animal science department. Unfortunately the AI class I wanted to take got taken out of the winter semester (poop), but there's an animal handling class that I'm planning on taking which sounds like way too much freaking fun. It's all hands on and deals mostly with horses and cattle... I.can.not.wait.

Anyways, so that's been my life this week. More mid-terms to finish up this next week and then Thanksgiving break before long. Life's bein' kind - always thinking about everyone at home. Adios amigos.