New Pizza Blog

So, the roommates and I eat an inordinate amount of pizza. It's amazing. We decided that we were more qualified than anyone else to write a blog on the subject of pizza. Go here:

http://boxesofpizza.blogspot.com

It's amazing. We would know- we're amazing.

Planning

In 62 days, I will be graduating from college. Exciting!!!

So, now I have to make a plan. It's called "What to do when you get out into the real world".

There are many options. I could go be a starving bum on the streets of London (because I think that at the end of the year, I'll only have enough money to get there, and then I'll be 100% broke). Or I could get a job somewhere. This is the more likely alternative.

But there are lots of jobs, and lots of somewheres.

My family would love it if I came home, and worked there this summer. Or didn't work, as my mom pointed out to me today. But I need to have a job, or I will go crazy. And stay broke, also.

Keith and Emily and Cecilia and maybe Steph would love it if I went to Anchorage for work this summer. Actually, they probably wouldn't mind too much if I weren't working, either, because then I'd have more time to split between them all, but really I need to have a job. Or I will go crazy.

There are a few companies who I am in touch with who might want me to go where ever they're located this summer, and then after that, also. Think Atlanta, or California. They, however, would want me working, because if I'm not working I'm useless to them.

So there are options, and pressures pulling from different directions and sources. And I'm pretty sure that I know what I want, but what if I don't, really? What if what I think that I want is not, in fact, what I actually want. Oh, I'm confused.

Mostly I just don't want to disappoint anyone with my decision to go one place or another. But you can't please everyone always, I guess.

I hate that about growing up. I used to only have my parents' opinions to think about, and my own, but my opinion was usually pretty in line with theirs on my bigger decisions. Now there are opposing opinions, pulling me quite literally to opposite corners of the country. I'm very neatly tucked smack-dab in the center here at school, 3000 miles from Anchorage, and 2100 from Chantilly.

Google Maps is a lovely tool for illustrating this point. But see, Anchorage is 4315 miles from Chantilly. Which is far. And so we get conflicting opinions.

I need to figure out how to make this decision without hurting anyone. Tricky.

In the end, I need to decide what will be the best decision for me, and not worry about everyone else. Also, I need to remember that moving is not, in fact, final. Just because I end up somewhere in May does not mean that I'll be there forever. It just means I'll be there for now.

Maybe I should go to London.

Love

So, I have never been a big Valentine's Day celebrator. But, I've never had anyone special to celebrate with, either. And I'm getting a bit curious as to how this weekend will be. I wouldn't be at all disappointed if Keith and I just watched a movie and made dinner at my house and snuggled and played games and talked like we do a lot of other weekends, because he will be here, and that's all that really matters to me. But he keeps saying stuff about Valentine's Day, and it has me wondering. Then again, I don't have my hopes up too high, because the silly boy still hasn't managed to get Christmas to me yet... for all his forgetfulness, though, he really is very sweet to me.

I love being in love. I love knowing Keith, and getting to know him better. He makes me so very happy, and I just want to be his girl forever.

CLP- Part II

I did it! I passed!

Caresse Johnson, CLP

Doesn't that just look pretty? I've gotta go update my resume now...

CLP

This morning I took the second half of a series of 7 exams required in order to become a CLP.

Caresse Johnson, CLP is going to look so cool on business cards and resumes and the like.

And what, you may ask, does this designation actually mean? CLP stands for Certified Landscape Professional. It is regulated by PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network, which is basically the recognized professional organization for green industry individuals and companies. It mostly focuses on business skills, and not so much on knowledge about plants and the care of them.

Anyway, it's a kind of big deal, and I'm very much hoping that within the month I will be a CLP.

NYC

So, I've finally fixed my computer so I could load my pictures from our trip on to it... and now I get to share some here!

Steph and I at Wicked

Lady Liberty

Central Park- my definite favorite place in NYC.

Now, to highlight some of the things we did on our trip...

Friday we walked around and got familiar with the city and saw famous old buildings, and also ones that aren't famous, but are just as gorgeous. Then we went and saw Wicked on Broadway, which was so fun! I loved it.

Saturday was shopping day! Went down to Canal street in Chinatown and bought cheap stuff, and then up to 5th Avenue to shop some more. That night we went to the Guggenheim museum, and Rockefeller center, where we didn't ice skate (long lines, sore feet) but we did go to the Top of the Rock, 70 story high observation decks, to see the city from up there.

Sunday was lazy (thankfully!) We slept in, and then went to church, and then went and saw St.Patrick's cathedral and also Grand Central Station. My feet were glad for an easy day.

Monday was museum day! We walked through Central Park to get to the Met first thing in the morning. That was way cool, but I was a bit bummed- the musical instruments exhibit is closed until March. But we did get to see lots of other cool art and things. Then we went down to ride the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. After that cold, windy boat ride (which was also way fun) we went to the American Museum of Natural History and saw some fossils and dead animals and artifacts and such. Then (wow, busy day!) we went to see the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, but it wasn't quite as fabulous as when I saw it at the Kennedy Center at home a few years ago. It was still way fun, though.

Tuesday, we went and got New York bagels and ate them outside of Tiffany's. Get it- Breakfast at Tiffany's? Clever, huh? Then Steph had a job interview, so she went off to that and I got to do whatever I wanted by my self. So I went to Central Park, and wandered for 3 hours or so, and took lots of pictures (somewhere in the neighborhood of 200) of cool ideas and details and such. So fun. Then took the subway to the airport, where Steph and I met back up and flew home.

All in all, a wonderful vacation.

Vacationing

Steph and I just got back from New York last night. What a fun vacation! I have a bazillion things to do to get caught back up to speed with school and things here, but I'm still so glad we went.

Also, so glad to be home.

I just feel so useful here. People in my classes and club at school respect my opinions and ask me for help and clarifications. Professors call on me in class when they need good answers. My job is just mine, the work isn't split with anyone else, so my boss is glad to have me back, and scheduled a meeting with me as soon as he could today so we could get back to work, and I think Keith would much rather have me in Provo than across the country. Sure we still don't see each other, but at least I'm close by enough that we could get to each other if we needed to.

Anyway, more to come about New York, but I've got to get back to being needed in life now.