Music to My Ears

So tonight on "What's that behind door number 1?" we will discover the new toys of Aaron. So for our first peak, we will look behind door number 1. Drum roll please..........

A fancy new shoe horn from Russia!!! You better believe it, that puppy is two feet of pure metal with the name of my mission engraved on the back. It's pretty much the best thing since sliced cheese. I got it from my mission president and his wife. Thank you so much President and Sister Collins!!!!

Okay, now it's time for a peak behind door number two. I know you can hardly wait any longer. Wait the handle is turning the door is creaking and lo and behold..... a new pair of headphones. These things are so much better than the ones that come with i-pods, they are soft and comfy and block out any distracting noise.

But why such the excitement about a pair of headphones you ask? Well let's look behind door number 3. I know, the excitement is intense. Another drum roll please...... Ladies and gentlemen it's not a bird, it's not a plane, it's not even that man wearing a weird costume with an S painted on his chest, it's a.....brand new keyboard!!!! And there was much rejoicing in the land. Well at least for my roommate and I. It's been pretty sweet to have a piano to play and relax with. I must say that I have been wanting one ever since I got to college, but now was the time. Anyway, I would love to write more about the exciting things in my life, but I've got an appointment with my keyboard. Ah... that is music to my ears.

BYU and Vacation

First of all, GO COUGARS!!!! That is awesome that we won our first game against Oklahoma State University yesterday! I'm pretty excited about that. The cheering and honking in Provo lasted at least an hour and a half. So that was pretty fun.

As you might have guessed the BYU school year has just begun and the first week of classes are completed. It's been a good experience so far and I think that I will be able to handle this semester with all of the many things that I have going on, like my trip to Washington, D.C. in November. The most exciting thing that has happened so far is that I made Concert Choir!!!!! I am so excited because we are singing with the King Singers and the BYU philharmonic orchestra in October. How awesome is that? I haven't been able to sing in a mixed choir since I sang in Bonnevaires five years ago. Our first rehearsal was so refreshing because of the refined sound. Have I said I love to sing in the choirs at BYU? I found out Friday morning and I'm still pumped! I must admit that happiness sometimes is having your dreams come true.

Also yesterday, I went down to Capitol Reef with my family for a mini vacation. It was so much fun! We hiked around caves and took lots of pictures.

Zach, my nephew, is definitely photogenic and he knows it. There is hardly a picture taken without him finding the perfect pose. I've posted a picture as an example. So it's been a very fun weekend.

Life and a Little Bit of Politics

Hey all! I'm loving being at home for a little while before the craziness of school starts again. I just added a new section to my blog to give a chance for others to write what happiness is to them. I thought that it would be a good chance to get a wider definition of one of the greatest purposes in life. So if you've got something great to say, go ahead and comment.

On politics, I just wanted to say that I disagree with the current health care plan because I feel that it is forcing a generic health care plan on the entire country. Just thought that I would throw that out there.

On life, I just finished reading The Return of the King for the third time. I still love that book. It's pretty amazing, especially the ending. Sam is my hero. I did particularly enjoy this dialogue between Frodo and Sam:

'But,' said Sam, and tears started in his eyes, 'I thought you were going to enjoy the Shire, too, for years and years, after all you have done.'

'So I thought too, once. But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.' ~J.R.R. Tolkein

I am thankful to those that have given up so much, even their lives, so that I could keep the freedoms enjoyed by so many in this country.

Russia and American Football

Okay, so the two don't really go together very well. I mean Russians think that American football is kind of silly, and that football (soccer) is the true sport. I can't say that I completely disagree with them, but I must admit that I really do like good old American football. Which is why I'm glad that the season is coming up again and it looks as if I will be buying myself some tickets to BYU football.
Speaking of football, this is my younger brother's senior year and he's playing on the varsity team at his high school. The cool thing is, he made it into the Deseret News!! So for all of you NSHS fans out there, here's the link to John's claim to fame! http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705321258/High-school-football-North-Sevier-Wolves-2009-preview.html
Now about Russia, one of my personal favorite topics. So I was living in Idaho Falls for two months when the Meldrums decided to tell me that there was a Russian restaurant/store in town!! I was so excited to find this out, so I' went on two shopping sprees before I made the journey home. I bought a few siroks (which are mini cheesecakes) and some buckwheat and some apricot juice and some borsch seasoning packets, and everybody's favorite, Russian chocolate!!! I was so excited to bring all of that stuff home with me. My family and I are having a real Russian food night on Saturday. I'm pretty excited about the whole thing.

Here We Have Idaho

So, I'm down to the last few weeks in the beloved state of potatoes and apparently gems, but I'm not convinced in that area. I've had a lot of fun working at the INL this summer. Now I'm just down to the wire trying to finish up a paper.
This last week has been crazy for me. I've talked to so many of my friends trying just to keep up with them. But I've enjoyed every minute of it. Sarah is keeping Proctor and Gamble in check, Gerti is going to Texas for graduate school, Danny is thoroughly enjoying his work at BYU, and Nick invited me to accompany him as he played the trumpet. By the way, for any of you who haven't heard Nick play, he is awesome. So all in all I've been extremely blessed this summer with excellent friends, great co-workers, and a wonderful family. I'm not sure that I am ready for this summer to end. Which is why I plan on spending some time at home before that great and terrible day, August 31 arrives. =-)

P.S. Thank you all for your comments I really enjoyed them.

TUCSON!!!

So now that I have been informed that somebody is actually looking at this site, I have decided to update it. I am having an awesome time up here in Idaho working at the Idaho National Laboratory. I have seen spent nuclear fuel rods glowing blue under water and lots of other cool things. I just got back from a national conference down in Tucson, Arizona. It was the annual conference of the Institute of Nuclear Material Management and I learned all about how we are trying to keep track of nuclear material world wide. It was really an incredible experience. I have never been to a professional conference before and so it was definitely all new. I was surrounded by nearly one thousand people, all experts in their respective fields. A lot of them were Russian, so I can't complain in the least.
Since this was a business trip, I got a whole hotel room to myself. I've posted some pictures just for fun. I also got to drive a Mitsubishi Eclipse all week with air conditioning. I was so excited. As one person put it on the trip however, I just don't deserve a car like that. It's true. I don't know what to do with a sports car. :-)
The best part was trying to find places to eat in Tucson. On one night, we all tried to eat at a Mediterranean restaurant, only to find out that it doesn't exist anymore. Then we tried to meet at Sam's Club to regroup, couldn't find that either. Then we tried to go to a Cafe. Couldn't find that, so my car eventually ended up going to a Outback Steakhouse and the other two cars went elsewhere. It was hilarious at the time. Especially considering that we all had GPS's in each car. Apparently those machines are only so helpful.
Well, I would love to hear of any comments from any of you out there in Cyberspace.
Hope you enjoy the pictures. I know, that I definitely miss that hotel mattress. ;-)

Well, it looks as if I'm finally off to Idaho to begin my internship. This should be an exciting adventure. I'm mostly excited to "go back to my old stomping grounds" as many people have said. Yup, good ol' Bonneville County here I come. You could only keep me away for about five years.
But to be honest, it has also been really nice being home for three weeks and not having to work. I'm gotten quite a bit accomplished. However, all those mornings of sleeping in until seven thirty in the morning are almost over, on Monday I have to be at work at seven. Yay!! Actually, thank goodness for having work at all!

Prancing Ponies

So last night I went with my parents, my grandpa and my sister to go watch some horse dance to music and do some pretty amazing tricks. I've posted a few pictures. Forgive the quality. We didn't take a camera with us, so I had to rely on the great quality of my phone's camera. And just as an update, I'm almost finished with my second reading of the seventh Harry Potter book.

Last Year's Vacation

So I know that is has been a year since this trip happened. But I just discovered all of my roommates pictures on my computer and he happened to have pictures of our trip down to Zion's National Park last August. So I have decided to post some of them. (Thanks DANNY). It was a ton of fun. We spent about twenty four hours in the park. The best part was walking in the narrows. It was such a beautiful day. I'd like to go back down and do it again sometime.

Well, it's the end of a semester at BYU!!!! And in my defense I managed to get a 3.94 this semester. I was pretty happy about that. Right now I'm just taking it easy at home for a few weeks. I don't have to work, do homework, study for tests or anything like that. I'm FREE as some would call it. However, I do have to get ready for my very exciting and awesome intership at the INL this summer. It'll be a great experience for me. I start working on May 18 in Idaho Falls. And we'll see what great adventures await me in the great gem state.
Just to add to the excitement, I built bottle rockets in my Fluids class this year. I've attached a video for all to see and enjoy.