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Graduation

It was a great day to graduate!  Commencement started way too early, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything.  It was strange to walk by my professors and to be done.  It just didn't seem official until we moved our tassels to the left side of our caps.  Then, I felt like a graduate.  The fun part of being a college graduate is marking it on silly surveys that I receive in the mail and e-mail.  Instead of marking "some college,"  I can finally mark bachelor's degree.  Love that!

President Monson was our speaker.  He did a great job talking about the ABC's we'll utilize. 

A=Attitude

B=Belief

C=Courage

Tyler and I had a little time between commencement and lunch with my sister Robyn and her husband Aaron.  You can see little Wesley in front.  (He is next on my "to do" list.)

I think this is me actually receiving my degree.  Yes, I wore pants.  At least they were not sweat pants which seem to be my regular outfit these days. 

More than anything, I wanted Rachel to see me receive my degree and to show her how important it is to pursue an education.  I doubt she'll remember the day, but I hope she'll realize that the sacrifices to study and earn a college degree is worth it--even for a woman.

Now, we'll have a lot more time together and with Wesley.  It will be nice to be a full-time Mom again.  I do think it'll take some getting used to, however.  I'll still have some small side jobs as a wellness program specialist and personal trainer, but those are only minor to my job as a Mommy. 

Recommended Reading

With the semester winding down, I've finally got time to read something other than textbooks, and recently started Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World.

It's the travelouge of a couple circumnavigating the earth exclusively on land and by sea (no flying).  A large portion of their journey was aboard the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which brought them to Vladivostok, Russia for a few days.  The author's first impression:

"The physical setting of the city is spectacular - a hilly, misty peninsula surrounded by ocean.  It looks a little like San Fransisco might look....  if San Fransisco had been attacked by marauding zombies."

Despite how frighteningly accurate his descriptions of the place are, they brought back many wonderful memories, and more than a bit of nostalgia.  I'm now actively working to convince Tori that our family vacation next year should be a cruise from Alaska to China by way of the Russian Far-East.

Tori will love this....

Who needs a bun, when you can have your meat sandwiched between two slabs of fried chicken?

Read more about KFC's 'Double Down' here.

(no vegetables were harmed in the making of this sandwich)

In the article, you'll also find a link to this Jim Gaffigan clip about Waffle House which I've posted for your viewing pleasure.  The only time I've ever been to a Waffle House was in the middle of the night during black Friday shopping a few years ago.  Gaffigan's description of the place is spot-on.

I'm dreaming of a white Easter....

Is this supposed to be happening in April?