Not a bad day, just one I hope you never have...

So, I was telling my roommate about my day and she demanded that I write it down. Since I am well over two weeks tardy on my blogging, this will kill two birds with one stone (poor birdies...)

We will start at eleven o'clock last night with an emotional break-down. The usual, but also included my frustrations with a ten page research paper I am writing for Book of Mormon that is due tomorrow. Turns out I hated it. All of it. So, I hit the shiny delete button and started all over. Somewhere around two this morning, with the help of my father's amazing English skills, I shut my laptop with eight of the pages of my new essay done. Woke up this morning in time to realize that I didn't want to wake up. So, I didn't. I missed my first class (yes, I know I'm horrible), and got to my second class with little time to spare. Made it through my classes without falling asleep, although the concrete floor in the Benson was inviting enough that I succumbed to its wiles and ended up with a very sore neck. Then it was onto chemistry where we heard the delightful news that the class average on the test I am taking tomorrow is a 60%. Yes, that's right. And does this teacher curve? (with how this day is turning out, that is totally rhetorical) After chemistry I ran to the car to achieve the numerous things I had planned for the day. Things were going great on my hike to my car until said car would not start. Yes, my battery was dead. Called dad. No answer. Started crying. Called mom. Called dad. Got an answer. By some miraculous power, my car started on the seventh try and I drove around while a parts store was located for fear that parking would be the end of me. Went to Checker's in Orem and was helped by a very masculine, very large lady. In a mystery of fortune, she got called away and Trevor helped me select my new battery, pay for it, and installed it with his lovely set of tools, although I was totally ready to get the pink ones out of my trunk. I finally made it home, where I started working on my essay again. I worked until a lovely shift volunteering at the hospital where I only got lost in the ER once (room 2 is hard to find). I rushed home to get a calling, you know, the ones they make up in student wards so people feel special. I then finished my essay so I could get it sent of to my mother, so that she could use her English skills to make it pretty. I then had tithing settlement, a trip to Brad and Tim's apartment for help on calculus homework, and somewhere along the way, lost my phone in the expansive grass of Wyview Park. I located my phone and returned to my apartment where I read ten chapters of Mosiah, because fourteen were assigned between yesterday and tomorrow (thank you Brother Judd). I now sit typing away while waiting for my mom to call back to fix my essay, so I can then study my butt off to get a 60% on tomorrow's test. YAY!!! Not to say that isn't exciting, but maybe next time some chocolate and a warm bubble bath will suffice for my tomorrow's great day.

Halloween

Halloween was a smattering of running around this year. I didn't dress up for class, but claimed to be a sadistic serial killer who looked just like everyone else. At night, however, the party really got started. The two eighties twins are Emilie the blonde (whose make-up and hair I did) and Amy, my RA. In front of us were my roommate Taylor, and a girl from our building, Jessica. I was band security. This was our band picture. Taylor in the orange was the lead singer, Jessica in the leather was the drummer, and the Richard Simmons twins were the groupies.

We went to the stake dance and had a blast. After three hours of dancing and getting very, very hot with the crowded room, this was who was left. From the left, Amy, Emilie, me, Emilie, and Sariah. We had sooooooo much fun. Las Vegas isn't going to recognize me when I bust the moves I have learned here. Emilie is the president of RHA (resident housing association), so we had to leave for a little bit to check out Helaman and Heritage, and let me simply say that Wyview kicks...well...um...a word that I can't say cause I could get kicked out of college for using it. Suffice to say WE ROCK!!!!

This was me by the end of the night. Totally beyond sweaty, although I put my jacket special for those of you who see this. I had a total blast for Halloween and saw some awesome costumes. Here's hopin' next year is just as awesome.

SAC Triathlon

It seems like only yesterday I was trying to talk my mom into doing a triathlon with me. Turns out, however, that was over a year ago. The woman who swore she would never be able to do it has long since become my hero, not necessarily for how many she finished or how fast she goes, but for how many she starts. The most recent endeavor was the SAC triathlon in St. George, which she did with one of my friends moms, yet another one to jump on the triathlon bandwagon.This is Leslie and my mom setting up transition. It was a quaint, little, neighborhood triathlon, so I was even allowed in transition with them. They were a crack up before the race started.

I was terrified for my mom to do the swim. As far as I was concerned, I might have to jump in and rescue her with how well I thought she could swim. Of course, such is the purpose of parents, to prove their children wrong. MY MOM IS A FRICKIN' FISH!!! She was amazing and awesome.

Turns out I am a really sorry picture-taker-person, so apologies to Leslie for this being the only decent picture I got of her as she jumped out of the water. I tried super hard to get a picture of her on the bike, so if you want to pictures of her front and back tire, respectively, feel free to request them.

Here they are in transition one, mom just heading out and Leslie getting everything together. They both worked it in transition and kept T1 under two and a half minutes.

This is my mom on the bike during the second pass. My skills with a photographic a non-moving object are adequate at best, so I am extremely proud of this picture of my mom, even with the random guy in the middle.

This is my mom looking super attractive on the run. And yes, she knew this picture was coming, so it wasn't cruel of me. Congrats to both Leslie and my mom for an amazing race and consequent 2 and 3 finish.

My mom is the most amazing woman I know. She constantly inspires me every day to try harder and be stronger. For turning her life around and working so hard for every event, she is my hero. For being on the course next to me for my entire life, she is my best friend.

My Birthday

In honor of the one person who reads my blog, I decided to put up some pictures of the book I wrote as a previous post. For my birthday, I headed down to St. George and met up with my family. We spent a lot of time in the hot tub at the hotel, although a request was made to not post a picture of that. Saturday morning we went shopping and, true to tradition, we all shared a tiny dressing room, where Alyson wanted to try on this really cute turtleneck sweater that she swore was going to fit over her big ole' Martin head. She is actually screaming quite loud in this picture, but Kelly just couldn't resist a photo op in what has become my favorite picture of my darling sisters.

We went hiking in Zions, well, out of Zions, but it was listed in a Zions book. Anyway, we got lost on what my parents later found out was a loop, much to their chagrin. Alyson and I thought it was pretty fun.

It was like pulling teeth to get my parents to take a decent picture, they're like 2-year-olds (no offense, Samarrah) but they finally pulled themselves together long enough for me to hit the button. Of course, then my mom organized us into a four part round of Frere Jacques, but that is a story never to be told again.

P.S. My parents are the most amazing, wicked, awesome, perhaps even, most buck people ever.

My sister is my other half. The lone Martin siblings make quite a pair.

Oops

After being unceremoniously informed by my sister that I suck at blogging, I've decided to update the masses on my incredibly easy and relaxing(<- sarcasm) life. Since my last entry a lot has happened. My mother, one of my heroes, completed her second triathlon and she did amazing. Truth be told, I was afraid I was going to have to rescue her during the swim, but it turns out she has some Nemo blood in her. She totally rocked it and it was awesome to see the family. Last week I turned 19. 18 was quite the adventure, but I had no idea being 19 could be so stressful. It seems as though I worry about everything now, but, oh wait, nothing new there. I got to see my family again for my birthday and we had quite the time in St. George, including card nights with dad's snores serenading us in the background, Samarrah proving she is still allergic to peanuts (excuse me, intolerant to peanuts), and getting lost on a circular loop in Zion's before my mom pointed out that a certain cell tower looked familiar. It was a blast and I got the best present in the world. School is, well...school-ish? Whoever said Mormons have no sense of humor never looked at any of my mid-terms. Cause I sat in the testing center wanting to stand up and yell, "are you kidding me!?!" Yes, this includes Book of Mormon. I swear I studied to. Case in point, I am on very intimate terms with the library and have been threatened with ex-communication if I e-mail my teachers one more time.
On a happier note, I start orientation at the hospital next Wednesday. It only took them two months to process my application, but I still love Intermountain Health Care. Yesterday, I got drug tested, got a flu shot (free!!!), a TB test, and was poked five times in an attempt to draw blood. They looked at my arm for ten minutes before trying for a vein, and consequently, missing. Then they tried my hand and got a vein, but blew it, creating quite the hematoma (that just sounds cool), missed again, collapsed a vein, and then gave up and decided to try testing the sample they had. Unlike almost every other person on the planet, I have no fear of needles (which is a good thing cause apparently I'm a "hard stick") and found the whole thing quite funny. Especially cause one of the girls kept asking if I was going to pass out every five seconds.
Now all I have is very bruised hands, a hole in the elbow, a very sore deltoid because the muscle spasmed when she poked me and caught the needle, and a funny look bump on my arm from the TB. I don't mind though. Being such a hard stick makes me feel special. Anyway, today I got my "salmon" volunteer jacket and official badge. I'm all set for orientation and so excited.
I think that is pretty much all I have. I'll try to do better for those three people who read my blog (especially you Kelly). Much love to all and keep on truckin'.

Homecoming Week

So, two weeks ago was homecoming week, my first as a freshman at the Y. Ok, my only as a freshman at the Y, but it sounded cool in my head. On Tuesday night, a large group of us went to the Hinckley to jump on giant buses with everyone else to head up and hike the Y. Somewhere along the way we got split up though, and it just became Brad, Emily, and I. We had a blast! Of course, we were all exhausted and had glow sticks, so that helped to add to the excitement. As the weekend rolled around, it became FREEZING!!! Saturday morning, a large group from our building met up at the Creamery on 9th for the traditional blue pancakes and the amazing homecoming parade, where I am told a very excited being occupied my body as I screamed for candy and treats from all of the passer-bys and yelled randomly and very loudly at the participants. The homecoming game went pretty well, although I should have known that game was a precursor to BYU's next game and consequent loss. I was at the game with Brad and his brother-in-law Tyler, who also doesn't know to much about football, but was an absolute blast to hang out with. That night, I went to the volleyball game with Emily where we were absolutely smashed by UNLV. Again, though, exhaustion led to a blast at the game as we laughed at one of the ball boys who had a near coronary at every point we scored (especially while they were few and far between.) At the behest and threat of beheading by my sister, here are a few pictures from that awesome week.

This was our group going to the Hinck. Next to my multiple chins is Taylor and behind us is Emily and New-Mexico-Brad.

This was our group just before we began our (very steep) ascent. We all got seperated on the way, but we had a blast. No idea the Y was that steep though.

Emily twisting in our light bulb. We were the right side near the top of the Y at the corner where the end top part goes out. And yes, you're supposed to understand that.

Emilie (different one), Dahe, Ellie, Taylor and me waiting for our blue pancakes at the parade.
BLUE PANCAKES!!!
Tyler, Brad, and I at the homecoming football game (notice my first ever winter jacket!!!)To cap off my first homecoming week, Emily and I at the volleyball game where BYU got crushed, but we had a good time laughing at pretty much everything.

Decorating the Apt.

My roommates and I have skills. In fact, put any other mere mortals together and they would be incapable of accomplishing the predicament that we find ourselves in. We never see each other. I'm talking no passing hello's, no late-night-bleary-eyed waitin' for the bathroom seein' each other. Okay, that may be a slight exageration. I think the standing record is three days with no hide or hair of Ellie. Anyway, because of this phenomenon, our apartment lay decidedly generic. But no more. On a rare night home together, we decided to put an end to this blasphemy. And now we have the greatest wall in Wyview Park, nay, in all of BYU housing. Take a look.

Taylor and I plastered the wall with posterboard in completely random fashion, while...Ellie very proudly cut out pretty little fishes from our unused colors, and thenWe topped them off with our favorite quotes (particularly Taylor's Incredible's quote's), giving you the best apartment wall this side of the Mississippi. Thank you very much.

Best Friends For Life - Sisters Forever

The Ride

So, as well meaning as all of my intentions have been, a week has passed with no update on my marvelous sojourn. Of course, the fact that i super glued my hands together on accident shouldn't be considered. Nor should it be taken into account just how long I walked around without realizing that my insoles were in the wrong shoe. And I just know that it doesn't matter that some of my professors make me want to find a tall cliff and a strong alibi. None of that matters, cause I'm living the dream.

Anyway, for those who don't know, this past weekend, my sister and only non-married sibling came and stayed with me for three awesome days. We went to a rugby game, played in the library, saw the ugliest looking goat-thing in the world, and watched movies on my 15" laptop on the floor of my tv-less dorm room. And it was GREAT!!! In fact, as soon as I have the time and motivation to move, I may just put up every single picture we took in a slideshow. Of course, I have to figure out just how to do that, but I'm working on it.

Seeing my sister was truly amazing, but it also made me realize something. I have been at college for over a month. In fact, I have semester midterms for all my classes in a couple weeks. Where has the time gone? I suppose it's relative. The older you get the more time you have experienced and therefor can be called upon to shorten the current experienced perception of time, but still. Before I know it, I might just be on that front porch swing. Darn it though, the spot next to me is still lookin' pretty empty :)

Anyway, I guess my parting wisdom in this post is that sometimes life is hard. Sometimes, things just don't go right at all. Then again, sometimes they do. But the whole point is, life is going. It is a fixed construct completely unstoppable in this earthly coil. So why not jump on, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.

Tessa June

At the risk of being sacrificially
beheaded by my sister for not do
ing this at two in the morning, when
I got these pictures, here are finally
some pictures of my latest niece.

Tessa June Martin

7 lbs. 13 oz.
Born 12:45 a.m. 09/23/2008

Say what?

So, I have a theory. My theory is that some people just don't get it. My test subject is me. So many things are happening in a fury around me and I don't get any of it. Well, ok, I'll give myself the benefit of the doubt and say that I get somethings, here and there, but that is still a stretch on the best of days. It's like I am stuck between two worlds, Las Vegas and Happy Valley (that's what some wierd wacko calls it here) and I don't have enough grasp of either to understand anything. I don't know, now that I try to explain it, I am at a loss for words.

Despite this post, life at college is going well. It's terribly busy and the honeymoon period is definitely over now that the add/drop deadline has passed, and things aren't going slower. Of course, I sat down and crunched some numbers (ok, not really crunched) and I only have about two and a half months of class left. Can you believe that? In high school, in fact, in my entire public education, it has taken a year to get a grasp on any one subject enough to claim it complete and even then, there was usually a part two. Here, it takes exactly three and one half months to completely put any given subject (GE's at least) completely behind you. Pretty impressive stuff, huh?

Anyway, I apologize for this random interlude. Not that any of my other posts had a particular purpose in the eternal purposes of life, but still. So, in keeping with the tradition of random posts, here is some random picture that I have dredged up out of the darkest corners of my computer. Love ya and enjoy.I went to a summer camp called OYA and for one of our challenges, we were given fifteen pieces of wood, three barrels, and a ten foot piece of rope, with which we had to Macgyver a ship to sail us across the pond. Our group fit fifteen people on this contraption and WE WON!!! It truly is the simple things in life. Well, this wasn't simple. Trust me. Maybe you should go out and try it to see what I mean :)

Makin' Momma Proud

So, since my insurance doesn't cover a shrink in Utah, I feel compelled to let you know that I am doing awesomely! I am learning what it takes to succeed in college, even if it is twelve hours on campus everyday. Some of the most important advice I have gotten about college comes from my Father when he sat me down and said, "Son, one day, all this will be yours." Oh wait, wrong memory. No, really, my dad told me never to study in my dorm room and to finish all my homework during the week so I can chillax on weekends. I have done just that and it has benefitted me in so many ways. Oh, and if you guys ever get a chance to go to the BYU Royden G. Derrick planetarium, DO IT!!! Anyway, back to the real purpose for today...

My mother, as any well-meaning college mother would be, is constantly concerned about what I do or don't eat. And the fact that my constant joking about living off yogurt is slowly coming to fruition probably doesn't help. So, in honor of my mother tonight, I made a feast, for a college student, that is. The fact that I passed the oven time with a little ice cream need not be mentioned, of course. So, in light of this revelation, I invite you all to bask in the grandeur of my amazing culinary prowess, but try not to be jealous.

*Disclaimer: I really do know how to cook, I swear. I simply choose not to.

Ups, Downs, and Not One Piece of Middle Ground

Today has been crazy. Absolutely, absurdly crazy. The feeling of immense terror as my classes grew to the size of my own personal Goliath was, at first, quite humorous. Sure, bring it on. What do I have to worry about? If I can't cut it, I can always become a squator in Indonesia, right? Well, that was then. Now, as I look back on the fact that I fell asleep in my study carol in the library, wasting one hour of study time, started awake not realizing I had gripped a page of my textbook and ripped it out mid-jump, after walking the mall for an hour to not find one single pair of jeans that actually show I have a butt, living off of chicken nuggets for the second straight week, and still not finishing my homework, things look pretty bleak.

But it's all going to be okay. Somehow, in a way completely foreign and inexplicable to me, I'll get that slingshot and take off someone's head. Metaphorically, of course. Anyway, as I leave this horribly depressing story to soak in your mind and create another guest at my personal pity party, I wish to show you something. My bestest friend at college and roommate. Apparently the nieces and nephews like him, too. So, when you want to send me money cause you feel sorry for me, go ahead, but just remember that I've always got Ted.

Blue in Provo on Gameday? Heck yeah!

So, it was to be the game of the year. Two rivals took the field. The scene was tense. The ball was placed. And then it basically all went down hill from there for a little team we like to call UCLA. They were absolutely crushed in what is being considered BYU's best game of the decade, easy. At 59-0, with second and third stringers playing the entire second half, I would say humiliation was complete. But here at BYU, we strive to be Christ-like, so they're not losers, they just didn't win.

This photo was taken in respect to a pretty awesome formation, but mainly out of glee because victory was already assured.

So, this was my crew for the football game. Not my typical seat or group, but I thought I would expand my horizons. On the left is Tim and next to him is his little brother Brad, who is proving to be the only person I know from Vegas at BYU. Tim was great fun to chat with about the game, while Brad, bless his Kansas heart, doesn't know so much about football. That's okay though, he's going to be a cardiologist. Who really needs football when you get to cut people open for a living. As for the rest of us though, BYU football is THE way to go. GO COUGARS!!!

Mi Casa/Apartmentito

So, at the insistance of my family and following absurd technical difficulties, I present to you, my humble abode. I live just over a mile away from BYU campus in an apartment complex called Wyview Park. It used to be married housing, but they had to find a place to stick all of us single folk when they demolished Deseret Towers (tear for dad). Anyway, I live life up at the corner of University and University, less than a block from LaVell Edwards Stadium, home of the Cougars and the fight song that I still don't quite know (sorry bishop). Welcome to my life.So, from this picture, you can see my two front windows. We are the very top in the grey (apparently we don't get brick), and those stairs sure can be a blast after twelve hours on campus.This is my room. Well, the important part. All you're really missing is my super-amazing rug and the closet doors. We all know how those can be a blast. Noting that my apartment is not home to a tv, that little laptop on the desk proves to be my only connection with the outside world and my personal 12-inch movie theater.

Just Mel

Because I am just learning about this, I thought that maybe I would just experiment while also telling a little bit about what make me tick. So, here we go and pardon the randomness, I'll actually get pertinent pictures up later.

This is a picture of the sunset at Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. You can see the pier in the background. My sister and I took a trip there in April and I haven't stopped missing it since.

This picture is of my lovely sister, without whom it would just be me and the parentals. This is, in my opinion, the cutest guy to ever kiss her. So far, that is.

So, now that I kinda know what I'm doing, I'll see if I can get some real pictures up and let you know how that front porch swing journey is going. Love ya.

The Wait

So, I know this address has leaked out now through some unknown means (mom) and I feel the need to apologize that, as of now, this is all there is. I promise to try and upload a picture or two tomorrow.

After I left today to go to the football game, I was wondering if BYU was going to make me eat my words about the game against UCLA. Quite the opposite, in fact, BYU smashed, smothered, crushed, abliterated, etc. UCLA. Final score 59-0. A complete shutout. I even remembered to take two pictures which I will post tomorrow if I can figure out how. I then went to the women's soccer game, where we beat Idaho State by deux (that's two for you non-bilingual people out there). Of course, as I was driving away, I remembered that I forgot to take one single picture. Darn. Anyway, as I end this completely meaningless rant, I warn those reading this that they will probably continue and, in fact, become regular fixtures on this blog. Love ya. :)

The Frugality of College

So, I'm going to the football game today where BYU will smash UCLA and bringing my camera to take pictures for sending to parents. And to grandparents. And to siblings. And to friends back home. So, you see my predicament. My logical (cheap) solution was this. So, forgive me as I try to fit figuring out blogging into my crazy life, and enjoy.