Tegan & Sara and Brian & Corey & Steven

Where does the good go? To Thanksgiving Point to see Tegan & Sara, of course! And I feel in love with them even more when Sara said "if we weren't here, we would be at home in sweatpants watching TV" because THAT'S WHAT I DO.

License to Drive

While I was home in California a few weeks ago, I decided to get a new driver's license picture since my license was up for renewal. My old picture featured a fatter, shinier Steven. And while I do enjoy using the old picture to prove I use to be "husky", it was definitely time for a new one.

So I journeyed down to the local DMV and spent about an hour waiting for them to take my picture. Having my cell phone with me, I spent the hour texting my frustration about being at the DMV (like "wow...the dmv only employs god's chosen people" and "The guy next to me is cleaning his glasses with his tongue").

When it came my turn, I stopped texting, tucked my phone in my pocket, and tried to look as normal as possible. Right as the lady was about the click and take my picture, someone texted me back causing my phone to vibrate. Without thinking, I went to get my phone right as the picture took. I wasn't able to see the picture at the time, but the lady that took it giggled when it popped up on her screen. I knew this was going to be a good one.

Well, now I know what I look like right before I answer the phone.

Into the Wild

For the past 2 years, I have been researching the genetic diveristy of the endangered species plant Phacelia argillacea. However, to get my research published, I needed samples from this year's population to compare to the rest. So last Friday, I left my lab coat and gloves at home and threw on some old Levi's and New Balances (which I believe have seen the outside maybe twice) and went to the Spanish Fork Canyon (the only place in the world where you can find this plant).

We ran into two major problems while trying to find these little guys:

1. This plant grows only on the steep shale cliffs, so getting to the populations was a little difficult. Yes, I had to hike up cliffs like this:

2. This plant definitely deserves the "Endangered Species" title. Research shows there are only about 30 of these plants left. We spent hours climbing up and down cliffs trying to find these small plants.

In the end, we were able to find enough to continue the study and hopefully work towards reintroducing the plant in the future. I even scored a picture with the my plant. (Note: my shirt has a picture of a milkman and reads, "Who's Your Daddy?....I can find out....BYU Genetics)

The downside was that since I am actually allegric to plants and nature, I then spent the rest of the weekend in bed with a horrible sinus infection. Well, except for trips to El Azteca, Blockbuster, Einstein's, Target, The Dollar Theater, and Cracker Barrell. What?? I'm not an invalid.

"Good Morning Baltimore" or "I Think I'll Go to Boston"

Now that I have been accepted to both Northeastern (Boston) and Johns Hopkins (Baltimore), I need to decided which is the better fit. If Johns Hopkins was in Boston, this would not even be a contest. So here are my pros and cons for each:

Boston

Pros: Ka-Ryn and Stephanie live there, the accent, loads of fun college kids, I love Good Will Hunting and The Departed, better neighborhoods, living in Boston is better than Baltimore

Cons: Pretending to care more about Boston teams, loads of SMART college kids

Baltimore

Pros: Drugs, having black friends I can watch Tyler Perry movies with, visiting the bakery Charm City Cakes from Aces of Cakes, dancing at the Maryland School of Arts with the Step Up kids, Alison and David might move there

Cons: Drugs, crime, telling people I live in Baltimore

Dieting

me: so how is your diet going? lets say whoever starves themselves and dies...wins

Meggan: omg I love that idea I am so damn cranky

me: me too! i had raisens and soy milk for breakfast

Meggan: I have had a lemon propel

me: thats ALLL? you are totally winning

Meggan: ...except for I'm going to be so starving by 10 tonight that I'm going to binge like crazy. that'll be fun

me: i do that too! i am good all day and then come home and eat everything i can find

Meggan: that is what is worrying me the most I'm going home for lunch in a minute to fix a sammich

me: but if you only have healthy food at home...that it is okay to binge...right?

Meggan: I don't really know, I'm new to this healthy world

me: i mean, i am sure binging on flax seed and yams is okay

Meggan: I want to kill myself

me: hahaha i am thinking surgery is more practical for me then dieting

Meggan: amen

me: how much do you think it runs? and which is better...lipo or stapling your stomach?


Meggan: if I had to guess, I would say that the most drastic results happen when you do both

me: maybe they have a 2 or 1 deal...like Payless

Meggan: BOGO

me: yup

Meggan: I want you to post this conversation on your blog

me: haha. maybe i will