It's almost over

Tomorrow's the last day of my undergraduate classes...scary. It's not real yet; it really isn't. Then again, I'll be starting classes again the the fall...just somewhere new..different culture...way different (what I'm going to do with beards, miniskirts, and no more editorials about the sinfulness of showing collarbone or voting for Obama). As much as I complain about the "unique" culture here at BYU at times, it really is that, unique. At no other time will I live among so many people with the same religious beliefs. Yes, we make fun of it, but we can, because it's us (ever been to Divine Comedy anyone?). I'm going to miss it. I really am, but we can't stay in the "bubble" forever, and two weeks from now, it's going to pop, probably permenantly, but it's ok, I like being peculiar.

Snarky

Sometimes scrolling down my newsfeed on Facebook makes me feel like a mean person. I find myself making snarky comments silently as I skim the latest updates: the statuses, photos, and don't get me started on your latest version of Farmville. Sometimes I just can't believe the things people put up there...just saying.

Anyway...apparently I'm not the only one. Here's a part of the list from a CNN article.

The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore. "I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.
The Self-Promoter. OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.
The TMIer. "Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.
The Bad Grammarian. "So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.
The Sympathy-Baiter. "Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention..
The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.
The Obscurist. "If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.


Oh well...then again..what else would entertain me during my breaks? :)

See you later Grandma Margaret!

Earlier this week, my Grandma Margaret passed away. I'm not really sad; she had been deteriorating mentally for a long time and physically recently and just been so lonely and scared since my Grandpa passed away 17 years ago. I'm glad though, that Pieter and I got to go up this summer and visit her. One of my favorite memories of her was at my wedding. If you knew my Grandma, you knew that she always had TicTacs in her purse and gave them out as candies to everyone. It didn't matter if you were about to eat, at church, or just playing at her house, she would always start shaking out TicTacs. Well, during the pictures at my wedding she hurried over to me give me a TicTac. I'm so glad that the photographer was able to grab this shot, which is one of my favorite ones from that day

At the funeral, I got to see all but 2 of my cousins some of which I hadn't seen in forever.

Hearing everyone's favorite memories and knowing  and hearing testimonies that she's not gone forever comforting. Also, my dad and his brothers sang in a quartet that one of them had written and arranged which was magical, that's the only cheesy word I have to describe it. They're all extremely musically trained, great singers but don't ever get together and sing because of distance and that they had to do it a lot when they were little. I just wish someone had gotten a recording.

Just Keeps Getting Better

Yesterday, Pieter got an email from the University of Pittsburgh as well....

HE GOT ACCEPTED TOO!!!

We're super super excited right now! This means that we can both go to grad school, and we'll almost for sure be back east next year (SF was the back up). Tonight we've been looking at the neighborhood and apartments. Neither of us have ever lived right in a big city before so it's really exciting and a little scary. If anyone has any recommendations or knows anyone there to give advice on good/bad places to live, we'd really appreciate it! Especially since Pieter's never been there, and the last time I was there, I was 11 and all I remember was playing the "This is where Mom and Dad used to live 40 years ago" game. Of course it's not 100% that we'll be there; we're still waiting on DC

Dear Ms Mueller, We are pleased...

So I've been really nervous, like really, really. I just want to thank and at the same time apologize to all of you who have patiently listened to me stress over the last few weeks. At the beginning of last week, I all of a sudden started feeling really calm and of course, that chance made me a little anxious when I realized it. Thursday, I was talking to a friend in lab and he mentioned that he'd gone out to interview at Pitt 3 weeks ago. I tried to be happy for him, but on the inside I was really bummed. It confirmed to me that interviews had come and gone, and I didn't get one. It seemed that one more rejection loomed. I called my mom and shared my disappointment while making muffins for a class presentation the next day. My presentation went well and I went to my other two classes. After that I was done for the day and I started to go home. When I reached the door, I saw Pieter standing outside the door...I was a little puzzled being as I don't think anyone wanders into the MARB for fun and Pieter had never been to my class and I assumed didn't know where it was (Turns out I owe him finding me to some clever RouteY stalking!) He was beaming holding an envelope. I ripped it open and found out that I got accepted to the Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology at University of Pittsburgh!!!

The envelope had gotten mangled in the mail and ripped open a bit, allowing Pieter to read "We are pleased..." and it was a thick envelope (those thin ones are never good). He rushed to campus 2 hours before his classes to be able to give it to me. Isn't he sweet?

After that, things are a little spazzy hazy. I ran back into my class and stuttered out my good news. Apparently, I was skipping over to my lab while on the phone with my parents to take my plates out of the incubator. Excitement, giddyness, relief.

They wanted me! That reassured my confidence and the support and congratulations that have poured out from my friends and family have been incredible. I'm blown away by the number to people who are excited for us. I don't know yet if I'll go to the University of Pittsburgh; it's an excellent program(#11 in the country) but I'm still waiting on 3 other schools and Pieter's waiting on all of his since they were due later. Since we both want to go to graduate school, we have to see who'll accept both of us, but right now I'm just happy to ride the wave of excitement that I feel right now.

PS Oh and I'm supposed to tell you all that that night when Pieter offered to take me out for dessert to celebrate (I'd much prefer to go out to dessert than to dinner...one of my Leslieisms), when given the choice of anywhere, I asked if we could go to the grocery store. Pieter questioned my strange choice but went along with it. So we went, and got fudge cake from the bakery and ice cream. Pieter is still shaking his head.