Lessons Learned

Ok so the weather is finally warming up and spring seems to have finally arrived in Logan. I love the warm weather and am excited to enjoy yet another summer in Logan. As the weather warms up and people are emerging from hibernation, it could only mean that one this is upon us...finals and the end of another school year!

Now I know that most of you are thinking...come on Lex, you've graduate...you don't need to worry about finals. And you are right...but for the past I don't know how many years....I've looked forward to this week. Let's be honest...it took me longer to graduate than other people. I graduated high school in 2000 and finally finished my undergraduate in May 2007. Now I did take a year and a half off to go on a mission, but it still felt like I was in college forever. In reality I was only in school fro 4.5 years, so that isn't bad.Was it worth it? Absolutely! There are things I learned while in college that I wouldn't have learned elsewhere. Like who knew that shooting a cupcake from a skeet shooter would destroy the cupcake upon launch? We learned that the hard way...the only way to really launch a cupcake was to throw it.
I learned that everything is better with chocolate and friends. Whether it was having a chocolate fountain party or home made pazookies, if there is chocolate and friends involved...it is bound to be a good time.

I've learned that mentos and dry ice really do make a large bang when combined and placed in a 2-liter soda bottle. You might not think that it does, but you will be surprised. And when I say a large bang...I really mean a LARGE bang, so plug your ears.

I learned an important lesson about roommate bonding. Don't ever try and come between three roommates. When placed with the dilema of kicking one of the three out of the apartment, they will go to extreme odds to stay together. That includes trashing the apartment so that the "clean freak" that wants to move in (and kick someone else out in the process) sees the apartment she is forced to change her mind.

Like I said, was it worth it? Absolutely. The student loans needed, the hours of studying, working part time along the way, all nighters to cram for a test, and then being so tired you sleep through class is what college is all about. Where else would I have learned these valuable lessons?

Becoming a betting individual

Since I was so good at picking the winner of the NCAA tournament I thought I would take my odds to Vegas. I felt like I was on a winning streak so I called into the office and told them that I wasn't going to be in for a couple of days, jumped in the car and 7.5 hours later showed up in Vegas.
Luckily I have a friend who lives right outside of Vegas who was willing to let us crash in her spare room. Here is a shout out to Lisa...thanks for letting Lori and I crash there. It was great. We will definitely have to do it again.

While in Vegas we hit the strip in hopes of using my recently found talent (picking a winning school...there were 1 in 64 chances don't you know) to hopefully get a little money to pay of my student loans.

While on the strip we stopped by the Bellagio Hotel and saw the amazing fountain. I was blown away to watch the streams of water as they shot into the air set to different songs. We probably spent about 30 minutes in front of the hotel watching the different water songs they had going. If you have never been to Vegas...this is definitely worth the drive. I was so amazed at what they were able to do with a fountain of water that I completely forgot to put to use my amazing talent. Maybe I can save that for the next trip.

Taking a moment to gloat

Ok, so I have to admit that I have been a slacker as of late. I haven't taken many photos in the past few months...hence the lack of entries..and basketball has been my life for the past month. I would like to take a moment to add to my glory and say that I did in fact pick KU to win it all. The day of the game I was emailing back and forth with some of my friends and I even picked KU to win by 8. I know they only won by 7...but not to shabby. So here is a shout out to my team.

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWKS....KU!

This is why I love March

I don't know who has been following the madness of March...but this is why I love it. This is what it is all about. What Cinderella team can carry their team to new heights? I mean come one...who has ever heard of Siena? Who is this Stephen Curry kid and why is he averaging 35 points a game? Western Kentucky...you must be mistaken...you mean the Kentucky Wildcats. Who would have thought that Kentucky would have a team in the tourney and it wouldn't be the Wildcats? And I went out on a limb and actually chose Villanova...just because I like their uniforms :)

Let the madness begin!

There is a time in year...where everything just seems to be going right. During this particular time of year it seems like nothing can go wrong. Of course that all changes when your team loses, but until that happens everything is good and right in the world. You don't even mind if your team loses, as long as it is a good game. But given the time of year, you can't stay upset for long. After all, there is just too much goodness going on, to stay mad. Of course I am talking about March Madness. It is the one time of year that I can turn on the TV at any time and watch as much basketball as you want!

It is the only time of year you can sit on the couch and watch for hours as teams battle it out with more heart than the NBA has put together. It is the only time of year that you can't wait for the clock to show your team down by 1 with :10 seconds left and your favorite player with the ball in his hand.It's the only time of year that makes you so anxious you don't know what to do. You can't sit still, so you get up and start pacing the front room. Soon your heart is beating so quickly that you feel like you've been running up and down the court with those players. Depending on who has the ball, those last :10 seconds can seem like an eternity or a blink of an eye. It is the only time of year that sends grown boys into elation or tears depending on how the ball falls.

It is the only time of year when the sound of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" can send chills down your spine and you long to be sitting in the stands and chanting with the rest of them and the sight of this has the same spine chilling effect...but in a negative way.
And when it all comes down to it, it is the only time of year that you can't wait until the final game. Let's be honest...even if your team isn't in it anymore you're still going to watch. Because you know there will be plenty of good basketball to see. Just to watch someone cut down the nets and know that they are the best is what March Madness is all about.And finally, it is the only time of year that you can see that the players play for the love of the game and not for the love of money. In a world that is full of billion dollar contracts, it is nice to know that there are people out there who really do love basketball...simply because it is basketball. To those individuals I say thank you. Thanks for making this the best time of year.
And to the rest of the world I say....let the madness begin!!!