Thursday, November 15, 2012

Lisa Melvin: The Wounded

Alrighty. You knew it was coming. Consider this a warning. There will be pictures... the same pictures you saw on facebook, if we are friends, if not? They aren't that bad.

Who? Me.
What? My knee wound.
Where? The Marriott Center.
When? Tuesday night.
How????

So as I mentioned in my last post, I am now part of the coveted front row group. We went early on tuesday to wait for our front row seats.. About ten minutes before the game started Ari leaned over to me and suggested we go get a drink and go to the bathroom. I figured that was a good idea. Little did I know, agreeing to making the hike up those stairs would render me unable to dance for a week... boo! So Ari takes off. She scampered up those stairs like little bunny. I was doing my best to attempt to catch up but to no avail.. rather, I ended up stubbing my toe into one of the stairs followed by my knee. It went right into the corner/pointy part of the stair. Pretty hard too! Embarrassed, I jumped up and ran the rest of the way up so I wouldn't have to face the probably laughing faces of those in the general area that could have seen my clumsiness. Ari was standing there waiting at the top for me... So I limped to the drinking fountain as I explained to her that I would have a severely bruised knee for the next couple days. We then enter the bathroom and I didn't have to go so I was minding my own business waiting for her to wash her hands when I decided that it would be in my best interests to use the toilet while I was there so I didn't have to make the trek back up there again during the game. As I sat down, I decided to inspect my now throbbing knee. To my surprise, there was a decent sized bloody hole there.. I said, "Ari. Uh. Ari. I think you should see this. Ari?" I pulled up my pants and walked out of the stall to try to show her but I was wearing skinny jeans that refused to be pulled up so high. I then made her come into the stall with me so that I could show her the damage that the stair had done. She gets squeemish with blood so she didn't like it. I actually thought it was cool. After a little bit of painful wandering, we located the first aid. I informed them that they were not cutting my pants. We tried to roll up my pant leg but that was just not happening so finally they left the room while I removed my now bloodied pants and wrapped myself in a blanket. Two awkward boys inspected the wound (might I add that my legs were embarrassingly hairy) while I sat there in a blanket.. They put something in it to kinda clean it out and told me that I would need stitches in the next 24 hours. I told them that I wasn't going to miss this game because I had waited in line for a long time.. So after they bandaged me up, I walked back down and took my position on the front row to cheer on my Cougs. I stood on my leg for the rest of the night which probably wasn't so smart but YOLO. Ha. I take that back.. that was ugly. Moving on! After we beat Georgia State, my friend took me to Urgent Care. I have bruised meniscus, had to get a tetanus shot, and gots me 4 stitches I think.. I'm not entirely sure how many there is because they sewed it shut from the inside too so I can only see 2 of em. I watched them sew the hole closed and boy was that ever cool! The doctor was kind of a smart aleck but the nurse was very nice. Thank you Nurse Beatrice and Dr. David Miller for fixing my leg. We named the wound Lisa Melvin. If it scars, it will always be known as Lisa Melvin :)
Ari and I with Brandon Davies. Just call us his wingmen. 

She held my hand the whole time! I actually think she was more scared than I was.


Front Row with the roomies!

Before the stitches. Nice to meet you Lisa Melvin!


And there is the how.

With this small injury I am once again reminded how blessed I really am. As a dancer, I have always been grateful for the body that I have been given but it takes times like this when I can't dance or that I'm slightly unhealthy, that I take a step back and am reminded that I have a wonderful, working, strong, and healthy body. When I the doctor was first inspecting the gash, he did some tests on my knee where he pushed and pulled my lower leg different directions to check if the ligaments were all working right. That's when I realized that this could actually be something serious and it wasn't just a grand adventure. I thought, "Please oh please let everything be working right." Had something in my knee been messed up, I would have been devastated. I have seen dancers that have had knee injuries and it just keeps coming back to haunt them. I am so grateful that this little injury is just that, LITTLE and that my body is awesome and can heal itself. How fetching cool is that? Our bodies are magnificent. Anatomy has given me a lot to think about.

Anywayyyyyyy, Lisa Melvin is doing fine now. I still have it bandaged and I can't really bend my leg all that great. I'm scared that it'll just pull it open again.. gross. But I'm managing fine :) It was quite the adventure really and could not have happened at a better time. Why? Because I go back to the motherland tomorrow! I can't wait! Its going to be a looooong drive with my leg having to be somewhat straight. I figure I'll stay up late tonight and sleep most of the way tomorrow. Lets hope its not too terribly uncomfortable.

Over and out.
Xoxo.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Once a cougar, always a cougar..

Can I begin this post by expressing my love for this school? I LOVE BYU! I loved BYU before last night but I just love it even more so now. "Why?" you ask. Let me show you via pictures taken by BYU and also my bestie, Arielle Anne. 

BYU basketball is one of my favourite things. I just love love love it. Basketball season always just gives me a giddy feeling. It reminds me of my childhood when I'd be getting all excited to get on the bus with the team to travel to the games with em. It reminds me of eating the staffroom food. Obsessing over the dance team and their star stickers. It also makes summer being over bearable. (Although I will add that I have had a change of heart these last 2 years and can now say that I enjoy the snow so winter isn't all that bad anymore.) Back to the topic at hand.. I have never been one of those people who will camp out in the wet, cold, blowing snow to get a good seat at a game buttttttttt after the blast I had yesterday on the 2nd row, things are about to change. You see with my family in Canada, they try to watch all the BYU games when they are on ESPN and if they aren't on ESPN, they'll watch em on BYUtv. I always try to get on the jumbotron for them. Its my goal at every game and despite my efforts, which may or may not include making numerous ugly faces, bouncing up and down until I cannot do it any longer and also dancing like a mad woman, I can never get on the blasted screen. I discovered yesterday that it is a lot easier when you are up at the front, right where the camera is. That way, I can just yell at the camera man asking him to put me on the big screen.

That fist in the bottom right corner with the black scrunchie is mine :) 

Last night began at 3 in the afternoon actually. Arielle and I arrived at the Marriott Center for the girls game. I don't usually attend girls basketball games *insert sheepish look here* I have just never been a fan of girls ball. But this year I'm gonna try harder.. Not particularly because I suddenly enjoy watching girls ball, but because there are perks of going to the games. Plus, the team is pretty good! We were allowed to keep our seats we had at the girls game for the boys game after. We got there on time so we were fortunate enough to be sitting on the 3rd row to begin with, then we worked our way to the second row. 


The marketing team for BYU sports are in charge of getting the fans noticed. We got to be friends with Harry. Twas a grand ol' time casting spells on the Tennessee Tigers. Expecto Patronum! 

Like I said, the marketing team helps out with getting the fans on tv and such so to our newbies-on-the-second-row surprise, they started handing out blank posters and sharpies to make signs with. Ari, the creative genius, came up with the Yee-Haws deal and it stuck. She made the poster while I watched for moral support. Then during one of the time outs of the girls game, the cheerleaders had people go onto the court to do the chicken dance. I was alllllll over that. SO FUN! I can now say that I have danced on the Marriott Center court and even though it was just the chicken dance, it still counts. You know I gave it my all :) My friend Adam videoed us dancing. I'll have to share that another time.. During the girls game, I also got on the jumbotron during the 'show your muscles' part. I flexed and they couldn't resist putting my guns up there for everyone to see! 

Loving life with my bestie!

After the girls game, we still had two hours to hang out in our seats before the guys game. We spent this time getting acquainted with the other fans. We met some really cool, fun people! This time between games was also spent watching a video introducing the new name for the student section. The ROC! Roar Of Cougars. I LOVE IT! They handed out free shirts to everyone in the student section *shirts seen wearing above* When the team runs out onto the court to begin warmups, they touch a large rock that was cut out of Y mountain. After the game, some of the marketing team wheeled it over to us and I got to touch it. Special moment in my life. 

This poster was Ari's idea and it caught on like wild fire! Everyone would scream "Yee-Haws" when Tyler Haws would score or do anything awesome for that matter. 

Ok, continuing the story. The game was caaaraaazy! The fans that we were with were so into the game the entire time. We got to hold Harry Potter, as you saw above, and the marketing team also handed out  a bunch of long skinny balloons that we could wave around. They also had a bunch of other cardboard cut outs of people such as Ron Weasley, Justin Bieber, and Beauty and the Beast just to name a few. There were a bunch of new cheer things that we were supposed to do and it was really fun learning them and seeing the entire student section get involved! One of my favorites is Roll Call. We do it before the game while the team is warming up and there is a certain chant we yell for each player and we keep yelling it until they acknowledge the crowd. 

Some of the crazy cardboard cut outs and balloons. I am also in this picture. Bottom right hand corner. Behind the 3 boys in white on the front row. You can kinda see me yelling behind them :)

Now for one of my favorite parts, the group in front of us at the game was a really fun group of enthusiastic fans. My kind of people. Apparently they camp out before every game, do shifts and such. And when I say camp out, I mean camp out in a tent with space heaters, a tv, and nintendo 64. Cool right? Well, it just so happens that they really liked Ari and me and inducted us into their group. We are now part of the front row group and will sit on the front row/second row at every game from now on. So pumped! 

So there ya have it folks. I'm a true blue Cougar through and through. Always have been, always will be! Raw, raw, raw, raw, raw! Goooooooooooo Cougars!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Holiday Season Bucket List

At our house the Holidays have begun! We keep saying a bunch of things that we want to do so I thought I'd write em down so that we don't forget anything. Happy Holidays!
Drink hot chocolate in the following flavors: 
Peppermint
Rolo
Dark Belgium Chocolate
Milk Chocolate
French Vanilla
Go see the Temple Square lights in Salt Lake City
Ice Skating
Carollama (Caroling with a llama)
Music Video 
Make a Christmas card and send them to everyone
Gift exchange with the roomies
Hang Stockings
Watch A Christmas Story

Read The Christmas Promise: Couldn't find a picture of this particular book... and I couldn't remember who it is written by. Its the BEST BOOK EVER though!

Take Christmas Pictures

Build a snowman or a thousand

Have a snowball fight: This will be my opponent.

Sledding

Make and wear Christmas sweaters

Paint Christmas nails

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Once upon a time I went home for a weekend. It was a FABULOUS get away and just what I needed. Michelle and Kennzie and I jumped in the car at this time two weeks ago and drove through the night. We arrived at about 4 a.m. and I have never been so excited to see the temple! Everyone in my family knew I was coming with the exception of Camrie. Matlin convinced Cam to sleep in my bed that night so in the early a.m. I snuck into bed with her. My dad woke her up at 7:15 for school and in her state of half-awake half-asleepness she said, "I thought Matlin said she was gonna sleep in her bed last night." My dad then responded by telling her that it wasn't Mattie in bed with her. That didn't register the first time so he said again, "Did you hear me? That's not Matlin." Camrie then turns to me, where I'm just laying there staring at her waiting for her reaction to the surprise and *POUNCE*. She lept right on top of me with the best hug I've had in a while! She screamed, "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING HOME SO SOON!" Needless to say, she was so excited and so was I. 

Matlin, my little superstar athlete sister, has been playing varsity volleyball and it just so happened that she was playing a tournament in Magrath that weekend as well so we spend the majority of our time watching her play. I realized that this may be my only time I will ever watch her play high school volleyball :( Sad realization! I loved watching her! She is so stinking talented! I also got to go to the dance studio and spend some time teaching Camrie, Miss Jodi, and my mom some choreography that I have been learning this semester in my dance classes. It was really fun to teach them some knew tricks and such. Sunday morning we said goodbye for a month and I am happy to report that I am going home again in two weeks for American Thanksgiving and I cannot wait! There is just something about going home. It is truly where my heart is and I think it'll always be there. 

In the meantime, I have been busy since I've been back at school. Busy with midterm after midterm. Studying like crazy! I've also found a decent balance between schoolwork and playtime. Yesterday being Halloween, I dressed up a couple times for different parties so here be some pictures and such of what I've been up to not only this last week with Halloween, but the entire semester. 

This is a link to my cousins blog where you can see pictures of the Murder Mystery Dinner they put on.  SO FUN! 

Ready for the BYU Homecoming Football game!
Brazil Fest in Salt Lake.. this was a loooong time ago. 
After the first BYU basketball game at In&Out. Its tradition to take a picture like this..
Stake carnival activity with a super fun slip and slide!
"I love football! I love football!" Name that movie. 
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! I ate half of that pie all on my own!
1950's themed murder mystery party "Greased at the Diner" 
When I get bored or need a break, I edit pictures. 

Aye Aye Captain!
Happy Halloween



Happy Thursday lovelies!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

the cycle

I am a stress case. I am taking 17 credits. One of my classes is Human Anatomy. It was really stupid of me to take anatomy with so many other classes because it takes up all of my life. I have been stressed to the point where I have begun to get an ulcer again, among other things. Don't worry, I went to the doctor and I've got pills to make me better but the stress just keeps coming back. Just when I think I'm back on top of things 3 other tests and papers pop up and it all begins again. It's making me super emotional. I cry all the time -- in the past two weeks I think I've cried 6 times, which is a lot for me. Recently, my dance teacher told me that I need to relax. I am holding tension in my shoulders and I have a tendency to rush things because I'm always 'go go goooooo' kinda deal. Not good. My music for dancers teach told me that I need to relax when I'm playing on the drum because I have a tendency to rush and that makes me tense up and then the accents aren't working. So right when I think that my dance classes aren't giving me grief, I realize that the stress from my other classes is factoring into my classes that I should have no problem with. And this is making me even more stressed because I don't know how to relax. There is something wrong with me and I don't know how to fix it. Its making me more stressed. More stomach acid. More ulcer. More pain. More stress. THIS CYCLE NEEDS TO STOP! I'm at the halfway point of the semester and how I've survived this long I'll never know.. Here's to surviving the second half! I can do this! 
This is me.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving Peeps!


The irony is killing me -- the day I'm most homesick out of the year is the day that reminds us of all the things we have to be thankful for. HA! Its a good joke! Its this way for a reason though. That reason being that I, specifically, need a reminder of all the things I have to be grateful for not just this one day, but every day.
I am eternally grateful for the forever family that I have to be missing today and every day.
I am grateful to have been blessed enough to always have two huuuuuge thanksgiving dinners every year. One with the McMurray's and one with the Cosgroves. I love spending time with these people!
I am grateful to be where I am on this thanksgiving, spending it with my wonderful roommates who feel like family and remind me that I am loved.
I am grateful, especially after this last week to be dancing here at BYU -- I got the opportunity to dance with the Paul Taylor dance company twice, as well as dance with the Beijing Dance Academy twice. Also, I'm grateful for the opportunity to have access to the dance training room (Did you know that BYU is one of the only schools in the country with a dance training room? Ya. Awesome.) specifically, Ron Nutall who fixes me when I am broken and always makes me feel good about myself.
I am grateful for my little greaser phone. It really is a piece.. a brick if you will, but it connects me to my family in Canada, so I love it regardless. aaand it has a pink case so that makes it bearable.
I am grateful for Arielle Anne Harrison aka Sebastian. She is just a ray of sunshine in my life. Some people would hate having to share a room but I love it because she makes it fun. She always knows what to say to make my day go better and gives great advice, unlike myself. And one of my favorite things about Bastchy is that no matter what kind of awful day she is having, she makes sure those around her are happy before she worries about herself.
I am grateful for the chance I had to spend the weekend with my brother and Ethan. It was so fun to have them here! It took a little bit of the homesickness away :)
I am grateful for Canadian chocolate -- smarties, coffee crisp, and aeros. Even the kit kats are better in Canada.
I am grateful for my "hot thing" that my mom sent down with Craig because my apartment's heat does not work at the moment and I am constantly freeeeeeezing. (Its getting fixed tomorrow probably. I'm grateful for that too.)
I am grateful for the opportunity I had this weekend to watch General Conference and to attend the sunday afternoon session. I am grateful for the Prophet. I am grateful for the words that were spoken and the testimonies born this weekend. I am so grateful for the atonement. I am so grateful that I can live with my family for time and all eternity -- nothing sounds better to me. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to get married in the temple someday for time and all eternity. I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that I have been blessed with and the many opportunities that I have to learn more about it each and every day. I am so grateful for the hand of the Lord in my life.
I live the best life, don't I? Here's to pumpkin pie with a sinful amount of whipped cream. Happy Thanksgiving!

Ps. Isn't fall just the most charming season? I've never really liked it all that much before but I'm seriously enjoying it this year. It is b-b-b-beautiful!

Sunday, September 16, 2012