You Just Gotta Belize This

So, I am in Belize. I have so much to tell, but don't really have time right now to tell it. I cannot believe the amazing things that have happened, what I have experienced, and what I know is yet to come.

Considering the fact that I barely knew I what I was doing coming to Belize, I know many of you think PwC flew us down here for an over-the-top hurrah for the interns thing. Quite the contrary, my friends. It appears we are making quite the stir. Check out the link below, and tune in for a later post :)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25461664/

Sally and Me

Do you remember how easy life was in elementary school? All you wanted to do was be a good kid, because heaven forbid the consequence if you misbehaved.

Well this morning I was waiting in the BART line along with all the other morning commuters to win the silent battle of getting a seat for the 45 minute train ride. I got to the station a little early and was feeling quite victorious.

Then this girl (whom we will call Sally) walks up, looks me in the eye, and walks right in front of me in line and stays there. I can't believe it! She just cut in line!!!! She can NOT be serious! Oh, but Sally was. She looked back at me one more time, gave a little smirk, and continued drinking her coffee acting as if nothing had happened. Sure enough, when our train came, I was defeated; Sally got to sit and I was left to stand for the bumpy ride to the city.

This was one of those mornings I wished I was back in elementary school. Life was so much simpler. I woud have raised my hand, told my teacher that Sally cut in line (which every elementary school kid knows is one of the worst offenses you could ever commit), and Sally would have had to move to the back of the line. I would have gotten a seat, and Sally most definitely would not have gotten her daily gold star on the class's sticker star chart.

Viva La Vida

Occassionally a new CD is released that I don't see as a total waste of money. Last week while in L.A. I stopped by the Virgin Megastore and bought Coldplay's new album, "Viva La Vida or Death and All It's Friends." Now this is one CD that is, well, to die for. (Get it? Hahaha...)

Anyway, I feel like this album is my new anthem for the summer. It... is... incredible. When I listen to the album, as I have been 24/7 for the last week, it takes everything I have to not bust a move in the middle of the train station... or something. (Although I'm sure everyone would love to see me "bust a move"--I've heard it's pretty humorous).

I really respect this band (which is aside from my big fat crush I have on Chris Martin, who can be seen in the picture below).

It seems that they can do no wrong--everything they release receives really positive reviews. I personally think it is a mix of musical genious and boldness. They are not afraid to try new things. It's refreshing to have a band break away from the annoying hip hop crowd.

I do not lie when I say every track is amazing. I love them all. Specifically, Death and All It's Friends, Lost, 42, and Violet Hill. But one in particular is my favorite (at least for today). It talks about that 'perfect day' that I think we all hope for every time we wake up. It's called "Strawberry Swing." There is a line in there that I love: "Now the sky could be blue, I don't mind, without you it's a waste of time. Could be blue, could be grey, without you I'm just miles away." Anyway, its a great song.

Whether you choose to listen or not, just know that Coldplay released a rockin' album that is my new favorite.

Alarm Clock Woes

So I think I have this disease that, no matter how hard I try, anytime I have a "big day" coming up I will sleep in.

That moment when you finally wake up, it's like you already know. You don't even need to look at the clock. There is this indescribable panic deep inside because you know you slept in. I think that may be one of the worst feelings in the world.

I have never been that much of a morning person. OK, let me rephrase that, I have a REALLY hard time waking up. In high school when I had to get up for early morning seminary, I had three alarms. Yes, count them, three alarms. One was next to my bed blaring some radio station, another across the room with the annoying "beep beep beep" we all hate, and if you can believe it one in the bed with me (a stuffed animal named Willy that vibrated and yelled "waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake up!"). You'd think any normal person would jump out of bed with such an ensemble. Nope, not me. I would continue to sleep as snug as a bug in a rug until my mom would come down. It became our morning ritual: me sleeping soundly through 3 incredibly loud alarms and her walking down the stairs 15 minutes before I was supposed to be at the church yelling for me to wake up.

Well, I left home and had to teach myself to wake up. I really am pretty good most of the time--that is, except when it really matters. I cannot count how many planes I have almost missed. I can often be seen practically sprinting to early morning classes when I have a big presentation or something. And I almost slept through a final last semester if it hadn't been for a most divinely inspired phone call.

So, that brings me to today... my first day of work. After some incredibly fast scrambling around and help from my beloved grandma, I ended up making it on time and had a wonderful, slightly long, but wonderful first day at PwC.

And that is my story.

Small accomplishments

I like to think of life as a conglomerate of little accomplishments. Sometimes they may take a little longer to achieve; eventually, however, they can be done. I would like to say I had a few accomplishments this weekend.

First accomplishment: learning BART. It needs to be said that America sucks in the whole public transportation department compared to our friends in Europe. But ah well, Bart will still save me time and money (I think). So my grandparents and I took Bart for a test run into the city. There was this HUGE farmers market on the water. IT... WAS... AWESOME. The picture to the left is a shot of this farmers market (the man in the burgundy shirt is my grandpa bob--great guy, you should get to know him).

Second accomplishment: tackling, and for the most part, conquering the California freeways. Wowee! These people are intense... especially coming from my laid back driving experience in good ol' Spokane where we have a ONE freeway. I only had to pull out the map a few times!! I was meeting my good friend Kim Paul at Golden Gate Park, who just happened to be in San Fran for the weekend. We had such a fun day acting like true tourists in a city full of culture, history, and astounding scenery. I was on cloud nine. We went to Golden Gate park, Coit tower, Telegraph Hill (which is in the picture to the right), Lombard street, Ghiradelli Factory (mmm....), St. Peter and Paul's church, and Little Italy. We went everywhere... which brings me to my next point...

Third accomplishment: driving a stick in San Francisco! Have you ever SEEN these hills?!? Yeah, just take my word... steepest hills a stick driver will ever encounter.

This is a pic I took from the top of Coit tower....

Fourth accomplishment: going to a new ward! Although I have to say, this experience wasn't so much an accomplishment as it was a miracle. Without getting too mushy or spiritual on you, today I was reminded of how much the Lord loves me and is taking care of me. Sometimes I feel like He has to hit me on the head to remind me, but He gets through. I got out of my car, took a deep breath, and confidently open the doors into the church building. Who is the first person I see? Jake Rice... a kid from my Enclave ward in Provo. WHAT?!?! Am I in the wrong city?? I seriously was so confused. Then I turn around, Kevin, another friend from accounting and whatnot is standing to my right. After sacrament I see Paul Broadbent, another friend from the Enclave. THEN I am sitting in this room where all the new people were sent, and the girl leading the little meeting was the girl who took me to my pre-interview dinner for P-dub last November. What is going on?! Later on I met another guy working at my office, two guys working at KPMG, two girls from my freshman ward, and a girl who knows two of my past roommates. It was.... amazing. I left church never feeling so loved and comforted. I don't know why I got so lucky. Either way, I am very grateful and excited for what is to come.

So how am I liking San Francisco? As you can see below, I give it a big thumbs up.

Hello world!

Allright. I caved in. I created a blog.

After months of being pressured by friends, I gave into good ol' blogspot. Although, I have to be honest... I'm surprisingly really excited about doing this.

I am starting this crazy big, incredibly scary, yet awesomely exciting new chapter in my life this summer. I am now coming to the close of my first week at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the company I am doing my internship with this summer. Formalities aside, I like to refer to it as P dub, like a friend or something. I am in LA this week for training. It's been long and kind of boring, but I managed to throw some fun in there and made some good friends. It's exciting to be a part of this company that I know is incredibly respected and successful--I just hope I live up to the expectations!

At 1:00 today I am leaving Hollywood boulevard and catchin a plane to San Francisco!! Now this is where the scary stuff really starts. For some odd reason I am really nervous about this. San Fran is HUGE! I am from good ol' Spokane! I don't know ANYONE besides my grandparents/aunt and uncle. So I'm just supposed to show up to some ward on Sunday and meet people? Umm... Ok? To some, my little plight may seem superfluous and invalid, but everyone has their things to deal with. So anyway, those are my fears. Yep, they are out there for anyone who reads this.

But no need to worry guys--I'm actually really stoked. I know that it will all work out and that there is a reason I am in San Francisco. It's going to be awesome! I'm excited to explore the city and meet people and eat things and have fun and work hard and do taxes (yes, I'm excited for this) and make money and learn a lot.

To end my rambling and probably the longest first blog that blogspot.com has ever encountered, stay tuned for my adventures in the city by the bay!!