BYU Flashback: Bocelli and the JFSB

My brother begins his college career and freshman year tomorrow at

 BYU (Brigham Young University), my alma mater!

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I'm ecstatic. I'm sad I'm not there to help him get settled in but I'll pass on that role to our mom and our brother (who will be a senior this year!!!) and his wife. I have, however, gotten to take part in it from afar answering frantic phone calls about where the WILK is, where he gets his ID, where the ASB is, where the best grocery story is, etc. I've given my bro a list of places he has to eat, things to look forward to, and a few tips of things not to do, you know, trying to pass on some sage wisdom from an alum. 

I know he'll love it. 

Anyway.

I was listening to some classical music today. Yes, I like--nay, love--classical music. Right now it's Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker soundtrack. Love it. Anyway. Occasionally a Bocelli track or a Josh Groban will play and since I've been doing a lot of reminiscing this weekend about my days at BYU, I thought I'd share one with you all. Don't act surprised when you get to the end.

I did not like studying in the library. I went there often, but I was not my favorite place to study. The building LOOKS pretty...and it is. But don't let that fool you.

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First of all it was always cold. Second of all, I was always hungry when I was studying but unless I was in the snack zone (aka the talk zone), I had to stealthily sneak food and that was just annoying. I know, I know, I could have left and ate somewhere but hello!, I didn't have time for that. Third of all I had to find a new study spot/floor every semester. Weird, I know, but it had to be done. Until...I found a great spot my junior year on the 5th floor (the top floor). It had the most windows and therefore the most light, which makes for a very happy Gabe. Plus I felt like it was the most removed from constant traffic and so it was (theoretically) quieter and more pleasant than the other floors. Well. It was until all of the sudden all the "cool" accounting kids and their friends turned my beloved floor  into flirting central/social hour every hour. 

FOR THE LOVE. 

Yeah. Not happy about that. AT ALL.

So I moved. I tried the Eyring Science Center (my major building), but it was too noisy and busy in there. It just didn't feel right. I tried my apartment but that's a baaaaaaaaaaad idea. Too distracting and plus, when I came home I wanted to be done (mostly, let's face it, in college you are never done) with the day. 

And then.

I don't know how I discovered this but one day I was in the JFSB (Joseph F. Smith Building) on the 4th floor and I found my spot. Let's back up for a sec. This building is probably one of, if not my absolute, favorite. It's beautiful. 

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It has a courtyard. WITH a fountain.
AND a spiral staircase!!!

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Now. Get this.

In the above picture, see where it looks like there is a light colored rectangle in the middle? Those are sitting areas. With comfy couches, plush chairs, and table and chairs. THIS is where I delighted in studying. 

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It was so quiet, cozy, and bright. There was artwork on the walls, lamps on side tables, a thick, ornate rug on the floor, and my favorite thing, a HUGE floor to ceiling window facing the courtyard for me to constantly look out of. Peaceful. Blissful. I loved it. When I was in 6th grade my mom told me that students who listened to classical music study better and retain more...or something like that. So ever since, I have always listened to classical music when I study. So. I would sit on the 4th floor of the JFSB at a table with my books and notes spread out (truthfully, so no one else would sit with me. Rude I know but a)I needed a lot of space and b) I was protective of my study area!) facing the huge window listening to Bocelli, Josoh Groban, Bach, etc. and study. I loved it. Especially when the sun was setting.

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I also had my humanities classes in this building and it was here that I discovered my love for art and fed my fascination for the humanities. I remember curling up on the couches in this building during my classes and reading "The Odyssey" or studying famous artists and memorizing their works. I distinctly remember several (dozen) times when I would be listening to Bocelli tracks, pausing to allow myself to daydream of watching the sun set in Italy.
I told you that was coming. Don't act surprised!
But it's true. It didn't matter what subject I was studying (chemistry, humanities, nutrient biochem); Bocelli would come on and after a few songs, I'd set my pen down and daydream of Italy, especially if the sun was setting. Now, fun fact. Get this. I just learned this today as I was Googling pictures of the JFSB. This information is taken from here.

"In 1536, the famous Renaissance painter and sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti, was given a commission to renovate the Piazza del Campidoglio on the famous Capitoline Hill in Rome. This hill is adjacent to the ancient Roman Forum, the seat of government for one of the most influential western empires. The piazza renovation went through a few different designs, and lasted ten years. In the end, the piazza included an overlapping petal pattern surrounding a twelve pointed star at its center."

So now you ask. Who cares? What's the point? Read on.

"Although seen from two different vantage points, the similarity between the two locations emerges. In fact, the two are almost identical." Yup now go look at the picture of the JFSB above again. Identical.

Unbeknownst to us all, I was merely channeling the Italian connect between the JSFB and Rome. This is also means that I am meant to go to Italy. Clearly. So, now I will go indulge in Bocelli, dream of Italy, and start planning a trip. 

On a side note. Remember my post about the pen thief? Well yesterday when I was in Fresh Market, I passed by a gentleman who looked familiar. I figured he might have been a patient of mine in which case I usually try to avoid eye contact because sometimes it's really awkward running into a patient at the store. I don't think they realize sometimes how much I know about them (stooling patterns, how often and what color they pee, I mean really, I know a lot about them). Today as I was sitting in church I almost exclaimed, "AHA!!!!" The gentleman was none other than the attempted pen thief!!!! What are the chances?

Now I'm off to make my asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with goat cheese. And dream of Italy. Again. And of the JFSB. Good times. 

Attendez-vous!

This studly young man....

has been accepted....

to Brigham Young University!!!!

My brother will be following in my, and our brother Heath's, footsteps. I'm so dang proud. SO PROUD!!!! I knew about it Saturday and in all of my moping around I forgot to mention it. He will love it. I can't wait for him to go! I can't wait. 

In other news...I had sushi tonight at Myabi's and I loooooooved it. I wasn't very hungry at lunch so when dinner rolled around I was wicked hungry. Between the 5 of us we ordered 7 or 8 rolls. We also ordered some salmon appetizer, which was really raw salmon in some sauce or glaze or something, and I was nervous to try it. Raw fish...eh...kind of sketches me out. But, it was deeeeelicious. When my dear, darling, fabulous other half comes to visit--the one and only Clary--we will be going there and I can hardly wait to take her. I know she will love it and it is she who introduced me to sushi a year ago and I have been in love with it ever since. So whenever we get together, we make it a priority to get sushi. Traditions, I love them. 

Also, Joint Commission (here on out known as JC) has finally arrived (almost 2 months late!) to survey the hospital I work at and to give us our 2-year accreditation. It's not mandatory for hospitals to do this, but if you are accredited by JC, you are a top dog. My impression is, you'd be stupid not to be accredited by JC. BUT. Their presence, and by their I mean the 4 commissioners, has kept us all on edge anxiously waiting for one of them to approach us and start asking us questions. Basically it's like an oral exam and you're praying they don't pick you and that if they do, you know the answer and don't stutter and stammer like an idiot. I've been warned they might pull my file since I'm the new kid on the dietetics block. Great. Well, good thing I updated my portfolio last night! We have a quick emergency meeting this morning with our manager going over answers to questions they might ask. Additionally, we go about our business talking in hushed tones, suspiciously eyeing anyone we don't recognize who walks around in a business suit with one or two of the hospital's top dogs with them, making phone calls and sending e-mails of JC sitings, and basically trying to see patients as stealthily as possible and then dodging as fast as possible back into our office with the door mostly closed and praying they don't come knocking, literally. Good times. Good thing I have Friday off! Well, hopefully. My manager told me today there is a possibly I will have to come in. Huh. Ok. 

Once again, not feeling too good today and I chalk it up to, well, a few things but mostly sleep deprivation related to spending too much time on YouTube music adventures, reading [I found my first Alexander McCall Smith book that I hated, not disliked, hated.I DO NOT recommend "Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations." It's a stupid book with some whacked out, distorted, weird stories. I do not like books like this. Do not read it], and Facebook, as evidenced by my inability to get to sleep prior to midnight, feeling lethargive, and feeling very unmotivated to work out, all of which are having a bad effect on my health. How's that for PES statement??? (Likely only dietitians/dietetics students would get that. Sorry.) Can you tell I've had a long work-week? Yes. I have. 10-11 hour days don't exactly pump up my energy level and it's far from motivating me to hit up the gym after work. Basically I'm whining. How obnoxious. Slap my wrist right now. Thanks. I'm going to bed. Good night!!!

sunday scribblings: I knew instantly...

I knew instantly......

......that this year would be one of the best, full of both unexpected and anticipated experiences. Finally I feel like I'm on my way. I'm almost done with college, which is both terrifying and indescribably exciting. I can do anything I want to, go anywhere I want to. I've never had so much freedom in my life. Granted it's still a bit away, but I can see it!!!
I'm slowly becoming and transforming into the person I want to be. In comparison to my freshman year, I think I'm a much cooler person. I've learned to not be so "Type A" and I am so very grateful for that. I've learned to just enjoy what comes at me and to like being me. It's been a good time. How, you may ask? Enter two wonderful people I've met at college: Shawna and Emily, both of whom I consider angels in my life.

Shawna
Shawna taught me to relax. My favorite lines from her are, "Everything's going to be ok, it'll all work out," and "ten years from now will it really matter what you got on that test? NO." THANK GOODNESS for Shawna. I shutter to think of the nervous, awful wreck I'd be today without her cool, calm, collected personality. She has taught me to chill out. Along with that, she's taught me to learn to be spontaneous. For this reason, along with a book full of others, I will always love her. I used to plan out my days hour-by-hour, which isn't always a bad thing, but you see, it doesn't allow for spontaneity. Spontaneity can provide, and has provided, some of the best experiences ever. I went skydiving, randomly a few months ago. Not only was this on my list-of-things-to-do-before-I-die, but it an amazing experience. I wouldn't have done this my freshman year; too scary, too dangerous, not planned into my schedule.

Emily
I've only known Emily for about a year now but she is such an amazing person (and roommate!). She's probably one of the sweetest girls I know. She has this ability to light up a room. Maybe it's the blonde hair (ha!), but it's probably her smile and her radiant personality. She is just such a good person. I've learned a lot from living with her and being friends with her. Actually it's funny because I didn't really like her when I first met her; I was jealous. Stupid, silly me. She's taught me to be genuine and kind. Where I tend to be blunt and at times rather harsh, I've learned to be nice and tactful. I like this better. I feel better about myself. Sometimes I think being blunt is necessary, but there's a time and a situation. She laughs a lot too and it's contagious and so fun. Really I just like to be around her and in her presence. I think most people do. She is a contagious person! I'm one of three lucky roommates!!!!

If this is what growing up is like, I'm ok with it. I must say though, there will always be a part of me that will hang on to being a child. By this I mean having fun, being silly, and just being happy. It's a good life....I wonder what 2009 will be like. I'm thinking it'll be even better.....