Charmed and bleeding Red....

Usually, every day I bleed blue. I go to BYU, that's what you're supposed to do. But, today, and for the next 33 days I will be seeping out true republican red.

Today I was a lucky little girl. I met, shook hands, and posed with Mike Duncan, THE CHAIRMAN of the Republican National Committee. This man shakes hands with the likes of John McCain, President Bush, Mitt Romney, Orin Hatch....

I have more to add to this blog after class, but just wanted to get this picture up.

Pickle Me Pink

First apartment photo!

We were all standing around the kitchen, eating some of Kate's pickles last night, and Kara decided we needed a photo. So here it is. From the left, that's Me, Kate, Neisah, and Kara. For cute! The best part is that I dripped pickle juice on Kate's shoulder and you can see it in this picture.

Objectivity

In my Communications 101 class we had a guest lecturer come in and speak to us about his experiences and ideas with print journalism. Among many thought provoking things he mentioned was that blogging can affect the perceived objectivity of readers/audiences of you as a journalist. So, I'm going to be a bit more careful about what I post in regards to politics, so that something doesn't come back to bite me in the butt in ten years or twenty. But, Grandpa Lee sent out a bunch of Palin political cartoons and I found this one quite great:

I think this cartoon is fairly balanced and fairly funny.

I have a blog for my Principles of Journalism class, at http://lexythejournalist.blogspot.com. Basically we are just supposed to blog about things in the news, classes, life, etc., that might affect us as journalists. It might be boring to some of you, but you can check it out if you so desire.

It just keeps getting better and better...

My title is full of sarcasm.

First, I couldn't go skydiving because of the wind.

Then, Tuesday, when I got home from the gym, I noticed that my left ankle bone looked like a large grade A egg compared to my right ankle. And it was starting to feel sore. I was confused because I hadn't twisted my ankle or anything. Then by the end of the day, it started looking like my last ankle problem. By Thursday afternoon a large portion of my foot was stiff, red, and very swollen. My doctor and roommate, Kara, told me I had to get it looked at by a real Doctor. This was distressing because I was uninsured and had been for about a year.

We went up to the school health center, where I first signed up for the school health insurance (204 bucks, yuck!), then went down to the urgent care clinic downstairs. The doctor saw my foot and immediately moved me to another room where she proceeded to shine a light on my elevated foot, swab it with iodine, tell me to lay back and then first sliced off my scab from a really old blister that I thought was almost healed. Well, that hurt like a mo, but I handled it. THEN she took out a clicky knife (like a ball point pen only with a sharp blade at the end) and stabbed deep into the already VERY tender area. Oh, it hurt. But don't worry, she did it again, deeper. I squealed a little bit, but I didn't cry. Then she bandaged me up, prescribed me two antibiotics, and instructed the nurse to give me a shot in the bum. I also was ordered to use crutches, put heat on my ankle, and stay off if it as much as possible, keeping it elevated where possible. And instructed to come back in the morning.

Turns out I have a staph infection. I guess those are bad. Let me tell you what is worse, crutches. I am bruised and battered from them.

This morning I went in again and the doctor said my swab came back positive for MRSA staph, a string of staph that is highly resistant to antibiotics. So the nurse gave me another shot.

The worst news was that both of the doctors who saw me highly suggested that I not go to Denver. So I didn't go today, Doctor, Mother, Roommate all told me I couldn't. I cried. I was way dissapointed. A once in a lifetime oppurtunity I had to pass up, plus letting down the College Republicans leadership. I'm bitter.

Then, only consoled by the idea of catching the premiere of Grey's Anatomy tonight, I sat upon the couch waiting. Don't worry our cable is out, so I couldn't watch it. I told you, it just keeps getting better and bettter...

Pray I don't lose my foot or leg. I have a new appreciation for Joseph Smith Jr.'s childhood leg problems....the cutting open, the crutches, the pain! Okay, I'm done....but not adverse to outside pity.

17 and Slides

Our youngest roommate, Neisah, turned 18 on the 18th. We made her a cake. Well, actually our roommate Kate made her cake, but the rest of us knew about it! Neisah is cute, and fun to have around. We usually call her "Baby Nees!" and Kate, "Grandma Kat," because she is turning 25 next month. They are room roommates, seperated by almost 7 years, and are my two blonde amigas.

Friday, the 19th, I met up with Steph and Morgan in Park City. We went down the alpine slide, which I've never experienced before. I also helped Morgan do some clothes shopping. It was a fun little day.

The Day I Was to Fall From the Sky....

I woke up feeling anxious, but excited. That kind of feeling where you have those flappy butterflies in your stomach, but your brain is smiling, and your body is trying not to throw up on your feet.

Reminded of the small airplane ride up to the jumping space, I had popped two Dramamine after a breakfast of a banana and a small cup of cereal.

I stood in front of the mirror three different times with three different outfits. Morgan made the comment, "You're going skydiving Lexy." I settled on some dark jeans, my nike running shoes, and a red t-shirt from my elementary school. Hair down and undone.

I jumped behind the wheel of my steadfast Focus. Dug through my CD's and popped in Garth Brooks' Live Hits. A few miles and a little Callin' Baton Rouge later, we were at the dinky airport. The warm wind whipped my hair in my face. I gave up and decided only to partially see what could be the last few moments of my life.

Morgan walked into the dome-like structure where we were supposed to learn how to jump out of a plane from 13,000 feet.

Suci, McLain, Mckinna, and Ethan drove up in the dark Dodge Stratus, fresh from dragging main in the little town of Toole. As they piled out -- Mac with a mischievious grin his face, a Mt. Dew in hand -- Morgan walked back from the dome, a pained look on her face. Bad news. It was "too windy."

Shortly thereafter a man came over the loudspeaker telling the few crazies about to risk their lives, that their thrill would have to wait at least another hour.

By then the Dramamine was doing it's thing, knocking me out. I reclined my seat in the car, put on my eye mask and was in and out for the next hour and 15 minutes. At 12:15 Morgan came back with the final world, there wouldn't be any skydiving today, though we were welcome to reschedule.

So I didn't fall from the sky. It was disapointing. The kind of disapointing that is hard to describe in words. We had told folds of people about our plans for a little thrill. Now we had to field questions about our almost experience.

I like to place blame on my Grandma. Mom told me she didn't even want to be by the phone in fear she would get a call about something terrible. She was hoping something would happen and we wouldn't jump. Turns out a cooler weather system decided to blow in Grams. Thanks. Didn't know your faith was that strong.... ;-)

We will try again...maybe come spring??