28 August 2009
It's Official!
Well, I just found out today that my paper was accepted for publication! It will be published in this fall's BYU Inquiry Journal! I'm so grateful for all of the encouragement I've gotten while working on it this summer. This project has been in the works more than a year, before I even went to Jordan! Of course, I had never imagined that I would be able to get this paper published as a result, but I have been very blessed! I will admit though, it feels pretty good to have all of this hard work pay off in a big way!
04 August 2009
Exciting things coming my way!
I had a phone conference last week and if we get permission from our professor, my senior thesis (co-written with Krystyna Hales) is going to get published!!! YAY!!! I'm SO excited! I just really have to get busy on the revisions because it is due in a couple weeks.
I also had an exciting/scary realization that this last Sunday was my last Fast Sunday in the United States for the rest of this year! AAAAHHHHH. I can't even believe it! The summer has gone by SO FAST! First there was the Family Reunion, then setting up Erika's classroom, and then working for the last couple of months with only 7 days off so far. WHEW. I'm SO excited for Jerusalem! However I also know that things aren't going to slow down until after Christmas. When I get home from Jerusalem in December, my brother Logan will be back from his mission and there to greet me at the airport! Somehow I know that a couple weeks of break in between semesters will not be nearly enough time for the two of us to catch up on the last two years of our lives, but I know we're certainly going to try!! And then of course Winter semester I get to once again live with the best bestie ever and finish up my undergrad years at BYU! No rest for the weary, but certainly lots of exciting things for me to look forward to in the next few months!
I also had an exciting/scary realization that this last Sunday was my last Fast Sunday in the United States for the rest of this year! AAAAHHHHH. I can't even believe it! The summer has gone by SO FAST! First there was the Family Reunion, then setting up Erika's classroom, and then working for the last couple of months with only 7 days off so far. WHEW. I'm SO excited for Jerusalem! However I also know that things aren't going to slow down until after Christmas. When I get home from Jerusalem in December, my brother Logan will be back from his mission and there to greet me at the airport! Somehow I know that a couple weeks of break in between semesters will not be nearly enough time for the two of us to catch up on the last two years of our lives, but I know we're certainly going to try!! And then of course Winter semester I get to once again live with the best bestie ever and finish up my undergrad years at BYU! No rest for the weary, but certainly lots of exciting things for me to look forward to in the next few months!
Oh sweet civilization!
So I haven't updated in a while, but I have been SO busy! TUrns out I WAS transferred up here to Salt Lake City. This is my second week up here, and we're still digging digging digging. Our site is just immediately west of the SLC Airport. And it turns out, our dead end road is also both a popular street racing road AND a high traffic area for prostitution (as explained to us by the Airport Police who cam to find out what we were doing). Apparently the Control Tower of the airport as a camera aimed at us... Just A LITTLE creepy. All of us are wondering how many times we've mooned the cameras in search of our perfect potty place. haha
Up until the end of Friday, I was a recorded for the in-field lab analysis and the cartography team (as we like to call ourselves). Then my next assignment was to dig a 1x1m unit by myself. Which wouldn't have been a terrible undertaking except that almost my entire pit was gravel embedded in hard packed dried mud. NOT FUN. But I finished the square early Monday morning. Next I was assigned to dig a 1x2m unit. My objective: to take the square a little more than 2m down. The is going to be one BIG HOLE! But it's a good thing I have all week to dig it!
The great thing about being in SLC is mostly just having civilization around us, and having options for food and entertainment. We went to Park City and rode the Zipline, the Coaster, and the Alpine Slide. We've been to Temple Square and the Gateway Mall. I've eaten at the Cheescake Factory, Tucanos, Red Iguana, Happy Sumo (where I ate Sushi for the first time!), California Pizza Kitchen, and Jonny Carinos. I was also able to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House with Erika and John who came up to visit me. I've been shopping at the Gateway, Walmart, and Albertsons. I'm spent some time with friends and family in Provo. I have cell phone service ALL THE TIME! Basically what I'm trying to say is that I L-O-V-E civilization, and particularly SLC. It's such a nice change of pace from Delta!
Up until the end of Friday, I was a recorded for the in-field lab analysis and the cartography team (as we like to call ourselves). Then my next assignment was to dig a 1x1m unit by myself. Which wouldn't have been a terrible undertaking except that almost my entire pit was gravel embedded in hard packed dried mud. NOT FUN. But I finished the square early Monday morning. Next I was assigned to dig a 1x2m unit. My objective: to take the square a little more than 2m down. The is going to be one BIG HOLE! But it's a good thing I have all week to dig it!
The great thing about being in SLC is mostly just having civilization around us, and having options for food and entertainment. We went to Park City and rode the Zipline, the Coaster, and the Alpine Slide. We've been to Temple Square and the Gateway Mall. I've eaten at the Cheescake Factory, Tucanos, Red Iguana, Happy Sumo (where I ate Sushi for the first time!), California Pizza Kitchen, and Jonny Carinos. I was also able to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House with Erika and John who came up to visit me. I've been shopping at the Gateway, Walmart, and Albertsons. I'm spent some time with friends and family in Provo. I have cell phone service ALL THE TIME! Basically what I'm trying to say is that I L-O-V-E civilization, and particularly SLC. It's such a nice change of pace from Delta!
21 July 2009
The Life of a Working Girl
Well, working 54 hours a week and living out of hotels as pretty much made it so that my only social life is with the people I work with. But we are getting to know each other better and having a blast! I love the people I work with, and I'm learning so much about so many different things. Particularly liquor... these people LOVE their alcohol. haha ;) Last Friday we all went bowling, and it was hilarious! On Sunday, a group came up to Salt Lake and I was able to meet them at Temple Square and help show them around. It was a really neat experience, and I'm so grateful it worked out so I could be there. The tour at the Conference Center was a little long, but the view from the roof at the end made it totally worth it for me. Salt Lake City is so beautiful! And it is so peaceful up there. I loved every minute of it! I was able to get a few pictures of the gang, so I thought I would post some so you could see who I'm working with. And just ignore that a few of the pictures are taken at the bar... haha
I am not being transfered up to the site in SLC, which I'm a little bummed about. Looks like I'll be staying in Delta for a while longer... and quite possibly the rest of the summer. It is also looking like I might be forced to move back over to the Budget Motel. :/ But, what would life be if it weren't full of adventures and crazy stories like mine?!
When I was in Provo this weekend, a friend gave me this sweet Henna Tattoo on my ankle. Love it! Love her! Next weekend, it's a pink streak in my hair! ;)
I am not being transfered up to the site in SLC, which I'm a little bummed about. Looks like I'll be staying in Delta for a while longer... and quite possibly the rest of the summer. It is also looking like I might be forced to move back over to the Budget Motel. :/ But, what would life be if it weren't full of adventures and crazy stories like mine?!
When I was in Provo this weekend, a friend gave me this sweet Henna Tattoo on my ankle. Love it! Love her! Next weekend, it's a pink streak in my hair! ;)
13 July 2009
WSA Adventures
So most of you (the two of you haha) who try to keep track of me, know that I have been so blessed with an awesome job working for a company called William Self Associates (WSA)--a contract archaeology company out of Tucson, AZ. They have been contracted by Holly Energy Corp. to do all of the archaeological work necessary in order for them to build a pipeline from SLC to Las Vegas. I work 9 hours a day, 6 days a week digging in the dirt, hacking through rock, and other intense physical activities (such as paperwork...haha). It is definitely dirty and exhausting. Every day I come home and can hardly move. BUT the money is awesome, not to mention they pay for my housing (we're living out of hotels as we travel around Utah) and give me a generous food stipend for all 7 days of the week. Seriously. Who could complain? I'll dig whatever the heck you want me to in 105 degree whether on the frontiers of nowhere for this kind of deal! haha This opportunity with this kind of sweet deal is SO rare as an archaeologist!!
We started out in Cedar City working at sites west of Minersville. After a week, we moved up here to Delta, which is the closest town to most of the sites. For any of you who have been to Delta, WHY would you ever go to Delta?!?! And for those of you who have never heard of it, there's definitely a reason for that! haha It is definitely in the middle of nowhere. And if you can believe it, our sites are all at least 45 minutes further to the edge of nowhere. But this little town does have its quirks that we're getting to know quite well. When we first got here, we stayed at the Days Inn--by far the best hotel in town. Then some people complained about not having their own rooms, so they moved all of us over to the Budget Motel where we could all have our own rooms because it was half the price. The first night I was there, I woke up with a huge swollen leg as a result of a spider bite. The next night I was there, I realized I had fleas bites all over me. WHAT?!?! FLEAS?! In a US hotel room? To remind you, I got fleas when I lived in Jordan. In fact, a majority of us did. But I figured that was just part of my cultural experience. I got fleas while living with a Bedouin family in Petra, Jordan. OH WELL. SO WHAT. But getting fleas in Delta, Utah... that's just down right disgusting. Makes for a good story, but still disgusting. ;) So I informed my advisor that I had fleas from the Budget, and I was able to get a few of us moved back over to the Days Inn. This is definitely where all of the cool people are. haha
I also don't have phone service in Delta, so who knows what kind of ridiculous bill I've racked up from roaming charges... But at least now I have a job to pay for them! :) I'm going to try and get some pictures of the people I work with for your viewing pleasure. We have a large crew of about 25 people and only 6 of us are LDS. However, we received one reinforcement today, and we're getting 2 more next Monday. All of these girls that I know from school make it so much easier to jump in and make new friends, because I know I already have a group of friends to fall back on. It's so wonderful!! And I'm so grateful that all of us have been blessed with this sweet job. It is so wonderful for me to know that Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us. He knows what we want, what we need, and what will be best for us. And if we do His will, He will help all of that happen. This job has been so needed by each of us, for one reason or another. And not only are we enjoying ourselves as well work together, but all of our needs are being taken care of. God is so Great!
We started out in Cedar City working at sites west of Minersville. After a week, we moved up here to Delta, which is the closest town to most of the sites. For any of you who have been to Delta, WHY would you ever go to Delta?!?! And for those of you who have never heard of it, there's definitely a reason for that! haha It is definitely in the middle of nowhere. And if you can believe it, our sites are all at least 45 minutes further to the edge of nowhere. But this little town does have its quirks that we're getting to know quite well. When we first got here, we stayed at the Days Inn--by far the best hotel in town. Then some people complained about not having their own rooms, so they moved all of us over to the Budget Motel where we could all have our own rooms because it was half the price. The first night I was there, I woke up with a huge swollen leg as a result of a spider bite. The next night I was there, I realized I had fleas bites all over me. WHAT?!?! FLEAS?! In a US hotel room? To remind you, I got fleas when I lived in Jordan. In fact, a majority of us did. But I figured that was just part of my cultural experience. I got fleas while living with a Bedouin family in Petra, Jordan. OH WELL. SO WHAT. But getting fleas in Delta, Utah... that's just down right disgusting. Makes for a good story, but still disgusting. ;) So I informed my advisor that I had fleas from the Budget, and I was able to get a few of us moved back over to the Days Inn. This is definitely where all of the cool people are. haha
I also don't have phone service in Delta, so who knows what kind of ridiculous bill I've racked up from roaming charges... But at least now I have a job to pay for them! :) I'm going to try and get some pictures of the people I work with for your viewing pleasure. We have a large crew of about 25 people and only 6 of us are LDS. However, we received one reinforcement today, and we're getting 2 more next Monday. All of these girls that I know from school make it so much easier to jump in and make new friends, because I know I already have a group of friends to fall back on. It's so wonderful!! And I'm so grateful that all of us have been blessed with this sweet job. It is so wonderful for me to know that Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us. He knows what we want, what we need, and what will be best for us. And if we do His will, He will help all of that happen. This job has been so needed by each of us, for one reason or another. And not only are we enjoying ourselves as well work together, but all of our needs are being taken care of. God is so Great!
20 June 2009
Best Bestie Ever
So, Eryn and I jokingly tell each other that we're the "best besties ever." We overheard some girls in the mall one day say that and we about died. So in honor of them, that is our nickname for each other. However, today Eryn went above and beyond the call of duty. When we talked on Wednesday, I still had not heard anything about this job in Cedar City, and I was getting very nervous and frustrated that it wasn't a good sign... And she cheered me up like always. She decided that the man with whom I'd been in contact over the last several months had the perfect name to make use of. His last name is Yoder, and we decided that we were now going to describe situations like this as being "Yodered."
Last night, I finally got a call and it turns out they "found room" for me. I have a job!!! I start Monday! YAY!!! I will be digging near Cedar CIty for the rest of the summer... 9 hours a day/ 6 days a week... which means about 14 hours overtime every week. YAY!!!! I'm SO relieved!!
Well, I've been running around trying to get everything ready today. And I came home to this Facebook Wall Post by my best bestie ever.
Eryn Sinclair: "So I just read a nonfiction book on the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, and I need to redeem my utter nerdiness. So- I am going to write you a definition:
Yoder- (yO-dur) English, 2009, inv. Dana and Eryn, origin: Yoder- last name of offending individual
Derogatory term; An individual with a relationship of authority or significance to oneself, who knowingly, or unknowingly, misleads one to believe that one’s actions will lead to certain outcomes. Said outcome is usually one of substantial import (i.e. graduation, employment, marriage, etc.), then, always at a pivotal moment, the desired outcome does not materialize, leaving one confused, angry, frustrated, and sad. A yoder can redeem him/herself ONLY by restoring the situation to fulfillment of the understood outcome.
n: yoder; v: yoder; yoder-ed; yoder-ing
The man who did give me a job is such a yoder.
You totally got yodered when he left you at the alter.
**i.e. person who totally screws you over.
LOVES"
Last night, I finally got a call and it turns out they "found room" for me. I have a job!!! I start Monday! YAY!!! I will be digging near Cedar CIty for the rest of the summer... 9 hours a day/ 6 days a week... which means about 14 hours overtime every week. YAY!!!! I'm SO relieved!!
Well, I've been running around trying to get everything ready today. And I came home to this Facebook Wall Post by my best bestie ever.
Eryn Sinclair: "So I just read a nonfiction book on the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, and I need to redeem my utter nerdiness. So- I am going to write you a definition:
Yoder- (yO-dur) English, 2009, inv. Dana and Eryn, origin: Yoder- last name of offending individual
Derogatory term; An individual with a relationship of authority or significance to oneself, who knowingly, or unknowingly, misleads one to believe that one’s actions will lead to certain outcomes. Said outcome is usually one of substantial import (i.e. graduation, employment, marriage, etc.), then, always at a pivotal moment, the desired outcome does not materialize, leaving one confused, angry, frustrated, and sad. A yoder can redeem him/herself ONLY by restoring the situation to fulfillment of the understood outcome.
n: yoder; v: yoder; yoder-ed; yoder-ing
The man who did give me a job is such a yoder.
You totally got yodered when he left you at the alter.
**i.e. person who totally screws you over.
LOVES"
17 June 2009
Oreo Cream Cheese Chocolate Covered Truffles
The original recipe is in the "Cooking the Costco Way" cookbook (thanks to Sarah for picking me up a copy and making these so I knew how yummy they are). Here's our recipe:
3 packages of cream cheese
2 package of oreos
3 cups of melting chocolate (we used ghiradelli 70% pure cacao chocolate chips)
let cream cheese come to room temperature
crush 1 package of oreos (use a plastic bag and a rolling pin)
mix both together thoroughly
refrigerate mixture for 10-20 minutes
use gloves if possible to roll mixture into 1 inch balls
refrigerate for 30-45 minutes
melt chocolate in a double boiler (metal bowl inside a pot filled with 2 inches of water on low heat) *** do not allow water/steam to get into chocolate!
line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil
crush 10-12 more oreos
roll oreo/cream cheese balls in chocolate and place on pan
Sprinkle oreo crumbs on top
Refrigerate until chocolate coat hardens
Eat and Enjoy!
store in the refrigerator and give the rest of the oreos to the kids so you have more truffles to enjoy :)
We made these for the reunion, and they were super easy and incredibly delicious! MMMMMM!!!!!!!
3 packages of cream cheese
2 package of oreos
3 cups of melting chocolate (we used ghiradelli 70% pure cacao chocolate chips)
let cream cheese come to room temperature
crush 1 package of oreos (use a plastic bag and a rolling pin)
mix both together thoroughly
refrigerate mixture for 10-20 minutes
use gloves if possible to roll mixture into 1 inch balls
refrigerate for 30-45 minutes
melt chocolate in a double boiler (metal bowl inside a pot filled with 2 inches of water on low heat) *** do not allow water/steam to get into chocolate!
line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil
crush 10-12 more oreos
roll oreo/cream cheese balls in chocolate and place on pan
Sprinkle oreo crumbs on top
Refrigerate until chocolate coat hardens
Eat and Enjoy!
store in the refrigerator and give the rest of the oreos to the kids so you have more truffles to enjoy :)
We made these for the reunion, and they were super easy and incredibly delicious! MMMMMM!!!!!!!
Jerusalem
Well, I had my final admissions interview for Jerusalem yesterday. It's definitely official! I'm going to Jerusalem!! And I am very excited! It definitely does not seem real, but my experience has shown that it won't seem real until it's almost over. Regardless, though, I have a lot to do in order to get ready to live abroad for the third time!
Blackburn Family Reunion
Well, we had our Blackburn Family Reunion last weekend, and it went great! We had a good turnout from Ken & Shirley's Family and Tom & Diane's Family. We also had some of Kay & Shirley's family represented, as well as some from my (Shawn & Vickie) family. We all had such a great time! We played some games, had lots of food, and just really enjoyed visiting with everyone. It was definitely a lot of work, but so very worth it! I've never even been to a family reunion before, let alone be in charge of putting it all together! But luckily I think my first try was as successful as it could've been! I definitely enjoyed getting everything ready, though. I made up some Family History Games... totally nerdy I know! But I Loved it! I made everyone break into teams and arrange a 4 Generation pedigree chart starting with my grandpa Blackburn. SO FUN! Everyone actually did surprisingly well... though I think there was some cheating involved. haha I also made a game "How Blackburn Are you?" which was hilarious to watch people take. Out of 110 possible points, my mom ended up being the winner with 87 points, which was so funny! Of course, we didn't take the quiz, along with the majority of the Blackburn clan. So, I'm sending copies of it out to other family members so they can join in the fun, too. All in all, everything was very successful!
08 June 2009
2 Years
Today is the 2 year anniversary of my father passing away. A day that I will always remember as one of the worst, and yet one of the most peaceful days of my life. Last year on this day, I was finally able to get up the courage to write in my journal about the day he died. I was in Jordan, and I had the day off from digging. So I spent hours on the rooftop just writing and crying and writing and praying. It was what I had wanted to do but hadn't been able to. I'm grateful I was able to take that time and write about my experiences and my feelings, though. Not that I'm worried I will forget how I felt... because I don't think that will ever happen. However, it has allowed me to embrace the present and the future, honoring the past but not focusing on it.
Today has been a wonderful day! Because I've been in LA this week, I've been able to spend a few days here with Tim and Jan, my aunt and uncle who are currently serving as the mission president of the LA Mission. Tim is my dad's older brother, and his only full brother. Though my dad has 7 older half-siblings, they are all much older and didn't know him very well. I have been able to enjoy several hours (which is rare when you're running a large mission!) of reminiscing and discussing the past, including stories about my dad, my grandparents, and our extended Blackburn family. It has truly been a wonderful blessing for me in my life. Especially on this day. I ate a hamburger today, in honor of my dad. I talked with everyone in my family today, and I even received an email from Logan today, too!
It really has just been a day of my heart filling with gratitude and love for my father, for my wonderful family, and for the incredible sealing power of the Priesthood that gives me the opportunity to be with my family forever, not just until death. I know I will see my father again. Though gone from this life, he isn't gone. He exists, and he is going about God's work on the other side of the veil. I look forward to the day when I will finally be able to run into my father's arms and give him a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek. But gratefully, I am no longer wishing that day would come tomorrow, but am content on living my life to the fullest with him just watching over me from above. Though I am convinced that he is not as far away as he seems to be. :)
Today has been a wonderful day! Because I've been in LA this week, I've been able to spend a few days here with Tim and Jan, my aunt and uncle who are currently serving as the mission president of the LA Mission. Tim is my dad's older brother, and his only full brother. Though my dad has 7 older half-siblings, they are all much older and didn't know him very well. I have been able to enjoy several hours (which is rare when you're running a large mission!) of reminiscing and discussing the past, including stories about my dad, my grandparents, and our extended Blackburn family. It has truly been a wonderful blessing for me in my life. Especially on this day. I ate a hamburger today, in honor of my dad. I talked with everyone in my family today, and I even received an email from Logan today, too!
It really has just been a day of my heart filling with gratitude and love for my father, for my wonderful family, and for the incredible sealing power of the Priesthood that gives me the opportunity to be with my family forever, not just until death. I know I will see my father again. Though gone from this life, he isn't gone. He exists, and he is going about God's work on the other side of the veil. I look forward to the day when I will finally be able to run into my father's arms and give him a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek. But gratefully, I am no longer wishing that day would come tomorrow, but am content on living my life to the fullest with him just watching over me from above. Though I am convinced that he is not as far away as he seems to be. :)
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