Limbo

So here is an update as to my state of being. About a week ago I finished my World Dance Tour. We spent an entire month going around to elementary schools totaling about 55 shows by the end of the tour. Each day we (in case you are wondering, but I bet you don't really care, "we" refers to the BYU International Folk Dance team) were running around getting to each school in time to do the show. Very busy, but very fun. Now we are finished and everyone has gone home. This too is my plan, but for some stupid reason which I don't seem to remember, I decided to stay two more weeks. I don't have an apartment, so I am staying with some friends (none of which have been here for the past two days). I am quitting work soon so it is hard for me to even want to go, but I would feel bad if I were to bail. So I find myself in limbo; I am not really in Provo, but I am not quite home yet either.

Two nights ago I decided to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" at the dollar theatre with some friends. First of all, never go see it. Second it too depicted a state of limbo: Middle School. Yes I think we all remember the raging hormones of pubescency. A place where no fit in, where summer vacations would pass and all of a sudden the kid that spoke with a high-soprano voice was now a bass. I think though that my middle school days were not as bad as most. First of all let me explain the set up of good old Tahoma School District. When I left Lake Wilderness Elementary, I was entering the 7th grade. At that time, Middle School and Junior High was organized as such. The entire 7th grade and a third of the 8th grade was at Glacier Park (built to be a middle school). The rest of the 8th grade and the entire 9th grade was at the Junior High (known for its architectural use of duct tape, toxic mold, and the ever present smell of urine). At Glacier Park I think I avoided most trouble by hanging out with the 8th graders who were most likely to get in trouble for bomb threats. Not saying I was a bad kid, but I rode the bus with them and the girls in the group thought I was cute (like puppy-dog cute; I was pretty tiny back then). So it was easy to avoid trouble, I just kept my mouth shut and no one would pick on me because of who I hung around with. Outside of school I had my church friends to do stuff with. Then there are always the people in your classes that you are friends with. I also tried to make friends with my teachers. They are more interesting that fellow classmates and if your running late they can write you notes to excuse your tardiness.

In 8th grade Glacier Park became an Elementary School, and Cedar River became the middle school. I was shipped here with about a third of the 8th grade and the 7th grade. Here, because we were such a small grade, we all became friends during school. It was easy to know everyone's name because you most likely had a class with them. Besides, we were the top dog so it was easier to adjust. At this school, Jolly Ranchers suckers were just as good as cash (you could buy them from the student store during breaks). They were the base for many transactions. It was here that we made friends that took us through to 9th grade.

I was the first class to go to the new Junior High. It was a great school. If I remember correctly at this time Cedar River now hosted the 6th and 7th grades and 8th and 9th were at Tahoma Junior High. Once again, being top dog, and having a strong friend base built from 8th grade, the end of my Junior High career was pretty easy. During this time, I joined the swim/dive team and the high school musical so I was interacting with upperclassmen that I would soon be going to school with. It was also helpful to have a brother at the high school too.

Now of course I had my not so great moments of middle school, but all in all it wasn't that bad. If there was any secret to surviving I would say it is to attend a small school. Small grades usually force you to become friends with each other.

Barbeque Ribs

I was looking at the store adds one day on my couch, and I saw country-style pork ribs for $0.97 per pound. So I turn to my roommates, and say "how about we's cook some dinner for the lady folks this Sunday?" I mean who doesn't love ribs? Well, we decided who we should invite from our tour group (currently on a folk dance tour) and I go and buy ten pounds of meat; wonderful meat.

Not that I am a bad cook ( I am actually quite good), but I have never attempted ribs before. I looked online at recipes, and then decided that I was going to make up my own. I mean it's meat; how bad can it turn out. I think that you can tell for yourself how delicious it turned out. It was tender and all fall aparty; just the perfect ribs. Served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and fresh pineapple, I think that things turned out rather spectacular.

Here is how I cooked it:
Heat 2Tbsp. of olive oil over medium-high in pan
Add 1 Tbsp. of minced garlic to hot pan (it is best to use a metal pan with tall sides)
Season ribs with favorite seasoning (I used Cajun) and sear on all sides
Mix one part water, one part barbecue sauce and add to pan until ribs are mostly covered
Cover pan and put in 300 degree oven for about 3 hrs

Remove pan from oven and transfer ribs to baking dish (ribs should be very tender at this point; try to keep the meat from falling apart)
Mix 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce and 1 Tbsp. mustard until a runny, sand-like glaze is formed; smother ribs with sugar mixture
Place dish in oven uncovered and bake at 325 degrees for about 30 min. or until glaze has set.

First Attempt

So the time at last has come. I suppose we all enter the world of blogging one way or another; whether is is because we have grown up and we want to keep in touch with friends and family that come and go, or because new adventures have started in our lives and we want to share that with the world. I wish I had such an occasion to start out my blog, but alas it is a Saturday night and I have nothing better to do. And so, on this evening of nothing, I will begin my tale with a narrative as to who I, the author, am.

It would be near impossible to share the details of my life that have shaped me into the person I have become, but there is always a beginning and I shall start there. I was raised in western Washington and as such, I love oceans, forests, lakes, rivers and mountains all within a 30 minute distance. While I am not an outdoors enthusiast whatsoever, I enjoy hiking, swimming, and being outside just as long as I get a bed at night and a shower in the morning.

I have a wonderful family; and honestly they are the only ones who will most likely read this anyway. We all enjoy music, reading and gardening. In fact, it is rather normal for us to spend the holidays in the same room reading a book than actually talking to each other. I always found that relaxing really. Unfortunately, I usually find my thought patterns are influenced by what I just recently read and since I just today finished the Twilight series, I am currently considering how cool my life will be when I become a vampire. Lets just say I would rock.

I am currently studying to become a doctor, most likely a forensic pathologist, by working towards an undergrad in Public Health : Health Science. I attend BYU and while I like Provo, I miss the forests I grew up in.

Nearly two and a half years ago I served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Japan Tokyo Mission. I love Japanese everything and I am proud to say that it isn't because I was a greasy anime kid in high school. To put myself through school, I work as a Japanese teacher in the Provo Missionary Training Center. I have a group of missionaries that I teach for 3 months, from how to be a missionary to how to speak Japanese. I absolutely love it and I just said goodbye to my 11th district today (they head to Japan on Monday).

I suppose that is sufficient for now. Like I said, I bet only family members read this so they know everything already.