Last week I went to Ireland for a field study through school. Five of us (Benjamin, Brandon, Chris, Mike and I) went to visit the Kellogg's headquarters in Dublin and then swung by Wales to visit two of their plants. Here were the trip highlights:
1. They lost my luggage on the way over and I had to go to headquarters on Monday in my jeans and no makeup. Not the best first impression I've ever made. BUT everyone there was extremely understanding and even more helpful.
2. I finally got my luggage just minutes before checking in to our flight to England. Whew.
3. The guys thought it would be hilarious to hide my luggage when we landed in England (at 1 a.m.). I was easily convinced and on the verge of tears when they confessed. "Aren't you so glad you have your luggage?" they anxiously asked, hoping I wouldn't kill them. Thrilled.
4. Love me some Irish and British accents.
5. I got to see them make Special K Cereal and snack bars. The plants smelled amazing! For three days I was craving bowls of cereal.
6. We went to an awesome dinner with leaders from both plants and had just the best time. They LOVED having us retell the luggage story.
7. Our driver Morris. He became our unofficial tour guide to and from the plants each day. Which was great because that was all the sight-seeing we got to do in Wales.
8. Mike pulled the red emergency cord in the bathroom thinking that's how they flush the toilet in Wales. Nope, that's how they set off the alarm. Lisa never let him live it down.
9. Wearing hairnets. Pictures to come.
10. Everyone at the plants and at headquarters really went above and beyond for our visit. I may or may not have been a bit emotional when we had to say goodbye to everyone from Karen, Lisa and Chris to Aoife and Sam. Not to mention the other 70 people we met during our focus groups. We really did have the best time.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I Think I Can
I've spent much of the last 1.5 years of my life in the same building, often the same room (Tanner W208 to be exact). So last semester I decided that I needed to expand my world beyond excel sheets, business books and, more importantly, beyond the Tanner Building. And expand I did.
I started by taking ballet. I was quite excited about doing plies, learning how to leap more gracefully and improving my posture. Excited, that is, until I discovered that it required me donning some pink tights and a black leotard. I nearly dropped the class but then decided it was just part of the experience and I was going to embrace it. Well, I may have embraced the experience but the tights and leotard really never took a liking to me. Despite all of that, I loved it. So much, in fact, that I decided to branch out yet again.
Enter swimming class. Growing up I never had swimming lessons. I take that back. Becca (my sister) taught me how to back float and I think my brothers were trying to teach me how to swim when they threw me in the deep end of the pool. Thankfully I learned the back float before the latter took place. I still suspect Becca knew what was coming and taught me the back float so I wouldn't drown. I soon learned how to doggy paddle. This evolved into a rather awkward and inefficient stroke of my very own that has gotten me by all these years. Truth is, I love swimming. I love the smell of chlorine and being in the water. So, I thought it a good time to take a swimming class.
Day 1: Freestyle. You mean you have to put your face in the water and only breathe every few strokes? Gulp.
Day 2: Turning. Do a flip in the water and push off from the wall. Easy, right? I have to confess that something in me really believed that I could do a simple flip and I was going to nail this maneuver. Turns out, I can't. The poor teacher saw me struggling and came to help. I was not only embarrassed that I couldn't do a flip but also that I was keeping him from helping everyone else. I tried to let him off the hook, "I promise I'll practice this later," I said. Didn't work. He insisted I try to go deeper in the water. Then he told me to keep my chin down. Then he told me to try using the line on the bottom of the pool to keep me straight. After inhaling a couple of gallons of water and several rounds of pleading we were still at it. Finally he told me to just do a handstand in the water. I was skeptical but went down. Then my feet flipped STRAIGHT over my head and I popped up facing the right direction. Breakthrough!
Day 3: Butterfly kick. This should be fun. We sat on the side of the pool and practiced the technique. I have to confess, I was really good. Then we got in the water. Miraculously, Melinda can propel herself BACKWARDS while doing a forward butterfly kick. It's pretty amazing. I sucked up my pride (as if I had any left) and asked the teacher what I was doing wrong. After watching me kick several times he said, "your form is really good." So why am I somehow moving backward? It baffled even him. With some work I am happy to report that I can now move forward. I just haven't yet figured out the breathing thing.
Day 4, 5, 6: Breast stroke, dolphin kick, misc drills. I'm improving. Far from great, but improving.
Moral of the story: get out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid of looking like an idiot. It might be fun.
I started by taking ballet. I was quite excited about doing plies, learning how to leap more gracefully and improving my posture. Excited, that is, until I discovered that it required me donning some pink tights and a black leotard. I nearly dropped the class but then decided it was just part of the experience and I was going to embrace it. Well, I may have embraced the experience but the tights and leotard really never took a liking to me. Despite all of that, I loved it. So much, in fact, that I decided to branch out yet again.
Enter swimming class. Growing up I never had swimming lessons. I take that back. Becca (my sister) taught me how to back float and I think my brothers were trying to teach me how to swim when they threw me in the deep end of the pool. Thankfully I learned the back float before the latter took place. I still suspect Becca knew what was coming and taught me the back float so I wouldn't drown. I soon learned how to doggy paddle. This evolved into a rather awkward and inefficient stroke of my very own that has gotten me by all these years. Truth is, I love swimming. I love the smell of chlorine and being in the water. So, I thought it a good time to take a swimming class.
Day 1: Freestyle. You mean you have to put your face in the water and only breathe every few strokes? Gulp.
Day 2: Turning. Do a flip in the water and push off from the wall. Easy, right? I have to confess that something in me really believed that I could do a simple flip and I was going to nail this maneuver. Turns out, I can't. The poor teacher saw me struggling and came to help. I was not only embarrassed that I couldn't do a flip but also that I was keeping him from helping everyone else. I tried to let him off the hook, "I promise I'll practice this later," I said. Didn't work. He insisted I try to go deeper in the water. Then he told me to keep my chin down. Then he told me to try using the line on the bottom of the pool to keep me straight. After inhaling a couple of gallons of water and several rounds of pleading we were still at it. Finally he told me to just do a handstand in the water. I was skeptical but went down. Then my feet flipped STRAIGHT over my head and I popped up facing the right direction. Breakthrough!
Day 3: Butterfly kick. This should be fun. We sat on the side of the pool and practiced the technique. I have to confess, I was really good. Then we got in the water. Miraculously, Melinda can propel herself BACKWARDS while doing a forward butterfly kick. It's pretty amazing. I sucked up my pride (as if I had any left) and asked the teacher what I was doing wrong. After watching me kick several times he said, "your form is really good." So why am I somehow moving backward? It baffled even him. With some work I am happy to report that I can now move forward. I just haven't yet figured out the breathing thing.
Day 4, 5, 6: Breast stroke, dolphin kick, misc drills. I'm improving. Far from great, but improving.
Moral of the story: get out of your comfort zone and don't be afraid of looking like an idiot. It might be fun.
Monday, January 9, 2012
You Say Gesundheit, I Say Na Zdravi
I now have the sniffles...and the sneezes. I think I may be coming down with a cold. Tomorrow I will be picking up a hefty supply of chicken noodle soup, boxes of tissues and some cough drops (specifically Ludens Wild Cherry Drops which are more like candy than cough drops but they make me feel better anyway). However, tonight I will be retiring to bed early.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Last First Day of School
Today I'm in a bit of shock. I just finished my last first day of school. I am pretty confident I will not be pursuing a PHD so today marks my last trip to the bookstore to sell my soul for yet another stack of overpriced used books. I've printed off my syllabi, packed by school bag, charged my laptop (yes, for the whole semester, Macs are just that good) and am ready to go.I would say that it was my last time purchasing school supplies but since I'm a sucker for post-it notes, highlighters, notebooks, staplers and the like there are plenty more school supply shopping trips in my future.
I don't have much time to freak out about the fact that this is my last semester because I have about 27,000 pages to read by Monday and 17 assignments due tomorrow. Perhaps I exaggerate but it feels that way. I just want to tell you all that I love you and will see you in April when I come up for air.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Glutton for punishment
Not quite sure what I was thinking but I entered the lottery for a chance to run the Moab half again in March. Sad...er great news is, I got in!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Still Here
Sorry I've been a little MIA. It's been a busy semester and despite what it looks like below, I really have been busy with school. Really.
My friend, Jennia, took my place in the lovely Baines Street house when I moved back to UT in August. I talked her into coming down a week early so we could play tourist and check off all the last few items on my Bay Area wish list.
When I got back to UT my good friend, Mel, took me to the B.B. King concert for a belated birthday celebration. The concert was amazing! Thanks, Mel!
Next stop was Education Week(end) in Palo Alto. It was an incredible conference that included a photo booth (the Baines Ladies below), dancing (yikes), and great talks from Clayton Christensen, Sister Beck and her husband among so many others. They really did a great job putting it all together.
My friend, Jennia, took my place in the lovely Baines Street house when I moved back to UT in August. I talked her into coming down a week early so we could play tourist and check off all the last few items on my Bay Area wish list.
We went kayaking in Monterrey Bay
We rented some bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito. Most people take the ferry back to the city, not us. We braved the hills and rode our bikes all the way back. Don't worry, we ate a lot of food to make up for the workout.
Saw some other great San Francisco sights that day
My last Sunday in Palo Alto we had a progressive dinner with our neighbors. There were about 35 people, 3 houses and a lot of amazing food.
My last Sunday in Palo Alto we had a progressive dinner with our neighbors. There were about 35 people, 3 houses and a lot of amazing food.
When I got back to UT my good friend, Mel, took me to the B.B. King concert for a belated birthday celebration. The concert was amazing! Thanks, Mel!
Over labor day a group of us (Jason, James, Sarah, Brent, Joe, Me, Julie, Reina and Janice) went down to Zion Park to do some canyoneering. It was an awesome group and we had so much fun which is pretty amazing since some of us hate heights :)
Next stop was Education Week(end) in Palo Alto. It was an incredible conference that included a photo booth (the Baines Ladies below), dancing (yikes), and great talks from Clayton Christensen, Sister Beck and her husband among so many others. They really did a great job putting it all together.
Later in the semester a group of us went on a quick Catalina/Ensenada cruise.
We rented some bikes to check out Catalina.
We rented some bikes to check out Catalina.
Just check out that amazing view. Gorgeous!
Janice, Michelle and I rented some kayaks to check out the view from the water.
The next day we rented some ATVs in Ensenada and drove 26 miles to checkout La Bufadora (the blowhole). We met some friends on the way (Jay, Bobby and Dan) who protected us from all of the vendors.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Time Flies...
Where has the time gone?? I am so frightfully behind and yet have so little time. But I thought the least I could do is post some pictures. I know it feels like a lot (it certainly felt that way as I waited for them to upload) but this is just a small sampling of the great fun I've been having in the Bay area. I heart Palo Alto.
After eating a juicy white peach and sampling some smokey Gouda cheese I proceeded to wander around the city for the rest of the afternoon. Isn't San Francisco a lovely city?
Later we went to the County Fair. Don't ask me what county, I simply can't remember. This is where I had my first funnel cake...first and last, I'm afraid. It was so good and yet oh so bad for me, I could feel the pounds come on with each bite.
Sunday afternoons are perfect for strolls around the Stanford campus (done it twice already).
Went to the symphony twice. Once with Michelle (below) and the second time with Heather Hammond (in the ward) to see/hear Michelle sing with the choir. Great performance team! And just look at the city lights glowing behind us. Sigh.
Below is the view from "The Dish." It's a 3.5 mile circle trail that Stanford built on some of its land. It just happens to have some satellite dishes up there and "The Dish" sounds so much better than "The Dishes." It's a great trail to walk/run/survive. It's hilly and quite the workout but just check out that view!
Oakland temple. Always a great escape when I can get to the temple. The last trip included a detour to Fenton's creamery. YUM! I highly recommend the pistachio ice cream next time you're in town. I later learned that this is the place that inspired the ice cream shop at the end of UP. Made me love it even more (the ice cream shop AND the movie).
Yet another trip to San Fran. This time I visited the Museum of Modern Art (below) to the Stein collection...a wonderful sampling of Picasso, Matisse and others.
And the "Painted Ladies." Can anyone else hear the Full House song running through their head?
I'm not sure why but I love cemeteries. Military cemeteries even more so. Just something very peaceful and spiritual about them.
Went to Half Moon Bay the next weekend. It was a bit cloudy but I had a wonderful time wandering in and out of shops.
Just last night was LDS night at the Giants. Here are three of the four roommates--we missed you Shelly! We ate hot dogs (of course) and had a fantastic time.
These first few pics are from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.
After eating a juicy white peach and sampling some smokey Gouda cheese I proceeded to wander around the city for the rest of the afternoon. Isn't San Francisco a lovely city?
Later we went to the County Fair. Don't ask me what county, I simply can't remember. This is where I had my first funnel cake...first and last, I'm afraid. It was so good and yet oh so bad for me, I could feel the pounds come on with each bite.
Sunday afternoons are perfect for strolls around the Stanford campus (done it twice already).
Went to the symphony twice. Once with Michelle (below) and the second time with Heather Hammond (in the ward) to see/hear Michelle sing with the choir. Great performance team! And just look at the city lights glowing behind us. Sigh.
Below is the view from "The Dish." It's a 3.5 mile circle trail that Stanford built on some of its land. It just happens to have some satellite dishes up there and "The Dish" sounds so much better than "The Dishes." It's a great trail to walk/run/survive. It's hilly and quite the workout but just check out that view!
Oakland temple. Always a great escape when I can get to the temple. The last trip included a detour to Fenton's creamery. YUM! I highly recommend the pistachio ice cream next time you're in town. I later learned that this is the place that inspired the ice cream shop at the end of UP. Made me love it even more (the ice cream shop AND the movie).
Yet another trip to San Fran. This time I visited the Museum of Modern Art (below) to the Stein collection...a wonderful sampling of Picasso, Matisse and others.
And the "Painted Ladies." Can anyone else hear the Full House song running through their head?
I'm not sure why but I love cemeteries. Military cemeteries even more so. Just something very peaceful and spiritual about them.
Went to Half Moon Bay the next weekend. It was a bit cloudy but I had a wonderful time wandering in and out of shops.
Just last night was LDS night at the Giants. Here are three of the four roommates--we missed you Shelly! We ate hot dogs (of course) and had a fantastic time.
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