The Utah Bucket List

I got the idea to do a where-you-live bucket list from a girl I used to visit teach before she and her hubby moved away. Since Tyson has only TWO semesters left in his bachelor's program I figured it's high time I do all the things I said I was going to do but haven't yet. When we complete something I will update the list in this post and include a photo and the date.

So, here is the list:

Stuff to Do
Hike the Y
Go to the Festival of Colors
Do another 5K (doing the Color Run in SLC with Estelle in August)
Visit the Sandy Aquarium
Go to the Springville Museum of Art
Take William on a ski lift (Park City after his birthday)
Visit Arches National Park
Visit Zions National Park
Visit Bryce Canyon
Take Tyson to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point
Go camping as a family
Go to Lake Powell
Take William to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square
Visit Tracy Aviary
Visit the Great Salt Lake and that spiral thing
Go to the Leonardo Museum (in SLC)
Go see a play at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City
Visit Wheeler Historic Farm
Hike Bridal Veil Falls

Places to Eat
La Jolla Groves
Station 22 Cafe
Black Sheep Cafe
The Lionhouse Pantry (in SLC)
The Pie Pizzeria (in SLC)

Temples to Visit
Manti (my family has a lot of history there)
St. George
Jordan River
Draper
Brigham City
Logan
Ogden (if we're still here when it's done)
Provo City Center (if we're still here when it's done)
Salt Lake City (I've been but Tyson hasn't)
Bountiful

All Things Hereditary

Whenever I am feeling sick I call my mom because she has most likely had (or still has) whatever I am experiencing. This is mighty convenient when the internet has failed or frightened me. But it's also a little worrisome. My mom has some pretty significant health issues that I really don't want: allergies to everything, fibromyalgia, and skin cancer to name a few. I think I am probably safe from skin cancer since I have never laid out or gone tanning since I burn s

Anyways, I went to the doctor yesterday for severe heartburn and extreme tiredness. I was prescribed something for heartburn and they took some blood to check for anemia and thyroid problems. Of course, heartburn issues run in my mom's family. No word yet about the blood tests.

Tyson and I were talking about this whole hereditary illness thing last night and he told me that before he proposed to me he prayed about it. He knew my mom had lots of health issues and he figured they might get passed on to me. That surprised me. I guess it's nice to know that no matter what health stuff gets thrown my way, Tyson is prepared to help me just like my dad has helped my mom.

I think that's pretty great.

What I Did At the Gym Today: Installment 1 of 1

My brother is a trainer at Gold's Gym so I get all the free help I want since I'm his older sister and that's how life works.

He wrote up a workout plan for me and taught me how to use a bunch of the free-lifting equipment and helped me realize that I will probably NEVER be able to do the bench press on my own. Ever.

Here's something else he taught me: hyperextensions.

That's what they look like but it made me feel like this:


I informed Nelson that I've re-named that exercise Mermaids instead of hyperextensions.

P.S. I did 10 with just body weight, then 10 more holding a 10 pound weight. MY LOWER BACK HATES ME. But this is good because since having William my lower back has been such a sissy.

Things Denise Has Been Pondering: Altered Family Planning

I always figured I would have a family with at least three children. I didn't plan on depression being in the mix. 

I know that there are some people who think depression is more of a personality choice rather than what it actually is: an illness. Depression is a scary thing. I think one of the reasons I just love the Bloggess (http://thebloggess.com/) is that she suffers from depression and anxiety and she's open about it. She helped me start to understand what is means to be clinically depressed and how that is different than being depressed.

My mom came up this weekend for a quick, surprise trip. As I was expressing some of my concerns and fears my mom said (paraphrase): You may want to consider how many children you can handle. It's okay to have one child. Don't feel pressured to have more just because your family or friends have more or say you should. Figure out what works best for you and Tyson.

This advice surprised me. My MOM was telling me that it's okay for me to maybe only have one kid. My MOM (and by extension, my dad) who teased me from when I went to college about hurrying up and having grandkids.

Some people might think that this is selfish, to not have more kids. I would say to them, be grateful you don't have the same mixture of problems that we have. Now, I'm not saying that we'll never have more kids. I am saying that I am in no rush to have another. Having kids close together works for some people. Some people say that you should have kids close together so they will have friends, or so they don't have only-child-syndrome, or any other number of reasons. I am saying that right now my family is dealing with something pretty challenging and I need to focus on my husband, William, and my master's program.

I am glad that no one has been saying anything directly to me like "So, when are you having more kids?" or "So-and-so is having another kid. What about you?" It's hard enough dealing with my altered family planning and trying not to get down on myself about not having another. I hope that things improve enough so we can have another someday. But if not, the Lord knows what is best for Tyson and me and we are trying to be more faithful that He will direct us where we should go and what we should do. 

Grad Classes

Disclaimer: now that I have been accepted to grad school, do not be surprised when many of my posts are GWU related. I view this blog as my un-journal so I'll write about whatever the heck I feel like, even I've posted about it a million times.

I registered for my first grad school course last week: Book and Journal Publishing. Doesn't that sound awesome?! I can't believe this is happening. In my personal map of life (which we all know never works out unless it's what God wants for us) I NEVER planned on grad school. Ever. EVER.

The idea of writing a thesis paralyzed me with fear and premature writer's block. This program does not have a thesis which is in the top-5 reasons I applied.

Today I found out something else cool about my classes: they don't follow the regular on-campus schedule. My class goes from Monday, August 26 to Monday, November 18. Happy birthday, mom!

LONGEST THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS BREAK EVER!

Seriously, you guys.

For my first two trimesters (GWU is on a trimester schedule like BYU-Idaho) I plan to do part-time or 5 credits which is the standard for this program. It was designed like night school since most of the people in it are already working full-time. Once Tyson graduates school I would LOVE to go full-time and finish early. 

I am hoping to have my program done before we have another kid (this is not an announcement) because I can't fathom having a newborn and a toddler and trying to finish a master's program. I know some people do it. The only way I could do it is if we live near our family so we can have help watching the kiddos.

Book and Journal Publishing is a 3-credit class so I get to pick one more for the fall. There are three I am trying to choose from and I can't decide! Here are my options: 

Book Design (2 credits): This course will introduce students to the book design process, and its relationship to the editorial, production, and marketing departments.The components of book design: typography, composition, page layout, illustrations, photo-editing, and printing will be covered, including the use of templates, grid systems, and current layout programs.

Fundamentals of E-Publishing (2 credits): This course will explore the similarities and the differences between traditional and electronic publishing, with focus on practical issues faced by electronic publishing at this point in its evolution.

Editorial Content, Rights, and Permission (2 credits): In this course, students will explore how editorial content is developed and obtained and its relationship to the rights and permissions process. Included is exposure to the decision-making process in terms of reconciling distribution of content for both revenue and non-revenue purposes.

The first two are part of the required core classes so I might have to pick between those if I am required to complete the core classes first. The third course if from the Editorial track - a set of five additional classes I am required to complete. I am leaning toward Book Design because I am super interested in that but the other two sound awesome as well.

I am waiting to hear back about some of these questions from the program director.

Don't worry. When I decide, you'll know.