I got your package today. Lots and lots of candy. Either you're worried about me not eating enough, or trying to get rid of all that holiday candy. Thank you

I've been settling into the study, practice, study, workout routine. This semester is much busier than last. On MWF I am at class from 8-3 with about 2 hours worth of free time inbetween which I just go to the library and do homework in that time. Then practice everyday from 4-6. After that, head back to my room and rest for maybe a half hour at the most then go eat dinner ha. After, get some more studying in then go to the gym from about 9:30-11. Shower, then get in bed by 12ish. That's about how everyday goes. Busy, busy, but it does keep my mind occupied unlike last semester when I had a lot of down time.

Last Thursday I went to a lecture on the influence of American Indian symbols/mascots in sports. A Native American professor from Portland State talked and it was a very intriguing presentation. I was aware of the situation before, but hearing him speak and give the presentation, the words and mascots used now seem a lot more offensive. (i.e. Redskin) Now I wouldn't mind so much if teams changed their names. The Utes for instance. 5 years ago I thought, "How could you change the name. That has been there forever." But now I feel a bit differently about it.

I enjoy the english lit class. We've been reading the usual stuff I'm sure you know. Chaucer, Beowulf, etc. We watch the Daily Sho quite frequently in the journalism class. Mainly because they do a good job criticizing what the media does. I just find it so intriguing and there's so much you can do with the journalism field. Just get freshman year out of the way as fast as possible. Then I can really get into it. I can start convergence this time next year and then possibly study abroad junior year. We'll see, its so far away right now.

Supposed to snow 4 inches tonight. But its not Utah snow by any means. So I'd rather not have 4 inches. Hope the play was fun.

We need to laugh more

I've been thinking about you all week and how time moves so quickly. That's both good and bad. It means we see each other soon, but it also means that you grow into your own life so fast it's almost a blur.

Since Dad's birthday's coming up, I got us tickets to see Bill Cosby. I think we all need to laugh more. A lot more! If time speeds up as we get older, then there's no sense spending it being miserable. I think it will be fun.

This week, I haven't had much fun with church business. Susan F. is really quite a negative person, and she's been micromanaging everything. You can't do this; you can't do that. Why did I do XYZ without asking the Vestry? She was making me a psychological mess, until I realized that only I can mess myself up psychologically. She's very temporary, and all this will pass.

I heard on NPR today about an interesting book you might want to get. It's about Ayn Rand - Jennifer Burns (“Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right”)- and how conservatives are so threatened by her writing. I don't remember if you've read any of Rand's stuff - Atlas Shrugged or the Fountainhead - but they are potentially life-changing books. Not for the conservative right, I guess.

Sent you off a package today, so check for it. (in the next several months?)

Love you.