And then there were bangs.

So I got bored and decided to get bangs.

The chick who did them didn't do so well so I had to fix them.

Which was pretty fun.

This week I've also gone to Tooele (where I grew up) a few times in order to fix up our old house.

We had renters, that are now gone, and we need to clean up so we can sell the place.

Good times.

I like painting, so it goes pretty well.

It's weird going back home and seeing how things change.

Like the height of our old mailbox.  

It used to be super small because my mom is short.

Now it is normal sized which is...not normal.

So there you go.

No fieldwork until August 16th which is a major bummer.

But, you do what you can with what you have.

Calling in a sick day.

Today I'm home curled up either in bed or on the couch.

Not feeling to hot.

But nothing cheers me up like style quizzes.

This one is from ethan allen.

I found it on one of my favorite sick day sites How About Orange. 

Love these things.

my style is

country house

The verdict is in--your style is Country House.  Country House is a timeless world rooted in history.  Inspired by the grand houses of Europe.  Confident layering of pattern, texture, color, and shape.  As if carefully collected over many years.  For the antique lover with a taste of modern comfort.

I thought that it was pretty spot on.  

Especially it being timeless and rooted in history.  

I mean really, I'm an archaeologist, can't get much better than that.

Just because I wander doesn't mean I'm lost.

Then again,

sometimes it does.

:)

"Stand still.  The trees ahead and the bush beside you are not lost."

 - Albert Einstein (via quote-book)

♥ ♥ ♥

Full of empty promises and holes really.

So, a while back I may have talked about posting awesomeness from my recent sweet travels.

I'm still working on it.  

Kind of.

No worries though.

My family hasn't even seen pictures from my travels.

And stories have been minimal.

I'm just moving around to much,

life is moving forward to fast,

and I simply haven't had time to catch up.

...or unpack for that matter.

So, while I may not be able to catch up on recent travels I can post about my job now.

As an awesome archaeologist,

in the beautiful land of Kanab, Utah.

Next to the Black Ass Ranch.

Yes, that is the name of the ranch.

I have seen the namesake (a black donkey),

and the owner is getting us all hats with the logo on it.

Pretty awesome eh? 

:)

This is the awesome pit house I have been working on for the last 2 weeks.

We discovered it on my 2nd day when I accidentally ran into a "wing wall".  

Now there is an entire house!!!

That is pretty cool really.

These are some other pit houses that are above below and around the one I have been in.

They are all really cool.

Definitely different than digging in the Old World but still super cool.

Taking pictures of the bottomless pit in the wall of our pit house.

We actually think that Dabalae (name changed to her gangster name), found a pit house beneath the one we are standing on at the bottom of her pit.

Popular spot apparently.

Digging in the pit.

It was actually deeper than it looks.

It also was a bit moist down there.

And you saw stars and black spots if you got out of it to fast.

But it is ok, because I am digging, and digging makes me happy.

I'm smiling here.

Though you can't see it behind my bandit bandanna, it is true.

So, there you go.

On a non-archaeological note,

here is my favorite part of the 4th of July.

T-dog and his awesomeness.

Thankfully, sometimes happiness cannot be cured. @ Yahoo! Video

Love it.

:)

Having Trouble Trying to Sleep...

Yeah 11:00 pm is really not that late.

6:00 am is really not that early.

But those are my hours folks...generally.

Weekends are obviously different but all I want to do at 11:00 pm is sleep.

But I can't.

So I am posting pictures of the drive home this afternoon.

It was...long. 

Come to think of it, it is always long.

But pretty.

No worries, the Chex Mix was very safe.

I apologize about the quality of these photos.
They were taken on my phone,
in a moving vehicle,
through a dirty window,
after a long weeks work.
By the way, I just learned I can transfer pictures from my phone to my little netbook via Bluetooth.
I am REALLY loving this netbook.

Best purchase of all time really.

Well nighty night.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

But not likely.

Hello Ladies.

Today is the entertainment day.

I saw this commercial on the television one evening...I just about died.  It is so awesome!!!

Then my wonderful roommate Madison introduced me to this gem
.

I think, considering I'm starting school in the fall, that this video is wildly appropriate.

...and awesome mainly awesome.

So I watched this music video and absolutely loved it.

I don't even remember what the song sounded like,

I just loved, loved, loved the video!!!

So there you go.

Entertaining day.

Some time in rewind.

So I realized I have been away awhile.  

Life has been a little hectic.  

I live out of a suitcase and/or duffel bag.

So I thought that over the next random while I would post random pictures and/or stories of what has been going on for the last few months.

Because believe me, a lot has been going on.

What happened first?

Can I actually remember anything before this morning?

Oh yeah.

I graduated.

It was a necessary requirement before starting grad school in the fall.

I know this because BYU sent me a 2 letters and about 20 emails telling me so.

Graduation?

It was cool...at times.

At times it was very, very hot.

and long,

and exhausting.

Here is a picture recap of my graduation experience.

In a great deal of pictures.

Here we go:

DAY 1

So I decided that I probably should look like a girl.

It took me a long time to remember how to do so.

But it didn't stop us from taking pictures of it.

Success!

I think...

how do I put this thing on again?

Getting out of the door for the big ceremony was apparently harder than we had originally planned.

For a man with no grasp on the humorous he is quite the ham.

jk dad jk.

:)

Pictures during processional.

Because pictures are priceless.

And really,

who want to forget walking in heels and sweating to death in those dark blue robes.

Thank goodness I was not getting a doctorate.

They wore thick black velvety things.

Welcome to Hogwarts you doctor you.

After the processional and big ceremony.

The sistas:

and the awesome little brother Deruda helping a sister out.

and in case a picture is not enough...

(because really a picture may say a thousand words but in a video you can hear at least 1500)

Finding the car @ Yahoo! Video

DAY 2:

The day of extreme exhaustion,

and more girly time.

Here is how I feel about girly time:

But I survived to graduate another day.

With my department,

in my own little college.

With some friends from field school.

Cool story.

My department, 

(the department of Anthropology)

is the first department to 'walk' and receive their diplomas.

That is because we go alphabetically.

And A is first.

And anthropology starts with an A.

Well, I randomly got picked to go first.

So, outside of the doctors, masters, and valedictorians,

I was the first undergrad to receive my diploma.

I gave them this card, another one with my name on it, received my diploma, and then laughed silently in my comfy chair as everyone else went through the very, very long line.

Booyah!

Pictures after the ceremony.

The sistas came again.

Deruda skipped out because that piggyback the day before probably wiped him out.

Wimp.

:)

The parentals.

Apparently graduation caps are really cool and everyone wants to wear one.

Some more random pics on a rock.

Because, you know, pictures are so much cooler on a rock.

Yay, for the cita.

She's practicing for when she graduates with her masters in just a short time.

And her hair is really pretty.

So there you go.

I am now a college graduate.

These pictures are proof.

And I feel pretty ok about that.

Don't worry,

more randomness will definitely follow.

Adios for now!

Quotes from the Bug

This evening I heard ridiculous amounts of laughing from upstairs.

So I covertly snuck up to investigate...and steal a grilled cheese sandwich...shhhh.

They were watching Little Giants.

For any poor soul who hasn't seen it, click on the name for a link to the trailer.

Anyway, back to the story.

The only way to get any kind of idea of the experience is to get it in quotes.

So here it goes to the best of my ability.

Cita: Aliswan, there is a quote you always say on this movie!

Aliswan:  My quote?

Cita:  Yes, you say it all the time...ummm...

Aliswan:  Well do remember what it was?

(Bug comes in and overhears the conversation)

Cita:  It is your quote...ummm...

Bug:  Is it..."she's pissed"?

The line Bug is referencing goes as follows:

"Who's that?"

"That's my niece Becky, and she's pissed."

I'm glad I have left such a positive impression on my siblings. :)

Thankfully that isn't the line the Cita was thinking about.

Unfortunately we still can't figure out what that line is. 

 Oh well. 

 One for the memories.

Home for the Holidays

Weekends are going to be my holidays for the next few weeks.

So when I got to come home for the weekend I was pretty relieved,

after a bit of a rough start.

Rough start you ask?

It would seem that to start every new excavation I must be injured.

In Syria I had this:

Don't worry, it was just a little sprain and it healed pretty quickly.

This week, the first week of my Kanab job, started like this:

Does one eye look a little more red than the other?

Indeed.

Between the dryness of Utah,

the allergies from Hades,

and eyes full of dirt all week,

I got a little bit of eye irritation.

Don't worry, the expensive eye drops from the pharmacy are clearing it up right quick.

So the week seemed to be a bit rough but then I came home to a wonderful surprise.

It's a little Asus netbook.

I named it Tahla which means 'little palm tree' in Arabic.

It wasn't due until the end of the month, but it's ok, I'll take it early.

Thank you amazon.com you are still my favorite.

Here is a comparison in size between my old lovely Dell and my new little Tahla.

I wish the picture could show the difference in weight as well.

Let me tell you, there is a big difference.

I'm really excited about it and how it's lovely weight and portability will get me going in grad school.

Yay. 

:)

So life is good,

in other awesome news check out:

The House of Nuts!

3 - 2 - 1 takeoff

So here I am taking off again.  

That's what I do, run away. :)  

Actually I guess I'm not really running away.  

I simply want to run away.  

7 days, to the day, since coming home I am taking off again.  

I want to run in the other direction a little bit.  

Starting a new position is always nerve-racking. 

 Thankfully I am practically already packed. :)  Just transferring from a suitcase to a duffel bag.  

Love my life right now...really I do. 

How many people get to spend their days doing what they absolutely love?

Definitely not everyone.

I am very, very blessed.

Which means I can't run away,

regardless how appealing it may be.

:)

So I'm off to travel, work hard, and learn about people who only can speak through what they left behind.

Awesome.

Insight from the wise ones.

I am very grateful for my mother this morning.  Coming home has been a very...shocking experience?  I've been living in the middle of the Middle East for the past 9 weeks and coming back to a place where girls boobs are falling out all over the place, people are making out in a public park, and it is raining outside, has been quite the culture shock.  Combined with the fact that I came from a culture where it seems that every question was answered with the phrase, "as you like" to a family reunion that could rival the soapiest soap opera.  I am a little overwhelmed and drama overloaded.  I am going back to my singles ward this afternoon.  That is also a bit terrifying for me.  I can't help it.  Large groups of social people kind of make me a bit nervous.

Last night my mother gave me some advice that she felt important to give me.  When I started swimming competitively eons ago I had a swim coach named Dan.  "Dan the man" we used to call him.  At one of my first meets he asked me what I wanted to do with my swimming.  I was 9, I said, "go to the Olympics".  He told me that was possible if I was willing to do what he said.  Along with obviously working very hard I was told to go to every swimming meet I could attend and do every event I was allowed to do.  I did.  I did everything.  I was going to every meet that I knew about and always swimming the maximum number of events.  I did every kind of event I could.  I never made it to the Olympics, my goals changed, but I did do exactly what he told me.  Because of that, I had the physical freedom to do any event that I wanted really well.  I didn't have any kind of specialty event until one was picked for me in high school.

My mother compared my current state to my experience as a 9 year old.  What do I want?  When I think about my goals I need to decide what things I truly want.  If that is truly what I want then I need to follow Dan's advice.  

I need to go to every event that I am invited to, take every opportunity I can, work harder than I ever have before and follow every impression that I am given.  

If I do that, I will not only reach my goals, but reach them as a person well-rounded and prepared for whatever comes my way.  

My mother is a very wise person.  

So there is my goal. Let's see how it goes. 

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle...

...life is a maze and love is a riddle

I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried

and I don't know why.  

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment

I'm so scared but I don't show it

I can't figure it out

It's bringing me down I know

I've got to let it go

and just enjoy the show.

This is a piece of my new favorite song by Lenka.  It was stuck in my head for...hmmm....the last 8 weeks.  While in Syria I was blessed to have the "Scott soundtrack".  My good digging buddy Scott had a song for every statement and situation.  We called it the "Scott soundtrack".  He kept singing this song, so I blame him for getting it stuck in my head for 2 months.  That's ok, I found that as I learned the lyrics, they kind of epitomized my feeling about life right now.

I got to do a lot of soul searching in Syria.  

I mean really, when you are digging in a hole for 6 hours a day with only yourself, you can't ignore the nagging in your mind.  Things that I have been mentally avoiding for the last...I don't know...were brought to the forefront.

Don't worry, I won't bore you with my self discoveries. :)

Suffice it to say that this song describes my state of being right now.  I have been very blessed, my life is taking off in this amazing way, and I am unbelievably happy.

Still, there are those lurking pieces of me that have been somewhat pushed to the side in my efforts to do what I feel I am meant (or supposed) to do right now.

I often feel guilty that in a time where I am so blessed, I think about how nice it would be if other aspects of my life were developing as rapidly.
It's a strange balance we are meant to live in.
A balance between what is necessary at the time, what we need to do to prepare for the future, and learning patience regarding those eventualities.

That song describes me right now.  

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle. 

 Life is a maze I'm winding through, clinging to the faith that the inspiration I have received regarding purpose and timing is accurate.  

Love is a riddle that I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to solve.  I'm relying so much on my Heavenly Father because I don't know where to go, and I truly can't do it alone.  When I try...it doesn't go so well. :)  I'm so intimidated by the path my life is taking.  

Everyone seems to think I'm so sure and confident in what I'm doing but it's not true.  

I'm afraid, terrified, and trying to compensate by micro-controlling the things I can.  

Like the organization of my kitchen.  

So basically what have I learned?  

I have to let the things go that I can't control and just trust and have a little faith that it will all work out at the right time.

So there you go.  

Just enjoy the show. :)

♥