So in honor of starting a new semester and a new year, I thought I would post some pictures from last semester to summarize the good times.

Rachel, Me, and Kali at a football game.

Me, Rachel, Cosmo, and Kaylyn at a football game.

Homecoming with Lisa.

Meghan and I at Halloween.

Me and Holly at Halloween.

Preference with Allison.

My Family in 2004.

2005 here I come.

I am home (without my luggage) after a long day of travel. I don't feel like talking about it.

Oh. Remember those two first vision paintings by Walter Rane that I told you about that I saw at his lecture in Salt Lake City? One of them is the cover of the Ensign for January 2005. Check it out. The other one was my favorite of the two, but this one is absolutely amazing. I'm serious about them being the best ever painted of the first vision.

By midnight this will magically turn into a post describing the past few days (which have been lots of fun).

*update sometime before midnight:*

Right now I am taking a break from packing. I leave tomorrow morning fairly early.

Today I had a lovely time at Church, where I got to say goodbye to Mary, Gina, Neichel, and others for four months. It was really sad though, that only four deacons (myself included) passed the sacrament today. Our ward has gotten that small. So many families have moved out, and few have replaced them. When I first became a deacon we passed the sacrament with eight deacons, had a bishop's messanger and two ushers, usurally with young men to spare. How sad to see so many empty pews. How sad, also, to not have the Zippi's. I really miss that family so much. You have no idea. Brother Zippi is one of those few people in the world whose very presence makes you feel like you are a million bucks. He is probably the most enjoyable person to be around no matter what time or place. I miss him and Elizabeth and Sister Zippi and Emily very very much. (even if I did get to have dinner with them a few weeks ago and even if I do see Elizabeth at BYU)

Yesterday I went to lunch with my family at Olive Garden, which was nice. Then that night James and I went over to Gina's where Megan and Collin and eventually Neichel met us. It was fun to tell some stories and catch up. It reminded me of those times when Jame, Jeff P, Gina, and I used to get to gether and tell stories, especially that one time January 10th last year. Gall sometimes I miss those good old days. This one just wasn't the same.

News Year's Eve I stopped by the Singles Dance at Church. It was . . . an experience, albeit I didn't stay long to give it much of a chance. Then I went and watched Phantom of the Opera for the second time with Megan. I had liked it that much. I have always loved that musical. As a little kid I had a big crush on Christine, with her long hair and all. Now I appreciate it on a slightly more sophisticated level- but I'll spare you the speech. I could write several pages on the various themes like artistic genius, hiding behind masks, psychology, incestial undertones (the phantom representing the father), sacrifice, the similarites between art and music and all of its conflicts, etc., but I won't.

Thursday I went and got my hair cut and then went to the eye doctor. I will be wearing glasses a lot more now because my eyes are getting bad and glasses are better for my stigmatism than contacts (or something like that). Then I went to lunch with Marcy for a few hours. It was so much fun! I love talking with Marcy, and it was good to catch up with her on everything and talk about like at UofI vs. BYU. Then I went to see Phantom of the Opera with Heather for the first time. Again, the critics were wrong. It was good, and I give it 4.5 stars. Oh, that night I talked with my parents too, which is always a good thing.

Wednesday I don't remember the day, other than I enjoyed it, and that night I went over to Megan's house and watched the Inlaws, which was a really funny movie. I liked it a lot.

And that is my update, now magically appearing.

"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade. Hide your face so the world will never find you!" (Andrew Loyd Weber)

P.S. I hate those adds where you shoot the bug to get a free ipod. They are too fun, and I can't control myself. I have to shoot the bug. Adds shouldn't be so successful, it's not fair to the consumer.