Time to invest in a typewriter

I'm really not sure why it is that I have serious issues with technology, but I've learned to just stop fighting it. I purchased a Macbook last September (2007) and have quite enjoyed it. Until February, that is, when my hard-drive crashed at a very inopportune time. After losing lots of pictures and papers, I learned a very important lesson about technology...it's faulty, unreliable, and finicky (literally, a fair-weather friend - ha!). Well, it has happened again. My hard-drive crashed for the second time at the absolute worst time (doesn't it always happen that way though?) in the semester. I was working on my Senior Thesis Thursday night and all of the sudden my computer started acting very strange - being rather stubborn. The keyboard wasn't really keeping up with my pace and I got a little worried. Nothing was saving when I tried that, so what was my back-up plan? My digital camera. Haha! I took a picture of what I could see on the screen due to paranoia that my paper would be irretrievable - the least I could do was save the page and a half on the screen at the time of my computer's revolt. As it turns out, my instincts were right. My computer completely crashed and took my paper with it. No tears were shed (shockingly enough), but instead, I probably burned a couple hundred calories from laughing. Ann deserves a shout out for letting me vent over the phone right after it happened -thanks my dear! It was one of those over-the-top moments when you just don't care anymore. I decided then and there that I need to invest in a typewriter. Reliable. Dependable. Sturdy. Maybe something along the lines of the typewriter that Frank loves in "You've Got Mail." If anyone is up to date in the typewriter market, get back to me. I'm always up for suggestions. =)
I did manage to recall most of my paper from memory, though not all of it. I guess the reason why I really wasn't distraught about the whole thing after dealing with the paper crisis is that I had invested in an external hard drive - my very own $80 testimony as I've heard it called - after the February crash, so all is not lost. Thank heavens for that. The moral of the story??? BUY AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE!!!!! Or invest in a typewriter....

P.S. The blog is under construction at the moment. I was bored with the old background, not satisfied with the current one, but I don't have enough time to work it all out yet - hopefully soon though. LLI, I'll let you know when it's fixed. =)

I really am my father's daughter

     Time for the next installment of the Dave Irvine kind of life.  I once again found myself enjoying dinner with my dad last night and I've gained some new insight.  First and foremost, I really am my father's daughter.  A product of years of microscopic attention to detail on behalf of my dad, he has significantly shaped who I am today.  This post is pretty much dedicated to the greatest man alive - David Robert Irvine, BG, JD, whatever other kind of credentials there are, he really is just my dad - and the best dad at that.  It would be extremely selfish of me to keep all his words of wisdom and sound advice to myself, so I thought I'd share a couple gems with anyone who's interested.

      Lesson One - life is best lived "down the middle, off the top."  This comes as a direct result from his own upbringing with Lucy Irvine and the "Aunts" - Effie, Alice, and Evelyn.  My own life is proof that he took their counsel to heart - "how can you repay us?  Do for your kids what we've done for you."  I like to think that in some small way, I've gleaned that trait from my dad.  I sure hope so, because it is uber important to me.  Not that I have kids yet, but the principle applies to the people in my life.  Pass on to others what has been passed on to you - a pay it forward kind of thing.

       Lesson Two - you have to be able to laugh at yourself and the curves thrown at you.  It's the "seaweed vs. coral" principle.  The greatest memories I have are those when I'm laughing with my family (occasionally at them, I'll be honest...hehe).  Usually it's because of some ridiculous bet or challenge that I've lost (Scott is very good at manipulating me for his own entertainment purposes), or because of silly comments I made when I was still young and impressionable.  I once claimed that I was a little boy instead of a little girl - I was three years old - at Bear Lake and I didn't see this family video until company was present twenty years later.  Great. However - lesson number three from my dad applies here - if it doesn't kill you, it builds character.  I should probably have a lot more of that than I do, but hey, I'm a work in progress folks! =)

        Lesson Four - this goes right along with lesson two - "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."  In my case, physically speaking, this is kind of problematic.  A spoonful of sugar?!?!?  C'mon dad, when was any amount of sugar ever a good thing for a kid with diabetes?  Hmmm.  Metaphorically-speaking, however, that is the most sage piece of advice I've ever received.  Thanks Mary!  My dad and I are "bionic buddies" - medical pals with a faulty heart and pancreas, and through all the shots, finger pricks, late night insulin reactions, blood draws, visits to the doc, open-heart surgery and in his case, even a heart transplant - we've both come out smiling.  Diabetes has never kept me from doing what I've really wanted to do, and it's the same with my dad.  His heart episodes haven't stopped him at all - he can ski and scuba dive with the best of 'em!  Find the fun, and snap! the job's a game - diabetes, work, school, whatever it is, there is always some fun to find.

         Lesson five - "it's nothing personal, your name just happened to come up."  This is probably my most treasured Christmas present from my dad - a framed "Peanuts" cartoon.  This cartoon by Schulz depicts Charlie Brown laying in bed (in a sickly state) with the caption, "sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder, 'why me?'  Then a voice in my head whispers, 'It's nothing personal, your name just happened to come up.'"  This can be applied to so many things in life.  No one is out to get me - I just have to get going when the going gets tough.  Period.

          Lesson six - "to thine own self be true!"  This final lesson (of this post, at least) is probably the most important to me at the moment.  It's a skill that must be acquired.  In my own experience it has taken loads of practice, quite a few mistakes, and plenty of introspection to fine tune.  My dad is a master at it - truly.  I'm still working on it.  When I do manage to pull it off - everything always works out.

          So, there's a glimpse into the Dave Irvine kind of life as seen through the lens of his #4 kid - some rules to live by if you will.  Stay tuned for the next episode...there's definitely more to come!!!

My Ode to I-15

        I found myself in Bountiful this weekend (which, for me, includes Monday seeing as I don't have class that day) and dinner on Monday night with my parents proved very insightful.  Our dinner conversations usually go something like this, "So, Dad, what pro bono case did you decide to tackle this week?" or "Mom, do you really have to stay at the hospital so late when you're technically off at 4:30?"  She's quite the over-achiever.  And then there's the inevitable quest which my dad always tries to pull on me - the incorrect pronunciation of words.  He does it on purpose.  He purposely tells me how to pronounce a word incorrectly just to see me trip all over it in a later conversation.  If you think there's a trace of cynicism in my personality, chalk it up to 24 years at 2860 S. Oakwood Dr.  I think it started in 8th grade when I was reading Moby Dick and mis-pronounced the word "frigate."  I did it once, and I'm now living with the consequences for the rest of this mortal sojourn.  There are others on the list, but I'll spare myself more humiliation.  On to the rest of the story....

As I was driving home with my dad we were reflecting on my upcoming graduation.  He's impressed that I haven't succumbed to crowdthink.  I'm impressed that I haven't gotten pulled over on one of the many treks from B-town to P-town.  I realized last night that I have spent more weekends in Bountiful in the six years that I've been at BYU than I have in Provo.  Wow.  That is kind of insane.  My dad has no complaints on that note, and honestly, neither do I.  I did have to drive back to Provo this morning to make it to my Italian Renaissance class at 9:30, and something amazing happened on the oh-so-familiar drive.  I discovered just how great I-15 really is - tons of mile markers that really bring a smile to my face when I think of the memories that go along with them.  I have great memories that can be pin-pointed to just about every exit along the freeway from Bountiful to Provo.  Away we go:

400 S. - Welcome to the Gap.  This is how I always got to work during Summer 2005

900/1300/2100 S. - the corner of ninth and ninth is home of the Coffee Garden.  Though 

an explanation could be useful on this one, I'm just going to leave it to the 

imagination - unless, of course, you already know the history.  Mmmm....Irish 

Steamers....

3300 S. - this one could be a stretch - no real attachment really, let's just keep driving

4500 S. - this was my exit for my oil painting class last Winter.  Come rain, snow, or shine - I always made the drive back to Provo looking like either a smurf, or an oompa-loompa

5300 S. - I visited my dad here when he had a collapsed lung.  Not that the event was 

something to celebrate, but every minute with my dad is precious

I-215 Interchange - ANN'S HOUSE!!!!  No explanation needed....

7200 S. - I never have to worry about where to find the right sapphire or diamond - Shane's my guy.  Open M-F till 8, Saturday till 5, closed Sunday.  Word up.

9000 S. - Occasional trips to Jordan Commons with Ann - I think we squealed like 3 year-

olds during "Spiderwick Chronicles" on the IMAX.  BAD idea.

10600 S. - Home of my dear friend Sister Back/Beck

12300 S. - the amazingly cool warehouse known as....IKEA - I have an affinity for their lamps

POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN - 22 miles and 20 minutes until Provo...

Thanksgiving Point - two words: Russian Kadrille (where is Derek Dean when I need 

him?!?!)

Mt. Timpanogos Temple - many nights during Freshman year found me here till  the wee hours of the morning 

Lindon - well, it's merely a time marker - 10 minutes till home

University Parkway Exit - you know how crazy that intersection is when you get off the 

freeway? - yeah - that's where my car died....right before my Chemistry final Freshman

year.  Rather nightmarish

Center Street - Here's my exit!  3 miles down the road but the ETA is much shorter

So, the point of this blog is to help you all realize that no matter how tedious those "auto-pilot" drives are that we have in our lives, they're actually full of wonderful memories that make the journey fly right by.  I know I've clocked this particular stretch many, many times (which is why I made reference to not being pulled over...), but soon enough, I know I'm gonna miss it - so instead of dreading the trip, I'm now finding all sorts of memories along the way that keep me smiling.  And there you have it my dear friends - my ode to I-15.

  

Reunions to rave about

Conference Weekend was oh so great this year!  Reunions with good friends and great Conference sessions made the last few days incredibly special.  I definitely think such gatherings should happen more often...

First up, I'd like you all to meet the amazing Else L. Endicott!  I had the privilege and blessing of making her acquaintance during my study abroad to Vienna Austria during Fall semester 2005.  We became fast friends - kindred spirits if you will - and here we are three years later on BYU campus during her brief visit to Utah with her husband.  I made Else and Hans tell their story from the very beginning, and trust me, it's a great one.  Intrigue, drama, suspense, you name it, they had it.  They're expecting their first baby in March and they will make the greatest parents ever.  Wow - I adore this girl!  This was the start of the amazing reunion fest that took place this weekend.  No matter the time or distance between our reunions, it's a blast when we're together.  Though I'm sad we won't be able to enjoy Magic Mountain any time soon... =)
Next up - my mission reunion!!!  Welcome to the TSAM 2008 reunion!  It made my heart sooooo happy to spend time and catch up with dear Elders and Sisters from my mission - and especially President and Sister Larkin.  They are truly some of the greatest people I have ever known!  They shared a message with us all encouraging us to be TSAMers for life.  I guess you would've had to serve there to know anything about that, but I took it to heart....it will be done.  Now that Penn "lives" in St. George I have the perfect excuse to stop in and visit the Larkins who live there as well.  Que bueno!!!  I have to admit, I was quite impressed that I could still recite the TSAM theme in English and Spanish which we said together at the end of President's remarks.  Wow!  That'll make you realize how long you've been home.....it's been awhile. 
The best part of this reunion was seeing the Elders and Sisters that weren't home yet at the last one.  Here we have Traeden Nord, Daniel Bates, and Amy Sonntag.  I told Traeden he was my favorite Elder in the mission field, but then I saw Daniel and I realized the title of "favorite" was actually a tie between the two.  That's fair right?  Both are awesome and it was so fun catching up.  I served with Amy near the end of my mission and the crazy thing is that she lives three streets away from me in Bountiful.  That is the epitome of small world!                                                                                 

 The last reunion of the weekend was with my fellow Scottish sibling - the one and only Michael John Murray.  Regrettably, I didn't take any pictures of this one, but it gives me an excuse to make up for that another time.  During the delightful conversation over a breakfast of Denver and Athenian omelets, Michael managed to coerce me into performing with him at First Night with the Wasatch Pipe Band.  This great Scottish dance legacy began years and years ago - Senior year at WXHS (2002) to be specific - when I taught Michael the Highland Fling which he performed for a multicultural assembly.  Ever since then I have thought it would be really fun to perform with him but the timing never seemed quite right.  This year, I have no excuses (vacations, mission, broken ankle, etc.) - nada.  Not gonna lie, I'm feeling a bit of pressure.  Michael's good - especially at the Sword dance, which is what I may have to perform.  Might the student surpass the master???  You'll have to come to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on New Year's Eve and find out for yourself.  Aw Billy!!!