Christmas Cheer

For the last three years I have come to expect the same thing out of my holiday season. For the weeks leading up to Christmas I work on finals and getting school wrapped up, while at the same time getting my store ready for the steady rush of holiday shoppers. Apart from missing the rush of angry mobs of people in the mall (hello recession) this season has been much of the same.
This week began with an upward spiral of tests, last minute assignments, and final reviews. I am overwhelmed with school, yet overly grateful for some of the things I've learned this semester. I have a new understanding and respect for this beautiful world God created for us. My Global Environment class has given me a chance to appreciate the glorious various aspects that make up this planet. Creation is really a miracle that should not be overlooked. Although some of the natural disasters we've learned about have scared the crap out of me, I've found myself digging up movies about volcanoes, ice ages, bbc's Planet Earth, even subscribing to National Geographic. If you didn't already think I was a tree hugger... if you've spoken to me lately you'd find me on a whole different level of "Environmentalist."
Work as always gives me a sense of the Holiday Spirit. Being in a mall filled with more decorations and Christmas music than there are customers really makes me feel grounded and at home. Only a Hotdogger would tell you that being at the mall at Christmas is where you are at home. After a long shift with dear friends... also known as employees or co-workers, I'm so filled with the Holiday spirit that all I want to do is drive home and spend time with my mom, dad, brothers, and my puppy. I've found that divorce only effects the Holidays if you let it. It doesn't matter if you have one home, two homes, or ten homes to go to, your family is what you make it. I've made mine the best. I can only thank God that I am so blessed to have these people in my life. In the last 3 Christmases my family has created new traditions, new memories, and even new people that I now consider family members.
I was just sifting through some of the blogs I like to catch up on... I always start with Kate's and move through her family and pretty soon I'm in Angela's, Steph's... and on and on. By the time I'm done I haven't even written in my own and a good hour has passed. I love seeing how happy everyone is and just how much has changed in everyone's lives since I moved over 3 years ago. Sometimes I feel left behind and other times I'm just very happy and grateful for everyone. We all take different paths in life but somehow they stay connected, even across ocean's and continents.
I don't get sentimental often, and especially without being sarcastic right after. So, to all my dear friends who are reading this: Merry Christmas. I love you all. I hope you all have a blessed Holiday and that we all remember what/WHO this season is about. Thank Heavenly Father for those you know, and give even as Christ would.
With Joy,
Nik

Back from Concert #5 in Vegas.

You know you have a problem when you can be nit picky about things in a concert because you've seen the artist enough times to know something is wrong.
This weekend Amanda, Alicia, Paul, his girlfriend Victoria, and I went to see Jason Mraz at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. Of course, Jason is amazing, he'd have to try to suck. However, I think the tour is wearing on him because he was chugging stuff for his throat and not belting it like usual. Since I just saw the same show about two weeks ago in Salt Lake I noticed a huge difference in the songs played and the way he sang them. However, that is the extent of complaints about the show because what I love about Jason is that even when he's losing his voice he can still play a killer show. He gives 110% for his fans. It was general admission and I was standing right in front of his mike!
Some of these pictures are from my phone so they arent the best resolution.



I am sad that the next thing I have to look forward to is my work managers meeting in February. But hopefully we can see him again next year when the hype of his popularity comes down and we can go back to those amazing shows like San Fran that have small audiences and he plays his old stuff. Gotta love Jason <3

Peace.

I am on my way!

I am on my way!
1st... I am on my way to figuring out this blogging business. The only reason I even got back into it was because I stopped getting emails from Katy and wanted to read her blog. I figured out how to do the backgrounds and add friends (ok so that is a very Facebooky term). Whatever. I really don't see the need for all these different personal sites. I have a Facebook, Myspace, Blog, 2 emails, Youtube account, BYU page...
Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes... my brain. The only one I know how to use decently is Facebook and recently even that has become difficult.
Moving along. I'm on my way to take 4 tests before Friday. I just wrote 4 spanish papers and did my online physical science vocab test. It is going to be a long, sleep-free week. However, after all the school junk I will be on my way to Vegas to see Jason! Woohoo!
I'm on my way to being a fluent bilingual spanish speaking Panamanian American. That is right. I am busting my buns to learn Spanish! Pienso que necesito ir a dormir.
Estoy en mi manera. Adios.

Catching up on my correspondence with Blogspot.com

Since the last time I wrote was in March I am sure that no one reads this anymore. However, since Sara has been urging me to help connect our high school friends through blogging with Sister Katy Pokey I figured I better write. However, if I'm going to get into this I will need to figure some basic blogging techniques out!
Some help please:
1. How do I connect with other bloggers?
2. How do I make a cute background?
3. How do I send updates?

In other news, school is hard yet rewarding, church is great, work is getting busy with early holiday shoppers, and Obama is now our president. I'm feeling pretty good about life.

Runnin a Marathon with Amanda! Holy s*#!

Ok so I know what you're thinking... not happening. But I am officially running the Park City half marathon with Amanda in August. We have registered, I payed my $30, and now we are in extensive training so that not only can we run 13 miles but also wear bikini's on our cruise.
Yeah... we are awesome.
Ps... I am dead serious about this.

Cantamos, Bailamos, Robamos!

May is the month to look forward to. My one and only true love Jason Mraz finally has a new CD coming out May 20th. It is titled "We sing, We dance, We steal things." This is his first CD since 2005 to come out. He has released live albums and stuff, but nothing new, so to those of us who are obsessed and travel the country to see him live, this is a HUGE DEAL!
Secondly, I am fullfilling a life long dream and going to New York with Alicia in May. I am so excited. We are going to see some shows, shop, and go up to Palmyra for part of the trip. It is going to be amazing.

Thirdly, there are a couple of weddings in May that I am so excited for because I love the couples who are getting married. Chris and Shannon are getting married at the beginning of May and Barrett and Erin are getting married at the end. Yeah for engaged friends. I'm glad for you, and more importantly... glad it's not me.

The best thing about May is that it is the beginning of the break for me. We get out of school April 28th down here at the Y... as in "Y" am I still going to school down here? 2 more months!!!

School's for fools.

I think I'll drop out of school.

This picture has nothing to do with anything other than it makes me laugh. It is of me and my assistant manager Hannah at the "Weinerland" in front of our store in the mall. It's actually an ice cream place, but the people for the movie changed it to Weinerland for the scene they did in the food court. On the other side is a giant hotdog giving a thumbs up. The movie is by MTV and it is called American Mall. It takes place... in the mall. There is singing and dancing and lots of High School Musical quality acting. I am actually in the scene they shoot in the food court helping the main guys at my counter... so that should be interesting and embarrassing to watch later on. It comes out this summer. I won't be offended if you don't go to see it.

Back to the topic at hand. I am dropping out of school. I wish that you could just take the classes you need to for your major and get out. They make it so hard to get out of here when they make you take classes like Biology and Social Science and other crappy generals. I'm close to snapping over the whole thing.