Texas Adventures (and Regular days)

So far in Texas we haven't been on too many adventures. But, this week we did try an "Austin Original," Pizza Paradise. (The name made me think of Pizza Planet, and didn't help that they had a white pickup truck in the driveway to make deliveries.) I thought it was pretty good pizza. Daniel thought it was pretty good as far as I can tell. Coupons are a good incentive when we pick out something to try that is completely new. It gives us a good excuse to pick one new thing over another.

Since moving here, we also tried the famous Blue Bell Ice Cream. My personal opinion is that the stuff in the ice cream is what makes it awesome. If I had to choose, I would get BYU creamery Vanilla, but Blue Bell puts stuff in their ice cream. So far we've tried cookie dough, and dessert trio (it has real pieces of cookies, and brownies, and cake!) Anyway, ice cream is a great treat because it is so hot outside all the time! (It also tastes good). We have also made smoothies and orange julius because our usual treats, like brownies and cookies, make the house too warm.

Our day to day lives haven't been too exciting. Daniel did a little more training, and got his first project to work on. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it's a project for him to do while he is at work instead of more training. (Which is coming, but not immediately, so he gets to work on his project). We also got a pay check, which is better than paying to do work, for sure!

I've been at home mostly. I got lots of fruits and vegetables at the grocery store to eat. I used my skills from home to help pick out corn, and I like to smell all the fruits to decide which ones I want. Basically, it takes forever. (Daniel goes crazy, but he knows that I like to be out, when I get out.) I worked on my newest cross stitch project this week. It is coming very well, as far as I can tell.

Figuring Things Out

So, this is another week here in Texas! Daniel is busy doing work. He set up his cubicle, and his work computer. Today he had his second day of "BYU EE in two days." He is glad that he knows what is going on, but he is kind of bored doing review stuff. We both agreed that it is better than he knows what is going on; instead of him having to learn four years of material in two days. Either way, I think he is having a good time, and it is clear he learned the things to help make him successful at his job.

As for me, I've been home most of the week. I've seen lots of movies, tv, and documentaries now. I even saw a friend of mine on a show that they filmed in Utah. (I know that because they unabashedly used the University Mall in Orem.) Yesterday, I had a Relief Society meeting. We talked about finances. I was in the "investing and making money group." I learned a few things about investing. (the key thing, always take company matching or stock benefits.) Then, we talked about how women are more and more becoming entrepreneurs. I'm still not sure I'm going to be an entrepreneur, but it did tell me that I should find something that correlates my skills and interests.

I also started and finished this little cross stitch bear. That is how much time I've had around the house. Just me and this little bear project.

Graduation

This week was Daniel's second week of training; today he starts "real work."  As for me, I'm still looking for a job. I did apply for a job at NI (where Daniel works) as a technical writer. As far as I can tell they haven't looked at my resume, but that means they haven't rejected it yet! That has mostly been our week this week, so, like the post title suggests the rest of the post is going to be about graduation!

To preface, for anyone who didn't know, Daniel and I didn't walk at graduation because I had a friend getting married, but we did watch the commencement on BYUTV online. (If it is posted on their website, it was a pretty awesome talk by Elder Scott!)

We ended up going back to campus with my parents to take pictures later. (As a side note, it is really nice to take pictures when there aren't thousands of people trying to take the same pictures!) We got a few weird looks from spring term students, but I'm sure they've seen weirder things happening on campus!

Anyway, we took some of the traditional pictures. Here we are, "the world is our campus." We are pretty happy about it.

We also took some less traditional graduation pictures.

We thought it would be fun to have a pictures at the Maeser building because if any building at BYU looks like a building of higher learning, it would definitely be the Maeser Building. It is a pretty awesome building to visit!

Little known facts about the Maeser Building:
(1) the Maeser building is a high ranking contender for "hardest building to get a cart into" (what I learned from work)
(2) Maeser was buried below the basement at one point. (what I learned from New Student Orientation)
(3)One of the most photographed spots for BYU engagement pictures (Complete conjecture on my part)

We also took one of the Clyde Building with Daniel because he spent most of his years at BYU between its walls. I told him he couldn't have "if found, return to the Clyde Buildling" shirt because he needed to be returned to our apartment. Either way, he spent a lot of time there on the fourth floor.

I took a picture at the JFSB because I had a fair number of my classes in the basement (or as I refer to it, the bunker). And, it is a pretty cool looking building to take pictures. Also, the English department in based on the 4th floor, so even though English classes are spread around campus, this would be the department's home.

I had lots of fun in my classes, at work, and doing stuff on campus,  but on the top of my list of awesome things about BYU is meeting Daniel!

So, we had a wonderful experience during our time at BYU. We took fun classes and hard classes. We learned a lot about different topics. In short, we had a good time and the BYU experience was a great experience!

Work and Stuff

So, this was Daniel's first week of work. He went to work Monday and did the "welcome to work" stuff. And now, for the next two weeks he is taking a training course. I don't think he really likes being stuck in a classroom for eight hours everyday, but I also think that he will enjoy solving problems instead of just learning in a classroom. He will survive, of course -- he is already half way done with training!

As for me, I've been doing projects and work around the house. Nothing too exciting nostly making food and doing laundry. Today, I organized our food storage so I know what is in our pantry. Before this, everything has been in boxes so I have had to search to find anything to make food. Now I can find things, and I know what I have (or don't have). Hopefully, that helps me figure out what to get for food storage, and what to buy at the store. I've also been busy sending out job applications, and looking for things to do. Hopefully something will pop out at me soon!

To be honest, I'm a little jealous that Daniel has something to do all day, and I don't yet. But, I'm sure I'll find something to do soon, and Daniel is excited to get to work!

Happy Birthday!

This week there isn't a lot to post about. Daniel and I have just been enjoying our last few days of vacation. We have watched TV episodes on Netflix, and we even tried out my new roller blades early one morning. They were pretty fun! Tomorrow or the day after we are going to go on a bike ride in the morning before it gets hot outside.

One morning this week, we spent a few hours helping at the Bishop's Store House in Round Rock. We got to bag up broccoli, grapes, cabbage, and oranges. It was fun to help, and they even fed us lunch (chili dogs with cheese). This is our second time going to help up there -- we figured that while we have time that we can help out. This time we got more colorful food because we got oranges instead of potatoes, but other than they were the same. We had a good time helping out there.

For my birthday, we decided to go to the San Antonio Temple. The temple is beautiful and even though it was 100 degrees outside, it was nice and cool inside. I even got asked if I wanted a shawl. (I didn't need one, but that shows how air conditioned it was.) Then we came home and relaxed, not super exciting, but a good birthday!

Daniel starts work on Monday. He says that he is excited and nervous. Our vacation ends when he heads to work, but I still need to find something to do with my time. I'm hoping to find a job that I want to do. I've sent out some resumes and applications, but no bites yet. It is still early in my search. We are still having a good time here in Texas, and we are not dead! We do miss everyone back home, though.


Elissa and Daniel