UPDATE

THE LAKERS WON!

that is all.  I love basketball.

BYU has the Cougar tipoff tomorrow. YES!

For real...

SNOW!!!!!

  I am not even kidding.  This is definitely not a matter to kid about!

This is what I saw as I was driving into Provo after work today...

I heard it had snowed in Provo while I was at school.  I didn't see snow fall in Eagle Valley, but it was wet-ish after school and Provo didn't show signs of snow when I got back down here.  THEN, tonight as I was at the gym (minding my own business, watching the Lakers play the Rockets, and working super hard on the Elliptical) I saw people walking in with freshly fallen snow on them.  OH NO!  I turn to look out the window behind me and I am watching snow fall to the ground.  Not sticking, but DEFINITELY falling.  Gross, Gross, GROSS.


AND on top of this all, the Lakers are currently losing...boo.

friends

It was a wonderful Sunday and I got to see some of my favorite people.

Kelly moved to San Marcos during my freshman, her sophomore, year.  We became quick friends and I love having her around.  We can pickup our relationship right where we left off every time we are together.  She left for BYU a year early and that was very hard for me.  I remember when she came back for a surprise visit my senior year.  I walked into the chapel for seminary one morning and there she was.  I started crying.  I don't know that I have ever reacted that way in seeing any of my friends.  I found out today that she is having a baby and due in April!  I love you Kelly!

Lauren was my dearest friend all through high school and then we were roommates freshman year.  She is beautiful and got married six months ago!  She is currently studying special education and doing her student teaching.  I don't see Lauren nearly as often as I would like, but I love catching up with her.  I remember driving through San Marcos with her, blasting Cascada's "Everytime We Touch" and dancing like crazies.  Or the one time during or freshman year of high school where our teacher had to split us up because we talked too much and even made Lauren stand with her nose in the corner.  Love you Lauren!

Alyse has been my best friend for longer than I can remember.  Our families have grown up together.  My family loves watching our home video where my dad starts asking me questions about Alyse.  I say, "Leesee my fwend."  They quote that often but she really was my life as a child and I am so glad that she still is!  We have gone through every stage of life together, including the one where our mothers would scandalously put us in bikinis.  She has been married for over 2 years now (CRAZY!) and her husband has become one of my closest friends too.  I love spending time with the two of them.  Alyse wrote me letters at least monthly while I was in the dorms.  She makes me dinner from time to time.  I love you Alyse!

He's home!  This in Andy Larsen.  He is Kelly's younger brother and he just got home from his mission.  I went up to his homecoming today and it was so good to see him.  His talk was wonderful and I am so excited to have another good friend nearby.  We did a lot together during my last two years of high school.  He is a stud and I am looking forward to when he moves back down to Provo so that we can create new adventures!  Love you Andy!

Just a few more thoughts:

1. I love being with all of the Larsens!  Just like the old days.

2. The Roper twins were there too!  Amelia and Amanda are some of the funnest girls I have ever met.

3. My family was all there too.  I do love having them live close enough so that they can be at events like these today.

4. Some good old San Marcos boys were there too!  Including Ryan, Alex, Bobby, and Kevin.  I miss home a lot.

5. Lindsay and Kelly are both pregnant.  Due ten days apart from each other.  Happiest news!

6. BYU beat Wyoming yesterday.  We won't talk about how it was only by 5 points and how we were all worried for the last few minutes that Wyoming was going to take the game...we're just going to acknowledge that BYU won!

is it that time of year?

I was just putting new music on my ipod and was surprised at how tempted I was to put on Christmas music.  Normally, I focus on one holiday at a time, meaning that I don't listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.  Maybe, just maybe, this year I will let it come a little sooner?  It will definitely have to wait until after Halloween, but...

I think I just might.

in memory of...

A year ago today, I wrote this post: http://kukiluki.blogspot.com/2009/10/robison-sundell.html

I just read it again.  One paragraph begins by saying: "My story with Robi Sundell started my sophomore year at BYU."  Today, I must say that my story with Robi Sundell has not ended.  He has changed my life forever.  I spent the morning with some of his closest friends and his family.  I have been able to get to know his family this past year and they have been such an example of strength and love.  I enjoy every minute I get to be with them and the weekends they have opened their house up to us.  I have had a hard time missing Robi, my dear friend.  It hurts me to think of the pain they are going through losing their son and brother.  Robi's dad has been especially dear to me since last year.  I will never forget the first time I met him, sitting next to Robi's hospital bed, holding his hand.  He has gone out of his way to make sure that I, the very often lone girl with those boys, is not alone.  I love talking to him.  Thank you Kris.

This is Robi, coming to tell us that he had made my apartment breakfast one lucky Sunday morning.  Both that robe and the pink fuzzy slippers were at breakfast this morning.

I think of Robi daily.  Even still. This weekend last year was one of the hardest weekends of my life.  My heart still misses Robi and that is why I am sad.  BUT, I know Robi is doing amazing things.  I know that he misses his family as much as they miss him, but isn't it an amazing thing, to know that they will all be together again someday.  I am so thankful that Robi is still a part of my story.

NYC

I wanted to make a slideshow of the trip - but I can't figure it out on here.

So for now, here is a fun collage to look at!

i miss byu

I still miss the life of a student, especially now, when life is getting hectic at school.

I used to feel bad for my friends who spent hours in the library and then had to go to the testing center.  I would die for that again.  I loved camping out in the library, although I think I love it even more now that I am don't get to do it much.  I even miss the testing center.  See, back then, life was only me.  For example, my tests only determined how my day would turn out, I chose to study because I wanted to do well.  I decided to be in the library because I wanted to be there.  Now, every thing I do during the day will determine the attitude of 13 students for the rest of the day! ahhhh! I can't choose just not to work. I can't decide that I want to work from home instead of the classroom.  I feel so selfish...

SO, I am here, sitting in the HBLL (the BYU library) and really enjoying it.  I have a few IEP's to work on, so I have brough all my school stuff and have claimed a table on the second floor back behind maps.  I attempted the periodicals, but I don't have that confidence that I had as a student.  It has been 6 months since I graduated and even more since I actually spent time in the library.

Still, I feel at home here and I have completed one full IEP.  Go me!

the.final.day.

I cannot believe it, but it is already time to say goodbye.

Today was a pretty relaxed day.  We struggled waking up this morning but we all got beautified and walked the tenish blocks to church.  Beautiful.  They meet in the same building as the temple...if that makes sense.  It was great.

Of course, we came home and napped for a bit while Aubrey was being all mom-like and made us food!  It was a lovely lunch.  Very well done on her part.

Next was a gathering in Central Park for desserts and some football passing.  Such a blast and I love throwing the football around with Aubrey again.

Did I mention that today was beautiful!?  Because it definitely was the nicest day of the trip!

Beautiful Central Park!

The Columbus Circle

Plaza Hotel.  Home Alone 2 anyone?

We spent the evening walking around Central Park and up around the city for a bit.  We called it an early night and have taken turns uploading Melanie's fabulous pictures onto our computers.  I will have to post the best here soon for your viewing!

I just want everyone to know how much I love my best friend.  I am so grateful that even though we are about as far as you can be within the United States, we are still so close.  Ah, I just love her.  Can't get all emotional about leaving her yet....

the fourth day

It was another great day in New York!

We went boating in Central Park!  That was one of the funnest activities for sure.

This is the view from the Belvedere Castle.  Central Park might be my favorite place in all of New York.

The Belvedere Castle! 

After our walk through Central Park we went over to Aubrey's football game.  While we were waiting for her game to start, a team came over begging one of us girls to come play with them.  I had nothing but Lacey had running shoes that she let me borrow and found me some pants belonging to a man on Aubrey's team (they hardly stayed on me and I am not sure that they even really fit him...).  But it was so much fun to play football, even with people I didn't know at all!  I loved it.

Next we went to the NBA store.  Introducing my future boyfriend, Dwight Howard.  Love him!

Melanie fell asleep on the subway - we must be locals by now.

The famous Crumbs cupcakes!  Aubrey raved about these forever and ever and today we finally tasted them.  We were starving and ate them standing up on the subway.  People have to be so entertained by us!
 

On the Staten Island Ferry!

I know it's little but there she is, the Statue of Liberty!

It was a wonderful day and I am, once again, absolutely exhausted!  Until tomorrow, goodnight!

dia numero tres

Before I begin, can I just say that today we walked, oh, 32,977 steps, which is approximately 26.38 miles, wish is more than a marathon!  We walked a marathon today!  Go us!
Today was amazing.

It started off rough with a failed attempt to get into Regis and Kelly LIVE.  We were the second group and not a single person from standby got in. How Rude.

We came home and took mini naps when SAM PRESTON came and joined the party.  Once he was with us we jumped over to Brooklyn to eat lunch at Grimaldi's for some real New York pizza.  Not bad, not bad.

 Pepperoni for the boring kids.  Sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms for the rest of us exciting eaters (me and Lacey)!

Sam, Aubrey and Lacey walking back across the Brooklyn Bridge.  That was an amazing walk!


After pizza it was over Ground Zero.  That was really indescribable.  The church across the street was so beautiful and we took a little break there.

Then from there to Wall Street!

Broadway and Wall Street - I guess someone on my dad's side of the family once owned this property?  Who knew!  While over at Wall Street, we made a trip to the bull, where we took a picture.  That was a great one and will be coming soon!

The following this we went to China Town.  That was wild.  And not really what I expected.  Totally part of the experience though.

Here's the Washington Square Park Arch with the Empire State Building in the background.  I am Legend was filmed here.  It was pretty sweet.

This was followed by some more napping back at Aubrey's house.

Radio City Concert Hall in Rockefeller! 

In Rockefeller we found the LOVE sign and got so real quality pictures in there (those are to come!).

Then to Time Square!

Then we went to Union Square, Grand Central, and Mister Softy Rainbow Sprinkle ice cream!

Seriously, so much walking!

day number 2 in the Big City!

I can't believe it has only been 48 hours.  We have done sooo much walking (over 20,000 steps a day!).  The rain hit us today and it fell for a few hours. And we are all wiped by now.

So the girls and I just might have slept in until 11:00 this morning...meaning we got to a little bit of a late start.  We decided to walk through Central Park and got to the Metropolitan Museum.

We took FOREVER to walk through Central Park - everything was seriously so beautiful.

Finally made it to the Met!

At Rockefeller Center!  The ice skating rink is already up and the rain was starting to fall.

We got lunch at Rockefeller Center and when we sat down, I happened to turn around and saw this...

ANTHROPOLOGIE!

After this, we met up with Aubrey at Juilliard for a free show...I guess it was a bunch of people showing the choreographing they were doing on their own.  Sadly, I didn't get to see it - I was number 35 and they stopped at 33 - but Lacey and Aubrey did.  Lacey's a dancer so she appreciated it like the rest of us appreciate basketball :)  Mel and I wandered over to Barnes and Noble and chatted it up in the cafe.  Love that place.  It was an eight block hike home, with a stop at Magnolias for cupcakes, and then I made dinner.  Delicious of course.  Now, it is on to watch some New York movies :)

the first day

Today has been absolutely amazing!

We entered the Wicked raffle (if your name got picked, you got front row seats for $25).  I went up to enter and wrote my name down, "Tati Thorkelson", then he says to have your id with you.  So, of course I was like, ah change my name.  It is Nicole on my id.  Then...Guess what!?  The first name he said was Nicole, Th...Thorkelson.  I screamed and jumped and was so excited that people actually started applauding me.  Happiest moment.

 M&M factory.  My favorite sign.  Fitting for me!

A Knicks vs. Celtics game!  That's right.  I got to see Rondo and KG and Shaq (except Shaq and KG didn't play...).  I was suddenly cheering for the Celtics.  I am not sure why...maybe because they actually play the Lakers from time to time...but they won and it was so so much fun!

Ever since I saw Serendipity, I have wanted to come here.  Well, today, that dream came true.  We ate (well, attempted to eat) three lovely, delicious, HUGE desserts.  I enjoyed it so so much.

These pictures aren't very high quality - they are from my phone - but I promise better ones will be coming once I get home.

I decided as we were walking through Time Square, that when you are feeling down about yourself, your looks, whether or not you are beautiful, take a walk in NYC.  Men have constantly calling at us or throwing in "beautiful" here and there as we talk.

It is just mostly fun to be back with all the girls.  We had a very productive and fun day.  I cannot wait for tomorrow's adventures!

The Big Apple

Real fast -

WE MADE IT to Aubrey's apartment.  It was so good to see her last night.


This is the view from her place!  GOOD MORNING NYC!

This is going to be so much fun!

In the AIRPORT!

So - I am not sure how much time I will have to write down my entire adventures, but for now, I am sitting at the airport :)

We are so ready to go!

New York, Here I come!

For four years now, my best friend has been Aubrey Potter.  For four years she has made fun of me for being the "socal, so cool" San Diegan (which, by the way, no one says socal so cool if they are actually from southern California).  For four years she has bragged of the East Coast.  It's style, the culture, blah blah blah.  For reals?  And this is the FIRST time I am going to visit.  I guess it took her moving away from me to pull me out there.

I am excited beyond...well, anything.  I need this little trip and I need to see this face more than ever before.


Side notes:
1. BYU won on Saturday!
2. I gave blood today - how exciting.
3. I walked about 114,000 steps last week (we are doing a pedometer competition at work - my team will win).
4. Life is good.

Let the rain fall down...

I had meetings at the district office yesterday afternoon.  It had been raining on and off pretty much all day but during my drive home - it POURED.  It was coming at me diagonally and cars were driving 30mph on the freeway.  This could be very scary but all I could think was, "This is beautiful! I love it!" and I was smiling the whole drive.  The rain was pouring so I turned off my music (the only sound I love more than rain is thunder and the only sound I love more than thunder is the ocean) and just listened.  Then the lightning started appearing in the distance.  Oh, it was beautiful.  I loved it.

P.S. I AM GOING TO NEW YORK IN SEVEN DAYS

General Conference

April and October each bring joy to my heart because of General Conference.

General Conference is an opportunity for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to participate in 4 meetings over the first Saturday and Sunday of the month, plus a session directed to the Priesthood, Relief Society, and Young Women.  During these sessions of conference, the Prophet and other Church leaders counsel and direct us.  Their words are prepared for us through revelation and we treat them as scripture.

This last weekend, Melanie and I were able to go to the Saturday morning session and it was wonderful.  We spend all of Saturday in Salt Lake and there was such a wonderful spirit among the hustle and bustle of LDS members roaming through downtown and temple square.

Read the talks.  Listen to them.  Or even watch them.  It is a wondeful thing and I am so blessed because of General Conference.

Can't wait until April :)

close call with...

AN ANTELOPE!?!!!

I was driving home from work yesterday and almost got hit by an ANTELOPE.

I am not even kidding.

It was about 5:30 and I was just driving through Eagle Mountain when I see an antelope galloping next to me.  I looked at him and he looked at me, but didn't slow down a bit.  I felt like we were staring at each other for at least 30 seconds (must have been only a few).  It was the stare down and all of the sudden I was in a race with an antelope and neither of us was going to lose.  He was coming closer and closer to my car and I knew that he was about to run across the street.

I slowed down, only because I wouldn't know what to do with a dented car and injured antelope!, just as it ran across the street, only feet in front of my car.  I texted Cami (my best friend teacher who go the job in the younger life skills class at my school!) and her aide said, "Those antelope are so dumb!"

Then I started thinking, "I see antelope when I go to the Wild Animal Park...Where do I work!?"

Oh Eagle Mountain.