Last Tuesday I got up early and went to the Salt Lake Temple, getting back to Jonathan's apt at the exact time we had planned on leaving for the airport. When I got to the airport (thanks for the ride Jon!) both bags were dramatically overweight. One was 78 lbs (which would've cost an extra $120) and the other was 56 lbs (which would've cost an extra $25). I gave up my place in line, stuffed everything into my carryon back-pack and guitar case, and got one bag down to 68 and the other to 50.5, costing me $25. I arrived in New York around 11:30pm and crashed. I was in the midst of a crazy streak: 7 straight nights in 7 different beds.

The next day I began a 12 hour, overnight bus ride to North Carolina for my interview at UNC-Chapel Hill. I got there Thursday morning, went straight to this building, and met with the directors of my mom's doctorate program. I am incredibly grateful for the hospitality of one of mom's classmates (Justine) and her family for taking me in that night. Justine works at Duke and her family was very sad they got knocked out of the tournement, though I apoligized the next morning for secretly rooting against Duke. My interviews went great the next morning and I came away very impressed with this fantastic school and hope to hear good news from them soon. Shortly after my interview I began my trip back home, not arriving in NYC until 15 hours later, at 7:30am on Saturday. By Saturday night, I had slept 10 straight nights in 10 different places (really 12, if you count that 2 of the last three nights were spent on multiple different Greyhound buses!) I am so glad to be home.

Columbia!!

The night before I flew home from Salt Lake City (about a week ago), I got an excited call from mom saying an envelope from Columbia University had arrived, and that it was a big one! (Acceptances come in the big envelopes with additional information, while rejections come in regular envelopes). I am very honored and excited by acceptance into one of the finest schools on earth, and where both of my parents received their masters degrees, and where my dad is currently finishing up his PhD. I must admit that it feels pretty strange to use a picture of Columbia's health science campus in which you can see the street I lived on as a 2 year old, the building I went to nursery school in as a 3 year old (see the two tall buildings in front of the bridge), and which cuts off just a few streets south of the buildings I've lived in since elementary school. Would it be fantastic or wierd to go to grad school a few doors down from my kindergarten? Do I love Washington Heights enough to want to live there as an adult (I count as an adult now, right?) and pay insane rent? They want a deposit by April 10th, so I guess I'll make my decision then. I've also been accepted to Albany, meaning I'm 5-5!! As a recap, I've been accepted to Yale, Emory, GW, Columbia and Albany. I'm still waiting on UNC, Michigan and have decided not to follow through with the rest of my Ohio State and Boston U. applications. What tough choices!

Church with the Prophet

My cousin Michelle Bingham and I woke up around 6am last Sunday morning to catch a ride to the Salt Lake City area with my mom as she and Kent began their long drive back to California (did I mention they've moved from NYC to Cali?) The word that comes to mind when thinking of the experiences Michelle and I had is serendipitous. If you heard Elder Bednar's talk last April then you'll understand what I mean by suggesting it was one of the "tender mercies of the Lord." Without knowing when it started, we happened to get to the conferrence center 3 minutes before the Mormon Tabernacle began the 3,994th broadcast of "The Music and the Spoken Word," the longest running show in broadcast history. There really is nothing like hearing this choir in person. The highlight was happening to be in the same ward as President Hinckley and President Faust during Sacrament Meeting. It's hard to describe the emotions and excitement we felt to be a few pews away from the Prophet of God as he partook of the sacrament. He's been the prophet since 95, when I was 14 years old and uninterested in his message. Now he's coming up on his 96th birthday and I feel incredibly grateful for his life, as it has had a major impact in shaping mine.

Brenda's Funeral

On Sunday March 12th at 4:15 am my Aunt Brenda died peacefully in her sleeping, finally ending her 3 year bout with cancer. The following Saturday I joined most of my mother's family in Corinne, Utah for a beautiful funeral service in her honor. It was an incredibly touching experience in which I learned a lot about life, true success and happiness. I was constantly reminded of a recent talk given by an Apostle, entitled "What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest." I'm grateful for my faith that family relationships continue after death and the guidance this knowledge gives me in how I conduct my life. As another Apostle said at the passing of his wife, while it's important to be successful and accomplish important things in life, no one lays on their death bed saying "I wish I spent more time at the office." As I watched Brenda's teenage daughter sing a beautiful solo during the hymn/prayer "Abide with Me," I openly wept with gratitude and love for my life and family. Thank you Brenda for helping to teaching me this lesson.

Goodbye Boise

I can't believe it's already halfway through March and I'm writing my last blog post from Boise, Idaho. While the legislative session has at least another couple weeks, I am going home a little early due to the passing of my Aunt Brenda, and my being invited to interview at UNC Chapel Hill. My experience in Boise was absolutely wonderful, I feel so grateful to have been able to work in the government and for all the things I've learned. I'm especially grateful to have worked so closely with Rep. Margaret Henbest, for the kindness she showed me, as well as her willingness to involve me very closely on a few issues. While saying good bye she said to me, "I don't know how I'd ever have gotten so much done with you here." While she is more than capable of accomplishing a lot, I have been honored to know her and work with her. Many thanks also to everyone else I worked with: Cathy, Amber, Jessica (who earned photographer credit for the above photo), Paul, Ben, Kasey (with a K?) and Josh. The next month is going to be exhausting in the amount of difficult traveling I'll do, but it is kind of nice to think of being home soon.

Sarah and I

Don't we look cute together? Here's Sarah and I on our recent "date" Saturday night. I'm so glad she introduced me to the computer program skype that allows us to talk as much as we want over the internet without a single long distance bill. It's really wonderful and we take full advantage of it. I can't wait until we're in the same time zone, and eventually in the same country and city, so that staying up late to talk to her doesn't also mean that it's REALLY late for her, two hours later. Despite my reaking havoc on her sleep schedule, she walked into two job interviews today and was offered both jobs! She took the one that makes more sense for her situation and they asked her to come in tomorrow morning and start immediately! She'll be working as a nurse in an aesthetics clinic (like people who have weight reduction surgery, etc). I'm so proud of her and know she'll do great. The latest good news is that it looks like I have a job and an apartment waiting for me in Montreal, so we'll be able to spend the summer together and I'll finally be able to go to the jazz festival, which I have never done despite living in Montreal for more than 4 years.

George Washington University!!

A wonderful email from George Washington University this morning made me 3-3!! This decision is becoming very difficult! I love everything about GW except the $44,000. I am officially now accepting donations.

Cesarean Paper to be Published!

The latest in my string of good news to post on the blog is that on Sunday evening I received an email that my 25 page paper on the rising cesarean section rate in the United States was accepted to be published in the McGill Journal of Sociology!! As far as I know, they only publish 10 articles a year, so I am very honored that they're publishing mine. Remember reading about the research phase during the fall last semester? Many thanks to Sarah, Prof Montgomery, Mom, Dad and everyone else who read drafts and offered crucial encouragement. If you want to read a copy of my paper or receive a hard copy of the journal, let me know, I'd love to send one to you. The other good news is that I had a good interview with Dr. Jeffrey Levi of George Washington University yesterday. I love their program and am thrilled to be considered, though I don't know how I could afford $44,000 per year!

Friday

Yesterday was a good day. I enjoyed my time at the capitol, watching house bill 614 pass the House 66-1 and then got to go spend the night with some new friends up in the mountains near McCall, Idaho. As you can see from the picture of the "cabin" it was hardly roughing it. I loved the view out of our bedroom window this morning, especially as it got sunny and we could see the ski runs on that hill. I also really enjoyed this picture I took of school kids touring the capitol building. Life is good and the future is bright.

Emory!!!

Make it 2-2! As I pulled into the parking lot of my temp job yesterday morning at 7:58am I got a call on my cell phone from the admissions department of Emory University in Atlanta informing me that my application had been received, reviewed and I was accepted! What a great way to start the day. This is a fantastic university with great connections to important institutions like the CDC and the Carter Center for Cancer Research. I've also been invited to interview with George Washington Univeristy in DC and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. This is going to end up being a really difficult choice. Any suggestions?

Yale University!!

While on my lunch break from my first day at my new side job in Boise I got an excited voicemail from my mom announcing that an acceptance letter from Yale University's School of Public Health had arrived! What a tremendous feeling. It is only the first school I have heard back from, and I need to hear what at least 8 other schools say before I decide where to go, but what a great start. 1 for 1!!

Celebration Park with Alan

Last Saturday Alan and I went for a 6 mile trip through Celebration Park. He rode his 23 year old horse Trio, and I rode a mountain bike past Halverson Lake and by the Snake River. It was a blast, but I sure felt it in the morning! I would go on and on and tell you how great it was to be out in the "wild west," but I'll let the pictures do the talking for me.

House Bill 681 Dies

What I love most about my internship in the Idaho House of Representatives is the chance to work behind the scenes to move important legislation forward. Rep. Margaret Henbest is absolutely fantastic, and has let me be closely involved on a number of issues, including house bill 681 which proposed eliminating junk food from school vending machines. I did a lot of the research which Rep. Henbest used in her testimony to the House Education Committee last Friday (Feb 24) and was flattered that she referred to me by name. We had strong support from almost a dozen organizations, including the Idaho PTA, Regence Blue Shield, Healthwise and one or two parents from off the street. Not surprisingly, there was some opposition from groups like the American Beverage Association, but in their own words, it was "not a scathing opposition." After 2 hours of testimony and discussion, the very conservative committee voted 13-5 to hold the bill and prevent it from receiving a full vote on the House floor, citing concern that it unnecessarily takes power from the local school districts, and that if they were able to initiate the same restrictions, then it would be much more successful. I understand their concern, but it was very dissapointing to be shot down on something I had worked so hard on. That's the nature of the job I guess, and as my dad reminded me, just by putting this bill out there and getting the issue talked about we've accomplished a lot. It made the cover of the biggest paper in Idaho last week. Here are some links to press coverage: Channel 8, Idaho Statesman. On a positive note, House Bill 614 which I've done a lot of work with Rep. John Rusche passed the Health & Welfare Committee 12-0 and is expected to pass the House tom morning (Thu Mar 2). It's a great bill and I'm proud to be a part of it. I'll write more about it as it winds its way through the Senate.