Evolution 2010.

I am ridiculously lucky. The past 5 days I have been in Portland, Oregon at the Evolution 2010 Conference. It is a conference with about 1800 evolutionary biologists who get together to talk about their research. It has been SO interesting. Most of the talks have been quite far over my head but a few I have understood and learned from. I presented my research (a phylogeny of the relationships of Anomuran crabs) at one of the poster sessions here. It was a really good learning experience and a good look into what it's like to have a PhD and research for a living. It is so so cool. I also got to explore Portland. It was so fun. Some guys from work and I hung out together and we saw a lot of the "weirdest city in America." Ben and I explored downtown a lot and saw tons of weird people. We saw Voodoo donuts complete with the delicious to the inappropriate donuts. The art museum, museum of science and industry, Powell's books (the largest independently owned bookstore), the Portland Saturday market, and lots and lots of beggars. Oh, and TONS of absolutely delicious food. It's been really, really awesome. I am SO glad I had the opportunity to come. Dr. Crandall is so awesome to have let me and the other undergrads come here and even present. I am feeling very lucky. And I am so very blessed.

summer.

It has arrived. finally. But, I've decided that summer is not the same without the red rocks, boiling temperatures, frequent frisbee and frasketball games, and late night games of St. George. This summer will be strangely different than last. But it will still be good. :) I'm beginning to find new friends in my ward and Spring term classes are almost over. (Hallelujah). I dropped my all summer term classes except for violin lessons and will just be working a lot and enjoying summer. Sam's wedding is in two weeks and Evolution 2010 in Oregon is in three. CRAZY. Time definitely needs to slow down again. Yesterday I signed up to be a part of a world-record breaking water balloon fight in July. Maybe being in this college town for 11 more months straight won't be so bad. This week has been slow. I can't believe it is only Wednesday. Monday was busy with work, violin lesson, classes, fhe, tennis, homework, and looking at Sam's awesome bridals. Tuesday was work from 8-5, a review from 5-7, and homework from 7-10, finishing the night with an episode of Psych. Tuesday also contained a large tower of pipet boxes at work made by Ben. It was taller than me! We also got to read some letters from the cute sixth graders who came on a field trip a few months ago. And today is Wednesday. Somehow Wednesdays are always the worst. Freshman year Sam and I bought a large bag of peanut butter M&Ms every Wednesday and devoured them. I could use some today. I went to work at 8, class at 12-2, went to practice violin but there were no practice rooms so instead I am blogging while waiting for my 3-5:30 class. I probably should go to the grocery store sometime today too. Well, now that I've shared my whole week and you people probably couldn't care less. Here is a quote for the week:

It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers. Gordon B. Hinckley

The next time I get around to posting will probably be about Sam and Jason's wedding. So crazy. But SO exciting! :)