Ads For Africa

You may notice that 'ad' bar on my blog now... here's the deal... Check out this website: http://ads4africa.org/
I just noticed this site and thought it was pretty great how even us small-time bloggers can help raise a little money for people in poverty who need the help. Visit the site to find out more.

And also.... two more days until I leave for Saipan!! Two!! This is how excited I am.



Yippee!!

If you like Pina Coladas...

K - don't ask about the title. I never know what to write in that little box - and since I will be discussing (or rather exclaiming!) about a tropical island today, and Pina Coloda's sound tropical to me... eh... just skip this part, ok? I'm not making any sense.

Can I just say that I am soo excited for Thursday! I may have to blog about it every day just to pass time and hope it comes faster. I leave on a jet plane Thursday afternoon for tropical paradise! For those of you who don't know, my father got a 'side' job (is that what to call it? I don't know...) working for a man who owns a resort on a little island called Saipan. Apparently the US owns this island (who knew! I sure didn't) and this man, we'll call him Russ (because that's his name) owns a gigantic resort. He had a couple telescopes installed sometime in January for locals and vacationers to enjoy, but he didn't exactly know how to work them. He needed an expert on telescope-working......enter my daddy.

(that's him...and me also...)

Since Professor Moody (that's my dad) is an astronomer and also is very cool, he decided he could sacrifice some of his time to live out there for a few weeks and get the scopes running. Sacrifice...that was a joke. Get it? Tropical Island? Anyway...

That was in February - and because Russ loved them so much, he wanted my dad back again! And this time, he agreed to pay for the rest of the family to fly out on our own time, too!! Isn't this fantastic? My turn comes this Thursday - I get to fly first to Tokyo where I will have a 4 hour layover and then on to Saipan. I believe the total trip will be around 24 hours. That's a long time - and I'm a little nervous about traveling alone - but I hear that the Japanese people are so anxious to talk to Americans and use their English that I won't have a problem finding someone to help me get to where I need to be. I've also heard that the information they give may not be accurate, but my plan is to talk to many people and follow the most common answer to get to my connecting flight. It's going to be soo great! This will practically be my first time going anywhere foreign! (an hour in Canada doesn't count.... Jersey almost counts, but...nah...) Wahoo!!

Here are a few pictures of Saipan just to get ya'll jelous:








*Sigh" I can't wait! Hey, do you guys want me to bring you back anything? I can totally do that. Let me know! And for real, I'll do it...

Visit to the Ohio!

Update. What's going on in my life? Well, not a whole lot at the moment. I did just get back from a trip to The Ohio to see my brother, Stephen. We got to do a bunch of things that only Ohio could provide such as: Tour around Ohio State Campus, visit the Columbus Zoo, scenic drive/visit to Amish country, hear my brother speak in church, celebrate Steve's birthday, visit a GIANT corn field (and it's not what you're thinking either), and eat at Jenny's (this great little ice cream shop with exotic flavors like Thai Chili and Salty Carmel) I got Lavender, Pear Sorbet, and one more... can't remember... It was an awesome trip! My cousin Katie and her husband and two cute kids were also visiting so I got to spend some time with them too! All in all, I had a lot of fun. My aunt and uncle let me stay at their place while they were, ironically, visiting Utah - that was sooo wonderful. I didn't have to worry about a hotel or food or anything like that. Made for a pretty stress free trip.
I was also very excited to ride a plane for the second time in my life! I know I am 24 and a college graduate - but I was pretty nervous to attempt a plane ride by myself. I am proud to announce that it was completely successful. I didn't even get lost once - even during my layover in the Chicago, O'Hare airport. That place is HUGE! I met some nice people on the my flights and one even gave my an Ohio State hat! Brand new, never been worn - he informed me that if I stepped onto Ohio soil without it, I would get beat up... *gulp* I accepted it graciously :)
What else can I blab about on here? I'm just relaxing and enjoying my free time this summer with no commitments and no school or work. I am trying to find ways to occupy my time until our family trip to Saipan. If you have any suggestions, let me know! I would like to find some humanitarian/service oriented type things to do - but I'm not sure what. Maybe I'll look up how to crochet those leaper bandages or something.... hmm...

Amish Country! Saw tons of little farms like this one

Horse and Buggy

Gorilla! They came right up to the glass!

Steve in some misty place at the zoo. I thought it was cool.

Penguins :)

Happy!

I love my roomates. I love my new ward. I love my apartment. I'm loving life!

Just had to post how good things are for me right now. I needed a change but was worried about where, when, if I was making the right choice. I just decided, went for it, and I know this is the place for me. It's only been a couple of days and one Sunday of meeting people, but I know...it's going to be a fantastic summer.

(thanks Em for helping me find this place. Perfect.)

Blog Title

I think I want a better name for my blog. I picked "Miss Moody" because that's who I was for the past year with my students. Does anyone have any other ideas? I'm still new to the blogging world and need all the help I can get :)

Change

I moved in to my new place yesterday. It's mixed feelings for me at the moment. I really loved being at home with the family for a while and my stake singles ward was the bomb.com. But, being 24, single and finished with school I felt like I needed to be more independent once again and make the courageous move to P-Town. I signed a contract here at Millrace Condos and so far it's great. My room is nice and big and PRIVATE (which is a must). Rent is doable. Roommates seem pretty cool (although I've only talked to them briefly). I've been hearing only good things about the ward and the place, so I'm psyched to finally be out again and doing my own thing.

Overall, I'm feeling good about the move. However, change always brings certain anxieties: Meet new people, establishing yourself in a new social scene, put yourself out there, make new friends, get involved with the ward, change your routines, live in a new and unfamiliar place etc.. I know what I'm getting myself into - I've done this too many times to be surprised - I just hope with this recent change, life can start taking off for me again and I can get to that happy place I'm looking for! So ready or not, here I come!