Graduation...

This year I completed my Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science: Fitness and Wellness Management from Brigham Young University. My university experience here has been spectacular and I have been so blessed to enjoy this opportunity. I’m looking forward to seeing what life holds for me next, but for now, here are some pictures of graduation for your viewing pleasure! My mom made some of the prettiest leis for both ceremonies…she’s so talented!! It was a pleasant surprise to stand in line for commencement and see one of my favorite folk-dance team mates, Melinda. Jopa!!! In typical Mirandom fashion, I was goofing off and President Samuelson and the rest of the procession walked by. There was a tall handsome man standing next to him…when I realized that it was President Uchtdorf, I got overly excited and started waving like a spastic…he waved (a real one, not a just a head nod) and said Hello. My commencement experience could have been complete at that very moment. ;) I got to run into a lot of friends and classmates as we celebrated… Dad and his Cougar We even ran into some of our best friends from home at the Presidential Luncheon after the ceremonies On graduation day I was really excited for my brother, Jon, and my sister-in-law, Kim to come. I was so happy to have them there to share the day with me! I got to walk with some of my favorite classmates. Aubrey (the girl in the middle) is also a Danish Madsen…so we secretly are suspicious that we’re cousins. This was one of my most influential professors, Dr. Barbara Lockheart. I’m so grateful to have this experience, and to be able to have so many around through the process for their love and support. I’m especially appreciative to my parents and everything they have done and continue to do for me…Go mighty Cougs!!!!

The MiRandom List I'm Sure You've Always Wanted to Know

So...this is just something that has been going around facebook. Your friends tell you random things about themselves, then you're challenged to share 25 random things they might not know about you either. It's kind-of a fun way to get some somewhat useful information about your friends. So here it goes.... 1. I love dental hygiene and everything to do with it. New tooth pastes are so exciting! 2. Laughing and smiling are my favorites…Therefore, if you make me laugh, YOU are my favorite! 3. I’ve had a reoccurring dream since I was 3 that I’m being chased down a mountain on a hot summer’s day by a polar bear, only to be saved by jumping in the lake at the bottom…because polar bears don’t swim, right? Right. 4. Charmin Ultra Soft is the only Toilet Paper I have or will ever use in my own home. Sacrificing quality for price is simply not worth it to my derrière. And I do love derrières. 5. Contrary to the above statement, I’ve never bought any sort of clothing item that wasn’t on sale or from TJ Maxx, Ross, or Marshalls. The thrill of the bargain hunt is half the fun! 6. I have metal in my left knee in two places, as a result of a jimmy-rig total knee reconstruction I had when I was 15 from a freak cheerleading accident. Don’t laugh- its true! My patella got shoved around my leg and got stuck behind my femur while stunting. I was told by my docs that I wasn’t going to ever dance, cheer, or do any activities that required more than walking again. They were wrong. 7. I’m crazy scared of spiders. I didn’t use to be that way, but then I was bit by a hobo spider in 6th grade. 8. I’m a licensed massage therapist. 9. I talk to my mom almost every day. She’s my best friend. 10. But, I’m also totally a Daddy’s girl. 11. I have three older brothers that could take out Brock Lesnar if they wanted to. 12. I have a 1965 fire-engine red Mustang that my dad and I worked on together. I love that car. 13. I want to be a dance therapist “when I grow up”…and the only certified school that I want to go to for my masters in it is in Melbourne, Australia. That will be one exciting adventure. 14. I got out of high school and started college when I was 16. Yes, I should have graduated by now. I happen to be indecisive on things such as majors. Only 2 ½ more months! 15. I’m not very good at drinking soda, maintaining one position when I sleep, cooking from actual recipes, getting rid of hiccups (they last for hours), being able to ignore foul smells, grocery shopping (I’d rather starve than have to do a full shop), going to sleep without the room completely dark, coming to a complete stop at stop signs, not procrastinating (I love working under pressure), racquetball, going to bed on time, not hitting “snooze” at least 3 times each morning, blogging (yes, I have one ), not caring about the opinions of others, controlling my nervous giggles, and thinking that my English class is a worthwhile use of my time at 8 in the morning. 16. I’m an NCA All-American Cheerleader. 17. One day, when I resume being a world traveler, I want to travel to all the church historical sites. Then, I want to visit foreign lands and learn a dance from each place to help safeguard folk dance and use in warm-ups when I teach dance to kids. Preservation of culture through dance and tradition! 18. I can high-kick myself in my own nose. 19. I’ve been pulled over 19 times, yet I don’t have a ticket to my name. Go figure. 20. Temples are amazing. I’m so lucky to enjoy the blessings of living so close to one. 21. I’ve never dyed my hair…and with that comes many overt consequences of being outrageously white. 22. My mom put me in dance when I was three solely to correct my pigeon-toed feet and I’ve been dancing/performing ever since. 23. I was a vegetarian for 5 ½ yrs completely out of spite for my brothers saying that I couldn’t last a weekend. But I sure did enjoy my In-n-out burger when I resumed my carnivorous ways. 24. I love mountain-bike riding. Winter depresses me because I can’t go up in the mountains all the time. 25. I think YOU are amazing!

October Fun!

The months of September and October were pretty crazy busy, but exciting months. I'm continuing to push through my 23 credit hours at BYU....probably not the smartest thing I've ever voluntarily signed up for in my life, but hey, I'm graduating in April, so it will be worth it when I have the piece of paper on my wall in Australia. More about that later...but for now, here's a quick review of what I've been lucky enough to get to do while I'm not hitting the books...and of course, in my usual lazy picture and bullet format;)... -I celebrated my 21st birthday complete with a wonderful scavenger hunt to my new Bike (which I love and have barely been off of) and a great party! It feels weird to be "completely" legal, even though that doesn't mean a whole lot in our culture...well, I guess the next legal age is 25 for car renting;)...so I'm not quite that old yet. -My brother Jon came out for my birthday weekend to catch the BYU vs. UCLA game. We pretty much smoked them!!!! It was great to get to go to the game with the boys...we just wish Nate could come, but he roots for the less than superior Cornhuskers, so he couldn't make it. ;) - I got to go to General Conference with my friend Clay. His mission companion gave us tickets closer to the podium then I generally ever sit in sacrament meeting! It was great, and I'm currently enjoying this month's general conference edition Ensign. - I've gotten really good at hosting dinner parties and "waffle mixers" at my apt. with my new roommate, Esther. She cooks, I assist and decorate, and we frequently have 60+ ppl show up to enjoy waffle-goodness. It's amazing. - I got to witness the most amazing thing I've ever seen....my new nephew, Andrew, being born! He is the cutest little guy and I've loved going over the Nic and Tammy's just to hold him and catch his sweet smiles. - Because of the new addition, Mom and Dad came out for a weekend. It was great to see them....I really miss not living close to them:). So, we got to go to a great Football game and spend some sweet time together. I love you! - I've been enjoying/getting a lot of laughs out of the BYU dating scene. A few things I've learned are that it's weird when they have their own house etc...you wonder why it's decorated so nicely, and then you discover they're divorced, it's usually awkward when you run into Friday night's date with your Saturday one, and blind dates can turn out surprisingly well! - I learned how to "FREOLF" If you don't know what Freolfing is, then I'll clue you in. Frisbee + Golf = freolfing. And it's amazing. -I got to participate in my first general election. So I sent in my absentee ballot and even got to help campaign for Proposition 8. I'm extremely grateful that it passed and that the sanctity of marriage will be preserved for a little longer in my great home state. - And of course...Halloween. I was Ellie May Clampitt from the Beverly Hill's Hillbillies, and had a great time!

A Year of Shows...

This year I was involved with seven different shows. I don't know how I had time to go to school (hence, my current 23 credit predicament), or do anything else. But, I loved it, and would love to be in the theater again. So here are a few pictures for you ...and now I don't have to write a novel about them!

BYU Folk Dance Team

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"

(Dorcas, of course!)

Some Barnyard Dancin'

Wedding Dress #1

All of the Brides...

"It's A Wonderful Life"- the Musical

(Mary Hatch Bailey)

In my favorite theater

Right after I got married for the 17th time ;)

"Disney Review"

(Sleeping Beauty, Muse from Hercules, Cinderella's Ugly Step-sister)

Each Saturday we had "Breakfast with the Princesses"...and these are a few of the sweet little girls that came to visit!

"I wonder, I wonder...""I know you,

"I danced with you once upon a dream...."

you wouldn't believe how much work went into getting my bangs to stick up like so...

I got to be a diva as a muse

oh...and I forgot...an Arabian snake dancer as well. That's because I look so Arabian.

"Pirates of Penzance"

(ummm....british cross dresser?)

this show was by far the easiest to get ready for...I didn't even have to wear make-up...except for my back eye!

And the 5th, 6th, and 7th Lyster Sisters!

And who know's what in the future.... ;)

Slacking.......

Sorry to all of you faithful bloggers out there that thought you had another stalwart! As you can see, my "online journal" has not been quite the success that I originally expected it to be ;) . Therefore, with so many modifications in my life as of late, I'm going to try to make one more...Blogging! I am currently staying with my brother and his wife in NE as a nanny for their two boys. I am thorougly enjoying my current challenge of domestication, but I'll share more about that later. For now, it's time to get all of you caught up. I know that anybody who takes the time to read these probably already knows all about what I'm up to, but here's the super quick run down of my life since last summer. I'm sure I'll expound more on some of the really neat things in my life with pictures of shows and fun later, but here it goes....in bullet format...so much faster that way!

• I was voted "Golden Dancer" by my BYU Folk Dance Team at our Gala. The award won my first college pet, Allahpahdma the gold fish...get it...golden dancer=gold fish?!?! Amazingly enough, he is still alive and I even got him a buddy, Rocky Balboa, my beta. Allahpahdma came with his own friend originally, Nimpuhdit, but sadly he only stayed at my house for 22 hours before he made the long journey through my toilet to bigger and better waters.
• Last Summer I was training hard to move up on the BYU Folk Dance Team. I got invited back for their distingueshed summer workshop after only one semester on a lower team. I attended their workshop and did well, especially after being sent home in the summer for advanced treatment for shin splints and stress fractures from my favorite physical therapist/past boss, Caleb.
• I decided to add musical theater back into my life for more frequent performance opportunities. In cheer at my last college I was accustomed to performing multiple times a week, then was disappointed when we only performed a couple of times per semester in folk dance. So I auditioned at a great local community theater in Provo, called Center Street Musical Theater Company. I got the part of Dorcas in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and LLLLLLOOVVEED every minute of it! I'll tell you more about all my recent musicals in another blog.
• I danced in front of Lavell Edwards and his wife throughout the entire BYU homecoming parade in September, only realizing who was behind me half way through! It was awesome and I even have a picture of the football legend with a very sweaty version of myself. I can picture all of my green brothers now... ;)
• Sadly, I had to stop folk dancing due to reocurring orthopedic problems caused by all the clogging...but it gave me more time to do musical theater. I have to admit, looking back, it gave me many more opportunities by doing so.
• I was the leading lady when I got to play Mary Hatch Bailey in "It's A Wonderful Life- the musical" at Art City Playhouse in Springville. I played across from Daniel Thomlinson, who played George Bailey. Ironically enough, we're dating now. Haha, I know....It was great, (the musical. OK, and him) you should google it!!
• Christmas was great, with Mom and Dad coming to Utah to see the musical and spend the holidays closer to some kids...we even tried our not so successful hand at skiing again.
• The week that Winter semester of what should have been my senior year started I changed my major emphasis and added another whole year of school to my academic career. It is now Exercise Science: Fitness and Wellness Management. Sweet. At least I'll be able to use my major now without having to get a doctorate.
• I figured out that I want to be the same thing as I wanted when I was three...a dance teacher. Fate has a funny way of coming around.
• This last semester I've had a really hard time with relationships, as some of you know. I broke off a near-three year relationship, among other things. This ended up feeling like a divorce...but you live and you learn, and things eventually get better. At least I know what I want now.
• I played Princess Aurora in "The Best of Disney" at a local theater. It was great having every little girl in Utah county believing that I'm the real thing. I mean...of course I'm Aurora...
• I took a break and ditched school to go home to California...but you already heard about that in my only blog. Great!
• At the last minute I was in "Pirates of Penzance" as a cross-dressing male pirate and high kicking cop.
• During finals week I had to finish my online Business Management class in less than 3 days. Now that's procrastination (in addition to not reading the fine print) to the max!
• I started my internship at CSMTC
• As a result of many dinners with my guy friends, I am slowly hacking into my domestic goddess skills, and have expanded my typical menu from soup and cereal to anything my guys make for me....thanks Daniel and Joey!
• I am dating Daniel now...and contrary to popular belief, we only started dating in May, shortly after celebrating Cinco de Mayo. You can read all about it on his frequently updated blog under "miranda-jayne"...ahh, how cute!
• "Mikado" played through May and June and was my first musical show I've ever choreographed and taught. It was a fantastic experience!
• Later in May/June I choreographed and taught dance in "Les Miserables: School Edition." It involved almost 60 kids from 8-18 and was crazy fun!
• My beautiful grandmother, Thelma Mottishaw Parrish, passed away on June 14, 2008. It was sad to see her go, but it was good to have her with Grandpa again and enjoy time with my great family.
• And now, here I am in sunny NE waiting for the "knee-high by July"

Now you are officially caught up on all the Mirandoms of my life this past academic year...stay tuned for all my fun adventures in the mid-west!

Back In Utah...

Today was my first day back from my big Californian adventure. I just recently finished three fantastically fun shows back to back (more like on top of each other ;)...) and took what was probably my only opportunity for a long long time to go back home. It had been almost 8 months since I'd been home. So, with my new found freedom, and desperately seeking to restore my "zen," I mirandomly booked a thirty dollar flight home and surprised my mom and dad for Valentine's day. This trip was just what I needed, and yet another testimony of how blessed I am to come from such a great family, fantastic friends, and an incredibly beautiful area. I just LOVE the central coast. I've never been anywhere quite like it. My trip was full of great times having dates with my mom and dad (who were happy to not be empty-nesters for a week), catching up with close friends, riding the 'stang around, trips to the beach and my favorite hot-spots of the central coast, shopping, way better food than my cereal, fun in Las Vegas with my bro and his family, and even a couple of photo shoots! I'm sure you'll be seeing some of my friend, Gena's, awesome work on here! Although this upcoming week will be a whirlwind of schoolwork and getting back on the school train, every minute of unproductivity was well worth it! My "zen" has returned!

It's Time...

I figured it was about time that I started the new posting phenomenon. Although it's probably not that new, I just recently jumped on the wagon of realizing what an asset they are for my friends and family. It also may just be the answer to my multiple attempts of keeping some sort of a journal and maybe a great thing for those of you who can't seem to reach me on my on my consistantly unanswered cellphone ;)...so here you are, in a way, inside my journal. Welcome to the not-so-secret life and times of Miranda-Jayne Arnold!