Under Construction

In all the ways that Tyler and I are working on merging our lives, we are also merging our blogs. Our new entries, sundry reviews of books/movies/things in general, and pictures of our adventures can all be found at http://web.mac.com/allen.tyler/iWeb/the%20news%20from%20here/welcome.html
This transition might be slow, as I am still learning how to work the new program, so please be patient but check back often!
And don't worry, I'll still hold on to this blog for random rants and raves that have nothing to do with my joined life (i.e. how ridiculous/awesome geology is).

It's just one of those days...

The wedding is less than a month away, and preparations are really in full swing. Invitations were sent out this last week, and in no time, Tyler and I will be heading down to super sunny California for the wedding. I know the engagement time and wedding planning is stressful, but last week has just been particularly frenzied. On Monday, my parents told me they'd shipped my dress overnight, which was bought and altered in California, and that I should be expecting it the next day. So Tuesday, I hurried home after my morning classes (and a quick lunch, I confess) only to find that the UPS guy had stopped by hours earlier and my roommates had not answered the door. I think they can't ever hear when someone's knocking. Anyway, not their fault. So I called the 800 number to just tell them I'd come pick it up, since I knew I wouldn't be home the next day, or ever, between 8 am - 5 pm. The automated lady voice said someone would call me within the hour to confirm. This was true, and I agreed to pick up the dress that night, sometime after 7 but before 8:30. The biggest scare? I was meeting with the wedding photographer at 7 that night. So, running a bit late, I met with Bethany (at Spoon Me, a frozen yogurt place, yum!) and we chatted. We were done by 8, so I jumped in my car and was on my way to Orem. The UPS place in Orem, holy cow, is in the middle of nowhere, by Geneva Rock. It was a little scary. And way farther than I'd anticipated! So I was racing the clock, and made it there by 8:25 or so. I picked up the package, and the dress is now hanging safely in my room.

The next mini crisis involves my engagement ring. Tyler and I had stopped by the jeweler to pick out his wedding band, and while there, the guy helping us noticed my ring was a bit loose, so he said they'd resize it. Okay, no big deal. But they took it right then and there! I was a little shocked and had separation anxiety, but I put on another ring in the meantime. I went in Monday (the day before the dress fiasco) to pick up both rings, only to find that they'd made mine WAY too small. Trying not to cry, I told them the problem and they said they'd make it bigger, that the goldsmith had sized it on the smaller side of 5.25, which was what they had determined was my size. My ring was originally a 6. So I continued the week without my precious ring. Thursday, they called again saying it was ready, so I hurried over, only to find that it was still significantly too small. Fortunately, one of the girls who works there is an old friend from EFY about 8 years ago, and she was working that day and took pity on me. She said they'd resize it to slightly larger than a 5.5, and she'd rush it so I could pick it up the next day, since I was taking my bridals the next Tuesday. God bless Sara from EFY. Friday, I went in and it fit like a glove. I'm finally reunited with my ring and I'm so glad. I'd really become attached to it in these last few months.

If only it ended there. But no. The next day, conference Saturday, I'd told Tyler I wanted to make dinner for him and our friends at whose house we were watching conference (Tyler's old place). He said ok, and that steak would be nice. I agreed to give it a try, since I've never pan-fried steak before. Although I had the meat, I wanted some other food to add to the meal, so between sessions, I took Tyler's car and headed off to the grocery store to pick up some potatoes and rolls. I headed back to my place to get some salad and condiments, but in my rush, when I'd grabbed my keys to get into my apartment, I'd set down Tyler's keys... on the car seat. I then proceeded to lock the car and run up to my place. I grabbed what I needed and was halfway down the stairs before I discovered I didn't have his keys. I searched everywhere to no avail, and finally accepted the fact that they were locked in the car. So I took the food I had and drove over to pick up Tyler, then headed over to his house to get the spare, then back to the car where I'd locked the keys inside. Good thing Tyler was so patient with me. I was able to prepare the meal adequately once we got back to our friends' house. But my goodness, it was difficult to get there.

The good news is that Sunday was my birthday, so I got to relax a bit. We watched conference at that same friend's house and Tyler made me my requested birthday lunch (French onion soup with mozzarella cheese and sourdough bread, perfect on a rainy day). I took naps and tried to catch up on my reading for class. Tyler presented me with the cake I'd picked out at the store the day before, and he gave me a very nice present. He framed my giant picture of the Newport Beach Temple. I admit, it made me cry a little thinking about how we'd be getting married there in a month. I'm such a sap. And once things have settled down a bit, Tyler's promised me a trip to the mall to pick out some birthday clothes. He's so nice, even when I'm falling apart at the seams. Hopefully this last week will mark the end of these shenanigans!

Also, I promise a more uplifting and less self-centered blog entry on our Tara and Tyler Allen blog. In the meantime, check it out and see how awesome Tyler is and browse some of our pictures!

Engagements

There has been a surprisingly large demand for more engagement pictures. So, here's a few:








All pictures are courtesy of our amazing photographer, Bethany Jackman. More pictures can be seen on her blog. Enjoy!

Google it

So I was reading in my textbook for my technical writing class, and the chapter is all about making yourself marketable for future employers and etc. One of the suggestions it gave was to Google yourself and see what comes up. The point is to make sure you know of any scandalous and/or defamatory material that may exist, and then to cover it up so the prospective employers don't see it. Although confident that I'd come up clean, I do love to Google myself. I've done it for years, but hadn't done it recently. Here's what I've got Googling "Tara Albertson".

First, I am proud to say that although I am not the only Tara Albertson in the world, the first link to come up connects to my profile on the BYU Geology website. It is a required assignment to make one for all students in the Geology 230 class, which is a computer skills class, and since we all have to take it for the major, we've all got one. Check it out!

Then there's a link for a wedding website for Tyler and I that we haven't developed so... it's pretty useless.

(Photo courtesy of Bethany Jackman)

A few non-related links, including a blog by another Tara Albertson!!!

And then, much to my pleasant surprise, my Jooperdy status! This website must be ancient, but my high school sophomore Chemistry teacher, Mr. Joo, was super competitive about this trivia game that he invented and we'd play every month or so. I would be proud to have future employers stumble across this.

I am also proud of the other links that come up, although none share my namesake in full. There is a middle school clarinet star, something about bellydancing, a hill in Ireland, Republican women, and Rachel Bilson shopping at Albertson's.

Also, tara.com is a site for Jewish music. I discovered this in middle school and was thrilled. NOTE: This can be a dangerous game though, as lots of female names.com may lead to risque sites (at least, so I've heard from friends like Caitlin or Danielle). Do not try this at home! I felt comfortable at my middle school where the safeties and securities are tight, so I just wanted to throw out a disclaimer so I don't get in trouble! Also, all my links are clean, so don't feel bad checking out that one!

Albertson.com doesn't exist. Allen.com, however, does. But I don't get it. I don't come up as Tara Allen anywhere yet, but you know how firefox gives automatic suggestions for commonly searched things when you start typing? Well, when I typed "Tara Allen" it suggested "Tara Allen Las Vegas." What am I getting myself into?! However, it appears that there is a Tara Allen who lives in Vegas. There's also a PhD Professor of Biology, and one who crochets.

As a side note, I would also recommend Googling the company from which you seek to get a job. Just in case.

Now that I have successfully digressed, it's back to the textbook.

The rumors are true...

I'm engaged! Tyler and I got engaged on July 10th on Mt. Rainer, a volcano. He's so thoughtful of his geology nerd wife-to-be. In the flurry of post-engagement pre-wedding planning, I have thoroughly neglected this blog. After the first two days of school, I think it's pretty safe to say that that won't change... sorry! Tyler and I are in the process of combining blogs. Okay, so far Tyler's done all the work, but I'll get around to it. I'll do a quick picture recap of the Washington trip where we got engaged and the planning since then...


We went to Seattle. It was my first time. This is the marketplace where they throw the fish, which is kind of gross but also really cool.
Tyler paid tribute to Jimi Hendricks, Kurt Cobain, and other Seattle music legends at the Experience Music Project.


The iconic space needle, which I learned really has no purpose. It was built for when the World Fair came to Seattle. Or something.

The majestic Mt. Rainier. I took this picture moments before Tyler proposed.


This is Tyler after he proposed, holding the ring box. You can see that his right knee is wet from kneeling in the snow, proof that he went down on one knee. I thought it was cute.

Okay, I was going to add more about summer and planning, but I'm too tired and I have too much homework. Maybe I'll get around to another entry in 6 months. And keep an eye out for the combined blog of T-n-T, the TA squared, the up and coming Tara and Tyler Allen blog. It's already set up, I just haven't contributed yet. But thanks to Tyler for staying on top of things!

Book Review

Before my second block class started and I got bogged down by all the readings that I'm behind on, I used to read books for fun. One that I just recently finished (with recently being Jan. or Feb.) is The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I read this book awhile ago because the Martin Scorsese version was playing in the International Cinema. I didn't see the movie, but I did read the book, and I was pleased. It was a fairly quick read, and was first recommended to me by my very feminist high school English teacher for whom I have a great deal of respect, although I do not align myself with her school of feminist thought.
In short, it's about uppity New York socialites and the suffocating effects of propriety. It's brilliantly written, very colorful, and even though it mocks New York for its stringent appeal to keeping in line with societal expectations, it made me want to live there for a year or so, just so I could be apart of that etiquette. Perhaps my favorite part, though, is that I had ordered it used off of Amazon a few years ago (when I was in high school and my teacher recommended it), so I didn't know what it looked like, but the cover was some picture that reminds me of a Harlequinn romance novel. It's not like that at all, I promise. I found a picture of the copy I have, so you can see for yourself. Funny funny stuff. The publisher said they chose to make this colorful image the cover because it would appeal to the young kids, or something. I don't know, but it made me laugh.
Anyway, it's an easy read, very enjoyable, and very easy to get wrapped up in. I recommend it to girls, but boys may be bored with it. The female author does have a somewhat palpable bitterness toward all men... But she had it tough, and it makes for a great, classic novel. Not as formulaic as would be expected, too. The end is, wow. Again, like I said, very well written.

This boot's definitely not made for walking

Today was a long day. But it was a good day. I almost made it from 9 to 5 without leaving the ESC, my home away from home. But I got hungry and the Wilk was calling my name. Anyway, not the point. The point is that I discovered that I can be enveloped by geological jargon all day and not get tired of it. I'll break it down. From 9-10:15 (but we always go a little over) I have my Sedimentology and Stratigraphy class. Then from 11-12 there was an incredibly good lecture about extension in central Nevada, and I loved it because he incorporated petrology, structure, geochemistry, stratigraphy, sedimentation, geomorphology, etc. etc. into his presentation. And I actually understood it. I think that was amazing, and I realized as he was talking about mylonites and mineral phase assemblages of leucogranites and basaltic magmatic pockets and such, I actually understood. So, eager from the brain stimulus, I went to work from 12-2. Hunger set in, I grabbed some lunch, then spent the next half hour studying drill log data for my Strat and Sed lab assignment. Then, I had my Geomorphology and Geohazards class from 3-4, and to cap off the day, another lecture by the AAPG distinguished lecturer about new theories regarding structure and deformation around salt diapirs. A great day, I know. But seriously, it was, I learned a lot, and it was interesting, and I loved it. I love days where I reconfirm that I made the right choice of major. Geology is the best.
But then, I came home to find the telltale yellow boot on the back left wheel of my car. Hmm, odd. So I investigated. The paper on my driver's window indicated that I did not have a proper parking pass. Hmm, odd. I paid (yes, paid) for my above ground (yes, above) parking spot back in September after the underground pass I was guaranteed was not held for me. So, more baffled than upset, I called the number. Answering machine. So I went up to my apartment to call again because the answering machine indicated another number to call and I needed a pen to write it down. I called again. Answer. I told her I needed a boot removed, she asked if I understood it would cost $50, and I told her I had a parking pass. She said ok, she was in the middle of cooking, but she'd be over in 15-20 minutes. Twenty minutes later, she came, she called, she took off the boot. And that is my experience with the parking polices. Quick, like ripping off a band-aid.

This is Megan's fault

Ok, so I actually read Megan's ABC thing and I decided it would be a much more uplifting and wholesome blog than a second political one. I'm taking this in stride. So here goes.
A- Attached or Single? Attached.
B- Best friend? Basalt. Or Tyler Allen.
C- Cake or pie? Cake.
D- Day of choice? Sunday, because I like Church, or Tuesdays because the only classes I have are Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, and Geomorphology and Geohazards (those are just 2 classes, but both have "and" in them), plus the campus-wide devotionals, which I always attend and almost always enjoy.
E- Essential Item? A book. Preferably more than one though.
F- Favorite Color? Varies almost daily. Right now? I'm liking eggplant.
G- Gummy Bears or Worms? Both. But one thing I love and miss dearly from my high school days is mini gummy bears with frozen yogurt from either Golden Spoon or Goldmine.
I- Favorite Indulgence? Ice cream. BYU creamery is amazing.
J- January or July? Both for different reasons, but right now I'm feeling cabin fever and I miss field trips and hiking, so I'd say July. If I skied or snow shoed, I'd probably say January.
K- Kids? None. Just a rock collection. But I have 3 different basalts.
L- Life isn't complete without? Umm... temple ordinances? This is a weird one to me.
M- Marriage date? TBA
N- Number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister and 1 brother.
O- Oranges or Apples? Apples. I support Allen produce.
P- Phobia and fears? Ichthyophobia. The fear of fish. It's so bad that when offered a $600 trip to the Bahamas for a week and a half, I google imaged San Andros Island, saw the famous bone fish, and knew I couldn't go, without even considering other factors that may or may not prevent me from going.
Q- Quote? "I'm awesome" -Tara Albertson
R- Reason to smile? Valentine's Day fudge and 89% on my first Strat and Sed test.
S- Season of choice? Any if I can be outside. (Surprise! I like being outside.)
T- Tag three people? No thanks. I don't even know that many who blog. But Tyler Allen, although his choice to do this is wholly optional.
U- Unknown fact about me? I am able to save my holiday candy so it can last for weeks.
V- Vegetable? Asparagus. Again, I support Allen produce.
W- Worst habit? I take forever to get ready for bed.
X- X-ray or Ultrasound? As far as I'm aware, I've never had either.
Y- Your favorite food? Cheese! Again, I love the BYU creamery.
Z- Zodiac sign? Libra.

Separation of Church and State*

Well, I am just about at my wits' end with all of the politicking that is abuzz locally and nationally. But, as a semi-student of the politic, I think a blog is in order. This may take several installments. We shall just have to see.

As alluded to in the title, my first concern is the issue concerning the separation of Church and State. I would like to recall the governmental ideas set forth by the good man John Locke, who is credited with first presenting this concept in modern times. His concern was that the government had no conscience (I paraphrase) and would therefore prove completely inadequate in being connected to such a holy concept as religion, according to his idea of the social contract. Locke was a smart man, whose forward thinking compensated for his homely demeanor. I respect him immensely.

The Founding Fathers (yes, proper nouns), in whom I am not yet well-versed, but have watched the National Treasure movies and own a David McCullough novel, wrote the Constitution of this country with this concept in mind. Yeah, it's that important.

As a side note: I'd like to just remind readers that these very Founding Fathers are, in fact, now Mormon. Surprise! I've even seen the picture in the L.A. Temple. Eat your hearts out, liberal media and Ron Paul, Mr. Constitution himself.

Now, to bring this back to present time, I think that the general American populous has forgotten this blessed concept upon which our country is built. I have read a number of very interesting and informative articles on similar topics, and so I may pull some of my knowledge from them, with other information based on my personal observations of peers, my viewing and reviewing of (mostly the Republican) debates, and my general concern for the stupidity of society.

Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Or rather, he is one of literally millions of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I doubt one will ever hear him classified in that vernacular, but I just thought I'd throw it out there. This is no secret. Although he has not claimed to "wear his religion on his sleeve," as evangelical Huckabee declared, Romney has never made any attempts to conceal nor act ashamed of his beliefs. This is appropriate for anyone. I feel that for the most part, the candidates are all sticking to this. I am still in denial regarding Ms. Clinton's candidacy, or else she would greatly skew my previous statement. But now, here's where it gets interesting.

Romney was, as far as I am aware, the first candidate who had to defend his religion. Allow me to elaborate. Romney, similar to a young Catholic that we all know so well from his rumored escapades with a certain "blonde bombshell," stepped up to the plate and gave a "faith speech." Both were received very well. Look, it's fine that Romney had to give it, that the nation, let's face it, gave him no alternative. He's bright, he's articulate, and he did a very good job. If anyone has a problem with that, then that's a personal issue between that individual and God. There, I said it. Romney did nothing to offend. He simply delivered what was asked, and essentially required, of him.

But here's where my blood boils. Mike Huckabee, in one of the Republican debates, was asked a question regarding a statement he had made at an evangelical event. Huckabee had said something along the lines that in marriage, women are subservient to men, quoting half of a KJV Bible scripture. Huckabee began his answer by making a "casual" observation that although he thought the item of religion was off-limits for all candidates (a clear and direct shot at Romney's "inability" to answer religion questions, that he couldn't handle the questions, even though Romney had 1. faced the most questioning from all, including and especially Huckabee himself and 2. responded more eloquently, more extensively, and more adequately than any other candidate), he was not afraid, nor would shirk the question. His answer was fine, he did just fine. I'm not criticizing that at all. He cleared up the confusion, although that doesn't mean he never made that statement in the first place. How quickly we forget.

A few more points. Huckabee has decidedly won votes for "wearing his religion on his sleeve" (yes, I quote it again) although Romney has been criticized for his beliefs in LDS doctrine and the fact that Jesus and Satan are *gasp!* brothers. My question is, if this really is a political election (which I am doubting more and more each day), then why are these items even coming up?

Barack Obama belongs to a congregation that has made statements concerning the fact that it caters specifically to the Black society. I am not making this up. If this is politics, where is the political correctness? And this is coming from me, a very non-PC persun (yes, a wordy pun). Hilary went to Spanish congregations to hear about MLK Jr. while Obama was churching it up in Atlanta, GA with all of his Black friends at their Black-only church. Huckabee demeaned women. And yet Romney is "the Mormon" running for President. The Mormons, who would love nothing more than to have the Gospel spread to ALL nations (and nationalities), who celebrate the union of a man and woman in eternal marriage as the most holy act a person can perform in this mortal existence, who rejoice in the sacred roles of both men and women, are being put under the microscope. But then again, unfair treatment is no stranger to the Saints.

May I now have us reflect on another famous "Mormon" presidential candidate: Joseph Smith. He was the first and so far the only presidential candidate to be killed/murdered/martyred, however you want to slice it, during his candidacy. Way to go America. Don't get me wrong, I love this nation like my own child. Consequently, I rejoice in her successes, but mourn in her times of unnecessary cruelty.

So here it is, all laid out. Can a "Mormon" be a good president? Yes. Could one also be a poor politician? Yes (Hello, Harry Reid). Do I support Mitt Romney because he is a member of the Church? No. I will employ an additional installment to delve into that topic.

The bottom line: It's time we take a lesson from our forefathers, remember their wise council, and relearn to separate Church and State. This is a Presidential election, after all, not a nationwide democratic vote of which church is truest. Joseph Smith already took care of that for us.

*Note: the opinions in this entry reflect the views of the author and may not be shared by affiliates within the Church, the Republican party, or her social circle.