Holy Schniky It's Already Over

Posted by Adam

It's been over a month since I posted a blog, and lemme tell ya what, a WHOLE lot has happened. I don't even know where to begin... so how about Halloween!

Halloween ROCKED! I had a couple friends from home come down for the night. Mixed with some friends we have here, we made the Mystery Gang from Scooby Doo. It's amazing what you can actually find at Savers and pull together!

November seemed to fly by without my permission. I'm sure there was a bunch of fun stuff, but everything really pales in comparison to the big exciting news I got on Nov. 26. I know I planned to stay for the entire year, but the more I thought about it, the more I just couldn't wait.

I was lucky enough to submit my mission papers, and I had them sent to my home because that's where I was gonna be for Thanksgiving! I had been scheming to tell my family in a creative way.

I got the call Wednesday. I hid the envelope in my shirt and brought in the rest of the mail. My sister was standing by the door, and I gave her this disappointed look and said, “Well, hopefully it'll come Friday.”

Then I snuck outside, ran across the street to the baseball field bleachers, and opened the call. I had to read it about four times before I finally comprehended that I was going to the Italy Milan Mission. Then I stood up and screamed like a little school girl. It was pretty embarrassing. I looked over and saw my neighbors walking their dogs. They stopped and looked at me, but I don't think they realized who I was.

I report on April 1--yup, April Fools' Day--learning the Italian language. It totally blew me away, and it was harder to pretend like I didn't have it than I thought it would be. I acted casual, played the piano, but then eventually got too fidgety that I had to go do something. I called and told my roommate Mike. Then that night we had a big friend get together, and I announced it to about six people and called a couple others.

When I got home, my other sister had just gotten home. My mom asked us if we'd go pick up some milk and an onion before we went to bed. On the car ride there, I figured I would need an accomplice, so I told her where I was going and we devised a plan.

The next morning my sister called everyone over for a quick game of speed Scrabble. If you don’t know what speed Scrabble is, it's Scrabble with no board and everyone working on their own words. When someone uses all their letters they yell "go," and everyone draws a tile. It continues till the tiles are all gone.

During the second game, every time someone said, “go” I pulled out another tile from my back pocket. I eventually spelled, "I'm goin' to Italy" in tiles and then yelled, “ I win!”

Everyone was into their own game, and they looked at my discombobbled tiles, figured I was kidding, and went back to work on their own games. Then my sister said, “No! Adam won!” So they all kinda stopped and stared at the tiles. It took a good five seconds to register. Then Mom started screaming, along with everyone else. I had the call underneath the tablecloth, so I pulled it out and showed them. My mom kept saying, “You’re so mean! I don’t believe you.” Then she read the call and believed me finally.

So now I've got four months before I head into the MTC. I leave just three weeks before the winter semester would end, so I'm not able to attend school. But I'll be able to earn some good money.

It's sad that we usually don't notice our blessings till they're almost or all the way gone. I've been trying to do my best at enjoying my stay here at BYU and now that I'm near the end of the experience I just want more. It seems like I've done so much, but still not enough. I think back to the beginning of the semester and want so much to just experience it all again. It's been an entirely rewarding experience, one that I'll never forget!

Cougar Football

Posted by Adam

Alrighty, I've been a little hesitant to put up a post about my love for Cougar football because I fear I would not do it justice.

Just to start off, I love BYU football; some of my earliest memories of my childhood were watching BYU games, wondering why my dad and brother kept yelling at the television every couple minutes. I'm pretty sure I had BYU diapers, and I have always had a couple BYU shirts on hand. All I'm trying to get at is--I'm a born and bred Cougar fan. I haven't missed watching a game in over four years. My yearly calendar essentially revolves around the Cougar football schedule. I even showed up late to a closing night performance of a show I was in because they couldn't pry me away from the TV. I missed the opening number!

So really, BYU football has always been more than just a game to me--it's been an entire life in the making. So you can imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to come to BYU and get an All-Sport Pass. I actually included the All-Sport Pass fee in my tuition budget--I wasn't going to get an education without being able to see the big games. And of all seasons to come to the school, I've been lucky enough to be at the one where the Cougars are ranked in the top 10 in the nation! I almost explode just thinking about it. I mean, did anyone go to the UCLA game? It was amazing! That stadium was off the hook! The games have been fun, but probably the best part of it all is the fact that I'm practically peers with the guys on the team! Although I still feel like a little boy compared to them.

Last week I was walking to my moped which was parked by the Indoor Practice Facility and, as soon as I get it started, I turn around to see none other than Austin Collie about two feet in front of me. Trying not to look like a complete idiot, I lifted up my jaw and just stared as he passed by me. But I couldn't get the courage to say anything to him; I was star struck for the first time in my life!

But to top it all off, earlier this afternoon, after my ballroom dance class, feeling like an idiot because I suddenly had two left feet on my quiz, I headed over to Jamba Juice with a friend of mine. I got a sour-patch-flavored smoothie. (It's totally off subject, but the sooner everyone else finds out about the secret menu at Jamba Juice, the sooner you'll all be happier in life. They have flavors not on the menu--white gummy bear, Skittles, sour patch, purple dinosaur, and lots of others . . . best of luck.) Anyway, as we were sitting there talking, I look over and notice none other than Curtis Brown at the cash register (if you don't know who he is, he's only BYU's all-time rushing leader) and next to him, Fui Vakapuna! (Now if you don't know who that is, shame on you, he's #1 . . . literally.)

Well, me and my friend just sat there like 12-year-old girls at a Hannah Montana concert; we probably said nothing other than, "Dude!" for like 10 minutes. But I wasn't about to let another opportunity pass me up, so I stood right up, went over, put my hand on Fui's massive shoulder, and said, "Fui Vakapuna, I love you," and shook his hand. Then I repeated the process with Curtis Brown, actually managing to spit out a couple coherent sentences before drooling all over the floor. It was nothing other than awesome! Then I just sat and stared at the beautiful bald heads and massive calves of two of the greatest rushers of all time--in my book at least. Sigh, I love BYU!

Note: Like other posts on The First Year blog, this post was written in 2008 and discusses events (the UCLA football game, meeting Fui Vakapuna and Curtis Brown) that happened a year ago.

YARRG!

Posted by Adam

What started off as seeming like an average, slow-paced, kick back and relax sort of afternoon suddenly changed when our friend from across the stairwell, Stuart, barges in and what to our surprise, he's wearing a pirate costume that cost him seven bucks at various thrift store locations. So my roommate Mike, who--if pirate-ing was a major he'd definitely be accepted into the program--without delay runs into our room and throws on his coveted pirate costume, which he has worn every Halloween since seventh grade, or at least since I've known him.

Well I, being one shrunken head short of a pirate costume, decided that I might as well impersonate a superhero, so I fashioned a cape out of a towel, threw on my favorite paper plumbers hat, and as weapons, I stationed a spare toothbrush and a recently purchased plunger in my holster.

Well, now that we're looking so savvy, what better to do than flaunt ourselves around the Wyview parking lot. Well, one thing led to another and within no time we had about 15 people in the parking lot, sword fighting and swashbuckling in anyway they could, dressed up in various ways as pirates or superheroes. (The picture only shows about half of the total amount.)

It soon became apparent that this motley crew of scallywags soon would have to take to the high seas of University Parkway, so I commandeered a scooter, with a woman on the back, and drove proudly through the streets with our large scale Jolly-Roger/Skull and Crossbones flag sailing right beind us. We passed people on the street and gave them a friendly "YARRRRRG!!" You'd be amazed what kind of attention a skull and crossbones can get a person.

Well the rest of our crew finally arrrrr-ived at the Creamery on Ninth, where we pillaged and plundered some gummy bears, and then with my super-saliva, we strategically stuck the gummies all over a certain friend's vessel.

But our work was not done for the night, we had one more task. What self-respecting pirate movie could end without an epic fight scene between Captain Jack Sparrow and a superhero. Sadly Sparrow prevailed, but as you see in the video, superheroes have an extra spirt of life that can only lead to another week's sequel . . . TO BE CONTINUED!

Petty Little Freshman

Posted by Adam

One of the major downsides of being a freshman is the fact that, while being a pre-me, not a single girl on campus is interested! So here's the story. I go to my social dance class and I meet this girl in there, the name of said girl will remain unknown for her safety; she seemed like a pretty cool girl, and one of those people where you can tell a friendship will easily spring. So we danced for a good 30 flirty seconds and then switched partners and so forth.

After the class I headed to the Cougareat to grab some munchies. As I, a lonely freshman, look for a table with people I can meet, I see her sitting at a table by herself. She spotted me and invited me over to sit by her. I've often been told that I look at least 21, although I'm only 18—this can work for and against me. In most cases it's best to let the opposite sex just assume you're older, because when they find out, as "nameless girl from my social dance class" did, all conversation is shut off, and all interest in being peers is eliminated. I mean, I wasn't trying to date this girl, I was just having a friendly conversation, and it was a good solid conversation up until, "Oh . . . (awkward silence) . . . you look older than you are." After that point I probably got a good three sentence fragments out of her little mouth.

I mean honestly, are we freshman really that different? I mean, sure it's my first year of college, and maybe I don't own a car, or maybe I don't have a major, or maybe I don't have the refined stamina of an RM . . . but it's not like I'm a third grader or something, I can still carry on a coherent conversation with someone. Sigh, if this had been the only instance where this had happened, I wouldn't be making a fuss, but I have experienced this three; count em, three times, and am getting quite tired of it. In fact I have firmly resolved that I'm going to tell people that I'm 22 and just got back from Madagascar on my mission. It's goof proof, if not a little sacrilegious, but I want a woman!

My Freshman Eating Experience

Posted by Adam

Oh the joy that one cup of "Cup Noodles" can bring a person. All my life I've heard that once college begins, eating habits go down, and a poor college student must resort to flavored salt on top of salt. But contrary to that belief I have eaten quite well since the beginning of this year, Between New Student Orientation, leftovers from a ward party, and a handful of girls trying to make a good impression, eating has been quite luxurious, Not that any meal may compare to the home cooked meals that my mother gave me at home. But heck, if I were cooking meals, I'd be choking down reheated, burnt soup for a month. These meals have ranged anywhere from German pancakes to Authentic Mexican taquitos . . . my mother would be proud. But there comes a point in every man's life when he has to go back to his roots. He has to take a stand and say, "No More!" and then blissfully experience the serene joy and happiness that one "Cup Noodles" can bring. May I never forget . . .

Meet Adam Jones (’14)

Posted by Michael R. Walker (BA ’90), associate editor

Hometown and High School: Layton, Utah; Northridge High School

Applied To: BYU, BYU–Idaho, and Utah State

Major Plans: Vocal jazz

Interests and achievements: Eagle Scout and honor student; plays guitar, piano, trumpet, and percussion (was a member of his school’s marching band drum line); sang in high school jazz choir, was president of the a cappella choir, and performed song parodies in school assemblies; acted in musicals every year of high school (once as Javert in Les Miserables); worked at an ice cream shop.

Plans to Bring to Provo: His Power Rangers blanket

Jazzed about the Cougars: Adam wanted to go to BYU for as long as he can remember. “When I was just a little kid, I was wearing BYU diapers and such,” he says. “Both my parents went to BYU and have always been Cougar fans. So they raised me right.”

Adam’s interest was bolstered when his high school choir had an exchange with the BYU jazz program. “I’ve always had a passion for jazz, and I got to know the professor pretty well, so I thought I’d go to the Y and continue in jazz studies.” Later, he took a day off school for a BYU campus tour. “I just wanted a reason to have a school-excused sluff day,” he explains. “But I remember being really intimidated and just overwhelmed at the idea of coming to the Y. I was really nervous. I was leaving high school, where I felt like a top dog, and diving into a much larger pool.”

BYU Bound: When Adam applied to BYU, he was in the middle of Les Miserables and choir performances. A lot of his close friends were also applying, and he helped them to complete their applications. “I frequently had to remind them of papers in the application process,” he says. “I got so caught up in helping so many of my friends apply that I barely made it to the post office on the day of the deadline.”

Adam calls the day he was accepted to BYU “the best day ever.” When he got an e-mail from BYU notifying him that his application status had changed, he went to check it out online, repeating this mantra in his head: “I’m happy if I don’t make it. I’m happy if I don’t make it. I’m not going to be depressed my entire life.” His mom and brother were nearby, enjoying a quiet afternoon at home. “When I saw that I had made it,” he says, “I just stood up and threw my arms up in the air and started screaming at the top of my lungs.” His mom and brother ran in, asking, “What’s up? What are you doing?” Adam beamed at them, “I got accepted!” After a moment of familial jumping around and shouting, Adam reports that he then “ran outside the house and around the block screaming, ‘I’m going to BYU!’”