Fall Semester: A Review by Dylan Lowe

     My first fall semester of college is over, and I'm pretty sure that was the quickest however many months of my life. 

Obviously I had time to pay attention to how long it actually was, what with PA's, a job, school, etc, etc, (the list could go on and on.)

To be honest though, I'm not sure how I feel about it being over.

     I'm a bad news first kind of person, so I am going to begin with all of the things that were not so charming about these past months. First off, it was only my second semester in college, and I had to learn how to handle having a couple of my best friends on missions. The people that I pretty much spent every waking moment with were now gone, and there was nothing I could do about it. Let's just say that checking my mailbox was torture. 

     I also had to continue working on keeping myself healthy so I could continue going to school. I had to overhaul my diet because my arthritis came back, and there were a few days when Lucy would come out to play. 

     There were also the days when I couldn't quite put a finger on what I was feeling, which were just weird times. I don't really know what else to day about them, it might have to do with knowing that I had to say goodbye to new friends. 

     But then, there were the charming times of Fall 2012, and I am not going to apologize for the length. 

     Hiking with the roommates who ended up being some of my best friends, Mitchy graduating, and Mint M&M's from Marissa. #Sessionswithshan, leopard skinny jeans, and trips to the DI. Lunch with John Rogers, making friends with the brown kid and hitting up every dance party we knew about. Quick trips home, hanging out with my dogs, the Utah State Fair. 

     Uncle Si, awesome co-workers, phone cases from Slovenija, and crepe nights. Group texting involving busting caps and apartments burning down, and hanging out with hipsters at The Grind. Hair dying parties that changed my hair from blonde, to ombre, then to blue, and finally to brown. Stuffing parties in the PA office, teachers with no shoes, homecoming. A's on english papers, nacho nights, hawaiian t-shirts.

     Creeping on old "friends" at the gym (Phi Beta PINK!), Star Wars dance battles in the student center and temple trips. Finding a gorilla in my apartment, Hayzen praying for the ability to speak to animals, and surprise stitched gifts from my mom. Wookie outfits from Target, camping in Zion, and a game I like to call "What will Starbucks name me today?" Visiting your second family in California and going back to camp for a weekend. 

     Cats attacking my computer, pumpkin carving, and jamba dates with Sky. Glow in the dark stars on the ceiling, DSD, convo's with Clark in the car with no door handles while his phone charged, and asking to the dance. DSD round dos, the actual dance itself, and getting to know a cute boy. 

     Chats with Miles during Batman, Crashpad 35 karaoke photoshoots, the karaoke parties with lots of people or with only two. "Tossing" a roommate on our whiteboard, the whiteboard and its other infamous quotes, car repairman "Kate" and waterpong in Apt 43. "Children. Really." "Boomtown" and multiple series of the same text. Late-night slurpee runs and movie nights. Ugly sweater parties and asian sweaters. Planning flash mobs with maracas, playing iSpy the red-mohawk hat, and snapchat conversations.

     Coming home for Thanksgiving. Bowling dates with Marley, spending time with my crazy family, #YOHO. Hipster Cameron, bingo night, and blog updates/letters from Kendall. FHE/Roomie christmas photo shoots and road trips to St. George. Going "hog" at white-out dances, almost going hot-tubbing, climbing into caves, and driving home to show tunes and elton john (questionable...) Picking up quilts with Mamma and seeing her freak in fabric shops. 

     The Macklemore concert, front row at the depot, and holding MACK's fetching hand. The first perfect snow of the season, watching the family christmas video, and seeing my grandparents. Pretty apartment Christmas lights, mini-stockings and a twinkly Christmas tree. Ugly prawns, short pants, and wishing we knew guys who could "dance like that". 

     Finishing finals, soy white hot cocoa, and cheesy vimeo vids. Life size Christmas stockings, mexican food, and a drive down main street at night.  Grey's Anatomy, a trip up the canyon in a truck, and snowball fights. Getting to know that boy even more and cold, cuddly, layering weather. Making it home safe and sound, and waking up to a foot of snow and an Andrew Bird jam sesh with my dad. 

     It's quite apparent that really, this semester was more good than it was bad. In fact it was pretty incredible. I think it's a lot easier to get bogged down in the negative. If you take the time to realize the positives, things are usually a little better than you think. 

Take some time to "smell the roses" or whatever it is you decide to smell this season. 

p&B.