The Story of a Girl...

For the past three years I have lived in an area commonly known as Condo Row. Three of the four buildings in my ward are each located on one of the corners where the two streets of Condo Row join together to form a T. The stairway to the guys' building, Kensington, is called The Stoop. It's our common meeting place and hang out. On either side of the stoop are two large maple trees. Two summers ago, these trees outside of Kensington were threatened. Management decided it was time for them to go and planned a day to have them cut down. Once word got out about the trees' sad fate, a call to action was heard amoung the residents of Kensington and efforts, headed by Brad Packer and Brian McEwen, were made to save our two friends. Petitions were signed and the trees were surrounded with signs and caution tape barriers. Their hard work payed off and the outcrys of our fellow students were heard. The trees were saved! It was a sweet victory. (Check out the full story published by the Daily Universe on May 18, 2006)
However, it was a victory that could not last forever. Tragically, the powers that be, (management) prevailed this year. This afternoon I left my apartment to see the sawdust remains of one of our trees being scooped into a wheelbarrow. Robyn Richardson, a former resident on Condo Row, and an eye witness to the events of this morning said:

Now that finals are over and life has calmed down a bit, I've decided it's time to stop neglecting my little blog and give an update on my life.
Well, I got through my first year of dental hygiene school and did surprisingly well. Both semesters I was sure I had bombed at least one class, but my grades turned out better than I could have even hoped for! I made it through.
Now for summer time. This is the first summer break of my college experience that I will not be taking spring or summer classes. No classes for four months. That's right. What to do with all my time? That's what I'm figuring out.
While I am not doing classes, sadly I will still be in Provo. :( Don't get me wrong; not that I don't love summer in Provo, because it really is amazing (camping, hiking, beautiful weather galore... ). It's just that this will be my 4th (whoa, have I really been here that long?) summer in this town and I never planned it to be that way. Every year, I've dreamed of going on some far away summer adventure and it just hasn't worked out. This summer I have friends going to Ghana, Chile, DC, New York, Europe, China, everywhere! One time I was planning on Europe, another time Ecuador, and this year I was hoping for Mexico or Hawaii.
Yesterday I got a call and was offered a position to do a summer internship in Alaska and I was seriously considering it. But the more I thought about it, the more I just didn't feel good about it. What?! I know, I know... the chance I have always been waiting for to have my own adventure. It just didn't feel right though. I don't really know why, but for at least one more summer I will be in our beloved P-Town.
However, if I have to be here once again, it's gonna be dang good. I plan on finding a killer job (I've got a couple bright prospects!), playing soccer and volleyball at Kiwanis, floating the Provo river, finally hiking Mount Timpanogos, watching fireworks, camping as often as I can, enjoying late night talks on the stoop, and eating barbequed chicken.

And if I really need to get out, there may be a few weekend Mexico trips...

In the meanwhile, I will continue to dream about my far away adventure. I know it's coming someday. My little heart has too many dreams for it not to happen. I guess I'll just have to be patient... :)