My Final Month In Tucson

It is the time of the year in which I am going through a lot of my "lasts" in Tucson... and I can't even pretend that I'm not real emotional about it... every time I think about leaving Tucson my heart breaks a little bit more. So be prepared with the next couple blogs, there is definitely going to be some sappy feelings about how sad I am about some things ending... yes that even includes school.

Wednesday November 30

Wednesday's are usually super great because they're my relax days. I don't have to work at the Wildcat, and I get to go home right after class and relax until my weekly EBoard meeting.

This Wednesday was unfortunately not a relax Wednesday. Since I had an open afternoon I decided it would be better for me to go to the courts for my RPA class rather than going on Thursday in the middle of working at the Wildcat. I also conveniently scheduled an interview with a city spokesperson for my in depth article right before I needed to go to the courts (they're right next door, so that wasn't sarcasm). My interview went swimmingly, and then I walked over to Pima County Superior Court, took the elevator to the second floor, hopped on a computer and started researching court cases that I would want to report on.... and then I found out that there weren't actually any all day criminal court cases on Wednesday, so even though I tried to be productive with my time... it turned out to be quite unproductive.

Afterwards I went home for a little bit, changed into my UA gear and then went to the Wildcat for my EBoard meeting. #crycrycry this was the last eboard of the semester.... and my last eboard EVER (well at least at the Daily Wildcat). I have grown quite fond of all the editors on EBoard so I actually kind of had to hold back tears thinking about it... luckily I still had two production days ahead of me so it wasn't really the end. We took our end of the semester Editors photo (poor Courtney forgot about the meeting so she didn't make the photo... but we will photoshop her in eventually).

No matter how well I set it up... Brett is unable to take an in focus picture. But I don't blame Brett, I'm convinced the camera is out to get him.

After EBoard and budget I mozied my way over to the basketball game to meet up with Caroline, Derrick, McKenzie, Brittany, Hailey, Alex and Kara. This my friends was my last basketball game that I would be able to attend as an actual student at the University of Arizona... luckily I can still go in the spring semester whenever I want because I paid for it, but still the last nonetheless. Basketball games are always too much fun, and that is definitely going to be near the top of my list that I am going to miss after the academic year. 

Thursday December 1

After work on Thursday at Project FOCUS I started my work for the Wildcat before I went over to Pima County Superior Court for the second time. This experience at the court was also quite the mess. Once I finally found a court case that met the qualifications for the assignment I walked over to the room to find some other journalism students sitting outside waiting for the case to come back into session. I waited around with them for about twenty minutes before a lady came outside saying the court case was done for the day and that the jury would be deliberating.... wonderful. That was twenty minutes I could have been in another court case (not even thinking about the time I spent researching the case beforehand). So I looked up on the calendar for another case and just walked into that case without doing any prior research on it. It was a DUI case that was rather unenthusing... but I made it through.

I returned to the newsroom afterward to finish my work there. I ended up finishing fairly quickly but I stayed for awhile to hang out with everyone knowing my hours at the Wildcat was running out.

After work I went to Canes with Derrick, McKenzie and Abby because it was the magical week of free Cane's that happens every so often. 

After Canes we all went back to UA so Abby could pick up Andrew and so Derrick, Kenzie and I could pick up Jenny and then we made our way to Brittany's house for Thursday cookies. This weeks featured cookie was gingerbread men and they were delicious. We ended up making turning everyones names into animals for all the people that attended, here are some examples: Sydbee, Carleech, D-Rex, Andridillo, Travidactyl etc.

Friday December 2

Friday was a good time, I actually went to devotional for the first time in a month... and it was the last devotional... not quite as emotional about that. We listened to a great talk by President Uchtdorf about gifts we can give Christ for Christmas. We also discussed the new initiative the Church put out called #LightTheWorld, which is in my opinion the best initiative because it helps the members of the church do more than just share a long paragraph about their testimony on social media... which I believe is a good thing, but this Light The World campaign encourages people to do more with people, rather than on social media.

After devotional I went to my last free lunch and ate my last grilled cheese and peanut butter sandwiches at the institute. Then I started my advertising for a new roommate to replace me since my plan A failed me. So if you hear of anyone moving to Tucson that needs a room, send them over to me!

After free lunch I went to the Wildcat to work on the special section for our final edition, it was also conveniently during the time of the EIC interviews and results, so I was one of the first to hear the results.

After work I went with Abby to Goodwill to get ugly sweaters for her, me and Andrew for the Ugly Sweater Soirée happening later in the evening. I am a FIRM believer that you can't go to target and buy one of their "ugly" sweaters and wear it to an ugly sweater party.... GO OUT AND ACTUALLY GET AN UGLY SWEATER... the point it to not be cute... but that's just my own personal belief, many have contested me. Luckily, we found three great sweaters for the three of us and found some great accessories to add to the sweater and cultivating some ideas to make the sweaters even better. Before we went home to finalize the sweaters we took a pit stop at Target and Abby's house. Along the way I brought up how much I hoped there would be pizza at the party... and that really just got me and Abby craving pizza like crazy. So we decided to play is safe and order pizza for all the party animals at my house while we were making our ugly sweaters before we went to the party. 

Eventually we finished our sweaters and inhaled the pizza and made our way to Brenna's house for the soirée. Brenna's house is freaking HUGE. Great dance floor, great snacks (thankfully no pizza... I would have regretted my purchase so much), great dogs to play with and so many great things in her ginormous backyard to entertain ourselves with (bonfire, trampoline, spinning circle of doom thing, a teeter totter and once again THE DOGS). Although I wasn't feeling 100% it was quite the bangin' soirée and I pretty much want to go to the Weigel household everyday for the rest of my life.

Saturday December 3

Saturday was a really relaxed day for the most part. I was able to sleep in. I mailed out some more of my graduation announcements (I have extras so if you want one and haven't gotten one seriously let me know, no awkwardness). Ate some lunch. Started cleaning my room because I started thinking about how much it is going to suck packing up my room and going back to Mesa. I watched a lot of Survivor and a lot of Gilmore Girls... and then I actually did something fun and went to a Daily Wildcat party. These little parties happen every so often and I usually opt out of them because I can only handle so much drunk and high people. But this one was at Courtney's house and she was making dinner AND we would be playing Cards Against Humanity, so I decided to climb out of my turtle shell and socialize. 

I was one of the first to arrive so I helped Courtney prepare the food. I knew it was a drinking party so I cam prepared with a 44 oz of Pitch Black Mountain Dew from Circle K, but Laurel is such a doll and thought to bring a 2 liter of Mountain Dew for me. Too kind. 

The tacos were delicious and I stayed for quite awhile while people weren't completely gone from their drinks. I actually ended up pulling a lead in Cards Against Humanity (who would've thought the little mormon girl would be schooling everyone). Nick caught up to me eventually so I decided it would be best to leave while I was ahead... and before it got too late. Don't worry though guys this is not my last Daily Wildcat party, I still have one more I have to make an appearance at before I bid the newsroom adieu.

Here is a photo of me being happy with my Polar Pop (photo cred goes to Court):

Sunday December 4

My final fast Sunday in Tucson... yeah this one actually hit me hard. Not that it was the final fast Sunday, more just because I reflected on this past semester during Sacrament meeting and how blessed I have been because of all the new people that have entered my life, and the new opportunities that have been thrown my way. I actually ended up bearing my testimony, and I barely made it through between my sick and raspy voice and my crying. One thing I am certainly not excited about moving back home is going to the singles ward there.... not my cup of tea. But my Bishop said it's all about my attitude, so we will see if I will be able to fix that. I just love third ward so much even though it is a little cooky. I love it for it's cookiness. Definitely something that will be hard for me to leave next week.

Rory gave a great lesson in Sunday school and asked an important question that really changed my thinking about communication with God. Does reason trump revelation? Which one is more important? There was a great conversation in class that I really loved. Nothing like good conversations.

I did indeed make it to Relief Society, no need to give me a round of applause. But it was the first time I had gone in nearly a month so I really don't deserve it.

After church I watched a lot of Gilmore Girls and took some naps.

In the evening I went to Andrew's house with Rory and Kenzie for the final game night of the semester.... MY FINAL GAME NIGHT #crycrycry. But this was the game night to end on for sure. We played Joking Hazards (like cards against humanity but in comic form) and Accents (like cards against humanity but in accent and impersonation form). I am absolutely awful at doing any and all accents, but it was a really fun game nonetheless. 

Monday December 5

Today I had quite the adventure with Chase trying to get him to go to class and even have a conversation with me, but it's okay because we hugged it out in the end. 

After work I went to my final institute class at the Tucson Institute of Religion. Sad day. Brother Somerville asked me if this would be my last institute class ever... and with my Dad as my father there's really no way. I also just love institute so no matter where I end up living I am going to find one to attend. 

After institute I went to my capstone class and finalized my final project... now it's just a matter of waiting to see what my grade is like.

After class I went with some Daily Wildcat peeps to No Anchovies (holy hallelujah it is finally open again) and then went to the newsroom to knock out Monday's work.

Then I went to my final class of Publication Design. We had to design a 3 page magazine layout for our final, and it was pretty easy so I got done fairly quick. This was the class that I never had as a high priority on my list of important things in my life, but it was still a good class and the professor was awesome. 

After I finished my final and went to FHE and started writing this blog while everyone else built a giant blanket fort... I did sneak in for a picture though. Not totally sure where that picture is, but if it ever surfaces I will post it here.

Then after FHE I went to Twirls with the 3rd ward gang to send of Elder Stanger who has been a stellar missionary in third ward for the past 6 months, and now it's time for him to move on with his life... and go to a different area. That was probably my last time sending off a missionary at Twirls/USwirl... which is pretty sad because I am pretty sure this tradition is dying, and it's always been a tradition that I loved being apart of.

There are so many more "lasts" ahead of me this week and next week before I move back home to Mesa... so if you see me crying somewhere, that's probably why.