The Merriment of Commencement Commences

Congratulations Lesley! She graduated from BYU today and now it is time to celebrate. Lesley's cousin Margaret also graduated today and they are both in the School of Family Life, so we got to see them graduate together. It was really fun for all of our family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) to sit togther and see them get thier diplomas and take tons of photos. I think my favorite is where Lesley's cap poked Cameron in the eye when he gave her a hug. Then our family went to lunch at the Brick Oven here in Provo. We are all getting together later tonight at our parent's house for a bbq. It will be great and we are all so proud of Lesley and her achievements. She has worked very hard to get to this point and she is going to take that strong determination of hers out into the world and do great things. Love you lots Leelee!

I Heart The UK

Here are some of my favorite photos from our jont across the pond- enjoy


Big Ben


Phone Booth in the Middle of Nowhere


Ash at Windsor Castle


Waiting to go to into Parliment (Ashley's Glamour Shot)


Regent's Park Theater


Alli at Windsor

The 5-Day Heat Wave

This was written on Sunday, the 2nd of July 2006
It has taken me almost a week to post this as we have been in the country with out any access to the internet.



It’s HOT! The week started out rainy and chilly and now that it is Sunday, London is now in a five-day heat wave. The heat comes and goes, but it is especially hot tonight in our hotel room. We were out in the country all day yesterday and we went to Sherbourne Castle, Montecute House, and we got to stop in Bath for the evening on our way back to London.

We only went to the garden at Sherbourne Castle and we saw a 17th century dairy. Ashlee Whitaker is researching those for her thesis. Then we went to Montecute House, which is where a part of “Sense and Sensibility” was filmed. It was the part of Mr. Palmer’s house where Marianne walks in the rain and gets ill. Courtney Peacock is researching a relief panel that is actually shown in the movie. The part where the doctor tells Charlotte to take the baby away, there is a white marble panel on the back wall that is fairly large (just incase you want to see it). There were beautiful gardens and it was a great Jacobean house with a little bit of Elizabethan as well. The family ran out of money so they never updated to future fashions, which makes it great for us art historians. We had a great time there.

Then the best part of the day came when we went to Bath, yes Lesley, Bath. We got there around 5:30, so everything was closed and the England vs. Portugal World Cup match was just about over. We stopped in at the door of a pub where we could see the big screen. They had just gone into extra time and tension was high. We watched for the first 15 min, and then we decided to walk on towards the Abbey and Pump Room. We actually, honestly, “partook of the waters,” but only Ashley, Mark, and I finished our glass full. Mark and Ash chugged it all at once. I took one sip and almost gagged, and then I had to be brave and finish my glass, so I chugged the rest. The water is rather warm, like shower water warm and it taste like water, except when you swallow it and it burns and taste like sulfur. It was an accomplishment to say the least. Then we walked up toward the Royal Circus and Royal Crescent. On our way, we stopped at another pub as the match was going into penalty kicks. It was exciting to be there as they were neck and neck. People were insane! As soon as Portugal got their last goal, we got out of there, beer bottles were thrown at the screen, and a bloody fight broke out with in the first 5 seconds. It got scary, but we just kept walking up the street. People were drunk and angry, which is a dangerous combination.

We went into the Royal Crescent Hotel and saw their garden. It is small but posh hotel. Then we tried to go to the Assembly Rooms, but there was a crowd of people in black-tie apparel. We then went to the new spa using the Roman sacred spring water. The architecture was really modern, which is out of place in Georgian Bath, but they did use Bath stone, but it is covered with high-tech glass; it looks really neat. Mark is way into getting “scholarly” pictures of us doing research and studying on-site, but he poses us to get the right shot. It is an extremely un-glamorous photo shoot. At least, it is hopefully getting what he needs to get more funding for trips like these. It has been amazing to study and do research, or at least get comfortable doing it here in London.

We left Bath at 8:20 PM and we arrived in London at 12:12 AM. It took us 4 hours to make a 1 hour and 45 min drive. There were a lot of detours/diversions on the M4 and so we had to drive through a lot of small towns like Marlborough and Salisbury. Mark would kept saying, “I’m not cranky, just frustrated!” It was an adventure to say the least.
Now that it is Sunday, we went to church and then went to Ham House. We had a picnic on the lawn that was pretty much cheese and bread and Tesco/M&S food. It was a refreshingly different kind of garden, pre-Capability Brown. The house is very well preserved along with the textiles on the walls. It was fun and a great Sunday activity. Now we are back in the hotel and dying of heat. It is 10:30 PM and we are sweating just lying in our beds, but it still does not feel as hot as last summer. This 5-day heat wave could end soon, so says the newspapers. Either way, we are all having a blast and enjoying our colleague’s interests. There is value in all the places we go, for everyone. Love you all and see you in a week!

Walking in the London Rain

On this drizzly Monday morning, we went to the British Library and became official Readers. Ashley could not provide another form of permanent address, so she could not get her card. I did some catalog research and ordered 12 books that will take 48 hours to get, so I’ll be going back tomorrow in hope of their arrival. While Ashlee, Courtney, and I were at the British Library, Ashley went to the V&A and got a scone. Yes, my heart is aching for a scone at the V&A and I still have yet to get it.
The only places I have been to eat so far are: M&S, The Paper Tiger, and Prêt a Manger (just an hour ago). I still need to go to Tesco and get Muller Yogurt. M&S has a great granola and yogurt combo that is delicious, but I digress.
After the library, we met up with Mark and Ashley at the Courthauld Institute at Somerset House. This was a charming gallery with some surprisingly famous works; it was also where the Royal Academy used to have their annual student show for 200 years. A competitor/ contemporary of Robert Adam designed the building, but it still looks like a typical Neo-Classical London town house. The Courthauld had Manet’s “Follies Berger” and Renoir’s “La Loge” on the second floor. On the top floor, they had a whole room of Oskar Kokoschka and Kandinsky. They also had a Barbara Hepworth sculpture, “Spring.” I absolutely loved it!
After the Courthauld, Mark, Ashley, and I went to go to the Royal Academy’s annual show. Mark thought it would be a good idea to walk from Westminster to Piccadilly, in the pouring Rain. Honestly, it was like waking through a shower. He did not have an umbrella, so I offered to share with Ashley as she gave hers to Mark to use. In a Hollywood movie moment, we were waiting to cross the street and around the corner came a black cab through a puddle that totally soaked me. Ashley’s super cool and handy pop out map is ruined, but she thinks that after it dries out we can tape it back together. My shoes are still soggy and both Ashley and my toes are waterlogged. It was fun, even though we were/are wet all throughout the RA show. It was a good exhibit of contemporary art with nothing too offensive or objectionable. I bought the display poster as it was way cool and it will be fun to hang in the office.
We returned to Earl’s Court, found an Internet café to send quick e-mails and Ashley could print a proof of address to take to the British Library tomorrow. The pub on the corner was chuck full of people watching the Italy vs. Australia football match. People over here sure are excited about sports. Wimbledon begins today, but I bet not much tennis was played with all of this rain. Now we’re back at the hotel and are trying to plan our day tomorrow. We take it all day-by-day and see where the research takes us. We do a group thing every afternoon, which so far have been Apsley House and the Courthauld. I think tomorrow we are going to a play in the evening, but we’re not sure which one. The only plays that we really want to see are Shakespeare. There really is not the same level of plays that there were last year. We might go to a midnight showing at the Globe. We’ll see what happens (the motto of our trip) Love to you all and Cheers from London!

London Here We Come

A Wonderful Town

Hi! This is Lesley writing from the comfort of my new apartment. As it is the last day of May 2006, I think that it is time to reflect on my month. This time last month I was in New York City! Each time I go to that city, it is like a totally different city. I had a wonderful time learning about fashion and interior design. I met some fun girls and we just had a ball. Our day's were full from morning to night with fabric, design, and marketing. A highlight was seeing the popular Broadway play, Wicked! Here are some of my pictures, let me know what you think.











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GRADUATION

I graduated from BYU today!









Thanks to all who came and supported me. It was a great day!

I just had to share...

I found this bookshelf on-line this morning and I think it could be one of the coolest ideas ever. It not only saves space, but it makes your dusty books look like a sculpture. It's pretty much awesome.

Is Everyone Going Crazy or is Insanity Setting In?

This situation is real and these are the cold stone facts.
We had to protect ourselves. A man had a key to our apartment. We episode the lock. End of story.... Or not?
supposedly, Rene and Nadia are engaged and they are getting married in June. Britni is planning on keeping Nadia's cat.
I am upset.

In lighter news- it is that wonderful time of year again where the sun stays up longer, birds are beginning to sing outside my window, and finals are approaching. I graduate in less than a month and I am so excited to wear a cap and gown. The end is comming so quickly. I am in the process of writing my Roman Art paper on the baths at Bath which focuses on the engineering aspect of propaganda in the provinces. It seems like it would be an interesting topic, but now I dread it. I think of Bath and then I think of our visit there last June and then I daydream and forget what I'm supposed to be doing. Focus Alli, Focus.
Easter is fast approaching. I love Easter candy; it is honestly the best holiday candy. Who can compete with Cadbury?

We found an apartment!!! Well... actually Ashley and her mother found it. It is in Orem, but it's really nice and inexpensive compared to the ones we have been looking at in Provo. I'm excited and hopefully we'll be able to get out of our lease at the end of this month. We can move right when we get home from the Phillipeans. Which brings me to my other source of happiness at the moment. I am so excited to go! These little, random thoughts that bring me enjoyment are priceless.

Fantastic!

This is amazing- we met Brandon Boyd- lead singer of Incubus! Here is the documented* proof...








*Disclaimer: these photographs have not been doctored, or tampered with, in any way possible.

I'll Be Here A While

Well, the best day of my life has finally come... I got accepted into the art history graduate program! I found out through an e-mail at 6:40 PM on March 7, 2006. I cried hysterical tears of joy and called my parents and my siblings with in the first 5 minutes. I am afraid to go to sleep because I might be dreaming. My best friend Ashley came over and I told her in person. We both cried as I read her the e-mail. Then we all got dolled up for a night out on the town to celebrate. My roommate Britni came and so did my cousin Margaret. We went to PF Changs for dinner and had a feast; I love their lettuce wraps. We had a dandy old time and I am the happiest girl in the world at this very moment for I know what I'll be doing with my life for the next 2 years! I can't get the smile off my face and I don't want to. Love to all-oxoxox

Ode to Shoes

Disclaimer: this not even a tenth of our shoe collection and my cutest/newest ones are still in Salt Lake- beat that sucka.

There's a Bit of Blonde in all of Us

I went to the beauty school today and got some blonde highlights that I totally love. Now that I'm back to blonde, it has been a day full of "bumb blonde" moments, which just goes to prove that there is a little bit of blonde in all of us.

1st moment: We drove past a car dealership and stoped by with Ashley to look at the Sion xB. As we were trying to leave the dealership, Ash started driving up a ramp that had 2 big signs saying "wrong way" and she did not even notice until we were half way up and Lesley commented from the back seat, "oops... wrong way, wrong way, Oh my- it's WRONG WAY!" Ash backed her car down the road and we were fine; no illegal action actually took place.



2nd moment: We drove past a strip mall which contained an eye care center. This center had a sign saying, "60 minute eyewear" and Lesley then proceeded to make the comment, "Why would anyone only want to wear glasses for 60 minutes." Ashley and I had to ask her if she was serious as our jaws dropped to the floor.



3rd moment: Lesley, Ash, and myself were swapping funny stories and Lesley told one of some girls in her HFL class and I could not get the joke for at least 2 minutes. Ashley and Lesley had to systematically pick apart the joke before I could even pretend to get it. Even now, I still really don't get it.



How sad is this? We all have our moments and today was full-o-thems.
For brunettes and blondes and semi-redheads all over the world, good night and good luck.

The GRE Brainwash

I got my score on the GRE last night. I now know that the hardest part about this exam is understanding the score and it is the only part of the test not mentioned in my prep book. THEORY: No one knows what the scores mean, even the test-makers; it is how they get people to take the GRE over, over, and over again.

My oh-so-vague score breakdown is like-a so:
section-----score-----% below
verbal ----- 430 ------- 39
math------ 410 ------- 12
writing----- 4.5 -------- 51

I may be a total idiot for putting my score online, but then no one knows what it means anyway. If you do know, just lie and tell me it's good, ok? All in all, the GRE experiance has been terrible and I am so glad that it is over.
On a lighter note, I finished and turned in my application for Graduate School this week. I'll be turning my endorsement tomorrow morning and then it will be absolutely complete. I just have to pray that I will get in- it is all out of my hands now. Oh well, if I don't get in, there is always UCMT or Paul Mitchel!

An Accounting of 2005

Now that the year 2006 is upon us- I feel the need to give an account of my 2005, like those annoying christmas cards where everyone brags about themselves. AKA: to catch up with old friends.

~ I got a scholarship for my academic performance durring Winter 2005.

~ I spent the spring in London, on an art history Study Abroad with BYU.

~ I recieved a new nephew in July- Evan Brock Powell.

~ I traveled to some of the most exciting cities in the world:
London, Paris, Amsterdam, St. George, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York City (twice).

~ I moved into a new appartment in August.

~ I am currently apart of the Art History Association at BYU.

~ I presented a paper in my first Symposium.

~ I have seen the movie Pride and Prejudice 5 times, and counting...

~ Last but not least, I took the GRE and survived(FYI: this is my most daunting accomplishment of 2005)


Preferences of 2005
*Favorite Song- Switch by Will Smith
*Favorite Movie- Pride and Prejudice
*Favorite Meal- Costa Vida Pork Salad
*Favorite Class- Modern Art(both times)
*Favorite City- London
*Favorite shoes- Gold flats from Payless


Previews for 2006
>Graduate from BYU with my BA in Art History
>Loose 10 lbs.
>Become a grad student
>Learn to read German
>Have someone to kiss at midnight on New Years Eve (optional)

Have a Happy 2006!