So I am hoping that this blog will help keep my friends and family updated on what is happening in my life, seeing as how I am really bad at calling people. I have a cheerful optimism that this blog will not be the usual ranting and raving that people see in Livejournal (hey, i'm guilty of it too), but it probably will turn into ranting when something provokes my temper (like bad drivers or inefficient stupid people). I will try to spare you all my rants and I hope to save such rants for emails and phone calls.

So why did I start this blog? Well my friend Amanda who is going to be in Utah as well, started one...and she had one in Germany too and I was always able to find out what she was doing without having to catch her on IM at random hours. So I guess I am a copycat in that respect.

Why do I feel that I warrant a blog? Because I know many of you have said, "Send pictures, keep in touch and let me know how you are doing." Well...here it is folks. I may occasionally send out those annoying mass emails with pictures that I find stellar, but for the most part...if you don't write an email to me...I may not write one to you personally. If you are too lazy to write me an email and you still want to stalk me to find out what I am doing...this is the place to be.

That said...let's get down to business. So I recently graduated from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University with a Master in Public Administration, no easy feat I assure you...just ask Brandon. Before graduation I was bemoaning the fact that I had no job and that I would probably be living in my parents' basement and working at Wal-Mart for the rest of my life. Well, lo and behold four days before graduation I was offered a job. It was with the Air Force, they were willing to pay for relocation and student loans and I would be working on national security issues...sounds good so far. The catch was that I would have to relocate to Ogden, Utah! Yes, Utah! It sounds really random...but is not. Apparently Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah is rather large and a big deal to the Air Force.

So I am now preparing to make the trek to Utah. I received my unit assignment last week and I will be working with the 504th ICBMSSS which means that I help provide support to ICBMs, which are really big missles. I also had to fill out a 100 page security clearance and promise the Federal Government my first born. Ok, so I exaggerate...but it did take forever to fill out! Also, to all of my good buddies out there...I may have given your name, address and phone number to the government to contact you, so you can then tell the men in the black suits how stellar I am. Just kidding (not really).

The government movers showed up today and packed up all of my goods. When I say they packed my goods...I mean that they PACKED my goods. That means that all of the stuff that I had in my apartment in Syracuse that was sitting in storage, because you have no need for more dishes when you live with your parents, got unpacked and then repacked. I did not lift a finger during the 4 hours they were here. It was amazing. They were both wearing shirts that said "we move America's heroes", which made me feel really good for about 30 seconds and then I saw them putting my French Horn and my saddle on the truck and I realized that this move really is permanent and there is no going back. I won't be in Utah forever, but I really am going there for awhile. I felt a little sad when they left.

Speaking of Utah...I read the fascinating Jon Krakauer book Under the Banner of Heaven, because so many people were telling me to read it. Let me say one thing...fundamental Mormons are scary people. 'Nuff said.

I have never been to Utah. I hear that it is pretty. It's not DC...or somewhere warm...but it's a start...and its a job. It's a new start and a new area of the country to check out...it can't be that bad.

That's all!