Tuesday at 08:00 hours, the sociology department (primarily consisting of Real Victory Crew) loaded up three BYU vans and headed for PSA (Pacific Sociological Association) Conference in San Diego, California. The Conference convened from 08 until 11 April at the Westin.
We drove through southern Utah and Las Vegas on the way there and back. We ate at In 'N Out Burger...which never gets better regardless of how many times I've eaten there. I think the downfall is the lack of mayonnaise or barbeque sauce. That's why this is a western fast food joint. It will probably never be accepted in the south. :)
The first night I slept at the Sheraton in my own
personal room. Nice view, nice bed, nice shower, nice square fixtures...all in all...nice place. Free internet. Free, delicious herbal chai (which came in handy because I was catching a cold!)
Wednesday I moved to the Westin where Kate and I shared a room. Not as nice. Free chai...but not free internet. Nevertheles, I discovered an internet cafè in the mall. I wrote a Philosophy paper on Immanuel Kant and the question of possibility of synthetic a priori judgments. That was fun. haha. No. Then I composed a powerpoint presentation for my Friday session of PSA.
All of the other Real Victory presenters were in sessions with other students. Most of the students from other colleges were graduate students. Most of the BYU students were the same age as those other students simply because most of us have served missions. But Celeste is a returned missionary, grad. student. Either way, my
co-presenter, David Cherrington, had to attend another conference and was unable to help me present our book chapter on behaviorism and its correlation to Real Victory.
I wasn't too nervous until I walked into the session and realized that the other three presenters were old, Ph.D. holdin' professors and not humble, little undergraduates like me! Nevertheless, the presentation went smoothly. Steve Bahr loved the presentation. And some spectator wanted to learn more so that he could incorporate our ideas into a program he wants to start. That made me feel special.
All I really wanted to do was go to Sea World and swim with dolphins (cost: $170.00) and attend the temple which has a garden on the roof! But neither happened. Sad day! :(
Our drive home went significantly well. I had a great debate concerning contemporary social theory with Jeff (at professor at UVU), Bert (BYU), and Katie (BYU grad. student). We drove through Las Vegas again.
Stopped at Carl's Jr. for lunch. Las Vegas has to be the most disgusting, hyperreal place I've ever experienced. Carl's Jr.'s barbeque sauce sucks to put it mildly. But I did see a Louisiana license plate and the Logan (?) Temple!
My "mom" (trainer from the mission--Rachel Hill) got married on the 11th of April 2009 in the Denver Temple. The weekend before General
Conference, my "grandma" (Rachel's trainer--Emily Wheeler) threw her a Bridal Shower.
After all the singin' and story tellin', Rachel opened her gifts. Then we ate super yummy sandwiches and chocolate strawberries (off of which I peeled the chocolate and donated it to Chelsea Wrathall).
I had fun. I missed my "mom!" We had great times serving together for six months in Russia. Casey is a lucky man. I hope they have a happy eternity together. I know there will never be a dull moment with Rachel! haha.
