Back to Provo, an inevitable fate.
This weekend was a new experience coupled with old pleasures and started with a unique night.
Okay. Pause, rewind.
Thursday we had our ward activity which was nothing short of a great success. We went to the "Nickelcade" amidst rain and muck and had infamous In-n-Out burgers after. What more to love? It was great to go to an arcade after not having been in such a long time. We all felt like we were in elementary school again, fighting and competing for the most tickets to see who could take home the most costly prize. Some of us were unfortunate enough to only get a couple tickets per game and others hit jackpots beyond jackpots. What was the best was seeing our Bishop (who by the way is an older Japanese fellow) and other members of the bishopric play arcade games with everyone. How great is that? If that doesn't show his love for us I don't know what does. I'm just so happy to be a part of this ward where everyone loves everyone and participates in everything. It was so great to be able to spend that night with my ward family and have great food after. It was definitely the start to a great weekend.
My alarm went off the next day at 4:30am... I snoozed until about 5:30am and finally got out of bed to head to the parking lots by IPF to depart to Lake Havasu for regionals with the one and only BYU triathlon team. We didn't get out until about 6:30am but it was pretty good for a bunch of Mormons to be out within thirty minutes of the initial time. We traveled, and we traveled, and we traveled, until we got to Vegas and stopped for lunch. It was weird being in the area and not going home. Then we drove, and we drove, and we drove, until we finally made it through three states to get to Lake Havasu, AZ. We registered, went to the lake to check it out, and slept.
The next morning was early too, we made it to transition by 6:00am and got settled for the first wave at 7:30am. Finally that time came and the wave of sprinters left, and then another wave, and another wave, and then finally the collegiate wave. Then we raced. and we raced, and we raced. University of Colorado was well in shape (considering their workouts are provided by Team USA's coach) as well as the United States Air Force Academy. Arizona schools didn't really give us much run for our money but were competition none-the-less. Two hours later we were all finished and ready to get showered to hear the results at the award ceremony. For an hour we all stood waiting to hear that we were in fourth place. Not too shocked, we found we were only minutes behind third place. So there was still some hope. Upon getting to the course, a few of the guys asked which buoys in the lake we were supposed to swim around. One of the lifeguards was not informed the correct way around (which was recently changed so it was quite understandable) so a few of our top guys (of course) went and swam out of their way. A consensus was that a minute and a half would be taken off the times of those people. Those were not factored into the ceremony that day so we actually ended up in third--relief. Anyway we all being starving children walked to Red Robin's, filled up our stomachs, and then parted. Some of us went to Vegas, some stayed in Havasu, and some went to St. George. I went in a car to take me home of course. We stopped by Hoover Dam to only get a terrible Dam view and eventually I got home and slept in my bed. There's just not much better.
Here's an aside. One of the girls had a funny experience with a pair of sunglasses. While racing she didn't know that one of her lenses fell out and amid all the stress, put on her single-lensed-sunglasses and proceeded that way to the finish of the race completely oblivious to the issue. I didn't see but apparently she looked like a pirate and crossed the finish line with them that way. She didn't realize this until someone told her after the race. I can't wait to see pictures!
Sunday I woke up in my home and went out to breakfast with my family. They never get old, every time I'm home its like I never left to begin with. We shared stories and caught up and talked about them coming down next week. I've seen them pretty much every other week this semester so it's been quite easy to make it through. Finally we left Vegas and got back to Provo last night.
Its always a wonder coming back to Provo, it's almost like coming home but not really. I love it here though, it was so nice to see the guys in my hall again and see my ward at ward prayer. Familiar faces that make being here worth it. Alas, it's back to class, back to work, and back to reality. This week is full of tests but also full of fun times ahead.
Provo: an inevitable end but still holding great things to come.
By the way, did you know that London Bridge is at Lake Havasu?
Me neither.
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