Cache Humane Society

Hi friends! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! This semester has been epically busy.

I've recently stumbled upon a really wonderful new activity--volunteering at the Cache Humane Society! I found out about it through a friend. They hold volunteer orientation every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 4PM. It's a really awesome opportunity to serve the community and get some "pet therapy."

My friend and Vicki and I go in at 8AM on Saturday mornings and spend a few hours cleaning out cat kennels (they clean them everyday!) and playing with the cats. The whole place runs like a well-oiled machine. It's very well-maintained and it's funded purely by donations from the public!

Here are pictures of two of my favorite cats, Saffron and Jimbo:

Saffron

Jimbo

Saffron is a sweet, cuddly little girl who just loves attention. If you sit on the ground in the communal (a large enclosed area for the socialized cats), she'll immediately crawl onto your lap. I haven't hung out with Jimbo much, but I'm a sucker for his sad-looking eyes that just scream "take me home!"

If you love animals and you want to contribute to the Cache Valley community, definitely check it out when you come up here!

Peace out,

Shayla M.

Check out the website if you're interested: http://www.cachehumane.org/CHS/Main.html

Lingua Latina (The Latin Language)

Hey friends!

Today I wanted to write a little bit about my passion for Latin.

"Latin?" You might say.

"Yes, Latin."

"That dead language that Caesar knew? 'Carpe Diem' and all that?"

"Yes, the very same."

"Ummmmm...why?"

Actually, I am studying it because of a professor. A professor whom I had for CLAS 1100 (basically a class about the study of word origins), Dr. Mark Damen. He's a Latin/History/Drama professor who encouraged me to take Latin and said that he thought that I would really enjoy studying it. And he was right. So, moral of the story is, weigh the advice of your professors heavily, they often know more about you and your learning style than you would think.

All anecdotal stories aside, I thought I'd include some fun phrases in Latin so you can impress your friends:

Excuses

My dog ate it.
Canis meus id comedit.

I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken.
Sane ego te vocavi. Forsitan capedictum tuum desit.

Baby, Sweetheart, would I lie to you?
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?

I was kidnapped by aliens. What year is it?
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt. Qui annus est?

Insults

I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
 Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.

I laugh at you! Derideo te!

May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy. Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.

If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.
Caesar si viveret, ad re mum dareris.

Oh, and one last thing. We're going to start reading Caesar's Invasion of Britain in my second-year Latin class. So excited. Just got my book in the mail. I'll keep you posted!! :)

A Little Bit About Me...and Why I'm Here

Hey guys! Just wanted to write a brief post about me and why I chose to come to Utah State University. I was born and raised in Utah (Riverton, Utah--yeah Silverwolves!). My parents are both from out of state, so I grew up visiting other parts of the country quite frequently. I am a Secondary Math Education Major with a Latin Teaching Minor.

You may be asking: So Shayla, why Utah State?

Well, let me tell ya, I was NOT planning on coming to school here. I applied to several other schools in-state (USU, U of U, Westminster, SUU) and a couple out of state (UCONN, Colorado School of Mines). I got accepted to all of them, and I got great scholarships from most of them. So it was a tough call. But the crazy thing is, I had almost completely thrown out the idea of going to Utah State. I was trying to decide between U of U and SUU, thinking that if I didn't even consider Utah State, my life would be easier. But then I got invited to Scholars' Day.

I took my campus tour and my world was turned upside down.

I fell IN LOVE with Utah State and its campus. I fell in love with the old, collegiate and regal buildings, the college-feel, the college town, the residence halls, the TSC, Old Main, the Quad surrounded by trees--it just felt like college should feel. I could totally picture myself walking from class to class, chatting with classmates about nerdy details of the previous lecture, and enjoying every stinkin' minute of it. Cheesy, I know, but OH-so-true. And that was that. While my father and I drove home, all I could think about was college. And Utah State. And how I was so excited to spend the next 4 (or 5, or 6) years there. The rest is history.