If I had one wish, it might be that summer would not end.

Wow its been a while since I've truly posted on here! I think there is a lot to catch up on, so I'll try to make the best of it.

Spring Semester ended well. I got an A in my Information Systems class! I felt amazing taking that class because I learned a bit, but also got amazing grades on the tests. It was definitely a confidence booster. I think that the class was tremendously easy because I do networking at work every day. In fact, I teach people here to help others with network problems. So take that and Computer Engineering class experience, and I felt like I knew more than the Professor on a few subjects (sorry Dr. McKell, but an ALU does not process a computer's instructions).

Intramural Softball. David Dalton, a friend from work, invited me to be on his men's softball team. I played catcher and right field (because I suck at fielding) but was a fairly consistent hitter throughout the playoffs. We made the double-elimination playoffs. We lost early, but made it through the loser's bracket to the championship game. We were down by 5 runs in the bottom of the last inning of the game. We had a couple of people on base, but weren't able to get them home. I went up to bat and hit a single to get our six-run inning started. We won the game and forced the other team into the loser's bracket. So we had to play them again. Unfortunately we lost 21-8. But we won second place! It felt really special to be in a championship game. The tone is different. We all put our game faces on and submerged our minds into the game we're playing.

California in June. Aunt Kelly, Irwin and I drove down to California in June so see Dad get ordained a high priest (he's getting old. He's going to be 47 this year hehe.) We had a lot of fun with so much family in town! It was nice to see Grandma and Grandpa Jones. I also enjoyed having Kendall as a roommate for a couple of nights.

My birfday. My birthday was probably the best I've had in at least 3 years. It was different to be around my friends. July 8th is right in the middle of summer vacation, so as a kid my birthday was pretty much ignored by my friends. But this year was great! I got to see and feel that people cared about me so much. I went to my favorite restaurant (Tucanos) for some carnivore action the Saturday before. Then on Tuesday, Mike Castillo took me to dinner at Los Hermanos and tried in every way to embarass me (loudest restaurant birthday song ever). BG also organized a party for me. I was glad to see so many old and new friends. People even sang for me, and then made me give them a speech and do 22 pushups while they ate my ice cream.

Information Systems. The last day of June was the deadline to submit my application for the Information Systems program. I'd first of all like to thank BG and Sarah for staying up a little late helping me finish my essay. I was so nervous. Even though I was completely made from the ground up for this major, my grades don't necessarily show it. And a written paper shows grades and an essay. With that said, I guess my essay was alright because I got my acceptance notification on Monday. I am so excited.

California in July. I think the July California trip was one of my highest-anticipated events of the summer. I had so much fun. On Monday and Wednesday Kendall, Ben and I went to go play tennis. We started in the morning, but we played about 2 1/2 hours each time. I became the tannest I've been in my life. I got to go classic places with my family, like Dewar's and In-N-Out. Kendall and I jumped into line for the midnight showing of Batman: The Dark Knight at 2pm. We were third and fourth in line. I dressed up in a cape, and Kendall had a Batman cape with a mask on it.  We read and ate junk food for about 8 hours. Then we got to see the midnight showing. It was so great and well worth the wait (that rhymes!). We also made it on two news stations and my head made the back of the newspaper. I also got to hang out with the Kummers. On Saturday I went to Santa Barbara! I picked Sarah Ray up from EFY, and we went to the beach. It was overcast that day, but nothing was going to keep me from the ocean. The water could have been worse (like the east coast, jk), and it did have a lot of ash in it. It was some good aguas negras action. We also went to the harbor in Ventura, where it was Pirate Day. I got a picture with Jack Sparrow. Sarah came to church with me on Sunday too, which was fun (imagine her next to my mom in Relief Society: this is Tyler's friend Sarah. She's going on a mission in October!).Then that night we drove to Las Vegas, and I drove the rest of the way home by myself!

Social Life. Probably one of my favorite things this summer has been the social life. It is sooooo nice to only work 40 hours a week. While that is a lot for some, I feel like I am relaxing more than I have in such a long time. I haven't really had a break since I got home from my mission. Think about getting home on September 5th. Wait... that was the second day of school. And I did go up to BYU that next Monday. I took classes fall, winter and spring semester. It was time for a break. But I have made so many cool friends. I will never forget cooking spaghetti or fried chicken with Robyn Bird. Or random phone adventures or tennis with Miriam. I won't forget working on video projects, or going canoeing, watching movies up the canyon, going to Color-Me Mines, playing candyland with Alie and Alicia, or having water balloon wars (after singing Battle Hymn of the Republic and hearing Mike Castillo pray "as we engage in conflict one with another"). I also won't forget all the classic times I've had with my roommates. Getting my trash kicked at Wii tennis (or Wii anything, for example) by Dustin. Random conversations. Getting a HD TV. Its all been so awesome.

So its a good thing that I still have a month left of summer to enjoy. Even though it seems like it could wrap up soon, I feel like I have so much to look forward to. I have been so blessed with great friends at the right time. This summer I have been able to think about the kind of people that I need in my life to be truly happy and comfortable. It's taken me time, but I feel like I am finding my niche in the world, among both the people I knew and the people I am meeting every day. With each day I am stronger, smarter and wiser to be able to help myself, and to help others by serving them.