Mark Zoll

Grades and Graduation

2009-07-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

I am at the end of another semester and just recieved my grades.

Church History - A
State and Local Government - A
Geology - B
Foreign Government - B
Modern Political Theory - B

This semester was a hard one. I worked twenty hours a week and carried fifteen credits. I was surprised that I was able to pull this off. I only have two more semesters left. My classes for next semester are;

American Foreign Policy
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Advanced International Relations
Geology Lab
New Testament

I am on a program called fast grad which enables me to go to school year round until I graduate. I usually go to school in the spring and fall so my "summer" is usually from January to late April. But after figuring out that I only had one semester left after I decided to just get it over with stick it out one last semester and graduate early.

My last semester I have planned;

Math in the Real World
Senior Seminar
The Executive Branch
Intro to Public Administration

But for right now, I am on break and it feels good not to have the stress of school for the next seven weeks,

Holy Poop

2009-07-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Holy Poop it has been a while. I am a failure at life. I have been so busy that I don't update this thing ever. But I will try. Instead of trying to go back in time and catch up I will just try and start from the present.

I just finished up with another semester here at BYU-I. My classes have been tough (Church History, Foreign Government, State and Local Government, Modern Political Theory and Geology) but I have managed to get through them all while still working part time in Idaho Falls. I don't have all my grades yet but I think that I will get mostly B's with one C.

Bonnie and I just got back from a trip to Lake Tahoe, NV/CA. My cousin Jessica got married to her best friend Vince. Their celeb name would be Vincica. We had a blast. With this wedding, I am pretty much related to most of my friends at EA. The wedding was awesome. It took place right on the beach of Lake Tahoe.

Tyler, Lahni, Bonnie and I went water tubing the next day on the lake. Tyler rented the boat it was so much fun. The water was so cold and the bluest I have ever seen a lake before in my life. We were all exausted the next day.

Bonnie and I returned to Rexburg on Saturday evening. It was an adventure to remember.

Update 11/10

2008-11-09T23:24:00.000-08:00

Our announcements are here! I think that I have said that like a bajillion times. We have been a little slow getting them out but hopefully soon.
Everything is coming together so well. Plans are made for the honeymoon and Bonnie will be so surprised. Most of everything is a secret!
I am a little bit upset that Obama won, but won't pass judgement until/when he screws up. Like my brother said "he isn't going to take away our guns and he isn't going to raise the dead. He is just a man."
I am also upset about the protest about Prop 8. Lets settle some rumours

The LDS church was not the only ones to take a position on this matter.
The LDS church DID NOT donate any money. The members themselves raised money for it. A common misconception
Gay & Lesbian couples say they are not getting the same rights as married people. FALSE! They are allowed to enter into civil unions which give them the same rights as married people.

Other than that things are fantastic! 40 more days until I marry my best friend. I am so lucky to have someone like my Bonnie. She is an example to me in her faith and understanding. I couldn't have asked for anyone as loving and caring as she is.

Update 10/27

2008-10-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Wow, this month is flying bye! Here is an update so far. It's been a while.

School is kicking my butt. I have no time for anything. Here is an approximate schedule. School, Fiance, Work. Homework. That's pretty much what I spend my time on. School 30% of my time, work 20%, Fiance 25% and Homework 70%.

As of right now I have 7 weeks and 5 days left before I am married. Not that I am counting.

Bonnie and I recently went to the "Rock Band Live" tour, featuring Dashboard Confessional. It was hway hway fun. I am so glad that I got to experience that with her. I don't think that I had a voice or hearing left the next day. Plain White T's also played. I was very impressed. We didn't stay for Panic at the Disco cause, well, they suck.

Bonnie and I got out announcements picked out and are being printed as we speak! That was way way fun to do.

She also got her wedding dress as well. She picked out a tiara to go along with it. I bet if I let her she would be wearing that around all the time.

Bonnie got her real engagement ring as well. She wanted to wear the wedding band as well when we bought it but I wouldn't let her.

We also found a place to live up here in Rexburg. Although it's not our first choice we were lucky to find one as married housing fills up way way fast.

Other than that things are going well. I am the happiest I have been in my entire life. I am so thankful that I am marrying my best friend in the Snowflake Arizona Temple on December 19Th!

Some pics by request! Engagement ring on the left, Wedding band on the right!

so... i'm engaged!

2008-09-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Yes I know what everyone is thinking "holy poop, when did this happen" and I wish I knew as well. Besides that point I will tell everyone of you faithful readers how this all went down.

Bonnie and I have been dating on and off for the last year, and because some things that have transpired here at BYU-i, Bonnie didn't want me to be with anyone else but her. We started seeing each other again and things progressed really fast and before I knew it, I was sitting on my bed on a Saturday morning talking to Bonnie's parents, asking them for their permission/blessing for their daughter's hand in marriage.

Let me back up just a little bit. I told Bonnie earlier in the week that we were going on a picnic. Little did she know that I was going to ask her to marry me. Friday evening I went to wal-mart to get a few things. Lunchables, some candy, Sparkling Cider, Champagne glasses, etc. for our picnic. But then I got a fake ring also.

I didn't sleep all night because I was worried and nervous about calling Bonnie's parents. I had so many predicaments racing through my head. "What if her parents said no?", "What if they were out of town?" I imagined/dreamed every conceivable situation. When I woke up things were worse! It was raining!

Around 10am things were getting better, even though it was still overcast it wasn't raining. I had just gotten off the phone with her parents, and had obtained their permission. I packed everything up and went to go pick up Bonnie. We left around 11am and headed up north to Ashton, ID. From Ashton it was another 16 miles or so to the falls.

As we were heading up Bonnie began to be suspicious of something. She had seen some signs indicating that there were some type of "falls" up where we were going. At one point she asked me "Where are you taking me?" I told her "On a picnic" (oh, Bonnie absolutely loves water falls!)

When we got to the falls we got out of the car and started to walk towards the river and the falls. Bonnie said "Mark, I hear running water!" To which I replied "I know there is a river near by!" We walked a little bit farther down the trail there were steps going down the side of the mountain with a deck build by the waterfall. As we turned the corner Bonnie gasped because of how big it was. Then I saw the spot that I wanted to propose and there was guy there proposing to HIS girlfriend!

I was so disappointed and angered. We walked down past them and them and I started to ramble something or another. I don't even know what I said but before I knew it it was pouring rain and I was down on one knee asking her to marry me. She was laughing cause I was so nervous but was surprised also. When she said yes I gave her the biggest hug and spun her around. It was so awesome. We had people take pictures and we had the time of our lives.

Anyways, here are some details for my readers (which prolly is just kendle, thanks!) we are getting married in the Snowflake, AZ temple on 12/19/08. Her sister is getting married the same day just later. We hope to go to LA for the honeymoon and then back to Snowflake to spend Christmas with her family. Different pictures to come shortly!

School Continues....

2008-09-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

So, I am now up here at Rexburg for another semester of School. Yay? Here are some interesting things that have happened so far while in the "ho"

I have a job as night lock up. I have been working the last few days receiving training. It is such a fun job. I start at six, do whatever I want till about 10:30pm, and then start locking up buildings. I get a uniform, a radio, and a sense that I am better than everyone else because of it. I am allowed to be a jerk and kick people out of buildings when it is time to close. I only work 2 days a week and it is awesome.

School started today and my bank account is at zero and then some. "Who needs stupid book? They are for petty crooks, and I will learn by studying the lessons in my dreams."

My roommates that I had last year ditched me at the last second. I came back to new roommates which isn't bad. They are perhaps better than the ones I had.

The drive up was a lot of fun. I didn't have to do it alone so that was a plus.

I have met a lot of new people so far and hope that it doesn't stop here.

I hate the first day of school. I really don't care where everyone is from or what their favorite color is. That is high school stuff.

I love most of my Political Science classes thus far. Intro to Law and International Foreign Policy are way cool right now. Political Inquiry however will kick my butt.

My phone is acting up. I need a new one bad. My mommy is taking care of that for me. She is so nice. I hope to get a good one.

My leg muscles are getting huge from walking up hill both ways to class. I'm sore almost every day.

Update. I know it's been a while.

2008-08-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

So here are some updates:

I've been back in the LA working at the Pharmacy in between semesters

I got a raise from $14 to $15.97! (Why couldn't they just give me 3 cents more?)

Some idiot left his parking break off and it rolled into my car while I was at work. Luckily he had insurance and it's being taken care of. Pictures to come soon.

I get to drive up to School with one of my friends instead of driving solo!

School expenses suck. Student loans is a must. It's times like these I miss EA and affordable tuition.

I hate living in a liberal town.

Watching the Olympics was so much fun.

Watching the DNC drove me nuts.

Russia is being really stupid and has no one to blame but themselves for whatever might happen to them in the future.

Some of my new/old favorite shows discovered this summer: 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Freaks and Geeks, Cops, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show.

Some things to look forward to; my Brother Tyler coming home, A new semester, Meeting new people, and hanging out with old friends...

4th of July in Payette...

2008-07-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

So, I took a trip to go see my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Gary in Payette. The small town of Payette is located on the Oregon, Idaho border. Although it is in the Idaho Boise Mission I never made it out that far west.

I took me appoximently 5 hours to get to Payette from Rexburg. I did stop in the B-Town (Boise) to have Linner with Bills at Pier 49 for some good ole times.

When I got into Payette, we ate dinner and then went to go see Kung Fu Panda, but we had to go to Ontario, OR to see it. Payette doesn't have a movie theatre of their own.

I absolutely loved that movie! It had such a good message and it had Jack Black in it, how could you go wrong?

4th of July was a little bit different. There was a 4th of July breakfast at my Aunt's church. They had a flag raising ceremony, with a pancakes, sausage, eggs and OJ. It was delicious.

Breakfast is a special treat for me, only because I am too lazy to wake up and make it myself. So whenever possible I take advantage of opportunities like this.

My uncle is a huge http://www.craigslist.org/ fan. He pretty much has furnished his whole house from this website and the 4th of July is no different. He found an organ on Craig's list for free. It was in Nampa which is about 1/2 hour east of Payette. So after the breakfast me, my uncle and my cousin Matt went to go get this organ.

We first picked up my Uncle Gary's brother who lived nearby where the three organ was. I was laughing really hardcore when I saw this sign posted in the entrance of the subdivision.

Slow children at play! How funny is that! Maybe it's just my sense of humor, but that is just way too funny. Maybe if they separated the SLOW and the CHILDREN AT PLAY into two signs they wouldn't get the response that I got. Anyways moving on. (look at the kid in the picture! Who wears a beanie with shorts? Is it summer? Is it winter?)

It was weird to me that the free organ was in my last area of the mission. It was even stranger that the couple that gave my Uncle the free organ recognized me. After three years I was really surprised they did. The organ was in good shape and was real easy to move.

We went to go see the fireworks in Ontario, OR close to where we saw Kung Fu Panda. We got there just a few minutes before they started. The park was nice where we saw them at was nice. However, I would have felt more comfortable carrying my gun in the neighborhood that we were in, but I don't judge. After the fireworks, loads of traffic and a few minutes back into Idaho we lit off our own fireworks and then called it a night...

July 5th...

Plans that were mad before I got to payette were to go to a lake and get out on my Uncle's boat. But plans change. As I was talking to my Uncle about my recent Salt River float he thought it would be fun to float the Boise River.

Because one of my cousins got sick, only a my Uncle and cousins Matt and Ally went. It was so much fun. It moved a lot quicker and had more rapids than the Salt River. There was no alcohol and less people on the Boise.

July 6th...

I went to church with my Cousins and it was neat to be with them for that. We got there a little early and my cousin's had some fun with my phone. I had a fun time in Payette, the drive home wasn't that fun. I was sad that it had to end.

I love google earth.

2008-06-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since I have messed around with Google earth, maybe about a year or so. One of their newer features is the street view pictures which makes it look like you are actually driving down a road, a real life free virtual reality tour on your computer. So I got a little creative and looked at all the houses I have lived in since I was little. So take a time warp of me back in the day.

Many of you don't know that I was actually born in Pocatello, ID but don't remember any of that. Our family shortly moved to this little house in Dublin, CA on Newport Ct. I remember little bits of information, family events, birthdays and other memories of that nature. My parents were renting that one until they bought their first one in Oakley, CA on Chardonnay Dr when I was almost 6 years old.

This house on the left is where I remember most of what happened in my life. I spent endless summers walking to the store with my friend David, playing baseball in the front yard and getting into loads of trouble.

The only trouble about these images is that they are current. It's too bad they don't have a time machine. The big differences here, the white fence and the rose bushes were not there.

I spent K-8Th grade at this house. We moved into the next house just as my freshman year began.

I absolutely loved this one on Rutherford Lane. It was across the train tracks from our old one but in the same town. I couldn't hang out with David anymore cause it was across the tracks. My room had the best view. It was the one on the second floor to the left. (to the left, to the left). We didn't live in this one as long as the one on Chardonnay Dr, but this house is where I took up fishing, got my drivers license and got into more trouble. I went fishing nearly every day. The next picture is what was across the street from out house on Rutherford.

I spent endless hours fishing out there on the delta. Sometimes I would catch fish, other times dead bodies would float by and when it was low tide it stunk so bad. Good times. The summer before my senior year my parents decided to move to Los Alamos, NM. They don't have the street feature yet in the LA but I do have some current pictures of the NM house...

From sunny California to cold, snowy and freezing New Mexico. I spent my senior year here, a mission to Boise, 2.5 Years at Eastern Arizona College and now I'm in Rexburg. That's my life story. Thank you Google earth.

I Have My Minor!

2008-06-14T16:01:00.001-07:00

When I transferred here to BYUi I was hoping that most of my credits would have transferred here as well. Most of them did, however all of my Criminal Justice didn't. As I was looking through the BYUi catalog I noticed that there were a lot of Sociology classes that resembled classes that I had taken at EAC.
I went to the head of the Sociology department and as we went over class by class he said that I had my minor! I was so excited! He found some other classes that I had taken at EAC that can be substituted for other classes here. So all together I now have 21 more credits that actually count towards something. Now I can focus on my Major and the next two years here.

Road Trip '08 + Life at BYUi

2008-06-11T15:09:00.001-07:00

Monday morning I went to an old Missionary eating place called "Chefs Hut". My missionary friend Dalla Bills treated me. It was awesome. I filled up my car with gas, next stop Rexburg. I'm not going to lie. It was a boring trip. But when I got to Pocatello a weird feeling came over me. I had never been back to Pocatello since I was born. It was weird to think that I was even born there, cause I don't remember it.

I got to Rexburg finally, and immediately said to myself "self what the heck did you sign up for?" The only comfort that came to me was the fact that I could see the house of the Lord at the top of the hill. A familiar sight in an unfamiliar place. I found my new place soon and was assigned an apartment. I walked in and started to get to know my roommates as they trickled in. I unpacked my stuff and tried to get my stuff situated....

I immediately liked my roommates for two reasons. Number one they didn't smoke pot or anything like unto it. Number 2 they didn't sell pot or anything like unto it. As many of you know already I have had bad luck the past couple of three semesters with roommates and those types of situations. Not that the roommates that I had were bad people. Some of them are still my best friends but the decisions that they made weren't the best in the world.

School started and my classes really aren't that bad. I am taking Foundations of Sociology (for my minor in sociology) and Preparing for Eternal Marriage (the only religion class they offered for this block). My Teachers are way cool and things are going well...

'08 Road Trip Part 3`

2008-06-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

After touring Mt. Home for a little bit I continued on toward Boise. I found my friends apartment real easy. It has been about three years since I have been off the mission and I still have the ability to get around like I was just here.

After catching up with my friend we decided to head to Red Robbin where a missionary that came out with me works. His name is Brian Bills, or Dolla Bills as he is referred to at work. He hooked us up with drinks but had to pay for the burgers. Not a bad deal. I had like 3 strawberry lemonades. They don't come cheap.

My friend and I toured my old area in Eagle looking at the expensive houses. We then Die Hard 3 and watched that then called it a night.

June 1st
Slept in for a while and went to one of my old wards in Eagle. The 7Th ward. It started at one. I was thrilled to see the building. The smell of the recently polished hard wood basketball court brought back so many memories. As people began to come in I recognized a few and some recognized me. It was a neat experience.

The most rewarding experience was when an inactive family I was working with came and sat next to me. I was deeply moved to see them there. Even though I didn't have much success in the area it was neat to see that my labors in that area didn't go to waste.

That was the highlight of my week. Tomorrow: Another day of driving.

'08 Road Trip Part 2

2008-06-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

One of my biggest fears is not waking up on time. Because of this I am always waking up in the middle of the night and checking my cell phone to see what time it is. So during Friday night / Saturday morning I checked my phone a plethora of times during the night. At one time I woke up in a panic at 7:30am and freaked out cause I thought that we had to get up at 7am for some reason... After a moment of sheer terror I finally realized that we hadn't over slept and we had at least 30 minutes left to sleep...

After waking up 30 minutes later (I swear it only seemed like 2 minutes) I took a shower, got ready, at some breakfast, said goodbye to David and then left. I got onto I-15 and headed north towards Ogden.

I have been really cautious since a couple of weeks ago when I got pulled over for speeding. I have been really reluctant to even go the normal 5MPH over ... So when I was heading up to Boise I was really surprised by the way people were speeding on the highway... The normal speed for a Utahan was AT LEAST 10 over! People were passing me like I was an old Grandma...

It was a neat feeling when I got to Twin Falls. Being back in the mission and even driving on the highway brought back a flood of memories. It was so Awesome. As I got to Mt. Home I decided to take a few minutes and explore my first area that I served in. I was only there for 6 weeks but It was fun to drive around.

I found my first apartment basement I stayed at. The member had moved out but the house was still there... It was called Dougal's Dungeon.
It was in the beginning of 2004 when I stayed there. My companion was Elder Parry.

As I drove around the area I also stopped by the church I used to attend there. It was awesome....

Part 3 to come...

Road Trip '08!

2008-05-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

I started out on the 30th of May at 7am! Insane I know cause usually I don't get up and ready before ten. It was a long and exhausting drive.

Espanola, Chama, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Cortez, Dove Creek, Monticello, Moab, Price, Spanish Fark, and finally... Orem/Provo.

I got to my friend Devin's house first, caught up on some good times, then met Alison for some 110% mexican dinner. It wasn't that great. I guess I like American Mexican food better. The company was way better than the food. Alison brought her roommate Kelsy along. She was real awesome, not a normal BYU student cause she is friends with Alison, who is bringing coolness back to the Provo town..

Went and got some ice cream with Devin and his wife and waited for David to get off work so I could kick it old school with him, plus I was staying at his Grandmas house. I get a call from David saying that he doesn't know when he will be getting off work. A kid that lives at this group home he works for had run away and they were looking for him.

As midnight rolls around I leave Devin's house because we are both dead tired. Me from ten hours of driving and him from changing oil on cars the whole day?

I drive over to David's Grandma's place and find a way in. As I was bringing my stuff in David calls me and he is on the same street looking for the Kid. I join him and his co-worker and we look some more... By the time they call it quits it is 3am. I have to wake up at 8am to leave for Boise at 9am... No bueno...

I'm Homleess .... Again.

2008-05-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

So, as many of you know I am going to be attending BYU-I and have been accepted to what I hear are the greatest tracks, summer and fall. I leave this Friday the 30th for Utah where I will be stopping for the night; then going up to Boise for a couple of days to visit the mission; and finally heading to Rexburg on the 2nd.

When I first found out that I was going to be going for the summer I was overwhelmed with finding a place to live. I know a lot of people up at the "ho" but none of them are guys, so I don't know of anyone I could live with up there. So I started to look for a room to rent for the summer.

My mom told me of this family who had just moved into our ward. Lets call them the Jones family. Mr./Brother Jones works at BYU-I as a professor there and is here in Los Alamos for a little bit working at the National Lab. The Jones' have a son who is also attending BYU-I.

My mother found out that the Jones' son paid for a room, but at the last minute decided to take an internship back east, leaving his room vacant but paid for. My mom said that he would be willing to let me stay there while he was back east for the summer. So I decided to call him and find out what was going on.

When I talked to him he said that he would rent it for three hundred. I told him that I would send his mother the money when I was down here; and that was that. We had a deal!

When I couldn't get a hold of his mom to give her the money I e-mail him and asked him where to send him his money. He wrote back today and said that he had gotten sent home from the internship about a month ago and if he found a job in Idaho he was going to use the room.

Nice of him to let me know that I didn't have a room. I will be in Rexburg in a week and I don't have anywhere to live. I am a bum. Maybe I should just move to a big city and play a guitar on the streets.

I am sure that I will find a place. I just get really mad when people don't have the common courtesy to just write me an e-mail to tell me things have changed. It's not that big of a deal. I think that I am more upset that this kid didn't tell me sooner that he was screwing me over than having to find a place on short notice.... Maybe I just ask to much of people? I don't know....

Pulled over by the 5-0

2008-05-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

So... I was pulled over this evening by the 5-0. Not good. I was traveling north bound in the left hand lane, going a little bit fast, only because I needed to be in the right hand lane so I could make a right turn further down the street. The cop was traveling south bound, flipped a "U"ey and proceeded to track me down. There was no real safe place to pull over so I found an empty parking lot.

The officer chided me for not pulling over right away. I guess he didn't care that I cared for his safety. He said he clocked me going 50 in a 35. I will admit that I was going a little but fast, but I don't think that it is fair to round off to the nearest tenth.

I got a 120 dollar ticket that I can't fight cause I will be at school. Bummer.... I can't believe that I want to be a cop. I hope I am not a jerk like this one was.

Back in Los Alamos

2008-05-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

So... I guess I have been inspired by some other people that I didn't know had blogs! So I thought that I might give this a try....

I am back in Los Alamos... for a few weeks anyway. I am working back at the Pharmacy... Good times I suppose. I like the people that work there and as anyone knows that makes a huge difference in any job that you work at....

I was sad but excited to leave Thatcher, AZ where I have spent much of my last two years of my life going to school and working at Wal-Mart Pharmacy. I was excited that I wasn't going to be there a full three years like some people... I was excited that I would be moving on to bigger and better things. But at the same time I was sad that I would be moving out from a house and a community of wonderful friends.

I am super excited for my life to being up at BYU-I, or as some of my "peeps" call it "the ho" I already know a bunch of people up there and it will be good to see everyone again. .