STOLEN!

My camera was recently misplaced (aka: left behind in an automobile and swiftly carted off to Pleasant Grove). I couldn't be happier to have it back in my position so that we can continue our Kodak moment exploiting together. I also couldn't be happier that my friends, who we shall call A and J, toted around my ever so sleek Cannon Elph and documented their weekend. Here are the pictures I got back from my camera's visit to PG. I just want to personally thank A and J for allowing me to attend the Pleasant Grove High School football game vicariously through their documentation. Would never have wanted to miss it!

STAB

I'm becoming an expert at procrastination. This blog, in fact, is a perfect example of how instead of doing the gazillion things I need to to secure myself a future I choose to forgo studying and replace it with extraneous* activities. (*For the record, extraneous is a Top 100 GRE word... that basically means this blog is like studying. 2 birds. 1 stone.)

During one such procrastination moment today (20 minutes of delay to be exact) I watched an old DVD that I made almost 4 years ago at Utah State. The DVD was a compilation of the adventures of the 2004-2005 Student Activities Board, violently reverenced back in the day as STAB. I laughed, I cried, I loved it.

To those of you who particpated in that crazy-town year of programming: this is a shout out from momma. I was going to email everyone and say "Thx 4 the memories" but I have only a few emails. And Fall Out Boy would sue.

I guess you could say it's getting pretty serious...

All Growed Up

I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. There are certain moments when it feels like the world around us slows down and allows us to take everything in and appreciate the moment. These occasions are few and far between but they become tangible in our memories as a sweet reminder of all the good this life has to offer. I had one of these moments last night. I quietly looked around a beautiful reception hall and was taken aback by change, friendship, gratitude, and happiness. Last night was somewhat of a high school reunion, only a much better version because it only featured the people I actually want to see. I spent three great years with these wonderful people in the maroon and grey halls of Jordan High School. Shared lockers, secret santa gift exchanges, choir robes, bus rides, AP tests, peddling candy bars, football games, lunch times. These memories feel stiff and dusty but they are respected because they have become the foundation of what seems to have become a collective friendship. Years after recieving our diplomas we are very different people in very different places. Looking around the room last night I saw educated men and women who now bounce babies on their laps, drape an arm around their spouse, circle the room in a newlywed embrace, and talk confidently about their plans for the future. We once were students together but I can see now that the roles have changed- we are teachers, therapists, graduates, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, case workers, engineers. Time has pulled at the physical boundaries of our collective whole as we leave to study or explore job opportunities. Marriage, children, and master's degrees have pulled at the intensity of our relationships, forcing us to branch out. I used to be saddened by this, interpreting these changes as a loss of friendships. After last night I stand corrected. As I looked around the room I realized that regardless of proximity and other responsibilities we have found there is still a foundation that binds us together. We are not friendships lost, but rather friendships that have grown, adapted, flexed in order that we can include others and carry on. We came together last night for Emily, but I think we also came together for eachother. To each of my friends who were there last night: thank you for sacrificing your time, family obligations, studies, frequent flyer miles and even fragile hearts to be there. Although we carry on daily as individuals anytime we are together I feel the bonds come back. We are friends.

San Rafael? Swell! And other adventures of the weekend

My oh my, what a weekend! Friday night I drove to Southeastern Utah with my Padre to participate in my first 10K. Anytime the race is called "Little Mammoth Marathons" you know you're in for a good time... The race itself was beautiful and all things considered I think I did great! (Translation: I didn't die! In fact, I improved my race time by 1:50 min/mile) It was really fun to run with my dad and he definitely kept me going... even after almost killing me by amping up the last mile to a doubled pace... sheesh! Other weekend highlights included the hike to Rochester panel featuring some amazing petroglyphs and the ever so fantastic Little Wild Horse Canyon hike. The last hike mentioned absolutely BLEW MY MIND! It was so beautiful and such a fun hike, I give it 10/10 and recommend to all. As my father has been travelling the seven seas lately it was also nice to just to hang out with him a bit. Been about a year since I've spent more than a few hours with him. Good to have you back, Pa, however tempory.

All in all a great weekend of camping, guitar, good tunes on the iPod, great food on the camp stove, beautiful scenery, enjoyable company and another checkmark on the ole "to do" list. 10K? Been there; done that.

Public Apology

Dear Guitar,

I'm sorry that I momentarily lost my mind and thought that I could pawn you for a little extra cash. People do crazy things in their time of need and I almost just gave you up. Please accept this apology. I'm glad that we can spend more time together and I forgive you for ripping my pinky finger to shreds every time we play. I promise to pay more attention to you if you promise to stay more in tune.

Looking forward to rocking the country,

Okie

Memory Lane

When I was 2 1/2 years old my brother joined the family (AKA was born). His addition turned our little clan into a full-blown, bonafide, "we have more than one child" family tree. When my parents brought him home from the hospital I thought he was pretty stellar for about .2 seconds, but as soon as I was done with him I told my mom and dad that they could take him back. Apparently kids aren't eligible for the "return to sender" policy, so to my infantile dismay he stuck around.

After this initial antipathy towards the new sib, my brother and I became fast friends. I have vivid memories of the two of us digging in the dirt in the garden (much to the chagrin of my father) and climbing on the roof to jump off of it (which my mom of course just loved). Our antics were endless; it wasn't until we were much older that we realized our names weren't "you little shits!" (thanks mom....).

Because we were so close it seems that whatever would befall one of us would inevitably take us both out. For this reason my memories include countless days of the two of us wrapped in blankets in the basement den watching Disney movies while trying to rid ourselves of the flu, or sipping 7-up to ease the strep throat that hit my family yearly like the plague. Then there was chicken pox, the coming of age disease that every kid secretly wanted just so you could say "yeah, I've already had the 'pox". We both ended up with the little spots of itchy-horror at the same time and one of my strongest memories of childhood is of my brother, sister, and I sitting in the den watching The Little Mermaid with pink Calamine lotion caked in polka dots on our skin and mismatched socks on our hands so wouldn't scratch ourselves to death. These are some of my favorite memories because they were literally hours on end that we got to play and just be brother and sister. This is perhaps one of the great blessings of being young without real responsibility: you can be with other people and just enjoy your time.

This week has afforded my brother and I another opportunity to recreate these moments. Although I'm sad Nate had to go through all the yucky stuff that is "open flank" surgery (ew), it's been great to be able to spend time with him. After class I stop in at his apartment, throw my bag on the ground and we immediately revert to just a brother and sister hanging out, watching movies on the couch and eating microwave Lean Pockets. In one month he will be married, and in 6 months I'll (hopefully) be living out of state. For right now though, we're still just a couple of little shits who enjoy each other's company.

Take the Plunge

Friday was my last day at what I will from here on out refer to as my "grown up" job. According to tradition, my final staff meeting was replaced by the 5 D's: dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge. Being the recruiter for the Mayan had it's perks and even in the end it 'done me good'... here are the pictures from the Mayan Adventure. (Click on the pictures to enlarge- they aren't as dark when they're bigger).

Scene 1: The Mayan Cliff. 21+ feet of cliff diving into the pool. Oh geez.



Step 2: The edge. Where I waited... and waited... and swore... and waited... This picture is completely false advertising. My thumbs were shaking... terror. TERROR I tell you!!


Step 3: The Pool. The water was great! I had only minor "shark attack" panic attacks in the water... perhaps that explains this curious look on my face?



Step 4: Frolic like children of the night! After the first plunge, we played on the rocks for about 30 minutes. Diving, climbing, swimming. All in a day's work! Thanks to Danielle, Jared, and Blake for playing with me at the Mayan and to the rest of HR and the Mayan management team for making it/ letting it happen! Great way to end my time there!! Too bad I didn't borrow the Mayan loin cloth-uniforms. Hmm....
*** NOTE ***

I know I don't work for the company anymore, but the HR in me tells me to post this. Jumping at the Mayan Restaurant is for divers ONLY. Please don't try this at home... or there for that matter. And if you do? Don't mention this blog...