We had glittery balloons and sugar cookies and cuddle applications and valentines. And lots of friends, and Amy is the best to throw parties with. <3 p="">
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
YOSEMITE THE GREAT.
 |
| "We got our sweatshirts. We got our sweatshirts on. Everybody's talking 'bout our sweatshirts. We got our sweatshirts on." I wish I had the music video we made for that lovely song. |
 |
| THESE YOSEMITE SOCKS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE PART. |
And there was a lot of reflection in this park. I thought about how impromptu vacations are one of the things that really make life great. And why not? Life can just be one big vacation, because there are too many great things to do.
Laura and Liz, I should mention, were wonderful travel companions and the three of us daydream and text each other about this short heavenly trip on the daily. One day I'll go back and hike up to Tulomne Meadows lay in the grass and wildflowers and then I'll hike halfdome and feel like I'm standing on the top of the world!
Yosemite. Is the place. :)
Monday, April 27, 2015
#adventure2015
This year started out very interesting. I was dating a boy who was alternately very sweet and very aggravating. We dated for about 5 months and I almost broke up with him probably 30 times. Next time I'm dating someone and I want to break up with them every other day, I think I'll realize earlier on that I probably actually should just break up with him. So, my bad.
When the relationship did actually end in mid-January, I was very relieved.
But I was suddenly also very intolerant of everything around me. I felt impatient. I didn't want to go to work, talk to anyone I know, or be in Salt Lake at all. The only thing I really wanted to do (and you'll notice this from my previous post) was listen to Taylor Swift's 1989 and drive around in my car.
So.
I decided that in 2015, when adventure calls, I say yes.
The first adventure, then, was to Yosemite National Park. And, well, that place deserves its own thousand posts.
But, as this post is my long overdue 2015 preface post, I will save the luscious details of Yosemite for another day.
Conclusions drawn from my adventurous musings in the more-wonderful-than-words Yosemite National Park:
1. being single is AWESOME.
There really are no rules. All the things in life don't even have to be planned out! Why have I not lived my whole life in spontaneity??
3. HEY PEOPLE OF WORLD! You have the right to live your life like you are on vacation ALL the time!
I feel like I suddenly have a thousand things to add to my bucket list and IT'S ALL POSSIBLE.
4. There is just so much time in a person's life. People do so many things in a lifetime. I've always been so stressed about growing up and losing time. I've felt the days pass and mourned over not ever getting them back. But, as I plan to live to be 100, I have plenty of time to do all the wonderful things there is to do. There is plenty of money to save and plenty of houses to buy and plenty of boys to date (and 1 to marry), and plenty of children to have, and plenty of vacations to blow my money on, and just plenty of time to do it all.
5. Vienna waits for you.
That is how I feel about life right now. I'm 27 years old, and I just now figured this out. Life is a vacation.
When the relationship did actually end in mid-January, I was very relieved.
But I was suddenly also very intolerant of everything around me. I felt impatient. I didn't want to go to work, talk to anyone I know, or be in Salt Lake at all. The only thing I really wanted to do (and you'll notice this from my previous post) was listen to Taylor Swift's 1989 and drive around in my car.
So.
I decided that in 2015, when adventure calls, I say yes.
The first adventure, then, was to Yosemite National Park. And, well, that place deserves its own thousand posts.
But, as this post is my long overdue 2015 preface post, I will save the luscious details of Yosemite for another day.
Conclusions drawn from my adventurous musings in the more-wonderful-than-words Yosemite National Park:
1. being single is AWESOME.
- I basically can do whatever I want.
- I can stay up late if I want, and no one cares, and I don't have to feel guilty. I don't even have to tell my dad.
- I can spend my money on whatever I want.
- I can go out of town every weekend for a year and no one will even get mad at all!
- I can get as many National Park stamps in my passport as I can possibly dream up.
There really are no rules. All the things in life don't even have to be planned out! Why have I not lived my whole life in spontaneity??
3. HEY PEOPLE OF WORLD! You have the right to live your life like you are on vacation ALL the time!
I feel like I suddenly have a thousand things to add to my bucket list and IT'S ALL POSSIBLE.
4. There is just so much time in a person's life. People do so many things in a lifetime. I've always been so stressed about growing up and losing time. I've felt the days pass and mourned over not ever getting them back. But, as I plan to live to be 100, I have plenty of time to do all the wonderful things there is to do. There is plenty of money to save and plenty of houses to buy and plenty of boys to date (and 1 to marry), and plenty of children to have, and plenty of vacations to blow my money on, and just plenty of time to do it all.
5. Vienna waits for you.
That is how I feel about life right now. I'm 27 years old, and I just now figured this out. Life is a vacation.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
The other thing
#repentance.
I have something to say.
The new Taylor Swift album is great.
I was REALLY skeptical about the "pop" thing. And after I first heard "Shake It Off" and the rest of the album I was convinced that Taylor had lost her sparkle and was no longer special. I thought her music had lost it's relatable factor and was just a pile of mush.
You see, when Red came out, I was convinced that Taylor Swift was inspired and somehow knew how my life was going to go, wrote songs about it, and then released them only at the opportune moment for my life story. And then 1989 just made no sense to me.
Well. I think she is just becoming more clairvoyant. Events in my life this week have proven that Taylor Swift knows exactly what she is talking about, and she continues to write songs about my life and my feelings.
So, bravo pop Taylor. Thank you for helping me trace out the life plan of my emotions.
The only dreadful part is that it appears I will be in relationship turmoil until the next installment.
I have something to say.
The new Taylor Swift album is great.
I was REALLY skeptical about the "pop" thing. And after I first heard "Shake It Off" and the rest of the album I was convinced that Taylor had lost her sparkle and was no longer special. I thought her music had lost it's relatable factor and was just a pile of mush.
You see, when Red came out, I was convinced that Taylor Swift was inspired and somehow knew how my life was going to go, wrote songs about it, and then released them only at the opportune moment for my life story. And then 1989 just made no sense to me.
Well. I think she is just becoming more clairvoyant. Events in my life this week have proven that Taylor Swift knows exactly what she is talking about, and she continues to write songs about my life and my feelings.
So, bravo pop Taylor. Thank you for helping me trace out the life plan of my emotions.
The only dreadful part is that it appears I will be in relationship turmoil until the next installment.
I, Audrey Spainhower, have become an uninteresting person.
And it has got to stop.
When I was 17 I learned from John Bytheway that interesting people were interested. Like interested in things.
So I was just thinking, when was the last time I was GENUINELY interested in something? Like, really excited?
It's been a long time. Like, since the advent of Ed Sheeran, probably.
So, in thinking about all the things that would be beneficial to be interested in, 2 solid things come to mind:
1. Cooking. I feel guilty on the DAILY that I am not a good enough cook. And so then I try to find the motivation to cook better and more often, but then I realize, again, that I don't really care that much. Like, people sometimes have a hard time understanding how or why I have the patience for scrapbooking. And I'm like, how do you have the patience to prepare a nice meal and then sit there and wait for it to cook when you are so hungry (because it is meal time and that roast is taking FOREVER)???
2. Working out. I mean, how COOL would it be if I was like, obsessed with working out? So cool. I am convinced that I have never actually learned how to work out right, or else I would probably see more results and like it more. I mean, I feel like I used to like going to the gym more, but now I just really have a hard time finding the time. So. Imagine you want to go in the morning, but you have to be to work by 8. Who in the world would ever want to wake up at 5am and go out into the freezing cold to get to the gym and work out? I don't know about everyone else, but I'm usually pretty tired and 5am. So that's out. Okay, so say you want to go to the gym after work. You come home, you are tired, and STARVING for dinner. You eat dinner (and it's a healthy dinner... just not one that took long to prepare). Say dinner is over at 6:30. You have plans at 8. So you think, I could go to the gym for 45 minutes, and then have 45 minutes to shower and get ready. First of all, 45 minutes is literally not enough time at the gym, nor is it enough time to shower and get ready and BE somewhere besides your own house. You literally don't have time. Besides that, do you really want to wash your face an extra time? Do you want to have to do your hair and makeup for a second time that day? I mean, it's just exhausting, and drying out your skin is a real possibility.
So I've been reading this book about self-betrayal and the lies we tell ourselves to keep us from doing the actual right things. Like, say you need to visit your aunt at the hospital. You don't actually want to go there. In thinking about the visit, you somehow convince yourself of how awful it will be, because your aunt is awkward and you will have nothing to talk about. The next minute you start thinking about how your aunt is probably thinking the same thing and there is a high chance she actually doesn't want you to come. And now, you find yourself still sitting on a couch, and your aunt gets no visitors.
The descriptions above about cooking and exercising? Self-betrayal.
I could do all of those things if I really wanted to -- if I really decided they were important. And sometimes a person has to find motivation in the right things, not in the things that are most fascinating to them. I guarantee that both of those things would become more interesting to me if I applied myself. AND, then I could become a person who both cooks delicious food and is more fit and potentially a lot thinner.
(Although... I have doubts about any desire to be thinner. I would really prefer not to replace my wardrobe.)
Anyway, all I'm saying is that something has got to change. Most recently I feel like I've run out of time to be interested in things. Like, there are just TOO MANY things to do all the time. Life was so much simpler in the days of undergrad when the only thing there was to worry about is school assignments and if the gas in your car will last you another week until you get a paycheck.
And that is that, the end. No longer will my time disappear into a little black hole.
When I was 17 I learned from John Bytheway that interesting people were interested. Like interested in things.
So I was just thinking, when was the last time I was GENUINELY interested in something? Like, really excited?
It's been a long time. Like, since the advent of Ed Sheeran, probably.
So, in thinking about all the things that would be beneficial to be interested in, 2 solid things come to mind:
1. Cooking. I feel guilty on the DAILY that I am not a good enough cook. And so then I try to find the motivation to cook better and more often, but then I realize, again, that I don't really care that much. Like, people sometimes have a hard time understanding how or why I have the patience for scrapbooking. And I'm like, how do you have the patience to prepare a nice meal and then sit there and wait for it to cook when you are so hungry (because it is meal time and that roast is taking FOREVER)???
2. Working out. I mean, how COOL would it be if I was like, obsessed with working out? So cool. I am convinced that I have never actually learned how to work out right, or else I would probably see more results and like it more. I mean, I feel like I used to like going to the gym more, but now I just really have a hard time finding the time. So. Imagine you want to go in the morning, but you have to be to work by 8. Who in the world would ever want to wake up at 5am and go out into the freezing cold to get to the gym and work out? I don't know about everyone else, but I'm usually pretty tired and 5am. So that's out. Okay, so say you want to go to the gym after work. You come home, you are tired, and STARVING for dinner. You eat dinner (and it's a healthy dinner... just not one that took long to prepare). Say dinner is over at 6:30. You have plans at 8. So you think, I could go to the gym for 45 minutes, and then have 45 minutes to shower and get ready. First of all, 45 minutes is literally not enough time at the gym, nor is it enough time to shower and get ready and BE somewhere besides your own house. You literally don't have time. Besides that, do you really want to wash your face an extra time? Do you want to have to do your hair and makeup for a second time that day? I mean, it's just exhausting, and drying out your skin is a real possibility.
So I've been reading this book about self-betrayal and the lies we tell ourselves to keep us from doing the actual right things. Like, say you need to visit your aunt at the hospital. You don't actually want to go there. In thinking about the visit, you somehow convince yourself of how awful it will be, because your aunt is awkward and you will have nothing to talk about. The next minute you start thinking about how your aunt is probably thinking the same thing and there is a high chance she actually doesn't want you to come. And now, you find yourself still sitting on a couch, and your aunt gets no visitors.
The descriptions above about cooking and exercising? Self-betrayal.
I could do all of those things if I really wanted to -- if I really decided they were important. And sometimes a person has to find motivation in the right things, not in the things that are most fascinating to them. I guarantee that both of those things would become more interesting to me if I applied myself. AND, then I could become a person who both cooks delicious food and is more fit and potentially a lot thinner.
(Although... I have doubts about any desire to be thinner. I would really prefer not to replace my wardrobe.)
Anyway, all I'm saying is that something has got to change. Most recently I feel like I've run out of time to be interested in things. Like, there are just TOO MANY things to do all the time. Life was so much simpler in the days of undergrad when the only thing there was to worry about is school assignments and if the gas in your car will last you another week until you get a paycheck.
And that is that, the end. No longer will my time disappear into a little black hole.
So, summer recap part 2 didn't happen.
What is my life?
Only full of all the things except blogging, I guess.
July and August were cool--- In August I went to St. George twice-- once for the Mojo's birthday, and once for the ED SHEERAN CONCERT.
That is most of the epicness that must be described.
The concert was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and included an 8-hour wait in line (aka concert prison, aka we had no food, aka security escorts to the bathroom) and a long-ish concert complete with small children and camera-head-balancers in the crowd. It was, um, not actually as enjoyable as desired. Ed was just not into it that night, which was a crying shame, especially because the whole thing was kind of miserable. Last time I saw Ed it was pretty much the best concert of my life. I mean, he's a solid performer-- the show just lacked a little passion.
Anyway.
Since then I've seen Relient K and Bastille in concert. Both were very amazing. I don't know Relient K well, but my sisters and I went to support and party with Elise, and she was SO FUN to watch, just boppin around and sweating and having a great time.
Bastille was incredible. There are, like, moments frozen in time from that concert. Ah. I will see them again. I will.
And now, guess who's nominated for best new artist for the 2015 grammys??? Sam Smith AND Bastille. How does one pick a winner between two loved ones? I'm thinking Sam because I see him having more long term staying power.
This fall has been a whirlwind of drama and boy and family and fun and lotsa lotsa goings on, many of which is documented via instagram.
I'm enjoying my job more, so that's good. I scrapbook never, so that's bad.
And apparently I can only blog in random thoughts anymore. I feel like all the things I would want to tell about are too private for a blog post, which is sad.
And is it okay if that is the end of the 2014 recap and I can move on with my life??
Only full of all the things except blogging, I guess.
July and August were cool--- In August I went to St. George twice-- once for the Mojo's birthday, and once for the ED SHEERAN CONCERT.
That is most of the epicness that must be described.
The concert was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and included an 8-hour wait in line (aka concert prison, aka we had no food, aka security escorts to the bathroom) and a long-ish concert complete with small children and camera-head-balancers in the crowd. It was, um, not actually as enjoyable as desired. Ed was just not into it that night, which was a crying shame, especially because the whole thing was kind of miserable. Last time I saw Ed it was pretty much the best concert of my life. I mean, he's a solid performer-- the show just lacked a little passion.
Anyway.
Since then I've seen Relient K and Bastille in concert. Both were very amazing. I don't know Relient K well, but my sisters and I went to support and party with Elise, and she was SO FUN to watch, just boppin around and sweating and having a great time.
Bastille was incredible. There are, like, moments frozen in time from that concert. Ah. I will see them again. I will.
And now, guess who's nominated for best new artist for the 2015 grammys??? Sam Smith AND Bastille. How does one pick a winner between two loved ones? I'm thinking Sam because I see him having more long term staying power.
This fall has been a whirlwind of drama and boy and family and fun and lotsa lotsa goings on, many of which is documented via instagram.
I'm enjoying my job more, so that's good. I scrapbook never, so that's bad.
And apparently I can only blog in random thoughts anymore. I feel like all the things I would want to tell about are too private for a blog post, which is sad.
And is it okay if that is the end of the 2014 recap and I can move on with my life??
Friday, October 3, 2014
Summer recap part 1
I did this last year, and then I did it again.
Summer apparently just isn't the time for blogging. And that's mostly okay.
It's been a weird year. Real weird. But lots of good things.
This summary begins in May, just a little bit after I turned 26, which I have previous discussed as a major turning point.
1. I went to Mesa, Arizona to see my rockstar brother graduate from law school at ASU. We hung out by the pool, shopped a little, and hung out all together. The graduation was particularly exciting-- one Steve Young was the commencement speaker and he is cool. (PHOTOS TO COME)
2. I BOUGHT A CAR. This was pretty much an agonizing experience. I knew exactly what I wanted from day 1 (and clearly wouldn't accept anything else), but it still took me several weeks and many trips to the dealership to actually decide. I just started seeing the new Honda Civics driving around and knew I was in love. It was like an, "I want that one," situation. So basically, this is how my last visit to the dealership went down:
5:45- I arrive. I brought my two roommates (Lauren drove me there). We test drove the car one last time.
6:10- The salesman, Phil (my favorite car guy ever), paired my phone with the car and a song immediately started playing, BUT IT WASN'T SONG I HAD PICKED AS THE INAUGURAL SONG. Clearly this meant bad luck. Phil knew I was starting to panic.
6:20- we sat at the desk in the office while Phil ran my credit and I was panicking a lot. My roommates started to get a little pressurey-- and really, they were just trying to help.
6:25- I told the roommates to go home. They were making me mad.
6:27- roommates left me all alone. I was so glad.
6:28- I expressed doubt to Phil about the car I had chosen being the right one. I said, "do you have any more 2014 white civics that are better than mine?" (I was concerned that the car I had been driving had also been test driven by other people. there was a spot of mud inside the driver's side as proof. it had also been ruined by the song.)
6:28:10: Phil said he would check the other white one and come back and tell me which one was better.
6:30- After waiting with white knuckles, Phil confirmed that the other Civic that I had never driven was better because it only had 5 miles on it and had never been driven by anyone besides honda people from factory to dealership. No songs had ever been played in the car.
6:31- I accepted.
6:32- I went in to talk to the finance guy and sign the papers.
6:35- I had lots of questions. The finance man kept calling Phil because I was confused.
6:50- Phil finally came in to calm me down.
7:30- I am still sitting there, staring at the papers.
7:45- I made one initial.
7:50- I asked some more questions and started talking myself into it out loud.
8:00- I asked if I could see the car. Phil said, "of course."
8:02- I notice a miniscule mark in the honda logo on the back of my car. I panic. Phil said they would fix it.
8:10- sitting in the driver's seat, with the door open, and Phil crouching on the asphalt outside the door, talking me through it, I signed another spot on the paperwork.
8:20- keep in mind that I am still panicking a lot.
8:30- my phone is about to die. Phil offers to take it in to charge in his office.
8:45- after sitting alone in the car with no phone (the anxiety! and I wanted to call my mom!), I made another signature.
8:46- I made the last signature in a rush of not thinking.
8:55- Holding on to the papers (not ready to relinquish my signatures), I went in to get my phone.
8:56- I called my mom.
8:58- My mom told me I was being stupid.
9:00- I handed Phil the papers and almost puked.
9:05- He handed my the keys and explained all the booklets and stuff to me.
9:15- We got in the car, and Phil took my phone. He set up the song, making sure it was on pause, then paired my phone to the car.
9:25- I sat there for another while, catching my breath. Phil brought me a water. And some free movie tickets.
9:30- I drove away-- and headed straight to best buy to get a car charger. My phone was still on it's way out for the night, and I desperately needed to use the bluetooth in my NEW CAR!!! (PS I told the lady in Best Buy all about my new car and how Phil was probably the most patient individual in the world, and he was perfectly excited for me.)
(PHOTOS TO COME)
Let me emphasize that after my roommates left, I was in Ogden, by myself, with a nearly dead phone, and no other way to get home besides the dang car I was supposed to by. And it still took me three hours to sign the papers. I would also like to say that I never had a euphoric, I did it!!! moment. I was sick about it for days. and days. Phil texted the next day and I was like, "do you feel better??" I did not. I told him I still wanted to puke. I think he felt bad. But I do really, really, really, love my car. And today, there are rules:
1. no food in the car unless packaged and in the trunk.
2. no pets.
3. no sweaty bodies. I have towels for you in the trunk.
4. no wet clothes. Again, the towels.
5. no other weird smells of any sort.
6. no slamming the doors.
7. water in a spill-proof water bottle is allowed.
My mom says, "just wait until you have kids."
But you know what? My car still smells new.
3. I went to St. George for the Mojo's graduation from Dixie High School. My proud mama has had 4 of her children graduate from that wonderful place. And the little mojo was a little Diamond D! The weekend included a lot of auntie and cousin time-- Judy and Nicole and Koa kept us company for sleepovers and hikes and delicious eats. It was one of those weekends that I didn't want to end.
4. ROOMMATE REUNION NO REGRETS 2014 took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the end of May, beginning of June. And it was a wonderful dream with 8 of my very favorite people and 2 babies.
Charleston is a place of.....I don't know, can I think of a word? It's so beautiful and unique and charming and there was like this charisma oozing out of the buildings downtown. Adventures of Charleston included:
Summer apparently just isn't the time for blogging. And that's mostly okay.
It's been a weird year. Real weird. But lots of good things.
This summary begins in May, just a little bit after I turned 26, which I have previous discussed as a major turning point.
1. I went to Mesa, Arizona to see my rockstar brother graduate from law school at ASU. We hung out by the pool, shopped a little, and hung out all together. The graduation was particularly exciting-- one Steve Young was the commencement speaker and he is cool. (PHOTOS TO COME)
2. I BOUGHT A CAR. This was pretty much an agonizing experience. I knew exactly what I wanted from day 1 (and clearly wouldn't accept anything else), but it still took me several weeks and many trips to the dealership to actually decide. I just started seeing the new Honda Civics driving around and knew I was in love. It was like an, "I want that one," situation. So basically, this is how my last visit to the dealership went down:
5:45- I arrive. I brought my two roommates (Lauren drove me there). We test drove the car one last time.
6:10- The salesman, Phil (my favorite car guy ever), paired my phone with the car and a song immediately started playing, BUT IT WASN'T SONG I HAD PICKED AS THE INAUGURAL SONG. Clearly this meant bad luck. Phil knew I was starting to panic.
6:20- we sat at the desk in the office while Phil ran my credit and I was panicking a lot. My roommates started to get a little pressurey-- and really, they were just trying to help.
6:25- I told the roommates to go home. They were making me mad.
6:27- roommates left me all alone. I was so glad.
6:28- I expressed doubt to Phil about the car I had chosen being the right one. I said, "do you have any more 2014 white civics that are better than mine?" (I was concerned that the car I had been driving had also been test driven by other people. there was a spot of mud inside the driver's side as proof. it had also been ruined by the song.)
6:28:10: Phil said he would check the other white one and come back and tell me which one was better.
6:30- After waiting with white knuckles, Phil confirmed that the other Civic that I had never driven was better because it only had 5 miles on it and had never been driven by anyone besides honda people from factory to dealership. No songs had ever been played in the car.
6:31- I accepted.
6:32- I went in to talk to the finance guy and sign the papers.
6:35- I had lots of questions. The finance man kept calling Phil because I was confused.
6:50- Phil finally came in to calm me down.
7:30- I am still sitting there, staring at the papers.
7:45- I made one initial.
7:50- I asked some more questions and started talking myself into it out loud.
8:00- I asked if I could see the car. Phil said, "of course."
8:02- I notice a miniscule mark in the honda logo on the back of my car. I panic. Phil said they would fix it.
8:10- sitting in the driver's seat, with the door open, and Phil crouching on the asphalt outside the door, talking me through it, I signed another spot on the paperwork.
8:20- keep in mind that I am still panicking a lot.
8:30- my phone is about to die. Phil offers to take it in to charge in his office.
8:45- after sitting alone in the car with no phone (the anxiety! and I wanted to call my mom!), I made another signature.
8:46- I made the last signature in a rush of not thinking.
8:55- Holding on to the papers (not ready to relinquish my signatures), I went in to get my phone.
8:56- I called my mom.
8:58- My mom told me I was being stupid.
9:00- I handed Phil the papers and almost puked.
9:05- He handed my the keys and explained all the booklets and stuff to me.
9:15- We got in the car, and Phil took my phone. He set up the song, making sure it was on pause, then paired my phone to the car.
9:25- I sat there for another while, catching my breath. Phil brought me a water. And some free movie tickets.
9:30- I drove away-- and headed straight to best buy to get a car charger. My phone was still on it's way out for the night, and I desperately needed to use the bluetooth in my NEW CAR!!! (PS I told the lady in Best Buy all about my new car and how Phil was probably the most patient individual in the world, and he was perfectly excited for me.)
(PHOTOS TO COME)
Let me emphasize that after my roommates left, I was in Ogden, by myself, with a nearly dead phone, and no other way to get home besides the dang car I was supposed to by. And it still took me three hours to sign the papers. I would also like to say that I never had a euphoric, I did it!!! moment. I was sick about it for days. and days. Phil texted the next day and I was like, "do you feel better??" I did not. I told him I still wanted to puke. I think he felt bad. But I do really, really, really, love my car. And today, there are rules:
1. no food in the car unless packaged and in the trunk.
2. no pets.
3. no sweaty bodies. I have towels for you in the trunk.
4. no wet clothes. Again, the towels.
5. no other weird smells of any sort.
6. no slamming the doors.
7. water in a spill-proof water bottle is allowed.
My mom says, "just wait until you have kids."
But you know what? My car still smells new.
3. I went to St. George for the Mojo's graduation from Dixie High School. My proud mama has had 4 of her children graduate from that wonderful place. And the little mojo was a little Diamond D! The weekend included a lot of auntie and cousin time-- Judy and Nicole and Koa kept us company for sleepovers and hikes and delicious eats. It was one of those weekends that I didn't want to end.
4. ROOMMATE REUNION NO REGRETS 2014 took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the end of May, beginning of June. And it was a wonderful dream with 8 of my very favorite people and 2 babies.
Charleston is a place of.....I don't know, can I think of a word? It's so beautiful and unique and charming and there was like this charisma oozing out of the buildings downtown. Adventures of Charleston included:
- lotsa late night chats with all girls or just with my Rachelle. The first night was spend reminiscing and giggling lots. And Rachelle announced that she was going to have another little girl!
- a really stormy trip to the beach that ended about 30 minutes after we got there. We had a mad dash back to the cars and then just sat there huffing and puffing.
- A trip to Shem Creek for dinner, where we literally saw dolphins jumping between the docks. The BBQ was YUM.
- a really, very stormy carriage tour through old town Charleston. We didn't hear much of what the tour guide was saying--we were too busy huddling closer together and screaming when the rain splashed and trying to protect the babies. I'm telling you, the streets were flooding. And most of us exited the carriage completely soaked through. See picture below.
- We ate lunch in our wet clothes at this Mexican place a little bit out of town. It was a cold meal. Cold as in, our clothes were wet and the place was air conditioned.
- meandering through the old slave markets--- there are open buildings downtown where vendors come and sell their wares-- like a craft fair or flea market or farmer's market. It was open but covered, so the rain wasn't too terrible at this point. We were able to walk around the city for a while afterward, and that was nice. The buildings are ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I love old brick buildings all built and stacked together. love them. ALSO. at the market I wanted to buy this bracelet, but I didn't do it, and I still regret it.
- Did you know my phone stopped working??? Pretty sure it happened the afternoon that we ran from the beach. I took it to the Verizon store on our way home from dinner that night, and they said it was a known problem and I should take it to the Apple store and they would give me a new one. Luckily, there was an apple store downtown, right by our tour and the market! So, I went, and I got. a brand new iphone. It was spectacular and clean. I mean, now it's chipped worse that the one I protected for over a year, but sometimes you can't help it when you are half asleep in the morning and you accidentally throw your phone instead of turn off the alarm. Things happen.
- We planned all our meals out ahead of time and did all the grocery shopping on the first day. We took turns cooking, and that made it so we ate REAL WELL the whole time, BUT we had gazillions of leftovers all the time, too. Haha and we probably spent more on food than was necessary. :) Highlights include the cafe rio style salads Rachelle and I worked over for several hours, the gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches Crystal made that have inspired me to create several different other gourmet sandwiches since coming home, and our traditional Southern meal from Lauren that included jambalaya and other yummies. YUM.
- On Sunday we went to Church. and we took this lovely picture outside:
- And then Rachelle and I (and no one else-- I will never know why no one else wanted to come...) went to FORT SUMTER. Location of the first skirmish in the Civil War. We rode the ferry out there and it was real, real windy. But the place was amazing. It was originally a really small pile of rocks and sand, but they built it up with giant granite slabs to protect Charleston Harbor, and then they built a fort on it! The current ruins of the fort are much smaller than it was originally-- but the slave-made brick was beautiful and haunting and historic. And there were still cannon balls imbedded in the walls. The walls were partially made of this mud/stone stuff that also had seashells. Imagine, a wall of seashell cement! Real cool. We walked around the island, just on the rocks, on the outside of the fort, and I felt kind of like some Southern Belle who didn't know how to manage and stone and the wind at the same time.
- Monday was for the most heavenly plantation. Boone Hall Plantation. The manor house wasn't too impressive because it wasn't original, but we took a wagon ride around the plantation and it was the most beautiful. There were orchards and lakes and marshes and forests and strawberry patches and grape vines and all sorts of little patches of heaven. Apparently just before the Civil War, the Boones knew that trouble was coming and that they might lose their slaves. So they planted the orchards and hoped to make their money from pecans. So, before our wagon ride we got some pecan ice cream from the little shop! The plantation also had some slave cabins-- and really, it made slavery seem more real to me than anything else before, and left me feeling quite somber. It was a lesson in humanity and how people really lived. Heartbreaking, really.
- Boone Hall Plantation and the Avenue of Oaks. Picture that scene in The Notebook where the car is driving down the road to Ali's house, and there are these beautiful oaks lining the dirt road for what seems like ages? Well, it. was. that. road. Those oaks. And they were breathtaking. I'm saying I could barely even handle the scenery at this place. Really, I wouldn't mind living in the South. It's so green and wonderful.
- That afternoon we went to the beach on Sullivan's Island. I live for waves. No one is ever brave enough to go out as far as I like to... but that might just make me kind of a dummy. But the ocean doesn't scare me. I love how it makes me feel so small. Love it. And how you really have little control. And water just swings you around. ah waves.
- I hiked up to MY VERY FIRST LIGHTHOUSE with Kaitlin, Meghan, and baby Sarie. The sun went behind the lighthouse right when we got there, so it looks kind of like the Tower of Sauron in Mordor. But that makes it cooler, right?
- We had dinner at Poe's Tavern. Apparently Edgar Allen stayed on Sullivan's Island once or something. But it was all delicious and I got a burger with a fried egg on it.
- That last day together included some last minute giggling and sharing of stories and we all agreed that we must do this again some time soon.
5. I saw THE SCRIPT IN CONCERT. And One Republic. And I have been waiting to see The Script for years, and they finally came to Utah, and PLAYED WITH MY FAVORITE BAND. It was exceptional. If you have never seen OneRepublic live, you definitely should. I will see them every time they come to town. You all know already how I love Ryan Tedder. And that Danny O'Donaghue from the Script came out into the audience and I freaked out a bit and started shoving people to try to get a picture. bad luck, though, this is what I got:
6. I did a couple hikes and went sailing.
7. I decided one day, sort of out of the blue, to go to the temple and receive my endowment. I talked to my bishop and stake president the same Sunday, called my mom and told her, and then drove to St. George the next Friday and went to the temple. And it was.... overwhelming. But I've never made a more important decision nor done a more important thing. And I am SO GLAD that I did it on my own timetable, when I knew it was what needed to be done, and not because I was getting married or going on a mission-- but precisely because I wanted to.
July and August to come!
TO BE CONTINUED.
July and August to come!
TO BE CONTINUED.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)