24 Hours in Door County

So yeah, I have a lot to catch up on, including Sam and Nancy's wedding! But, that post will require a little more time, so for now, how about a quick peek into Mom and my 24-hour Door County trip?

I've never been to Door County, WI this time of year, and I was excited to be there in the fall with all of the leaves. And pretty they were! Mom and I didn't get up to Jacksonport until about 6 P.M. last night, and we saw that our hotel was doing a fish boil. Fish boils are a Door County tradition, or, as our cook called them, a tourist trap. :-) Our group consisted of mostly out-of-towners (or so it seemed) from Illinois and other parts of Wisconsin (from my analysis of parking-lot state license plates as we drove in). Even if it is a tourist trap, it's a fun tradition and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

We started with hor d'oeuvres, and then, right before the cooks took the fish, potatoes and onions out of the pot, they ushered us outside to watch and to hear the history of the fish boil.

To be honest, Mom and I were a little wary of trying the fish boil. Let's be honest, boiled fish doesn't really sound incredibly appetizing. But, we decided we wanted the full Door County experience, and actually, it was much better than we expected!

In order to get the pot to boil over, they threw some kerosene on the fire, and below is the result. Whoa!


Afterwards, as they took the giant pot back into the kitchen to serve the fish, we headed back inside. The dish came with Lake Michigan whitefish, baby red potatoes, onions (my favorite part! very tender and sweet), and steamed vegetables. For dessert, we had some Door County cherry pie a la mode. Definitely worth trying!

Today, we drove through Peninsula State Park, which winds around the coast of Lake Michigan. Mom and I decided to do a little photo shoot.

My mom is so pretty!

Doesn't this look like a nice place to read a book? :-)

We took some classic "throwing leaves" pictures. It might be cuter if we were two years old, but it was fun anyway!

On the way out of the park, we saw this gorgeous tree. I think bright red-orangy leaves are my favorite.

Happy fall, everyone!

Swiftly goes the summer...

To my small blog readership, I must do better. It just seems that I've struggled with the motivation to sit down and write. Perhaps, I'm still adjusting to this whole 8-5 work-all-day-come-home-and-feel-tired thing. Plus, I share a computer with my parents, which means I'm on it less. But, excuses are always available to those who seek them. I simply need to get back in the habit!

I've been enjoying the summer here in Wisconsin, brief as it is, working hard (it's our busy season right now), planning lots of church activities (that's my new calling here in WI), running, and getting ready for my brother's wedding. The summer has gone by quickly.

My parents just moved to Utah, which is pretty crazy to think about, since they've been here for 30ish years. Dad got a surgery job out there (he's coming out of retirement for a little longer) and then they'll stay out there for a big chunk of the year once he's fully retired. It'll be nice to visit at Thanksgiving, since the weather will be warmer and desert-y out there, just as it's getting chilly here!

Ok, that's all I got right now. But, I'll talk to ya'll soon!

I AM alive...

So, I dropped off the face of the blogging earth for a while there... ok, 6 months. Wow, time goes fast. And I'm sorry for neglecting my poor blog for so long. Last time I wrote, I was searching for a permanent job and I had just moved back to Wisconsin. Here's a brief update to bring you up to speed...

I began a job in January as a writer for Kohl's Department Stores. I write product descriptions for clothing and other items on their website. It's fun to have a job that puts my English-major skills to work. Basically, I look at samples of products (or images) and then write up the basic information. I'm learning a lot--especially since I come from a non-business-major background. And I like that it's my job to be creative with words (I get to think of word puns a lot!). Two fun things about working at Kohl's... getting random free stuff (they treat their employees well) and cookie day (4 hot, fresh-baked cookies for $1 at the cafeteria every Thursday at 2:15 PM). Yum! Oh yeah, employee discount days at the stores are pretty nice too :-)

For a sample of one of the more interesting product descriptions I've written... go to kohls.com and in the search box, type "Black Red & White On Grey." That's a painting that I got to write about.

For a couple of other writing samples... you can type in the search box "Jirra" (for a stuffed animal kagaroo that I wrote about), or "Wonder Woman Pajama Separates." I write several a day... and I've gotten to write about a variety of products, which is fun.

Other things that are new in my life... my brother is getting married this summer! Yay! I'm super excited for him and for me, since I also get to have a sister-in-law. And she's great. More info forthcoming :-)

Also, I'm training for a half marathon in August--my first, so that should be fun. Basically, I just needed a reason to motivate myself to work out again. I've never run more than about 3.5 miles at a time before, so this should be interesting! I'll keep you posted.

Goodnight, everyone! I'll write again soon with more updates.

Life and Temp Work

I've been called by the temp agency a little lately, and for the past week I worked at a law firm in downtown Milwaukee. It was pretty fun, actually. For one week, I felt semi-important as I drove up to the valet parking service at a parking structure in downtown Milwaukee, strolled into the tall office building with my dress shoes delightfully clicking against the marble floor, and worked in my own large office (with a great view of the riverwalk). Granted, I was just a "temp," but it was still fun to imagine myself as some high-powered executive.

Actually, what I really did most of the day was answer phones, make copies, prepare documents to be mailed or faxed, typed up dictations, and when there wasn't any of that to do, read a book. Nothing terribly exciting, but I must say, it felt great to finally be doing some work. I enjoyed getting to know the two lawyers who owned the firm. The firm consisted of a man and a woman--both middle-aged--and both incredibly nice. They practice family law, which unfortunately, often means doing divorces. Although my experience was brief, it was interesting to watch a little of the "behind-the-scenes" work of a divorce, and I will say, it reaffirmed to me that I never want to go through one of those. I would have liked to have asked the lawyers more about their perspective of divorce, since they have been witnesses to so many of them, but I never had the chance. By the end of the week, I was almost a little sad to say goodbye to the small office--I was starting to really enjoy working there.

I also started up at my seasonal work at Kohl's Department Store this past week. My first real day of work (after the training) was a little intense--I came in for someone who was sick, and this person was in charge of the entire Junior's department for 8 hours. I hadn't yet worked in the department at all, so I was dropped into the deep end on the first day, but I managed (with some help from some very nice co-workers) to figure things out. It wasn't too stressful really, just busy, but it took a while to figure out where the clothes went when I was supposed to return them from the dressing room.

I think Kohl's will be a fun place to work. The co-workers are really friendly... several middle-aged women, so it's kind of like working with a bunch of your friends' moms :-) Seriously, they made me feel very comfortable right away. And... I get to look at clothes for several hours at a time, so I'm definitely making mental notes of things I might get. My discount will come in handy I believe, but of course, I'm pretty broke right now, so I won't be buying much. I do think I'll have to be careful though not to get too distracted looking at cute outfits to try on and just do my job :-)

Anyway, I'm glad to have some work going on to help me bring in some money and to keep me busy while I do my long-term job search. I definitely need to make a good push on that, because the work at Kohl's will end by New Year's, and I really want to have a long term job figured out by then. I got a little distracted for a while from the long-term job search as I settled into being back in Milwaukee and did the short-term job search, so now it's time to get crack-a-lackin' again. Keep me in your prayers friends that I can put something together!

Post-Election Thoughts...

I didn't blog about the election--I'm fairly politically moderate and not the most politically outspoken. But, that doesn't mean that I don't care about politics and their effect on our government and society. I do care. I'm not exactly sure why I abstain from the political fights that I see all around me. Then again, that last sentence alone might explain it--I'm not the fighting type. However, I do think expressing opinions, even on the ever-sensitive topic of politics, has an important place, and sharing a strong opinion does not necessarily constitute an attempt to bash. Which is why, in the future, I will try to get some of those opinions out in the venue of the blog.

I have many other thoughts and reflections on politics rushing through my head at this point, but they aren't formulated enough that I want to express them right now. Instead, I thought I'd post some interesting pictures I took around my neighborhood on and shortly after election day.

Ok, this has no relation to the election, but here's just a peek at why I'm glad to have the opportunity to be in Wisconsin for the fall. I love leaves.

My mom and I were out for a walk in the neighborhood near ours and saw this. It made me sort of sad. The signs of support waiting to be picked up by the garbage truck.

McCain signs down the road from our house. The majority of the county definitely supported McCain over Obama (one of the few counties in the state to do so), but I was surprised to see several Obama signs around the neighborhood, too.

I was struck by this, because it seemed very deliberate that there was an American flag hanging near the Obama sign, as if the family wanted to say, "Obama supporters are patriotic." The neighbors next door also had an Obama sign with a small flag next to it. 

My vote was for McCain, but that doesn't mean I didn't consider Obama and that I don't like the guy. I wrote my final paper for my English capstone course on his book, "Dreams from My Father." He is an excellent writer and I'm impressed with his life. It'll definitely be interesting to see how things play out in the next 4 years. 

Halloween in Wisconsin!

Although I've always enjoyed Halloween, I never seem to find the time to prepare an amazing costume for it. I'm not sure why, but my preparations for this holiday are often neglected until the last minute. :-( Maybe that's what happens when you get too old to go trick-or-treating? I didn't even carve a pumpkin this year! I've realized from this experience that I may have to make my own efforts to get excited for holidays like Halloween--cause I've noticed that holidays can be pretty fun if you just put a little effort into it!

Anyway, I digress. My ward at church had a fun night, with a fright hike at Lapham Peak State Park and then a bonfire/costume party at a member of the bishopric's house. The fright hike wasn't very frightful--staffed mostly by middle and high school-aged kids, but it was still pretty fun and I did get startled a few times. Walking through the woods on Halloween is always a good time.

Here are some of the pictures from the costume party/contest!

Carmen is wearing the same costume she wore at age 2. "I got a lot of candy wearing this costume!" she said about the costume's original debut.

Jared and Megan were Happy and Snow White. I voted for them for best costumes and they tied for first in the group category!

I also LOVED Jeannette's costume. Seriously, isn't she the cutest can of Spam ever?

Nicole tied for first in the individual category. This hair is AMAZING, isn't it?

Paco was Patch Adams and I was a nerd. I like this one. Especially cause it gives you a nice view of Paco's amazing pants! He bought them in Israel.

It was a great night and I'm so glad that fall holiday season has begun! I am a little shocked though that I heard CHRISTMAS MUSIC already on Halloween on two different Milwaukee radio stations! Wow--early start this year, huh?

Gone hunting...job-hunting.

Ok--another post on job-hunting. I promise this will be the last one for a while. However, with this being my main endeavor right now, it's just on the brain a bit. As I interview, fill out application after application, take surveys, etc., I'm learning a lot about the hiring process.

First, I've learned that it's nice not to have a criminal background. That question is certainly on every application I've filled out. Being hired as a ex-convict would be a big challenge. Not to mention it would require a lot of explaining on all of these applications.

Second, most applications (especially for retail positions... I'm applying for holiday retail jobs, among others) are insufficient to really capture a job candidate's personality and history. The employers attempt, through surveys and questionnaires, to get a feel for these things, but it's pretty easy to see through the questions. I can imagine many people fall prey to what social psychologists call "social desirability bias." This means that you answer questions based on what you think is the socially-acceptable answer. I really don't think these surveys are effective in sorting out anything but grossly under-qualified candidates. In terms of job history, there is sometimes no space or little space to explain things like why you left a job, how you got paid (if it wasn't hourly), etc. These things make filling out applications frustrating!

Third, are these extensive applications really necessary for SEASONAL positions? Kohl's and Barnes and Noble did the best job of having a short-and-sweet application. Kudos to you, Kohl's and B&N, for keeping my life a little simpler.

I almost wanted to outline my suggestions and send them to the HR departments to help them design a better application. Maybe there's a future career for me? :-) I do like the idea of improving and streamlining this tiring and somewhat frustrating process.

Ok, hopefully that wasn't a downer. It's not all bad--not even close. I realize the stores need to keep out workers who would steal, not show up, or otherwise not be able to complete the job. But, can't I just walk in and say, "Look. I'm not trying to be rude or pretentious, but I'm a college grad who just needs a holiday job for a couple of months. I know I am capable for this job. Can you hire me, please?" That'd be a lot easier :-)

And, I do have two interviews tomorrow (with Kohl's and Target). The payoff is finally coming through! Once I find a seasonal job, though, I need to stay focused on the long-term job hunt. Alas, it's not over for a while. But all of this will sure make me better appreciate having a job! :-)

I can't keep up, sometimes.

There are times when you feel that you are running along smoothly. You go running each morning. You get your work done. You check your email and respond quickly. You even have time to fit in side projects, like reorganizing your book collection into alphabetical order.

This is not one of those times. Ever since I decided to leave for Wisconsin, life has been quite busy, even though I'm still not working yet. Packing (yet again... sigh...only after being unpacked in my new place for a month), moving across the country, unpacking, job interview/s, church, seeing people, and such has left me exhausted and trying to get into a normal routine again.

Can I just mention that I sort of hate looking for jobs? Each time I go through this process it gets a little more annoying. Ha, I'm sorry--I'm not trying to complain. It's just that repeatedly printing off /updating my resume, filling out my address and name and job history for the fifteenth time, etc. is a little tiring. The good thing is that I just interviewed at a temp agency here in Milwaukee and chances are good that I'll be hired. I was also offered an interview at Rogers Memorial Hospital for a residential counselor position. No guarantees on anything yet, but its nice to at least see something coming of my efforts.

I've realized from all of this that I need to work on being more patient. I will find a job (at least something for a while) and my life will settle down. Decisions will be made. Life will go on. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find time to finish knitting that scarf I started 3 years ago. Or something.

Moving to Wisconsin.

I'm sitting at Starbuck's (with a large hot chocolate next to me, yum) inside the Barnes & Noble at Gateway Mall as I type this. It's a beautiful, cloudy fall day in Utah. I met two of my old roommates for lunch in SLC and I'm meeting my brother for dinner up here... so I had some time to kill.

And so, since I do have some time, I'll fill you guys in on life. I'm moving to Wisconsin in less than a week! This decision came somewhat unexpectedly--but I'll explain.

After graduation, I spent three weeks at home in Milwaukee. After going to school year-round for three years, I was in need of some time to just rest. The three week trip was great. Then, I came back to Utah in early September and moved into my new apartment. I have three roommates from California (they all went to HS together) and they are nice girls--welcomed me right in. I liked my apartment and my new ward and I planned to use Utah as a home-base while I applied for jobs. I figured I'd get some kind of temporary job for the fall or for 6 months at the most while I figured out where to go next.

Well, the job market in Utah isn't ideal. I got offered a part-time/on-call position at an eating disorder treatment facility, which would have been great, but they wanted at least a year commitment, and I wouldn't be able to work there full-time for probably at least the first few months. As soon as they said "one-year commitment," it sunk it to me that I did not want to still be in Provo for another year. As soon as I came back from Wisconsin, I felt pretty restless. Being in a college town and not being in school (or not having a job for that matter) can do that to you, and I also just realized that I was ready to try out life in a new place. Provo has been great, but I think it has served its purpose for me, and it's time to keep moving forward.

Once I realized I didn't want to stay here too long, I decided that I could either get a temp job here in Utah and apply out of town for permanent positions or I could do that from Wisconsin (where my family is) . It seemed a bit counterintuitive to leave right after I had come back for the fall, but the more I thought about it, the more I saw the benefits of moving home for a couple of months. 

Some benefits include saving my family some money (my parents are helping me out during this transition period), living one last time in my family's home before my parents sell it (they'll be retiring out in St. George for most of the year starting in the near future and so they're going to sell our house), among other reasons.

I prayed about it and it felt like a good decision, and so, I'll be off in about a week! I have some mixed feelings about leaving. I certainly feel it's probably time to move on from college life and that scene, and yet, I'll really miss this town that has become my home away from home. I'll miss the good times I've had and the good friends I've made out here. I'll especially miss it since this move is permanent. It's hard to cut off this part of my life. But, I'm excited for the road ahead, whatever it brings. Going to NYC last weekend made me realize all of the fun possibilities I have in life in terms of jobs and where I could live (more on the NYC trip soon).

If any of you Provo/SLC kids are reading this, I'd love to see you before I road trip it to Wisconsin next week (Tuesday or Wednesday). Let me know and we'll get together. The short-term plan is to spend the next couple of months in Wisconsin at a temp job, while I look and apply for more permanent work, and then to re-evaluate at the end of the year where I want to go. There's a possibility I'll stay in Wisconsin, and I'm also looking at jobs in some other bigs cities (especially DC and Boston). Whatever happens, I know God is guiding me in these decisions and I'm grateful to have some time with my family and friends in Wisconsin. If you'll be in WI, give me a call!

Provo--I bid thee farewell. You've been a kind friend and you will be missed.

Life starts when the pain stops?

I was flipping through channels on TV yesterday and saw an ad for Intermountain Vein Center. The ad seemed pretty similar to other ads for similar types of clinics, except for the company slogan: 

"Life starts when the pain stops."

I am not usually taken-aback by ads... unfortunately, we become so used to being bombarded by them that we hardly notice their constant presence, but I was definitely surprised by this slogan.

Seriously? You think life starts when the pain stops? Ha, well good luck chasin' that rainbow, my friend. I can definitely tell you that life doesn't start when the pain stops--it's in those moments that you're really experiencing the realities of life.

There's some truth to it--the aspects of life that we'd like to enjoy are certainly muted when we are experiencing some kind of pain or anguish. But, I believe those moments build us into the kind of people who know what living is all about. Living is taking what life gives you and trying to make the best of it. Of course, it's natural and commendable to eliminate pain when possible, but we must be careful to not separate pain from life. A life focused solely on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain has a name--hedonism. 

I'm sure the people of Intermountain Vein Center are well-intentioned, so this is not a direct blow at them, really--just an example of why we cannot accept the messages our culture sends us without thinking about them and the philosophies that underlie them.  

Utah State Fair

A little over a week ago, three us us Provo-ites went up to the Utah State Fair for some good times! Fairs are always pretty great... you go on rickety rides, eat unhealthy and delicious food, hang out with barn animals... 

It's hard to see summer winding down, but this was a good summer-sendoff celebration.

Emily and I with the cow! He's a little stoic.

Nothing says "fair" like a funnel cake. Yum :-)

Megan and Emily were pretty scared when we rode on "Moby Dick." We had fun though and screamed quite a bit.

Emily enjoyed bonding with her goat friends. She grew up on a goat farm in Washington, and she felt right at home petting this little guy!

Job-Hunting.

I am officially unemployed. That's such an unflattering term but it's true. The word seems to suggest that I am not whole or complete without a job. I suppose that's true to some extent--but I'm trying to suppress the anxiety that comes from feeling like an unproductive member of society. I'm trying to find one, kids! My ticket out is not yet here, so until then, I am trying to see the temporary advantages of this extra time.

I just completed my undergraduate degree, and the reality of post-grad life has quickly settled in. There is no easy path laid out for us graduates, and that is both reassuring and disconcerting. I'm glad that it's up to me, and yet, I wish someone would just sweep in and answer the quandary I find myself in: What kind of job should I seek/take? Is this job good enough, or should I wait for a better one? Should I focus more on place or job? Should I take the first job that I'm offered that's half-way decent?

I'm rolling around all of these thoughts in my head, and hopefully, they're helping me to make a decision. I don't want to jump onto the fear train and get a low-skilled, low-paying job, just because something hasn't been offered in the first week. And also I don't want to turn down multiple job offers because they aren't fitting my abstract definition of the "perfect" first job.

I know there probably isn't a perfect first job (for the majority of us out there). And let's face it, most of us will change jobs several times during our careers. So, how do we wade through these uncertain waters? Prayer is definitely helping, but I also know that I need to put forth my full efforts to make the best possible job opportunity happen.

In the meantime, as I do this, I find myself with a little (or a lot of) extra time. There's more time to blog, to take a walk in nature, to browse at Barnes and Noble, and to think about where I want my life to go. I'm trying to enjoy this time without falling into a trap of complacency. I'm grateful for it though, since I've felt the lack of free time that came during the last part of college. This last summer, I had a part-time custodial job, a part-time writing internship, and a full load of summer classes. I'm glad to be temporarily rid of the constant, looming cloud of schoolwork.

We'll see how this lasts. I might get a temp job if this process takes longer than a couple of more weeks so that I don't go crazy with the boredom (and so I don't end up living in a box. Unfortunately, I'm not independently wealthy, so a job is also a necessity). Until then, I'll enjoy the quiet moments I've been given. You might see a few more blog posts than normal, and my room might look abnormally clean. :-)

24 Hours in Door County

One of the highlights of my 3-week trip to Wisconsin was a short trip to Door County, WI, with my parents. Door County is the "thumb" part of Wisconsin on the map. (They say Wisconsin looks like a hand...) It's so beautiful up there! I hadn't gone since early high school, so I was glad to have the chance to hang out up there for a day/night. During the summer, this part of the state is very busy with tourists, but we went 2 days after Labor Day, so it was very quiet! Perfect.

The view of Lake Michigan from outside of the Square Rigger Lodge in Jacksonport, WI. 

There were butterflies fluttering all along the shore. I tried to get a picture of one in flight but it didn't work out--they're too fast! I kept following this particular one and he kept flying away from me. I think he was getting pretty annoyed. :-) After this shot, I let him be. Sorry little guy!

Going for a walk along the beach. 

We ate dinner here--at Al Johnson's. It's a Swedish restaurant that's been around for 59 years, and it's very popular! The goats grazing on the roof is definitely one unique reason why everyone comes here.

The three of us at dinner!

Mmm... Swedish meatballs! 

A peek at the Swedish-themed gift shop that's attached to the restaurant.

Mom and I gave the little gnome/troll a kiss on the way out!

The harbor was really pretty... it was fun reading all the names of the boats (one was called "Uff Da," hehe.), watching the sunset, and just enjoying the beautiful weather!

After dinner, we hit up the drive-in and saw "Hancock." The drive-in felt very fifties-ish, complete with Elvis music playing in the background before the show!

Mom and I had fun on the swings while we waited for the sun to set--that's when the show started.

The next morning the sky looked stormier, but I think it looked beautiful! I'm glad the day before was nice weather though, so we could enjoy being outside!

All in all, it was a success and I hope it's not another 10 years before I go back to Door County!

Airport Sushi? And other oddities...

Hello all! It's been a while. This month has been quite busy and full of change... mainly because, I officially graduated! Yay! The first couple of weeks of August, I finished up my final classes and my editing internship as well as my summer custodial job on campus. I came back to WI on the 20th for a few weeks of respite and job-hunting. It's been great to be home!

The first week back wasn't too restful, since I was still finishing up work for my internship. I spent a few days in the Mequon-Thiensville library and was able to get er' done. It's amazing... no matter how long I've been away from Mequon, I always run into people I know. As I was sitting at a table in the library, I saw an old high school friend and another high school friend's mom.

Week #1 at Home Catch Phrase (Mom came up with this one.)-- "Personal Pride." Ha, that was to motivate me to finish up my internship work.
Week #2 at Home Catch Phrase (Mom also coined this one.)--"Bask in the Glory." It's all done! I'm resting this week.
Week #3 at Home Catch Phrase (I picked this one.)--"Get a job." Shucks.

Anyhow, I don't have many pictures to share yet, but these few are from my phone. Each depicts something I found odd/interesting.

#1: High-End Vending Machines

This vending machine was in a row of similar vending machines in the Minneapolis Airport. This one sold Elizabeth Arden products. I call this vending machine the "I better buy that last-minute, expensive perfume for my girlfriend" machine. There was at least one more machine next to it (can't exactly remember) that sold electronics. Is this the shopping wave of the future? We'll see.



#2: Airport Sushi.

My dad always taught me to be careful where I ate sushi, since it's raw and since "the farther you are inland, the less likely it'll be fresh." This California roll (from the Minneapolis Airport) had no real seafood in it (only imitation crab), so I gave it a go, since it looked decently fresh. It was ok--not the best sushi--but I just was surprised that sushi has become "airport food." Times are a-changin'!



#3: Civil War News?

I didn't think there still was any news to tell about the Civil War. Apparently, I'm wrong! I saw this during a break at the library in Thiensville.

The BYU 11th Ward Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament

Back in June, my friend Jordan and I participated in a BYU intramural mixed doubles tournament. We got out pretty much right away (I'm really no good at tennis), but it was surprisingly a lot of fun! I say surprisingly because traditionally, I have not been particularly drawn to tennis. However, since I took a tennis class at BYU last summer, I have started to see how this sport has become so popular. It's something you can play when you're older, it's social, it's fun, and you don't need a huge team to play.

Anyhow, after the intramural tournament, Jordan and I decided to organize a mixed doubles tournament among our friends. It was so much fun! It went on for about three weeks, and I think we had 12 pairs of players participate. Last Friday, we had our championship game and preppy outfit contest. We didn't get a huge crowd, but those who came had a great time and overall, the tournament was a success.



This is a picture of those of us who dressed up preppy. Matt, the third from the left, was definitely our winner, with the pink polo, braided belt, khaki shorts, blue vest, gelled hair, and Izod sweater draped over his shoulders.



The final match!



This is from our promotional flier. :-) I was trying to replicate the pictures on the ads of retirement communities, which always seem to have a couple with linked arms, laughing, holding a tennis racquet.

Relief Society Camp Out

On July 11-12, the Relief Societies in our ward headed up to Blackhawk campground up near Payson Lake (about 50 minutes from Provo). It was so gorgeous up there... it was green and high up in the mountains and there were barely any bugs! (That's one thing I love about Utah camping... there are SO many bugs in Wisconsin.) It was just for one night, but it was a great turnout and honestly, sometimes I like short camping trips better than longer ones. We had a nice campfire, slept in tents (I had a rock or something under my back though... um, not so comfortable, haha), went on a nature walk (we got a little lost though!) and then headed back to P-town. Here are some pictures. Thanks to Sister Richards for taking them... my camera is dead :-(



A picture from my phone of the wildflowers. They were everywhere!



Cooking some hotdogs over the fire!



This is one of my favorite pictures. Kelly, I love you! S'mores are delicious!



Going on a nature walk in the morning. (Notice the Provo High sweatshirt!) :-)



All of us! Our bishop and his wife came, as well as the 1st counselor in the bishopric and his wife. And in the front is Stella, the Richards' black lab :-) I kept thinking about that movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" when I'd hear people call Stella. I've never seen it, but for some reason that title has always been a memorable one for me and it kept popping in my head. Haha.

The mysterious appeal of "The British Guy"

Lately, I suppose it's not just lately, I have seen several friends get engaged. Yay for love! It's pretty incredible if you think about it... finding someone that you love enough to spend your life with. I think deep down, we all want that companionship and love. It's hard to imagine, though, the realization of that quest and the end of the search that began, albeit informally, for most when they were kids and they dreamed of their dream guy/girl.

As I have not yet settled on/found that one fellow who I will spend my life with, I suppose I am still content to occasionally think about "my dream guy." Who is he, you ask? The fun thing is, he surfaces in many different guys. The older I get, the more I realize I could probably be happy with many a different type of man, as long as he has certain key qualities. Who has captured that title for me? Well, I could spout off some of my childhood/early adult crushes, but that might bore you. Or a list of movie stars, but that's not too unique either.

But, I've come to realize that there's one sort of fellow who is incredibly attractive to me, and I will most likely never have:

The witty, handsome, overall dashing British man.

What is it about this fellow that is so attractive? Well, the accent, for one. I remember a conversation with someone in which we agreed that if two identical twins were raised separately in England and the US, the English one would automatically be more attractive. Sorry American guys, it's just the truth.

Perhaps it's the innate "gentlemanly" quality that the British seem to possess, at least in the the movies. A sense of chivalry and duty.

Sigh. I'm not exactly sure myself.

How do I solve this dilemma?

1. Make a permanent move to England and start dating like crazy. (unlikely)
2. Stop watching sappy English period dramas. (also unlikely)
3. Get an American boyfriend and get over it (probably the best option).

Anyone out there share my sentiments?

Retro Commercials

Since last August, I have been TV-less. It's been a good thing for the most part--I'm surprised how normal it feels now. However, I can't deny that cutting out TV time has probably increased time I've spent watching DVDs and surfing the Internet. Sometimes, you just need something on in the background when you're doing something mundane. Yes? With summer, this has decreased, since I'm trying to spend as much time as possible outside! Seriously, Utah summers are great, especially the evenings, when the air is a little cooler.

Anyway, one of my TV-substitute activities is finding interesting videos on YouTube. One of the best things I've found to keep myself entertained is RETRO COMMERCIALS. For me, the most interesting ones to watch are the ones from when I was a kid. And most of them are on there! The Micromachine man, My Buddy, Barbies, Tootsie Roll Pops, etc.

Here are a few that I remember. Enjoy! Do you remember any of these? Let's hear from you. Which commercials do you most remember from being a kid?

California--A Land of Contrasts

Los Angeles

The coast near San Francisco

Lately, the topic of "California" has emerged in my thoughts and in my conversations with friends and family. This state seems to invoke within my acquaintances both great pride and great annoyance. Beautiful coastlines. Technology. Bad LA traffic. The pulse of pop culture and Hollywood. Lots of people. A laid-back lifestyle (at least in Southern California). Surfing. Crime. A governator. Expensive cost of living. A wide range of incomes and lifestyles. A greater emphasis on materialism. A mix of cultures. And, one of the places I've been looking at jobs.

I have limited experience with the state. I've been to Disneyland with my family (in 5th grade). I went to San Diego with my high school orchestra. I went to Murrieta two summers ago for my best friend's wedding. Last summer, I drove through CA on the way to Mexico and spent a night camping in Barstow. But really, I haven't gotten to know the state very well.

My parents were married in the Berkeley area and spent their honeymoon traveling up the California coast. I have a great uncle in San Diego. I have many friends there as well. In fact, some of you blog readers have lived or currently live there.

So, here comes my question. What do you think of California? It's pretty impossible to paint a one dimensional picture of this massive state. There are definitely things I like about it: good weather, the ocean, lots of job opportunities, a decent young single LDS population, the diversity, etc. However, the masses of people, the high cost of living, the complaints that there is a large emphasis on materialism, and complaints I've heard that some Californians have a California-is-the-center-of-the-world complex, make me a bit wary.

I've always been a bit drawn to this state. Perhaps it's my love of the ocean, inspired by a family trip to Mexico in 4th grade. Or, it might originate in the many movies or tv shows (think "Saved by the Bell") that I watched as a kid. It just seemed like a more interesting place than Wisconsin. 

I wonder, however, if real acquaintance would draw me in or turn me off? It's hard to say. The older I get, the more I've come to appreciate my Midwestern roots. Bad weather, good people. But, there's something real and humbling about growing up in a place that isn't everyone's destination. Vagabonds, hippies, and crooners never sang, "I left my heart in Milwaukee..." But in a way, I have. I really do think Wisconsin is a beautiful place. It definitely has drawbacks, but I'm glad I grew up there.

Despite my hesitations, I've realized in my travels that good people are everywhere. Culture may be regional, and I'm not sure how to categorize California culture, but you can find good people all over. I know Wisconsin, I know Utah, and I sort of know Spain, but California is still a mystery to me. What draws so many people there? Or me?

Anyhow, I'd love to know your thoughts/opinions. I'm looking at jobs in a lot of places, and I'm looking especially at DC, but California does have a lot of jobs, so it's on my list of options as well. What do you like about this state? What do you not like? Is there much truth in the stereotypes? Do happy cows really come from California? (I still think they come from Wisconsin)  :-)

My Life in 5's

Maybe you'll find this interesting. Maybe not. Either way, it was sort of fun :-)

5 years ago: I was just finishing my sophomore year of college and had moved home to do an internship. Little did I know I'd end up working for two years before I started school again!

5 months ago: I was getting ready for my cousin's wedding and was starting up my last winter semester at BYU. I also went to the Sundance Film Festival around this time.

5 days ago: I was busy finishing up spring term and getting ready for finals. 

5 hours ago: I was at a ward fireside about family history.

5 minutes ago: I finished off some delicious tomato soup.

In 5 minutes: I will probably put on my pajamas!

In 5 hours: I will be sleeping :-)

In 5 days: I will be hopefully starting a new summer job and will be done with the first week of summer classes (my last two at BYU!)

In 5 months: I will be graduated from BYU and will be working at a yet-to-be-determined job in a yet-to-be-determined location.

In 5 years: I hope to be enjoying life, whatever it brings. Would be pretty satisfied if that includes being married to an incredible guy and starting my own little family, and if all goes well, finished with a graduate program!