In a rare moment in my blog's short history I am writing a post right after it happens, AND without a picture(s).
I just got done hanging out with my friend Kenna, and I would like to take a minute to talk about how amazing she is. Four years ago I met Kenna in my internship in El Salvador. She is one of those people you are instantly drawn to because of their positive energy and contagious smile. I didn't know if I could ever be friends with someone as fantastic as her but luckily it worked out. And even more than that, in the coming weeks and even months she got me through some of the toughest trials I've ever experienced (so dramatic but very true).
The last time I hung out with Kenna was before she left on her LDS mission back in the spring/summer of 2011. It's been over 3 years. But picking up on a random evening at a frozen yogurt place in Plesant Grove could not be easier!
I have lows in my life (okay like just this afternoon) where I break down (like in the cookie aisle of Maceys) and think that things could not be going more terrible. But I have these moments, like talking to Kenna, where I know that simply isn't true. Life is okay. And those shining sun rays that burst through the storm clouds are people like Kenna. She laughs with me, and commiserates with me. She understands me. She makes me want to be a better person, more positive, more helpful, more hopeful.
Kenna people are so important to have in your life. It's a bit of a selfish relationship because I always feel I get more than I give but I'm so grateful she continues to be in my life, to make time for me, and to anchor me and remind me to never lose hope.
As the my summer draws to a close I have the opportunity to look back on the cool things I did, and clean up some random photos on my phone. As if my "Week Wrap Up" wasn't random enough. This is like the cliffs notes of Week Wrap Up for the whole summer. So random they didn't even make it to the week wrap up.
#1 I have really enjoyed doing my nails this summer. It was something I learned from Brigette, and I turned into a nail polish monster while in Grenada. Here is my Fourth of July Manicure that I am super proud of.
#2 I have tried really hard to be healthy. It isn't working. Not in this state. Ross and I had been back from Grenada for a few weeks when I took this picture. I went to the store to get some nice healthy fruits. Everything was too expensive. Nothing looked ripe. I came back with two apples. That is all.
#3 In one of my WWU I mentioned how little tolerance I have for fake problems. Here is another one to add to the list. Oh boo hoo, I have to use different doors that I might actually have to use THE ARMS GOD GAVE ME to open.
#4 When I found out that this Dr. Pepper vanilla float existed I thought I was going to have a heart attack. My favorite soda is Dr. Pepper, but I am nuts for cream sodas, and root beer floats. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, so I hunted it down and found it.
I think it is just around for the summer but I will enjoy it while it lasts (just like I did with the Berries and Cream).
#5 Smiths is a very popular grocery store chain around these parts and this summer they have had this, "Taste of Mexico" theme going on. It kills me every time I walk into the store. Like they make a concerted effort to have fresh salsa and tortilla chips. Not only that, but they keep getting things wrong, its irritating.
#6 Pinterest is popular. This board is not.
The pun about physically pinning things to the board reminded me of this commercial.
#7 While we are on the topic of "How things work" I will share with you this screen capture.
I just love the top suggestions, Lots of important wisdom on the web.
#8 I was pretty excited to get a Justice League sticker from this machine because they were all pretty cool. You can imagine my disappointment when I got an Adventure Time sticker. Twice.
#9 When I was engaged I didn't share pictures of my "ring candy." That now gives me the right to spam you all with ring candy now. Every year I can have my ring re-dipped, and I love how nice and shiny it is when I get it back. It kind of took a beating in Grenada so I was especially excited to have it re-done this year.
The summer is rapidly coming to a close and there are still so many thing that I need and want to do. Today I was able to hang out with my lovely and beautiful friend Pip. I miss her a lot. There is an intense about of closeness that comes with friendship is forged in the fiery flames of college.
It has been rather rainy as of late in Utah. But I was undeterred! Pip similarly loves cooking and baking. And she is amazing at it. She is super creative and so I thought it was only fitting that we go to this huge kitchen store that I had heard a great deal about from foodie bloggers in the region.
It was fun to cruise around and talk. There are lots of goodies here. Ross and I left with some flavor syrups and a unicorn cookie cutter.
After we hung out at Pip's place and just caught up. It sucks to say goodbye.
The past few days have been filled with highs and lows. Lows of being denied a car loan. Highs of hanging out with my best friend and a lil retail therapy.
Ross and I found an antique store and decided to wander around. It was a pretty cool store. It has cool old stuff, weird old stuff, new stuff, all storta of stuff.
Freaking creepy doll. I actually have no idea what those other glass voodoo creepy doll things are.
They had clothes too. Not a ton, but when you could score a checkered suit as awesome as that, why would you need much else? Ross was having a ton of fun dressing up.
One of my favorite things was a bath tub filled with buttons. Literally. A bathtub.
The upstairs section had a ton of books and random nick knacks. How about them electronic movie rental signs that make me feel like I'm walking into a dirty adult bookstore?
I ended up making a couple purchases. One of which were these supremely awesome earrings. At only .75 cents, I feel like I stole them. What a bargain!!
I also got some skull and crossbones ones that will be perfect for Halloween.
I got a bunch of new clothes at this boutique across the street. I know, I am so fancy for shopping at a boutique. Time to freshen up the wardrobe for when I get a job after we move.
By the time all those was over, we were both kinda tired and starving.
We ate at this diner across the street. We knew it had to be legit because when we walked in we saw a table full with about 7 veterans, full regalia, all over the age of 80. And it wasn't bad. They even had CAT-sup.
It seems dumb, but I love exploring new places, even if it is just Spanish Fark.
With the amount of chaos that my life is currently engulfed in, I feel like I am taking it pretty well. I thought moving to Grenada warranted a freak-out but now that looks like cake.
With all the stress in my life right now I try to take things one day at a time, and at least have confidence that I have a blanket to sleep on the street with, legs to walk at least a few miles a day if necessary, and my best friend who I only occasionally want to strangle (...jokes!).
But every once in a while I just break down. I'm pretty calm and confident on the outside but sometimes it just all builds up and comes crashing down in a magnificently ugly sob-cry phone call home. This whole road is sloppily paved (Grenada-"paved") with new rock-bottoms and new heartbreaks. Just when you think it can't get worse, can't get tighter, BOOM -surprise!- it does.
Let me introduce you to the head smashing tunes of Streetlight Manifesto. They aren't for everyone. Even the lyrics themselves can be a bit ... melancholy. When I listen to them around my parents they affectionately refer to them as ska/ punk-rock on drugs. Which, means a lot coming from their generation. So listen at your own discretion.
It's always been one of my favorites and today, in a first in Music Monday history, I had the chance to discuss it with Ross. My life is a lot of Somewheres in the Betweens, I don't know where I will be tomorrow, I don't know where I will be living next week.
The whole song is a reflection on life or the "somewhere in the between" (between birth and death).
The song starts:
"You were gone when we found you. You were practically surrounded, you were trapped. But the opposition stalled, their blood ran cold. When they saw the look of love in your eyes."
Ross and I had different ideas when we read this part. I had always thought "gone" was metaphorical. I sort of took it to mean emotionally "gone." Perhaps distant or depressed, especially in reference to the next feeling of being surrounded and trapped. Ross took it to mean physically gone, being dead. I think that makes sense. I like it. Either way, the main point of this verse is the last line. The love in this individual's eyes is so powerful that even the opposition is stalled. Throughout his whole life, good and bad, it's summarize by an expression of love.
The next verse reflects on the journey of life. I love the optimism. It's real optimism that isn't overpowering or corny. To me it feels authentic, like someone is coming to the conclusion right now as they are thinking about it. Scratching their chin and shrugging a little.
"Maybe the times we had, they weren't that bad. And everything else was part of the plan."
I'm not going to go through every lyric of the song. I thought discussing this with Ross would clear things up, but it only opened up more room for interpretation, so I will do the same for you.
When this chorus is repeated the words change a little bit.
"Maybe the times we had, they weren't that bad. And everything else was part of our path."
Whether it is plan/ or path I like the way he expresses his feelings about the negative parts of life. Let's admit it, life kinda sucks sometimes. But, with the perspective that the afterlife could give us, will we just look back, shrug and say "Yep, we needed those parts too"?
"So you were born and that was a good day. Someday you'll die and that is a shame. But somewhere in the between was a life of which we all dream. And nothing and no one will ever take that away"
The last line gives a feeling of ownership. Your life is yours and yours alone. No one can live it for you, claim it for you, take it away from you. I haven't been thinking that my life is something of which I've dreamed about, but I hope someday soon I can have a little more perspective.
The whole song is a celebration of life. Life is not a phase or a step. It's important and you need to make the most of it. There will be bad times. Like when you are out of money and expected to move to a new city. But there are also good times. Like eating pizza with your best friends while talking about Adventure Time.
Life isn't a waiting room where we lazily leaf through out-dated magazines and wait to be called to our afterlife appointment.
"And someday soon my friends. This ride will come to an end. But we can't just get in line again."
This is it folks! Our one and only ride. No fast passes but also no re-dos. Make it count.
P.s. Check out the symbolism in this sweet album cover art!
I dub the title of this post, "Marriage Wisdom," because this past week Ross and I celebrated our whopping 3 year anniversary. I wouldn't say it is a "big thing" not by a long stretch, but I have definitely learned a lot in these past 3 years. In the past three years we've had 5 (soon to me 6) moves. and lived in 4 cities across across 2 countries and 2 states.
We went out to a fancy dinner where the group at the table next to us were celebrating a couple who had been married 40 years. Now, that is kinda a big thing. About a month ago I was joking about newlyweds on social media. "Happy six months!" and "Every day I love you more!!" "He still makes me laugh every day!" And I just had to laugh a little and shake my head. I say this tongue in cheek because obviously I don't have much more marriage experience than them, but I'm pretty sure I could hang out with a homeless stranger every day for six months and he could probably make me laugh or smile. What I am saying is, I don't know if that is a big crowning achievement of a successful marriage.
The first year of (my) marriage was not the best. It wasn't magical. It wasn't my princess fairy tale. And that is totally okay. The second year wasn't easier, and the third year still wasn't perfect. Weird right?
Not really.
In my limited marriage experience, I've learned that being married doesn't make life easier (and in fact sometimes it makes things more complicated). But I get to be with my best friend in the whole entire world. I wouldn't trade him for anyone or anything. I love him more fiercely than I ever have before. Probably because I've had to fight for it. There are times when I just want to punch him in the throat, but I love him a lot too.
A big thing in this world, or maybe just the Mormon world, is anniversaries. When you first met, your first date, when you were bf/gf, when you got engaged. They are these monumental things that require hours of Pinterst project preparation to appropriately celebrate. I don't remember out first date. I mean, the location or the time. I don't even know if it was a date. And I don't have a defining moment of, "When I knew I loved him"
During the course of our dinner Ross and I talked about how we make it work. I asked him what he thought the best piece of marriage advice was, and we thought about it for awhile.
I say: Being able to be wrong. And how being wrong is okay. That, and a delicate balance with being stubborn.
I'm stubborn, fiercely stubborn. And in my past few years of marriage the hardest lesson is knowing where to place that stubbornness. I don't give up. On him, on me, on us. And no matter how angry I can get at him and no matter how much I hate medical school. I'm in this. And I'm not giving up.
Life has been a little crazy lately. There is a lot going on and I can't believe that in a few short weeks Ross will be starting school again, but this time at a real deal hospital. Hopefully we will have an apartment in a safe neighborhood that we can actually afford. Hopefully I won't have sold too many vital organs to finance our move and deposit.
In the meantime, Ross and I still afford time to dream. This outdoor set is going on the blog so that someday I can have something like this.
But I can't complain, Ross and I bought a mattress set. I wanted to cry tears of joy. Yay we won't have to sleep on our mattress topper! We got a great deal and it is a nice mattress.
This picture may be one of my favorites this week.
You may be able to get a disposable camera for only $8.69, but no guarantees you will be able to find a place to develop the film. Brings back good memories of begging my mom to get me a disposable camera for summer camps. She compromised by letting me share one with my brother. Haha.
The next two pictures are just pretties. My bestie Teo told me about this place. It is just up the street from where I'm living so I knew it was a must. The donuts were really fresh! Daylight Donuts is a fun little donut shack. You can't really see, but on the side of the building there is a large display of pez dispensers. Which is pretty much all pez are good for- epically large window displays.
It was weird to be up that early but Ross and I had a ton of packing and rearranging to do. Looking back on the week (like so many weeks this summer), it seems like a month. Last week at this time I was up in Ogden, before we had even begun our anniversary trip (when I took a picture of this beautiful sunflower).
Now I find myself back here in Utah Valley, thinking about this next week more than the week that has passed. At the beginning of the summer we thought that we would be well on our way to California by now. And now we find ourselves dragging our feet, albeit filled with anxiety.
It feels like holding onto a good dream. Trying to remember it and live it before it is ripped away.
Speaking of a good dream being ripped away, I am already dreading the end of this amazing gelato.
I discovered from my friend Kelli while I was in Vernal and now I am hopelessly hooked.
Speaking of hopeless, I am still sick and it is really starting to get on my nerves. I don't know if there is an operation for new sinuses, but mine are sucking pretty bad and I would like new ones. As a result, I have to sleep with this humidifier up in my face. I never thought I would (have) to see the day when I'd be creating an environment like a hot sweaty room. More proof Grenada has ruined me.
But maybe that is just because I have bad luck. What employee in good conscious can hand out a smashed fortune cookie? Nothing fortunate about that at all.
At some point this week we found ourselves at Scheels in Sandy. Pretty much anything after 2011 when I graduated and Ross and I moved out of Utah, is considered "new."
It is a massive structure and has tons of different sporting goods. It even has a Ferris Wheel inside. Of course Ross and I had to do the trendy thing and ride it. The line was short but moved slow.
It is a very interactive store. They have lots of photo ops, and even a little shooting range game. There is also a cafe and Ross and I got some super cheap soft serve cones. the bottom of the cone got soggy and disintegrated. Time for a cup.
Making fun of Utah is pretty high up on my "things I love to do" list. Scheels provides the perfect opportunity for this. It is a California girl's confusion turned comedy. Here are a few of my favorite items I found at Scheels.
1. Camo lingerie
2. "Gut It, Cut It, Cook It: A Deer Hunter's Guide to Processing & Preparing Venison"
3. Wild Game (Large game) Marinade. I couldn't help but wonder if large game marinade is different from small game marinade.
4. The BYU and Utes mannequins. BYU gets a cardigan, because they have to modest, obviously.
At some point we also got Ross a jdawg. FINALLY. You can tell he is pretty excited about this.
I've been sneakily searching for housing in Southern California for entirely too long. Meaning, waaay before Ross and I even knew for 100% surety that we would be moving there. Part boredom, part need to have control over everything in my life, part curiosity. So now that we know, the search has become even more packed with anxiety. It is weird to me that we will have our own place. Our very own little home.
It isn't a secret that SGU gets horrible hospitals. At least, hospitals in horrible parts of town. The hospital Ross will be at is no exception. With money being so tight, I have been trying too look for reasonable housing. In case you were wondering, "reasonable" means safe and inexpensive.
Reasonable is not a thing in San Bernadino. At least not for little ladies like me that will likely be home alone quite often. How do I know this besides local buzz? The internet of course. I put some potential addresses into crime mapping websites to find so. much. crime. So much that you literally cannot see it all.
Most of the friends we have in the area live in the scant area in the southeast area of this map. And I am starting to think that we will probably live there too.
The other stress is trying to find a strategically placed location where I might have easy access to employment. We don't have a car (hopefully soon), and so at least one of us will need to bus or walk or scooter or bike.
I don't even know why I am talking about this. It's stressing me out.
The third day of our Honeymoon 2/ Anniversary trip was our actual anniversary. We had originally planned to begin festivities on our honeymoon, but I kind of like the way that it turned out. We really enjoyed the condo in Eden. It was so spacious and absolutely beautiful.
The grounds were beautiful. It was so great being up in the crisp mountain air.
We packed up our stuff and headed down for a small hike. Unfortunately whatever bug I had continued to get worse. Ross and I love hikes and walks and I just couldn't do it. I felt terrible, like my head was going to explode. And I think being outside was just making it worse. I didn't want to ruin Ross's plans so I kept trekking along, but I guess Ross doesn't like seeing me die, so we gave up on the hike.
Ruling out outdoor activities, we found refuge in Rainbow Gardens. A large gift emporium. It includes other shops too, like this quilt store with some amazing work. Someday yet I might learn how to quilt.
It was fun to wander around, but again, I felt purely awful, so we even had to give that up.
The day was a bit of a blur but not the amazing part where we got to check into our stunning hotel for the night!
Over three years ago Ross was planning out possible honeymoon ideas. One of this frontrunners was staying at the Alaskan Inn up in Ogden canyon. Being young and unreasonable I thought this was a dumb idea. From the outside it looked a little campy and I thought the rooms would be tacky. Over the years as Ross continued to talk it up, I grew quite fond of the idea. And with some help from family we were able to stay a night in the Northern Lights suite. Ross and I were both really excited for this opportunity.
And I can honestly say that the room was breathtaking. I think part of the novelty now comes from the fact that we have been living on a Caribbean island for the past two years so the thought of Alaska and mountains really makes us happy.
Although I was absolutely elated about the room, I continued to feel like crap no matter how many runs to the store for cough drops, and cold medicine we took. My whole body was achy, but Ross had planned this evening for us for literally years and I would not let anything get in my way.
Apparently Ross + plans + celebrations of wedding events is doomed because some road construction had a different idea.
Ross planned on dinner at the fancy Timbermine Steakhouse. It was perfect because it is literally a five minute drive. With the somewhat long drives we have become accustomed too with our traversing across Utah, this was a welcome treat. Or I should say it WOULD HAVE BEEN.
Ross and I got in the car, and began the drive to the restaurant. about 3 minutes down the road, we saw that the canyon was closed for construction. No construction that we could see, but there was an officer that said absolutely no traffic. We could almost see the restaurant at that point.
Ross was furious and I was so sick I just wanted to cry. But I will give this to my wonderful husband, when he has an idea, damnit, he will make it happen.
This involved an hour plus drive, through the canyon to Eden, then through the pass, into North Ogden, then back down to the restaurant.
I wasn't sure that it would be worth it, with all the drama this journey involved. But I am happy to say I was wrong.
The food was absolutely amazing.
We ordered way too much food. Because that is what you do when you celebrate, even something so small as a 3 year anniversary.
As you can see, I brought along my best friend, a box of tissues.
It was a fun location and the whole restaurant is decked out like a prospecting/ gold mine/ mountaineer thing. They have a little river water feature and fake trees and animals. Like the Rainforest Cafe but Utah themed. It was nice to just sit down with my husband and enjoy all the adventures we have already had in our short marriage.
The next morning we packed up. I was dreading our return to "real life," which still is unreal, but means a lot of stress of moving. I don't think it helped that I was still feeling sick and delirious. But what did help was this amazing full and complete breakfast that was dropped off to our room. I was loving it!!
Before the craziness we took some time to walk around the grounds of the hotel. It sits right along a little stream. It is so beautiful and the mountains are nice and green. Most of the pictures we took you can see above.
On the second day of our Honeymoon 2/ Anniversary Trip we headed down from the condo in Eden to the Weber County Ice Sheet for some ice skating. This was a cute idea because the only other time I have been ice skating was when Ross and I were dating and we arranged a triple date. Oh look, here is a picture, four years ago!
That was in Provo, so it was fun a different to go to the epic olympic Ice Sheet. We got there a little early but that just made us perfectly on time. We geared up and it was nice to finally be nice and cool again. Ross of course was loving the cold. I half expected him to roll around on the ice.
We had a lot of fun skating and the guy running the music had a really fun playlist. Ross is always a good sport about having to go slow and stick by me. But I let him free.
After we had a little picnic at a Beus Park, where Ross has always wanted to take me. It's a cute park.
We even had Martinelli's and some classy flutes. Also, it was time for the Idle Isle chocolate we had purchased, and the raspberries we got from Pettingill's. Raspberries and chocolate, he sure knows the way to my heart.
We napped a little, although we were a little scared for our lives with the geese getting all grabby.
Unfortunately (but not surprisingly) I found myself battling a headache. Aaand I think I am coming down with something because I am not feeling well at all. This box of scratchy tissue from our condo has been my best friend lately. But that didn't stop us from taking a little stroll around the park and enjoying the funny little ducks.
We ended the day with Ogden Pizzeria pizza, which is my favorite pizza of all time. Such a fun day!
