Summer!

I've been trying to be good about updating the blog. If I don't have anything I've been thinking about or anything incredible to report, I usually don't write. But I've been up to a lot so I thought I'd tell about it.

First of all, I don't have a job which is great socially, but stinks financially. My intention wasn't to be a total slacker, but my schedule is packed with other obligations and vacations, therefore preventing me from holding a job where I can't take time off whenever I want. I'll be home in Washington the entire month of August and hopefully be able to work for a few weeks.

I was told Provo was really fun during the Spring and Summer and so I've been putting that statement to the test. So far they've been right. I'm having a blast. I play volleyball a lot, attend ever ward activity or social gathering, and am never home between 5 pm and Midnight. I go camping, have bon fires, take bike rides, go swimming, read a TON of books, and pray for sunshine. Unfortunately, my camera is sick, and so I don't have any documentation of my own to share.

Last night there was a festival in Springville with carnival rides, food booths, and a live band. It was so great to be outside in the festival setting. It reminded me of the festival in Moses Lake, so naturally I felt very much like I was back in Washington. I bought a scone and homemade root beer and danced to "You're the One" and "Dancin' In the Moonlight." The band was really good. I wished Paula had been there and then we could have really danced. It's amazing how much live music makes you want to groove. The night ended with fireworks, which was pretty impressive for such a small town. Summer is THE BEST. There's not much better than a season filled with barbecues, tanning, boating, rodeos, and festivals.

Here's to 3 more months before it's September. Make the most of it!

Graduation!

I did something I never thought I would. I graduated from college. Yeah! Walking and participating in the Convocation was really fun. I was able to see fellow students and professors I hadn't seen in a while. And it felt awesome to walk across the stage and to have my name called. For the record and when you tell everyone you
know that I graduated, my official degree is
Recreation Management and Youth Leadership: Leisure Services.

Entering as a freshman, I never thought I would see the end of classes, homework, and 10 page papers. It's something I couldn't really fathom at the time. But alas, I have done it. BYU has been a great experience and I have a quality education from a great school.
Thanks Mom and Dad for all the support. I couldn't have done it without you!


Now it's time to fly the coop, again. Which is very scary. Life plans are exciting, but hard to actually go through with. So if anyone wants to move to Colorado, Montana, or Alaska, let me know. For now, I will be sticking around Provo til at least December.
But just to let you know, I'd rather be in Durango, living with a new canine roommate, Skipper, and spending the weekends exploring.

Brandi

I'm not a huge music person, I mostly listen to the radio, to the chagrin of most hipsters. For every mood, emotion, and contemplation there is one singer I turn to.

Brandi Carlile is in one word, AWESOME.

Her lyrics aren't grating, typical, or cliche. She's good enough to make this blog, when no country singer has. I know, shocking. Though Miranda Lambert comes close with her lovely song, "The House That Built Me." Check Brandi out. I recommend the following:

-The Story
-Fall Apart Again
-Throw It All Away

Oh, and she's from Washington.

National Parks

For all my world travel ambitions, I'm in love with America's national parks. They are so awesome and beautiful and many of them are within driving distance. Liz and I were going to go to Havasupai Falls but they ran out of reservations, which totally stinks. But there is a lot of summer so I don't have any excuses (except money, job responsibilities, and travel companions). However, I am determined, so if you'd like some adventure, let me know!

Special shout out to Mr. Ken Burns. Thank you for such a special undertaking, you lucky duck. Also, Ansel Adams, Mr. John Muir and President Teddy Roosevelt.

National Parks I'm going to visit:
Yellowstone (I went there in October, but need to go back)


Glacier (I've been there too, but I was little)


Zions and Bryce Canyon


Yosemite


Grand Tetons


Denali (and all of Alaska)

Animals and Springtime

Animals. What more is there to say? I love them. Anyone who knows me, knows I love them. I felt like such a nerd the other day because at work I walked past this woman's computer and she had a picture of her cat on her desktop, and I smiled so big. Just seeing a picture of an animal makes me happy. (Just for the record, I think cat ladies are kinda weird and most of the time their cats are obese and I feel bad that they have to live with a cat lady.)


Also, the weather is changing. Spring is here and summer is on it's way. I took a walk today and it felt so good! Can't wait to break out the shorts and t-shirts and ride my bike.

Don't Know Much About Technology

So I feel this blog is a contradiction of who I am and what I strive to be. I know technology has made a lot of advances and has improved our lives for the better. I believe that to mostly pertain to medical uses and broadcasting General Conference around the world. During the summers, I'm hardly on the computer or internet, AND I LOVE IT! I don't miss it. Then it's back to school where I have to check my email and Facebook so as to not be a total social outcast. But with this blog I feel like a sham. To post I have to use a computer, sitting in a chair inside for long periods of time, and then my writings are published for total strangers to read (if they want. I know my own family members don't even keep up with this thing). I'm not the kind of girl to be "plugged-in" all the time, and so I dislike that this blog is just another thing that has me spend time on a computer.
Talking about being "plugged-in", I think technology to be a crutch to most people. For example, when I go on a road trip, I use a road atlas. Some people use a Garmin. Does the Garmin lady know more than the atlas? NO. But with most things, it's all in the operator, or person involved. Take time to actually look at the map, figure out your route and drive. Yeah it takes a little thought and work, but isn't that what our brains are for?
Here's another piece of technology I do not like. iPhones. Ever been around someone with an iPhone? You might as well not even be in the room. There have been countless times when I've been talking to someone and seen the reflection of their screen in the window and seen Tetris or some other game being played. Sorry I'm so boring you felt like distracting yourself with a computer game. Being bored isn't a bad thing. Being entertained every minute of every day is. I will argue that with anyone, anytime, so bring it on.

Patriotism

I'm totally cheating right now and writing this post from work. It's Saturday and totally dead. My lead went on a ski break and her computer is the only one
with internet, so I've hopped on to write.

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are going on right now and so I'm not getting much sleep staying up til 11 pm to watch it all. I love the Olympics. My friend Katie and I were making cookie dough and getting ready to watch the games. The introductory song came on and Katie said, "Oh my gosh! I love the olympic music. It almost makes me cry!" It's so nice to meet people who share my patriotism. America is awesome! Keep up the medal count!

Go Red, White and Blue!!!

And this guy isn't American, but he's a gold medal winner and my Olympic crush.

Yeah for the Olympics!

My Favorite Place

For all my world travels, there's a place I love the best. I can't shake the connection I feel to the landscape, the people, and the way of life. I think about this place a lot and wonder if I will ever feel at home somewhere as I have here.

I just finished watching Out of Africa, which is an amazing movie. I love the Columbia Basin and Washington like Karen loves Africa and her "farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills." People didn't understand her, and they for sure don't understand me, and that's okay.

Dad

Happy birthday Dad!!

It was my dad's birthday on the 21st, so yes this is a little late. I heard this song over Christmas break, and even though it is a song for the holidays, it describes my dad quite well. Click on the picture to get the link to the song.


Here are some reasons my dad is super cool:
-He can fix anything. He can even tell you how to fix it over the phone.
-He's super smart. He's the only one that can compete with my mom in Trivial pursuit. But it's more than that. He's an engineer, physicist, mathematician, chemist, architect, brick mason, entrepreneur, and lots of other things. You know MacGyver? He's got nothin on my dad.
-He's really athletic. Thank goodness, or else all us kids would be hopeless. Sorry, Mom.
-He's looks like Harrison Ford. They even have matching scars on their chins.
-He takes good care of his family.
-He wears flip flops. He's very chill and laid back.
-Whenever I see a Chevy Silverado, I think of my dad.
Love ya dad.

Deer Valley

So I've been quite the slacker. I haven't posted anything for more than a month. But I need to realize I can post even if I don't have anything profound to say.
I'm in the groove, listening to some piano music, and most importantly, it isn't my bedtime yet, so blogging it is.

I started at Deer Valley Resort almost a month ago and it's been my life these last couple of weeks. It's been my life not only because I really enjoy it, but also because it's required. Most of you who read this already know that. Here's what's been happening.

4:30 A.M.: I wake up and try not to bang around too much as I get ready so that my roommate, Holly, can still sleep.

6:10 A.M.: I catch the bus that takes me to Park City.

7:25 A.M.: I get to work and eat breakfast. Deer Valley treats their employees very well. We have our own employee dining room and there is free breakfast, cereal and bagels, every morning.

7:45: I go to work. My official title is "Skier Services Sales Agent." This means I help guests who come in book rentals, child care, lessons, and whatever else they might need.

The people I work with are great. Most of them are women and none are under 35. I'm the only full time agent in my area. I work 40 hours a week while everyone else works 20 or less.
I remember the first day of training and having that lost feeling that I've had at all of my jobs, and then reminding myself that in a week or so I would have it all down. And I was right. I now have the hang of things. But everyday I learn something new, which is great for fending off the boredom/routine feeling one can get.

Noon: I eat lunch in The Spoon, the employee dining room. We have all the menu options the guests do, but at a discounted rate and we pay by swiping our ID cards. I've had Tilapia, Rack of Lamb, Prime Rib, Crab, Risotto, and lots more. I've started to look like it too. I now pack my own lunches to save calories and money. I do have the lunch once a week when they have fish, because it's good for me. I can't get Mahi Mahi for $3.50.

1:00 P.M.: The afternoons are spent conducting "marketing research." I ride up the lifts with guests and ask them questions about the resort, which I record on a Palm Pilot. Then I ski down by myself, whichever runs I choose. Yeah, pretty rough, I know. ;)

5:20 P.M.: Work is done. I catch the bus back to Provo.

7 P.M.: I get home. I have a couple of hours of freedom to check emails, spend time with friends, or whatever.

9:30 P.M.: Lights out to be ready to do it all over again the next day.