good thing

wow... good thing I picked a fall color scheme for my blog because apparently I have become the worst person in the world at updating.

I FINALLY WENT TO A BYU GAME!!!

Sadly Sean and I rarely make it to the games, as we are too cheap to get season tickets, and too lazy to think ahead to buy tickets to the good games. Thankfully a super sweet neighbor/wardy had 4 tickets to the BYU v. CSU game that they couldn't use. Without even asking Sean I told her, "Yes! We want them all." Almost immediately I went to get them from her (extremely adorable by the way) house, and Sean started sending out texts to see if anyone would like to come with us. We have this little dilemma of not really making friends. So it actually was quite a stretch for us to fill the seats (seeing as both male brothers of ours already had tickets), but Ryan, Becky, and baby Davin came with us and we had a great time watching BYU slaughter. It was awesome to physically be at the game, in the mood, and watch some of the really cool turnovers. It was also kind of refreshing to be around others who could commiserate at the ever present Max Hall PIC. (Sadly, there is always at least one a game.) I miss the cougs, and I miss being a coug. I always had friends who said they wanted to stay in high school forever, and I really didn't understand... but sometimes I think I would like to stay in college/go back forever. But going to the game was AWESOME.

Thanks again for the tickets Rebecca!!!!

I didn't blog in june!

oh my gosh! I didn't blog in June. I actually feel a little guilty for this. I mean, what is the point of having a blog if you don't even update it every month!? Alright... so here's my lame excuse:

I legitimately have a job! And I am actually kind of useful in my job. It is kind of weird having a real position that requires responsibility. I mean as a TA I was basically in charge of the kids' grades, but if I screwed up, graded too hard or too soft... it wasn't like the professor really knew or came after me. He wanted the average to be in a certain place and I ensured it got there. Now if the grass dies, the phone stops working, or the maintenance guy disappears, it is kind of my fault. I really like it, but I was walking home for lunch today (trying to get my 6,000 steps for the day) and I was thinking, "Wow, responsibility feels weird." I mean I always tell people in interviews and stuff that I am a good leader, and that I handle responsibility well, but usually you don't actually have to worry about it much when I only answer the telephone. I really enjoy that I have opportunities to take charge and learn some skills.
But it sure is busy!

Other than that in June I... well I think I went home teaching (I hope I did). I went to Idaho to run 2 extremely fabulous races! First I went home to run the 19th annual Bone N'Back (I will have to put some pics up later). The race is a forty mile relay from Idaho Falls to a little city called Bone. There are 8 legs so each person runs 5 miles. I got the stretch that goes almost completely downhill and ran it (astoundingly) in 39:40!!! Then the next weekend (technically July) I went to run the Fourth of July Firecracker 5K. My family really entered this one! We had a 6 man family, and sadly my 55 year old father beat me... again; which, by the way, was my only goal this year. He is a beast and I really love racing with him. I will not be posting my time for that race until I actually can beat my father, so you can just keep guessing at my speed.

I have now run about 5 races this summer. I think it was a smart choice to kind of spread my fun and money over the whole summer rather than blow it all on one triathlon. I still really want to do one, but have to make sure I will feel good while doing it/ get in better shape before I try. We haven't gone hiking at all becuase it is so ridiculously hot here in Utah. Not that I see the sun much because I work indoors, but the heat and crazy rainstorms have seriously hindered my weekend plans. Sean says we can start camping more in the following months... we will see.

Well I will hopefully get some pictures up, and of course blog about my fabulous vacation to Redfish (!!!), later.

ARCHES!

For the first time in my life, I went camping ALONE with a boy!

OK, it was just my husband. We went down to Arches National Park and discovered we really like hiking together. Enough that I may even try to weasel one in at Redfish (sorry guys)!

The landscape was fabulous and it was surprisingly easy to hike most of the trails in our quick 2 day adventure. I HIGHLY recommend it, even if you aren't big hikers.

We did run into trouble trying to find a campspot, and this time it was Sean who was about to turn the car around and head back home. I got a book from the Rangers and after tonz of calls we found... well I want to say it was an open spot at a campground. In reality it was a field with no water access and one port-a-potty. But we made a little fire and had a great time! I may not have been clean, but I was still smiling!

I'm With Stupid --->

I have a weird collection of T-Shirts. And I hate to loose them. But I have to admit that having a friend's mom who owned a graphics shop really didn't help my wardrobe. And to be honest some of these are outright embarrassing to wear in public.


Hence, when I know one of my Favoritos has to go, I find alternative uses for them. No, I'm not a crappy quilter, a roommate pointed out that old shirts make great cleaning rags.

And in order to replace the old, I'm trying to collect running shirts. Some are really ugly but I no longer will enter a race unless I can guarantee I get a shirt!!! Wish me luck!

A Good Mothers Day Morning

Well since people actually read this blog I figured I had better put something at least a little uplifting.
This morning I got to talk to Elder Jake Waddoups (the infamous studmuffin)! He is such a cool little goof it kills me. We tried really hard to get most of the family on the cell phones (my new cool phone from work actually has pretty amazing speakers!). I'm not sure Sammer could hear much, but it was really fun to feel like the family was all together. It makes me anxious for Redfish!!! The weirdest part of this morning, as I woke up (on time) I went to push myself out of bed, and a BEE stung me! Right in the middle of my finger! I thought I was just having some sort of funny morning pain in my finger, and then I looked down, and in the semi-darkness I saw this little thing moving around. It took me a surprisingly long time to figure out I actually had been stung, and then I realized there isn't really any rememdy for bee sting, you just hope the sucker dies for what he did to you. (evil laugh) Oh and he did die. (evil laugh)

I finally uploaded pictures off my camera, and realized we have done some stuff in the last couple months. We went shooting with Dr. Ludlow. He had been doing combat shooting with the Guard (recently retired) and was trying to teach me how. I'm not a very good quick shot so I mostly missed the target, but when I took my time I did alright. Sean is also not that great when handling my camera, he doesn't understand that digital zoom sucks, and so you have to get close, so sorry if they are crappy pictures.


We also had some what of a failed attempt at a vacation. Well it wasn't very relaxing for me anyways. We decided to go down to St. George (warm, sunny, and lots of stuff to do) for a weekend. I got off work and we made plans. Turns out I ended up packing alone for like 2 hours Friday morning. I waited another hour before I finally shooved Sean in the car, who slept the whole way there anyways. We drove straight to Zion National Park to go hiking. Would have been awesome but it was late in the day to start a real hike, and Sean was still a little wiped out. I really was trying to be a good sport, but I don't like having to be in charge of every decision and then still not get to enjoy what I choose to do. We went on a cool little hike called Hidden Canyon (See pics). We decide we will go on a bigger hike tomorrow and go back to St. George. The next morning I waited 3-4 hours just for Sean to wake up! Yes, I tried to get him up. No, I didn't try very hard. By then I knew we would be too late to do the hike I wanted, and there wasn't much else for us to do. Needless to say I kind of lost it and started packing us back up again. By about 2 in the afternoon we were back on the road again, and had a nice night back in Spanish Fork. All I can say is... I tried, and we had fun while it lasted.

Blogging Duldrums..

guys... I have been sad. My life has been sad. And this blog is looking particularly sad. The only problem is that there is exactly nothing to write about. We take almost no vacations. We only rarely go out to dinner, and it is weird to photo just going out. We are kind of lame and don't plan cool outings (although I am really mad about missing the Krishna Festival of Colors AGAIN). And we have a relatively slow social life. So here is my blog about nothing....


... no really....



NOTHING.

Birthdays and Working

Whew... working takes time! Not a real problem for me, but it is weird all the sudden not really having time for birthdays. Sean and I are both in March, and since we live in Spanish Fork I also learned that Sean's Mom, Uncle, and Dad (technically in April) are all very close. So instead of just having a nice dinner together, we found ourselves at Grandma's, at Mutual, at soccor, at in-law's and about twelve other places other than spending our birthdays together. We love love love Tucanos and usually try to do a birthday lunch there sometime inbetween our days, but this time we had to wait forever. We ended up rushing through before we went on a mini-vacation to Idaho this last Friday. I was feeling a little sneaky taking off an extra hour off work just to go and eat (I made it up earlier that morning but still), and it was SO worth it! It was kind of weird for me to notice the small changes. Like they don't bring you the fried bananas anymore, you pick them up at the buffet. And they have a really interesting/weird/kinda gross suishi that is new. I don't suggest it, but I'm biased towards the authentic Japanese (or Californian) sushi. But the meat and the potatoes are EXCELLENT. I am falling deeply for the garlic beef and the top sirlion. Oh and join the birthday club!!! The free meal makes it super-cheap if you go for lunch (in which you only miss out on 4 meats).
Oh and this weekend we returned the truck; kind of a funny story, but probably not for public eyes. Anyways today on my walk home from work, I was trying to debate whether to hit the gym while Sean is gone examining his knowledge, or if I should go grocery shopping. I turn the last little corner and realized... neither. I am pretty much stuck at home until Sean comes back with our little car! I feel exactly like I did in high school when Jake first got his drivers liscence and would take the Jeep without asking... a little underpriveldedged. I don't think we need two cars, but for some reason the men in my life have never really thought I deserved PRIORITY when it came to vehicle usage. Why him playing soccor takes priority over me going to the gym is still a stumper! I mean, think about it. Or don't, either way I think I will probably loose. Sad but true.

how do they do it?

Kudos to moms/married poeple who cook, workout, and basically are just amazing. I don't know how it is done. Since I have started working full time, I also have been trying to go the gym frequently (training and it makes Sean and I both happy). So when this factors into the day I figure: 1 h wake-up and get ready+ 9 hour work day +2 hours gym and clean up + 8 hours sleep (yes, I am a sleep nazi that gets a full 8 or more hours) that leaves a mere 4 hours in the day for anything else. Granted, a meal I make usually only takes 30 minutes or so, but still it is hard. Sean has been a star and has been cooking basically all week. I'm not complaining because I love being busy and keeping up-pace with things, and Sean is an excellent cook, but I do feel lazy about not cooking. I guess in time I will just have to figure it out, but in the mean time: SERIOUS KUDOs to those who already have! any suggestions?

Life...

So surprisingly not a lot exciting has been going one. I mean we have a good time. I am beginning to really understand the TGIF philosophy of life. Sean is studying for and taking exams etc. I am SERIOUSLY slacking on the cooking scale... but... well i guess this is sort of exiciting... dah dun du dun---

 I'm going to run a triathlon! I have not exactly signed up yet, but I have been training pretty hard at the gym and am just trying to work in a convenient way to get to a pool to practice swimming.  Luckily I think I'm an okay swimmer as is... but I guess we will see. The race is in Salem (little town south of Spanish Fork... yes there is stuff south of Spanish Fork!!) You swim 800 meters, bike 12 miles, and then run a 5k (3.1 miles).  It is just a "sprint" tri, but still I think it will be a beast! Anyone want to do it with me??? I mean think about it, it could be fun. 

oh dear...

I have a NEW job. I know.. this is ridiculous. But after I started working with Career Step (slightly frustrating/boring) I was offered a sweet position to work at the Spanish Fork Clinic. The pay is 30% better, the job is more challenging/I will learn new tasks, and I will no longer need a car to get to work. So... yes this is wild. Yes, I still feel bad about only working for a week. Yes, for some reason I had a really hard time trying to decide. I mean this should have been a really simple, go for the best job type deal... but I'm hoping that I made the right decision in the end. The people at Career Step have been stupendous about it. I was feeling really guilty until the asst. manager said, "It is only a week. And we had 150 other applicants so I'm sure we'll be able to fill the position quickly." (by the way: that is so SICK. 150 people for receptionist!) I just keep hoping that I'm not ruining someone else's prayers or deep hope and desire to get this job at the clinic.

Oh and I'm not a complete looser (to post on Valentines) I am just sick with worrying and with eating what I believe was a bad burger.