tuesday tradition.

 jared and i both love movies, but movies and treats are expensive (relatively speaking). apparently when you are young, in school, dating and thinking about the future, you have to be smarter with your monies. so we usually follow provo protocol and stick to dollar movies. however, we have recently begun a new tradition.  going to new movies for stimulus tuesday. movies are half price. popcorn and soda are a dollar. plus there is hardly anyone in the theatre and the seats have the armrests that go up so you can spread out and cuddle and stuff. yeah, we're gross.

last night we went and saw "we bought a zoo". oh my goodness. it was such a great movie. animals in distress (and widows/widowers, poor matt damon) are a major soft spot for me and i almost cried at least 17 times. i highly recommend this movie.

we also attempted (many many failed attempts) to take a picture of ourselves on our little date. for whatever reason, we just don't really have any together. maybe because we are always with each other and don't really need 'em? i don't know. but it was hysterical trying to get a decent picture and i am pretty sure that 19 efforts later, we still failed.

we are going to try harder to be a photo friendly couple.

oh ps we also went to DI to get some books for crafts that i am making and look at this fantastic find:

we found one of those enormous peppercorn grinders (like the kind they use in nice restaurants when they grind the pepper on your entree for you or on cool cooking shows) for $1!!! luckily, we both love black pepper. i am excited to make something for dinner tonight so that we can use it.

oh, and i still want to go buy a zoo. but for now, i will just have to anxiously await my earth day tradition of going to see the DisneyNature movie, chimpanzee!!! every earth day i go see their new movie. i almost cried in the preview. and opening week- Disney donates money to help save the chimps. i told jared that it's for charity, we have to go.

summer freedom.

and i really do mean free.

one of the biggest perks about utah summers: there are adventures aplenty that won't cost a dime. 

for example:

movies in the park. every monday, at rock canyon park- grab a cuddle buddy, some snacks and blankets and enjoy a new flick on a giant screen with a few hundred of your closest, thrifty friends.

trail runs: now that all the snow is melted, there are endless trails to choose from. weather you want to pound it out on foot or grab your bike- lot's of options.

then there is camping: if you already have own or have access to camping equipment, you can have a free night under the stars. this last weekend some friends and i did just that. grabbed some climbing and camping gear and headed for the mountains. my friend fuzzy and i threw on our matching shirts (we bond over a love of north face-literally, it is how we became friends) and scrambled up a mountain. i have approximately 14 cuts and scratches as a result of this decision but i would never take it back. i am glad that i have friends that go into adventure mode with me... i don't know if i am fearless or just stupid when it comes to this sort of thing. but no worries, having fuzzy as a wingman was much safer than the free climbing i barely survived beforehand. i know. i sound so hardcore. but i'm not. 

i could barely move by the time we got back to the valley but there was no time for rest and lollygagging, because i had big saturday night plans with the boys....

i had no idea this man was so sexy. and we touched. i never get starstruck and i definitely was not freaking out but i WAS having the time of my life. it turned out to be the perfect evening for some tim, luke bryan and the band perry (ang and z- i thought about you guys the whole time- esp when l.bryan was busting out his "rain makes corn song).

and believe it or not, this was actually free too. gary had VIP suite tickets to the concert and i was one of the lucky ladies that was able to go. luckily, i also have pretty friends- so while walking around, a random man offered us pit passes. hence how i got right up to the stage. country music brings out all sorts of interesting types. i was groped, spilled on, and shoved around - but again, it was worth it. 

last week we went to see thurston moore in concert and then this week...wait for it...bright eyes! salt lake has some surprisingly cool summer events open to the public and i cannot wait.

i am moving into my new apartment next week (cannot wait to live with anna and alexa) so the rest of this week will be consumed by working, running, yoga'ing, music, packing, boating, climbing, and hopefully some sleep here or there. i am a creature of habit- the packing activity aside- it will be a fairly normal, jam packed week in the blunderous life of beckie.

but PS: i have had a lot of people asking about where i have been and why i have been unresponsive to their friendly attempts of communication and i apologize. this is why. i am sucking the life out of my summer before school starts...in 20 days. and with one of my best friends being here this summer (for the first time in years), i have been taking advantage of that too. sorryyyyy.

rain.

this is how i felt today. i have been wanting to check out some of the rock climbing in rock canyon. so today, for my day off, i went running up there... well it turned into a torrential downpour like fire and brimstone. i could hardly see anything at some points. i will be honest, it felt kinda hardcore to be racing up a mountain with the rain lashing at my entire body. so refreshing. but running on wet rocks and bouldering off trail to find good climbing spots- not the wisest thing that i have ever done (especially all by myself) and i have a scrape the size of texas to prove that. but it was all for the cause. 

why does summer have to be almost over?!

it is for real.

i am beginning to feel like summer is actually here. it is about time. 

validating reasons for this onset of acknowledgement of the summer solstice are:

1. running. it has been fantastic to walk outside at 9 PM, dusk is barely setting in and the temperature is perfect. no more frozen lungs and burning throats. and it is a lot easier for me to convince myself to get off my butt and grab the miles. in fact-- it is one of the best parts of my day.

2. work is hard. the summer sales season is going full throttle and it is embarrassing how well i know the security industry. but i am grateful for my job, that it does come fairly easy to me, and that i am given responsibilities that keep me busy and challenged everyday. 

3. there is just so much to do when it is beautiful outside! hiking, running, picnic'ing, reading, bike rides, swimming, tennis, fishing, bonfires, gardening, and our flag football team starts next week. gary was back for part of the week and we made the most of the visit. check out the giant snow cave we hiked down into!

there was a giant glacier of snow that had not melted yet, at the foot of the falls. it was at least 20 ft. deep.  the falls created a giant tunnel that ran all the way down the side of the mountain. it was quite the adventure and really one of the coolest places that i have gone exploring.

4. books. with no school right now, i have plenty of time to read just what i want to read and i have been plowing through them. i did finish the count of monte cristo and i loved it. it is definitely on my top 15 now.   summertime or not, there is just never enough time to read all the literary wonders of the world. but i do my best.

5. baseball. basketball is over. and i am always sad about that. especially this year, because i had such a heart wrenching season with jazz. but this does mean that baseball is in full swing and lovely as ever. win or lose, i will be faithful to the cardinals. and wimbledon starts on monday AND i have a new tennis buddy, yesss.

6. tan lines. i am really good at slathering on my spf, but the lines still happen.

it was so great to have him back even for just a few days. 

the other night we also went and saw

this movie has received shockingly high ratings and it was very well done. it was the story of the martin willie handcart company. there were definitely some emotional parts. when we were walking out of the film, andrew just said "well...that was not funny at all. but it sure does make a man think". his statement made me laugh, but it was true. i dedicate so much of my spiritual study to deeper doctrine and biblical topics and sometimes i forget how many wonderful lessons there are to be learned from the generations just before my own. 

7. city days. this week is strawberry days! next week is the manti temple pageant, then i will be in nyc/dc and then back in time for the david gray concert, pioneer day, another half marathon, and a bagillion other fun, local activities.

ah summer, i welcome you with bronzed, open arms!

ouchy.

this is the most that i have ever run in my life. i find myself addicted to this kind of pain. whoopsies.

luckily sunday is a day of rest.

i cannot seem to descend a flight of stairs without awkward limping and painful moans, but i am sure happy.

and joely is here. i thought that this whole "just showing up at my door and surprising me" thing would get old. 

false. it doesn't. i even managed a gleeful jump upon his arrival. considering my current physical state, that says a lot. mama- joely says hi. he loves nancy.

so thrifty.

i drink herbal tea like it is going out of style. i  have a strong affinity for its taste and health benefits. it tastes good, is fairly inexpensive and practically no sugar. so i don't have to be constantly worried about my teeth rotting or drinking my daily calorie allowance. oh and the brand that i drink... organic, packaging made from recycled paper and wind power. and bonus- the tea bag tags all have a little bit of yogi wellness advice. excellent. i have been hunting for this:

for months. literally months. i wanted a mug, not a travel thermos (i hate stainless steel fingerprints and smudgeies) and one with a lid so that i could keep my tea bag in there (i like to let it seep forever to gain stronger flavor) and so i would not spill because i tend to walk around a lot with my mugs. there is a newer version that i just didn't like as much. but they don't make this mug anymore. i tried amazon, ebay, everything that i could think of. i guess that it is just that great because you cannot find it. JUST last night, literally, i was telling someone how frustrated i was because i just wanted this damn mug and was about to give up and just get the newer model anyway.

well what do you think that beckie found at DI today for $.75. that's right. the exact mug pictured above. i was so excited and hung onto it for dear life will i searched the books. seventy five cents! i could find that in my couch. the church is true. i am pretty sure that my tea tasted even better tonight. or my taste buds were just coated in elation. either way, i was really excited. and i am telling you, this mug is spectacular. perfect, cute, comfy (amazing handle with bumpy finger things) and mess proof.  it is going everywhere with me.

oh and i found a ton of books. including one that arthur had just finished reading. i called him while on my book hunt and said,

"i found the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. it is a dollar. should i get it?"

he replied "it is really good, you will love it. buy it. well unless you want to borrow mine...but i  know how much you love to own your own books..."

book shopping phone calls are normal for us. we aren't almost lovers for nothing, he knows me so well.

boy nights...and beckie.

this is just one reason why it is more fun for me to play with boys than girls.

last weekend, i accompanied a group of men to the go expo and it was spectacular. nail polish and high heels have their place. but an entire expo center dedicated to local, outdoor activities? yes, please. did you know that if you are surrounded by active people- you are 70% more likely to be active yourself??  true fact. here in provo, you can find people of all ages and sizes out and about any moment of the day.  whether they are out running (lot's of running. i chalk it up to all of the sexual suppression..but no std's and strong cardiovascular systems? why not.), cycling, playing, etc. and it is inspiring.

they even let us borrow some shoes and try out bouldering walls. and check out this bad boy:

holy rocks. it is a revolving rock climbing wall with adjustable incline! woah. amazing. i want one. of course, nothing beats the real thing on real rock in the real outdoors...but this sure would be fun to have around. it was fun walking around and trying the different exercise machines, learning about holistic medicines, and almost being talked into buying a surf board (that one was not so local...).

special treat:

curious to know what happens in an apartment full of men late at night?

well it started out with some bieber...and turned to this:

boys will be boys.

his ankles may be smaller than my thumbs, but kenny has surprising strength...

that is beautiful form. look at derek hovering like a little angel.

and there really is nothing out of the ordinary happening here. these sort of moments are a regular occurrence.

however, as the night wears on and judgement becomes a little bit more hazy, the real fun begins.

papa derek wants to give it a go.. with all of us.
little one, kenny, and some beckie thrown on there.

the mount was more difficult than you think.

and crash landings happen. and though you think that you will do better every time because you have figured out the kinks in the system- you are wrong. the crashes tend to get progressively worse. but i still recommend giving it a try.

believe it or not, i did not die. well, almost...of laughter. i feel like i burn more calories, laughing with these guys, than i do in a full workout.

sunday was a lovely day (church starts at 8:30 AM now...we have a lot of day left afterwards) of laying around in the sunshiny park, reading books (born to run was SO good), getting back tickles and enjoying god's beautiful earth. provo summer is just beginning and so far, so good. 

joely, please come back.

life without school...for now.

i managed to stop turning the pages of my book for a little bit (but of course i am that nerd that brings it with me everywhere i go, i just never know when i will get bored.) and enjoy the past couple days of my "vacation". and by vacation i simply mean that i am not in classes for this spring term. the summer season has begun and work is piling up. but all is well.

yesterday was kyle's birthday. we took the typical provo route and went to dinner (oh, and to all you vegetarians out there...do not go to a steakhouse and ask what their vegetarian options are. because even if you do so as nicely as possible, they will not like you and your options are lettuce or empty carbs. nice.).

it was a grand time of wardie bonding and birthday boy love. i just love kyle hemming. and his mama. he is the best neighbor and such a wonderful friend. he can make make me laugh myself into a stitch and de-stress my life with a late night parlay and earth fruits run. and mama hemming sends us treats. does not get much better.

it then turned into a sport filled evening, beginning with a game of some hardcore hoops,

and then the first intramural kickball game for the kicking kittens (i thought that ball busters would be a better team name...but byu did not agree). 

byu intramurals are amongst some of the most ferocious competition (i am serious... something about that championship t shirt...god is not on those fields, byu or not) that i have ever participated in. even though this is an elementary game, i am prepared for things to get brutal. not that i am competitive or anything.

today was in the seventies and perfect. just perfect. birdies singing, flowers blooming, not a cloud in the sky.

what's a girl to do with a free afternoon and a day like this??  load on the spf, grab a a buddy and  take off for the mountains.

ang and i have resolved to do this every week. she is one of my best and only girlfriends, and though stolen away to matrimony, she makes a pretty valiant effort at spending time with me. but Z is great, so he could come too and we would have just as much fun.

i will admit...i was a little nervous about this hike. ang texted me and said "let's leave at 3. and bring your headlamp." ummm...it doesn't get dark until after 8pm now... but ok. safety first. suffice it to say that we have had some really interesting hiking adventures that involve off roading, free climbing, ending up in different cities...but it is all part of the adventure.

upon returning home i realized that i was quite starving and i really really really really really wanted some avocados. i figured that i would take advantage of the nice weather and just walk to the grocery store...well i pushed my luck. they were fresh out of the green goodness i was craving. i was stuck with carrots. good thing i love carrots, huh?

tarahumaras.

right now i am reading the book born to run. by christopher mcdougall.

it is so good. i am plowing through it but at the same time it is taking me forever (and by forever i mean more than 3 days) because i want to make sure that i read every word and soak in every ounce of adventure. i will keep my running shoes (the tarahumaras go barefoot or barefootish) but i want to be these people. or at least have their endurance. and some of their iskiate. don't worry, i already googled it and called world market. they have it.

i cannot stop reading it.  if you need me, i am curled up in a ball with a bag of blow pops, reading my eyes out. and my left leg is twitching because i really want to go out and run (or maybe it is the sugar from all the blow pops...). 

i love technology.

technology is on a list of many things that i have a love/hate relationship with. when it works, i love it. when it doesn't- i hate it. and i also hate that i suddenly realize just how dependent i have become on it.

but today has been one of our better days.

this evening, the ces fireside was broadcasted all over the world. and how fortunate is it that we are able to tune it and watch anywhere we go?  sister wixom shared one of my favorite quotes from president ezra taft benson.

"Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the
Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face
is to us."

— Ezra Taft Benson

president kimball passed away that exact day that i was born, thus president benson was the prophet that i grew up listening to, praying for and wishing that i could meet. anytime he is referenced i feel a nostalgic comfort from his words. i love that quote. and it reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures, mosiah 5:13, "for how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

food for thought. but how great is it that we have access to so many ways to grow in the gospel? these broadcasts, mormon.org, mormon messages, the new missionary sites, etc.  there are so many resources available to us that make the words of the prophets all the more accessible every single day. 

after the fireside i was able to have a little fun time with hillwawee woo. i miss my sister so much.

and yes...those are rather normal facial expressions for our video chats (or any chats that we have..).

distance is much easier to deal with when you can have some skype sessions. while technology has its downfalls and may cater to our laziness, it also has its benefits if used wisely. i am grateful for the easy access that i have to my family and friend  while we are spread out around the world.

but it is hard to beat face to face interaction. i miss actually laughing with my sister. actually cuddling with her and talking to her. playing with her hair, poking her little potato feet, and just being with her.  tonight was spent with 6 boys in a tent and we had a blast. playing games, laying around and just laughing. face to face is my favorite (some of the best moments you can have with a person are just being with them. no matter the activity or what is being said. just being.). second is letters (not emails. not facebook. but real, handwritten notes and letters. the appreciation and feeling  behind a letter can be invaluable). i guess that gchat would be last on the list. but either way, i will take what i can get.

oh and ps...

it was announced that osama was killed.  i am not sure how i feel about all of it. i realize that he did  absolutely awful things and i love this country and i am so grateful for my freedoms. i have several friends that are active in the military now. my own dad was in the air force. and i know that i am blessed to have everything that i do. but regardless of his evil, people were celebrating the fact that he had been killed. am i wrong for feeling uneasy about that?  when 9/11 happened and they showed us pictures of people partying in the streets in the middle east over our tragedy, we were disgusted...but how are the people at the white house that are celebrating the assassination of osama much better? 

this was us today.

this was them, then.

a life is a life. and maybe i am simply being naive. but i just cannot bring myself to see the killing of a human being as something to celebrate. i realize that we  are also celebrating a victory over terrorism and for that, i could not be more relieved.  perhaps this is one of those times that i should just keep my opinions to myself. because i am just not informed enough. i just know that all of it is sad. it makes me ill. i hate all of it. signs of the times, i suppose.

my cheeks are sore.

because i cannot stop smiling.

these past couple weeks have been spent with all boys. great boys. i have had fun watching boy movies, talking about how awful women are to boys, favorite camping gear, basketball and the best way to prevent snoring...but i was in dyer need of some girl time. thank you, vale (who would have ever thought that I would say that...). 

oh yes. we most definitely went and saw this last night and it was worth every moment. we could not stop smiling and feeling happy. the kid is just so darn adorable.  it wasn't just the hair. or the smile or the dancing or voice...it was just a good hearted kid living his dreams. i jfelt happy for him and for the reminder for everyone to go for it. maybe selling out madison square garden in 22 minutes is a bit of a lofty goal, but the overall message was inspiring and a good reminder. and as cheesy as it is, vale and i could not help ourselves from singing along...and singing once we got home...and dancing and singing some more...we were like baby baby baby oh....

from our hearts to yours, we love you.

and then we got a little carried away.

green week.

i can tell when it is going to rain at least 2 days in advance. i literally feel it in my bones. well...my bone (the one that has the big metal rod in it...).  but right now the rest of my bones are telling me that this is going to a good week (and the slightly aching femur is indicating that there may be some scattered showers). as per the usual, church was nice. my sunday walk was incredibly pleasant as the sun shone down on me and made me so happy. right after church i went to see some married friends. and what did these lovely people have awaiting for me?  a beckiestyle easter basket. and by beckiestyle, of course i am referring to a reusable, eco friendly shopping bag.

and not just any reusable bag, but a super cute, ever so useful, drawstring target, earth day special one! (everyone go to target...they are free this week to support earth day on friday)

and in keeping with that theme, check out its contents:

do they know me or what?!  gardening tools and flower seeds (for my earth day tradition), a green candle and baking goods?  i already planted one packet outside my front door and i am quite anxious to see what will bloom.

the weather has been so cooperative and i cannot wait for this to be a regular occurance.  yesterday joely's text said 

j "it is so beautiful here. going to go for a motorcycle ride, too bad you aren't here".

what a bittersweet thing to say. luckily my geology buddy will be doing the greater portion of his summer studies here in the beautiful land of utah. good times to be had... who wouldn't want to learn about rocks?

right now my house is clean, it smells like flowery wonderful goodness (mixture of open windows and the candle from my easter bag) and i am feeling rather relaxed about this week's upcoming exams. i have studied hard and intend to make high marks but we shall see :) on friday i was able to spend some time in the temple and perform ordinances that i had not participated in for quite some time. it was exactly what i needed to be reminded of the blessings that the Lord offers to our minds and our spirits when we live our lives according to His will. though i am a bit of a senior student now, i know that those promises still apply to even a twenty five year old in a freshman prerequisite class.

and yes, i am making my life appear rather breezy but let's be honest...my right eye will not stop twitching from fatigue, i have some really attractive stress acne going and i just want to live off of cadburry mini eggs and carrots.  the summer sales season has begun and that is just great. sales reps are awesome...like mosquito bites...

summer 2011, here i come.

ions.

i really appreciate positive people. but i should say that i also appreciate down to earth people. and i really admire those that have found the balance in being positive in all situations and realistic. i am grateful for the way that my mama raised me. there were no pity parties in our house.  if something happened, we got a,

"that is too bad and i'm really sorry that you are upset (a tiny shower of sympathy/empathy)...but (here comes the lesson part)...it's over. so what can you do better next time (of course as a teenager i felt that she was always telling me that i was in the wrong, but in hindsight i see what a great value of responsibility she taught me), it's over so no need to fester anger and dwell on it, you don't have control over everything (i still have a hard time with that one...), and so what are you going to do now?"

i have never been the most optomistic person in the world because i always wanted to be realistic and not be disappointed by anything. i think that i also fear coming off as "fake".  but i am learning more and more to be positive and to look for the good in situations and people. it allows me to find happiness no matter what is going on or what is not going my way. i may have a whine session here and there, but i know that i have complete control over how i handle situations. i am lucky enough to have some really pure hearted people in my life that are examples of this to me everyday. and i suppose with the world going up in smoke, my life is a cake walk. i am blessed.

while in st. george...

so as i made quite clear in the last post- the weather was rather unfriendly to us during our trip to st. george this past weekend.  i had brought clothes, hopes and dreams conducive to outdoor activities (zions, tennis, golf, running, swimming, etc).  so when we arrived at what could have easily been mistaken for alaska (not really...but relatively speaking considering what i was hoping for...it was arctic), we had to adjust our plans accordingly.

one of the best things to do on a poopy weather day (or any day for that matter, but particularly icky ones):

i love to grab a drink from starbucks, a stack of magazines and books and just chill in b&n for a couple of hours.  i do not find the time to do this often, but when i do, it is a little piece of heaven. it is like a library but without all the germs and treats. i love books. always have, always will. kindles and these other reading devices are great, but i love my books. but i am also a bargain shopper. (DI, goodwill, and used bookstores rock my literary world!) i do not usually buy any books there unless they are in the discounted section. but check out this beauty that i came across in my special little cheap person section:

i love betty crocker. it was one of my biggest disappointments in life when i found out that she was not a real lady. but bc cookbooks cannot be beat when you are a cooking amateur like myself.

one of the BEST parts: at the end of every recipe it provides instruction for incorporating meat into your dish for the carnivores at your table.  isn't that fab?!

i am pretttty excited to make some Vegetarian Lasagna Primavera.

it isn't really all that healthy with all the carbs and creamy stuff...but it sure looks easy and yummy. we will see!

with the weather warming up, i need more carbs now right??? meh.

oh ps: back to books....look at the treasure that hillary found for me.

she knows me so well. gimme some snacks, a cupholder and blankie...i would never leave.

bad days lead to thanks.

today was sort of a rough day. but it made me all the more thankful for certain things.

1. gchat. when your parents are off on crazy islands, gchat brings you together.

2. babies. i went to derek's and helped him watch his nephews again. they make me feel so loved and remind of christlike innocence.

3. blankets. i am always so cold and today i particually needed to be snuggled. the boss is nice enough to let me wrap up in a blanket at my cubicle.

4. chonco. my mexican penguin from kenny king. he is so cute, and his arms move in bobble head fashion. i love him.

5. friends that cheer you up, play with you and will make vegetarian meals with you just to suit your lifestyle. and pretend to like it.

6. my sisters. i am always grateful for them. but today the little one called me just to check in and the older one just got older (birthday post will come tomorrow). they are the best sisters and take such good care of me. i love them very very very much.

spring time.

yesterday was the first day of the spring equinox for 2011.  and what a better way to welcome the beloved season than with cold, windy, rainy, gloomy weather??  i was sorely disappointed in mother nature's timing. but nonetheless, spring has come. and the greener, sunnier and happier days are well on their way!

yesterday we celebrated with an "indoor spring picnic".  it was amazing. we had a table full of add ins for chef salads (luckily half of our dinner group is vegetarian), pasta salad, treats (including a huge jar of cadbury mini eggs of course), deviled eggs, summer drinks, etc.  

ignore justin, he was just really getting excited to eat.

it was a splendid afternoon being stuffed on fresh, healthy salads, sweets from friends and good company.

yesterday's fun was just what i needed because it was the end of my spring break and i was not going anywhere fun this year. i was going to be in denver with my sisters and the babies, but things did not pan out. however, i managed to stay plenty occupied. 

my roommates (nicki and aubrei) from snow college came down to provo and we went on a group date...it was the first time that the trifecta has been back together in years and the best part- we picked up right where we were before. that is how good friendships work.

 i just love those women. they have both taught me so much and have been part of some of the best memories of my life. they were the first girls that i really ever became friends with.  it was an absolute treat to spend time with them.

the rest of the weekend was spent watching basketball, reading freakonomics (loved this book. just finished it and about to being supernomics- thank you literary buddy, andrew), the relief society birthday party and being rather lazy. the relaxation was exquisite (when we weren't hollering or stunned to silence over march madness upsets). 

this week it is back to work and school, that whole responsibility thing.  i am still undecided as to what classes to take but i have a little time left to figure that out. as of right now it is looking like physiology will be my main focus for the semester. 

i wish that i could have gone home to be with my sisters. i miss them a lot. but i will get back there again soon. and they could always come visit me... so for now i am leaching love off of my friends and just happy as can be.

i am excited for the spring season to make herself manifest through some greenery and sunshine...canyon bike rides, runs, walks, picnics, climbing - here i come.