My life is a poem after all

There is still SO much up in the air, so much potential, so much ambiguity ... but I thought it ironic that for at least September, I will be in Manhattan, NYC...

..on the same numbered street as the California beach house wherein I began my life.

"It's poetry," as my mother says.

There are only so many 360-degree spins on Google Street View I can click and drag before I start squealing and dancing around my room in pure glee.

This Friday, I'll be in Boston to watch my sister and her injured-but-cortizoned shoulder play volleyball, and then shlepping myself and my baggage on the Amtrak into the concrete wonderland of New Amsterdam!

PS- Anyone want to come to the city for my birthday weekend, Sept 10-12? Eee!

Eat Pray Love thoughts

I reacted a lot differently to it than I thought I would.

This may be a little precocious to say, but I feel like I've figured out most of what Gilbert realized in her book/movie, and I'm not even 23 yet (in about two weeks- I know you were dying to know), simply from my upbringing and experiences to date.

If you feel trapped in life, you're not happy. We are here on this earth to be happy. Travel is a good way for people to get outside a present living condition literally and mentally which makes one more dynamic. But yeah, I think she was selfish for pulling the whole "I've never spent time on myself" thing... thank goodness she didn't have kids yet, yikes. The real author was, what, early 30s? Young, especially considering she has no desire for kids, so no biological clock fertility worries for her.

I was so happy to see that shot of her ex with the new woman and baby at the end- that was sweet- I hope it really happened for him.

When I read this book about three years ago, I remember being awestruck with her insights, but then, I hadn't yet experienced some of the things I would in the days that have led to now. Now that I've been fortunate to log a lot of thought-provoking travel already, I'm not as amazed.

I could go on but that's essentially how I feel about it.

I'm just very grateful for the string of events that have led me to this moment in my own life. Nothing has been too serious to warrant much regret, as serious as I sometimes took myself.

Isn't life such an amazing gift, that we can create our own stories? I'm so pleased with my own thusfar, I hope you are too.

Did any of you see Eat Pray Love? What did you think?

Trains: 1, Planes: 0

Did you know, Amtrak allows you to check up to three (3)- fifty (50) pound bags at no additional cost, and carry-on up to two (2) fifty (50) pound bags!

I was so pleasantly surprised, I read the policy three (3) times.

(Not that I would advise anyone to check/carry 250 pounds of cargo, even if you have no shame. But wait, what if you needed to ship 3 parcels, and bought a phantom ticket under your name, but all so you could check your bags through...hmm. These are some average bedtime thoughts, friends.)


And only $10 for each additional parcel, should you find yourself packing like Rachel Zoe for trips.


In a nutshell: I DIE for trains.

Just so we're all on the same page.

THIS is quite possibly my dream home
(granted it is in a good location, maybe a stellar view too?) (via le fabuleux destin de- an amazing blog).


I want to cut my hair this short sometimes.
(plus, she even has my beauty mark - maybe penciled on- but in the exact same spot!) Via The Impossible Cool- another favorite new blog (thanks Telly).


And if you like MoTown, Justin Timberlake, or Beyonce, this video will change your life.

Phoenix installment 2

Then onto my sweet little Madeline, who is the nicknaming queen, the only person I know who manages to give a nickname to everyone and it STICKS, EVERYTIME. Case in point, somehow I am "AK-47" and she and all our mutual friends have called me it for years.
BUT her latest flame, an international (Canadian haha), she calls by his normal name. This could be a special one...

Went to some amazing eats, like this bruschetta place called Postino's which I am contemplating buying out one day or at least replicating. Bruschetta is probably my favorite food concept, it's perfection.
And honey cucumber lemonade- crack delicious.


And then bought this dress. All my fashion decisions from here on out will be based on Betty Draper's wardrobe, just so we're all on the same page.

And this Nello's place, which is SO delicious and I wanted to go to the next night but we had to hit up the famed-among-friends Native New Yorker, basically a sports bar, for the experience. Phoenix has amazing restaurants, I was so happy.

And then we had to hit up Wendy's for old times sake! We would make random runs at odd hours to the one in Provo on Bulldog. Maddie even knew the workers' names. Provo is that bleak- those are some of my best memories haha.

Wait, who spends $15 at Wendy's? (Oh, and that is some warm desert rain that came out to play!)

When you have a 17-year-old on hand... just an average sized meal. Jack (above) also put a poster of Zac in Maddie's bedroom a few weeks ago. Bless younger sibs. It was like we were 17 again.



And we saw this GREAT car. Maine representing in Phoenix.


And that's about it!

Phoenix installment 1

I found Phoenix to be an awesome place. Apparently August is its hottest month of the year. And consider the fact that my last rendezvous with PHX was approximately 8 years ago, when I was hating my life at one of those dreadful volleyball tournaments and eating at Hooters on Mill Ave with my equally as dreadful team of extremely annoying girls who would tear into me because I wouldn't subscribe to their drama and I would get flustered and I just really disliked them.... I think most of them have grown up.

OK.

However, I am secretly cold ALL THE TIME. Even in San Diego, where my parents moved because of the 'perfect weather' (it was that or Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia), I would not dress for it. So, I'd be in my Rainbow flip flops at high school in December and as miserable as i was walking to school in Provo in a blizzard (decked out in peacoat, scarves, boots and gloves). My feet and hands are always cold, I would love to wear sweaters year round everywhere except apparently Phoenix during the summer. Even New York City at dusk in the summer I prefer accompanied with a jacket. Finally, walking around in a shorts and t-shirt is not cold. Seriously. This coming from someone who comfortably wore jeans in Utah during the summer.

But I was warned. The man checking my ID at the airport said with a wry grin, You're heading somewhere 40 degrees warmer. "Uhh, thanks...?" I muttered.

Then my friend Ben picked me up from the airport, with the previous warning to "Call me when you land, then wait INSIDE until I get to the curb, then RUN to the car....or you'll FRY." (And being from Vegas, he knows heat). And don't worry, his ride was one he legitimately won on The Price is Right. A candy apple red Chrysler boat mobile of sorts. My friends are awesome like that.


And then I saw Aly! We were fake ladies of leisure, as we're both in 'life transition,' so we shopped, lunched, went to the phoenix art museum which has an amazing Cezanne exhibit right now, gelato like old times, Google Reader tutorials, empathized the ways we were gypped by being the oldest children, and watching all the TV that I can't watch at home because TiVo is to capacity with Mad Money and Texas Hold 'Em Poker shows (the last time I found television agreement with my father was the NBA Playoffs/Finals- because duh, it's the most wonderful time of year, maybe even better than Christmas). Let's just say my fam does not see that The Rachel Zoe Project is mind-clearing-in-a-way-that-only-compares-to-yoga. Bless Aly & Spenny! It was too bad Mandy was in South Carolina. We apparently keep missing each other by minutes and hours. Heartbreaking.

I'm kind of bashful about taking pictures. I think it's awkward most of the time, but you're always glad you did in hindsight. Too bad I forgot to remember this...

Typical artistic dilemma, methinks

I'm my best writer self after midnight.

I've noticed this the past couple years.

It's like I'm Cinderella in reverse and the fairy godmother and glittery carriage of writing prowess SHOWS UP at midnight.

I'm writing this at noontime, which why this post is lame. seriously.

The last excuse for a college break coma

I come to find out nearly everyone goes home on college breaks and falls into a sleepy coma, so seeing as I've now officially graduated, I figured I'd go out with a bang:
Exhibit:
After passing out cold for approximately 7 of the 10 hours in the backseat driving home from Utah (best roadtrip ever!), I proceeded to spend the next 36 of 48 hours in my bed, save for my dad's calls to ask if I was alright or if I had eaten anything that day. No, watching lots of Mad Men (season 1 and counting!) doesn't really procure any hunger, but thanks. (Don't worry, I'm not completely malnourished: I just went through the last of my dark chocolate stores.)

My last weekend in Utah was fabulous, thanks to many friends and family who rallied to party with me!

Oh, and this wouldn't be a post without arguably my favorite line of the weekend, thanks to my friend Jacque, who said, "None of this high-fiving hello business. What are we, on a date at BYU? NO."

I miss Utah friends already.

That being said, I think this picture sums up the weekend.


It could have been Lady Gaga costume #2, if only she had actually graduated from Tisch.

How to avoid skin cancer (how to be like Henry)

Always three layers of sun protection. ALWAYS.

a) The 'bimini sun top' on the ski boat.
b) His trademark fishing hat (He doesn't fish, it just covers face and ears).
c) Zinc oxide on nose (you can't see it, because I think he got special clear kind).

I guess summers on Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with sub-par sunscreen of the mid-20th century and English/Scottish skin that reddens upon sun exposure really tallies the number of skin cancer cutouts come age 60.

(And he's probably had those shorts for 20 years).

We tease him to no end. It's unfortunate, how outnumbered he is.

A little redundant?

I was at the drugstore today for some contact solution, and as I looked up at the aisle title boards, I noticed there was one line that read "Personal Care Items."

Is it not already assumed that one visits a drugstore for such items? That's what I thought.

Let Me Google That For You

Tired of people (who haven't entered the 21st century) asking you questions when their query would be more resourcefully obtained from the transcendent bank of knowledge that is a Google search result?

This silly little website has me laughing.

For example...

The last of many

I just wrote my last undergraduate collegiate paper on the teachings of Matthew 5:17, when the Savior says He is "not come to destroy, but to fulfil" the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament, and how we can use that precedent to serve as logic for, among other things, the principle of continuing revelation from our prophets today.

Surreal, and glad I could end on that note.

Now onto 'lifelong learning'...

Just gratitude.

Just really grateful today for my life, and the experiences that have led me to this point. I'm very content and happy. Things are falling into place.

I'm a different person than I was even a year ago, and I like this person. I remember in a moment of despair a couple years ago, my dear friend Chantelle said, "Have you met you?" It has resonated ever since. (You also know friendship loyalty when you have a random encounter on Prince Street, SoHo NYC, with Asian fashionistas who say "Rucky" and the saying sticks after 2 years when describing things beginning with "L.")

I can't wait to see my family soon, too. They're all summering in the East and apparently they've seen no deer yet (WEIRD) but new things like a red fox, a wild turkey, and last night... A BEAR. YES, A BEAR just feet away from a sunset-lit dinner on the back patio.

I'm up there for Labor Day weekend and hopefully catch the first turning of New England fall leaves. Oh, I'm so excited.

Love to all.

Today I loved

-Driving home with 4 friends from a whimsically planned overnight roadtrip.
-Going to another friend's play.
-BBM-ing my sister in England while sitting in the In-N-Out drive thru.

I somehow have more of a social life living at my aunt & uncle's house for these 7 weeks than I ever had in Provo.

So Utah, hats off... all things considered, you've been really really good to me this summer.

Aaand this is why I'm still on Facebook

Because even though it's about a 764:1 ratio of LAME to GEM status updates, the gems make deactivating my account impossible.

Exhibit:

"Need a more exact measure of how powerful your car is? Change Horsepower (Hp) to hamsterpower (hp). 1Hp = 3584hp. My car = 804608 hp."

CAN'T WAIT

Reminds me of my cousin Dana who spent a year after college living in India, and just completed a 8 month round-the-world trip with her husband. Her book would be more epic than Eat Pray Love, as many people's stories are. But regardless... yay for this:



Also, who else didn't like Inception? I felt like it was just a bunch of realities and alternate realities strung together. Not that new a concept for film.