"Please tell me you are going to erase that"

As I was going through pictures on my computer, I was surprised at how many bad shots I had saved. These are some of my favorite terrible pictures!

There goes my backup!

Me: "Hey Dan, when I am 30 and single and you are 30 and single, I think we should get married."

Dan: "I think that would be a good idea. Maybe by that time I will know what I want to do with my life."

That was our conversation 2 years ago.... Backup plan it is. Nope, it isn't. Dan met a wonderful match for him and decided to take the plunge July 18th. It was so fun to be able to reunite with friends that I haven't seen in far too long! Thanks to Matt and Rachel Nichols, we had a house rented out to our large group of friends for the weekend. Rachel, Matt and I drove from Salt Lake up to Idaho Falls (we thought that was the temple they would be sealed in--turns out D.B. didn't know what he was talking about--they were sealed in the Rexburg temple). The first night Matt, Jennifer and Jason Neal, Mark, Juanita, Eve and Esther Denninghoff, Woods Woolwine, Matt and Rachel Nichols, and I stayed up telling funny stories about Dan. After the busy day of wedding bliss Todd, Carly and Zachary Hamilton joined us in the mad house for games and catching up. Even though I was never able to secure my rank as President in the game of Scum, it was a fun night that led to laughter, tears, and later the stomach flu.

I love reuniting with friends, especially when you can just pick up right where you left off! Thanks to all of you who made the trip, it was tons of fun!


Brody, the Neals, Dan, the Nichols and I at Dan and Ani's BBQ


Backup plan aborted


Daniel and Ani Brown


Don't get to see these girls often enough! Rachel-Me-Carly

I found a pulse

Yes, she is alive! I have done so many fun things in the last month and a half and need to post pictures and details for each event. This will have to suffice for now.

It's not every day, as a single mormon girl, you have a roommate that....

rediscovers himself in the mirror each day

gets fresh with his stuffed animal

Is so messy when he eats that he must eat naked

requires you to bathe with him


makes a life jacket look THIS good


or gives you this look when.....


.....you look THIS good

If only I could live with/near all my nephews.

Caught Off Guard

Over the past 6 months what I already knew has been confirmed--I hate flying! I don't like being stuck with a three hour layover in the middle of the day or night. I don't like that they stopped serving lunch on long flights and that you have to pay for them now. I don't like that I always seem to be the lucky one to get patted down and my bags searched. I don't like that my watch got stolen in the security line while I was getting a pat-down. I don't like the stomach gas that I always get from the ascending and descending. Most importantly, I don't like the business men I get stuck sitting by that talk about their wives and children all the while putting their hands on my legs and complimenting me, and double-checking with me that I had someone picking me up at the airport--vomit! I know that not all traveling business men are shady, but I seem to be the lucky one that gets to sit next to the ones that are.

Anyways, I was caught off guard with the giggles on my last flight, and this is why. The flight attendant (male) threw his own spin on the whole safety presentation that they do at the beginning of every single flight. I had to write down what he was saying cause I thought it was so funny. Today, while cleaning my room, I ran across the paper and laughed again.

"This flight is a non-smoking, non-crying and non-whining flight"
"We are expecting a smooth flight, if we weren't, we would've called in sick"
"The flight attendants will come through the cabin to make sure your tray tables are locked, luggage is properly stowed, seat backs are up and that your shoes and socks match your outfits."
"Sit back and relax, or lean forward and be tense"
"We are going to dim the lights to enhance the attractiveness of your flight attendants"

Absolutely KILLED me!

D.C.

Memorial weekend was spent in the hot, humid, tourist-filled, gorgeous, green Washington D.C. I learned that I most definitely need to brush up on my U.S. history. I asked a few stupid questions....oops.

We were able to stay at my old roommate, Danielle's, new place. It was fun to see both her and the city!


In front of the Washington monument


My favorite attraction


The only family name I found out of the headstones I saw...only 5% of the cemetery


Arlington Cemetery


Lincoln Memorial

Pittsburgh--Take 3

I got into Pittsburgh Thursday night. Friday morning we left to go tour some of Pennsylvania and New York. An hour and a half into the trip we drove through a cute little town. We stopped to have lunch and take some pictures. There were these houses that looked like doll houses, but when we walked past them, I realized that one of them was actually a salon. I loved it! We made it to Harmony, PA by 7:30 that night and found the Susquehanna River where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey were baptized. It was gorgeous! There was also a statue erected where the keys to the aaronic priesthood were restored. After spending a bit of time there, we went up to Rochester. Sean dropped me off at the Best Western and went up to stay with a bunch of his friends that are doing sales for the summer. We made it to the Sacred Grove, in Palmyra, by 9 the next morning. It was so peaceful there. We spent a couple of hours walking on the trails through the grove. I loved being there! The spirit was so strong and solidified my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. After leaving the grove, we went to the Smith Family farmhouse, right outside the grove, and wandered through it. It was such a cute little home. After snapping some pictures, we were off to the Hill Cumorah. Of course it was beautiful as well, but not quite like I pictured it. There was a monument at the top left side of the hill where the plates were extracted. There were so many storm clouds filling the sky. We left to go to our temple session around the corner at the Palmyra temple. We made it into the temple as the rain began to come down hard. After the temple session we went over to E.B. Grandin's publishing house where the Book of Mormon was first published. I left Palmyra knowing more about the church I have been a part of, and with the desire to return again. I am truly grateful for all the struggles our dear prophet went through to restore this gospel. It really did happen and I am so grateful my grandparents welcomed the missionaries into their homes and that my parents raised us in the church. My heart is full and my testimony has been strengthened. I couldn't be more grateful for the experiences I had this last weekend.



Cute Brookville, PA. Dollhouse looking salon


Dad, I thought of you!


Susquehanna River--beautiful!


Aaronic Priesthood keys are restored


Entering the grove


Gorgeous forest


Handsome man's backside


The stream we crossed entering and exiting the grove


Smith family home


The grove is right behind the Smith family home


Steep Hill Cumorah


Where the plates were found


E.B. Grandin's print shop


View of print shop from across the street

What I haven't been writing about

Meet Sean Quigley

I have not wanted to post about things because I don't like pressure, but it's been long enough and I need to bring this relationship 'out of the closet' (in a heterosexual way).

I feel the past few years have been full of dating fiascos. At times I have felt there was a sign taped on my back saying "please set me up". I have been on countless blind dates. I am not complaining, but I never felt like they were getting me anywhere. There were the occasional set ups that resulted in three dates, only to find out that there wasn't going to be a happily ever after. I feel as if I could write my story in a Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham style...

I do not like blindly dating
I do not like them from from my friends
I do not like them from my family
I do not like them in the end
I do not like them from my hometeacher
I do not like them from my co-worker(s)
I do not like them from my boss
I do not like them from my clients
I do not like them from my classmates
I do not like them from my roommmates
I do not like them here or there
I do not like them anywhere!

I do not like them oh so much
I do not like them out to lunch
I do not like them playing games
I do not like them just the same
I do not like them rafting down the river
I do not like them out to dinner
I do not like them in a car
I do not like them camping under the stars
I do not like them here or there
I do not like them anywhere!

I have gone on several wonderful blind dates, but I just reached my limit last semester when I was going on a couple each week. I am grateful for those that set me up with all their wonderful family members and co-workers. Each date has helped me mold my wants and needs, blind or not.

I went to my math class last semester. There was a cute newlywed couple in the front row that seemed in love with love (vomit). One day the wife, Brittany, was out in the hall waiting for class to start. We started small talking and before I knew it, she knew my complete dating history (I vomitted verbally). Yes, I have been engaged. Yes, I was 25 and single. Yes, I had a desire to get married. Yes, I go on lots of dates. Yes, I wanted to ride off in the sunset on horseback and live happily ever after with my glass slippers and prince.... yadda yadda.

Class was starting, so we left the hall and took our seats. After about ten minutes of hearing about asymptotes there was a note passed back to me. In it Brittany asked me if she could set me up. In my mind I started prattling off my version of Dr. Seuss. She wrote how her brother-in-law was in his second year of dental school out in Pittsburgh and would be home (Saratoga Springs, UT) for Christmas break. She wanted to know if she could set me up before I left for home (Camano Island, WA). She told me that he loved the outdoors and was a great guy. He sounded good enough for a set-up, so I said sure. From passing notes back and forth that day I also found out that he was from Washington (Isaquah(sp)) and wanted to set up his practice up there.

I am going to write the shortened version of the story.

Went out Friday December 19th to dinner and played games. I thought he was cute and one I would like to get to know, but because of the circumstances said good-bye for good at the end of the night. Sunday Brittany called and wanted me to come up for dinner and to hang out with Sean again. I said no because I didn't want to invest in something that seemed impossible. One thing lead to another and they were over at my place playing games, and drinking orange julius'. Again I said good-bye. Five minutes later there was a knock on my door. Sean came back to get my number. The next day we went to lunch. During lunch I felt I needed to ask him to take me to the airport the next day. I asked, even though I fought it for a while, and he said he would like to. I prayed for my flight to be cancelled cause I suddenly was interested. He took me to the airport, gave me a side hug, and we said good-bye for good. Brittany called me to see how my flight was and told me that I needed to let him know how I felt because he was shy and wouldn't do it. I thought it was pointless to let him know because I still didn't think the relationship was possible, but found myself taking a big risk by texting him my thoughts. He responded and we both put ourselves 'out there'. After a little while of feeling vulnerable, the lady got on the loud speaker letting us know our flight was overbooked. Ten minutes later I stood in the middle of the airport not knowing what to do. My luggage was sent to Seattle and I had a $400 voucher in hand and first class tickets for the next day. Blessing. I ended up going to Sean's house that night. We watched a movie, and yes, we held hands, cuddled, and despite my runny nose and lack of a voice, kissed. I fought it in my mind the whole time, still thinking this was impossible. As we lay there cuddling I found words coming out of my mouth that were crazy to think, hear or say. I asked him if he wanted to come to Washington after Christmas. AHHHH. What was I doing?! I picked him up on Monday the 29th and was incredibly nervous. He ended up extending his stay from three days to six. We had a great week, and I was afraid because I had become attached. We talked on the phone each night for a couple of hours and then he came to visit for the holiday weekend in January. I flew out to Pittsburgh with half of my voucher in February. I thought Pittsburgh looked just like it sounded, but I ended up liking it. In March Sean flew out to Utah for the weekend and I flew back to Pittsburgh with him for my spring break the next week. While out there we went to NYC to see Wicked for my birthday. It was a great trip! He was just out in Utah for a week, but had to leave Monday for school again. I am heading out to Pittsburgh next Thursday (with my resumes) for almost a week. He gets a three week break in June/July and will come here. I don't know if I am driving back with him then, or at the end of August. Either way, I am going to be a Pittsburgh resident soon. I am nervous, excited, happy, sad, emotional.....and ready for change.

I don't know the end of the story, but I know that good things come from blind dates.

I do like dating blindly
I do like them oh so much
I do like them out to lunch
I do like them playing games
I do like them just the same
I do like them rafting down the river
I do like them out to dinner
I do like them in a car
I do like them camping under the stars
I do like them here or there
I do like them anywhere

Thank you to all who have set me up, I truly have enjoyed the experiences. I should write a book about 'what to expect while dating with a blindfold'.