Lesson Learned. . .

You know how you have those moments when you know you are supposed to do something. . . like down in your core you feel it? It's clear enough that you can almost hear an audible voice tell you what to do even though, clearly, there is nothing there but you and your conscience? You should do what it says. . . whatever it is. . .whenever it is. Because even if the worst that comes from not doing it is a bad night's sleep, it's not worth it.
I need to do better at that. . . .

South Carolina. . . agree or disagree?

So am I falling off my blogging? Yup. I was doing SO good for a while and then, well, life took over. Which would make you think that I should be blogging extra since I'm having such amazing times, right? Right. I should be. But I can either live it or write about it at this point - so I'm not a multi-tasker! Sue me! :)

Last week my sweet momma and I went on a girl vacation to South Carolina. I know what you're thinking because I was asked the same set of questions by every person that found out we were going there: 1 - Oh, do you have family there? Nope. 2 - Oh, what's in South Carolina? I don't know. 3 - So you're just going for fun? Yes. Sidenote: this last question was usually accompanied by an awkward 'I don't understand' kind of face that made me feel like I was vacationing on the moon. It's South Carolina, people! What's the big deal? I'm not going to Guam!

Anyway, we made our way to the southern heat and hospitality last Wednesday and spent five fun-filled days in/around Charleston. It was a great time. So, by way of an "agree or disagree" list, I'll tell you how the trip went. You ready?

• Boiled Peanuts - Agree. Surprisingly. We ate these the first night that we were there and I was really expecting to bit into the nut and it would taste kind of like hot peanut butter? False. it doesn't even taste like a nut once it's boiled. It actually took on the flavor and consistency of a cooked pinto bean. Since I like beans, it wasn't so repulsive. BUT, fair warning, if you don't like beans, you may stay away from this little treat if you ever go south.
• Grits - Disagree. I know, people are going to be mad about this one and say that I "didn't prepare them right" but I just didn't love them. The place that we ate even had the market on grits (they were on the Food Network for their shrimp and grits meal so for all intents and purposes, I ate the Cadillac of grits). It's basically not bad but not good - it doesn't taste like much of anything which makes me wonder, "Why waste the calories?" Plus, you have to be suspicious about a food that people make with salt or sugar or butter or syrup or shrimp or. . . too many non-related options. Yuck.
• Houses - Agree. The architecture in Charleston is incredible. The houses are all right next to each other and look incredibly small but when you look at them, they go back FOREVER! They are gorgeous and old and large and every porch has ceiling fans on it. The houses on Rainbow Row there are so cool - each house is a different 'Easter' color and it makes for a stellar view on the waterfront. We also saw the house that was used as Allie's house on the Notebook and it's actually the largest single dwelling in all of Charleston. 24,000 square feet and 35 bedrooms, each with their own fireplace. It's huge!
• Animals - Disagree, mostly. I agree with the horses 100 percent. In fact one of my favorite things we did was take a carriage ride through the city. It was lovely and the horses were very impressive and large. What I don't agree with is how crazy people are about their animals. . . they LOVE them to an unhealthy point... and I love animals so if I'm saying that... OK, so they really just love things that LOOK like their animals. I can't tell you how many stores we went in that had mugs that looked like dogs and place mats that looked like cats and clothes that said really gross things: (If you know my unhealthy fear of animal hair, you'll understand why I think this is gross) "No outfit is complete without cat hair" and, this almost made me throw up "Chef not responsible for dog hair in the food". Are you sick? I am. Dry heaving. As we speak.
• Ghosts - Agree! I love being scared, a lot. So nothing tickles my fancy more than a ghost tour through the second most haunted city n the WORLD! That's right, more paranormal activity than any other place in the US. How cool is that? We took a night ghost tour through the city and saw some of the most haunted places in Charleston including a hotel that Robert E. Lee supposedly haunts to this day, a residence turned restaurant where an old woman fell down the stairs and died and now haunts the second floor, a park where a woman was hung and she is still seen wandering the park and the courthouse in her wedding dress and of course, the pirates! There was a group of pirates that were captured in Charleston and eventually hanged in the park. There is an old superstition that says that if a pirate dies at sea, he must be buried at sea and if a pirate dies on land, he must be buried on land in order for his soul to rest. Well of course we can't have pirate souls resting in peace! No! They are bad guys. So, after these pirates were hanged, their bodies were dropped into the ocean at low tide and carried out to sea so their spirits are still active and if you walk in the park at night with any sort of change in your pockets, the sound of the coins summon the pirate spirits! Creepy? Yeah. And SO fun!
• Missing Life - Disagree. It's funny to me that no matter how much fun I'm having on vacation, I always have some anxiety about being away from home and out of my routine. I must like my life an awful lot, I suppose because I always find myself longing for the things and people that I left at home. It's a weird phenom and I don't know how to get past it. . . but then maybe I don't need to.
• Beach - Agree, whole-hearted. On our last day my mom and I drove to Hilton Head and walked on the beach. The city is really beautiful and the beach was amazing. it was an overcast day but we didn't get rained on except in transit. It was breathtaking. My mom touched the Atlantic for the first time (other than the bay in Maryland) and it was great just to sit and put my feet in the sand.
  

Overall, the trip was a booming success. South Carolina = AGREE! The city was beautiful and we got to spend some rock-solid mother-daughter time for five days. I love to travel and it was fab to get another notch in my belt.

For you 'visual' people, thanks for putting up with the writing; I'm posting some pics so you get something out of this too!! :)

Hilton Head beach

Ghost Tour. . . we looked scared, right? Yeah, didn't think so either.

This is the giant house from The Notebook. . . 24,000 square feet!

I don't know who lives here but I think they must be important?

This was a pond at one of the plantations we visited. The bridge was bright red but my camera was not cooperating on the color highlight.

See. . . cool bridge. Oh, and cool mom.

Isn't this so. . . Charleston? Do you see the alligator? Me neither because if there was one, i would NOT have stayed to take this picture.

Drayton Hall. . . oldest preserved plantation house.

Those are cannonballs. . . OK, those are cannonballs that are welded together but I thought this was funny?

The first day we got there it rained and rained. . . and I saw this. it went from ocean to ocean over the city. Breathtakingly beautiful.

There are 187 churches on the peninsula of Charleston. . . which is no larger really than Kaysville. 187! And they think us Mormons over-do it?! This was my favorite.

Sweet Nostalgia. . .

Don't you love it when things in your past life rear their head and make you all. . . um. . .pensive? Are you impressed with that word? It was most fitting for this blog!

This last weekend I was invited by some sweet friends of mine to see their sealing in the Manti Temple. I know that seems like a long trip from the great, white North but for those that know my love for Sanpete County, you can imagine the sheer excitement to have an excuse to see my old stomping grounds on my way to the temple. Ahh, sweet Ephraim.

I went to Snow College for my first two years of school and I'm pretty sure that I left a sizable chunk of my heart there. Maybe 25%? And that's a lot considering how far the rest of it needs to spread, right? I think so too. There are still a lot of people I plan on loving one day!!

Sidenote: For those of you vying for the other 75%, I can tell you that any sort of tie that you can make to Ephraim and/or Snow College will improve your chances greatly! Seriously, it's like I can't help myself.

Anyway, as we drove into the valley, I got really excited and really nervous all at the same time. What was this nervousness? It's not like I was going there to meet some long-lost love or something. I was just going back to Ephraim.

I realized that it could only be that my memories of that time in my life were so precious and exciting that I didn't want to see anything that would change them. I always want the scenery to be the same and I think I secretly hoped that even the faces would seem familiar. I have this image in my head of how it's supposed to forever be and any alteration of that may make me question those memories.

I think that more than anything else, I wanted so badly for it all to feel the same. When I think of my time at Snow and how crazy and fun and busy it was, I can't help but feel it again. Those years were some of the happiest times in my life and I think I'm still looking for things that make me feel that bliss that once came so easily.

Why was it so great? Let me tell you. And I'd like to apologize to Hannah for having to sit through all of these memories live as we made our way through the town. Hopefully, this will inspire some future Badger, some day. . .

The Crew - you won't find a group of more amazingly talented, beautiful and brilliant girls than this set that I met my freshman year at Snow. . . in all places but the newspaper room. We came from a variety of backgrounds and at the same time found the best common ground when writing about life. We wrote about boys, we wrote about bad manners, we even kissed a paper once to have our lips as our signatures. Without school, I would have missed out on some of the spiciest people in my life. We are still friends today and I couldn't exist without them.

Opportunities - while I was at Snow, I was able to be on the Activities Committee which after a long run of not participating in student government was a big confidence builder for me. I was in the know because I had to be and it made me feel great. I was so proud. As mentioned, I wrote for the paper in several facets and got the opportunity to be the Editor-in-Chief my second year at school which taught me about my love for writing, my ability to push through pain and stay up all night (literally) and how hard it is to actually have to fire someone. All important things that explain who I am today.

Lastly, ahhh, the KAGE. That tag line still runs through my head "You're listening to KAGJ-FM Ephraim, 89.5, the KAGE." I LOVED being a DJ. I had some very funny shows, so very funny co-hosts and some really weird assignments. That made me really discover my love for music and my love for sports as the Sports Director my sophomore year. Play-by-play? You bet I did! Where else can you do amazing things like that? One of the guys that I did play-by-play on is in the NBA now. Sweet action, Jackson. . .

The Varsity house is torn down now which makes me sad but that radio booth will live on forever as a place where my life unfolded in front of the public. I broadcast the news on 9/11 from that booth, all day. I saw my first streaker run past our window and hurt himself badly when he tripped and fell on the porch. Ah, memories.

Roomies - Snow was the first chance I had to learn to live with people other than my family and it was NOT easy most of the time but well worth it. I learned the value of tagging your leftovers in the fridge, doing the dishes anyway. . . even though they aren't yours, sharing space, sharing boys, sharing the bathroom. Basically, it was very Sesame Street. I learned to share.

I also learned that it is completely ok to be ridiculous - which I owe to my sophomore year roomies. They danced on bar stools in the living room, we listened to the conversations of the boys next door when they dropped my roommate off from a date, we took couches to the drive-in. . . and rode on them on the way home, they made quilts (I watched of course because I did NOT sign up for that class) that took over the entire apartment. It was all very girly and ridiculous. That's also where I learned to embrace the "girlyness" despite the fact that I did play-by-play on the weekends. because of them, I like to dress up and I love when my hair is curly, even though it takes extra time.

I learned a lot about love that year from my roommates and no, not the platonic kind. I shared a room with a most wonderful girl who worked and went to school and had an incredible boyfriend and she sacrificed so much sleep to keep her life in balance and give all things their proper attention, including him. I can't tell you how many times I woke up and found her sleeping, fully clothed, in the middle of her laundry on her bed because she was too tired to move it when she finally got home the night before. Love is about sacrifice. . . thanks Jenny.

Western Swing - this is the part where I learn how to step out of the box a bit and learn to love something new. Aren't these life lessons great?! I signed up to take a Western Swing class with my roommates and had the best time doing it. We line danced and did the cowboy cha-cha. We did the swing and, sigh, the two step. I knew I loved to dance before then but not how much. I LOVE to dance. Not just country dance although I think the two-step a wonderfully romantic lost art (hence the sigh). I love all dancing. I tried something new and found out that not only could I do it, I liked it. It was a great experience. If I would only pick up a paint brush. . . who knows!

Randomness - we did a LOT of weird things in Ephraim because we had no choice. We threw things off the stadium, we dropped a piano from a crane, we put my friend Vale in a fake jail cell until we raised enough money for a charity to let him out. Sometimes it's the unplanned, nonsensical things that make life joyous. I need to take more time to just go with the flow - you never know where it will lead.

Now it's safe to say that I didn't capture everything about my life in Ephraim and why it was so great. Most of those things are hidden somewhere in the back of my mind and will re-surface one day when it counts. I guess the point is that I really believe that great things/great lessons can stem out of what seems like nothing much. . . even in the middle of Sanpete County.

Gift Registry. . .

A long time ago my buddy Linds (What up Lyman!?!? Miss your face!) started telling me about this great philosophy that she had about gift registry. She basically said that you should be able to register for gifts like at Target or Macy's any time - birthdays, house warming, because you had a bad day, whatever. Everyone should have a standing registry at all major department stores just IN CASE someone feels like buying you a gift. Frankly, I agree with her.

Sidenote: more people should participate in random gift buying. It's fun to give someone something for no reason. They are surprised and you are excited and oh, I'm getting excited talking about it! it's so fun!

So really, why should only the engaged and preggers people get to have all the fun? Sometimes I want a registry just so I can play with the scanner gun but mostly, I'd like the convenience of never having to take back a gift. That's the point of the registry, right? Get the person things that they need or would like without doubling up with the other people that might be on the same hunt. Well I submit for your pondering: Why does that only apply when you are having a baby or getting hitched?

I, for instance, like to read which in turn leads to an unhealthy spending habit on books. I love buying all sorts of books and a week doesn't generally go buy when I don't discuss, to some extent, a book that I'm reading or a book that I've heard of that I'd like to buy. People know this about me and I generally get a book at most holidays and special occasions. (Good thing I don't have an unhealthy liking for diamonds or anything! Books are cheap!) Anyway, there have been several occasions when I've had multiple copies of these fine pieces of literature because "frequent discussion of books" + "unhealthy spending habit" + "need for gift" = buying the same thing for me when I already own it because I can't control myself and wait for someone to get it for me. You get the point. If I had a registry, I could mark things off as I received them and add things as new items came out that I liked and hazzah! Gift-return free forever.

Enter my new passion: Amazon Wish List. I am going out on a limb and telling you that I think everyone should have one and manage it accordingly. I don't normally endorse things like this so take note!

If Amazon were a normal site like say, OldNavy.com or something, you can see why it would get boring to make a wish list because all that would be on it is clothes. Not Amazon, no, no. Because of the very eclectic nature of the site, you can put anything (literally) on your wish list! Watches, books, dvds, clothing, anything. It's basically a gift from above. And it's SO easy to use. . . just find an item that you like and click once and it's been added. Then, when someone wants to know what gifts you may be in the market for, they can just jump on Amazon and take a look! A-mazing!

Amazon also offers this great feature where you can put in important dates to remember and will send you reminders to do your shopping. I haven't used it yet but I think it's brilliant. I generally remember birthdays but only on the day of. . . er. . . or the day after! What can I say, I'm not perfect.

Now I know what you are thinking: "I don't want to have to pay shipping on something." No, no! You don't have to. Just because you can see the list on Amazon and see what they like doesn't mean you have to buy it there! You can just get an idea of what I want and find it elsewhere if you are so inclined or if time doesn't allot for shipping.

So I know this blog sounds like I'm just telling you where to find the list of gifts that I like (which to this point, it kind of is) but that isn't my whole point. . . hahahaha. I would REALLY love it if everyone had a list! I waste a lot of time looking and pondering and searching for what I think people don't have when if they just had a up-to-date gift registry, all of our lives would be a lot easier when it came to gift-purchasing. Plus, who doesn't love getting what they want? That's what I thought. No hands.

Linds was right, as usual.

Story Time. . .

Ok, so I've had this funny story in my pocket for over a week now. I promised several people that I would blog about it (sorry I'm tardy, Rach) and better late than never, I guess? Plus, it has a visual so that makes it all better, right? Right. On we go. . .

I heart The Fray. They recently came to Utah for the third time and for my third time seeing them in concert (I'm not obsessed. . .), we made our way out to USANA Amphitheater for the show on a splendidly hot Saturday night. This amphitheater is one of my favorite places to see concerts - outdoors, views of the valley, close to the copper mine with one road in and out for thousands of people. . . ok wait, the good things. It's a beautiful venue with great sound and you get to feel all "arts in the park"ish when you are there because you are probably sitting on a blanket on the grass.

So me, my three buddies and every high school senior in the state made our way out to the amphitheater and found our grassy patch of choice. Just as a voice of warning, there can be several oddities when choosing to sit in the grass next to other people in blankets. They are, in no particular order, as follows:

1. The close sitter - people have surprisingly small personal bubbles when it comes to what I have termed as "blanket territory". They think "Well, if we were in chairs we would be right next to each other so it's ok with blankets to lap over our neighbors." I beg to differ. The reason I chose the grass rather than a seat is so that you aren't sharing an armrest with me. Cool? Move over.


2. No inhibitions - did you know that if you bring a blanket OFF your bed to sit on at a concert, it doesn't mean you are IN your bed while watching said concert? Some people don't know that. Or maybe their blanket magically transports them (mentally only, obviously) to it's original resting place like a bedroom or a living room? If so, I could use one of those magic blankets at my desk at work. Reality check - they don't exist. You're in public, not at home, in private. . . you get where I'm going with this?


3. The sqeezers - these people are the 'close sitters' on crack. They come late because they are too indy-pop for the opening bands. To their chagrin, no grass left. "What? Where did all of these people come from?" they are left asking themselves. "Nevermind them! I see a 3x3 patch of grass right over. . ." Um, no. Not only are you choosing to sit too close to me but to the four other groups surrounding your patch of grass! No squeezing in. Because odds are, you will also be 'no inhibitions' girl as well and I'll dry heave.

Ok, enough of that little tangent. back to the story.

So, we make our home on the grass and are having a splendid time just enjoying the sun and the people watching that can only happen in West Valley, UT. As I'm taking a look at the goodies that will, without a doubt, be my entertainment for the night, my eye caught a couple just sitting down about 15 feet to my right. Nice looking couple - very typical Utah. For the sake of the story, let's call them Dave and Emily. Can you see them in your head? Dave with his brown hair, part to the right, 5'9, t-shirt and levi cargo shorts. Emily with her cute shirt and khaki shorts to her knees, hair cut to her shoulders. Both barefoot after having removed their flip flops. You got it?

Well, within the first five minutes, I make an assessment about their situation (as I tend to do when I'm people watching). Dave is clearly a Jr at BYU and Emily just finished her freshman year. . . and she just loved her roommates, a LOT! They had limited interaction last semester and Dave decided to ask her to The Fray for their first date - a concert is cool and shows that he's into music. The Fray is enough off the beaten-path that he isn't the typical "BYU Guy" (hey, it could have been a Colors concert) and they are known for their piano-based rhythms so there is a chance for cuddling by the end of the night.

Good story, huh? I was all set for this scene to unwind throughout the night. I only wish I had some popcorn.

Just as my couple, Dave and Emily, get settled on their levi-patchwork quilt, a large group of people excitedly walk up to greet them. Friends? I don't know. They look a little young to be buddies with my friends (hahaha) but they know each other well. . . well enough that there was squealing upon greeting. Roommates? Man, I just can't figure it out. We'll assess the situation as we move forward and see if we can't figure out a place for them.

Wait, what is this? Two more girls walk up and Dave half hugs, have noogies them. Sister?!? What? You are going to let your little sister sit within earshot of you on your first date with Emily? Are you mad, man?

Sidenote: Are you seeing how into this I am getting? I know, it's ridiculous! But I couldn't help myself! The show hadn't started and I needed something to focus on. Needless to say at this point, i watched VERY little of the show once it did start. . .

So there we are, Dave and Emily, kid sister and friend sitting just below them and mystery group of too-young-to-be-buddies friends off to the right. All nice and settled in for the concert of a lifetime.

As the show started, my BYU theory was confirmed as Dave stood up to dance. He did his very best impression of an airplane all over their blanket. Emily didn't seem to mind it as it added some movement to her rhythmless world. He was flailing all over the place and my mind immediately put him in the middle of a YSA dance.

Sidenote: Let it be known that some of the coolest people I know went to BYU and loved it. But they aren't typical BYU. And if you live in Utah, you know the look that I'm talking about. I'm not saying bad things, I'm just saying there IS a look.

So, we got through the opening bands with Dave and Emily making polite conversation with each other. Dave would laugh at what she said and she would giggle back. You could tell they were talking about the deep things in life like how great the band was and how Dave liked them before they were popular and how Emily was really looking forward to starting her elementary school teaching curriculum in two years, if she wasn't married by then, wink, wink. man, i was LOVING my life! This is way better than anything on daytime TV!!

As The Fray started their set, I saw Emily reach for her camera. . . BRILLIANT! Finally, the touch barrier was to be broken. It was time for the ever awkward 'I'll take a picture of us' move that requires your heads to be close enough that you are both in frame which means. . . you guessed it, butterflies!! Well, in true girly fashion, Emily didn't like the first several pictures they took, requiring Dave's face to get closer to hers each time she adjusted her hairstyle. Finally, it was decided that in order to get the proper shot, Dave would institute the help of Kid Sister ("wherever I go, she's going to go. . ." song has double meaning so I get double points for using it!) to snap the appropriate first-date-but-may-be-on-our-wedding-video picture. So, Dave and Emily made their way lower on the grassy null to pose in front of the stage.

What's this? Dave's arms around Emily for the pic? No, not a typo. I said armS. He was in a full embrace and she certainly didn't seem to mind. My head started racing with all the possibilities of twins and car seats and family outings at Zions. This was going WELL!

Well, Dave clearly took the lack of a slap in the face to me all systems are a go and it was free-range touching from that point on. NO you dirty minds, nothing inappropriate. I'm talking hand on her back when she leaned into say something, hand on her back when she's standing close enough, hand on her SHOULDER. You know, the really exciting stuff. I was so proud of Brave Dave.

Soon enough, the happy couple was sitting back on their blanket and relaxing to the incredible acoustics of the concert when he went for it. Dave crossed his legs and was sitting Indian-style and put his hand RIGHT on his kneecap. Not like naturally rested it there. It was more like a "Hey, I'm putting my hand here so if we happen to bump hands, I can easily grab yours. . ." kind of a placement. It was bold.

In all two of my dating experiences, I've learned that one thing is for sure: if the hand is accessible, it's fair game. Everyone knows that if a girl doesn't want to touch you, she has no issue with sitting with her arms away from you all night!

So, there sits Emily, legs also crossed. Just as I'm ready for her hand to move to her knee. . . nothing. She puts her hands in her lap! What are you DOING, Emily?!?! He can't go fishing around down there, trying to grab your hand! The poor guy is going out on a limb and you are making this really hard! Wait, hands are coming up. . . I'm getting excited. . . WHAT! Crossed arms!?! You are seriously going to cross your arms?! I almost yelled at her. Poor Dave looked completely rejected and she acted like she had no idea. (In all fairness, she's maybe 20 so maybe she didn't have an idea.) You are a tease, Emily! That's what you are. All of this BYU flirty and swaying and pseudo-dancing and you fold you arms? You have got to be kidding me.

Well, this agonizing scene went on for a solid 20 minutes. Dave acting like it wasn't a big deal but secretly being hurt. Emily, folding her arms like we were in the Arctic Tundra when it was 90 degrees outside. I was thoroughly disappointed.

I need to slip in a quick reminder that all of this is going on in my head. I never once talked to these people or found out their actual situation. While the events are real, the attitudes and feeling are strictly coming from Carlee Land and the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the actual parties involved.

So, the concert is nearing a close and everyone stands up for the encore. I'm feeling about as dejected as Dave is. I had big plans for this little family and their kids with names like Cooper but spelled with a K and Mendenhall, for obvious reasons.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. Dave was making a final move for it. They were standing next to each other, nearly swaying and he was going to go for the full hug, part two. Here he goes. . . IT'S A SUCCESS! She doesn't punch him or shy away awkwardly but totally embraces it and starts to sway with Dave! That's right, swaying.

It's at this gleeful moment that I can't help myself. I realize that this has been a funny enough experience (again, in my head) tat I'll need to blog about it. And what goes more perfectly with a blog than a picture? Nothing. My blog must contain visuals.

So. . . click.

In the pitch black of night, I took a picture of the happy couple from behind. That's "Dave and Emily" on their first date.

Um, if the story ended here, all would be well, right? Of course it didn't end here. Remember when I said it was the black of night? And there was clearly a flash? Well, just as I took the picture and was reveling in my accomplishment, there was a tap on my shoulder.

Blonde Girl: "Excuse me, did you just take a picture of those two people?"

Me: "Uh, yeah. . ."

Blonde Girl: "I know both of them. . ."

Me: "Uuuhhh. . . (this is the part where I start wondering how feisty this girl is and if she is going to try and play camera police and try and come after me or something. BUT, I had done a lot of work in making up this story and it was too good not to get a picture. So me, deciding that I didn't feel bad for taking the photo said. . .) Awesome. They are both going to be on my blog."

Cricket, cricket. . . nothingness abounds as blonde girl and her date stare at me. What now?!?!

Blonde girl's date breaks the silence:

Date: "Any chance you could send that picture to me because I've been watching them all night and they are ridiculous! He's a total wuss!"

Hazzah! No bar fight! (Ok, there was no bar but you get what I'm saying). They thought it was as funny as we did. In fact, blonde girl snuck up behind them and got a picture pointing at them and laughing. It was so great!!

So, was I right? You better believe I asked about those two and what their story was. It was their first date. Check. They didn't meet at BYU. How is that possible?!?!? They didn't meet at school because they were EFY counselors together!!! hahaha. So pegged. Sister and friend, check. Remember the random group of "friends" that came and sat with them? Those were their kids at EFY LOVING the fact that their counselors were dating. Hence her hesitancy! Hence the awkwardness! She wasn't a tease, she just didn't want to be watched by her EFY kids! Little did she know the biggest spy of all was just to the other side and back a couple of blankets. . .

Could I be a professional writer?

You BET I could! Look at what i found on the front page of my heart. . . I mean Yahoo! news this afternoon:

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/access-top-10-reality-romances-gone-wrong/25652

Does this sound familiar? Does it? Yeah? That's because I wrote about this last month and frankly, my list was pretty dead on. I got all of the "real" relationships on there - you know the ones that started BEFORE the show started - with the exception of Britt and K-Fed (which didn't stand a chance so why bother) and Hugh (who makes a living of infidelity and blondes so I hardly call that a 'relationship', especially in the singular form!).

Man, Hollywood Insider, here I come! Better yet, Yahoo!, can I have a gig on your OMG site?

I'm an addict. . .

I think that I maybe should have called my blog 'Confessions of an adult addict' because I've made a LOT of disclosures on this blog - probably a lot that you, my 5 person readership (I've added one - glad you found me Stephanie and don't be afraid of what you read, just trust it! haha) don't necessarily "get" but I do try to make them sound as ridiculous as they actually are so at least you get some entertainment out of my habits. Today, friends, is no different. I have a confession. . .

I am addicted to the news. I heart television news, that's no lie. In fact, I have what can be considered an unhealthy relationship with the Today Show (hey Crew buddies, I know you hear me on this) since I watch it every morning while I get ready and have done since my sophomore year in college. So that would mean Matt Lauer and I have pow-wowed every morning for. . . carry the one. . . ok, a LONGER time than his mom probably did his laundry. Anyway, I'm only home for about the first hour of it which would be considered the 'hardcore' part of the Today Show (before the barbecues and wedding planning starts), which means I'm generally listening to reports on the state of the economy, our ongoing dispute with, well, everyone, and women being attacked by pet chimpanzees. You know, really tough news.

But that's not the main problem. In fact, I think it's kind of a good habit to have. That way if the president ever stops by my office, I can give him props for talking about Utah health care and the like.

No, the problem isn't the credible, what-is-happening-in-Iran-type news. I am talking about lending accuracy to any kind of news, even the outrageous stuff. Primarily the kind that is provided by the really, truly credible sites like, say, the front page of Yahoo!

I work in an office and my primary job consists of email and Internet. No, not the snooping kind of Internet or the dirty kind either (I do, in fact, do credible work). BUT, because my work demands that I log-on maybe 50 times a day, you can imagine the importance of my homepage selection and all that it offers me in a quick, 10 sec view. Enter Yahoo!

You know that box that shows up on the top of the page with the teasers about all the latest news stories? Did you know that it refreshes like every hour, sometimes multiple times an hour? You probably didn't because you aren't as crazy about it as I am!

Oh, sweet tabbed window. You not only allow me to view the top stories and pictures at a glance, but you categorize it so nicely. You give me features, entertainment, sports and even LIFE! (Sometimes I click on that last one, secretly hoping that there is a checklist about how to do life better.) What more could a girl ask for? Five headlines on each tab. That is surely enough to keep a girl abreast of the latest happenings without having to read each major news outlet because let's be real - if it's THAT important, it'll be on Yahoo! I love you tabbed window. You complete me. DO YOU SEE MY PROBLEM?

Since when is Yahoo! been in your top five list of credible news sources? Yeah, that's what I thought. CNN, NBC, CBS, LA Times and Yahoo! Of course. I will throw myself a bone and say that often times, the Yahoo! news alerts come from these more credible sources and are just compiled into the love of my life. . . er, I mean the news window, but still. They have writers that are busting out stories all the time as well. Mostly, they appear in the 'Entertainment' portion of the site because some would say that it's the least important to be accurate there but I would beg to differ.

If the news window isn't enough, there is another group of links to national, world and local news below it. Sidenote: Isn't it funny that we put entertainment and life at the top and world news BELOW that? Oh, I didn't think so either - it's not a joking matter. Entertainment news is of utmost importance. The world is as it should be! Haha. Anyway, I can see what's being reported in all news outlets, even down to our our Standard Examiner right there! It's completely convenient and completely overwhelming and I completely love it.

Top stories, bottom stories, video stories, week in pictures. Love advice, car advice, life advice, food advice. Who signed what, who dated what, who attempted what, who said what. It's ALL there, waiting for my perusal.

Is there anyway to make a job out of this because if I'm not careful about my self-control, I may no longer have one. Oh, I wonder if there is an article about self-control on Yahoo!?

It’s the Cele-breakup. . .

Alas, dear friends, I’m sure that you’ve all heard the news that the reality television world ended this week with the demise of Jon and Kate. That’s right, the world’s bravest parents could no longer hack it and they are getting divorced. It’s a sad world we live in when even $75,000 an episode can’t help you get over yourself long enough to make your marriage work.

Jon and Kate now enter the books as the most recent Cele-breakup (I think I maybe invented that word and I may be proud of it. . . but if you think I heard it somewhere and it’s not a Carlee Original, let me know and I’ll give credit where it’s due, cool?) in Hollywood. . . er. . . Pennsylvania. It’s a good thing they chose to stay living out of LA so that they could have some semblance of a “normal life” with Mady, Cara, Leah, Hannah, Alexis, Joel, Collin and Aaden. Wait, what part of 8 kids seems like a normal life? None part? I didn’t think so either. Sidenote – I maybe got all of those names by memory. . . without a struggle. I AM a watcher of this show and have become rather attached to the Gosselin family, like so many of you who maybe won’t admit it. But I’m airing my dirty laundry – I watch it when it’s on and maybe Tivo it sometimes. . .

As much as I would LOVE to write an entire blog about the Gosselin, I think it would lose its luster after paragraph four. After all, they have been the center of the universe for the last 6 months because he’s supposedly cheating and so is she and the kids are overworked and yadda, yadda. Good tabloid stuff.

So, rather than focus solely on this most recent tragedy, I would like to walk you through some of my favorite Cele-breakups over the past years. My definition of “favorite” is termed as loosely as those couples that I, at the very minimum, became at least mildly invested in – entertainment-wise or emotionally, doesn’t matter. . . I was, to some degree, sad to see them go. So, in no particular order than that of my memory. . .


Kate and Jon (I listed her first because that’s how she’d want it. I’m surprised it hasn’t changed yet actually. . .)

Cause of Break-up: Reported Infidelity, Greed, Selfishness

It’s the freshest. Sorry. But I’ll be brief. Plus, I feel the worst for them because they were once a legitimate family.
In a break-up where both parents claim that it always has been and still will be “all about the kids,” I ask, “Is it really?” At first I loved this story because they lived in a sweet house in Pennsylvania and were SO grateful for the opportunities that they were given because they never thought they would be able to experience them without the aid of the Hiltons or whoever else threw out a freebee. Now that Kate is expecting. . . not another child but a hand-out. . . it’s lost its humility and it’s “real-ness”.

Wouldn’t the smart thing be to try life again off camera rather than go for the big D in court? As pointed out by my genius sister-in-law, isn’t she still making money speaking and from royalties on her books? Call me crazy but I think that getting the cameras off the property may be the best thing for the kids and the marriage. It’s “all about the kids”. Yup. All about the great stuff that you get because of the kids. Again, $75,000 per episode people. You are FINE to walk away and no, the show doesn’t have to go on.
PS, nice earrings on the show this week, Jon. Good luck apartment hunting.

Nick and Jessica

Cause of Break-up: Infidelity, Career Competition, Age (metal or physical, I can’t tell)

Remember them? Remember the Chicken-of-the-Sea incident? Remember how this show was a complete train wreck – it was gruesome enough that you really wanted to look away but you couldn’t help but stare. I loved it SO much.

This is the classic case of the “Battle of the Careers” syndrome – lower-tiered boy-bander versus the teenie bopper goddess (you know, the one that was overlooked) and daddy’s girl (in every awkward sense of the word) turned bad movie actress. This couple was a great case of puppy love and I loved that they both loved being with a spouse that was as hot as they were. Did that make sense? It did in my head.

I had every hope that these two would make it because she was innocent and he was cool and it felt like my senior year in high school (not me personally, but all the people that I envied) with friends and concerts and music videos and perfume lines. . . oh, good times! But of course, it took a bad turn.

There were talks of her cheating and I think maybe some of him doing the same – I know he went out with Kim Kardashian before she was who she is but I may be getting my stories confused. Either way, there was strife and a break-up and another MTV show down the toilet.

Shauna Moakler and Travis Barker

Cause of Break-up: Who the heck knows. . . and which time?

Thanks again MTV. A beauty queen marries a punk band drummer and they live happily-ever. . . um, not so much. They were ok for a little while – until the cameras got them too! Is anyone seeing a trend?

Are you wondering why I liked these people so much? Entertainment purposes, of course. They were actually pretty normal with each other and their kids on television, but that continual stoned look on Barker’s face throughout their short stint on cable made me smell nothing but trouble. And boy was I correct!

They broke up, and then got back together, and then broke up again, I think? Can anyone confirm that?

The Hogans

Cause of Break-up: What WASN’T weird/wrong with this family?

I am actually kind of surprised that this didn’t make more of a splash than it did. Not the break-up but the fact that this could be America’s craziest family. I’m not even kidding. Here is what we’re working with:

Former pro-wrestler marries ridiculous blond and has two kids – a daughter who tries to be a singer in the Brittney sense of the word and a Son who doesn’t realize he’s Caucasian and kills a guy drag racing (which I’m pretty positive isn’t his only legal offense). This family survives over 20 YEARS! That’s right. What could they possibly do to add to the already existing drama? Get a television show, of course. Now the world can fully critique their craziness, adding to the stress of their lives and causing their eventual demise. Now Hulk’s dating a woman who looks like his daughter (gross) and Linda (Mrs. Hulk) is dating a guy that’s younger than his daughter (double gross). Welcome to tv land.

Ok, that is my short list in a LONG blog. But, is anyone else seeing a pattern here? Sign up to do a television show with your family, there is a good chance that if you don’t keep your head on straight, you’re going to end up with the big “D” as well. The list goes on - Dave Nivaro and Carmen Electra, Brittney and K-Fed (although I’d really like to think that was doomed from the get-go, no cable assistance required) and so on and so on. And yet they still continue to do it. . . I’m perplexed.

I’d love to think Tori and Dean are going to make it (I better not end up tearing up over the latest gossip in 5 months because I like them too) because she has been RIDICULOUSLY famous her entire life. But Dean may have a challenge in his newly acquired fame. They are a cute family though. I worry (not as in worry everyday worry, just thoughts really) that the built-in drama that comes with being a Spelling could lead to their demise. They seem oddly grounded though, so I hope it continues because it's a win for Oygen!


Let’s be real though – the only family that is going to come out of this black hole of marriage is the Duggars. In fact, they are the only ones to actually ADD a marriage to their repertoire so maybe that makes up for one of the losses? Maybe they could actually give the families of reality tv a win if they get the rest of their kids married off. They could load balance the entire thing!! Looks like you have to have a serious religious dedication and 18 kids to avoid media scrutiny and a wandering eye.

Is it me or has etiquette changed?

Dear Toilet Texter (Again),

I am writing this letter to apologize. In what I thought was the most grievous offense of my time (texting in the potty), I was hasty in letting you know how disgusted I was in your actions. I apologize for my brash accusations that you had the poorest taste in all the land. Don’t get me wrong, I still think you have very poor taste, just not the poorest.

All Sincerity,
Carlee
--------------------------------

Dear Toilet Talker,

Congratulations, it is official. You have officially overtaken the Toilet Texter as the owner of the most grievous offense to date. I begin by explaining myself.

I’ve never understood phones in bathrooms. Not ever. It amazes me when I go to a hotel and as a manifestation of their class, they put a phone near the toilet. What is classy about that? Is it a sign of business prowess – knowing that on occasion a businessman might have a potty emergency in the middle of a conference call and this divine phone placement will save him the embarrassment of excusing himself in the middle of said call and he can stay on the line while he handles his other “business”? Think about it before you answer. . . is it MORE embarrassing to excuse yourself or to have a potential client hear you tinkle? Think hard little grasshopper.

Is the phone in there in case, while reading the daily comics, you get the urge to order room service? Isn’t that an odd time to be thinking about food INTAKE? Ok, I’m dry heaving. Enough said.

So, that said, what makes you think that I would agree with cell phones in the bathroom? I’ve caught several of your kind, Toilet Talker, mid conversation with the statement from my end of the phone “Are you in the bathroom?” Those Toilet Talkers stutter and stammer to explain themselves while I quickly retort, “Gross. Call me back.” At least they realize the error of their ways and are mildly embarrassed by this pre-historic display of manners.

You, my friend, have taken this to a whole new level. Home bathroom conversations, while still gross, are at least private (I hope) between the two parties involved. You, Public Restroom Toilet Talker, are exposing your conversation for all to hear – all that are retreating to the restroom for a few quiet moments of their own that is.

What did I just hear? You dialed the phone while shutting the stall door? We are in for something very problematic. Are you saying “hello” to me or to your phone buddy? I NEED to know. “Why?” you ask? Because when I answer you and tell you that “I’m fine,” (when I secretly want to say ‘Why are you talking to your stall neighbor? That’s weird. I know we’re girls but that’s still weird.’), I become the weird one that is talking to YOU over the stall. Is that fair? No! You started this mess and now I look like the weirdo to all the bathroom attendees at this very moment for violating bathroom quiet time protocol! In addition, I’ve apparently “annoyed” you for answering a question that was CLEARLY not directed at me. Do you see the irony because it’s bleeding from every pore?

What did you just say? Did you just tell your phone buddy that people must think you are weird for talking on the phone in the bathroom? Ok, now we have a larger issue. You KNOW that this is weird! I was about to give you some leeway and just chalk this mishap up to bad parenting or something but you acknowledge that it’s weird?!?! Now I don’t have sympathy because this is pure rebellion for the laws of nature and all bathroom etiquette guidelines.

I feel like maybe the bathroom isn’t the place to conduct your phone business. Especially when all I hear is cordiality and nonsensical banter coming from your side, I can’t imagine that the person on the other end is having a philosophically-rooted conversation and all you have to say is “Totally.”
I appreciate your attention to the matter.

The Newest Friend of the Toilet Texter,
Carlee


PS: While we’re on the topic. . . If you can only do one of the following without somehow interfering or overlapping with your ability to participate in the other (I leave it to your best judgment to define “interfering”), I beg you to make the choice before you start and only do one thing at a time:

Texting vs Driving
Talking vs Driving
Make-up vs Driving
Eating vs Driving
Really Anything vs Driving
Talking vs Phone Talking (you know you LOVE those background conversations while I’m telling you a story on the phone)
Texting vs Meetings (church or otherwise but especially church)
Talking vs Eating (or just chewing for that matter)
Skiing vs Doing Your Taxes (name that movie)

Hello, my friends, hello. . .

So remember how I am really good about blogging about things that don't matter - like run-ins at the bank or weird hugging moments or hair in my trailmix but I am a FAILURE at blogging about all of the important stuff? You want proof? I've got your proof. Here are the things that have happened since my last blog:

Changed jobs. That's right, after almost 5 long years I finally left the DMark and moved jobs to a cool ad agency in Farmington - ThomasARTS. I'm having a blast there and learning a lot so that's always a positive thing, yes? I do miss some of my fam back at the DMark as well as the major comfort zone that I was in but the challenge has been amazing.

Went to Europe. That's right. Biggest trip of my life and I didn't blog about it. Not for a second. I was a good girl and wrote about the trip in my actual journal (yes, I dusted it off just for the occasion) but that doesn't help the two of you that read my blog! The good news is that I did post pics on FaceBook so I hope that redeemed me a little. I'll throw couple onto the end of this blog for proof but anyway, my apologies.

Our trip couldn't have been more amazing. We flew into Venice, took a train to Rome, flew back to Venice and then left on a cruise that took us to Dubrovnik Croatia, Ephesus Turkey, and Corfu and Santorini Greece. It was a most magical time (how silly was that but it REALLY was!). We spent the trip sightseeing and taking pics and dancing the night away on the boat. I was so exhausted when we got home that it literally took me an entire week to recover. It was so amazing. I have to get back there.

Got a roommate. She moved in this weekend. She's totally cute and it's fun to have someone living with me. . . at least I assume that it will be fun because I've seen her like twice since she moved her stuff in on Friday! It will be good for me to figure out how to live with someone again. . . man, it has been a LONG time!

So I'm sure a lot of other really petty things have happened that I should have blogged about but didn't. I need to be better at this - again. I keep saying that but just forget to keep up! Maybe I should set a reminder on my phone? Mid-year resolution?

Europe Pics - a few for proof!

The Pitfalls of Returning. . .

So I got back from vacation almost a week ago and man, what an adjustment. I didn't really realize until I'd been working several days that I literally spent my vacation in a vegetative state. . . literally. I read, I slept, I wrote a really long and arduously read blog late one night (sorry about that) and I played with my niece. That sums up the entire week.

Now that I've been a week back in my real life, I've thought of all of the pitfalls of coming home from a vacation like the one I took last week. They are as follows:

• Work. I know, you are shocked that this is first on my list. But work in Mexico consisted of walking up two flights of stairs on my way back from the pool or figuring out that daunting Sudoku puzzle that just didn't seem to come out right. That was all the work that I did for an entire week. Now, there is typing and emails and spreadsheets and oh, I'm exhausted even talking about it. I think I need to lay down.

• Speaking of. . . naps. I basically slept everywhere on vacation: in the chair by the pool, in my bed, on the boat, at the dinner table. . . really, wherever I was tired. Now, I can't seem to fall asleep anywhere - even in my own 'I can't get enough of how soft this is' bed in my own 'it is so nice to have carpet on the floor' house. I tried sneaking into the mother's lounge at work to nap for a minute during lunch. You need a key. I want to sleep bad enough that I'm thinking about a minor criminal offense (stealing said key) just to sleep. Sad? Yeah, I thought so too!

• Did you know that it's easier to work out on the elliptical if it is overlooking a golf course and a lake through a large picture window? Well, it is. Now when I run I just look at the female body builder right in front of me that has a really awkward posture when she runs. It's not the same. There is a lake. . . of sweat.

• I keep waiting for a bar maid to pass my cubicle and ask me what I'll have to drink. It hasn't happened. And when I asked the secretary to get me a pina colada, she said some things that were NOT very nice. Come on people. Where is the service? I was at the pool for an hour and was asked at least three times what I wanted. I've been at work for 5 days and no such thing has happened. What a crock.

• It's not acceptable to go anywhere in your swimming suit. In Mexico, that was completely appropriate attire for any occasion. Apparently it's not part of the "dress code" in the office. Whatever that means.

• Every day in Mexico, I had some form of hot breakfast - french toast, eggs, muffins, bacon, you name it. There were all sorts of good ways to start off your day. Every morning since I've been home I've gone to my kitchen and nada. No person saying "What can I make you?" followed quickly by "It's a pleasure." I'm making my own dang breakfast again. Ladies and Gents, I'd like to introduce you to my Quaker friend. He makes oatmeal. Oh wait, I mean I make oatmeal.

I'm not bitter. . . just sad that it's over. So if anyone is heading out any time soon, let me know. I'd love an invitation. . . and a pina colada.

Overcoming Weird Personal Boundaries

So generally, I would consider myself a "go-getter". . . for the most part. . . ish. Ok, in some things. Man, is this getting vague or what? My point is that on a general basis, I feel like I don't have a lot of boundaries that I haven't conquered (or at least attacked with some decent force) in my life. I feel pretty comfortable with the things that I've done.

What am I getting at? Sidenote: not once have I ever gotten to a point this fast in my writing so why in the WORLD are you expecting me to now? Let me tell you about some of the personal battles that I feel like I've conquered in my life (no laughing now, this is some serious business and in some courts of law considered highly personal :) ):

Carlee vs the Swing set: my brother used to try and get me to lay down under the swing with my arms by my sides and see how close he could get to my face while swinging without actually kicking me. The trick was that if I covered my eyes (as was a natural reaction), I would, inevitably, be kicked. It took a LOT of trust but I finally did it. He passed right over me (the first time) and I was proud.

Carlee vs the Trailer Park Bully: I punched a kid. Knocked him on his rear. But it was for a good cause. He was picking on a smaller, weaker kid. And when he pushed me, I punched him and he cried. . . a lot. I felt bad. But it was the first time in my life when I had to make a choice about what I valued - walk away and let it be (nothing happens to me) or stand up for what I thought was right and risk getting in trouble. I was proud, still am. Maybe I should have called this 'Carlee vs the Moral Dilemma'?

Carlee vs Death: ok, clearly this wasn't a direct fight. No, you didn't miss something. I knew what death meant and how it emotionally effected me at an early age. I had three grandparents die over the course of one year when I was about 10. I've lost close friends in accidents, grandparents after long battles and several pets. I'm no stranger to it and I feel like after all of the practice with it, I understand it and can finally say that I have peace with the process and all that it means.

I could continue (you all know THAT for sure!) but I won't. My point is that in 26 years, I figured that I had run into a lot of the boundaries in my life - physical, spiritual, emotional and mental - that I really had to overcome. I was wrong.

Today I uncovered a pretty strong boundary that I don't even know I was aware of until it was right in my face. It all started at the spa. . .

I've gotten my fare share of pedis and manis and even had a facial last time I was in Mexico so I'm no stranger to the robe and the weird scents and the sheets and such at the spa. It's rather soothing. Today was my first go-round with hydrotherapy (you go from hot to cold to hot to cold, all in some form of water) and I loved it. Today was also my first go round with a full back massage. Enter the issue.

Did you know that in a spa, when they massage your back, they consider your "back" as the area that runs from the bottom of your skull to the bottom of your tailbone and everything in between? (I bet you didn't see this coming, did ya? you thought this was going to be a serious blog!) Well, I didn't know that. So you can imagine my surprise when little Teresa from Mexico pulled the sheet down WAY lower than I thought should would to go to town on my back. Sidenote: I am openly admitting that a 5'2", 110 pound woman completely kicked my trash today. Completely. I feel like I got in a fistfight and lost. Trailer park bully, you have your revenge!!

Anyway, when this happened, I had to keep from audibly saying "Um, do I know you? WHAT are you doing!?" Right then and there, all of my self-image issues rose right into my throat and I realized how uncomfortable I am not being clothed. The severity of this may have some religious ties. . . or it may stem from all of the books I've been reading about Afghanistan and women in burquas. . . but either way, it was a serious, in-your-face phobia! One that in my 26 years I am yet to encounter??? RANDOM!

So, as I laid there and Teresa started rubbing me down ( I know, awkward visual. . . and I'm sorry but that's how I felt, that phrase explains exactly how I felt!), I was completely uncomfortable and tense which completely defeats the purpose of the massage, right? I decided to have a little talk with myself about overcoming my phobia in record time and how being uncomfortable would get me nothing but a painful back rub and wasted spa time provided by my loving parents. What's a girl to do? I'm here, I'm on the bed, I'm not clothed, this lady could CLEARLY beat me up, where do we go from here?

I decided to take control of the situation and do it fast so I wasn't wasting any one's time. I adopted my new favorite saying which is "Carlee, it's only awkward if you let it be." (You can use it too but it won't be as effective if you use my name so you may want to insert your own there.) Guess what? It worked! Granted, it took a few minutes to really settle down but it happened and I made it through! Was it the best thing I've ever done? No. But now I know that next time it could be and that's where the win comes in.

So this overly exerted blog is to issue a challenge: do something that makes you uncomfortable and stretches you just a little bit. You may surprise yourself. I know there are plenty of "Tony Robbins" types out there telling you to do the same and maybe I'm harnessing my inner Tony but I'm telling you that a shock to the system is exactly what I needed to get back on the right path. Even if you "fail" (aka, the outcome isn't exactly what you thought or wanted) or it takes longer than anticipated (like me and my 5 minute freakout today), it's a good thing. Thanks Martha. Oh, and then report back. I want to know what you did (and I need ideas and challenges) and I'll keep you posted on my "brave" moments moving forward.

It's all about Mexico. . . or Olivia.

Hola and Buenos Tardes from beautiful Playa del Carmen. Right now, I am sitting on the balcony of our room and listening to the waves crash against the wall down below. Wanna see? Here you go:




I literally took that two minutes ago so you can see what I'm seeing! Don't you feel like you're right in the action? Ok, maybe my photography isn't THAT good but I tried. Can you see the parasailing going on above the second palm tree from the left? You can't tell but the parachute is a giant yellow smiley face. I guess they think the smiley face is less intrusive to the sharks below? Hahaha. . . just kidding. . . sort of.

Well, so far, the trip has been a-to the-mazing. I've done exactly what I wanted to do which is sleep and sun. . . and sleep in the sun. . . and get in the pool. . . and sleep some more. I don't think that I realized how tired I've gotten lately until I got here and have basically slept for three days. Don't worry though, I have had the energy to get dressed and walk down to the pool before I nap so I'm getting a really sweet sunburn while I'm here! Oh, and I'm doing some great reading between naps - A Thousand Splendid Suns. Love it. For those of you that are aware of the New Year's Resolution, this will be book number 5.


The trip has been so relaxing and a perfect time with my family. They are a blast to vaca with. It's Olivia's first time out of the country and the people of Mexico LOVE her. She's a little flirt and I'd expect nothing less. I got the surprise of my life on day one when I opened our hotel door and she came walkin in like she owned the place. . . that's right, my baby girl has joined the ranks of the walkers! I'm so proud.


Needless to say, we've had a blast having her here. Here are some pics of her adventure so far:

She has pretty much spent most of her time on the cold floor. I don't blame her. . . it's hot here!
I got a flower from the front desk on our arrival. . . she made quick work of that.

This is exactly why I love her. . . this face. . . she's the happiest girl EVER!

Olivia quickly discovered that she is a pool efficianado! She is basically a Phelps in training.

And yes, she attracts some great audiences. . . great, great audiences. :)

Anyway, I figure there are enough pics of the baby to keep the fam happy for a while. I haven't taken too many pics of anything but the view from our room so I'll drop another one in here of what it looks like at sunset:

We've been out shopping and really, literally at the pool 90% of our vacation thus far which means all of my expectations have been met. Nothing too crazy (which is odd for me as anyone who knows me can attest that I am the queen of weird things happening) but that's to be expected when you're sleeping all day. I am having some funny dreams though. . . :) Oh, one weird thing did happen:

I got kissed on the cheek by a drunk, too-old-for-my-mom, Mexican salesman last night so that was an adventure. He was trying to sell my dad some Cuban cigars and trying to sell my mom on the fact that he was going to be the newest member of our family. Note to the audience at large: if you plan on calling my mom "mother-in-law", there are a couple of things you should know: First, you may want to check with me first because there is only one way left into this family and I kind of need to have a say. We're not in the business of arranged marriages (although sometimes I think that might not be a bad idea. Can you see me selling hair braiding and booze in Mexico for a living?) so please include me first. Sidenote: this doesn't mean that I'm picky or really that I'd even refuse the offer under most circumstances, it's just a sign of courtesy for heaven's sake! Let a girl feel like she's important. Second, make sure that you don't have hard tequila/cigar breath when you call my mom "mother-in-law" for the first time. Third, don't hit on me while simulateously trying to sell me a "Foach" purse. That's just a major disadvantage to you because I WILL be distracted by the purse and it will probably win every time. And by "probabaly" win, I mean it WILL win. Final take-home tally? Purse: one. Men: zero. Wah, waaaahhh!

With that, I must bid you adios! More adventures to come. . . I hope. I'll try and do something besides lay by the pool before the next update!