ofatbart

Oooda-lal-ee!

2009-04-28T12:16:00.003-06:00

I have a frog. I don't know if I've mentioned that yet or not. It's a little fire bellied toad I've named Tweaker. He sits in a little aquariam in my bedroom and at night makes little frog sounds. He didn't have a name for a long time, I just called him Frogger - (that's a shout out to K. and her Dogger) but as I watched him get so active at night and try and get out of his little tank with his legs going all wild and akimbo, he just looked like he was tweaking out!! He's another little lovey pet from J. I still have Pistachio which I'm rather impressed with myself for keeping alive for so long. Although, again, I have to give props to J. because he cleans her bowl for me.
I'm still here in the 'Couve and doing alright. I still work at the bank and still am dating J. We're having a fun time makeing a little life here. Although with all the rain we've had this week, I've got to admit I've given some serious thought to moving to Arizona. Or anywhere there is sun and a water park. I'm just about desperate for a lazy river lately. You know how I can tell I'm getting desperate? I wore my bikini under my work clothes last Friday so I could pretend... :)

Money, Money, Mon-ey

2008-11-26T12:07:00.002-07:00

So, I've big plans. I'm going to start selling some of the crafty stuff I do on the website, www.Etsy.com. I'm going to make the things up in my lazy evenings at home and then because I don't actually like or have the capacity to do the internet stuff, I'll send them to Mom and she'll sell them for me. So far I've got some rugs and other weavings, some purses, necklaces, hackey sacks, hats - etc. I laugh because I used to do this all the time with farmers markets, neighbors, friends - I just love to make this stuff- might as well make it work for me. I need to have something to keep my hands busy but don't care to have so many things lying around my house. Anyway - stay tuned and when I've got it all online I'll post the link too...

Time Flies

2008-11-25T12:15:00.002-07:00

My goodness but time does fly. Here it is almost December and I haven't had any updates at ALL! Bad Maija! No biscuit! Oh well. So, lets see... I've moved again. The mother-in-law apartment was actually a garage and I stayed all of about 2 1/2 months. I couldn't handle the mice and the ants and the landlady who thought we still lived in Utah and needed an honor code and was just a generally crazy lady and so I moved out and into a regular apartment. The rent is about double but the peace of mind makes up for it. I've got it decorated very nicely now and it's very homey and I just love it. Just a little 700 square foot, one bedroom place, but I don't really need anything more. And it has a porch that looks out over a field with a tree in the middle and that suits me just fine. Other big changes - I traded in the Plymouth Voyager van for a Saturn that gets about 3x better gas mileage and makes me feel more like myself and not so much a soccer mom. I picked up a second job - sorry, J.- and am working part time at a Cafe. I can now make the best crepes, panini and drinks! but am getting anxious to quit. The boss is the worst bully I've ever met! Blech. I love the girls I work with but just dread having any interaction with the owners. Not a fun work environment. J-Dawg is still the love of my life and doing his best to take good care of me. He cleans my house and comes over and makes me dinner and I often find the sweetest little cards left in places and we really are having so much fun. I'm glad for him. Winter's on its way here and I'm getting anxious to either go snowboarding or go to Bermuda. I know- such different environments but don't they both sound so much fun!! Or, I'll just be content to spend some lazy days at home enjoying the wet and wild weather and snuggling with a good book and some hot chocolate. Either way really. Anyway, I guess I'm feeling the need to post a little better. I read my sisters and friends blogs and they really are so enjoyable. Once I got over my jelousy (they're such better writers and so much more entertaining!!) I decided to just post my rambling thoughts anyway. So, here you go... Love!

Crazy Changes

2008-05-29T11:12:00.001-06:00

So, I don’t have internet anymore. Nor, really, a job that supports the use of one even furtively so my chances for updating are a bit slimmer. But still I vow to my faithful readers (Hi Mom!!) to plough onward, ever upwards in my attempt to keep you all up to date on my exploits. I have in fact had a few recently. First of all is my new big job. I applied; interviewed and got the job (They liked me! They really liked me!). I got to spend a week in Salem doing Bank Teller Training. I got to stay in a hotel with a Swimming Pool!! YAY!! It was a dream to get to put my bathing suit back on after almost a 8 month hiatus! I’m really having fun and loving this new job - such a nice thing to be able to say after my last drudgery. Next on my big news agenda is I’ve moved back into my own place. I’m renting a studio/mother-in-law apartment just a mile and a half from this new job and it’s a beautiful thing to walk around in my underwear again. With J. just a mile and a half away in the other direction and the bank a mile and a half the other way, my life has come nice and full circle again. I like having my little world contained. So life is going a long swimmingly with its usual ups and down and good days and hard days but that’s just the way I like it I guess. -Keeps things interesting. It seems like there are a hundred more little adventures and wild moments that I wish I could take time to document but… not today.

And we're up again

2008-04-18T11:36:00.004-06:00

So about 2 weeks is as long as I cared to live irresponsibly. It was a lot of fun though. Mostly it consisted of hedonistic, wild pleasures like goldfish crackers and sleeping in. I'm feeling much more productive now - I have a job interview for a position as a bank teller tonight... we'll see how that goes. I'm cautiously optimistic about it. Also, I move into a new little 2 bedroom apartment on the first of the month. It will be nice to have a place of my own again because I'm tired of having to keep my pants on when I come home from work. I'm ready to walk around in my underwear again and eat goldfish for dinner. Er, so, I guess - I still want to live a *little* hedonistic-ly.

Free Bird

2008-04-01T11:32:00.001-06:00

I’ve decided that I want to live my life irresponsibly. I don’t want to save for the future. I don’t really care about retirement. I’m no longer concerned about the earth or the children or the third world countries. I’m actually not really concerned about anything. I think it sounds like fun to live in a double wide trailer on someone else’s lot – or even better – maybe just in a van. Or, maybe I’ll marry someone who’s no good for me in lots of different ways and let him support me. Or, if he can’t then I’ll work too and be content to live paycheck to paycheck at temp jobs I’m overqualified for. I’m not going to concern myself with trying to be healthy either. Way to much work. And you never know how long your going to live anyway, so I might as well – relax. Besides, goldfish crackers taste way to good and I don’t want the guilt.

Post Number 100

2008-03-25T09:38:00.003-06:00

So, this is the 1ooth post for this little blog of mine. And to think it's only taken me, what? Three years or so to do it? Oh, well - good for me. So work here as of late has been pretty boring to say the least. I mean, it's always been pretty bad but lately with the company going down and all it seems I have to try and make three hours of work stretch into eight and it's getting harder and harder. I tend to read headlines on my serious downtime but feel justified because when I look around all the other girls are playing solitaire.
So, different note real quick... I seem to have pretty good luck when it comes to finding great stuff in the lost and found bins or picking stuff up off the street. All my favorite watches and jewelry has come that way. J. teases me about it mercelessly but last night he was so excited to give me a sweet gift. It was a little gold ring with a jewel that he found in the street when he was long boarding the other night. He passed it three times glittering there before he stopped to investigate. Can I just say, I've never been so proud, nor so pleased with any gift as much as I am with my beautiful gutter ring. And just as proud and pleased with my little sticky fingered protoge. Love!

March Madness

2008-03-18T14:41:00.002-06:00

So, I've been reading a lot of my friends blogs lately who all do so good at updating and am feeling quite like the slacker I am. Also noted, is how much more creative my friends are in the upkeep of their blogs - I mean, pictures posted and colored text and music links and counters and maps and such! Sheesh. My blog is very boring. Oh well - I hardly write enough on it anyway. 'Course - maybe if I took more time to make it a bit more interesting I might feel more motivated to write... hmm... I'll have to think about that.
So, I have come to the realization of why I don't perhaps blog so much and this is it. I often have two or three big, funny, momentous or just perfectly bloggable moments that happen all with in the span of a day or two of each other. The reason though that I don't write about them is that I feel like if I were to write about both or all of them on the same day then that would take away from the greatness of them. I like to have my events separated out by a title. If you have two or three things going on it one post - I just feel that for me personally it's no good and so I don't write about it at all.
So, instead of trying to write about my experience at the DMV that actually happened on the 8th of this month, and try and post it on the end of this entry almost as if it were a last minute thought, I'm going to wait until tomorrow and give it the recognition it deserves - it's very own day.

Jobs

2008-02-25T16:42:00.001-07:00

As some of you... er... all of you... know, the company I'm working for now has filed bankruptcy. It's in the final throws with a very small percent chance of recovery. The word on the street is that we can expect to work about 4-6 more months and then it's all up in the air. I'm okay with that... I haven't put out any resumes or anything because, well, I hate doing that. But I did have something fall in my lap. A girl I worked for for three weeks before she left for another job sent an application my way last week for a nice position at her new company along with a recommendation she sent to her HR people. It just kind of fell in my lap and so I figured it would be cake. I went in for an interview last week and sat there answereing questions for 40 minutes between two girls. The job was for an Administrative Assistant position for a VERY hippy company - they consult with other companies on how to lessen there environmental impact. It was my dream job. Anyway, I found out today that I didn't get it. Huh. Weird. It seems odd because they sought me out. I'm a little at odds with it - but mostly I suppose because nobody likes rejection. I emailed the girls and asked for specifics on why I didn't get it and I'm interested in hearing back from them. I know I have a hard time with interviews. I'm not very good at selling myself in person. Oh well... At least I still have this job for another couple of months. And a boyfriend who rocks and doesn't love me for my money.

Pistachio!

2008-02-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

So, J.-Dawg, bought me a fish. A pretty little beta that’s white with a purple-maroonie colored tail. I named her Pistachio and I LOVE her. She has a pretty little round bowl with lime green rocks on the bottom and some purple flower plants and a little purple lily pad. The colors all work so well together with this pretty little fish. I just love her. J. is teaching me how to be a good beta momma and how I have to feed her twice a day and clean her bowl and make sure she’s warm enough. I never knew I was such a sucker for such a little thing but I rush home at night now to make sure she’s still swimming around and that she looks happy and content. And I’ve changed my wake up routine in the morning so I don’t startle her so bad by turning on such a bright lamp right above her. I really want this pretty little fish to stick around for a while. She means the world to me because she’s from J. and he means the world to me. He has a beta too – a beautiful deep red one named The Human Torch, but we just call him Big Red.

Wheels

2008-01-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

I need a car. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before or not… it seems like I must have only because it’s been at the top of my list for a while. So, remember how I was so excited to be learning how to drive a clutch again on S.’s little Subaru? Well, I’m proud to say it only took me 4 months to ruin a brand new clutch and only $700 to buy a new one. I think that perhaps this, more then anything has been my great motivator in moving my butt to get my own car. That and the fact that it’s hard at 28 years of age to ask to borrow a car so you can drive to see your boyfriend… Oh well, I’m so lucky that I’ve got such nice family that they’ve let me these past couple of months or so. Anyway… I’m in the market now and looking harder then ever… er… actually, I’m bugging M & D to look harder then ever for me. All I need is a junker/clunker with 4 wheels and an engine that will move my butt 16 miles to J.’s house and back… oh, and the occasional trip to Utah to pick up some of my fun stuff from my storage unit. Now really, is that asking so much?

Wild Fun

2008-01-28T11:32:00.001-07:00

This morning was kind of a crazy morning. S. had to go up to Seattle at 5:30 am so he was going to drop me off at the Transit Center so I could catch a bus instead of hitching a ride all the way to P-Town like I normally do. This is fine except I don’t have to be at work till 8am. I ended up arriving down town a lot earlier then 8am because I took an Express bus -which is a lovely thing when you’re a Public Transit Commuter. It snowed last night so I had to find a place down town that I could hang out at that was going to be nice and comfortable and warm. It turns out that Borders café opens up nice and early and has plush, easy chairs you can sit in and – here’s the dangerous part – the café serves hot chocolate! With whipped cream! And sprinkles! I felt so wild ordering a hot chocolate at a book store café and then sitting there and drinking it with people thinking it was coffee and all… I’m a dork I know, but it was wild, delicious, fun. It did suck though having to wake up about 4:30’ish to catch that bus to get that hot chocolate and the only thing that makes THAT okay, was that I had the most relaxing and lovely weekend bumming around with J. I don’t think from Friday to Sunday we were ever out of our PJ’s. We did catch up on a lot of video game playing and movies and snacks though, which was good. Because neither of us have a car, we can’t go anywhere or spend any money but I think – sometimes, that’s just nice.

Wishes

2008-01-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

I wish that change came about just by writing down a plan. I’ve discovered about myself that I actually love to write out plans. I love the process of thinking of a problem – something I’d like to change – and then writing out detailed plans on how that change has got to happen. I love to make budgeted plans for paying down debt. I love to make menus for healthy eating, work out schedules and routines. I love to make shopping lists and to do lists for getting my life organized. I love to make plans for saving up for something and plans for paying for something. I love to make lists for weekend get-a-ways and for dream vacations. I love to work and re-work over lists and plans I’ve made before – trying to get them just perfect – perhaps finally coming up with something that actually would work. For all the effort that I put into making up these good life plans for all these good life changes, I wish that was all it took. It sucks that you actually have to DO what you write down. You actually have to STICK to the budget, the grocery list, the packing list. You actually have to EAT the healthy menu and DO the work out routines. Huh, where’s the fun in that?

Fresh Start

2008-01-21T16:53:00.001-07:00

I had wanted to start the year out strong by writing more on here… but as it seems is usually the case, I’m lucky to get this one posted in the spare minute I find between ragged breaths from running around crazy. So, quick update – still here in Portland/Vancouver area and still enjoying it. Especially the part where there is no snow on the ground. Hate the part where it doesn’t really matter because I don’t have a car to drive around anyway, but I’m dealing with that. – Should have something soon… I hope… Still working in Portland and still trying to get the motivation to look for another job. I guess when I hate this one bad enough I’ll move on. Or when the Company’s Bankruptcy is finalized and I lose my job anyway. Still dating J. and still loving every minute of it. Dating someone is a lot harder then they make it look in the movies but I’m happy to report it’s also a lot more fun and a lot more fulfilling. He is my dream man – beautiful tender hearted punk who writes me songs and draws me the most beautiful artistic drawings. I don’t really have any big adventures on the horizon right now which makes my life feel a little off balance, but I’m finding that just trying to make it day to day is exciting enough. I do wish I had my snow shoes or my snow board up here with me but I can’t do anything about that today so I won’t worry about it. I should plan a trip down to Utah to pick some of those things up – but the car situation makes that tough. Oh well, like I said, won’t worry about that today…

Yeah, yeah, I know...

2007-12-06T00:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been a while scince I've posted which is really funny because when I came out here the big part of it was that I was committed to writing a ton more of everything that's going on. And I will. I promise. But in the mean time, suffice it to say that may days are most amazingly and lovingly and happily being frittered away canoodling with the most wonderful and dear and kind and sweet boy named J. (Yup friends, I'm in love with another J to add to the confusion of J. and J. and get this... all three are left handed! Wild, I know.) Anyway, more to come... just content yourself with the knowledge that... I'm happy.

A Medium Sized Adventure

2007-10-04T19:39:00.000-06:00

So, as some of you may know, my car died before I came out here to P. I am officially car-less. Which is fine, I don't mind riding the 'Shame Train' otherwise known as public transit. But in the interest of convenience for all concerned S. is helping me learn... er... relearn how to drive a stick shift. The other night we went to the church parking lot like I was 15 again and I practiced starting, stoping, starting, stoping, shifting, reversing. Shesh! I think I owe him a new car or at very least a new transmission. I'd learned how to drive a stick about 10 years ago but haven't touched one scince. Apparantly while it might be like riding a bicycle - it's still going to be a very bumpy ride for a bit, I'm afraid.

Back in Business

2007-09-19T20:32:00.001-06:00

So, I am officially working once again. I've got a nice day job now in down town Portland. It's a panty hose job meaning I have to wear NICE clothes. Not even business casual. We're talking BUSINESS. I'm going to have to revamp my wardrobe I'm afraid. And get some shoes. Any excuse I guess. I have to take a bus to work. And a car I guess. If S. and I leave the house at 6:35am then I'll make it in time to catch the bus at 7:35 (because of traffic - that's why it takes so long) to get to a block away from my work site by 8am. Then to come home, I have to take two buses to meet S. back at the climbing gym to drive another hour back home by 6:30. Sheesh. I miss the days of my 5 minute up the hill commute. But it has been very fun (read: interesting) to learn how ride the public transit system. On friday - S. won't be around so I have to take public transit the whole way. And then on my way home I'm taking the train to Seattle. So get this - I have to catch my first bus at 6am which will take me to the transit center, then I'll take a shutttle to the MAX station where I'll take the Yellow line 'trax bus' to down town where I'll catch another to get to work. Sheesh! And then a 4 hour Amtrak train ride so Seattle. That's going to be a very interesting day (read: nerve wracking). Scary because if something goes wrong and I miss a bus or train or something then I won't have anyone to call to save me because S & A will already be in Seattle. Anyway, so I'm here now in P Town and happy to be here but it's taken me a bit to write about it because there have been so many emotions. I really didn't think it would be as hard to leave as it has been. I know P. get's a bad rap, but I really did enjoy my time there. And I miss my friends. and I realize now that I had the CUSHIEST job ever! I mean, I was a sucker just to leave that. Laugh, oh well. S & A have been so good and so sweet and kind to me and their kids are so much fun. All though, it's been an adventure going from living all alone nice and quietly to crashing at my brothers house with his 4 kids for a while. Quite a big difference. Anyway, so many thoughts now I wish I'd taken a moment to jot down for the sake of their own preservation but, this is all I've got for now. I guess, just know I'm having an adventure to be sure... and that I'm really... learning a lot.

Ha Ha Ha! Did I just say RELAXED!!

2007-08-27T10:40:00.000-06:00

So, scratch that last part. You know, the one where I said I was relaxed. Between here and there in my dash to get out of Dodge I've hit a major road block. You see, my car? The unregistered one? That I just put 250$ bucks into, to try and fix up? Is dead. D. E. D. Dead. The transmission is gone completely. So, last night, I tried to gamely limp it up the hill to the Transmission Shop, but didn't even make it a mile. I'd had the forethought to have J. come follow me and with the help of a stranger who was walking by, who happened to own a tow chain, and lived only a block from where I stopped - my car was towed the rest of the 4 or so miles. In the rain. The last bit we had to push. Did I mention that already? In the rain? So, now this morning, after borrowing my boss' car to get myself there I find out that the transmission will be about 2,100 to fix. I only paid 3,000 for the car. So it's getting scrapped. I called around and after being told by some that I couldn't pay them to take the car, I found one that will give me 100$ for it. So, now I've got J.'s sister W. coming with a van to help me put all my stuff into her van. R. is going to give me a ride the the airport on Thursday so I can rent a car - drive it back down to Provo - load it up and then drive it back north to Boise where I'll stay in a hotel. Then on Friday I'll drive it to S.'s house, then have him follow me to the airport to return it for a grand rental total of 250$. Sheesh. So, laugh with me now. Here I am on this big adventure I asked for. It's turning out to be a lot more then I asked for. Now, I'm not only homeless, I'm wingless too. With out my car, I'm grounded. I really wanted to be able to drive out to Glacier National Park to see the meteor shower on the 1'st of September. I wanted to be able to go to SL tomorrow to say goodbye to some friends, I wanted to be able to drive out to see my cousin's before I left. But... oh well, I guess it's not like I'm dying. I'll be back. In the mean time - while I had some more excellent tips for living in your car organized in my brain to share with you, this latest adventure has knocked them out and so I'll have to leave you with just this one... if your plan is to live in your car, make sure it it's in proper condition or it's just going to cause you more grief.

Homeless... Homeless... Like the Christ Child was...

2007-08-22T19:23:00.000-06:00

That title should be sung. Like the song. By that one guy. Who does Christmas songs. So, I debated about what to title this post. Because what I want to tell you about is really, What I've Learned From Being Homeless Volume 1. So, I guess, here it is... in no particular order...
*Don't leave your paperback books in the back windshield or the sun will melt the glue and then you'll have to read them one leaf at a time. (Which is actually quite fun.)
*Take a shower whenever and wherever you can, even if you don't think you need one. Who knows when you'll get another chance.
*You could pay 7.00$ for a burger and fries and eat for one meal, or you could buy apples, bread, peanut butter, jam and eat for 7 days.
*Don't keep Lingonberries in your cooler if you ONLY eat them with Meatballs. Or mayonnaise for that fact if you only eat it once a year. Cooler space is precious space.
*Keep your clean underwear and t-shirts on top and accessible. Or be willing to pay 10$ a pair for new ones at VS. Or, be ready to slum it for 5$ 3 packs at Walmart.
*If you find a quiet, shady spot - remember where it is. And don't tell anyone else who lives in their car or they might kife it.
*Take good advantage of the amenities of the Library. Namely, books, air conditioning, internet, bathrooms, drinking fountains and soft chairs. You can take a nap there if you have a book in your lap. They won't kick you out. I know. I tried it.
*A duffel bag is invaluable for when you are sleeping at the Gym. It's good for discreetly carrying your pajamas and shampoo into your work.
*Keep your candy bars in the cooler. I hope there is no explanation needed with this one.
*Dollar theaters are wonderful inventions for passing time late at night as well as are Red Box DVD rentals you can watch on your lap top.
Okay - Those are my big lessons learned thus far. But remember - I've still got a week and a half or so to go... So this really is hopefully Volume 1.
(In all honesty I've been "homeless" since Monday at Noon and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. I've spent time sitting under shady trees in the Canyon, taken naps in the library and the park, visited friends and read A LOT - all things I love to do. For the first time in my life, I'm wondering why I've spent so much of my time working. I really feel like I'm learning how to relax all over again. Believe it or not, now that the stress of moving is done, this is the most relaxed I've been for quite some time...)

Aaarrgghh!!

2007-08-15T21:10:00.000-06:00

See that title? That's my stress yell. I'm a little stressed. Which is actually quite funny. Let me tell you why... First, how do I know I'm stressed? Because my one eye is twitching uncontrollably, my other eye is big and red because The Sty has returned, the skin on my finger tips is peeling off, my hair is falling out, I have a lead weight in my stomach and a two inch fuse. Now, why am I stressed out? Because I've only got one more day to pack up and move my house, I'm only two thirds done, the storage unit is 3 miles away instead of 2 blocks, my car is unregistered so every drive out there is a dance with fate - is that a cop behind me? I'm at a mandatory impound now - I don't have enough boxes, I've too much crap and I've got to be to work at 5pm. Luckily, I do have a friend with a trailer coming to help tomorrow... - Also, because I'm leaving for Spokane for the weekend on Friday and the only one to cover my shift is no one's first choice, and then when I come back I'm homeless for two weeks with another weekend trip to Cedar City - provided I can get that shift covered - and then I'm taking off forever from dear friends and loved ones on my way to who knows what!! Sheesh. Okay, now why is it funny? Because this is the adventure I wanted. I mean, I ASKED for this!! And today, this is very funny. Very, very funny. Now laugh. Ha ha ha ha, whaaa!

It's Time to Move on... It's Time to Get Goin'

2007-08-07T22:44:00.000-06:00

So, I'm packing and packing and packing up. It seems to be a little bit overwhelming. Mostly I'm struggling with my desire to have it all done and ready to go but I've got some stumbling blocks. See, I'm moving all my crap to a storage unit, but I don't want to pay for it unless I have to. So, what I've got packed up to store is just sitting here in my living room. I want it OUT. Also, I want to pack stuff up, but I don't have enough big boxes. I've been saving little boxes (you never know when you need a good sturdy box for mailing a package, right Mom?) but they are useless when trying to box stuff up. And lastly, my roommate, who got married on Friday and is on her honeymoon for a week or so, still has all her stuff around so I'm trying to pick and pack my stuff amongst hers and I look around and it feels like I've still got so much junk. I'm trying to throw it all way, get rid of it, clean up, detox, cleanse, but it's harder then I thought. I want to live my life like the water wheel. In order for the wheel to turn it needs to have the momentum of dumping the water before it can pick up any more. So, I want to be free enough to gladly and willingly hold on to less with the understanding that the world will provide for my needs and I'll have the ability and capabilities to pick up things again as I need them. I like the sound of that anyway... So my last day of work at C. is this Friday and I'm happy for it. Sad of course to leave all my great girlfriends there who've made my life great, but excited to feel like I'm ACTUALLY starting my big adventure. And it means I can get moving on packing up. My last day at the Q. isn't until the 29th but that's okay by me. It will be nice to have a check in September. And I like it there. Most days. Well, it will be nice to have something to do with my afternoons off once I'm done packing and all anyway.

Back East Vacation

2007-07-31T19:57:00.000-06:00

Just some highlights for you all... Actually for me...
*Hot humid Baltimore
*Are we in the ghetto?
*Sights from the car
*Long drive - where the bear was
*Farm house tour
*Garden fare dinner - tomatoes!
*Chicken Liver/Heart
*Milk cow tour
*Late night movies and twinkie runs
*Long forever drive to OBX
*Friends, beach walk, fireworks and sunset, pier talks, Batman perch
*Hot humid car, misquitos, Drugstore runs
*Playing in the Atlantic - you look smashing - ocean waves
*Parasailing, Paragliding, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Windsailing What?!?
*Heating up dinner in NC/VA gas station
*Country tour
*Bike trail - jump track - falling on my butt
*Learning to skip rocks in the river
*Candy from the Farmers Market
*Scenic drives, secrets spots and almost dying trying to get up there
*Sunday drives, talks and naps
*Practicing Binary and 1337 5p34x
*Corn Row Braiding
*Meeting folks
*The chicken house and the Big Birds
*Not being afraid to buy milk anymore
*Hiking on the Appelachian
*Climbing EVERYTHING
*The rock collection- tombstones -ebaite- animals
*The Jefferson, Reflecting Pool, Vet Memorial Wall
*Stoping because I need to pee
*Trying to miss my flight - bad luck to have caught it
*Half an hour goodbyes
*Missing him like crazy already
- Okay, that's all for now, more to come as I remember and feel it...

Spot Light

2007-07-15T22:10:00.000-06:00

Tonight at Ward Prayer my roommate K. and I were spot lighted. I always get so nervous being in front of a crowd. I'm afraid of grandstanding or showing up who I'm up there with. And I'm nervous that I won't be able to think of something clever to say fast enough. Or that I won't be clever at all. I like being clever. Anyway, everyone had the chance to ask us any questions they cared too and the best (or the ones I had the best answer to) was "what kind of superhero power would you like to have?" My answer? "It doesn't matter as long as I get to wear my underwear on the outside of my clothes." Also, someone asked me how old I was which is a question I hate because I'm kind of old for a singles ward in Provo. So, I asked back, "My real age or my fake age?" They said real age so I answered, "27" they asked then, what's your fake age and I answered, "34." I heard someone say, ooh, She's soo cute. Which, I guess I was going for... but the best laugh of the night was after all my performing and acting cute and saying clever things, no one still came up and talked to me afterwrads. Oh well! Jokes on them, laugh, I'm outta here anyway.

7 O'clock Slump

2007-07-05T19:16:00.000-06:00

So, I'd like to write about my 4th of July holiday and how much fun I had white water rafting down the Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I'd tell you about my favorite people that came, J. and A. and S. and N. and how my favorite co-worker and friend E. came with me and it was her very first time. I'd like to take the time to tell you about the misquitos everywhere! and how I was bite 7 times. About how I brought with me a bag bursting full of old credit card receipts and bills and junk from the last 6 years and how I had a wild time burning it all in the camp fire. I'd want to express to you how much I love the Snake and how beautiful it is up in the mountains with the green trees and beautifully forested canyons and hills and how I want to live in Aspen or Thayne and marry a river guide. I'd laugh while I told you about cliff jumping and getting pulled out of the boat and how cold the water was and the fact that J. almost took me out when he got stuck surfing a hole and didn't yeild to tonage and if I hadn't ducked when I did I would have ended up with a crushed face and as it was we both got the bejesus scared out of us!! I would tell you about how happy and tan and relaxed I am and how much I love river trips, but the truth of the matter is that I've hit my 7 o'clock slump and I got back late and am too tired to do it. Sorry.

I Did It! Kind of...

2007-06-29T11:49:00.000-06:00

Yay! I went long boarding again last night with J. and I am proud to say no one was hurt! This is like a first for us. But, really, for the sake of honest reporting and all I went down the entire canyon length riding the board on my butt. It's a lot easier and the falling distance is quite a bit less. I figure I'm still getting better, I'm just learning the trail and then I'll be braver about standing up and going down. Either way it was a good time all around. I think I need to invest in a pair of skater shoes so I can drag my feet a little bit better with out them bumping and skiping along and knocking me off balance. On a different note, I had the cutest little joy happen. We had gone to J. house to pick up his daughter E. and as we walked in to the house (I came in behind him) E. looks up from the kitchen, yells my name, throws her arms out and runs straight in to mine. Right past dear ol' Daddy. Yeah! I loved it. She's such a tender little thing and it's been so much fun to have her growing and learning and remembering my name! I just laughed silently to myself the whole way down the canyon. Ha! Take that J.! Sweetie little thing. On another different note, I just got another call from P. (I know, suprise, suprise, it's not a J. name) who was our waiter on the cruise ship from May. He has been calling me pretty regularly. He has invited me to come out to India next fall to visit him and I'm planning on it, set in concrete and cement, absolutly for sure. I've only just needed a catalyst to get there, the desire has been forever.

Maija's On a Roll...

2007-06-27T22:04:00.000-06:00

So, it's been satisfactor-ily decided that the creature that came from the very depths of H-E-LL to growl at us was indeed a Mtn. Lion. I was talking to C. and he said that he saw one up there at that same point not even two weeks prior, so that seals the deal.It was a Mtn. Lion. Any one who wants to argue - I challenge them to physical combate. But not until I've healed from my most recent adventure. I went long boarding in the Canyon with J. Monday night after work. About 10pm with our headlamps and helmets in tow we set out. Now, I had bought a long board about two weeks ago and that was the very first time I'd ever been on one in my ENTIRE LIFE! I think everyone had more faith in my capabilities then was warrented but regardless - So, I'm starting slow, building confidence when all of a sudden I hit a hill and start picking up speed and then I'm zooming around corners, faster then a speeding bullet and I go into a dark corner under a bridge... the corner is tighter then I had anticipated and I didn't start my turn soon enough and OH MY GOSH I'M GOING TO DIE!! And so I try to correct myself, over correct, and end up flying off my board, landing on my butt, bouncing a couple of times, rolling on my knee and elbow and sliding a bit on my back. I've got road rash down my elbow, lower back, and knee. I conked my head really bad (cracked my helmet that I was SO glad to have on) and have some sweet whiplash action going on. I feel like I was thrown from a car. But OH BOY did I love it. It was such a great time. I felt like I was flying in absolute freedom. I'm excited to keep practicing, getting better and showing S. up. Buwahaha! -Don't worry Mom, I was safe the whole time. It's really no big deal. And I'm healing very nicely.

Not for the Faint of Heart

2007-06-23T22:50:00.000-06:00

So, Mom... Don't read this one if you're going to be scared. I have a very scary story to relate to all of you tonight. Once my heart starts pounding of course. Okay, deep breath. Here we go... So, tonight my friend R. and I decided to go for a late night hike up Rock Canyon to enjoy the moon and the ambiance. Now, R. is a cute little thing and one of my favorite girlfriends (we'd earlier spent the day with another favorite girlfriend E. at 7 Peaks. On a scary side note, I wore a BIKINI!! A real one. No middle. In public. In front of people. Real people. And I LOVED it!) Okay, so R. and I are hiking up the canyon and it's getting nice and dark and kind of creepy but we keep going. We've been hiking up for about 45 minutes when we get to our regular turn around point. We choose this point because from there the road splits into three and you can go off in different directions. We debated at this point whether to go a minute or more further. I whispered to R. that I didn't want to go much further because I'm really afraid of the dark but we decided to go just a minute or more further. We hadn't gone more then 20 steps up the trail to the right when WE GOT GROWLED AT!! I mean, I'm talking a real, low, gutteral warning growl. It sounded like a motorcross engine. Only with a vertebrae. And teeth. And claws. I was SCARED! We both heard it and without a word just turned around and RAN back down the trail until we almost lost our balance in the loose rock and scree and we stopped for a minute to assess the situation. We didn't feel any thing or hear anything following us so we then just hot footed back down the canyon by the light of the moon. At one other point on the trail R. heard a rustleing in the bushes off to her right and once again we found ourself racing down the mountain. OH. MY. GOSH. I was very, very scared. So, there is only one thing to do. Go back tomorrow and look for tracks! Yeah! I'll keep you posted whether it was lion, tiger or bear.

Summer

2007-05-14T20:05:00.000-06:00

So, it's officially summer here at the Q. How can I tell you ask? Because there are four people in the gym tonight and two of them happen to be working. It really tends to slow down here what with the beautiful canyons we have around here and the cheapness of the popular student population. It's alright, it's okay, it means I get to sit here and pound out a quick blog.
I'm a little disappointed with where this whole blog thing is going I've got to admit. I wanted to keep it as a way to keep everyone informed of my antics but it seems the it mostly just makes me feel bad that I've been severely lacking in antics. So, I'm bringing on the antics. I like that word, I think I should use it more often.
I've got big plans I guess for the summer... In a week I'm leaving on a cruise. It's the same one I went on with A. and S. and M. but this time I'm going with the girls. My work at C. is paying me to go on this cruise with one of our clients and so it should be fun. I'm going with some other great girl friends and we'll see if I can't get into any trouble this time around. After that, I should be home for about two weeks and then I'm taking off again to do that kayaking/rafting trip down Desolation Canyon that I did last year. This year should prove to be a bit more interesting be cause J. is coming out from NY and J.'s Gypsy Lover Wanna Be Girlfriend A. is coming too. So, some more interesting social dynamics for sure. Hilarity if not drama is sure to ensue. Well, then I guess I'll be home for three or four or maybe even five weeks and I'll take off again then for Baltimore where I'll meet up with G.L.J. and we'll travel back down to Virginia. I'm excited to spend some time exploring the East a bit. Then in August I'm off to the Telluride Bluegrass Music Festival for a long weekend of good music, good camping and good friends and then I'm doing it. I mean, I'm REALLY going to do it. I'm going to quite my life here in good ol' P-Town and move to a much better, bigger and brighter P-Town. Up north a bit. And a little west. As in, Northwest. The Great Northwest. We'll see. If all goes according to "plan" I'll be there until May or June of '08 and then head down the coast for the San Luis Obispo. No reason, never been, nope, don't know anyone. Just thought you can't go wrong with sun and surf.
Anyway, I'm bored now of writing, that's about how long my attention span is these days. So, that's it...

I Am a Shopping Fool!

2007-04-11T08:35:00.000-06:00

So, Mom and I have been playing this Grocery Game and I am LOVING it! It's just up my obssesive compulsive alley. I get to cut coupons, organise, file, store, match and price AND save money! I get to create Excel spreadsheets, I get to save reciepts and I get REBATES! I really am having a very wonderful time. In the mean time, I've had my good friend J. come out for a visit the last bit of March and we got to go snowboarding in PC. My friend is an instructor and spent the whole time with me and now I can successfully complete my skid turns, carve just a little bit, go off the blue AND green runs and best of all - make it off the lift four out of six times. I'm almost a professional. We also got to spend some time in Moab for a little mountain biking. That's what I've decided to devote my summer to - perfecting my skills - or at least control the involuntary screaming. Either way. Okay, that's all for now, more later I'm sure.

Ah... Spring. Sort of.

2007-03-12T10:01:00.000-06:00

I got to go camping this weekend. I say that as though it were some lucky thing, but actually, I just got my butt in gear and went and did it because I wanted to. I found a friend, grabbed my camp stove and hiked a ways up the canyon. There was still snow on the ground but as long as I wore the proper clothes it was comfortable and just nice to be out side. I got to sleep in my tent that I just LOVE. I think that the reason I like it so much is because it's yellow. One of my favorite things of camping is waking up with the sun rise. In my yellow tent the sun coming through is magnified and intensified and I feel like I'm waking up in a super bright, lovely, heavenly place full of light and hope and dreams and the chance for a wonderful adventure. Then I can snuggle back into my sleeping bag and block it all out. I can hardly wait to go camping again!

I need to stop watching Law and Order

2007-02-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was leaving the house to go to the gym at 6am in the dark I thought to myself..."Should I grab my license?" and then the thought came immediatly afterward..."No, because my car has Dad listed on the title so the police could have him identify me." Not "what if I get pulled over." Not "I should because it's the law" but "I should incase I die and need to be identified." This got me thinking... When I went down the river at 9pm at night in my kayak, I put my DL in a plasitc baggie in my life jacket in case I needed to be identified. When I went to the dentist in January, I asked the x-ray technition to position the x-rays a little higher to include my sinus' incase I'm ever murdered and my teeth are knocked out so they can't use dental x-rays and my hands are cut off so there are no finger prints. I'm not totally sure where this whole morbidity thing came from but I kind of blame Dad. That's why he has to be the one to identify me. I just don't want to end up in Pauper's Field as a Jane Doe I guess.

A moment...

2007-02-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've got a moment to breathe here and decided to spend it updating you all on what's going on. Okay, ready? Nothing. That's what's going on. Nothing. But really only kind of. I did win a new pair of Teva water shoes at the Trade Show. And I got my house to not smell like cat poop. And I've created a menu from here on out till March. And I've got some fun trips planned, assuming the boss will let me take the time off. I dyed my hair BLOND. I mean, really sun streaked blond. And I've gone snow shoeing more and I LOVE it. And I'm happy and healthy and doing well and I'm glad for that. Okay, over and out.

I know, I know

2007-01-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

So, I'm only posting today because it's so pathetically ironic that I would post last about how much I'd hate to not have all the months represented and then I go and I miss the whole month of December. But in my defense between my birthday, and Solstice and the New Year and all, it turned out to be a rather busy month. I ended up working most of it as my co-workers took it off because they're married and have children and inlaws and celebrate Christmas, none of which applies to me. So, whatever. I'm not bitter. I just spiked their water bottles. But don't tell them...
So, I have some big plans for the '07. I've already bought two of the five airline tickets I'm planning on getting. In amongst going back to school and working two full time jobs. I've also taken up snow shoeing. With this cold snap we've had here it seems most appropriate. I enjoy it quite a bit. I bought a new pair of Atlas running snow shoes and think that's the greatest thrill ever. I'm trying to put together another adventure group and that's going... interestingly. We've gone ice skating and snow shoeing and we're planning on cross country skiing. I'll try and keep you posted. But if this month turns out like the last, don't count on in it. Love!

Touching Base

2006-11-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

It seems all I do these days with this website is try and catch up. I wonder if I'd even post if I wasn't so obsessive compulsive about having all the months lined up so nicely in the Archive section. You know if you don't write for a whole month, they won't put the months name up and you CAN'T have October touching December!! It just isn't right! So, here I am. There have been quite a few interesting things happen this last little bit. The best of which, I got to fly home for a weekend. What a wonderful, marvelous trip. I got to go home because MY FAMILY WANTED ME. What a nice thing to be able to write AND to have it be true! I got to spend some time with everyone and had such a nice time. The big suprise was that I even got to go down to Portland and see S and A and their kids. Ahh, what peace, what joy, what a cold I got! I blame sweet little C. She better watch it. When she's 16 and comes and stays a weekend with Dear Auntie Maija, she's going to hear about how sick she got me. Sweet little thing.
So, I've been trying to decide my fate which has led me to a couple of decisions. I'll list them as they come to mind but that's not necessarily the order they belong in. It's all so interconnected now I'm not sure which came first. Alright, it starts with the assumption that because I can't have The One that I want then I want to plan my life with all the control that I can, which means I'm doing it solo. So, because I've just condemed myself to a lonely life all by myself alone with no one around, I might as well have a little fun. So, come May, if all goes according to plan, instead of moving straight to Oregon, I'm going to buy a Honda Element and move into it for four months. I'm going to spend those summer months touring the Nat'l Parks. I'm going to head East first, visit some friends out there, spend some time with my own dear Auntie and then hit all the sweet spots on my way back to the West Coast. Now, with that trip in mind, I've decided to take a Jui Jitsu class. I want to do it for the confidence it will give me to be by myself. And if that doesn't work, I'm also going to get my concealed weapons permit and a big gun. So, also with this trip in mind... now, this really cracks me up... but I figure if I'm going to live alone I might as well make myself laugh... I'm practicing not washing my hair. I mean, I'm going to have to figure out how to get showers at gyms and things like that but I doubt I'll be washing my hair everyday as I've previously been used to. I'm already up to going 2 WHOLE DAYS!! I'm well on my way and very proud of myself. And then, I guess lastly because this post seems long, I'm practicing living a life of Voluntary Simplicity. To me, mostly that means I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff I own and not buying anything more. Also, I'm recycling more. And saving water. And eating fruit. And wearing Birkenstocks. Umm... don't worry though, I already got rid of my hemp necklaces. Mostly.

Maija Does It Solo

2006-10-09T18:15:00.001-06:00

So I had my first big adventure by myself. This last Saturday I woke up bright and early at the butt crack of dawn (6:00am!) and left by 6:30am for Arches Nat'l Park. I had to drive all by myself in the dark and the fog through SF Canyon and I had to find my way to Hwy 191. Then it was all south. Well, I guess it was pretty much always all south. I mean, it's a pretty straight shot once you're in the canyon... But I did it by myself and that's the point. It actually took only about a half hour before I realised my teeth were clenched and another half hour before I could relaxe them. And by 9am... okay, okay... by 10am my nuckles were no long white on the steering wheel because Ta'da! I had made it to Arches. The weather all the day before had been rain and rain and rain and so my plan in Arches had to be tweaked abit. I had planned on doing three things. One, see Balanced Rock. Two, hiking to Delicate Arch and three, hiking to Landscape Arch. But because of all the rain the road to Delicate Arch was washed out which freed up a lot of time for me. So, I spent the next 4 1/2 hours exploring every part of the park that I could. All by myself. I had set some goals for this trip which I'm glad to say I met. I had to have the radio off the whole time I was in the park to enjoy the natural sounds and to allow time for myself to really think without distractions. I had to hike something that I didn't really care to (I went out to Broken Arch). And I had to start a conversation with a perfect stranger and keep it going for a bit. This one actually I didn't have to try at all because this guy named Laurence saw the 'S' for Sweden on the back of my car and started speaking Swedish with me. This was a very good, very holistic, very fun trip and I couldn't believe really how much I enjoyed myself. Driving back in my head I made all sorts of plans about going to all the National Parks in the US all by myself and just having a great time. I wasn't scared at all, I mean, even if I wanted to be by myself I couldn't have been because of the crowds! I think though, before I hit the road to Yosemete to hike Half Dome, I better finish off the five Nat'l parks in Utah. So, what does that mean? Next up Zions, then Canyonlands, then Capital Reef and a grand finale in Bryce. But not necessarily in that order!

A New Direction

2006-09-26T21:11:00.000-06:00

So, I've decided that while I've been quite happy with the way may life has been going thus far I'm going to try and well, take things in a new direction. Under the advice and tutaledge of a Master of Many Things, I think I'm ready to strike out on my own for a bit of adventuring. What you may ask am I up for? Well, first on my agenda under the watchful eye and kind guidance of the Master is a short weekender trip to Zions which must include at least one hike by the river and one overnight stay in the camp of my choice. I think I'll bring my Lovely Yellow Tent (dear sweet tent) and my camp stove and make Noodles (...and Aye-ye-yai will always love noo-oo-dles...). After that? Well, I'm not sure. I should hit Moab before it's to late. And I hear the Grand Canyon is lovely in the winter. I jjust feel I guess after all that if I'm serious about growing up and making big decisions I should probably get a handle on who I am and what I want and not be scared to do great things. And not be scared to move to Oregon either. Or anywhere else the wind might call me.

Alright, Alright Already

2006-08-28T22:48:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay, fine, I'll write something already. I know I've been a little remise lately and have got quite a bit to catch up on. I know I've mentioned this before but if I have a great adventure and don't write about it right away, then, yeah, it's pretty much not going to happen. So, let me just run down some of the highlites of the month and then I promise to do better next time.
Okay, so I went on one of the most wonderful and magical and great and phenominal and exciting and awesome adventures I've ever been on. And the funny thing about it is I almost scared myself right out of it. J. and J. and I went sea kayaking in the San Juan islands. We drove from Utah up to Spokane and spent some time there visiting with Adv. M. and J. We then went up to Seattle and spent a night with the folks. Then up to Anacortes and we spent 4 days on the water paddling around the islands. We camped on Saddlebag, Cypress and San Juan. We did a moonlight paddle with a full moon and green glowing algae. We saw Orca whales and dolphins, eagles, herons, raccoons, starfish, a newt, banana slugs, everything. We hiked and camped and played and had one of the most magical vacations ever. Don't tell anyone, especially Mom and Dad who might expect me home for Christmas this year but I think J and I are going to go to Baja Mexico to kayak down there this Christmas time break. (Yeah!!)
So, another adventure you want to hear about? Okay. These last two weekends I've had a wonderful time being absolutly domestic. The weekend before I spent the day drying nectarines in my food dryer and this last Saturday I canned all by myself (okay, Mom was on speed dial and the greatest resource and help ever!!) fourteen jars of beautiful golden peaches. I loved it! I put my hair up in a 1940's style bandana and just enjoyed domestic goddessness. The dumb part of the whole adventure (which of course if it was MY adventure you knew there would be one...) is I guess you are NOT supposed to touch the jars after they have boiled to make sure that they seal on their own. Well, of course, Maija, ever the impatient one had to touch 7 of the jars and so ended up having to reboil them. Oh well, I'm learning, see?
Another adventure? Okay... I went to the Ben Harper concert last week. I think I'm still high. I love that crazy hippy, gypsy type of people. And the music of course is just great as well. I went with my friend A. and we had a great time. It was a beautiful outside venue and we had tried to sit close at first but there was this ridiculous drunk girl in front of us who was kissing EVERYBODY - boy, girl - didn't matter. We got tired of that real quick and ended up sitting in the back against the fence just laughing and chatting and chilling. It was a fun concert.
Oh my goodness, you're insatiable. ANOTHER ADVENTURE? Okay, this one is As. We. Speak. I am sitting on my couch in my cute little house typing this up and I am drinking tea. Now, what is the adventure in that? Well, I should mention this is like my SIXTH cup of tea. I guess I boiled too much water and made too much tea, but it's Lemon Myrtle tea and it's really good and I don't want to waste it. So, I'm breaking out in a sweat and can hardly sit still, I've got to pee like nobodys business and I think I've still got two cups to go. I WILL NOT waste tea!! After all, hot flavored water is hard to make and I Don't Cook!
Okay, hope that was enough because I just can not focus any longer. Love to all!

Yet Another Adventure!!

2006-08-06T21:02:00.000-06:00

Last night J took me kayaking down P. river. I have been feeling a little bit hesitant about our ocean trip after reading books about tides and currents and tide rips and such and so J wanted to take me down the river in an old extra wobbly kayak in the midddle of the night with a fast current and small rapids as well as a couple of bridges with pilings to navigate. Just to get me used to it. So, ever up for an adventure I consent to not only going but to being a shuttle driver as well. J and his brother in law C come to pick me up about 9pm and we head out. We park my car and head 10 miles up the canyon, get in the water and head down. River kayaking is a lot different then sea kayaking because you have to do a lot more to keep yourself going straight. I mean you are constentaly correcting your allignment. So, in the middle of the night, by the light of the full moon with two good friends I face the river. I made it through all bridge pilings with only having the tail of my kayak hit once on the last one, I effectively corrected myself after hitting a rock broadside in the middle of the river that I couldn't see and was fortunate enough to not once tip my boat. Well, we finish our run down the river and I'm absolutly in heaven. We heard beavers slapping the water as they enter, we enjoy the way the light of the almost full moon reflects down the current of the river and we have a great time laughing with each other. Everythingis great until we pull out of the river and hike our stuff back up the hill to where my car is parked and I realise I forgot my key. In my defense though and also now to my absolute embarrasement and regret J had given me a super hard time about making sure I had everything and was well put together. I thanked him for being my dad but told him I already had a great one and to back off. So, for me to have forgotten my key after telling J to take a chill pill means that I will NEVER hear theend of it. So, anyway, we are now about 7-10 miles down the canyon from J car and my keys and so C starts hiking up. J and I decide to try and flag down a ride. I'll just paint the picture for you and leave it at that... if you can imagine me in my bathing suit standing on the side of the road (smartly under the dim light of the one street lamp that luckily was there...) with my thumb out trying to flag down a ride from cars going 60 miles an hour in a canyon that usually closes in about 20 minutes in almost the dead of night. Classic. Luckily, a car that I think missed it's turn and did a u-turn where I was stopped and as J. came out of hiding almost took off again before we were able to convince the guy to give J and I both a ride up the canyon to J's car. We pass C on the way to get the key back and then come back to pick him up. Anyway, end of the story is everything turned out okay and it was just another great adventure for the members of the one and only Adventure Club. Next up on the agenda... we leave tomorrow at either 6pm or midnight (don't ask) to head up to Seattle for our next big adventure. The Ocean!

Maija finds her sport

2006-07-17T08:46:00.000-06:00

Oh man, oh man. Saturday was a freaking phe-nom-in-al day! So much fun. J. came and got me at 9am and we went Sea Kayaking on Utah Lake for the next 5 hours. It was so much fun and I was so comfortable and relaxed. K. even said I looked great at it. She was suprised how naturally I took to it. Of course, I didn't tell her that I had done it a couple of times before in Seattle. We practiced our open water re-entrys and I got it handed to me. I guess getting out of an up turned boat is easy but getting back in in the middle of the lake with waves all around you is a little harder. I'm bruised everywhere and sore and so happy. It took me like 20 minutes to get back in the first time. I couldn't get the balance just right so as soon as I was on top of the boat then I'd pitch forwards or backwards and roll the sucker again. But I finally figured out the trick that works for me and so *hopefully* shouldn't have a problem with it now. Oh man, really, I was high the rest of the day. I'm already to go again. I don't even know how to express to you the great joy and happiness that was mine that day. SO MUCH FUN!! Maija has definatly found her sport. Yup, I'm a sea kayaker.

Unsent

2006-07-11T08:38:00.000-06:00

Last night I wanted to write letters to some people in my life, sort of saying what I wish I could say but for lots of reasons can't. It was very holistic. I guess by the time I've got them from my heart to my head and then paper and now computer I'm pretty much purged of it and can let it go. I don't know... Maybe I've been listening to to much Alanis Morrisette. But anyway, here for you all in all of it's raw gore is my own personal version of 'Unsent...'

Dear XXXXX,
Frustrating that I can't be friends with you any more. The epitome of all my control issues, I guess. I miss having the ball in my court. I miss you chasing me. I'm tired of running after you. It turns out in the end you don't understand me like I had hoped. Or if you do, you're cruel. I don't really miss the chase I guess as much as what it represented. The excitement of thinking you wanted me and the hope of what that could mean.

Dear XXXXXX,
You made me almost believe in nice guys. I almost believed that I could find what I was looking for. That was awfully mean of you. Especially when you knew you weren't available. You shouldn't have spent those late nights climbing, those deep conversations, those laughing fun moments with me. You shouldn't have lifted me so high when you knew how hard and fast I fall... and how scared I was to.

Dear XXXXX,
So much time invested and what to show for it? You've been a good springboard for some life lessons but your teaching style at times is to harsh. I'm frustrated though by how badly at times I still want you. The hope for future and family sometimes is stronger then the voice of reason. I'm sorry we can never really be true, great friends. You've seen me at my worst and known me at my best and still you said you didn't want me. I'm sorry, but I just can't get over that.

Dear XXXX,
I'm happier pretending with you then I am in reality with everyone else. Sometimes I wish you could just come and rescue me from everything. But such a big difference between could and would. Would you? I guess that's where the pretend part comes in. In my dreams you are everything. But then again, I guess it's easy to fall in love by yourself.

Another Adventure!!

2006-06-20T19:19:00.000-06:00

From : graftonstreet
Sent : Monday, June 19, 2006 5:02 PM
To : maijabee
Subject : sea kayaking

talked to j. a bit and ...... it looks like a sea kayaking trip just might become a reality this summer. D. will be here the whole month of august so I have a baby sitter. San Juans seem like a nice destination. I assume that you'd be joining us, especially if we stay at your folks house for a night. :) anyway before that we may wish to get you into a boat at least once. we'll also need to figure out an itinerary. leaning towards the cheaper the better.

Yeah!! Looks like Maija's getting ready to go on another adventure. I love summer!!

Oh Hum

2006-06-18T22:03:00.000-06:00

What to write, what to write. So, I've decided to get out of dodge. I'm going to move to Oregon. I haven't decided yet if I want to move to Portland or Eugene but I'm thinking that this should all go down next June. That's just 1 year from now. In the mean time then I've got to get my finances under control so I've got a lot saved up for first and last and incase I don't find a job right away. I've got to finish my last semester of school which is going to take money as well. I've got to start looking on line for apartments, maybe contact the Ward out there and see if people are looking for roommates. I should probably update my resume and maybe post it on Monster or someting. If nothing else, I should at least start figuring out how to check out the job market. Hmm.. interesting. This may take me two years. So, what has inspired this desire to pick up and take off? Well, I've been fighting the feeling for about a year or two already. I love Utah and I've been very happy here but I just feel that I've gotten to old and to mature for this town. It may also be that I've started wearing my Young Women medalian necklace in the hopes of attracting some pencil necked geek in a white shirt and tie and it turns out that it doesn't work! The only person who has noticed and subsequently asked me out is a guy with tattoos all up and down his back and neck. He asked me about it and I told him it was advertising. He laughed and thought it was an interesting idea. He says he may not look the part but really, you can't judge a book by it's cover. Good or bad. Awesome. Anyway, yeah, I'm done with Provo. i just hope to go out with a bang. I'm going to have to take every advantage this year. That means, I've got to do everything that I can do in Provo in June this June. Because, hey! this might be my last June here! Yippy! Oregon will be fun. I can just tell.

Maija goes accoustic

2006-06-06T19:20:00.000-06:00

So, on this last camping trip with J. the big joke of the trip was that J. brought a guitar. If you can imagine a nice guitar (yeah right! He bought it at a garage sale for 40$) all double wrapped up in two dry bags tied to the back of a big raft, it made quite the picture. But it was for me a highlite. J. and I were in the same boat and the first day on some of the long slow stretches of straight water he'd pop the sucker out and play. It was fun to have him play songs I know and get to do a sing along. I suck at singing but it's fun to belt it out anyway. I think that there is nothing nicer in the whole wide world then a guitar at a campfire. J. said, and I agree, that he wouldn't want to be around one without a guitar. Well, the only way to ensure there is not only one but also someone who can play is to learn to do it yourself. So, I know I've previously mentoned in an attempt to better myself I started guitar lessons... well, I've picked it up again full force. And, because I don't have two drybags and because I've always got to be just a little bit different I am pleased to announce...dun du du da... ta dah!!... I bought myself a mandolin. It will fit in ONE dry bag! Yeah! So, I'm going to teach myself to play and I'm very excited about it. And just in case it turns out to be too hard, well, I was sure to pick a very pretty one that will look beautiful gathering dust on my wall. Good job Maija!

I know, I know...

2006-06-04T22:02:00.000-06:00

Yikes! I haven't written in so long now, I have so much to catch up on its a bit overwhelming. So, I'm just going to start writing and when I get tired of it I'll stop. So, now you've had fair warning. Okay, first of all I went on a week long rafting trip down Desolation Canyon the week before Memorial Day. I went with my friend Adventure J. and about 14 other friends. We took 4 paddle rafts, a duckie and J.'s kayak. We spend 4 days on the river doing about 25-30 miles a day. During the flat water points we'd just paddle and coast and anticipate the rapids. Sometimes we'd pull over for lunch and sometimes we'd do a floating lunch where we'd tie the rafts together and make a big barge. When we were ready to stop for the day we would pull over on river right when we saw a sandy beach and set up camp. We went for some hikes, saw some abandoned cabins that Butch Cassidy used to hide out in in Robbers Roost, some petrogliphs, everything. I had a book race with J. that was a lot of fun. Trying to see who could finish theirs first and that was a lot of fun. One of my favorite memories of the trip was one night J. and I lied in both ends of the duckie and read until dusk. It was a very nice, very relaxing trip. I got nice and tan and just the littlest bit burned. Perfect. I came back nice and rejuvinated. I'd like to fill my summer up with trips like this. I love backpacking/back country adventures. I wish I could live out in one of those little cabins, or maybe a teepee somewhere and just spend my days sitting under a tree and wondering about catching a fish for dinner. Phenominal.
Okay, another fun thing... a couple days ago I did a Sauna. My friend K. went on his mission to Finland and when he came back he built a Finnish sauna in his back yard. A little cedar hut with a wood burning stove that has hot rocks on top and a bucket of water. I spent about 3 hours going in and out and in and out. First we started with dry heat, just sitting there until your body starts to sweat profusely. We had the tempurature at about 190 degrees. Then, you take a dipper of water and through it on the rocks. When the steam hits you at first it's SO scary because it's SO hot and you have to take a deep breath and let that hot air into your body and let it just sort of consume you. You have be sure not to panic because you want to but just sort of accept it. A very interesting lesson for something in life, I'm sure. Once you've taken all you can stand you run outside and there is a cold shower. It's crazy!! But it feels so good. So, then you wait a bit and do it again. K. had built a fire in his back yard so we sat around that before we were ready to go back into the sauna. Okay, in my perfessional opinion the first bit of "landscaping" I'm going to do when I have my own house is to build a sauna. If you can imagine I'll have this nasty dirt yard with no order and then a beautiful sauna just sitting there. That was just so much fun.
On a different note that might not be so much fun I had to move. I had to leave my cute little house with a tree and a yard and a garage and a garden and move into an apartment with noisy neighbors that stomp above me and asphalt. Lots of asphalt. But I live there all by myself which I like. Actually, it scares me how much I like living alone. I wonder if it's healthy.... But anyway, I have it all set up now mostly just the way I like it. And home really isn't as much where you hang your hat as it is where your heart is anyway. Which by the way is out in some teepee somewhere with some mountain man in leather and I really wish it would come back because I need it here at this stupid apartment, but I digress...
On the last note, I've started to wear my Young Women's medalion necklace. I know, I know. I've already been teased a bunch for it. But the point of it is this... I'm tired of Non LDS type boys asking me out all the time, because I go out with them and like them and it sucks that I can't marry them. So, to kind of discourage them I'm going to wear the most obnoxious sign of my religion. I mean, worse then the CTR rings which I might start wearing as well. I figure I can't realistically fast for 40 days and 40 nights like some people did, but I can do something else that's just as painful. So, until some good LDS boy asks me out, I'll take all the crap. Bring it on Sucka's.
Anyway, I'm tired now. So much love to all!

Maija kicks the habit

2006-05-09T20:45:00.000-06:00

So, I've gone holistic...again. This time in the form of a 10 day detox. I've started and am well on my way. The first day of the detox is water only. No food from Wake Up to Sleep. Only water. That was a hard day to say the least. I had had a wild night the night before I started so to compound the tiredness I already felt with having no food multiplied by a raging headache pretty much equaled a long day. Days 2-4 is fruit only. Meaning, I can eat ONLY fruit. Hard days. My advice is if you're going to do it, remember to drink a lot of water. Days 5-7 are fruits and vegetables. A little bit closer to normal but remember, I've had no protein in a week. Turns out I'm aggressive enough without it. Days 8-10 are fruits, vegetables and finally beans, nuts and seeds. Oh my. So, I'm somewhere in the middle and how am I doing on it? Well, so far I've stuck pretty much to schedule except for that lunch at Wendy's and that dinner at Burgers Supreme. So much for detoxing, huh? But the fruit day was kind of fun. I figure that this is really more a lesson in self control and discipline then it is an exercise in cleansing your digestive track. So, I'm cutting myself some slack. After all, it's a LESSON in discipline. I've still got the whole semester ahead of me to cram!

And She's Off...

2006-05-05T07:43:00.000-06:00

Little Sis A. came to stay with me this weekend, yeah!! High Five! We are going to my cousins wedding tomorrow which should prove to be interesting as well as fun. We'll have to have some fun while she's here in town and hopefully I'll have the mental clarity to post about it. On a different note, I agreed yesterday to go on a five day River Trip with J. He promised that he would throw me in to the river but we'll see about that. I'm kind of slippery when I'm wet and I figure as long as I keep moving he won't be able to get a good grip on me. That will be a Tuesday through Saturday trip. Then if all goes according to plan I should take off that same Saturday for Moab with K. and B. to camp out and do some slick rock Mtn Biking. I've already got the days worked out with getting them off at both jobs so now it's just a matter of sitting tight till it's time to go. When I asked my boss for the days at the one job, he laughed and said, "sure, it has been a while since you've gone on one of your crazy adventures." Boy do I ever feel the truth of that statement. It's nice to have some plans and feel like I'm back in the saddle again!

Another One Bites The Dust

2006-04-29T23:23:00.000-06:00

I had a date tonight. My second this week. I'd like to take a moment and discuss them both with you as well as mention two other fine gentlemen. Okay, so first on Thursday I went out with this boy named N. who is only 20 years old. That's an amazing six (6!!) years younger then me... BUT... he is really quite mature. He has had legal guardianship of his 13 and 15 year old brothers for the last year and a half or so... Anyway, he was really sweet and very sincere. He was so anxious to get to know everything about me and so complimentary. He told me to put my blue eyes away before they hurt someone. How sweet! Then tonight I went out with this boy who was from a friend of mine who set us up. We climbed together at the Quarry and I am glad to say I pretty much smoked him. But, I digress. He was nice and all but there just wasn't nothing. I loved having him at the Q. though... afterwards I got to hash with all my family of co-workers there. I really don't think I'll ever see him again. Okay, as for honorable mention, J. the Gypsy called me after not having spoken with each other in 4 months. He wanted to know if he could come down and see me tomorrow... We'll see... Also, A. the one who pretty much has all of my REAL attention is still out working with the at risk youth. He's been gone much to long for my liking. And the saddest of all is that he won't be back at least until May 9th. But I made him the funniest card and sent it down with A. The card has 5 note cards with questions written on them and then left blank on the front. On the back is my response and when A. feels like he wants to have a "conversation" with me he can take a card out, read it, respond it, and feel like we are conversing... Anyway, I wish that one of them, ANY of them, were ACTIVELY LDS and engaged in that good cause. Oh well, stiff upper lip and chin up and all of that. And in the mean time, it's nice to have dinner out, no?

Yeesh!

2006-04-07T08:34:00.000-06:00

Yeesh! I always feel bad when I see I haven't updated this in a little while. So, quick as I can, here is a run down of what's happening and what's going on...
Last night I had A. and M. over for dinner. It was an orange dinner. I had made carrot soup, then salad (with shredded carrots), then salmon and sweet potatoes, then for dessert, peaches and cream. It turned out lovely if I do say so myself and was so much fun! Saturday night I'm going to the symphony at Abravanel Hall. I'm going to hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I'm very excited. I'll be more excited though if my date actually comes back from his camping trip and will come along. I finished the audit for the adoption agency and am now doing piece work for them. Everything went off with that just fine. All though the stress of it almost put me in the hospital. Um... what else... no trips planned for the immediate future but I've always got something in the works, so I guess... stay tuned for that!

I feel it in my bones

2006-03-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight my boss M. made mention of the fact that I'm going to be 27 years old this year. I have to admit that it hurt to hear. I mean, it really bummed me out. It is quite true and I guess truth does hurt but it seemed to be worse tonight for whatever reason. I wouldn't mind it so much I guess if it didn't seem that people younger then me, all around me, are passing me up in life. It seems to be the season. I don't begrudge them. I'm happy for all my friends. It's just hard to be left behind. I hate treading water, especially when it's stagnating swamp water with frogs and water skippers and slimy algae that I seem to be stuck in. I don't want to pathetic but tonight I'm tired and I'm sick and I wish I was somewhere in life where I didn't have to be sick and tired and take care of myself, by my self. Oh well. Enough moping. Maybe I should go plan an adventure so someone will be jelouse of me for once instead of so often the other way around...

Ouch!

2006-03-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

I went snowboarding this weekend. It was great fun but I forgot how much pain I end up in. I think it would be a lot less painful if I went more then once or twice a season and so could get a little better at it, but I'll still take what I can get. I went with K. the only girl I love and adore outside the fam and she is a snowboard instructer. She's very patient and very kind and I'm very greatful. On a different yet interesting note, yesterday I went to dinner with a friend at his uncles house. It was a lot of fun and the joke turns out to be that I had actually been to his cousins house before about 5 years or so ago and had exchanged a few letters with one of my friends cousins. Such a small world. On another different yet personal note, this same friend pointed out in all kindness that I'm very good at avoidence. He said this as I told him that I hadn't ever brought someone to a family dinner, as I covered the clock and odomoter in my car with stickie notes and as I covered my eyes when he backed down the steep and icy drive way. Hmm... Interesting. A lot of evedince in one night to agree... I'll have to look into that further.

Belly Dancing

2006-03-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I've told you this yet or not but the past eight weeks I've been taking a belly dancing class. It's been a lot of fun and I've learned a lot of great things such as "rolling undulations" and "the three-quarter shimmy" ( a personal fave...) Anyway, I'm off in about 10 minutes to go to a Belly Dancing Expo at the State Fair grounds in SLC to see a bunch of professionals. Pictures I'm sure will follow. I get made fun of a lot for this with my Buds and the Q. but I've got to tell you, I just don't care. When I do that 3/4 Shimmy, all my troubles shake off with each shake of my hip. Yee Haw!

Slacker

2006-03-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a little remiss lately in writing here... I've had some great things going on but I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to sit down for two minutes and let you all in on it. The biggest thing was this last weekend I went to Colorado with all of the Adventure Buddies to visit Adventure Matt. He is doing really great. It was great fun to get to drive down there, swim in a hotel pool, visit with good friends, catch up a bit. I love road tripping especially with these guys. Absolute riots, all of them. So, now here I am back in Provo and wondering what I'm going to do next. On the horizion...? I think I'm going to get my tickets to Hawaii in the next week or so. June is reserved for Alaska and this just in... I think I'm going to do a Breast Cancer Research walk in Boston in the Fall. It is a 60 mile walk, it's 2500$ to be allowed to walk with all proceeds going to research. I've got 3 girlfriends who want to do this and we are trying to get a local corporate sponser. I think it will be great fun if it all works out. We'll see. In the mean time though, business as usual.

Yeah for Meds!

2006-02-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

Q: How can you tell if your thyroid medicine is off?

A1: You can run 12+ miles in a week and eat nothing but oatmeal for dinner and not even lose half a pound.
A2: You fall asleep at noon on a Wednesday for a quick 15 minute nap and wake up at 5:30pm. You then go back to bed at 7:30pm and sleep soundly through the night.

Yeah for an increase in Synthroid!! Yeah for no more naps!! Yeah for research and advancement in medical science!!

Happy Valentines Day!!

2006-02-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

So, I'm going to make this quick because I've got to get up at 5am to run and I'm really tired, but I've just been so blessed this week I would be remiss if I didn't give thanks and take a minute to write it down. My goal for this year is "Remember, remember." I want to remember the powerful events in my life and use them as catalysts for greater change and growth. Anyway... here are this weeks highlites in no particular order. Call me if you want more details.

*I signed up to run a half marathon in Alaska in July. My friend wrote out a running/training schedule for me which I am dutifully following, and loving every minute of it. I've always wanted to be a runner. I've known it's in me. I think it has something to do with feeling and smell of wind in my hair. Anyway, I'm accepting all sponsorship donations to my Paypal account. I could REALLY use a new pair of running shoes (the Neilson knees' you know...) I'll puff paint your name on the butt of my running shorts just like Nike.

*I started doing contract work with a small International Adoption Agency. I'm just doing their paperwork now but have been offered the position to fly to the South and North Pacific to pick up the children and bring them back to the States. I'll keep you abreast of this situation as it arises.

*I went to the Banff Film Festival tonight and won a pair of hiking boots in a drawing by the skin of my teeth. They called my number but I was out chatting it up with a cute boy and so my friend J. ran out and grabbed me and told me to rush in there. I just BARELY made it and every one laughed that it was me. (I knew about 80% of the people there...) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to J.!!

*Last night at the gym I saw this cute boy and I thought, "Oh what's the use. He's way to cute. I shouldn't even bother thinking about him..." Well, I changed my negative self thought to something positive and not only did I end up being introduced quite randomly to him by a mutual friend that very night but I ended up sitting by him at the Festival tonight!!

*Last but certainly not least, last week I gave my number to a cute boy from New Zealand not really expecting him to call but certainly hoping! Well, he called tonight to see if I wanted to hang out tomorrow with him. YEAH FOR CUTE NEW ZEALAND BOYS!! YEAH FOR AWESOME ACCENTS!!

So, to end this quick update on all things great, I really just want to say that I realize that I am very blessed. I have had MANY great opportunities for growth. Some have been harder then others and some have been bigger lessons then others but above all, I want to really show and express my gratitude for how lucky I really have been. Especially lately! The Lord provides!

Oatmeal

2006-02-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

So, I've officially turned into one of those annoying people. You know, the ones who know the calorie content of every single item that goes into your mouth. I like that about me. I like knowing. I like being able to make choices based on knowledge. I blame that on Dad. The fact I know that is now annoying is due to this little story I'm about to relay. Today was my friend E.'s birthday. I know she likes big muffins so I bought her some. When she offered me one I just couldn't do it. I went off about how many calories they were and how I couldn't afford them in my "calorie budget" for the day... Poor girl. She couldn't eat one in front of me after that. Anyway, I'm now sitting down for my dinner of oatmeal and raisins and an apple all for under 250 calories. Good girl Maija!!

Oh great.

2006-01-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks a lot you dumb internet. I didn't want your dumb ideas anyway. I did end up getting in touch with a friend and had a lovely day running errands with him and hanging out with his family and having a lovely day, so there. Humph.

I Need a Project

2006-01-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

So today is a beautiful Saturday and by some freak accident or maybe by some Divine Intervention I have the whole day off of work. Even more rare then this is the fact that I have nothing to do today. I mean, I have no where to go, no errand I can afford to run, no pressing engagements, nothing. I am utterly devoid of activity. Which is nice, in a way. I mean, it's 11am and I'm writting this in bed, in my pajamas with my hair still all askew. But I know that in about a half hour after I eat Brunch I'm either going to be bored enough to sit and watch TV for the rest of the day or bored enough to go back to bed. Both of which I'd rather not do. So, I'm posting this out to the cosmic internet, sending my plea for a project. Just like when I was a little girl and would beg my Mom for one, I'm now pleading to you. Please, please, I need a project. If anyone out there has any sort of idea, I'm open to all sorts of suggestions... Otherwise I might just have to resort to calling a friend and asking if I can tag along on their errands. Sheesh.

Update

2006-01-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

I went to the funeral yesterday in Wyoming. It was a long, emotional day. I got home at 5:30pm and left for the Opera at 6pm. It was nice to end it on a beautiful note. I got to visit Matt today at the hospital. It was very nice to see him. When I was at the ICU on Wednesday to visit Pam, I went across the way to visit Matt. Well, sort of. I mean, I thought that visiting people in the ICU was for family and clergy only so I went to the counter and wrote out a note for them to deliver to him. They looked at me funny but I didn't know why. When they read the note to him they all thought I was crazy that I didn't just go see him. I WAS ONLY TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES! Oh well, I got to see him today and he looks great. He still has the same smile which I love. His mom has started a blog for him so that when he goes to Colorado for rehab we can still get updates on him. For those who wish to add their prayers the blog is MattClinton.blogspot.com Please, add your prayers for him. We want him back with us.

A Hazy Shade of Winter

2006-01-12T00:04:00.000-07:00

Or maybe I should say the Winter of my Discontent. It seems I've had some bad luck lately. A friend died today. Her name was Pam. She just turned 29 two weeks ago. She tripped going down the stairs and tore some ligaments in her leg on New Years day. This last friday she had a blood clot get to her lungs and it put her in a coma. This morning I went to say my goodbyes to her at the hospital and an hour later they took her off life support. Life is so fragil. There are so many things that we take for granted. Who would have thought that missing that last step would have been the beginning of the end. My gosh, how many bumps and bruises and broken kidneys have I lived through? I need to tattoo on the inside of my eyelids the truth that when we said we wanted to come to earth we agreed it would be for an indeterminate amount of time. That we felt, 1 year or 90 it would be worth it. It's been a really hard winter. I'm tired of losing friends. K. was diagnosed with cancer this weekend. D.G. died in a car accident over Christmas break. I thought my friends and I had agreed, no funerals this year. On a different note, an update on M. They are moving him to a long term care facility in Denver. Guess we're going road tripping.

WARNING!!

2006-01-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday M. my boss I'm in love with was teasing me. He said, "Maija, you need to come with a warning label. Something printed out I can hand to boys who are interested in ya..." So, I took the opportunity today to spend a quite moment writing out my own personal warning label. Here it is in all of its tongue and cheek glory:

Caution:
Dangerous curves ahead. Each one hides a land mine.
Please so slowly.
Caution:
Open field holds shards of broken heart.
Please watch your step.
Caution:
Watch for falling tears. Recent events have left land unstable.
Please proceed with care.
Caution:
Must bring own provisions. Land has nothing left to give.
Please plan accordingly.
Caution:
Climate changes are drastic and sudden. Might be scorching, might be icy.
Please bring protection.
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! Proceed at your own risk.
Landscape has been left in terrible state of disrepair. Please obey all warning signs, make no sudden moves and if all else fails... tread softly and carry a big stick!

Thank you and good night.

Catching Up... again.

2006-01-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

It seems that the quick after New Year blog seems to be the thing to do after this last small hiatus. Life is good. My birthday way great, I enjoyed it immensely. Solstice as previously mentioned was the most memorable occasion. Christmas Eve was wonderful with A. and Christmas Day with friends. I flew home the day after to celebrate with Family. It was great to see my brother and his fam, and my sister and hers as well as the 'Rents. I love Seattle. I love being home. It's hard sometimes to go but it's even harder to come back. So New Years was spent just the way I wanted it, at a friends with a movie and a pizza. And then back to work jiggity jig. So, here I am now with great hopes for a grand New Year. I hear that even years turn out to be great. Oh, and I'm sure it will be good because my New Years day was great. And I've always had a strong belief that how you spend your New Years day sets the tone for the rest of the year. Yeah!

Happy Solstice

2005-12-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to one of the best parties I have ever been to bar none. It was a Winter Solstice party hosted by my favorite friend S. There were 4 of us girls for the bulk of the party. We made omelets and discussed responsible environmentalism and then got right down to business. In the cutest, littlest apartment with the walls painted yellow and a Christmas tree in one corner decorated with cranberries we lit a ton of candles and laid them around the food (chocolate!) that we had spread between us. We read our daily Tao and then CELEBRATED! I won't divulge the secrets shared amongst Solstice Sisters but we took turns reading poetry we loved and poetry we had written. We talked of life, love, death and everything in between. We HENNA'd!! I have never felt so comfortable, had so much fun, or enjoyed my time more then this time spent with such cool hippie girls. Each one of them a person I would like to be. Such an open and non-judgmental set of girls. Really, the whole evening was holistic. I am completely healed.

Dear God, it's me, Maija.

2005-12-16T23:33:00.000-07:00

Adventure Matt's in the hospital. Wednesday morning at about 3am he called his girlfriend to take him to the emergency room because his legs were tingling and his muscles weren't working right. Two hours later he was in the ICU, paralyzed from the neck down on a respirator with a pace maker to keep his heart rate up. Two agonizing days later and they still don't have a diagnosis. Just a lot of guesses. The prognosis though, is sounding worse and worse. As of an hour ago, they think it might have been a stroke and that the paralyses is permanent. We are all praying for the best. For those of you who don't know Adventure Matt, he is my climbing, kayaking, canyoneering (he's the one that saved my life in the flood), camping, hiking, playing, road tripping, movie, hanging out friend. He's my brother. Please, please, pray for him.

Time to reset your clocks!!

2005-12-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

So, I went to LA this weekend. I went with two coworker/friends of mine, Z. and V. It was a hoot and a nanny. We headed out Thursday afternoon with no other plan then the fact that I wanted to see the ocean, see K. and N. and go to Ikea (in no particular order). We ended up staying over at L. and J. in Vegas. It was so nice of them to put us straggling wanderers up for the night. And so much fun to play with their bobbies. We spent some time on the strip and went to a buffet at the Mirage. Way to much money in my opinion for warmed up, heat lamp food. Oh well, it was the experience, right? The next morning we headed for the coast. We went to Ikea first and there I parted ways with my companions as N. came and picked me up. It was nice to spend a moment with him getting camping gear and tin foil dinners together before picking up K. and heading for the coast. We drove a bit south to Doheney beach were we met some friends of theirs and set up our tents right out there on the beach. It was the most bizare camping I've ever done because you could hear and see the freeway. There was a Taco Bell sign you could see from where we were and there was a 'Getto Bird' that was searching around with its lights on. Crazy. We had our dinners and sat and poked the fire for a bit. I went down to the water and sat and dangled my feet off the edge of the world. I feel like if I don't see the ocean every so often my soul dries up and blows away. I need the steady rythmn of the waves to help me reset my heart. I rush and rush and am crazy and up and down all the time I need the constancy of the ocean I think. I love the grandeur of it. I love that at the same time it captures and holds my heart its scares the hooey out of me. I think a lot of things in my life are like that. I want to love them and need them but they scare me so much at the same time... Anyway, I loved camping on the beach with N. and K. and they are wonderful camping companions as neither of them snore loud enough to wake me. We lazed about the next morning and K. and I sat on the beach until our hearts beat the same and then I posed for some fake surfing shots for a friend of mine. We headed home after that, took our showers and then headed off to Ikea. The three of us spent some good time there, shopped ALOT, had dinner. Good times. We then went to a little shindig K. friends were hosting, home for a movie (I fell asleep) and then off to bed. The next morning it was Church and then off to meet Z. and V. and then home again, home again, jiggity jig. I love these mini vacations. I need them to get through week to week. If I don't have something in the works, I'm just not happy. And when Maija ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Anway, next on the agenda... Seattle!

List I

2005-11-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

The three best compliments I've ever received in no particular order:

1. "Your eyes remind me of Christmas." - N.S.
2. "You are like a fun secret I don't think I want to share." - S.P.
3. "If I were wearing socks right now, I believe you could knock them off!" - J.H.

Dinner Party

2005-11-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

I went to a dinner party tonight, hosted by my good friend J. He had invited a eclectic few people to get together for some tofu stirfry and vegan applesauce pumpkin bread. It was delicious. After dinner the evening was spent in a lively conversation debating the pros and cons and differing view points of censorship, prohibition, education, religion, politics and which was the best Adam Sandler movie. All in all, a wonderfully enlightening night. I sure do love dinner parties!

What's in your Purse?

2005-11-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

I cleaned my purse out today and thought I should share with all the world what I found in it. Okay, here goes and remember not to judge:
*4 tubes of Toothpast
*2 containers of Floss
*2 different types of Toothbrushes
*4 different chapsticks
*1 Wallet
*1 Pen
*1 Hairband

So.. that it's. I don't know where the mouth obsession came from but really, I'm okay with it.

YeeHaw!!

2005-11-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today, I went to a thing called Cowboy Poetry up in Heber with some of my favorite friends. We got all gussied up in our best Cowpoke duds and went up there. We saw a concert by the Bar J Wranglers who are so funny and heard some beautiful Cowboy poems. We then went up to PC for lunch. Then home again, home again, jiggity jig. I love cowboys. I think I'm going to get myself a nice pair of cowgirl boots and a matching belt with a big ol' buckle. I'm thinking of going with my signature colour of that deep red. A certain pair of boys in this particular group of friends of mine participate in something they call, "Cowboy boot Sunday." The fifth Sunday of the month you have to wear your boots to Church. Now, seriously folks, I've given this a lot of thought, and I've decided that yeah, that's a practice I could get behind. Look for pictures posted soon I'm sure.

Yeah, I got nothin'

2005-10-29T19:40:00.000-06:00

So, um... life is good. I've been busy. Ya know, work and more work. I've been havin' some fun. Weaving more in SLC, going to Sushi and Jazz night with friends. Oh, I was in my ward talent show last night... I did "string tricks." Like, um, Jacobs Ladder and Cup and Saucer. I had my friend A. come up and I stood behind him and put my arms around him and then did these tricks and held my creations up against his white T shirt. It was pretty funny. I did some shopping up in PC with K. and that was fun. I got a good deal on somme purple stripped knee socks. .99$. You really can't beat that. Other then that, yeah, like I said above, I got nothin.' Course, no news is good news, right?

Domestic Goddess

2005-10-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

Quick! Someone be proud of me...! Yesterday I bought about 50lbs of apples for 9 bucks. Some of the sweetest tasting apples I ever ete. Today I borrowed the food dehydrater from good ol' F. and took an hour and filled that sucker up. I didn't even use up a quarter of this big box of apples which means, not only do I have my work cut out for me, but I'm in the apples!! I love dried apples and I loved putting on my apron, singing some songs to myself and parring apples. I can't wait to see a nice full bag of white and yellow apples in my pantry. I'm going to snack on them, put them in my oatmeal, make up a trail mix. I think tonight I'm going to make an apple pie. All I have left to say about these apples now is, after all I'm going to eat of them, good thing I live alone!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

2005-10-13T19:13:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL SIMON!! I LOVE YOU!!
In honor of Paul Simon's 64th birthday today, I publicy declare to all the world, that I shall name my first born man child, Simon Paul... Paul, your my favorite. Thanks for all of my favorite songs. You make my day happy.

So, what did you do last night? Part II

2005-10-13T07:48:00.000-06:00

I baby-sat my boss' kids. Not just my boss, like my manager boss, but the owner of the gym I work at. His children are 18 months and 5 years and I was the first non family baby sitter they have ever had. No pressure there, right? I was scheduled to work at the gym last night but switched to watch his kids. Nice thing is, I got paid the exact amount I would have made at the gym. You can't beat getting paid to play with awesome kids. And this time around it was a little more then the 1.25$ an hour I got when I was 12.

Self Improvement

2005-10-11T16:30:00.000-06:00

Again with the self improvement thing, I know, but this time I have a really good idea. I need to drink more water I decided. Clear and copious being the goal, right? So, I made myself a chart. Each time I drink an 8 oz. glass of water (actually from my Nalgene) then I get to put a sticker on my chart. I like stickers. If I drink at least 8 eight oz glasses of water each week then on that Saturday I get to get myself a suprise. I'm not sure what I get this week but boy am I excited!! I wrote a contract with myself and I signed it and had my boss M. be a cosigner (I wonder if that means if I'm to broke to buy a surprise if he has to...). I'm up and down and up and down and up and down but at least I'm getting my water in!

So, what did you do last night? Part I

2005-10-06T22:42:00.000-06:00

I rolled my socks and organized my underwear. Seriously. It's all planned out for the next three weeks. I'd hate to make a mistake and wear the same color two days in a row.

Back to School

2005-10-03T22:53:00.000-06:00

So, in the interest of continual self improvement, I went to my fist guitar class today. I signed myself up like a little girl and with my hair in braids and my socks up high to my knees I took my guitar like my lunch bag in hand and headed off to class. I was a little nervouse, but because it was a one on one class I figured I couldn't make to big of a fool of myself. I sat there across from the teacher and picked out Good King Wencelses... (is that how you even spell it?). Up, down, up down. Now move your finger, no not like that, here, good girl. Anyway, I have my next class next Thursday and I'm very excited. When I grow up I'm going to be a rock star. Or, maybe I'll just pick a few tunes out around the campfire.

Bloody Mess

2005-09-27T19:47:00.000-06:00

So, I think that I make the guys who draw blood nervouse. I always have the worst time with these guys. Vampires is what they are. This afternoon I went to have my blood drawn for my thyroid test. I was kind of nervouse about it because I always seem to have trouble. The girl came out and called my name and so, in the hopes of calming her nerves as well as mine, I made nice with the jokes. She asked how I said my name, and I told her. I said that the silent 'j' was to protect me against telemarketers. If they can't say my name, then I know I don't want to talk to them. As we're laughing about my parents good planning, she's wiping my vein down to pop it. She's about to puncture me when I stop and remind her, Um... doesn't that rubber band thingy needed to be wrapped around my arm. Oh yeah, she says. So, I'm thinking Oh Great. She gets my vein but the blood won't come so she pulls the needle out. All of a sudden blood is pouring down my arm and on the floor. The girl is trying to stop the blood with cotton and clean up at the same time. Oh brother. So, I am pinching cotton between in my 'elbow pit' while she tries again on the other arm. Luckily, she got it right closer to the first time. Ouch. Oh well, I guess that's why God gave me two arms. Good thing I only need these tests two times a year from here on out.

Visby

2005-09-19T03:08:00.000-06:00

Don't know why that last post didn't post all of what I wrote but I'm in Visby now and off to see some Viking ruins. Love to all!

Huddinge

2005-09-13T04:15:00.000-06:00

Sitting in a library in Huddinge, trying to get used to the caps key being a little off. ALL!!

Swim In

2005-09-02T21:04:00.000-06:00

I went tonight to a pool party hosted by C. the company I work for. It was for all the Providers in the community. All these cute handicapped people came and had hotdogs and soda pop and then got to go swimming at the pool we had rented out. My job was to walk around and make sure everybody was having a safe and fun time. T. my good friend made a deal with one of the individuals we serve that if he got in the water so would T. jeans and all. So, this guy did and so T. did. Well, I thought that was pretty funny and was having a good ol' time watching T. goof around in the water in his jeans and all when he came up behind me and tried to throw me in, white t-shirt, capris and all. Well, I fought him as best I could, I mean, I really faught him hard. But he put me in a mandt restraint from behind, picked me in and then fell in with me. My glasses flew off but we found them before anybody stepped on them. Then I realised I had my phone in my pocket. I got it out as quick as I could but the sucker is pretty water logged. I won't be calling anybody for a while, but tomorrow T. and I are going to go pick out a new phone. Looks like I'm getting a new upgraded phone!! You da' Man T! Oh- and I really didn't mind getting tossed in. I rather enjoyed it.

Smooth Move?

2005-08-28T20:58:00.000-06:00

So, I just made a deal, hopefully not with the devil. Today in Church a girl mentioned that she was looking for a place to live until she got married and asked if any one had a room to rent. Well, I've kind of been stressing out with K. leaving and all, having to pay 650$ in rent plus about 150$ in utilities all by myself. So, I pipped up. She came and looked at it tonight and moved some stuff in. The deal is that she pays 250$ in rent plus half of utilities. It's not half and half but at this point anything is better then nothing. She isn't going to sign a contract or anything, she'll stay as long as she needs to and I hope that this is all going to work out. I'm not very smart about things, but I have a nice feeling about her as a person and she's going to pay a couple months rent up front. The nice thing about all of this is, I can afford to pay it all if I have to, ie: she flakes out, I can ask her to leave if I need to, she isn't staying forever and in the meantime I have a little bit of help with rent. So, we'll see. The only thing I feel kind of bad about is that J. said she might be interested in moving in. Also, M. wanted to move in. Oh, and Z. said she wanted to check it out. But I went with D. because she seemed to be in a tighter spot then everyone else. She was pretty much living in her car. Oh, me and my bleeding heart. I hope this all works out!

Belly FLOP!

2005-08-21T22:42:00.000-06:00

I went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on Friday with my friend J. to kayak/duckie/raft the Snake river. It was...theraputic. I put that dramatic pause in there because this was a trip with the Adventure Buddies. After the last 'adventure' we had together this last week, it was good for us to get together again and love each other and enjoy each other in an adventure that was not so dramatic as the last. It was nice to reassure ourselves that we aren't cursed but that we can have an adventure without it turning into an epic. J was there, as was of course Adv. M and J. and J flew in from NY and M was there and R and J and then a bunch of girls I didn't have much to do with. Oh, and J. brother-in-law was there as was his sister who is a sweetheart. Anyway, J and I drove up there together later on Friday and didn't get there till late. I pitched my new lovely, wonderful, beautiful tent in two minutes all by myself!! I was so happy and content to sleep in it. I just loved it! The next morning we had breakfast, took our time, enjoyed reuniting with old friends and then headed for the river. I hooked up with M., my wing man in a duckie. I took the steering position while M was the powerman. We had our own sign language for the rapids and everything. We enjoyed trying to ram the raft as well as watch out for J and J in the Pirate Kayaks. We spent about 4-5 hours on the river that day. Just long enough to dunk everyone once or twice. We headed back to camp after that to nurse our sunburns and cook up dinner. Around the campfire that night we did the whole marshmallow thing, set up a slack line (pictures to follow) and played Mafia and Murder in the Dark (literally!). Then I got to sleep in my wonderful, fabulous, marvelous tent again!!
The next day, J and R and P joined up with us and we got back on the river. I did the raft this time and that was great. We really rocked that sucker. As we got through the big rapids, the "Big Kahuna" and "the Lunch Counter" we came to this spot that was ideal for cliff jumping. Here's the part where on every 'adventure' Maija comes away with a bruise! I'm not a jumper at all. I'm not a diver, nor even a swimmer. I know this about myself. And yet, somehow, I got talked in to jumping. First off, J talked me into jumping from a 4 foot rock out. I did it, and I totally belly flopped! Well, I didn't want to hit the rocks. Then J. comes and takes my hand and says,"come on, lets do it higher (where everyone else was jumping, about 25-30 feet higher). I'll do it with you." Well, the boy has my hand so with legs shaking I climb up higher with him. I'm standing up there, shaking with pure adrenaline and a big raft full of people start drifting by, all set with there cameras to catch me in action. J. whispers in my ear, "now, jump. Live in infamy, you'll be famous." I grab my life jacket with one hand, plug my nose with the other, instruct the raft to count off for me, and then proceed to do the most spectacular side FLOP any of them had ever seen. As I come up from the water I can still hear everyone going, "eewwww" and see the grimace of pain on there face. I BIFFED it. I am covered in a big black bruise all down behind my arm, on my side, my hip, my thigh, everywhere. Oh well, I lived. And I will go down in infamy. We continued down the river, loaded up and headed home. After we dropped everyone off, J. asked me to drive home so he could sit in the back with his baby (she didn't come, we had just picked her up). I was okay with that except he drives a stick. I haven't done that in about 9 years. I did get about three miles down the road before he said never mind and switched me. I love that he makes me do things out of my comfort zone. He said he'd take me out and help me practice driving stick. Anyway, it was a great weekend, very therapeutic, very fun, and I love all those guys. Now off to bed for some much needed sleep. (Whaa! I want my tent...!)

Blinding Detail

2005-08-05T19:53:00.000-06:00

Blinding Detail
Originally uploaded by Amelia Bedelia.

I know, I know, I had the flash on to strong, but my batteries died and I couldn't redo it... So, the reason for this pic... First of, I'm going to talk to you tonight about my Friend With No Initial. Now, the reason he has no Initial is because I don't believe it's very nice to write about someone on the internet if they don't know it, so I always refere to people by just there initial as a way of showing my respect for them. Well, the Friend with No Initial is so amazing that I just want to show him even more respect. Heres the story. If you can see through the white light of my flash, my hair, you may see that I have it in two braids that are pulled over the top of my head and secured. I then have a long crimson scarf woven and twisted around the braids and then hung down. I realize it's not a hair style that you will see walking down the street, but today it perfectly fit my mood of gypsy spirit, court princess, long braids, and I want to do something different. While most people said nice things or nothing, of course there are a few hecklers. Well, I stopped by the Q. tonight and the Friend With No Initails was there. I was just picking up my paycheck and was on my way out when my Friend With No Initial stopped me and in all scincerity said, Hey Maija, I like your hair that way... Dear, sweet Boy! Dear, kind Friend. He has forever won a place in my heart!

I am a ship upon the waters

2005-08-04T22:56:00.000-06:00

So, I just wanted to get this thought out tonight. I've been ruminating over it all evening. As most of you know, I am particularly fond of analogies, so lets see if you can wrap your mind around this one...
I am a ship upon the waters. I am a big Viking ship that is constantly batteling tsunami waves and sharks and whales and a particularly bad case of scurvy. The people in my life, my friends, are my crew. I have all of my friends in a category, or a job. I have Adventure Buddies, and Game night Buddies, and Climbing Buddies, and Movie Buddies, and it works for me. The reason for this is because I know what kind of relationship it is, I know how to best utilize it to make my ship sail more smoothly. I know the best way to use each friend on my ship. So, I have one particular friend who refuses to be compartmentalized. While, I have to appreciate his wiley ways and his carefree spirit, he is worse then a pirate who stole on my boat. He is a loose cannon. Now the thing about cannons are two fold. A cannon can be my best friend in a fight against pirates and marauders (who I am constantly running into, people who seem to suck a part of your soul without your consent), or they can be the big lug of metal you have to haul around and with each tiny toss of the ship worry that they are going to knock a hole in your keel and take you down under. So, this friend is a loose cannon. He isn't quite the big gun I need, and he isn't quite the hole knocker he could be, but I'm not willing to take the chance. A cannon loose on a ship is a cannon loose on a ship. So, while he may refuse to allow me to give him a job in my life, I'm doing it anyway. I'm stuffing him full of perservatives, putting him in a fancy cake box, tying it double knotted with sailors string and putting him in the galley to be taken out and looked at on special occasions when I feel like cheating on my diet. So there.
Anyway, got to love those story problems, huh? They sure are fun to work out in my mind. And they do seem to make work go so much quicker. Good night y'all!!

Curiouser and Curiouser

2005-08-04T14:19:00.000-06:00

It's an interesting thing, this is. I went to lunch today with three friends who know me fairly well. On the way out to the car, one called me a flower girl, as in flower child, and just a bit earlier another had been teasing me about my "happy, hippy, horse -shmit." At lunch, all three of them teased me about hugging trees, recycling, and consumer consumption. The interesting part of this, is having people pick out something in you that you saw as a noble strength and deride it. I don't see being environmental as being "hippy," I see it as being responsible. I'm ashamed of those who waste resources so frivolously as though there were an endless supply. It's not hard to be a little more conscientious, to not create so much useless paper waste. Why not reuse instead of cut down a tree. It's just so irresponsible. And if I choose to reuse my plastic lunch bags, at least I'm still shaving my legs and using toothpaste instead of birch bark. Although, I hear that's really good for your gums. Hmm...

What Happens in Vegas...

2005-07-30T09:23:00.000-06:00

So, I'm here in Vegas... Kind of. Henderson, actually. One of my favorite places in the world right now if for no other reason then because that's where my sweet little niece and nephew live. In all the world I've never met such a sweet little girl as my niece K. She just loves to hold her new brother and to give him sweet little pats and kisses. On todays agenda, we're off to a baby clothes sale, then home to clean the house. YEAH! What fun! While you may not be able to fully fathom the full spectrum of sarcasm in that last line, I do want to assure all faithful readers that there really is nothing I would rather do today then spend time with the beautiful women (mother, sisters, niece) in my life.

Time Off

2005-07-20T23:39:00.000-06:00

Time goes by so quickly. I can't even hardly believe it. I think one thing for me that makes it go by so quick is that I'm so 'scheduled.' I don't think I have a weekend or a day off that isn't planned until sometime in September. How's that for making the summer go by quickly. It's not that the things I'm doing aren't fun, I just miss the spontenaity. Here, in all it's glory, is what I've got coming up. First off is a quick trip to Vegas to visit some family, new and old. Then I'm off to do a slot canyon, Mistery Canyon all in one day. Then I'm signed up to do the Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow. That's will take up not only a full day in the week but my whole weekend as well. Then, there is a hike up near Logan I want to do. It's supposed to be the most beautiful in August when you hike to the lake through meadows and meadows of wildflowers. Where I'll gather armfuls of blossoms of blue. Then we are doing a quick kayaking trip down the Snake and then another in Jackson. Okay, so now into September, I'm taking two weeks off to go to Sweden with my dear Auntie. Then when I come back, it's another canyon that can only be done later in the season when it's cooler. I already know that I probably won't be going home for Christmas this year, but with so much time off I just don't think I can afford it, monetarily or day off-ily. So, that's my plan for the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Flickr, hopefully I'll be smart enough to take some pictures where I can and post, post, post. Okay, off to bed, love to all.

Class is in Session

2005-07-15T16:27:00.000-06:00

Hello Kiddies. Have a seat and lets begin our lesson. Today I’d like to take a moment to not only pontificate, but to enumerate the immeasurable impact words, both written and verbal have on ones soul. First of all, the written word. Ah, what sweet joy a well worded letter can bring, and yet, the excruciating sting a scorching written rebuke can leave. Or even more bitter, words written in sincerity, with all of the best intentions and real depth of feeling, that cast too broad a generalization over a group of people, lumping them all together with misguided and demeaning accusations. One has to be so careful when writing ones prejudices in a public forum such as this. Especially if one is attacking not only one persons faith, but being so ignorant as to attack a million peoples world wide faith. Though done with nothing but the purest of motives, it is still a base and vile thing to do. Now on to the spoken word. There is nothing like the sweet caress of a loved and wanted word whispered in ones ear. The gentle reassurance of some kind soul who with the purest mouth tells you what you’ve longed to hear. The serene feeling of peace and light as you whisper aloud your prayers to heaven knowing they’re reaching a ready and willing ear. And yet, there is nothing as sharp and cutting as a comment said so casually, meant to belittle and demean. No hornets sting has ever hurt so bad as something said behind ones back. Words are so necessary for the expression of ones soul. While it may be true that a painting is worth a thousand words, a single word can conjure a thousand emotions, thoughts and images. Let us all be more careful in our conversations, more guarded in our personal revelations. Let us all be better in keeping ones thoughts and feelings at heart when choosing how to express ourselves both with the written as well as the spoken word.

Boy that was fun to write. Me like big words. Me like to pontificate. Me like deep thoughts. Me like cookies. Hmmm... cookies.

Whoosh!

2005-07-11T20:09:00.000-06:00

My goodness but this weekend was busy! I did so many fun things with so many great people, but boy could I use a nap. I spent some time this weekend working, I went to the SLC Jazz Festival and heard some great bands upto and including the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies. Oh, yeah, play that funky music. It was crazy the different types of people that Jazz draws out of the woodwork. You should have seen the mohawks on the punks, the dreads on the hippies and the chinos on the old men with their wives in pearl necklaces. I loved it. I felt so at home. I also went up to Deer Valley ski resort to watch K. compete in her mountain bike race. I got a pretty bad sunburn on my shoulders, but it was a beautiful way to spend a morning. You'd think for all of my 'mountain experience' I'd remember that being that high up on the mountain, yes, it's going to be a little bit more windy and cold, and yes, you are more likely to get a burn. Oh well, lesson learned and noted. Gosh, this whole weekend was just run, run, run. Good thing I've been eating my spinach, no? Now I've got a 'nice, easy' week to recoup and I'm off again. Yes!

Much Better Now, Thank You

2005-07-08T23:35:00.000-06:00

I decided to post tonight even though I'm tired because I'm doing much better. I got to talk to some of my sweet sisters today and that always makes me feel better. And I went to lunch this afternoon with A. who I think is adorable. I love when I get to go to lunch with her. And then I worked tonight with S. who always cracks me up. We sit there and eat ice cream and look at health magazines. I love working with her. And E. and A. stopped by. A. asked me if I wanted to fly to NY with her next weekend to go to another Cafe Tacuba concert. She said she could get me an airline ticket free. If she can I'm totaly going. Especially because it's only a bit from where J. is flying in the next day. I love having a jet setter life style. Also, J.and L. and C. came into the Q. tongiht and invited me to a lawn party tomorrow. Those boys are so hot. J. looks just like Jeremiah Johnson with the homemade leather bag and reddish beard and blue eyes. Can we say HOT. Oh man, now you got me all thinking about Mountain Men. Am I going to have good dreams tonight or what, I tell ya. Sheesh.

Don't hinder me Nathan!

2005-07-07T19:15:00.000-06:00

So, I probably shouldn't post right now because I'm not in a very good mood. It's to hot outside, I'm tired, I've got cramps, I have to go to a meeting at freaking 10pm tonight! Sheesh. Also, I went to a wedding reception tonight that while I'm very happy for this couple (the groom is one of my favorites that I went on the cruise with) it still didn't help my mood. I went with A. and ended up sitting there by myself while he flirted with EVERYBODY and went an drove someone's ferrari. I was jealous (of the ferrari driving). Also, I got teased a lot because in this particular group of friends of whom I'm 3 years older then all of them, A. and I are the only two single ones now. Give me a break. And I'm tired also of 'friends' with intentions. Why can't people just be honest and up front? Sheesh. Oh, and I'm tired of boys without intentions. Sheesh. The only redeeming part of today was I had my evaluation at work and I am now a whole dollar an hour richer. Yes! The only issue my boss had with me was he was afraid I was going to move to Hawaii. Maybe I should? Maybe. I. Will.

Sister Dearest

2005-07-01T23:29:00.000-06:00

So, the other day I received in the mail an envelope from my littlest sister dearest who is on a mission in Hawaii (lucky). Inside the envelope were a couple of pictures of her and her companions and then a single note of paper. On this paper was the BEST poem I have ever read, probably because it was about me. The Sweet Heart had written a poem about me and then mailed it off. When I read it I laughed outloud in sheer delight. It had come on a real 'shades of gray' type day but definatly made my outlook a little brighter. I'm still carrying it around in my pack. I think I'm going to have it framed. Here it is for all of you in all of it's glory. Who says sisters don't share one heart...?

Maija - Shades of Clay
Earth toned 'hip' trimed in
Soft sheek lace
Mud or a Chaco tan?
Doesn't really matter
Don't have time to check-
With untamed depth inside her
ocean eyes
Her elegance and beauty is
wrapped in a rock climbers
harness.

snap, snap, snap, snap, snap

Man, I love that girl.

Still catching up

2005-06-26T11:07:00.000-06:00

Okay, what does it say about your life, if you sit down on a Tuesday to try and catch up on some thoughts you've had lately and then get interupted, have to run and don't find another minute to sit down until Sunday afternoon? I need a vacation.

I have two things to mention today:
One- an interesting thought I had the other day that I'd like to develope further is the fact that sometimes God lets bad things happen to us to save us from something worse. It's really all about seeing the bigger picture. Something that is so hard to do but if you could, would make life if not more tolerable, at least more understandable.
and Two- last night I went on a "ro-tic" date. It was my girlfriend J. and I. We took the 'man' out of 'romantic.' We went to a restaurant called The Melting Pot. It's a fondue place. I hadn't ever done anything like that, but would have to say for the record, now this is for the record, that it was one of the coolest things I've done. The chocolate dessert alone! My goodness! It was a very expensive place but J treated. She has some amazing friends back home who knew she was having a hard week. They all put in twenty bucks and sent her a wad of cash to have a night out on the town. Now, those are the kind of friends I need! Boy oh boy!

Catching Up

2005-06-21T19:13:00.000-06:00

For those of you who know me, I am constantly thinking of what's coming next. I figure, after so many years of planning out situations in my head I am a walking "Idiots Survival Guide to my Universe." Anyway, the point of that whole intro bit is to really let you know that I have had a couple hundred thoughts I've wanted to post running through my head all the way up to the point that I can't remember if I actually did post or not! Alright, I'm off to play, but I'll come right back to this...

Deep Thots

2005-06-14T21:33:00.000-06:00

So, I had a deep thought today. It probably isn't really as deep as it is obvious but I've got to keep my esteem up some how. The thought goes like this... As I spent part of my time off this afternoon goofing off on the internet, reading all of my friends blogs, it occurred to me that people write about what's most important and prevalent in there life. This got me thinking then about what people write about and specifically because I tend to introvert thoughts, what I write about. Here's my proof... K. just got married, and she writes a lot about N. S. writes all about his family and his mountain adventures. Ftrain writes about his city, New York. Megnut and Kottke write about the internet and computers and each other. Dooce writes about poop. So, what is it that is most important and prevalent in my life? Why silly, boys, clothes and adventures of course. How shallow. Please, tell me that was a deep thought so I can get my self esteem back up.

Guess Who

2005-06-08T22:50:00.000-06:00

So, for those of you who may not be in 'the know...' the other day C. came into the Q. and got a job there as a sales guy. Up to this point I had totally forgotten that he was even in Utah. When I found out that he was hired there, admittadly I had a little trepedation because of our relationship. I wasn't sure if we should tell people of our past or what but decided to just embrace it and follow his lead. Anyway, it's turned out to be a great thing. The guy, first of all is HULKING so everyone right away knew who he was...ie: Oh yeah, I've met C. He's that new big guy, right? Then, C. starts throwing cash around. You know, I'll give 50 bucks to the guy who can do this. Immediatly people like him. He sold 5 memberships off that one 50 dollar bet. That's awesome. Also, it's great to have him around to protect me. When I was all scared over D. he met me at my house so I didn't have to go home and be alone, even though all I was doing was changing clothes before I went out again. Also, he's very smart and very funny. He is a personal trainer and a dietican so he was telling K. and I tonight how to slim down and tone up. Very informative. He gave me some great advice on how to answer a question someone posed the other day that was very helpful. Anyway, the point of this whole post is just to say how glad I am that he's at the Q. and how much fun it is to work with him. Yes, even despite our past and the fact that we used to sleep together. I know, I know, I'm sure some of you are wondering who C. is... well, Stranger, give me a call and I'll fill you in . Love ya!

Salt of the Earth

2005-06-07T22:39:00.000-06:00

So, I have two things tonight, neither of much interest so please, don't feel obligated to read further. First of all is A. came over tonight. He drives his hot car up on my lawn which while probably bad for the lawn, I love. It's the stuff of teenage girls dreams. This hot guy in a hot white car pulls up, honks, says "come on Babe." Thrills. Absolute thrills. We bummed around for a while and then went and got sushi with a bunch of friends. It was a great party, about 15 people all packed around a table that probably fits 8. The sushi was good, but A. company was better. I think I might be forced to admit, all though I never would in 'public' and never in front of him, but I think he's my best friend. For how crazy he can drive me (he NEVER approves of the guys I like) I know he's still got my back. I'm glad he's in my life.

Second thing is, I think I must be hitting a growth spurt or something because I am always SO tired! I have to be storing that energy for something, like another 5 inches or so. It's gotten to the point where I have to skip eating at lunch to go take a half hour nap in the back of my car parked around the corner from my office where no one can see. I've had some good times in that car and I hate to see it being turned into a Ramada, but I just can't make it through the day without that cat nap. I don't know why really, I should be so tired, but somewhere between working out at 5am, going to work at 8am, working till 5pm and then switching to my other job to work till 10:30pm to be home in bed by 11pm, I'm just losing it. And then having friends like A. on my days off to get me off the couch, I'll tell you what. Sheesh.

There is Sunshine in my Soul Today!

2005-06-05T20:12:00.000-06:00

My goodness, what a beautiful Sunday! I love Testimony Sundays, and today just seemed to be particularly good. I'm home now, comfortably dressed. I made some stir-fry for dinner and did a great job of it, if you ask me. I'm cuddled on the couch reading articles on-line and listening to the thunderstorm outside my window. No rain mind you, just thunder. Awesome. Only one thing could make this better but I've got to wait 43 days for that still. But that's okay. I'm patient.

Yesterday I went to the Himalaya festival at the Hare Krishna temple in Spanish Fork. I've still got the mantra chant, rock song of theirs stuck in my head. They had Indian/Nepalese dancers perform that were amazing. I was so impressed by their fluidity and movement as well as their precision. Mostly it just looked so joyful. I wanted to get up and twirl with them. I love going to festivals. I loved wearing flip-flops and sitting on the hill in the grass and feeling the sunshine on my shoulders. It was a great way to spend the evening. I wish I could spend every evening on the grass just thinking deep thoughts about the nature of things. That would be nice.

And breathe...

2005-06-03T18:23:00.000-06:00

So, I'm officially off of work for the weekend. Yup, you heard me right, the WHOLE weekend. I'm not working tonight OR tomorrow. What will I do with myself? I'm not sure yet but you can bet it will be no good, that's for sure. I've got a couple of things in the works, climbing tonight, a Himalaya Festival tomorrow, sleep, blessed sleep on Sunday. Oh my, a whole weekend to myself. I can hardly stand it. Oh, and uh, for your information, cleaning goldfish tanks require red ruby necklaces and butterfly hair clips.

Variation on a theme

2005-06-01T23:56:00.000-06:00

So I know I wrote yesterday about a chore I was undecided on. I've got another one to add to the list today. I am not particularly fond of vacuuming at the Q. I tell everyone there that I would rather lick the bathrooms clean then vacuum and I'm not so sure I don't really mean it. I don't want this blog to turn into a list of chores I have questionable feelings for, but if anyone out there in the cosmics is taking note, please add vacuuming to the list. Thank you and goodnight.

Gypsy Girl

2005-05-31T21:14:00.000-06:00

Self
Originally uploaded by Amelia Bedelia.

I'm so Boho.