Cabin Time!

I'm still waiting for my seesta to give me pics from two weekends ago, so I'll post about AZ when I get them. In the meantime, last weekend I was able to go with some friends up to Kiera's cabin. I decided that I need to work less and take more days off to play. This weekend was perfect and I even caught up on some much needed rest (just ask everyone I fell asleep on).
Last time we went to Kiera's cabin (in Northern Utah, almost Wyoming, but not actually in Wyoming because Kiera says Wyoming is "dirty") it was covered in snow and freezing! This time the weather was in the low 70s during the day and nice and cool and night. So basically heaven.

See what I mean? Heaven on earth.

It was such a fun weekend to play and relax but I won't bore you with all the details (even though my Mah loves that crap). Here are some lovely pics I stole from my friend, Michael's blog. Thanks Michael!

 A little lake we rode ATVs to. 

 The other side of the lake looking at the ATVs

 Why is my helmet different from the others, you may ask? It was the biggest one...my noggin is ginormous.

 Michael, Cami, Justin, and I at a stream near a lookout. It made me want to strip down and play in it..but my parents told me I wasn't allowed anymore after I turned eight...

 Don't you love our sexy dirt faux tans?

 Pushing everything together to make "Mega Bed" was the best idea of the weekend. 

 Looking like we love each other at Mirror lake.

Mirror Lake on our way home. I'm still not sure why it is called "Mirror" lake...it didn't look very mirror-y..

I wish I could take off every weekend to play but that's just not going to happen. I'm am grateful for the times it does though. I sure love the view and the company...and the sleep :) 

That explains a lot...

The other day in class (or on tv, I can't remember) the expert was talking about concussions and the effects it has on the person who received it. I started to think about all the concussions I have experienced over the years. I chose to start early and try to cram in as many as possible. I think I can attribute my memory loss and sometimes erratic behavior to the many, many head smashing, brain banging incidents. Here are my Top Five:

Number One

So in the third grade I jammed my finger during P.E. on a rubber playground ball. When I went to show my teacher, he pulled on it and I passed out hardcore. Then while unconscious, I stood up again, and passed out again. Luckily, my teacher caught me and carried me to the grass to lay down. A whole bunch of ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars showed up and took me away for some tests and a day stay at the hospital.

Good times. Lots of sympathy.

Number Two

About a year later, my aunt wanted to crimp my hair. I stood too long with my knees locked and passed out. Another a concussion for me. We had a day of activities planned so my Grandma decided we should do that instead of going to the doctor. So we went on saw Hercules and ate lunch...I don't remember anything from the rest of the day or the movie.

Number Three

About a year after the previous incident, I got heat stoke (ya know, AZ summer time) while at my best friend's house, hoping that she could play and passed out. I cracked my head on the kitchen tile. I don't remember anything after that...

Number Four

A few years ago, I was trying to quickly shave my legs on a narrow tub ledge when I slipped and hit my head straight onto my avocado-colored wall. It was clear I had a concussion and my neighbor/nurse confirmed it. I don't remember a lot after that because my mom let me nap a bunch of times. (BTW aren't you supposed to stay awake?) I also remember my sister's friends making fun of my weird comments. My head hurt for several days and I felt really bizarre but my mom let me drive the next day...(big mistake..so sketchy!)

Number Five

Around the same time as the last concussion, I passed out again in the doctors office. I was fasting to get tested for celiac disease (which I have) and after the blood samples, I had a seizure. Not only did I seize so hard I kicked my shoe into the other room, I hit my head on the chair and got ANOTHER concussion. That was a rough experience and they made me chill at the doctor for a really long time before my mom took me home and I completely forgot about the next two days.

I'm not entirely sure what all the effects of this many (and more) concussions are on a person's brain, but I'm sure it is not good! Hopefully I'll turn out alright and I won't have dementia or something by the time I'm 30. Time will tell, I guess....at least they make for good stories :)

The Golden Age

Last night I couldn't sleep so I watched Midnight in Paris. I enjoyed it, it was entertaining and interesting to see how they captured another time. In the movie, Owen Wilson is able to visit his "golden age" the 1920's while in Paris. After the movie, I was trying to sleep but kept thinking, what would be my golden age, where do I feel like I belong. Finally, I determined it was a toss up. It would seem that I would obviously belong in the 1980s, but I tend to live like I'm still there now. Let me break it down what I discovered...

1960s

I always felt like that decade was one of empowerment and movement. they had civil rights (both with African American and Hispanic), feminism, and a struggle for peace in a time of war and contention all around the world. Music, fashion, film, art, and science were on a rise. I think it would've been so awesome to be in the middle of the great change that was occurring. Plus, my life would've been freakin sweet. Here's proof: 

He would be my boyfriend. It was a short but wonderful love 

 Here's my best friend. People think she's a little crazy (crazy awesome) but she kills it onstage and has a voice like I've never heard before. 

 She would be my inspiration and idol,but way too cool for me. I love the hair and eyes! 

 This is pretty close to what I actually dressed like. (I'm the one with the afro, of course)

1970s

Technology, social movements, architecture, music, art, and film just seem like they exploded at this time into something wonderful and new. Also, I was always a big fan of the disco scene and fashion. Here we go again:

Here's my bff, Stevie. I wish I had a picture of her boots..they were always rad

 My gay bestie, Freddie. I hated when he would steal my clothes without asking.

 Yeah, everyone wanted to be like them. What can I say, their clothes are awesome.

(So was Farrah's hair)

My favorite movie. I saw it 10 times in theaters.

Plus, I was in love with Harrison Ford :)

After reviewing the evidence, I think it's quite obvious that I would belong in either decade. Maybe I'll just stick to my current golden age and work in aspects from my others... 

Things That Go Crunch

Although Disneyland was way fun....I had a few problems with the drive home. Right outside out LA we got into an accident with a Jaguar. Yep, I sure know how to pick them! I feel like I have to tell the story to everyone to justify the fact that I'm not a terrible driver. I drive faster than the speed limit most of the time but I've always been a very proficient vehicle operator.
Story is: We were going up a hill on the freeway and I was going probably 25 miles less than the speed limit. It had been stop and go crazy Cali traffic so I was being careful. The hill was blocking my view of the cars in front of me UNTIL I reached the top and saw that they had stopped. I tried to brake but my car just slid into the back of the Jag. I don't know if this is lucky but because I hit the car in front of me, I pushed us forward and the car behind us barely avoided a collision with us. Unfortunately, my siblings were sleeping and were jerked awake by the crash. They were a little sore but nothing serious. I, however, got the short end of the stick with my defective seat belt.
As soon as we crashed I learned that my car and ribs had something in common...they both crunch! I stumbled out of the car, barely able to breathe, and exchanged info.

Here is my car: 

Here is the other:

Yeah, barely any damage. That thing is a tank!

(Like how I scrambled her plate?)

My new bffs at Auto Zone in Diamond Bar tied my bumper onto the front of my car and the hood down to keep it from coming up. It then looked like this:

It felt like it took an eternity to get home, especially when we went 40  miles out of the way in the wrong direction. We didn't know how the car would run and I killed the AC so we had to frequently stop and let it cool off. At 1:30 ish in the morning we were just outside of Goodyear and my hood all the sudden went flying up to where I could barely see. It reminded me a little of one of my favorite movie scenes....

I hurry and woke my sis up and got off onto the side of the road. One of the ropes had snapped and the rest of the rope was loose. I tied it back on but it needed to be re-in-forced. I had more rope but nothing to cut it with....except a pair of tweezers. I spent about 20 mins tearing each individual thread until I ripped it apart. Here I am at work: 

I tied it down, and made it to a rest stop, where a nice trucker gave me two rubber bungees. We finally rolled into Mesa at 3:30 am. 

The next day I took care of some business, and decided that my friend, Russell, and I needed to head back to  Utah. We left at about 3 pm. We learned very quickly that 2 bungees wouldn't hold a hood on the freeway and had to stop and get 4 more. We slowly made our way North, stopping more than anyone would like to. We didn't have air conditioning and it was 110 degrees! We made it to Kanab at 2 am when one of my back tires blew out. Luckily some construction workers changed it to my tiny spare donut tire and we were forced to stay the night in a motel. We slept 4 hours, got up early and bought 2 new tires, and headed out. We made it home a little after 1 pm, just in time for work at 2. 

I honestly was waiting for a door to fall off or my car to catch on fire but my car made it through. I'm so grateful Russell was there to help me laugh my head off through the entire ridiculous journey. Although it was the road trip from hell, I have never laughed so hard and so much in my life.(That's how I tend to deal with stressful situations). This trip was one for the books for so many reasons. Little honda and I are home and I'm currently searching for a new car. I can't wait to have more adventures in my new car...hopefully nothing so awful and epic as this one.... but I guess I have to keep life interesting one way or another.

The Happiest Place On Earth!

In February, I had a genius idea to try and take my little brother, Michael, to Disneyland. I became really attached to the idea because Michael is going to be 12 this year and he has never been to Disneyland. I decided to take him sometime this summer and surprise him here. So I saved my pennies and it just worked out that my best friend Susannah was getting married when I didn't have school and could leave work for a couple of days. I realized that my sister hadn't been since she was two so I decided that she needed to come too. I got the sweet hook ups for Disneyland tickets, and a hotel room and made my way to AZ to pick up my sibs.
Here are some pictures from the trip. (I was trying to fight a kidney infection and a cold so I looked pretty tired most of the time but it was still a blast.)

Forewarning: brother and sister are obsessed with planking

 Hot tubing!

 They were so excited they held hands and skipped down Main Street

 Family Picture :)

 Yay!!

 I love this picture of Sheridan

 Wishing well (shern also planked it)

 Scoping for souvenirs 

 haha Space Mountain faces are classic

 Teacups

 Small World

 Dancing/Drumming in a street performance

 Churro Power

 More treats

 Toon Town. A worker yelled at me for letting my kid do something dangerous

 Just cruisin' through Toon Town

 They deserved it

 And more treats

 Their souvenirs

 I heart Captain EO 

 Michael and his new gloves

 We decided the Disney shirts were lame and left with Captain EO ones :) WE <3 MJ

 Had to jump before we left

 Grauman's Chinese Theater...Harry Potter cast

 Angry Elmo

 Wax Museum

10 Hours to AZ, 1 speeding ticket, 1 wedding, 1 baptism/family party, 6 hours to Anaheim, 1 sweet hotel room, 1 day at Disneyland, 2 hours in Hollywood, 1 car crash, 40 miles in the wrong direction, 12 hours to get back to AZ, 200+ pictures, and lots of fun = the best weekend ever! Thanks Sheridan and Michael!