Salt Flats

In Utah there is flat salt. There are fields of salt. It has the appearance of snow, but, nay, 'tis salt. We (Heidikins and I) drove from SLC about an hour and a half. We stopped off at Salt Air to take some rockin' band photos. I would go on this drive again in a heart beat. No finer company could be had and the imagery was amazing. It is a desolate beauty.

RSL

Real Salt Lake. As previously posted, I love them. This time I went with my girls and we got to meet "the boys." Check it out.

Jamison Olave

Beckerman!

Me, Heidikins, Leo the Lion, the CJ, and ErinMasi

Beltran - usually has a sweet faux hawk.

CJ and the Fox -- she has a strange relationship with mascots

Point proven. The bear is grooming her.

All the Beautiful Children

I found a great deal on a flight to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Idaho. This was the first time I've ever visited them by myself. Although there were some bumps getting up there (Trev coming a day early to pick me up at the airport, for example) and the trip was way too short, it was so worth it. And you can tell it from these awesome photos.

My little models. I did everyone's hair. Two barrel-curl girls and one faux-hawk.

The girl can handle it.

Our picnic outside: manti chicken, roasted potatoes, watermelon, and corn on the cob.

Our fearless chef.

The corn came from K-dawg's garden box. Best corn I've ever had -- picked moments before boiling. Fresher it could not be.

C-Bear is "slow to warm up," but then she does. And look how cute it is!

How a Friday got even better

Friday I was in Target and I saw this beautiful black woman coming towards me. She was with a man, who looked slightly familiar to me. It was Will Swensen and Audra McDonald!

Now, at this point, some of you are freaking out. Not so much over Will Swensen (aka the sell-out from the Single's Ward, now working in NYC in Hair.... and if you know anything about Hair you understand why I call him a sell-out) but over Audra McDonald. My hands indeed began to shake and I could think of nothing else.

For those of you who don't know who Audra is, this next paragraph will help. She's won Grammy award winner, an Emmy award winner, and -most notably - a Tony award winner. In fact, she had 3 Tony awards by age 28. My personal favorites include her performances in Ragtime and Disney's new (and awkwardly historically incorrect) Annie. She's also been in Raisin in the Sun, but I've never seen it. (Currently she's on TV in a rather lame show called Private Practice.)

Will and Audra (who are dating, seriously Audra?) are in town apparently rehearsing for a show at the Hale.

No one else seemed to know what was going on. I walked around Target, pretending I was having reception problems, in order to get my camera phone high enough to take a photo. I called up Miss J to freak out together, who attempted to rush to Target and get a glimp but was too slow.

They were parked, like, one car over from me. I have a rather noticeable car. I don't think they realized that I was taking photos of them from my car (photos did not make it in to the blog) but if they did, then they now know that the chick in the yellow PT is a freak.

In short, it was a really great day.

PS22

Move over Von Trapps, PS22 "rawks my socks" (as my 17 year-old nephew would say). I don't know who this teacher is but he is amazing! And the kids are amazing. I've never heard kids that can sing like this. Here's their version of Viva la Vida, but you can go to the website and see much more.

Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück

In mid-July I turned 26. I found at deal on a hotel and the night before my birthday I stayed over alone. It was soooooo enjoyable! I spent the first fifteen minutes in the hotel alone just jumping around and squealing to myself. I turned on the TV (which had fantastic picture quality) and what was on? Nothing less than one of my favorite movies - Sister of the Traveling Pants II. I cried with Bee, swore I'd never reject a man with a British accent, wondered if I could get away with a wig, and wished that I lived in Greece always.

In the morning I went into town in search of breakfast. I had hot chocolate and a nutella-banana crepe and did some quick shopping. I felt on top of the world, doing exactly those things that make me happiest. It was like God said, "Hey, Happy Birthday - I got a day for you with all the coolest things packed into it!"

After breakfast I spent some time in peaceful meditation. I evaluated life (I'm for it), and set goals. For a while I've felt really chaotic, especially at work. During this time (and in the couple weeks since) I felt leagues more centered and focused in life.

I'm converted. I'm doing this every year and I've been recommending it to everyone.

In the afternoon friends met me for a fun afternoon. We went to the Olympic Park. We rode the ski lift, sped down the alpine slide, and experienced the world's steepest zip line.

We watched ski jumpers practice. We messed around with a neglected and apparently unattended bobsled, after seeing someone really go down the track.

We went shopping. Number of items purchased by girls: 0. Number of items purchased by men: many. And a special thanks to Isaac who put on skinny jeans just because it was my birthday.

At night even more friends met us at a restaurant for a birthday feast. It meant a lot to me to see how many stellar people wanted to celebrate with me.

That night, a couple friends stayed in the hotel with me. We projected a movie on the wall. What movie, you might ask? None other than another favorite of mine - High School Musical III: Senior Year.

Could life be more perfect? I submit that it could not.

The Night Routine

So I promise myself on a daily basis that I will go to bed earlier, due to the daily hangover that greets me every morning. But I don't. At night I putter around. I do this and that. Check Facebook, email, and my friends' blogs. Then I have to chat with the roommates, get a bite to eat, wash my face, check everything online again, read a little, brush my teeth. Finally I go to sleep, promising myself to do better the next day.

Fourth of July

On the Fourth of July most people go to parades. I was IN one! Miss J works for the local Uni and Kate and I volunteered to pass out candy and tattoos with her. This car holds the land record for El Caminos -- sweet.

Once we were out of stuff Miss J and I rode, but not Kate. No Kate got commitments from small children that they will go to university. And she inspired adults that it's "not too late."

Yum! Lunch on the Uni and time with super fun new friends!

Every year LaVell Edward's Stadium becomes the Stadium of Fire (cue cheesy music). On a spur-of-the-moment decision Stranilla and I bought tickets off this 70-something "scalper." The show featured Glen Beck and SheDaisy and... The Jonas Brothers!

Kevin Jonas

Joe Jonas -- of whom I later dreamed.

And finally, Nick Jonas.

After shakin' like we just don't care, singing along to S.O.S, Burning Up, Paranoid, Year 3000 (trippy lyrics) and LoveBug, the fireworks began. Ooo, ahhh. Delightful.

Real Salt Lake

I generally don't like team sports. Baseball and football are too slow. Basketball just isn't interesting too me. But soccer. Soccer's sweet. A couple of weeks ago I got to go to a Real Salt Lake game at the new Rio Tinto Stadium. I sat next to my niece in some pretty sweet seats.

The RSL team on the bench.

My niece shook her drink then looked at me in surprise when it spilled all over her. The bathroom I was directed to was actually a locker room. My niece was having way to much instead of cleaning herself up. I used the time to take random photos of myself.

The team played Toronto and won 3-0. I guess I'm good luck. ;)

Glee

The Queen of Nonsense told me to check out this new series. She described it as High School Musical in TV format. It is not; though there is singing. I watched it with Kate who wondered if the lead chick was supposed to be the "blonde girl" from HSM. So don't think HSM. It will only confuse you.

Only the pilot is available (the rest comes in the fall). It has a fun cast of characters and a tight plot. There are some normal characters (see the lead guy and the teacher) and some abnormal ones (see gym teacher and the wife). The plot is modern and relevant. Although there is singing and dancing, it's not cheesy or sentimental. The main character (teacher) is good looking and (thus or also?) very likable. It not super drama (like OC or all the other teen shows) and it's not a sitcom.

Check out this clip of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' and also this link of Amy Winehouse's Rehab.

While we mourn the loss of Pushing Daisies and while this is completely different from Pushing Daisies and could never take its place, I will be watching this fall.

*Side note: guest starring this season are Josh Groban and Kristin Chenoweth! Could life get better; I submit it could not.