Home to AZ.

I have been here in AZ since Wednesday night. I love being home. The first few days were hillarious. I ate Costa Vida, Crazy Sub, Rosas, Pei Wei, and Hachi Baba's. Coming back to AZ is sort of like coming off the trail (while working for Anasazi, an outdoor wilderness youth rehab type place) and being so hungry from eating only trail food that you have a list of all the things you will eat when you get home (those who have done Anasazi get this analogy perfectly). So because AZ has different foods then Moscow, I always miss the goodness here. Plus eating out is super social and it's always good to be social right.

Another thing I have done in the tradition of AZ is hit up Last Chance. This time though was there once a year Christmas in July. LC was as crowded as a Michael Jackson concert. You couldn't really move, there were not enough carts so I was carrying around like 10 jackets because they were 1/2 off (and I keep remembering the cold). After my arms got so tired that I was about ready to throw the coats on the ground and walk away. I used my finely tuned problem solving skills and found a Ralf Lauren Suit Cast that looked badly damaged...I decided it would make a great storage unit. No one was going to buy it, and it could house all my half price coats, so I could search through the half-price sweaters. So I forced all my coats into the suitcase, zipped it up and left it where it was.

Pretty soon I had found 8 sweaters I liked. So I returned to the suitcase, found a bigger suitcase (it was orange) and transferred the coats and placed the sweaters in the new case. All the while trying to be polite, but in my heart was mad that so many people were out and about and the Last Chance. Don't they know I live in Idaho I need the half-price coats and sweaters.

I ended up running into the people I had gone shopping with Amy and Lisa by the suit coats. And I hear Lisa say to Amy, "i told you she was pulling around a suit case or something". Amy asked why i was pulling a big orange suit case around, and i opened up the case and she saw how many coats i had. She said, "No". The line wrapped around half the store so we had a good 20 minutes for me to take out each item one by one, try it on, and have Amy and Lisa say yay or nay. It turns out, I was carrying around most the coats and sweaters around for nothing, because I widdeled down my pile to 1 nice navy coat. 2 sweaters, a hoodie, a red coat, a very nice black suit coat, and a pair of running shoes that i love. All for 75 dollars. It was a good day, and thanks to Amy's wise insight...I didn't break the bank.

Happy Friday...

Olivia and Gibson
I just wanted to tell everyone Happy Friday. And post my favorite picture from this year. I hope where ever you are, you are enjoying good food, friends and possibly some pool time. I am getting excited to head home in a few days here. I have a new nephew (my first) to meet, and obviously need to be spending time with Olivia, my family and all my friends in AZ. I have high hopes of running up Usery Mountain a dozen or so times, so if anyone reading this is in on some early morning desert running (even if it's just on the canal) then let me know.

Anyways Happy Friday.

Mourning a dear friend....

still mourning the loss
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Here is an Obituary that was printed in the London Times . . . it is a clever and interesting write up but sadly it is so true! His demise has been upcoming through the past several years in our society....in fact I thought he had died years ago!! My mom had this on her blog so i decided to put it on mine. . .
"Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on" or post it on your blog. "If not, join the majority and do nothing." What caused his down hill slide and death in the first place!

Road Trip....with a sassy little lady.

Livy giving Willy some loves
Reunited after an almost 4 month absence. I missed you baby girl.
Olivia and her scrunchy, sassy face
beautiful baby just chillaxing in the car seat (just once or twice she wasn't so chillaxed, but she was a trooper for sure and did so good as this was her first "big roadtrip" she's gonna love college roadtrips i can already tell).
Rita, Willy and I, the "Y" is behind us...but we didn't think it necessary to document it (mom didn't put it in the pic, I wouldn't have either mom, no worries)



My mom, Rita, Olivia, my aunt Marie, cousins Tonya and Mandy came up to Salt Lake for the annual girls trip. I drove to Spokane then flew to SLC. How sweet it was to see little Olivia rocking out in her car seat. She is my favorite (besides the still unmet baby Gibson, but he is tied with Olivia for favorite). WE did fun things, and ate a lot, shopped a lot, visited alot and laughed alot. We also got to hang out with Willy, my little brother in all his Prove/BYU Glory. Thanks mom and dad for the fun trip.

My new home.

I love my new house. It's got wood floors, just enough space and most importantly no whiny dogs are living here. I got the cute rug at the Big Lots in Boise a few weeks ago. The bookshelf was a five dollar craigslist find, as well as the table which i scored yesterday for only five dollars. The little white chair as well as a small love seat (not shown) were a gift, maybe for the summer only but i still like them, from my friend Chase. The kayak was obviously the most expensive peice. The book shelf was a gift from Missy the girl with above mentioned dog. And the Dairy Queen Goodman Family Photo (priceless).

Rawsomeness...in action

Ok not really. But here is a bit of proof it happens once in awhile

Busy Studying....

Sorry i have been lame at posting. Summer time has been busy, with studying, working out, hanging out with friends, and a road trip (drove to Spokane, flew to SLC, drove to Provo and West Jordon, and back to Provo and back to SLC, and flew to Spokane and back to Moscow). I will post about the road trip soon. Just wanted to let all my AZ friends know that i will be back on July 23rd, and will be home for a month...so there will be popsicle parties, trips to the River and girls night outs, and of course heading to the institute. So if anyone wants to get together in AZ let me know.

The good blogging will continue shortly.