patriotic jell-o

I got to visit my wonderful home state of Washington over the 4th of July. Went home with the big sis to entertain the parents. As soon as we got home we left for Hood River, Oregon to stay there overnight. On the way I got to see one of those fabulous western sunsets you just don't get in Utah.

The next morning we got up and Dad took me and G whitewater rafting on the White Salmon River in Washinton. It was a blast! Our river guide was Keenan and he was very chill. I was kind of jealous that he gets to spend his summers goofing around on a river. He knew a lot about the history of the river and was the typical western washingtonian/granola/save the salmon that you'd expect. At one point he made me sit on the front of the raft to "ride the bull." I went through a stretch of rapids this way and got soaked. Also I kept falling into the laps of the couple that was in front of us. Poor people.

After rafting we drove towards Mt. St. Helens. On the way we stopped for a picnic lunch by a waterfall. A lot of curvy roads later, we made it to Mt. St. Helens but the weather was bad and clouds were obscuring the mountain. I did see the areas where all the trees were killed by the volcano during the eruption 30 years ago. It still doesn't have a whole lot growing there. Then we made our way to Randle, Washington to stay the night. The hotel was a little sketch, but we made do. I thought it was funny, but G didn't like that the box spring on her bed had blood on it. Mom joked that dateline had probably done a story about a murder in Randle. But it wasn't that bad, I called the local movie theater to see what was playing and at what times, the guy sounded confused as he told me their one showing of The Karate Kid had already started at 7:30. But it was so small town America, I felt patriotic and American seeing the sights of my state. In the morning we went to this pancake breakfast/flea market to support the local firefighters. They had a lot of good stuff at the flea market, better than DI.

After that we headed up to Mt. Rainier National Park. More curvy roads that tended to rock me to sleep more than make me sick. It was really beautiful in the park, but again, couldn't see the darn mountain. There was even snow at the visitor's park close to the mountain. Dad, G and I tried a short hike, but we were on top of six feet of snow. I fell a lot. We heard there was someone missing on the mountain and the helicopters were looking for him. Having just seen Vertical Limit I was freaking out. Everyone who tried to climb that stupid mountain died. I don't know what happened to the missing hiker. On the way out we did the hike to the Grove of the Patriarchs. Really pretty tall trees. On the way home we stopped in Yakima, Washington to get Miners, a great burger place that makes burgers as big as your face and shakes in any flavor. Yum!

Other highlights of going home include the barbeque dinner that I requested dish by dish. BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, canteloupe, potato salad, and this patriotic jell-o that my mom makes. Basically red and blue jell-o with coolwhip but it makes me feel more American when I eat it. Also, going to the pool, Zips (a burger place that is better than In-N-Out), Dairy Queen (I know, all I do when I go home is eat), cliff jumping in Othello, watching neighbors set off illegal fireworks and hanging out with the fam and friends. I love summertime in Washington and I'm glad I got a dollop this year.

ms. fix-it

So, I feel really proud of myself when I fix things around the house. It happens a lot more since I've been living in my current apt. Today I fixed the vacuum with the help of my roommate Jenny. We got the toolboxes out and everything. And halleujah we can vacuum again after like four months! I've also repaired the sink. I felt really cool after that one because I had things unscrewed, used my toolbox, and I was upsidedown underneath the sink. I've also done several toilets and fixed a door jam. Most of the time I google how to fix things but I also have to figure some things out for myself. It's funny because one year I actually asked for a toolbox for Christmas. I've used it many times and I feel really handy afterwards. Call me ms. fix-it.

Astronaut Mike Dexter

So if you watch 30 Rock you know that Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is a thirty-something single woman who dreams of finding the perfect guy. Her dream perfect guy is Astronaut Mike Dexter (yes the astronaut is part of his name) and she even has a fantasy about him in one episode. I find this extremely hilarious because what girl doesn't dream about a handsome astronaut/pilot/man in naval uniform coming into her life and sweeping her off her feet? And Liz is in her late 30s. (At the end of the last season she did come close with Matt Damon being the pilot.)

Well I am here to tell you that Astronaut Mike Dexter is real and I have found him. He is Pilot (Captain?) Adam Lake. And he is in my ward. Yes, he is handsome. And yes, he flies airplanes. Whaaaaat? Yes. That's right. And maybe I found this picture on Facebook to prove my point. So let me know if you want the hookup with Adam.

I would like to go to there

OMG. It officially opened today. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Yes I am 23. But I started reading Harry Potter in 7th grade before it was the cool thing to do. So that makes it about 12ish years waiting. I thought I wanted to go earlier, but now I really have to go. Stat.

I went to the website and looked around at the virtual tour they have. There is a roller coaster called the dragon challenge, where you ride a Chinese Fireball or Hungarian Horntail, and somehow they intertwine and people ride them at the same time. Then you learn how to ride a Hippogriff near Hagrid's hut. (another ride). Then you can explore Hogsmeade and go to Zonko's (joke shop), Honeydukes (sweet shopt), Dervish and Banges (Quidditch needs), The Three Broomsticks (food), Ollivander's (wand shop), and the Owlery (post office). They also have a ride called "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" which I'm not sure what happens but I think somehow characters appear  from the movie and you go through Hogwarts in all the rooms. They also have the Hogwarts Express, which I'm guessing serves the same function as the monorail at Disneyworld.

So apart from three rides, there isn't a ton to do. But you do get to feel like you are in the world of Harry Potter and explore Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. And you can buy all the Harry Potter paraphernalia you want. At first I thought all I'd need was a Gryffindor scarf, but then I'd need a wand (which they help you get a la Harry  Potter style, "the wand chooses the wizard, Harry"), and then I'd probably want some butterbeer/other wizard sweets, a quidditch robe, and maybe a Harry Potter t-shirt so basically I need to save up my money to spend there let alone get there.

Now to convince my mom she needs to go back to Disney World so I can conveniently swing by Harry Potter World...hmmm. Either that or organize a cross country road trip. Who's with me?

I was supposed to go to the zoo today

but the rain ruined all plans. Instead I read a book, talked on the phone to Jillian who is in Jerusalem, went to the farmer's market, saw an old friend, went running, finished book, BBQued with friends, hot tubbed and got my fortune told, wished a friend Happy Birthday, saw fireworks from afar while driving, and saw a good sappy movie during which one of my friends bust out laughing at a critically sad point in the movie. Not the zoo, but still a pretty great day.

a poem

summer storm

dark, billowy clouds roll in

wind starts to tangle with the treetops

it smells like rain

drip       drip

then

a creshendo of thunder gurgles through the belly of the valley

rain comes down harder now

fat rain drops land on my skin-warm because it's summer

a crack of lightning illuminates the sky

I will the sky to let the rain come harder

nostalgic for the times when I was young

during a good storm when the rain would fill the gutters

we'd run up and down the street in them

get sopping wet

but the rain doesn't last long

burdenless clouds slip over mountain peaks

blue patches of sky appear

probably to the delight of the boys that went golfing

my storm is now a memory

what am I doing right now?

Oh maybe I am surfing the internets, all the usual sites. And quite possibly having cookies with rainbow m&ms on them for breakfast. I think the m&ms make them more exciting to eat. It's also possible that I should go running today because I finally have my health back again, but I am really good at procrastinating.

I'm also thinking about a lot of stuff. Like how the GLEE season finale is on tonight and wondering if it will be everything I want it to be, and also hoping they don't murder the Journey songs. Josh Groban is making another cameo appearance! And if I'll have a back up show to watch since everything else is on hiatus for the summer.

Thinking how out of the four kids in my family, one is in Israel, one is in Belgium/Germany/Holland/England, one is in New York, and I am in Utah. Then trying to see if it will ever by my turn to go international, preferably while I am young. Also, how I can't call my siblings except brother but he's got a real job/ladyfriend that take up his time.

Making a to do list in my head for today:
go running
get dish soap at the store (I know my roommates will never jump on that)
get Atticus washed and vaccummed, which means drive-through car wash, (which is secretly like a ride at Disneyland for me)
call mom
should probs call other people
work on Life
GLEE party
nickelcade

I'm also getting more and more worried that trying to stay in Provo is not the best option. I have an increasing awareness that I am old and graduated and somewhat unwanted in this scene. I also think I may have major problems come September when all the kids go back to school and I won't be one of them.

When will the scab on my knee that I got from Arches fall off? It's already been ripped off like four times and I look like a 9 year old that fell down trying to rollerblade. I'm worried my knee will be misshapen when it decides to regenerate. Also it's ruining my summer because I can't go swimming because it likes to come off in the water.

When I'm older will I be cool because I can remember when Pluto was a planet and Michael Jackson was alive? Is that in any way comparable to the moon landing and the JFK assassination?

I want to go to the zoo this weekend.

And I am thinking about many friends, where they are, what they are up to, and if they are ok. This means YOU.

Now a random old photo circa 2006. Marissa, Me and Jenn in the back of Monica's van. Good times.

PS. I just found out they have a Dairy Queen locator app for phones that do stuff like that. Ha ha ha, my family would totally be all over that if we were hip and used that kind of technology.