On the Road Again.

Hi all,

I know it has been ages- enough of that.

Matthew and I are in Denver, getting ready to head out to Kansas City, perhaps St. Louis if we're feeling real brave. The roads are good reportedly, and so far the Civic is performing like a spring chicken.

We have enjoyed a visit with the soon-to-be (like really, like TOMORROW) parents Lisa and Kyle, and our ol' friends Gavin and Kelley.

Off again we go!

C + M

The Tip.

After a long day (and long week already) of packing, working on my statement of purpose, juggling finances, accounts, reservations, flights, gifts, and my shredding sanity, a friend said "you're doing a good job."

Matthew had said this earlier, and it didn't sink in.

Thank you for saying that. You weren't even refering to my life, just the part of it you were writing about, but it helped Matthew's words permeate that thick skull surrounding the now-mush of a brain. Reading those words somehow cracked me open. And somehow in the stress and craziness of this week and this little point on my life's timeline, it was exactly what I needed to hear.

And also, I'm going to bed- taking your advice :)

Thank you friend.

Notes from ATL.

A few notes / observations from the Atlanta airport:

-The last time I was here, I was coming home from my honeymoon.

-It's "FOH" not Four.

-Garbage cans that have to plug in seem... too complex. MWT you'll be glad to know I wasn't defeated by them this time :)

- Krystal Burger was no where to be found in the terminals where I was... why? It eludes me every time.

-I don't like how the terminals go T>A>B>C>D>E Why is T in the beginning? And... well, why T? Also, for the record there is no rhyme or reason to the way Delta lands and departs their gates- none. Domestic Arrival T. International departure B. Domestic departure A. International departure T. WHAT?

- Atlanta feels like (and, oddly, smells like) vacation.

-There is a Bare Escentuals store in the ATL airport... and yet Utah doesn't have a SINGLE one? But Georgia gets one in the airport? Boo. But, v pretty stores.

- Little black baby boys are so cute, especially ones named Maurice, aged 2.

- They have free wireless in the airport. That is neat.

- I saw an ABP and it made me think of NYC.

- For some reason I thought of LR and JZ frequently. I thought of them getting married and going on their honeymoon whether to VT or MX, and just having a great time. I was thinking of them, for the record, in a wistful celebratory mood, not a creepy one.

- I thought of Whitney and my dearest sister when I saw their fave, Popeye's.

- It is strange when you have flown enough at age 23 (I'm 23 now, weird) to be extremely familiar with multiple airports. I blame this on living in Utah, of course, where you pretty much have to fly for an hour and a half at minimum to escape the state boarders.

For some reason I was thinking of these little tidbits I feel so familiar with:
Ex: The Relay opens at 6am in the Delta Domestic terminal 2 at JFK. Also, there are almost always birds if you have go to the higher number gates and pass through the open area with the Burger King. In concourse B at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport there is a Wolfgang Puck that features a delicious chicken caesar salad, and a little store called Zozo that has fascinating little gifts. Also, Gold Star Chili has a pretty decent taco salad, if you're ever on the run. And in Atlanta there used to be this awesome southern food bar that has now converted to a Checker's which actually has decent burgers, and NASCAR cups. There's a Brookstone on every corner in ATL, and there are TGIFriday's in terminals E and B, at the least. And... the garbage cans are crazy.

I don't know. I suppose its just weird to think of how many times I've been in these places- they so often feel familiar even though I don't really know them. So there's that, for what its worth.

Anyway... I'm at my Aunt's house in Virginia and it is so beautiful here. I'll write more again, probably next week before I head off to see my husband for the first time in 3.5 weeks. WOOHOOOO!

The Tour.

Well here are a few pictures of our apartment. Since I'll be taking it apart and packing it up I thought I'd snap a few shots. Also, we have to take pictures of our furniture pieces so when the military moves them in May we'll have a decent inventory...

The door... currently adorned with a wreath made my yours truly.

My sad, sad efforts at fall decorations. I had thought I'd get a little table to put right there, but after a while buying furniture when you know you're moving thousands of miles multiple times in a span of 6 months seems... dumb.

Le Kitchen.

The table. This also happens to be the table I built forts under as a child, and where the famous "mashed potatoes in the face" and other fabled childhood moments. A great inherited piece :)

The fabulous wine tower, a gift from my dear brothers and their better halves.

The living area and our extensive DVD collection.

The awesome table, another wedding gift, but its awesomeness
doesn't come across well on camera.

Larger look at the living room. Yes, I was watching TV. I'll buy lunch for anyone who can tell me what I was watching.

The dreaded and pestilent futon. This WILL disappear from the
collection as soon as we settle...anywhere...

The couch looks hideous in this picture, but keep in mind the reds are a bit more vibrant, and the quilt actually matches well, I love that thing. On the right you'll notice the fabulous quilt stand with the only two blankets we have...a lovely gift from the O's.

The bedroom- I love our lamp.

I love the bedspread. Guess which side is mine?

Our IKEA piece, holds quite a bit of clothing.

The closet.

And now... over to the kitchen again. Our fabulous and unbeatable knives.
Amazing. I highly recommend them.

The elmazing coffee maker.

Out of order, but there's another shot of the ol' quilty thing.

And the one place we have framed things on the wall.

A few of our cookbooks :) It is a blossoming collection.

And there you have it. A nice little tour, minus the bathroom but its
pretty boring and I forgot to take pictures of it anyway. Tada!

Guiliani wins Robertson, Loses Me?

Read this

I think it is possible that this is a BAD sign for Guiliani. Not that he had me, because I'm very much floating in moderate luke-warm indecisive waters these days, but still.

"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them."
-- Pat Robertson, The 700 Club television program, January 14, 1991

Umm... Ok.

"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.:
-- Pat Robertson, fundraising letter, 1992

Umm... Ok.

Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians. Wholesale abuse and discrimination and the worst bigotry directed toward any group in America today. More terrible than anything suffered by any minority in history.
-- Pat Robertson, interview with Molly Ivins, 1993.

Umm... Ok.


I guess those are a few examples of why Pat Robertson does not represent my Evangelical Christian vote.

As If....

As if I wasn't in love with this grad program enough, I just found out that I could learn....

Arabic
Hebrew
Greek
Semitic Inscriptions
Ugaritic
Aramaic
Syriac
Akkadian
.... on top of any romance language or euro-lang. NERD ALERT! Goodness, this makes me want it even more.

Ayayay!

Today I begin the statement of purpose. Please ask me how its coming along- this will help me get it in gear :)

I Voted!

Did you do your civic duty and exercise your constitutional right today?

Coming to a Blog Near You.

Just a quick note to say that yes.... I will be posting soon.

Unexpected.

Well hello.

Sorry my blog the other day was a bit dramatic. But hey... being separated from your new husband is pretty dramatic, not gonna lie.

So.... in other news.........

I told you that I had heard back from two of three professors about grad school, both yeses to my request for a recommendation letter. I sent those out 2 weeks from yesterday ago (forgive the... whatever that was). I was talking with matt the other day about how I was kind of frustrated because I had tried two different e-mail addresses and there isn't really a way to call him. So I decide I'd take a risk and e-mail my Public Service professor. He would be a "better" recommendation than the unresponsive professor, but I hadn't had his class since Junior year so I was naturally a little worried about whether he'd remember.

I'd been putting off sending him an e-mail (the new prof) but today after a long meeting at work I decided to pull the trigger on the e-mail and just DO it to make sure I had given propper time for him to respond either way.

I then went over to hang out with my mom for a few, and about an hour later came back.. just now. And I had an e-mail... from THAT professor! HOLY CRAP! And he said that yes, he did remember me, and he'd be happy to recommend me! WOW! What a perfect twist! Not only is he willing, but he will be a much more "prestigious" recommendation, particularly for my chosen program, etc. I am so excited!

What an unexpected little gift!

And Then There Was One.

I took Matthew to the airport this morning. He has arrived safely and is getting settled now.

And here I am. Sitting alone in the apartment.

It is strange. Not really setting in.

Thanks to Kelli for supporting me today and keep me company (thus keeping my mind of my alone-ness).

It is going to be alright, I know it is. I'm not going to dwell on how desperately I miss him.

Things I'm going to be doing while he's gone:

1: Applying for Grad school:
-Finish communicating with Professors for recommendations
-Get GRE scores sent
-Get Transcripts sent
-Write personal statement (probably the biggest thing I'm putting off...)
2: Cleaning my room at my parents' house so Matthew and I will have a place to sleep for a while between this place and the next :)
3: Packing the apartment for a December 1st move out day
4: Working out to lose those 5 pounds (yeah... LAME) I've gained....
5: Hanging out with Utah residents
6: Christmas Shopping!
7: Finishing up my time at the GOAL Foundation
8: A bit of travel: a short trip to Virginia, and then a trip to Oklahoma to see the one I'm missing for Thanksgiving!
9: Attempting some new recipes
10: Looking for jobs in the next locale...

And there you have a short list of my fun to do list for the coming weeks.

I miss you already love, can't wait to see you soon. How the crap can I say goodbye to you for seven MONTHS?

The big 2-3!

Well birthday 23 was great. Thanks to everyone who helped celebrate with me, who texted or called to send birthday wishes! I missed those of you I couldn't see to celebrate with!

I will have some pictures soon!

In other news, I've started my application for grad school- crazy! I sent out requests for recommendations and I've heard back from two of three of them with yeses! I can't wait to get this application all in and have it out of my hands. Until then... I'll keep you posted!

An Unconscionable Interruption

Check out the way you can kill someone with flaming insult. Brought to you by We Are Scientists. Awesome.

Official.

It is official.

I am no longer CMC, I am now CCT.

Snachta.

It has been snowing all morning.

It is September 29.

Whoa.

THIS WEEKEND!

This weekend is the Mountain to Metro Games and Harvest Moon Festival!

Check out the events below- come to some or all of them! If you want to volunteer let me know, or if you plan to come and want more info, let me know too! Come support Ogden and enjoy this event! This is your chance to get involved with your community at large!

Friday, September 28

4:30 PM

Flowrider Competition
Location: The Salomon Center Plaza

Exposition style at the Flowrider in the Salomon Center.

4:30 PM

Amatuer Climbing Competition
Location: The Salomon Center

Come and test your skills on Utah's largest indoor climbing wall.

7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Ogden’s High Adventure Mountain Film Festival

Sponsored and produced by Ogden Climbing Parks

Location: Ogden Amphitheater, Historic 25th Street

Two and a half hours of programming including the 84 minute feature: “Higher Ground”; A Mountain Culture Film which documents a yearlong journey as seen through the eyes of a selection of world-class climbers. Other films include a variety of other high adventure mountain sports. These films will focus on the importance of exploration, passion for the mountains, care for the environment, and those who pursue the high adventure lifestyle. Donation of $10/pp or $20 per family. (All donations automatically enter you into a drawing for a grand prize of a week in Puerto Vallarta). For more information please contact Ogden Climbing Parks 399-1130 or jeplowe@netscape.com www.jefflowe.info

Saturday, September 29

Bike Corral sponsored by UTA

A bike corral will be provided throughout the event so festival attendees will be encouraged to ride their bikes downtown where they can be securely stored. Similar to coat check or valet parking.

8:00 AM -11:00 AM
“Show Us Your Rack” Gear Swap
Location: Court Parking Lot at 26th and Lincoln

This is two events in one. First, it’s a competition for the most loaded-up Yakima or Thule rack. We want to see bikes, kayaks, gear, etc. Attendees can buy, sell, barter or beg whatever outdoor gear they want. Everyone is welcome! Just show up for some of the best deals of the year. Court Parking Lot at 26th and Lincoln.

11:00 AM -1:00 PM

Bouldering Clinic
Sponsored by Ogden Climbing Parks

Entry Level Climbers can learn the basics of this climbing technique that doesn’t require excessive gear. Shoes, boulder pads, and instruction provided. For more information contact Ogden Climbing Parks 399-1130 or jeplowe@netscape.com www.jefflowe.info

10:30 AM

EddyFlower Ogden Downriver Slalom Race

Kayakers will compete to have the fastest time down a technical river slalom course. There will also be an entertaining boatercross event where an 'rogue' kayaker will attempt to cause mayhem during the race by blocking the other boaters. Lacated at the 24th street kayak park (west of the railroad tracks) For more information please contact Nathan Packham (801) 394-4251, npack@hotmail. www.eddyflower.com

1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Harvest Moon Criterium

Sponsored by Bingham's Cyclery & Wadman Corporation

4th Annual Harvest Moon Crit moves back to its original location around the Ogden City Municipal block. This year's bike race will be a fast four-corner race that will allow riders to demonstrate their end of year fitness. Come watch racers burn up the street at speeds in excess of 30 mph! Races all day starting at 1:00 and ending at 7:00. Free kids race will be held at 5:00. See www.sportsbaseonline.com for registration information.

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Striders7
Location: 29th Street Trailhead (top of 29th)

The Striders7 (mile) Mountain to Metro trail run gives runners the opportunity to race on the historic Bonneville Shoreline Trail and experience the scenic beauty of Ogden River's Parkway trail. Striders7 starts on the 29th Street trail head at 3:30pm and ends on Historic 25th in downtown Ogden; just in time for the Harvest Moon Celebration. Runners will be bused to the trail head from 25th Street. Registration is available in-person at the Striders running store in Layton or online at www.stridersrunning.com and at www.runnercard.com. For more information please call Striders at 801-728-9121.

Adventure Photo Contest sponsored by Out of Bounds Creative

Contestants will take photos of various high adventure activities around Ogden and Mountain to Metro/Harvest Moon events throughout the weekend and submit them for judging in the afternoon. As the sun sets on 25th Street, a slide show of all the day’s photos will be projected for all to see behind the ongoing live music. Winners will receive cash and/or prizes. Photos are now being accepted at contest@outofboundscreative.com. Please submit a medium resolution jpeg (emailable) no larger than 5 MB.

2:00 PM - into the night
Harvest Moon Celebration

Join the hundreds of fully loaded racks parked around town with hundreds of exhausted paddlers, climbers, trail runners, mountain bikers and cyclists all sitting on Historic 25th Street as the sun sets while they enjoy a beer, free quality family activities and live music in an incredible mountain/metro environment. For more information check out http://www.harvestmooncelebration.com/

Hope to see some of you there!

Hooray for...

1-The Office, my new favorite show.

2-Ham.

3-FALL WEATHER!

4-Sweaters!

5-Changing leaves!

6-Good friends joining the blogging world! (yay Rileys!!!)

7-Flexible Job.

8-Cooking Shows.

9-Ina Garten, my hero.

10-Potatoes.

11-Waffles.

12-Coffee!

13-Thursday night TV in General.

14-My Cat, The Hermann.

15-Anniversaries.

16-Birfdays.

17-Church!

18-Mountains!

19-Paper products.

20-Active community.

21-A cool new planner, a non-college one- I'm so fancy!

22-Only ONE man in my life going to war (that should be first- and its hooray that Gavin is safe, NOT that Matthew isn't, for the record....)

23-God's sovereignty-- man would I mess things up if I were in charge!

24-HEAT the book... Loved it. Probably tops my list of 5 faves.

25-Softy Blankets to cuddle up in.

26-Forgiving friends who don't fault your craziness and understand your perpetual absence from the phone or...gasp....sending cards and presents on special events :)

27-A pretty dang cool hometown. Check it out this weekend....more to come on that.

28-Mac.

29-Fall fashion.

30-Sleeping under warm blankets in a cold room.


and so on....

just a few things that come to mind right this second I thought I'd jot down.

Pretty Ugly.

You have to know you're pretty to enjoy being this....well..... you know.

A pictorial ode to you, dear sister-in-law :)











I was looking for a nice picture of whit, but don't have any of just her. So, I promise when I can I'll post one so you can be assured of her beauty.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Lunch Thief!

So on Sunday night Matthew and I went out to dinner to celebrate my parents and their 31st anniversary (which was yesterday- and Gavin and Kelley's 3 year anniversary was yesterday too! aww!). We went to this fabulously delicious place called Flemmings- a steakhouse in SLC.

I got a nice big filet mignon and saved half of it to eat the next day for lunch (we had appetizers, salad, bread... so I was plenty full... but still.... I sacrificed delicious warm tasty beef for my lunch the next day....)

So I brought the filet and a tasty spinach salad to work in a nice little bag and put it in the mini fridge. This fridge sits about 5 feet inside the door of the office on the same wall as the door, if that makes sense. I'd draw you a picture, but, alas, I have not the ability in more ways that one.

Anyway... So I'm working in the main office which is kind of tucked in to a corner- I'm the only one in the office M, W, F- and I hear the distinct sound of the fridge door opening. We always keep lots of bottled water in there, so I figured it was a board member or committee member coming in to say hi, and snagging a nice cold bottle. Then I realized they didn't say anything, and usually I'd hear them walking towards the office where I am, or would holler "hey Claire" and then come see me. But....none of this occured.

Then I remembered my location. Beautiful, pleasant, lovely, beloved downtown Ogden. For all of its' charms..... there are some flaws. Not the issue of the people, so much, but the issue of their actions... see the following....

And what did I see? When I finally decided to peek around the corner of the office door and look at the fridge? A person hustling out the door with... you guessed it, my bag full of delicious leftovers. I stared at the gaping hole in the fridge where my lunch used to be.

And then I got mad.

So I walked outside and scoped out the area, looking at the classic bumspots, figuring I'd most assuredly see the man AND my bag out there. But after a few minutes of crinkling my nose in the sunlight, trying to spy my bag of leftover beef, I realized that the person who stole that bag probably needed the food more than I did, and that I was really REALLY stupid to think that I would confront a hungry homeless man if I DID in fact see the bag, knowing what multitude of danger I might face in such a situation.

And so... now the dilemma remains- how do I stay safe in the office? Looks like I'll be locking the door :)

That's the story of my stolen lunch.

Thank You Notes Are Finished!

So that means I can blog again! :)


Well, to be honest, I haven't written the bachelorette thank yous.... still waiting on that list from a dear friend...

So.. where to start? Some pictures maybe?

We're hoping that the FULL wedding pictures will be available soon. I'll let you know when that happens.

Colby and Crystal at the Bachelorette Party.

Kamie and Danielle at the Bachelorette Party!

Me with my awkward face, and two VERY pretty girls, Julie and Allison- both with really awesome short hair that I'm REALLY envying now that I'm not growing my hair out for a wedding...

Brett and Lisa at the Family Party!

Claire and Lisa at the Family part (and a heinous picture of C at that!)
And so we begin the few wedding pictures I took at the wedding! There's the beautiful center piece- I LOVE that florist! And He loves me- as you can see by the berries! :)

And more berries... more table shots.

Yay! Claire and Melissa! That sexy maid o' honor!

Brett and Kelli, both looking hot hot hot! Ow!

Jesse!

Crazy Mel, I think threatening with a picture gesture....and her very cute and wonderful husband, who I think wins the "most helpful" award for wedding week!

Oooo, sexy groom, even with a goofy face!

Oy, scary picture!

Awkward, angle, but just for pretty much everyone who heard it, I believe this was after julie's quite inappropriate comment about on BAT that shocked us all.....

Aw.

And there we go! Off into the sunset! Err.. the night! There we are in the back o' the limo! It was so fun to see everyone as we were leaving!

This is the view as we walked into our room. I'm not going to show the whole thing because somehow that seems creepy. heh. But you get the idea- VERY nice room. In fact, the nicest room I've ever stayed in, bar none!

This is us on our leg from ATL to Jamaica. We had a pretty bad time at the hotel in Atlanta (lets just say our surroundings were not quite as nice as the Grand America the night before... or as sanitary....) so we needed a nice mimosa once we made it to the plane :)

And again....

Aw, how sweet!

We made it! And here's the sunset view from our hotel room!

There we are!

Yay, Honeymoon! This was the night of the "white party" where everyone was supposed to wear white, and then there was a white chocolate buffet at midnight! We had a lot of fun and even did some dancing!

Our plate from the buffet!

Perhaps the oddest thing at the resort- a really large chess set....

Matt was REALLY excited about his sunglasses, I guess.

Another picture from the white party night.

A storm rolling in- it rained just about every day at 4:00 for like 20 minutes.

Boys just don't get the whole getting ready process. Here he is biding his time.

We took lots of close-up pictures of the gorgeous flowers. We want to do what Kio did in the 57th st. apartment on the wall in the living room (for the 2 of you who saw that)- so cool!

Matt found and picked up a starfish! It kind of felt like coral.

Our one day in the ocean (about 10 minutes...) neither of us are really ocean people.

There he is reaching for the lil' guy!

There were all these canals all over the place. We had commented on how it would be lovely to see them full and wondered why they weren't. One day just after the afternoon-ly rain, we realized... THAT'S why the canals are there! To drain the place post-rain!

This is on our way to the spa where we got massages. So nice!

YESSS.... Water Tae Bo!

The view of the main lobby. Man, this resort was gorgeous!

A closing shot. We got home safe, escaped the hurricane and all hurricane side effects (no bad weather!). We had a wonderful time at the resort, and we had a wonderful wedding! Thank you to all of you who celebrated with us!