Good Reads

As many of you know, I've had some extra time on my hands... which has it's ups and downs. One up though, is that when it came time for my family reunion celebrating my parent's 50th anniversary, I was able to go up to Washington for 12 days, not just 4. Check out the blog about the adventure we had in Olympic, Forks, Sequim... but one thing I must share is what I read (yet another up to being unemployed, you can read tons).

Book one of the Seattle trip was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. First I need to tell how I came to find this book. So a few days before leaving for Seattle my mom asked if I wanted to go to Costco. Now we know that we never pass on a trip to Costco with mom - you're guaranteed to get something. :) So we were there and I had asked my mom if I could get a book for the trip, she of course said yes.

As I wondering around the book tables, I am not finding Time Travelers Wife (Em's pick for Aug) so I was lost as to what to pick for a trip book. Right when I was about to give up and go without a book, some old lady came up besides me. Now this is one thing I love about Costco - the people that go there are all the same, they love to talk. I sear it is a truth universal acknowledged. Anyway. So this sweet old lady comes up to me and asks "Do you love dogs?" I of course said yes. She then handed me this book off the table with a cute dog on the cover. She told me it was funny and a great read and from the point of view of the dog. I was intrigued. Plus, any book that would make this lady talk to a complete stranger and tell her to read it, well, it had to be good.

I started it on my flight from Burbank to Seattle. I cried in the first chapter. I laughed in the second. It is a great book. Makes you reflect on your life, relationships, your pets... man, great read. I hit every major emotion while reading that book, every major one. The story telling is wonderful. Easy to read because Enzo is telling the story in such a fun and playful way. They do touch on serious issues and ways to deal with it. Great book - I recommend you read it. It's worth the time.

So I finished that book in a matter of days, which left me with nothing to read the rest of my trip and on the flight home. Me and my sister went to target and I happened to find The Time Traveler's Wife, so I bought it but later left it at my sisters house without reading a page of it, and yet again I had nothing. That same sister and I went to Borders, to find me another book to read on the way home. She recommended Garden Spell by Sarah Addison Allen. Never heard of her, didn't know what to expect, but I trust my sister and I bought it.

I started this book on the flight home... and got about half way through it. Then I finished it later the next day - less than 24 hrs to finish it. So When I say quick read, it's a quick read. I loved it. Fun theme, playful setting. Love the characters. It's a great summer book filled with magic and love. I'm a sucker for those kinds of things. Read it this summer while outside, you'll love it.

Just a piece of the puzzle

A girl who grew up in a poor family recalls one Christmas when all the family got was a jigsaw puzzle.

Her father picks up a piece of the puzzle and asks his daughter "where does this go?"

The daughter, rather shocked at the silly question, replies, "I don't know."

"Where does it fit?" The dad asks again.

"We haven't put the puzzle together yet, how would I know where it goes?"

The dad then throws the puzzle piece into the fire. As one might imagine, the girl was a little taken aback and shocked.

"Dad, you just ruined the puzzle. Now it will never be complete."

"Never throw away a piece of the puzzle, just because you don't know where it all fits together right now."

So it is with gospel. We know we have the fullness of the Gospel on earth. We know that it's true. We have all the pieces of the puzzle, but we may not know how one piece or another fits. Let's not throw out the piece, or the whole puzzle, just because we don't know now, where each piece fits.

New Favorite Thing

So some people have a hard time picking a favorite ice cream when someone asks them; and who could blame them, I mean. there are so many. But for me, that's easy - Ben & Jerry's Phish Phood. Love it. Marshmellow. Carmel. Fudge Fish. So recently I found that Ben & Jerry make it in Light... it's my new favorite thing.

Vegas Baby!

So to start the year off, me and some friends took a little road trip to Las Vegas. Peyton got a super sweet deal on rooms at the Wynn, so 8 of us drove over friday and stayed two nights...

Now, being non-drinkers and non-gamblers, you might wonder what we did we with our time. We actually had a great time. No drama (and with 3 guys and 5 girls, in close quarters for 2 days, this is surprising). We got in and went to our rooms. We were starving so we called up my friend Brooke (who happens to work at the Wynn) and had her meet us across the street for dinner. We had a great time. Good food, amazing spot in the corner of the restaurant with a great view of the Encore/Wynn and the strip.

After dinner we bought some tickets to "Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Attraction." It was fun to run around the museum looking at all the celebs in their wax forms. The next day we played about LV, saw the Bellagio water show (which is pretty much my fav thing in Vegas) and were total tourist in Las Vegas. I had been in vegas about the same time 4 years earlier, right after my mission. Me and Brooke had taken a picture then in fron of this same fountain... so we did again. Then we decided that we looked a lot better 4 years ago...

Then we saw David Copperfield - which was a pretty amazing. I just don't understand how he does his tricks... seriously. HOW? Anyway, it was a super cool show. Of course no trip to Vegas would be complete without Brooke doing something to my hair. :) this time we went lighter. Everyone seemed to like it. I know I did.

I feel pretty good about this year... I really do.

Out with the old... in with the new

Since I've been a serious slacker in blogging lately, let me catch you up on the year's end and beginning.

So my friend Jeff (from summer 07) came to visit for New Year's Eve. I haven't seen him since he left to go back to school Aug 2007... You know how sometimes when you meet up old friends, all you end up talking about is old times? I've run into this a few times with high school and mission friends, and it gets old. I mean all you talk about is old memories and you make no new ones. Well, it wasn't like that meeting up with Jeff. After a short time of catching up, it was like old times. Laughing and joking - fun. 2008 wasn't that great of a year. Don't get me wrong - landing a job that I actually like was pretty great. But all things personal kinda sucked in 08. I moved to one of the second largest city in the county and I've never felt more alone. I mean I have a roommate that I love, even when she drives me crazy - I really do love you Kels. Anyway, getting back to my point, after a hard year of crappiness, it was sooo great to be reminded of great friends I've had and have - even if they don't live in the same city as me.

So back to my year's end - Seeing Jeff was great. We (a bunch of my friends I made in Glendale) had a party. Good times really. Then we headed over to a friends house and spent the night there. She lives in Pasadena and really close to the parade route. So we spent the night and then walked down to the parade route and watch the Rose Parade. I've never done it before and it was pretty cool. But not something I need to make a tradition. Here is a pic of us at the parade.
It was a beautiful day, great way to start the new year, so we thought that we should hit the beach... we when I say we, I mean Jeff, who has been in Utah for months. Well the beach was a bust and freezing cold.

Anyway - the start of my year has been fantastic and I'm actually really excited for 2009!!!