Aww, nighty night.

I just have a few things to say tonight. First of all "So You Think You Can Dance" is back on and running strong! Woo hoo! I can't wait to see what's in store this year. Oh, and this question is directed toward Kaye, "Did you watch it? And if so, did you see Mia Michaels do the 'freudian slip' about the Italian dude?" Haha! It was hilarious!

Secondly, check out these ridiculously gross pics of Tara Reid. Do any guys find this attractive?

http://x17online.com/celebrities/tara_reid/tara_gets_baked-12182007.php

And lastly, I read this pretty great line during my 'me time' night out at the bookstore, which was so badly needed:

"If you're lucky, putting together your life is a process that will last through every single day you're alive." ~Ann Patchett

I thought that was particularly profound.

Happy Memorial Day to the Lucky Ones

It's 80 degrees out this Memorial Day and I'm stuck inside answering non-existent phone calls. Today at the museum we have an Open House, however I can't imagine anyone not wanting to get out and enjoy this phenomenal day by sailing, boating, playing park games or BBQ's. I guess that's just what I'd imagine myself doing. That OR watching the National Lacrosse Championships at the Patriot's stadium in Foxboro!!! Yeah that's today too and George, Aaron and Ben will be in attendance. I do have to say that of all the lacrosse players out here, they are for sure missing an integral part of LAX appreciation: ME!

Haha, ok enough complaining. I'm not a complainer really. I'll just vent a few sentences and then get over it. I'm also over it now because I'm making overtime money, which is something very needed right now. I filled up my tank yesterday and guess how much the bill came out to? Any takers? 50 buckaroos. Yep, 50! For my little car! I can't imagine my fellow friends and family who have SUV's still...sheesh!

Anyway--these past few weeks have been quick, but full of adventure! I spent a few days up in Ogunquit, Maine a couple weeks ago with "Das Pechmann's" as I've heard them be called. We filled our time by going on a lobstering cruise where we learned how to catch those delicious creatures. And yes, they ARE delicious! I had never eaten lobster before that night, and I don't think I can go back to being a non-fish/crustacean eater. Seriously. If I can entice you at all to come out here and visit me in the Northeast, the succulent lobster should do most of the talking! So come on over and I'll take you on an 'wicked adventchah'! (horrible attempt at an accent included!)

Not only did we experience the Lobstah, but also beach bocce ball, fireside talking, a rousing game of pool, touristy window shopping, brewerys, a natural wildlife reserve, the senior Bush compound at Kennebunkport, picnic lunches, lighthouses, ice cream and finally a 400 pound pig! Holy moly was that pig awesome! It just happened to be sitting in a yard full of random animals off the side of the road in Maine somewhere. We actually turned around so we could drive by again. I thought I had been seeing things, but I do believe we have the picture to prove it...but I may have to post that picture later, as it goes that my camera is definitely kaputt right now.

I've actually been spending much time up north of Boston, for this past week Andrea was here to visit. Wednesday, we took a drive up to Hampton for breakfast with her friend who was to be married and then Saturday I drove to Lake Winnepesaukee for the ceremony and reception. It was beautiful right on the lake shore, although a little chilly because of the wind. The food was superb, can we talk about surf and turf?! Yummy steak and shrimp! We danced the evening away with odd flashbacks of the Wedding Crashers montage when they played "Shout". Yeah that montage, you know the one with the flying women's...well assets. Haha!

After driving to Portland that night, we had a bit of Red Sox ice cream, hit the sack and woke up to drive back down to Boston to catch a plane. After saying my sad goodbye to a good friend, I hit up the usual frisbee game back home. It was a great day for roughin' around in the dirt. I say that because I was falling down and diving most of the game...no blood=you're not trying hard enough.. ;)

So that brings me back to here today. I'm sore. Haha, sore and daydreamy. Day dreaming that I was out and about...but alas *sigh*... The good news is that June is almost here and I get to experience a Boston summer! We'll see how sweaty I get...

Also, keep you're fingers crossed for me while I continue my search for advancement opportunities in the career section of my life...

An Odd #5

I have officially been living in Boston for 38 weeks.

Now while figuring out this number, I thought to myself, "well that's not that long..." but after putting into perspective that there are only 52 weeks in a year...well that number jumps up quite a bit. Only 14 more weeks until I've been here for one year.

*GASP!*

One year? I've never been anywhere other than Utah for longer than 3 months. And at that time, I thought 3 months was long. It's crazy to think that I've woken up 266 times, gone to work about 146 days and have walked miles and miles in this unique and bustling city.

When I first arrived I was nervous, but somehow survived by running off the excited adrenaline pulsating through my bones. I met unknown relatives, got lost for hours in my car trying to find one-way and name-changing streets, I applied for multiple jobs, looked for hours at apartment ads, and met very bright people while feeling somewhat inadequate in graduate classes. Oh, and lost a bunch of money learning my lesson of parking in the city. (I wish very much I could forget that memory...!) Looking back I remember feeling at times overwhelmed and claustrophobic. Every building was tall and outside the city, every tree and bush barricaded my view from any glint of horizon--horizon that I was so used to seeing back home.

Now, 38 weeks later, I somehow feel comfortable and safe. Taking the train to work and walking to the grocery store is now normal for me. Seeing sunshine in the morning and rain in the afternoon happens all too often and parallel parking is still a pain--especially when I notice appearing car bruises constantly--but the rush of it all keeps an air of open-mindedness and opportunity. And this, this is why I'm enjoying this whole experience. I thrive off this feeling of opportunity. There is always something new to see, to do, to enjoy. There are always options, there are always ventures that you haven't quite got your feet wet in yet. There is always tomorrow, but never a forgotten memory.

I remember at one time before a class last fall, I was walking up the stairs on this Tufts campus that oddly reminded me of Utah State. I saw that there was an open terrace on top of the library. As I meandered my way through the boxed flowers, the sky suddenly opened. It was a horizon...I saw the Boston skyline, I saw the dense trees of the upper Northeast, I saw a glimmer of ocean, and I also saw the sunset. I can't describe how incredible it was to see that sun drop beneath the trees. I felt as though I could breathe again, so I did. I took a long and deep breath, and although it wasn't the spectacular sunsets we often overlook in the West, it was a bit of familiarity and comfort that said, "it will all be ok..."

Right now, even though I feel a stall in my life's goals and a lull in the action, I know that I'm still moving at the same pace as when I first moved here. Every sigh of relaxation brings me peace, but I know the hard part is not over. I don't think the hard parts of our lives will ever be over. There is always going to be some obstacle that we must hurdle, or some water that we must cross, but maybe if we all paddle a little slower and splash a little more, we'll enjoy and appreciate the scenery around us at the time. I'm taking my time. I'm enjoying my scenery and throwing water balloons at the people around me. I'm living my life out here! I never want to quit living my life by worrying about the future...

I started off this blog by wanting to talk about being a college graduate. The number 5 on my list of greatest things of 2007. But after reading a mind-stumbling quote by the Dalai Lama in Time magazine this morning, my mind slowly wandered to the thankfulness I have in every single day and the opportunities we have in this life to learn from our experiences, from each other and to understand the world around us. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to be out here, and to learn even more about myself. Who knows what will come later, but all I can hope for is that I never stop wanting taking those chances and dance in the smiles that surround me.

"Without relying on religion, we look to common sense, common experience and the findings of science for understanding." ~Dalai Lama

I know this quote may come as perplexing to some of you who know me, as maybe something that I wouldn't find worth remembering. But it actually describes my current state of mind quite well. Without relying on religion, and instead a God to give a mind that is capable of searching for better understanding of this world, I can put my faith in a uniquely fused-together universe that allows for both the acceptance of spirituality and science. To give a second look to an this ideal is so captivating, and this is why I say it's a 'mind-stumbling' quote.

Well the weekend I can now say is finally here. I'll be watching softball, movies and friends turn 30. (I know 30...totally different world out here) I'm really excited to see a Boston summer and all that can be offered. I'm sure you'll all be listening as I make my way through these next 14 weeks, so I just want to thank you all for caring. Until next time...

Two-Steppin' Astronauts

So it's been awhile, yes I'll admit. But you have no idea how much stuff went on this past week!

First of all, a week ago today, I was priveleged enough to see and hear the 4th man to walk on the moon--Alan Bean--give a lighthearted yet inspirational talk about doing whatever makes your heart happy. When he started by saying, "Each and every one of you is different..." I almost started to tear up. Well ok, I did tear up...but no droplets came out I swear!

Mr. Bean was 76 years young and seemed to be teeming with life and vigor! He spoke about his obvious accomplishment of being one of the great men who have seen Earth from the dust prints on the moon, but what I loved most was his little anecdotal stories of his life. Somewhere on the moon, there is a small silver pin lying in the dust and whenever he looks back up at the moon, he wonders where it landed...How amazing it was to see someone standing before my eyes and to know that he has stepped his feet on land out there in the universe! But this was just an ordinary guy who told jokes and talked about Texas football!

Alan Bean is also an artist. He said that he had always loved painting, so why not paint something no one has ever painted before? The coolest thing? In some of his paintings, he has taken little bits of his journey (US flag patch, moon dust, NASA equipment pieces..) and has put them into his art! Wow! On of my favorite paintings that he showed was the one of him and another astronaut throwing a football across space. He said, "I thought 'why didn't I throw a football up there?' so instead I painted it! I used my artist's license!" He was hysterical. The night ended spendidly with a surpise guest in the audience, a Russian who asked how he felt about the Russian space program and how the KGB controlled everything. I felt like the music could've swelled with some high drama action beats and Sydney Bristow busts in decked out in a perfectly put-together costume, saying 'Da' all night long. Ahhh...but 'tis was not so...

Anyway, Alan Bean has given me new hope. New hope to get out there and not be afraid of what we feel we cannot do, but to have the courage and faith to do what we imagine to do!

So that was only Tuesday. :)

Wednesday and so forth brought on lots of cowboy hats and honky tonk dancing at a rare country club in Danvers. I mean rare, seriously rare. No one knows what country is out here! Except for Danvers-ians. And thank God for them!

You can tell spring is in the air though because Friday held a time for a great BBQ and Saturday for a short shorts extravaganza! Don't worry, it was just a house-warming party...nothing to get your panties all twisted in a bundle about! But man did I see legs! All I had running through my head all night was, "She's got legs! And she knows how to use 'em!" Thanks ZZ Top. I love you to pieces!

Well then, you may be "bored now" or you may be intriqued to check out Alan Bean and ZZ Top. I know peculiar combination, but try it out! Tell me how it fares. Until next time, which will be soon I swear...Love you all!