the back to school picnic that finally happened

Many weeks ago, I decided that I really wanted to have a Back to School Picnic. I wanted to drive up the canyon road and spend an afternoon napping under an aspen tree listening to the rush of the Provo River at my side.

We planned to spend last Monday fulfilling my desire and I thought about it for weeks. The night before, I laid in bed, stirring, and constantly asking D if he was excited about the Back to School Picnic. And like the devoted husband he is, he replied yes every time.

The next morning, I drove to the grocery store to pick up some provisions for our journey. At a red light, I started to notice something strange in the corner of my eye. It was a flashing light the shape of Oklahoma taking over the upper left corner of my vision. I could see it when my eyes were closed or open and the fear of the unknown began to set in.

In the grocery store, I called the expert on all things in general: Mom. "You're getting a migraine. It's just an aura," she explained. She then told of how auras of flashing lights, crackling ice, and neon worms preceded her migraines and her mother's migraines, and her mother before her. She made it sound like a beautiful family legacy.

So, in similar fashion to the advice I asked for when I received my first special visit, I asked her what to do. I took two ibuprofen and one for good measure and continued with my shopping. By the time I returned home, however, all I could manage was to put the milk in the fridge, stumble into the bedroom, peel my contacts out of my eyes, and crawl in to bed, not to be disturbed for hours.

When I woke up, I realized that I had missed the window of opportunity for afternoon napping along the Provo River. I was so upset, I made Jack and D take me to Target to walk around.

Luckily, the picnic was easily postponed and we spend a beautiful August afternoon, eating pasta salad, laying in the grass, and dipping our toes in the freezing snowmelted water.

These are the only pictures D and Jack allowed me to take of them.

Jon and Tina were much more cooperative.

pretty fly for a provo guy ...

In all the excitedness of making it home from our camping trip without being eaten by bears, I forgot to tell about the cool dudes paragliding off of Squak Peak.

D and I drove out to the Peak to find cell phone coverage. We decided to get out and walk around for a bit. It is so beautiful in the Uintahs. SP and its neighbor, Hope Campground are definitely at the top of the list. I love being so far and yet so close to Provo.

We were enjoying the scenery and fresh air when suddenly, we stumbled on this!

Three guys preparing to jump off a cliff. They were loaded with high tech gear and equipment including a device strapped to their legs which beeped when the wind went a certain direction. We watched as they prepped and soon, a small gathering of spectators had gathered.

D and I waited patiently, sitting on a large rock, as the men checked and double checked and checked again to ensure all was in order for their impending flight. Finally, one man began to jog down the rocky hill. His parachute caught a gust of wind and as his legs cycled down the slope, the ground below seemed to slowly fade away.

The other dare devils took off shortly after and we watched as they dropped into the valley, ran into a strong breeze, and floated off into the West.

The first flier found what D explained to be a thermal, or an area of hot air. In an instant, he began slowly spinning in a wide circle. Following what I can only think to describe as a giant invisible rotini, the man sailed up and into the sun. He flew so high it was difficult to find him if your eye wandered even just a bit. D and I craned our necks to watch and squinted and looked into the sun until our eyes watered and we could see the blackish pink ball on an imprint the sun left on our eyelids when we closed our eyes.

Eventually, our necks ached and our eyes burned and we remembered that people would be arriving at the camp site soon and they would need us to wave at them when they drove by. So we left without watching the brave men land. To this day, I imagine the flying man floating around with his parachute waving to the sun.

d dawg eating at j dawg's

D and I visited the wonderful J Dawgs. It pretty much makes me miss BYU.. Can you tell that D was not happy about having his picture taken?

to the wild

We are going camping today. We have loaded the little rio up to the rafters and are off to Squaw Peak for a weekend of foil dinners, nature, and sleeping in our new tent. Wish us well!

lazy Sunday

Today was a beautiful day. The sun was out and big white puffy clouds were rolling past the afternoon sky. Bob Ross would call them "happy clouds."

It was a long cold winter that stretched it's icy fingers into spring. Cold and rain dragged on for weeks and the usual pleasant spring that makes me happy I live in Provo was absent for a while.

But today was perfect so D and I ventured out this evening with a blanket and a snack and enjoyed the little patch of community grass by the side of our apartment.

free things

Whenever you go to the condo, my grandparents will always know what free events are happening in Park City. It's like they have some sort of radar for these things. I always wondered, why bother driving to Deer Valley and wrestling with a folding chair to listen to some band I've never heard of? But every time, I always had fun.

I'm pretty sure it's just in my blood to love free events. I'm counting the weeks until the farmer's market opens for the summer. I've recently starting scouting out free concerts and live music. Parades are one of my favorite things.

Tonight, D and I went to the Provo Town Square Rooftop Concert Series. We had a great time. I think it's also in my blood to show up early. We arrive two hours before the concert - just to be safe. When no one was there, we walked down the street to get dinner. The meal was great but I just couldn't rest while imagining someone else taking my prime spot.

We had a great time. It was a beautiful evening and fun to get out of the house and enjoy Provo.

bridal veil picnic

Today, Dave and I took advantage of the beautiful outdoors. We drove up the canyon to Bridal Veil Park. We skipped rocks and dipped our toes in the freezing snow melted water. We ate turkey sandwiches, carrots, and apples. Finally, with our bellies full, we laid on our sleeping bag and enjoyed doing nothing. Romantic picnics along Provo River are the best.

On the way home, we drove past my favorite fruit stand, which is now open for business. Driving home with an overflowing bag of fresh peaches definitely marks the start of Fall for me. :)

once a cougar always a cougar

I write this post from one of the BYU ten - minute computer kiosks in the RB (Richards Building). I came here to take advantage of the free exercise equipment before they realize that I am no longer a student but a BYU alum. How quickly I forgot, however, that Tuesdays are devotional days and the entire campus is shut down for its weekly spiritual feeding, including the gym.

It's strange to walk the grounds of my alma mater so soon after leaving. (Even stranger to forget about devotional.) It's disconcerting to be here and not a part anymore. With no classes to rush to, no papers to print, and no place for me in the line of the testing center, I feel an odd combination of nostalgia, relief, and despair. After all, this was home once.

I remember the first few moments here. I was filled with excitement, anticipation, and anxiety as my parents and I drove through Provo Canyon from Park City. I had walked through campus as a visitor before, bowled at the Wilk, drove past the sign, dined at the Creamery, but never as part of the institution. It was difficult to believe that I was actually a BYU Cougar. It was terrifying actually. I didn't know my roommate, my dorm, or my surroundings and I had never even traveled outside of the state of Texas for more than two weeks at a time. It was all happening so fast but I knew I was ready.

My parents left and the first day of classes came. I was so unprepared. By the time I walked to campus, my feet were blistered from the "cute" shoes, my ill - fitting bra had slipped around my back, and my trendy messenger bag had cut deep notches into my shoulders, exposing tender flesh. With tears clouding my vision, I began to study my schedule. My first class was in the JSB ... There are close to one hundred buildings on campus, each with its own confounding acronym. That's when the panic set in. As I watched the other confident students, sure of where they were headed, I knew I didn't belong. It was time for me to go home.

My parents had some different ideas, however. Tuition was paid after all, and BYU had always been my dream. They promised that after a semester, I could come home. Rice University and my old bedroom were waiting. I just had to make it four months. I could come home.

I have to go now. The computer time reminder keeps blinking to let me know that there is someone else waiting for a turn with this computer. My time is up and it's someone else's turn. I may not be ready to go or done with this post but it's time for the next thing. Life seems to have a way of doing that.

I'm still coming to terms with this graduation thing. Who would have guessed how much I would want to hang on. I'm nervous to experience walking my first child down the hall to kindergarten. I have a hard time saying goodbye. I'm grateful though, for the time spent here and the home BYU was for four wonderful years. It's become a part of my personal mosaic and I wouldn't trade the experience.

I'm not sure if I'm more proud of myself for graduating or proud for being a part of BYU. Either way, I'll always hold on to my BYU experience.