#178 - oregon coast

Saturday July 24 8:00 AM - Saturday July 31 11:00 PM

With the boyfriend's family packed into two cars, we headed to the coast. Eight adults and six kids under the age of 10 all made the long drive to a family-owned beach house for a week vacation. Being just a few blocks away from the beach, we walked to the ocean every day!

Our mornings were filled with child-voice wake-up alerts, delicious breakfasts (including picture perfect blueberry pancakes adorned with slices of banana and flowers on top, crafted by boyfriend), and smiling faces and kisses.

Our afternoons were filled with trips; trips to the beach, trips to New Port, trips to the Aquarium, trips to a lighthouse, trips to caves, trips to delicious lunches, trips to walks down shop-filled streets, taffy, sea lions, ice cream, and chocolate.

Our evenings were filled with too much delicious seafood, trips to the movie theater, walks along the beach, bonfires in the sand, game nights, birthday celebrations, dessert, and snuggling.

Our nights were filled with laughter, sleeping babies, and the shedding of wet sand filled pants and sweatshirts while we exhaustedly fall into bed.

Each day was perfect: the weather was Oregon-expected (chili, foggy, windy) except for the last day which was sunny, warm, and allowed for a relaxing nap on the sand. Lots of pictures to come!

#161 - tumtum tree

Today is a special day. The Day of the Earth!

Earth is so captivating! She has grand mountains, picturesque fields, vast blue oceans, rivers, streams, flowers, trees; beauty for sight, sound, taste, smell. And today, Earth. Today we salute you.

My salute:

riding my bike everywhere today instead of driving my car (except for work... that would take an hour and I could quite possible die on the freeway) ** not turning on the lights today... home by candlelight ** turning off the water while I'm brushing my teeth instead of letting it run ** unplugging my phone charger and other unnecessary cords **start my vegetable garden on my window sill ** opening the window instead of turning on the air

It has been easier to minimize my carbon footprint, living downtown and being able to bike all over instead of drive, but I can still do more!

Hooray Lady Earth!

#158 - hindu take two

I made it down for my second Hindu fix. At the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, UT, every year they celebrate the coming of spring at the Festival of Colors! About 30,000 people (ironically, 90% mormons) all squeezed together, splattering one another with color. (more pictures to come...)

• religious rejuvenation - kinda check
• inner peace - mostly check
• multicolored powder in every orifice - check
• destroyed clothes - check
• March's monthly excursion - check
• loving bonding - double check
• a blast! second year in a row! - hecka check

The only, potentially life-ending, struggle was the drive home. I apparently got a lot of chalk powder in my right eye, completely inhibiting my contact. If I opened both eyes at once, they would cross - suddenly launching cars in front of my car, or cause the road looking all screwy. Thus, I could only open one at a time, and for some reason my mouth had to be open and eye brows had to be raised as well. It was extremely exhausting for my face and caused a pounding headache. I discovered a trick about half way home and that was; if I was sucking on my water bottle straw, my eye no longer hurt. Don't ask me questions... it just worked. If I stopped drinking, searing pain and tears flooded from my eyes. Constantly having to drink water though, led to the need for frequent pit stops.

PRO: vision, hydration, life

CON: frequent stops means getting home later, prolonging the drive, thus causing more stops in a vicious circle of tired frustration

#132 - the big two two

As part of my birthday celebrations, I went with six new friends to Stanley for camping and playing at the hot springs and Red Fish Lake. It's about a three hour drive and is not only a gorgeous scenic drive, but a stunning destination. We left Boise around 11 pm so didn't get to the site till around 1:30 am (we stopped a little before Stanley to camp, then drove the rest of the way on saturday). We stayed up until about 3:00 am, just talking and looking at the stars. I'm not a morning person for the first 10 minutes of being awake... but after that, it was great! Unfortunately, this first picture was unknowingly snapped during those ten minutes. We had a pretty good breakfast, took off for the hot springs, then spent the rest of the day, till about 5:30, at the lake.

A wonderful birthday: being surrounded by friends and nature; glorious weather, sunshine and water. I added an album to my photos if you want to see more.

#117 - INDEPENDENCE

Ever since I was able to walk, I've been walking with my eye on a boy. I always preferred their company to that of females and tend to just get along with them better. The longest I've gone without a crush was probably 3 months once in my entire life. Other than that, there's always been someone, seriously since age 3 (possibly 2). Besides crushing on a boy, I've always surrounded myself with friends that are guys. During my time in New York, there were three in particular: Tom, Viktor and Trevor. Those boys, combined with my 2 best girl friends = the greatest time imagined. I've remained friends with them all through moves and missions and yesterday, I celebrated INDEPENDENCE with Tom (going on 12 years of being friends). I felt just like that girl from "Keeping the Faith", bouncing around Idaho Falls and Rexburg with my two boys, Tom and Nate. Arm-in-arm and hand-in-hand the whole day, we went to a concert, played in a splash park, hung out, and watched fireworks. Yes for freedom, yes for America, yes for being 21 in college in America, and yes for friends.

#115 - frowned upon

Over Memorial Day weekend, our kitchen received some company that has since well worn out its welcome. There is a daily massacre; a flood of Windex leaves hundreds of black ants struggling to survive, only to heave them in heaps of carnage. A few weeks ago, I had a bonding experience with one of the aforementioned ants. I had just finished windexing all of his friends to death, when one lonely solider caught my eye. He was crawling along the wall from the kitchen to the living room. Before smashing him to death, I took a closer look. He was making his way to safety, carrying the dead body of a fallen compadre. I sat on the stairs, unable to take my eyes away from this noble creature. Maybe it was devotion: his true love had fallen by the way of the toxins and he was carrying her away, to pay his respects and bury her live-less body. They had spent a life-time together; digging, scavenging for food, and looking out for each other -- waiting for a time when they could leave the hill and build a home of their own. Or perhaps a long time best friend -- defending their queen along side one another, warning each other of impending hazards and toxic odors. But one time, out on the hunt, his friend was just too slow and his leg got caught in a pool of window cleaner.

Whatever the reason and whatever the relationship these two had, I thought Little Ant's devotion should be recognized and supported. I took numerous pictures, all of which did not come out (Little Ant was too tiny), and finally helped the only way I knew how. I put these two on a piece of paper and carried them outside to the driveway so Little Ant could find an appropriate burial ground. Upon paper-release, they got separated. Little Ant, confused and lost, wandered in circles for a while before finally finding a course and headed, alone, friendless, loveless to the safety of the grass.

Fast forward to this morning. I was wiping up the remains of hundreds of more ants when again, crossing the sink counter was another noble wanderer, carrying the lifeless body of a fallen friend. I quickly called Sami down to look at this amazing feat, when she then proceeded to tell me that they do that all the time and he's just carrying the dead ant back to the house so they can eat him. EAT HIM! I was appalled! Can this be true?! He's not a noble or respectful hero at all?! He's a bloodthirsty cannibal!? And to think, I was led astray... lied to by Little Ant! I was encouraging him to EAT his less than lucky fellow ant. I was so disturbed -- I killed that cannibal carrier and with more force and hatred than I had all the rest.

If this is true: that ants carry and eat their fallen friends, then I want nothing to do with them ever again and now take much more pleasure in their utter destruction! Horrid little creatures...

#114 - inattentive something or other and the not-blog

I was going to blog about how earlier today I wasn't feeling well and thought it might have been because it was 3:00 and all I'd had to eat was a low fat yogurt, and apple, and a banana. That mixed with never enough water and meds this morning, I thought, made me feel ill. Turns out it was just work, because I just got back for the 9 to midnight shift and immediately the feeling came upon me again, after being absent while I was at play. But I felt too sick, so I didn't.

I was going to blog about the week that the celebrities died - - how it is everywhere now (everyone buying MJ's music, twitter whaling over with people talking about the devastation, it consuming the news and gossip shows, every news and media blog I follow posting something about it) but I thought that would just add to the already overwhelming talk and be counter-productive, so I didn't.

I was going to blog about my rebellious hypocritical feelings regarding having to work on a holiday weekend, especially when it's such glorious weather outside. In protest I am wearing carpi's and flip-flops to work (a cardinal no-no for the authorities of BYU-I), but still have to tell people coming to the gym that they have to be properly attired in the required gym uniforms to exercise. But that didn't interest me enough, so I didn't.

So this is me without thought and my not-blog.

#104 - a day for the dads

I love my daddy more and more and more every day! He shows such interest in my life and is always there to listen if I need him and offers loving advice.

Oldest favorite memory:

While in Texas, our monthly 'daddy-daughter date' to Dairy Queen for ice creams and playing on the playground. I remember feeling so special and loved. I felt like I had the greatest dad in the world. One who would spend time playing and loving his little girl.

Favorite middle memory:

I remember one night, when I was about 5 or 6. I couldn't sleep and snuck into my parents' room right next door to see if they were sleeping. Maybe mom would sing me another song or let me sleep in their bed. I crept in and saw mom laying in bed while dad was sitting at his desk next to her, working late into the night. I asked why he was still awake and mom said that he was working hard for his job. She took me back to bed, but as I walked away I stared at him, looking so tired, but typing away. I remember thinking what a hard worker he was and how he was doing it all for us. I laid in bed trying to think of ways I could show him how grateful I was for him taking care of our family. I didn't want to tell him I saw him working because I thought it was a secret; like he didn't want us to know so we wouldn't feel bad.

Another favorite middle memory:

Every saturday, while I was in elementary school, my dad and I would either walk or take our bikes up the road to the junior high - high school. He would play tennis with me, teaching me everything he knew and helping me practice. Engrained in my mind are the words, "close your racket" and "follow through". He was always so patient with me and would just throw tennis ball after tennis ball over the net, giving me chance after chance with encouraging words. He was so good at taking time out of his day to make me feel special.

Most recent favorite memory:

I was home on break and dad took the day off of work to spend with me. We drove down to Portland for the day just to tour around and spend time together. We talked the whole way down and had a perfect day - - going out to a fancy restaurant, getting lost, visiting museums and window shopping. I love when I get my dad all to myself and get to make my own memories.

To the best daddy in the world! We love you a lot a lot!

Love,

Girly-man

#80 - my angel mother

Being away from home has made me more appreciative of my mother. I call her multiple times a day - searching for advise, someone to tell stories to, and to hear about her day. I don't know what I would do with out my mommy. Currently, I border on crazy, but she is always there to snap me back. This year's gift will come, par for the Park family, a few days after Mother's Day, but it got me thinking of past crafty gifts she has received.

One I particularly remember was when I was in the 6th grade. We were working with plaster in my art class and I decided that this would be the perfect surprise for my mommy. Yes, a plaster mold of my hand, shaped like a claw. After the mold hardened, I cleverly thought to paint it green (her favorite color). It wasn't until after she opened the gift that I realized I had just given my mom an unattractive, terrifying, green, scary, claw hand for mother's day.

That might have been the same year that my sister and I woke up extra early in the morning to make her breakfast in bed (like we usually did every year). Wanting to mix things up, instead of tea with honey, eggs and toast... we went with a large cake. Yellow cake, decorated with different colors to look like a painter's pallet. As we started to carry it up the stairs, it came crashing to the floor. After screams and shrieks of utter disappointment, we began work on the second attempt. Again, the thought didn't cross our minds until after the fact, but cake for breakfast probably wasn't the most desired gift.

Through all of our ridiculousness, she loves us just the same! I love my wonderful family and my angel mother!

Happy Mother's Day!

#79 - i would like you to dance - - birthday

In honor of Sami being birthed 21 years ago, we had a surprise party - complete with margaritas, a keg of beer, cake, friends, drinking games and a fort. Evidently, I'm terrible at winning games. This wasn't apparent to me, until I had to down a big glass of water each time I couldn't lay down in Phase 10. I drank, essentially, every time!

Sami and I have officially recruited the best fort builders in the industry. After topping all forts last semester with the "Dragon Cave" Taron and Brent out-did themselves by constructing us the "Birthing Fort" in honor of Samantha's big event, of course. We slept in it two nights, but finally had to de-construct this afternoon. It was a travesty to say the least. Now the bar is set even higher for the next fort.

I was thinking that my next fort might not be until I'm in my new place though, which means it's going to be sufficiently less-cool. Maybe we can manage a few more this semester though...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY friday SAMI! Love you

#63 - Hara Krishna!

Yesterday, my two best friends and I made our way south to warmer weather for the Hindu Festival of Colors! The festival represents the coming of spring from winter and the triumph of good over evil. We first attended a performance by the BYU Indonesian Percussion Orchestra, which mostly just consisted of loud, boring bell tingy songs. We were sitting in the very front row so it was pretty loud (somehow Brent managed to still sleep through it). Oh but wait... all of a sudden, they circled up and started making odd train noises; chanting and behaving very strangely. I was a little frightened - thinking they might attack me when immediately my suspicions were fulfilled. They started jumping around like monkeys, making screeching noises and one guy came right up to my face. I burst out laughing (which, I'm not sure how "culturally appropriate" that is or if it was even supposed to be funny), but I positively could not control myself. Tears started streaming down my face while I tried to hold in my laughter. Brent finally had to hold me into his chest to try and control me but as soon as I controlled my breathing, I could hear (and feel) Brent and Sami both laughing which just got me going again. It was out of control - it was ridiculously funny. Then! in the middle of the animal/train chanting and swaying, two of the girls started singing "If you could hie to Kolob". Oh.. man... that put me over the edge. Too funny for words - we were all speechless and tried not to be too much of a distraction. To sum up: it was awesome and totally worth the five bucks.

This one (above) is from this year. If you look closely you can see us in the middle of the middle for the concert. Just kidding, it's impossible. BUT WE ARE THERE!!

This one (below) is from last year, but I just liked how beautiful the color throwing was.

After that we headed down to the field for the "throwing of the colors". Some punk kid evidently light off the effigy before it was time (signaling the commencement of the color throwing) so there was preemptive throwing. We made our way toward the middle (per my request) and after a speech, explaining the purpose of the festival, the actual throwing began. For about a minute you couldn't see or breath (awesome!) and were bombarded with colored chalk from every direction. The Hindu rock concert started and thankfully, we all knew the words (Hara Krishna, Hara Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hara Hara, Hara Rama, Hara Rama, Rama Rama, Hara Hara... repeat). They put those words to just about every tune, from reggae to nursery rhymes, "Jack and Jill when up the hill to fetch a pail of Hara Krishna, Hara Krishna...." and "A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-R-I-S-H-N-A Hara Krishna, Krishna Krishna..."

After the concert, we headed back home to Rexburg while we were serenaded by Brent, putting those lyrics to the playlists on my iPod. Surprisingly they fit well to just about every tune. It was incredibly fun and well worth the drive.

HARA KRISHNA!!!

#60 - tiptoe through the tulips with me

Happy Spring! It's so exciting - the night and day are exactly the same length (almost romantic)! I found a website on how to celebrate the Spring Equinox, and to me, this was nothing short of magical brilliance:

Step 1: Get in the "mood" by taking a walk in a field of flowers. Pick some fresh flowers and take them home to bring the spring into your house (my residence in Rexburg might require a floristial purchase... we've got slim pickins... unless I want to pick brown/tan grass. SLASH feel free to bring me flowers-that is always welcome).

Step 2: Reflect on the meaning of spring. It is a time to plan what you want to accomplish in the coming months. Decide what new things you want to bring into your life (I would like to add less crazy people and more cookies).

Step 3: Wear colors of a pastel nature that are traditional for the Spring Equinox (I think after the spring break I'll invest in some yellow and orange shirts. There is a yellow/orange void in my life).

Step 4: Paint hard-boiled eggs as a symbol of fertility, rebirth, and spring. Deviled eggs are also appropriate, as well as nuts and seeds - symbolizing the planting of new ideas and life (mmm sounds like nuts and eggs for dinner tonight!).

Step 5: Ask the goddess of spring for guidance in carrying out your wishes in the coming months (this one is my favorite. I like to imagine her with hair made of flowers wearing big leaves in the form of a very stylish party dress).

BYUI is celebrating in their own way: the studiers have emerged from the desks of solitude and homes of silence to study on the hills and lawns on campus; short sleeve shirts and toes that we haven't seen in months. It is positively glorious weather - and listening to the birds loving the weather, almost reminds me of waking up in New York in the summer to beautiful chirping (only to quickly be extinguished by the death-grip from my cat). Ahh spring.....

Taste it

Feel it

Love it

#36 - older and older

Yesterday was Taron's surprise birthday! The big 2-4. Batman themed with a monkey pinyata - it was awesome. Sami and I were talking the other day how I won't have another birthday while I'm in school. Graduation is the 23rd and my birthday is the 31st. All of a sudden, I felt very old. To make me feel better, we decided to have an "in between" birthday in June to celebrate both of our birthdays together (in addition to celebrating Sami's in May and mine (sami-less) in July). This makes me happy, yes it does!

#33 - one more sleep 'till christmas

After two long days of driving, we finally arrived! Christmas with my sister and her family in Colorado instantly made the strenuous trip worth every minute. Merry Christmas everyone!!

#31 - i'll be home for christmas

This year I get to spend Christmas with my whole family (in parts). I'm so excited! Especially that I get to spend so much bonding time with our newest, Chase Matthew. I think that family is what makes Christmas, Christmas. I love you all! Merry Christmas!!

#29 - chance of precipitation: 100%

What an ordeal! I started on my trek home yesterday afternoon and finally made it 27 hours later. I stayed overnight in Ontario, OR (which, by the way, getting a hotel room by my self made me feel very adult) and then left this morning around 8:30 am. Evidently, overnight, the mountain pass received a down pour of snow, because my life flashed before my eyes about 10 times driving through it. First off, before it even started snowing, my windshield wiper broke. Just the one.... the one on the driver's side, of course... just randomly. So, now I'm making my way up the mountain and notice about 100 semi's pulled over on the side of the road putting their chains on. Should I be doing that? Do they know something I don't? Confidence in my driving skills and in my car (and the fact that the roads seemed very do-able still) allowed me to brush the internal question off. Soon, I realized my mistake and was in about a foot of snow. My poor little car was sliding every which way and add to that, the fact that I could not see a thing because of my windshield wiper (unless I leaned over and peered out the passenger side of the windshield).

So now I'm blindly sliding through snow in a blizzard, going about 30 mph. I saw two other cars pulled over to the side and asked the assistance of one very capable looking man and one very old man, to help attach my chains. With no success, I then turned to AAA. [Now I have to add a footnote: Up until this moment, I have idolized AAA as this unknown supreme entity, an all-knowing car superhero company that will come to your rescue whenever you shine the "bat signal". I have previously never needed their services, but strangely looked forward to an opportunity to see their skills in action.... the skills I pay a monthly fee to have at my disposal]. The call was placed. I explained my situation: how I couldn't get the chains on, my wiper was broken so I am driving blind through the pass and now, because I pulled off the road, I think I am stuck in the snow. After explaining where I was located on the highway, the AAA man expounded their actual services to me. "We can't help you put on the chains and we also can't fix your windshield wipers... but we can tow you to safety... well, within a 3 mile radius" "Well, is there a car place within 3 miles? Because my GPS doesn't show that there is anything for at least 20." "Right, so there will be a fee for each additional mile that we need to tow you". BOGUS. That plan was seriously not working for me, and the situation accompanying my now shattered glorified view of AAA forced me to release some anger on this poor customer service representative. "Well, you're a man - can't you just come out here and help me put on my chains?? Or do something!?" "I'm sorry ma'am, that's not one of the services we offer. We can only really tow you out of a ditch if you get stuck." "I see, so I'll just attempt to drive again and in 2 seconds, when I crash into a ditch, I'll be sure to give you a call right away. Thanks a lot!" I have removed AAA from my contacts list and also immediately removed their endorsement sticker off my dashboard. I also pulled over when I saw a cop, hoping he could help me with the same problems, until he also informed me that he could only push me out of the snow, which I was now stuck in since I pulled over for his help. Ironic. With the aid of my brother, texts of support from friends, and payers being sent a million miles a minute, I made it through the pass (about 3 hours later) and onto clearer roads. Thoughts of "this is the end" crept up again while driving through the Portland area through a down pour of rain, again with wipers not working and it starting to get dark. When a car passed me, there was at least 3o seconds where I could see absolutely nothing and just tried to keep my car in line with the break lights in front of me. "Don't they know I can't see anything?!" I guess not. Relieved and alive, I took a hot bath when I got home and am now going to bed. Good luck to all those still on the road. Safe driving!

(PS. the first picture is what the road looked like when my wipers broke, yes it was stuck in that position and the 2nd is my view for about 4 hours... death! But, despite all that, I remained optimistic - I was not going to die in a bad mood.)

#26 - it's thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I took the advise of a knowledgeable teacher and didn't eat beyond the point of nausea. I definitely reached that point, I just didn't surpass it. When you can actually see your stomach expanding - you know, enough is enough. It's not a comfortable, or a good feeling, so why do you do it? I think that the food is just too good and you're left with no choice but to uphold tradition. And after all, without tradition, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on a roof, true? True. I took a nap after eating to help the digestion process, and just because I wanted to. I hope everyone was stuffed to the brim and thought about what they were thankful for. I know towards the top of my "grateful list" was stretchy pants and naps.

#22 - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

P.S. Yesterday was the 45th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is my favorite painting of him in the White House.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html

#7 - i'm a barbie girl, ooo woah

For my friend's 21st birthday, she had a barbie party. I received an invitation requesting that I come as "Nurse Barbie". Since that would be the barbie I would probably be if I was transformed into a barbie, I easily found pieces for my costume. We had barbie party bags, put together barbie puzzles, had a barbie runway show and afterwards, headed to Large House for a big dance party.

From Left to Right Top Row: Rocker Barbie, Cowgirl Barbie, Artist Barbie, Birthday Barbie, Disco Barbie, Gold Digger Barbie, Cocktail Barbie, Malibu Barbie

Front Row: Evening Gown Barbie, Hollywood Barbie, Workout Barbie, Nurse Barbie

#3 - it's like looking in a mirror

Sami and I were the Flight of the Conchords for Halloween. We hung out at the campus operator office (Sami had to work all night) and watched Sweeney Todd. So demented, but being a musical, it was surprisingly light hearted and up beat. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are a match made in heaven.