#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

#157 - lost whiskers

TOGETHER, LET'S LEARN: Whiskers help the cat feel his way around. Whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest directional change in a breeze. At night, for example, this helps a cat slink its way through a room and not bump into anything. How? The air currents in the room change depending on where pieces of furniture are located. As the cat walks through the room and approaches the couch, he'll know which direction to turn based on the change in air current around the couch. But the whisker's primary use is to help a cat judge whether or not he'll fit through an opening. A cat's whiskers are roughly as wide as his body -- sort of a natural ruler. The whisker tips are sensitive to pressure. You'll probably see a cat stick his head in and out of an opening before he puts his body in. He's judging the width of the opening, and is determining if he can fit into it.

I feel as though, lately, I am a cat with my whiskers cut off. I apparently am back in a phase where I have no spacial perceptibility. I keep bonking my head, face, arms, legs... bumping into walls, cutting corners too closely... not ducking low enough and just not seeing certain things entirely. Owiee....

#156 - lady belle

My qualifications were thus: needs to be light-weight (because I will be keeping it in my apt; two flights up), have a classy retro look, street/cruiser/commuter (already equipped for mountainous terrain), needs to be a well known quality brand, needs to have a warranty, needs to have good reviews, needs to be in my $300 price-range.

I went to a couple of bike shops, just for browsing. The last one I entered: Bob's Bicycles. I went to the front counter and told the help exactly what I was looking for. I had a particular bicycle envisioned in my head and wasn't planning on settling. She showed me a few in my price range... errrr! Showed me one that was what I had described WAY outside my price range... errrr! The owner laughed when I told him what I wanted and he said $700 is minimum starting price for a bike like that. Thinking I would probably have to find my new bike in a second hand store, I just perused for a little while. After, I don't know.... 30 seconds, I found it! MY bike. It was perfect, exactly what I was looking for and was even on sale for the exact price I was looking for. It is simply put, the perfectly imagined bike.

I took it out for a test spin yesterday and still loved it. Then later that night for its official debut. I was riding along the green belt and whenever I would adjust my headlight, my hand would sweep across the front handlebar and accidentally 'ding' the bell. It was the happiest little sound and would always surprise me! I would then say, "Oh! Hello Belle!" as if my bicycle didn't want me to forget that she was a part of the bike ride too, and not to just use and ignore her. Belle and I had a beautiful ride and I love that she is waiting for me at home, as we speak. Another bike ride is in my future, for Saturday.

My favorite is the little wood panel on the back for my purse/backpack for downtown grocery shopping or long trips, for a bag filled with water and snacks.

#155 - whuppah

There's no place like Idaho. Very much so, I live in the desert. No green pine trees, no beautiful mountains in the distance, no soft lay-able grass. There's sagebrush and ... tumbleweeds, and brown. Could just be that it's felt like winter has lasted forever and I'm ready for glorious sunshine, or it could be that I live in Idaho. It's been so windy and the weather has been very bipolar lately, I'm ready for continues rays of happy.

Today is no exception: this blew by work today. I've never seen a tumbleweed so large! Whenever I see tumbleweeds, I always think of that song I heard when I was little, "Rollin' rollin' rollin', keep them doggies rollin'. Rawhide! Whickchu!"

#154 - ogling google

So I have a crush on the super-cool, Google. They are always coming out with extremely user friendly, fancy features and products. I'm really into the Google Reader, iGoogle, Google Earth (woah!), blogger ('course), Google Desktop, Google Calendar, Picasa, YouTube, Docs, Gmail (beyond rad... I have a public account, a private account, a personal account, and a super-special-happy account. AND thank you very much I was one of the first test-gmail accounts), and the highlight today: Google Maps. Not only does it show you everywhere and routes (better than mapquest or other others), satellite imaging and the street views (like you're actually driving down the road), BUT I recently discovered the "more" selection. You can pick to have bike paths illuminated for easy routing, and even see pictures and movies posted from those areas.

#153 - february flight

Keeping in line with my 2010 goals, I went on my second trip of the year to Colorado. I hadn't seen my sister's family since, a year ago, Christmas; plus, hadn't seen new Norah yet. My friends Adrienne and Corrine were kind enough to let me fly on a buddy pass, making the flight very affordable. Catching my plane from Boise to Salt Lake, and then Salt Lake to Montrose was a breeze. Each time, they called my name and I was allowed onto the plane. I spend Thursday - Sunday with my family; playing, going out to lunch, attending my sister's book club [The Book Thief], reading stories, piggy back rides, late night movies, and delicious meals.

Flying back Sunday, though, was a bit of a waiting game. I got to the tiny baby Montrose airport and noticed a plane was loading. I asked the desk if this was my flight (no flight read-out screens). She said it was for Denver and my flight was not for some time and to take a seat. There were no loud-speaker announcements, so I tried to sit close to the counter. I delved deep into my book while the other flight loaded. After about 10 minutes (i

f that), I hear someone yell, "Vanessa Park, your plane is leaving." I jumped up, handed over my seat request with a shocked look on my face. Apparently in 5 minutes, Denver had loaded, closed, taken off; and Salt Lake had been announced, boarded and was moments from leaving the strip. Guess I delved deeper in my book than I thought...

Once to Salt Lake, plane after plane was over booked. Requests were made for people to volunteer to step off each of the planes, so a second-list-little-stand-by-girl was a low priority. 3:00 flight - full. 5:00 flight - full. 8:00 flight - full. My friends who offered the ticket had, granted, warned me a Sunday evening flight from Salt Lake was a long shot, but I could try. They showed me the way to the VIP "Crown Room: Fancy dressed men and women can sit in a quiet, luxurious room with free drinks and food, on cumpfy couches and watch big screen televisions. Although it was a long day, it was nice to sit in a quieter place, away from the insanity that was the SLC Sunday afternoon, and watch the Olympics, or read my book.

Finally, the 9:45 flight rolled around and my name was called. I've never been so happy to hear my name before, "Park, Vanessa... Please come to the front terminal for your seat assignment". GLORIOUS! Seat 33 F. My wonder-seat home.

#152 - in sunshine

I recently had a friend from college, who is close to graduation, ask me how I found myself in my current job/ position. After a verbose response, all of my job experience has boiled down to two things: networking and self confidence. So here's the digest to self confidence:

1. Take Action. Get it done.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” Dale Carnegie

2. Face your fear.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

3. Understand in what order things happen.

4. Prepare.

“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self- confidence is preparation.” Arthur Ashe

4. Realize that failure or being wrong won't kill you.

“I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn’t fall down.” Allen H. Neuharth

5. Get to know who you are and what you want from life.

“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.” Napoleon Hill

OR; my personal favorite: just click here. Or be a man and grow a freakin' awesome beard.

#151- vidi vidi vidi

I saw the clock say: WED 1/20 3:30 PM, signaling my retreat home to grab my bags and hit the road for Park City, UT for the 2010 Independence Sundance Film Festival!

I saw zero flakes of snow my whole way, making the drive fast, easy, and pleasurable... zipping along by my lonesome to a new adventure.

I saw a very luxurious hotel (outside my price range) after arriving because, unfortunately, calling AAA at 10:00 at night, requesting a hotel in Park City during an international event is a comical request.

I saw multiple feet of snow outside my window early in the morning, making my clothing selection, car condition, and rest of the week plans very superfluous.

I saw my best friends! (Jenny, Amy, Trevor, Viktor, Simon, Shua) after ambushing them in Provo for the day on Thursday. It was nostalgically glorious!

I saw my tickets in hand for an eventful Friday in Park city: "Happythankyoumoreplease" and "The Company Men".

I saw celebs during my stroll downtown in Park City: Ben Affleck, Ryan Gosling, Josh Radnor, Tony Tale,

Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Peter Scanavino, John Wells, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, and Chris Cooper.

I saw the beautiful, unappreciated art of the infamous Banksy while enjoying my Java Cow.

I saw "Obselidia" "Shorts Program IV" and "Lourdes" with Adrienne while in Salt Lake City for round two of the festival.

I saw the stunning Egyptian Theater, complete with the classic old man playing show tunes on the organ before the performance. After which I enjoyed "Waiting for Superman" and "Boy" in Ogden for Sunday day 3 and then the quick drive home.

My eyes feasted that weekend on people I love, films I adored, audiences crying, laughing, clapping, standing in ovation and the humble beginnings of low budget film makers trying to make it big (and in my mind, resoundingly succeeding).

#150 - set yourself on fire

Vanessa: an honest, uncontrollable emotion in the current...

That was strange to see you again
Introduced by a friend of a friend
Smiled and said 'yes I think we've met before'
In that instant it started to pour,
Captured a taxi despite all the rain
We drove in silence across Pont Champlain
And all of the time you thought I was sad
I was trying to remember your name...

This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin
Tried to reach deep but you couldn't get in
Now you're outside me
You see all the beauty
Repent all your sin

It's nothing but time and a face that you lose
I chose to feel it and you couldn't choose
I'll write you a postcard
I'll send you the news
From a house down the road from real love...

Live through this, and you won't look back...

There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I'm not sorry I met you
I'm not sorry it's over
I'm not sorry there's nothing to save

#149 - to be to come

I'll blog soon, but for now - new pics of high adventure (and more on their way)

#148 - resume material

I have a joke: so there was this hotel in the world. This hotel thought it would be a great idea if a guest's bed was all warmed up before they got in it that night. INVENTION! The human bed warmer. gafaw gafaw gafaw...

(by the way, I can't get over the middle "guest" man's facial expression, "I feel funny...")

How is this a good idea? I love the questions tied to this article:

*In the case of a double bed, will there be two bed warmers?

*In such a case, will they match equally in their bed warming abilities?

*Do bed warmers get any special training?

*Is this a free lagniappe service or guests have to pay extra charges for a pre-warmed bed?

*What is the gender of the bed warmer? Most guests assume it would a woman but the news item cleverly keeps silent about it.

I have some of my own:

*Are you supposed to talk to them? If so, what on earth do you say?
*Will they be all sweaty and hot and there-by, sweat in your bed?
*Will they just wander from room to room, bed laying?
*Do you tip?

*Are you supposed to get in the bed while they are in there?

*Will they make the bed after they leave and make it ridiculously and uncomfortably too tight like hotel beds always are?
*Why is this happening?

I feel uncomfortable and awkward....

#147 - misfits me perfect

If it wasn't for the size, the distance between buildings, the ridiculous amount of people, and the number of surrounding restaurants, I'd think I was back at BYU-Idaho. BYU is definitely a too overwhelming for my littleness. I always think there are all these rules and codes of student conduct that I don't know here. I grabbed some food in the Wilkinson Center and looked at the packed to capacity table-sitting area, not knowing if it's kosher to sit at people's tables with them. There were also a lot of people lined up, sitting against the wall eating and typing away. I wondered if that was the only sitting on the ground approved wall, or if I could sit against any wall? Not wanting to disturb the well oiled religious machine; I stood for a while until someone left a table. This is me... at my own table (plus the two guys who just sat down to read the paper... apparently you ARE allowed to table share).

#146 -illustrious Jump Creek

Page by page, I'm going to adventure through "Trails and Canyons of Western Idaho" - A book my friend has. A group of us marked off one such chapter: Jump Creek. It was a beautiful hike with plenty of fun rock climbing and aqueous beauty. Saturday morning: Up at 5:30 am, arrived at 9:00 am - hiked until maybe... 2:00 pm? That early in the morning, we were the only ones out on the trails, which made it all the more magical. Anyone who knows me can tell you, I am an absolute sucker for waterfalls. They make my insides wooshy with excitement and magic, and this was no exception.

#145 - bat people

It's drastic. It's bold. It's momentous. It's radical. I've moved! ...upstairs.

My studio was simply unrealistic. I was uncomfortable having my house speak for me and saying, "hello. welcome to this one semi-medium size room. Take a seat on my... bed?". I've since moved up to one of the lofts on the second floor in my building. I've now got a two-floor, well, loft. I love having increased privacy and space and it makes me feel as though I could remain in this residence for a little while longer. My body is not made to sit still though; so as a compromise and alternative to moving, I've made plans to take a trip each month this year. I'll do my best to keep you posted on such adventures.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

#144 - long since forgotten

We used to be great together. We had each other's back. Sharing adventures, pictures, laughs and tears. Updates monthly; nay, weekly! But that was a long time ago... You've probably since moved on to other more exciting, regularly updated blogs. I'm still here; still having thoughts, barely intelligible to post. Still wanting that connection to the vast expanse. Reaching out to the unknown reader that might connect to my maundering. If you are there, please know I'll do my best to come in at a reasonable hour and share my tales with you. We can cuddle up and pillow talk until the wee hours. Had a long day? Well, just relax, and know I'm back for you, baby.

#143 - like a tree

Apparently, I am like a Tree – Like a mighty oak, people who fall into the Tree category tend to be down-to-earth, with strong roots that provide strength to stand up to life’s daily challenges, and long branches to nurture those you care about. But like a tree’s leaves changing in the fall, you might find that your moods change when life’s challenges occasionally overwhelm you.

I took this "mood quiz" today and that was my result. I'm usually in a really good mood! Lately, I've been especially happy and have found joy in a lot of little things. I'm not always in a good mood: I am sometimes sleep deprived, work is sometimes long, I've had my heart broken, and sometimes I'm home and friend sick...

I am trying to focus now on finding joy in my life! I have two wonderful jobs in which I hold leadership positions, I have enough income to support my needs and occasional splurging wants. I have a gorgeous loft that I pine to lounge in, I have a downtown in easy access, friends to always turn to and a potential man I just can't get enough of! All in all, life is extremely happy and I'm loving every minute. My stomach is back to its twitterpated-less confused self and a smile, pretty much, never leaves my face.

#142 - workoholic

5:45 am - ...snooze...
the good: I get to sleep longer
the bad: I have to wake up soon

5:50 am - ...snooze...
the good: a few more minutes
the bad: quite, phone!

5:55 am - ...snooze...
the good: haha! I still get to sleep
the bad: dang, it's almost 6

6:00 am - alright alright
the good: alive, happy, healthy, employed
the bad: moving out of the cozy and into the less comfortable

6:45 am - drive to Meridian
the good: totally going to be to work on time!
the bad: I can't ride my bike to work

7:00 am - work work work
the good: happy people = job satisfaction, and good money
the bad: whiners, complainers, sobbers

3:30 pm - drive to Boise
the good: I work at the YMCA!
the bad: already worked 8 hours...

3:45 pm - work work work
the good: happy children, health conscience community, fabulous co-workers
the bad: still not sure what I want to do with my life

8:00 pm - drive home
the good: over!
the bad: exhausted, socially deprived, did I eat?

10:30 pm - nogggg shoooo nogggg shoooo
the good: happy bed, cozy dreams
the bad: my time is very scheduled and I've got too much workohol in my system

#141 - water pump

When dear ones go into surgery: on Saturday, I brought my mac in for a few repairs. The mac men seemed very confident and said they would have it fixed in no time, but failed to mention up front that they would need to keep it for five days. It was sprung on me, and as I walked outside of the store, I felt a little mac shaped emptiness. I got home and helped my old Compaq emerge from the closet. It has jumped from closet to closet for the past two 1/2 years since I've upgraded. It works, but has been stripped of it's computerness. After re-installing the Internet, I was up and running. The only problem with this computer is that it randomly decides to shut down; oh, and it's not a mac, and of course, once you mac, you can never go back. I have recently become addicted to the pill popping "House" and like to watch an episode or two a day online. 20 minutes into an episode and 3 'shut-downs' later, I had reached the pivotal discovery scene. Dr. Foreman was looking into a telescope, having a conversation with Dr. Wilson, when he got that look and exclaimed, "the water pump!" shoooooommmm - a black screen. "WHAT ABOUT THE PUMP!? WHAT ABOUT THE PUMP" Instinctually I yelled at my computer, and was too upset to instantly reboot. I had to calm down a bit... clean my house. Then find out how this water pump managed to almost kill a family. Very frustrating. One of the key luxuries I have found with a mac, now that I can really compare, is speed. Speed at finding things, bouncing through screens and pulling up need-to-go-to's. Oh I miss you speedy on mac. Get better soon...

#140 - digestive disgrace

What a terrible night for eating! I wasn't really hungry tonight and just wanted small munchies. I decided to try popcorn chicken for the first time. Apparently, spices are needed, because I just dipped bits of chicken in egg and then in flour and deep fried it. Very gross. I couldn't even cook my third batch and didn't eat the second batch. SPICES I NEED! After that I wanted some delicious liquid in my mouth, so I opened the fridge and noticed I had some chocolate milk in the fridge. I took a swig and what do we find? Tangy bubbly SPOILED! Super gross; I had even swallowed a lot. I tried to immediately over compensate with all the good tasting, easily accessible things in my fridge: grape juice, carrots and chocolate frosting. I felt sick.

crispy flour egg chicken + sour chocolate milk + grape juice + chocolate frosting + carrots = why did I even bother getting my flu shot last week if I'm just going to kill myself anyway.

I would like a crepe with fruit now please. Thank you.

#139 - studio 209

My decorating and moving furniture phase seems just about over. It's not big, by any means, but it's a perfect tide-over for the next seven months. It's comfortable, smells good, and all mine! This is me: nestled and settled in...