The Airport

So many people laugh at me because of my love of the airport... next to borders its my favorite place to be. Sometimes I tell the person taking me to the airport that my flight leaves just a few minutes earlier then it really does so that I get to spend a little bit more time there. The airport is always associated with a negative connotation and I'm going to have to argue against this...
First, going to the airport means you are going somewhere and 98% of the time you are going somewhere fun, a vacation perhaps. The excitement of having a destination somewhere other then where you are now is one of the best feelings.
Second, if you are anything like me you love people watching. I find it fascinating to watch how families interact with each other during stressful moments or long periods of waiting. That's when true personalities come out.
Next, there is something about going and getting a magazine and reading up on the latest gossip in Hollywood... sure you can do that standing in line at the grocery store or in the comfort of your home, but it again it leads back to the first point I made.
Finally, vacations are always needed and the airport is your ticket to that! So the next time you want to rag on the airport... think first of the wonderful things it provides.
I REST MY CASE!!!

Sand Dunes!

There is something exciting about the wind in your hair, the sand in your teeth and the white knuckle grip on either the 4-wheeler or the person driving the 4-wheeler! I got to experience a trip down the Dunes a couple of weeks ago and I will tell you what... there isn't anything more exhilerating then seeing the MOUNTAINS OF SAND! I was facinated watching the different motobikes race to the top of a straight climb. What was even more exciting is riding on the back of a 4-wheeler and feeling like at any moment you are going to just fly off the back. Entering into the Sand Dunes a sign is posted "1 number of days since the last serious accident" Two days before I went, a man was life flighted out of there. The same day I was there flight for life visited the Dunes again. (Don't worry it wasn't anyone in our group)

Well don't worry... whenever there is a 4-wheeler and Jennie, you get an accident. Coming down from the mountainous peaks above... clinging tightly to the back of my friend a sudden turn sent my feet flying off the pedals and the intial reaction is to put your leg down. Well with the tire right there... sometimes thats not the best idea. My leg got caught under the tire and I flew off. Luckily we weren't going too fast and I was positioned in a way where my leg didn't break. However when my friend stopped my leg was under the tire of the 4-wheeler. YIKES! My friends were shocked my leg didn't break.

Following this... I was driving my 4-wheeler following a few more experienced friends of mine on their bikes. As they climbed a steep hill and glided smoothly over it I assumed I could do it as well. As I climbed the hill and realized I didn't know what lied on the other side I released the gas and my 4-wheeler stopped half way up the hill. My friends were already far ahead of me so I had to climb to the top of the hill so they would be able to find me when they realized I was gone. Climbing loose loose sand in 80 degree weather... I felt like it was the Sahara desert.

Over all the trip was a blast... I hyperextended my leg... have massive bruises on both legs, but can't wait to do it again!
Posted is a glimpse of what the sand dunes is like...

Home

I've been thinking a lot about feeling "Home sick". Whenever I get these feelings, I realize I have little places throughout Utah that help me chase away these negative emotions.
First: Borders! By far one of my favorite places to go when I need peace of mind. I love getting my Chi tea and walking up and down the aisles. I love grabbing random books about ghost ships or the making of the star wars movies. I love seeing friends anxiously engaged in conversation over a cup of coffee. Or the man sitting in the corner enthralled with his laptop. I call Borders my place of peace.
Second: The house of the family I nanny for. Whether or not the kids are there, I see the drawing on the fridge and the toys on the floor and I can hear their voices. They bring me happiness. I love the comfort of knowing that it is a place I can find refuge in. A place where I am loved and seen as the world in the eyes of three small children.
Third: The Spa! Enough said!
Fourth: The gym... even though I haven't been in months I remember how good it felt pushing myself and seeing the results.
Finally: My own home... being with my family. There isn't anything that can top that. It is my sanctuary!

GIRLS!!

Whats more ideal then getting all the girls together, sharing the latest gossip of new trends they've found. Talking about the latest guy they are eyeing or how the last one broke their heart? I've realized now more then ever that there is something great about being with your best friends, story telling and gossiping. Some of my favorite moments are listening to the conversations that are going on, hearing the happiness in the voices and most of all the laughs that are sincere and for real. Mothers advice: Never forget your girlfriends. Reach for them, confide in them and fall back on them. Its interesting how these are the people in our lives that at one point we couldn't go a day without telling them the latest gossip, but in the busy world we live in we let the days go by without giving those girls a call. How easy it is to let those days turn into weeks or even months before the guilt hits us when we realize the time we've lost with them. We move on and let husbands, careers, and life clutter the room we had for these women. Well today, I want all the fabulous girls in my life to know how much I care about them! This one is for your ladies!

kids say the darnest things...

I have been lucky enough to get to spend the majority of my life being surrounded by children. As of right now I currently am a nanny of three little ones. I always know that when my day is spent with kids, it's going to be different and even better then before. Some of my favorite things is seeing how excited the oldest gets when the animal wildlife visits his classroom and he gets to touch the snake. I love when the five year old draws pictures of me with an extremely large head, orange colored hair and hands that have three fingers. And of course I always smile when the three year old looks up at me with her hands high in the air and says "Hold you".
Above anything I love the thoughts that come from children's minds. A close friend of mine told me the story of when her son (while trying to get past her) suggested that other then Sunday, she should probably go to the gym everyday.
I also love the story that a close friend told me about the time she was teaching soccer to little kids. After getting a hold of the ball, she heard the shouts from one of the kids behind her "Grab the girl with the big butt!"
My niece, young at the time, came out here with her mom to visit me in Utah. She instantly started up a conversation with my roommates and after my sister told her we were leaving she responded, "You go on ahead, I'm going to stay here and visit with the girls."
How thankful I am for children's innocence and desire to be happy.

Blind date anyone?

I've reached a point in my life where my friends no longer have someone they can set me up with, but now have friends of friends finding me dates. We all know that 9 out of 10 blind dates fail and yet as a society we feel that it is our duty to find our "less fortunate" friends a soul mate. We are all guilty of this simple tactic.
I experienced a similar situation over the weekend. A friend of mine was chatting with his neighbor and in discussion found that she had a single brother. Never really meeting the guy and the neighbor never having met me still felt that it would be a spectacular idea for us to meet.
I keep looking for the sign on my forehead that reads, "still single..." Do I give off some aroma that screams out to people, "She needs help or she'll never get married!"
As always I give the benefit of the doubt... Maybe I will be the one person who finds their soul mate. Then comes the awkward moment of not knowing what to do on a blind date. Well you've got some really good options of dinner and bowling, dinner and adventure golf, and dinner and games with another couple you've never met.
Blind dates... you gotta love them!

Quarter-Life Crisis?

Well the time has come and although it is a year early, it is here and I'm preparing myself for the worst... my quarter life crisis. For those who don't know, I will be turning 24 in a couple of months and I guess rather then fearing it I should embrace it. That's exactly what I've decided to do. Over the last month I've been longing for a new car. Something a little bigger with more room and one that doesn't threaten to not start on me in the mornings if I don't warm her up first. Don't get me wrong, the Jetta and I have had some good years together but she isn't getting any younger and while I'm not either I can at least pretend I am. So I will trade her in and hopefully someone will find her.
Along with my desires to spend money, I've been obsessed with trying to make money! I've secretly been in love with the stock market and my 401k. Every once in awhile I will let it slip out in a conversation, and have found my mood to be a little darker when the stocks are down.
Well as I said, my quarter life crisis has hit and so I say, "Bring it on!"