Holiday Chaos.

Alright...well its been awhile since my last post. This Christmas holiday has been an adventurous one to say the least.

Lets start from the beginning. Friday December 14th was the day of my flight home to Utah. I was excited to travel home to see my family and ready for a long break. My friend Adam, who also went to EAC (Eastern Arizona College) and also went to my high school, had the same flight as me. Small world that we went to the same college in the tiny town of Thatcher, AZ. Anyways...his grandparents were nice enough to drive us to the Mesa/Phoenix airport. They told me they would be by my apartment at 7:30am to pick me up. In my head I was thinking, "7:30am? That seems early. Our flight isn't until 1:50pm. It will take us about 4 hours to get to the airport." Well let me tell you right now, I thank the heavens above that we left that early.

7:30am rolled around and Adam and his grandparents pulled up, I loaded my bags and hopped in the truck. I was all ready to get this drive over with. We begin to drive off, when Adam's grandma turns around and says to me, "Adam lost his wallet." I looked at her with this face of 'what?' I know this isn't good news, because Adam needs his wallet, which has his drivers license in it, to board the plane. Adam said he couldn't remember where he might have lost it at. We drove over to Adam's girlfriends house. The fact that Adam has a girlfriend is a totally different story of its own. They are perfect for each other, because they are both socially awkward and weird. Sorry, but that is just my opinion. Probably mean to say, but whatever, we are moving on...Kelsie is her name. She apparently was joining us on our drive to the airport because she was flying to Las Vegas for the break. Adam looked for his wallet at Kelsie's house and didn't find it. He looked in the car he drove the previous day on their date. Nothing. We drove to the Burger King where they got food, then to the park where they hung out. Still nothing. While all of this is going on, I'm just sitting in the back seat getting annoyed and anxious. At this point we had been driving around in circles for an hour. Long story short...we ended up back at the college so he could get an new I.D. card. After he got that, we headed off...for reals this time. I thought I was going to die in that car. I pulled out my iPod and headphones and tried to zone out for the rest of the drive. I just wanted to be on that plane headed home.

Things are going great so far...until it starts to hail/sleet/rain. It doesn't snow often in Arizona. If it does it is in the mountains. But when it does, people go crazy. I swear they are like, "What the heck is this?! How do I drive in this?!" I'm like please people, this is nothing. Its just sleet. Go where I'm going and try to drive in 2 feet of snow and icey roads. Well of course our day couldn't get any better...while driving through this canyon like road, we suddenly come to a halt. Traffic is not moving. Adam's grandma gets a call from someone who tells her that they just heard on the radio that there has been an eight car pile up. Just awesome. My favorite thing. I am already stressed out and anxious to get to the airport on time. I don't want to miss my flight. We sit for about fifteen minutes before traffic starts slowly moving again. As we drive, we pass a total a four cars still on the road. By this point I am starting to pray that nothing else bad happens. We continue our drive. Two hours later, I see the bigger city. I see low flying airplanes. I see sunlight and happiness. We are heading toward the light! The light being the airport, not death. Come on people, don't think like that.

I am so happy to see the airport. My prayers have been answered. We pull up, Adam's grandpa drops us off, then goes and parks. Adam, Kelsie, Grandma and I walk inside with our bags. I already had my boarding pass printed off so I waited while the other two got their passes and then the three of us headed towards security. We all passed inspection. Thank goodness. I was a little worried about Adam. He sorta is like the scare crow off of The Wizard of Oz. (He doesn't have a brain) After security we headed to our gate. Kelsie's flight wasn't until 3:30pm so she just hung with us. Our gates were by each other so that was nice. I loved just sitting and waiting until we boarded our plane. People are so interesting to watch. People watching is a hobby of mine. Best pass time ever. As soon as people get off their flight and walk into the building, they immediately head for the bathrooms. At first I thought it was a different exit. Then I noticed there was a line and that when people walked out, they would slightly be wiping there hands on their pants. You know, getting their hands more dry. We've all done it, don't act like you haven't. While some are using the bathroom, others are rushing to catch there flight that finished boarding ten minutes earlier. Everyone is taking advantage of the free WiFi on their phones, tablets, laptops, or in my case my Kindle. Oh the joys of the airport. Not going to lie, I was pretty excited to travel by myself. Without my family. It felt...well...awesome.

Finally it was time for Adam and I to board our plane headed to Ogden. Yes, Ogden. Not Salt Lake. Another thing that made this flight even better. The Ogden airport is about fifteen minutes away from my house. Which is great. The less time I have to travel in a car, the happier I am. We loaded onto the airplane, which is always awkward. I had the middle seat of a three seat row. I was the first to arrive to my seat so, when the lady came that had the window seat, I had to move to the isle so she could get in. Everyone is putting their carry-ons in the over head bins, which slows up the line of people. Some are switching seats with others so they can sit by their spouse. People were very courteous towards others. Who'd a thought?

I'll skip forward to our airplane already soaring through the sky. I have pulled out my iPod and headphones and have tuned out the thoughts of my mind. The lady sitting next to me was pretty funny to talk to. I joked with her about the brochures they put in the seats. I said to her, "You'd think maybe they would give us better reading material. I would be fine with a People magazine or something." She laughed and agreed. The guy sitting to my left, was a quiet one but seemed like a cool guy. He had the sweetest watch on. I wanted it. You know what's funny? You'd think people would understand that if you put headphones in that you don't really want to talk, nor can  you really hear anything. Well, I guess not. I had my big headphones on, but the lady next to my kept wanting to talk to me. I didn't mind talking to her. She was really funny and nice. I just wish our conversation wouldn't have been so stop and go. A little later the flight attendants started walking down the isle with snacks and drinks for purchase. There were five of us on my row. Everyone except me got an alcoholic drink. I didn't get anything at all. But it is funny what people notice and like to point out. The lady next to me said, "We all got alcoholic drinks." Obviously I didn't, but she thought that must have been funny that they were all drinking. In my head I was thinking, "Weird, we are all on a plane. But I'm not going to point that out." Two hours later we arrived in good ole O town (Ogden). We chaotically filed off the plane. My cute mom was waiting outside for me and taking pictures. I almost felt like movie star. The paparazzi just can't stay away from me. I keep having to tell them, "No, I am not Ellen DeGeneres. I just look and act like her. But I'll sign that for you anyways."

Not going to lie, I was in bit of a weather shock for the first couple days being home. I went from 50-70 degrees to 20-50 degrees. But it felt good to be home for awhile. I missed the cold weather and the snow on the mountains. I forgot what it was like to bundle up in a blanket on the couch and watch t.v., while drinking hot chocolate. When getting into bed I had to pull the covers up over my head. No more covers half on, one leg sticking out sorta deal. Good thing one of my dogs sleeps at the end of my bed and keeps my feet warm.

Its been good to be home. But it will be good to be back at school too.

Just A Little Something.

Forgive me for not keeping you all updated. Last week, the starting of finals week, my laptop decided to try out Murphy's Law. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Needless to say, I was very upset. I won't go into detail all that went down, but lets just say, nothing would work. Nothing. I was upset beyond words. Luckily I didn't have to finish any homework online or need my computer to study for finals. Having notebooks full of notes is the best way to go. I did however sit on the phone (not literally) with someone from Dell Support, for an hour, trying to figure out if there was anyway to fix my laptop. Nothing. Once I arrived home in Utah, I shipped it off to get the bugs worked out. My favorite part about calling Dell Support was hearing, "Hello, my name is Sam, thank you for calling Dell. How may I help you?" You say your name is Sam? Hmm...interesting. I just love your accent, it almost sounds like you are from India. Weird.

I have been reluctant to update my blog, because I have not had my laptop to work from. All of my photos that I would like to post are on there and it just doesn't feel the same typing on my dad's computer. I'm not feeling that coffee shop journal writing/blogging vibe.

There will however be a couple posts now and then, so don't forget about me. I did have a crazy adventure traveling home for the holidays. No joke, it was an adventure. Almost thought I wouldn't make it. I will save that story for a later time though. The suspense it great isn't it?

To all of you out there, Happy Holidays. Travel safe. Eat, sleep, and be merry for tomorrow we die.

Christmas Spirit.

The Christmas Holiday is coming! (Or whatever holiday you celebrate) We have decorated the apartment, listened to Christmas music, and also gave or fish tank a new look. Plus an addition to the fish family. Shark Bait...hoo ha ha. (Finding Nemo reference) We also took some roommate pictures together. Enjoy! .....and yes, we knew the wrapping paper in the frame was upside down. Crystal didn't realize until after she put it all together. We did switch it right. Although I preferred it upside down.

Thanksgiving Surprises.

A lot has happened since we've last met. I'm not really in the writing mood, but I will do my best to make this a great experience for the both of us.

Thanksgiving break was about 2 weeks ago and boy was it a great one. My plans for the break were to go to my cousins house in Phoenix and have Thanksgiving dinner with her and her husband. For my other days off I planned on hanging out her house, checking out Phoenix and also visiting one of my friends from home that became a nanny in Phoenix. Well...lets just say there was a change of plans after I found someone who was going to be driving through Utah during the break. But only a couple of people knew that I had devised a new plan. Those people being, my sister and brother-in-law and the cousin who I had planned on staying with. In the middle of planning out my mischief, I called my sister and brother-in-law and asked if they could help me out. My new plan was to drive with a friend up through Utah (He was headed to Oregon) and my sister would pick me up in Salt Lake and I would stay with them until Thanksgiving day. I just so happened that Thanksgiving dinner was set to be at my sisters house. Perfect. Like I said only certain people knew of my visitation home. So obviously my parents had no idea and being sly like I am, I had them convinced I was still going to Phoenix. It would be a great surprise to them and my siblings to see me home.

My friend David and I decided that we would leave early Tuesday morning. Early being 3:30a.m. I thought 3:30 wouldn't come soon enough. I didn't sleep at all Monday night. Seriously I didn't. I was awake up until we left and only slept at most, thirty minutes the whole drive. The whole 12 hourish drive... The drive seemed forever. It is a lot of looking at nothing. Many stops at gas stations to fill up and relieve ourselves. Switching radio stations every five minutes because of static, and trying to entertain ourselves. I was never so happy in my life to drive into Provo and see traffic. I called my sister and we decided on a spot to make the exchange of persons and luggage.

I was so happy to arrive at my sister's house. Sitting in a car for too long can cause you to go crazy. Plus it was good to actually have a home cooked meal and some good sleep. My nephew and I got to spend some quality time together. I never got tired of hearing him say, "Hey Loni." He is super cute. I have to stay on the top of the best aunt list too. 

Thanksgiving day was a wonderful day. I had the perfect plan for making my surprise entrance. When the time drew nearer of my family's arrival, I hid myself in my nephew's room in the back. Once everyone was comfortable and settled in my brother-in-law would act like he was going into the garage and I would sneak out of the room and follow him. I would then walk to the front door and ring the doorbell. My brother-in-law would answer the door and say, "Did someone order a pizza?" After confusing my family, I would then walk in and see the confused looks on everyone's face. Perfect plan right? Well...it sorta got ruined. My sister made awesome little turkey place settings for each of us. There were also papers that had our names on them...I also had one. My sister came back to the room I was in and said, "You might as well come out, I already ruined it. They saw your place setting." I walked out and saw everyone. My dad was still oblivious about the place setting. He was actually going to take a picture of it and send it to me. My mom on the other had got a little curious. Even though I couldn't make my front door entrance, everyone was still surprised to see me. Tears of joy formed in my parents eyes as I gave them each a hug. Not going to lie, it was sorta hard to keep my visitation home a secret. Especially when my mom wants to ask me questions about staying in Phoenix and also wants to call me. I had to keep my answers very generic and in a way that I wasn't lying. For example, "So how's Phoenix?" "Everything you would expect." When my mom asked if she could call me I was sitting alone in the car with my nephew while my sister and brother-in-law were doing some shopping. I couldn't necessarily step out of the car, cause then she would hear traffic, but I couldn't stay in the car, because my nephew would have probably started to talk to me, plus he was watching movies on an iPod. So I replied with, "I'm really not in the mood to talk. It will be better tomorrow when I can Skype and see everyone." I'm sure seeing me in person was better than sending me texts and trying to call anyways.

Dinner was awesome as always and it was such a joy to spend it with all of my family. Definitely a Thanksgiving to remember. That night I drove home with my parents to spend the rest of the week with them. There was a couple of friends I was going to surprise also. They had no idea that I had come home. They also thought I was staying in Phoenix. It was so fun to surprise them too. I wish I could have recorded their reactions. Priceless. I spent the night playing games with them and going to Denny's, which is always a tradition with them. 

For the rest of the week, I had no plans. I just wanted to relax and take in the sights and smells of home. I also didn't want to drive anywhere, because I was sick of driving and still had the drive home to deal with. My friends and I did go see, Perks of Being a Wallflower. I highly recommend this movie. It is now one of my top favorites. I guess I did get a haircut too. Which is always great. It's nice to get my haircut by someone I trust and who knows my style.

Sunday soon came and that meant it was time for me to head home to Arizona. David wanted to meet in Orem at 6 in the morning, which meant I had to leave my house at 4:30am. My awesome mom also woke up early to drive me down there. I was not excited for that long drive back, but I knew it had to happen. I slept a lot more on the drive home, which was nice. We arrived home at around 7 o'clock. I was so ready for bed. I unpacked, showered, then tucked myself in. I had practice in the morning and wanted some good sleep. At least practice was at 9am and not 3:30 or 4:30am.

Look at the awesome view. The view I saw most of the drive home...

All in all it was a great Thanksgiving break. After finals are done next week I will be traveling home again. By airplane thank goodness. It is still crazy to think that my first semester of college is almost done. Many more to go...

Dad this is for you...Thanks for the new fish tank. Tiger and Ginger love it. I am going to get a couple more fish and possibly another plant or something so it doesn't look so spars.

Amanda's mom knitted each of us a stocking. Aren't they awesome? Even Dusting and Joelle got one. Crystal found the perfect spot to hang them. Plus we have a real Christmas tree! Crystal and I strung the lights yesterday, but we still need to decorate it. It makes our apartment smell so good. We are just getting in the Christmas season here in Apt. 2.

Happy Holidays!