Trip to Pennsylvania (Part 1)

On August 19, 2009 it was my turn to head to Pennsylvania with Charles. We left at midnight. I was freaking out about getting on the plane. I even got a prescription to help me handle it. Luckily I have these awesome friends who gave me a sweet note and a necklace with St. Christopher on it so that I could be protected. And it was really weird, but I really felt safer. It was pretty much the sweetest thing ever! And I didn't even need my pill. I got on the plane and I was fine.

We left Utah and had a 2 hour layover in New York. I was pretty excited about being in New York even though I knew I wouldn't be able to really do anything but walk around the air port. And can I just say...It was not a clean looking airport. And the people were really rude. We ate at a little restaurant and I don't think our server smiled once. It was weird.

We arrived in Pennsylvania Thursday morning. We had a rental car reserved since I am now 25 and can officially rent one without paying an outrageous price. So we go to use my credit card to keep on file so if we decide to leave they can charge the card. Well it keeps denying apparently because it does a credit check if you use a debit card. Now I don't have perfect credit but its not that bad. So I was pretty pissed. We weren't able to use Charles' card because he wasn't the "driver" and if we wanted him to be we would have to pay an additional 37 dollars a day! Ya right! So I walk over to three more car rental places in the airport and they are all out of cars! So I call my mom and she jumps online and reserves a car and we walk over and get it and can finally leave the airport.

We were smart enough to purchase a GPS before we left on our trip. Can I just say...Thank Freaking Hell!!! I don't think we would have been able to leave the airport without it. Those roads there are so curvy and hilly its just crazy. So with the help of the GPS we made it to my Grandpa's after getting to go through a tunnel. I LOVE tunnels so I had to take a picture and show those who have not been in one :)

Once we got to my Grandpa's we just hung out there for the day since we were so worn out from the trip. My Grandma was also there and we just sat around until my Pap took her back to the Home. Then he came back and Charles an I got ready and headed down to the bar down the street. That is where he had Iron City Beer. Its a P.A. thing I guess. So I had to take a picture of that as well :)

On Friday afternoon/evening we headed over to our Uncle Kevin & Aunt Jodi's for a BBQ. They had a few people over to keep us entertained and it totally worked. Plus they keep feeding me fuzzy navels which were so delicious! They also deep fried a turkey and it was fantastic. They just set it in the middle of the table and handed us a fork and said to dig in. It was pretty much the most random awesome way to eat a turkey :)

They also had corn on the cob and a really great dip that I forgot to get the recipe for. Oh man, just thinking about it makes me hungry! We stayed there for a good part of the night and eventually headed back to my paps to get some sleep. We had a great time hanging out with everyone and are so glad we got to see them again.

Since I took over 700 pictures on this trip, I am going to post multiple blogs so its not super uber long.

Stay tuned for...Sight seeing in downtown Pittsburgh

Beauty and the Beast

On August 14, 2009 I went to see Beauty and the Beast with my two good friends, Brandon and Kara. I also took along one of my favorite girls, Erin.

I probably wouldn't have even known about this play if it hadn't been for my old friend Liz. We went to high school together and she was always in the choir and in the school plays and she has continued to appear in plays at Juan Diego High School. I am so glad she told me about it! It was really cute. She was not a main character but she did have two parts. She was a napkin and one of the girls who are absolutely in love with Gaston. She did a great job!

5K Dash for Donation

As most of you know, my Mom and I work for the University of Utah with transplant patients. Today we participated in a 5K at Sugarhouse Park. It was a pretty good turn out and the perfect day for a run/walk. The clouds covered the sun and there was a slight cool breeze. It was perfect. We met up with quite a few co-workers and I even brought along Lucky.

It was very official. We even got to wear numbers and everything.

Here is my mom with Kellee

Here is cute little Ava with her fingers in her mouth as usual

Here is Jackson itching to get out and run

We all got t-shirts and Lucky even got his own Team Transplant bandanna

We accidentally lined up at the front of the starting point and it wasn't long until we were far behind everyone. This picture is about 3 minutes after we started. That's a whole lot of people to pass us. Lucky thought everyone was supposed to run so he was practically pulling me down the road in all the excitement. That excitement slowed quickly as he became more tired thank goodness.

We all reached the finish line finally. My mom and I were last in our group and got there in just over an hour. Pretty good considering I had to stop to let Lucky go potty a million times and pick up his poop and clean out his paw because he stepped on something sharp. So its totally his fault I didn't finish in 15.9 minutes.

Once we made it to the finish line we all were rewarded with Bananas, Apples, and Ice cream

Even Lucky got some

After we had our ice cream we all just sat in the grass while awards were given out for the best times.

Lucky was pretty tired but not enough to not beg for every ones ice cream

After the awards were given we were served salad, corn on the cob, coleslaw, pork, chicken, cheesy potatoes and for dessert...Peach and Apple cobbler. Delicious!

I look forward to participating again next year!

P.S.

Lucky also received tastes of pork..corn..cheese...Lets just say he doesnt smell the best right now! Yuck!

Jessica's Graduation

My parents were in Pennsylvania to see family and also to attend Jessica's Graduation. I am pretty sure she cant be possibly old enough to graduate..or even be older than 10 but apparently while I was out here in Utah she grew up.

Here is Jessica with her mom

Here are some of the planners

My two aunts, Mary and Louann and my mom Dorothy

Here is my Grandma giving kisses

Here is Jessica with her boyfriend

Here is Carissa with her new little guy, Coleton

Here is Lee A. and his family..Robin, Ian, Tailor

Here is Easton being a little ham

True Love...

Here is Jenny with my parents. She is the one who took all of these lovely pictures.

Thanks Jenny!

Here is Jenny being goofy with Easton

Here is Taylor loving the camera

Easton is not so sure

My Aunt Mary and Uncle Lee

With Jenny

Just a dog

“Just a Dog”

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, its just a dog” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog”

They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog”

Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog” but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think its “just a dog” then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend” “just a sunrise” or “just a promise”.

“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folds like me, its not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and reams of the future, and fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that its not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a woman”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog” just smile…

Because they “just don’t understand”