Scenic-By-Way

Lastnight I thought about what I would be doing with my day off come morning time. I figured I'd wake up early, watch the Redbox I rented, get dressed, retun the Redbox then the bank.

I decided that I needed some thinking time and it was 90 smooth-sailn' miles to Canada so I filled the gas tank and set off.

The area just north of here is absolutely beautiful!! Rolling hills/mountains covered in HUGE trees, farm land, farm houses, little towns, lakes- all of it. Really pretty. It made me think about the path my life is taking. The Scenic route. I think I'm taking the long way to get wherever it is I'm going. I've moved all over the place had several jobs, done a bit of traveling but still don't have anything too perminant- that's how I know I'm not "there" yet. I sure am learning a lot along the way and am enjoying it (most of the time) so I suppose it's more like I'm on the scenic-by-way route. I'll get there eventually and as a bonus will have had some great adventures along the way.

Anyway... I got off the freeway at the last exit before the border (didn't have my passport) and admired Canada from Blane, WA. It was nice.

A quick video...

I took this video when Steevo and I were riding horses with the intent to post it but then neglected to do so. This is so you can see him as a real person rather than only a photo.

Everyone should have a boyfriend in Wyoming.

Well, I had a great time in WY with Steevo! I got all dressed up like a cowgirl and did my best to fit in in that little town.

We went horseback riding.

Went camping next to this perfect little pond.

Shot guns.

Got dressed up for dinner.

And pretty much had a perfect long weekend!!!

Steevo is such an amazing guy!!

Yesterday I was a tourist.

Yesterday I spent the day on the streets of Seattle in the sun (with a hat and SPF and no exposed winter white flesh) with friends from back home. Hailey and her husband Brett spent the weekend with the Jorgensens at a beach house down on the Hood Canal and made it up to Seattle to see the sights and to visit me (I'd like to think this-visiting me- was their main objective). Hailey and I were roommates back in SLC before she got married last summer.

Here's what we did...

The Troll. This is a sculpture that is under the 99 bridge at Lake Union (I think that's what it's called). Totally a random sculpture but the plaque said that the neighborhood was really brought together by it's being built.

(Between the Troll and this pic we spent 4 hours walking around the Market and downtown Seattle hitting all the major stores. They live in Northern Idaho which only has an Old Navy and Wal-Mart so they were in serious need of some retail therapy).

Then we went to a Mariners game. The Mariners are a big deal up here. I'm afraid to cheer for Boston when they play together for fear of my life. Between the 8th and 9th innings some guy sprinted onto the field over on the 3rd base side and made it all they way to the 1st base side (dodging 2 umps and 2 'Alcohol Enforcement' dudes before a fan tackled him 1/2 way up the aisle. Totally worth the 8 bucks.

Hailes and I. She was one of the very best roommates ever! (um. hello! look at how long my hair is getting!! The pic in my banner was in December so it's grown quite a bit in just 5 months)

Brett, Hailey and I.

You can't really tell in this pic but Hails is 6 months pregnant with a little boy. Due in August. This pic was this morning at the temple grounds.

It was a good day.

Proof...

... that there IS sun in the Northwest. To all ye nay sayers, I say "HA! It isn't all doom and gloom here." Although the joke is on me because I've been eating ibu like candy and have struggled to get aloe and lotion on my crispy back. This is the result of a sunny day and a 3.5 hour bike ride. Ya know, I've been fair skinned my whole life yet I still underestimate those pesky UV rays.

Ah, hmmmm.... the following post is based on the pictures I have in my "Random pics" folder.

Hello from the soggy Northwest. It still amazes me how great it smells here- ALL of the time.

Below is a picture narrative... I guess this is what I've been up to.

I was on a run a sometime in the last 4 weeks and I noticed that there are miles and miles of Dandilions here and they are GIGANTIC!! See that one I'm holding? Massive.

Then they go to seed like this one did and become wishing vessels.

I REALLY hope that wish comes true!

Is this flower/tree Dogwood? I love it. I've seen them all over the place and have seen a few in UT too. I'd like one in my yard one day.

I had a little birthday money come in the mail and I bought a few random items.

1: Butterfly Flower lotion from B&B Works. Definately and impulse buy. I don't even use lotion that often but something about the smell reminded me of being on vacation.

2: Have you seen "He's Just Not That Into You"? If you haven't you SHOULD. It's great! The main loveable character has some fabulous jewel-tone purple polish on the whole show. I hunted high and low for it for a few weeks but to no avail. UNTIL the Everett Mall came trough. O.P.I makes "Purple With A Purpose" polish and I just love it.

3: I always get suckered into buying Martha's semi-annual Weddings magazine. They're just too tempting. Take a look at the length of the dress on page 50, bottom right photo. Beautiful!

4: Value Village had these perfect S&P shakers offered at a mere $.99/ea. I stood and debated for about 5 minutes and walked out empty handed. It's not like I really need a set of S&P shakers right? I sent a "you'd be proud of me for walking out empty handed" text to my man (I'm trying to be frugal). He said (without even asking the price) "just get them, I'll buy 'em". I went back the next day and aquired them. They're awesome. Thanks Babe!

Dear HP,

Is it normal for your computers to freeze up, end all programs in the middle of what I'm doing an make my screen look like that?

Please advise.

Thank you,

Shelby

On my trip to the Everett Mall I strolled through the bookstore looking for a good read. I always have good intentions of being well read. Then I spotted this book. Yup. Really. It's on the shelves at Borders ready for your perusal. Notice how well worn it is yet it's still on the shelf. It just dawned on me that I didn't even think about looking at it's contents, that's how serious I took this 'book'

Sea-Town from what I would think is a great make out spot in West Seattle. I'll let you know...

39.66 hours

Ok. Check this out.
900 is the number of minutes I have in my plan.
737 is the number of minutes I've used from my plan in the current billing period.
119 is the number of mobile to mobile minutes I've used this billing period...so far. (thanks Jana)
1,524 is the number of unlimited night/weekend minutes I've used in the current billing period.

Now. The thing is is that my billing period began only 10 days ago. TEN.
What it the world do i talk about for 39.6666 hours in 10 days? That's like a full time job.
It's a good thing I have 3,441 rollover minutes (57.35 hours) to last me till the 23rd.

I don't think I've ever spent this much time on the phone... well maybe. There was the one skinny guy I dated on the phone from Washington a few years ago. (Ash, you remember "Bonnie") Well, I must say that the bulk of these minutes are again because of a man in another state. Yes, he's totally worth using up all my rollover minutes!!

Today I went to Alki with my new friend Stacey. It's a great place in West Seattle (where Stacey lives) that has shops and cafes and restaurants. And on a day like today a ton of people out on the beach and on bikes going up and down the boardwalk. Forgot the camera so no pics but believe me when I say it is just a perfect beautiful place.

I've Encountered a Problem.

Things are still going great. I start training at my new fancy server job tomorrow, the weather is still absolutely beautiful and I'm happy. There is however, one small problem. It gets light here starting at 5:30. It's crazy. I didn't even think about it and with the weather being so nice there aren't any clouds to block that pesky sun at 6 am. I have been combating the light with pillows over my face but that gets tricky proping things just right so there's a good air flow. Well, I think I solved my problem. I have been wering a black beanie to bed becasue my room is pretty cold. I started pulling the rolled up cuff over my ears then realized that it's the perfect sheild from the sun if I pull it over my eyes too. Problem solved. See below.


This nasty guy thinks he belongs here. Wrong-O-buck-O!! Goooo, he was big and gross.

I've Arrived.

Ok. I know I got here a full 7 days ago (7 days and 8 minutes to be exact) but today I arrived. This great city I'm "living" in(I say "living" because I'm in a suburb but you get what I mean) has such a great feel and energy and life. The whole area the environment the weather- all of it makes me feel more at home after a single week than 26 years in Utah- 26 years today in fact.

This place is fantastic! Really. I'd recommend it to anyone. It's not too big, easy to navigate, beautiful and really feels like where I'm supposed to be. I'm so glad I came here and I'm glad I'm daring and brave- well, I am. Who else moves to a city they've never been to, where they know no one and where they don't have a job? (oh, I got a serving job! Isn't that great?!)

I saw my mom and Charlie today. What a lucky coincidence that they'd planned to be here this weekend and now I live here. Charlie and I hit the streets and walked around and got some lunch- he's so great! My mom got misty when I said good bye, I did too a bit. She's been my biggest cheerleader through all of this (and the other huge spur-of-the-moment random decisions I make) and it means the world to me. She's got a sense that THIS is IT. I'm where I'm supposed to be, which works out well cuz I feel it too. I guess mother and daughter aren't so different after all.



Today I received a package from a distant admirer, very much appreciated!! Thanks Steevo!!

Charlie and I spent the afternoon wandering around the city and talk talk talking.

Me. 26 years old. Today.

And of course, the fish market.

sunny day and oh's

Today I slept in. I don't sleep in anymore. My body is programed to wake up at about 7:30 and it takes some serious effort to sleep longer. But today. I slept in till 9 or some ridiculous hour like that. I think that with all the moving and settling in and stress of picking up my life and ploping it down in the Pacific Northwest has caused my body to need for sleep. It's odd because I don't feel streesed or worried or uneasy or anxious but I must be.

Well today while most people in Ut made comments to me like "It's like seattle here today" I had to fish for my sunglasses and went to the park to let the UV rays coax out my freckles. It was lovely. I got a job interview at Boston's to be a server. I swear, one of these days I'll quit the server life. Promise. Then at Safeway I found my fav cereal on sale- Oh's- definately the best cereal ever. I hadn't been able to find them in UT for several weeks. I had a teriyaki burger from Teriyaki & Burger Stop on Rucker per Dave's reccomendation and it was amazing as promised. After dinner Z, R and I went to the beach for a sunset walk. It was cold but pretty.

I'm THERE!!!

Hello Everyone!!! Washington is beautiful! My room has a soft bed, wireless internet and closet space. I think I'm going to make it here. I'm really excited to start this new part of my life and can't wait to see what it brings. I'm living with Dave's parents and they're great, very generous and kind. I spent the day today with Robert (Dave's dad) going around town to his job sites and getting a bit more familiar with Everett.

The drive wasn't so bad. I thought it'd be totally miserable but I kept myself entertained by singing outloud and dancing in my seat. I had a great nap in the parking lot of the Walmart somewhere in the middle of Oregon, sipped on a few Rockstars (I don't do long trips in cars very well. Long ride=nap in my world) and POOF! I was here. It's going to be great.

Moving Sale

Moving sale is just a fancy way to say I'm trying to get rid of all my crap and hope you (or any random passer-by) will be willing to buy it. In total I bet I've spent barely $700 on EVERYTHING I own (shoes and clothes excluded). I'm talking about dishes, pots and pans, dining table, bookshelves, decorations, "art", accessories, rugs, sofa, loveseat, coffee table, dining table, end table, night stand, dresser, headboard, mattress set... you get the point. That's pretty good if you ask me. I can think of two items that I purchased at full price or didn't pick up off the side of the road or out of someone's DI pile. My big mirror and my old trunk. The rest of it was nearly free.

So, I'm having a "won't you buy my old stuff that was old when I got it but you'll feel like it's new" sale on Saturday. I've already sold my sofa and loveseat for $120 when I only spent about$40... that's what I'm talking about!!!

271 5th Ave. Salt Lake City
8am till whenever

A very important announcement....

My dearests. The time has come for me to leave the SL valley and head to soggier pastures. Thursday I made the decision to move. To Seattle. Yep. Seattle. I'm planning on being there in the next few weeks and between now and then will just have to unload an apartment full of stuff, stuff the civic and head out. I'm so ready for this new adventure. I'm not all sorts of rollercoaster excited but just settled on it and it's sitting calmly in my chest. Dave makes this possible and I could hear the smile on his face when I told him I was going for sure. Wish me luck!

Boring, boring...

...why is my Blog so boring? Ok, I should have a stellar Blog these days since my main responsibility in life right now is just making it to the gym which leaves 22.5 usable hours to blog away. The problem is my lovely laptop decided to quit connecting to the wireless internet we're stealing from who knows who. Now I have to drive all the way out to T-Ville to PLUG IN the internet. PLUG IN??? What is this 1999? Needless to say I haven't made it out to T-Ville too often to keep up on el Blog lately.

Now that I'm in T-Ville the scoop is as follows...

I have started making muffins a lot
I go to the gym almost every day.
I fell down the stairs at work- I'm ok, thanks for asking- and the best part is it got caught on survallence video. HILLARIOUS!!
I am coaching high school track and field. I love it!!!
Still no unemployment money coming in but I'm hopefull.
My brother Jeff married his girlfriend Andrea in Las Vegas last weekend.
My little brother Calvin is on he way to the war
I sat and listened to my mom tell me stories about what I was like as a young child. also hilarious.
The job hunt continues.
I really like not working a 9-5 these days. I wasn't made for that kind of structure.

Alright, peace out.

Thank You

Today marks the 1 week anniversary of me loosing my job. (Oh, now now, don't cry for me Argentina. It's fine. Really. The boss had to do what she had to do in order to save her company. Damn economy.) If you're someone who's close to me you know that I thrive on change. Why else would I have moved 19- yep count 'em- 19 times since high school/2001? Or why don't I care about cutting my hair? It grows back. I love change. Perhaps I get bored, well, yes I do get bored, I admit it. So this means that I have a myriad of options ahead of me for my next step in life. I have few if any ties keeping me where I am now and so I've decided to head to Alaska for the summer. Why not? Three men to each woman I'm told. I'll be in a beautiful little town called Skagway (hopefully) giving people bike tours or hiking tours or taking them on a dog sled excursion from their cruise ship (that is if anyone goes on a cruise this summer, damn economy). I could work at the local gardens planting flowers and learing the art of glass blowing. Who knows. So, that is my plan. I'll be a waitress till I leave then spend my summer out of doors where people belong. Not in an office with no fresh air. So... thank you economy.

Lucky

Here I sit in my best friend's room listening. Listening to he and his little brother play original music. And Justin can't keep his fingers off the iPod touch. It reminds me of before when best friend and I would sit in his basement bedroom and he'd play for me. It was all new back then and now it's all familiar. Lucky to be listening.

If only I still lived in the city.... (sigh)

Thanks Jill for mentioning this fabulous event. I would definately do this if I still lived in Manhattan.

Adios oh 8, Helllllooooo OH 9!

What a fabulous holiday season it was!

[google images]

Christmas was the best it's been in years. Really. Think, what makes Christmas so fun when you're a kid? Is it really the presents? I thought so until 12.25.08. I now believe it's the ACT of opening presents not necessarily what's inside them (except that I do just love my new waffle maker which makes perfect Cheese Waffles -Don't say eeeeewwww gross till you've tried it- and my Kor Hydration Vessel).

This is why: For the last say, um... 7 years I've been a mostly poor college/early career girl and for Christmas have requested the cash money it would take to purchase things like waffle makers in order to pay my heat bill in Logan or buy gas. And this year I didn't request anything -except the fancy water bottle and some spices to fill up my new spice cupboard in my new apt because my parents have been SOOO helpful these last 7 years.

But especially in 2008 (it was that damn Audi) when it came down to the wire my parents were there. Mom helped me A LOT in getting the new Civic and dad helped me move twice, paid for a couple repairs etc. I felt like Christmas was an all year festival of giving money to Shelby this year. THANK YOU!

So imagine my surprise and utter delight when I got to tear into festivly wrapped boxes (and sleep in till 8) and actually not having a single clue what's inside. That was the best part. The suspense and anticipation just like when we were kids. That's what made this Christmas the best in years.

Now that 2009 is here:

I WILL NOT EAT ANY SUGAR. Let me explain... no sugar/high fructose corn syrup filled candy, soda, cakes, pies, and all those other lovely treats. I'm doing this not because I think those things are bad for me but because I'm lazy and hate the cold. I loathe the idea of going outside in the cold to go to the gym and even worse driving home all sweaty and cold. So. If I don't eat sugar I'll feel a bit more justified in not going to the gym.

I'm considering this: If I go to the gym 4 times in one week I can have some sort of sugary treat.



Other goals for the year:
Learn more about the Prophet Joseph Smith
Continue attending the temple regularly
Decide what I REALLY want to do for a career
Give
Start road biking so I can to the Lotoja... someday
Read the lesson before RS and Sunday School
Move out of UT
Stay motivated to complete the above list.

Death by Boredom

Can you die from boredom? I guess being bored is a choice but I can only file so many papers and read for so long online before my eyes fall out of my head, or watch so many movie trailers (two or three times each), or shop or count how many times "Ken" (that's the guy that works next door) walks past our windows, or see if the lady across the way slips on the ice again or, heaven forbid, WORK. But being glued to my desk at work is agony.

F.Y.I: This DOES NOT work with the new fangled flat screen computer monitors- just in case you considered trying it.

Unexpected Treasures

Whenever ago Andrew and I made a stop at the downtown Deseret Industries. (You know, it wasn't until I was much older that I realized the term "DI" wasn't the generic name for places like The Salvation Army and Savers. In fact those places are called thrift stores. Who knew?)


We left with a car full of treasures. I bought a pair of cognac colored ankle slouch boots for $4- something I wouldn't buy full price because I'm still working my way into this fashion trend. But for FOUR dollars? I'm in! I also got a pair of very near new Saucony Jazz sneeks. Like these but brown with dark orange accents. 5 bucks (Don't believe me? The DI tag is still on the bottom).

I also found a pair of BRAND NEW tasty Steve Madden red leather, kitten heeled, pointed toe slip ons. The bottoms were factory direct- seriously. They had NEVER been walked in. I bought them though they fit about as well as the glass slipper did on Cinderella's ugly step sister. I figured Jana might enjoy them... turns out Rhonda (Jana's mom) has found them a warm home in her closet.

As we were pulling away loaded with our booty Andrew exclaimed "PLEASE TELL ME I'M LOOKING AT THIS!! PLEASE!" On the sidwalk next to the car we saw this kid with his amazing invention.

He was more than happy to pose for us. You better believe that's a sub wolfer between the back wheels and a CD player between the ape hanger handle bars. So rad!! I'd definately consider trike-ing to work on one of those.

Genetic Melting Pot

A funny thing happened when the genetics were getting passed out in my family... they got all mixed and jumbled up and now we don't match. There are siblings that can be recognized as "Joe's little brother" years later by the algebra teacher and then there are those who's only resemblance lies in their last names. The latter is true for me and mine.

Spiv is narrow hipped, brunette with dark eyes and gets super tan when exposed to ultra violet rays. And is short.

Calvin is TALL has dark hair, grey-blue eyes, our grandma's nose and our dad's hands. AND shares Spiv's gift of absorbing UV rays and transforming them into Golden Tan rather than Freshly Cooked Lobster like I do.

I have that same grandma's complexion: fair and freckled, blue eyes, am much taller than Spiv and have a few more curves to boast about. And when I dye my hair red no one suspects it's a farce.

We all take after someone who came before us but we don't have anything very similar.

Maybe Spiv and I have similar voices on the phone? Grandma Nonnie never cold tell if it was me, Spiv or her own daughter who answered. Oh how I'd love to see Grandma Nonnie again!

So, we don't look like we're related. Big deal.

This Lawn is Your Lawn

I think it's a smashing idea to use the huge White House lawn for something more productive than Kentucky Blue. This video shows us the history and future plans to return to history of the White House lawn.

Oh ye of little faith

And you thought I'd never post pictures of my trip to Boston... you probably already forgot about it.
Ok, well I hope you're ready for way too many pictures! I'm terrible at editing and pairing down, so there are a TON of pictures following...

Boston and Watertown, Halloween 2008.
David tells me that this is where Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck and Violet live. I asked "how do you know?" and he said "because I've seen them". Can't argue with that. This house is just across the grass from where David goes to church.

This is where Washington had his headquarters during the war.

I think the colors in the stone on this church are so pretty; I think it's slate. David disagreed with me.

I would like a head stone like this one.

Cristina Carruth at a Halloween party David and I stopped at. It was a ward members party and turns out Cristina was there; she used to be in my ward here in SLC

David's charming street.


David left for school early in the morning so I showed myself around Cambridge and Boston....

Harvard University

More Harvard.

And more Harvard. I started to think... "these people look pretty normal, I bet I could have gone to Harvard" Pffffff... yeah right!

"Smile Jana, I'm taking a picture" Jana was "with"me while I was walking around Harvard.

MIT

I definately didn't think I could go to MIT!

Along the river with Boston in the background. I walked all the way down the river, over the bridge and all around Boston.

Beacon Hill. THE fancy pants neighborhood in Boston. Yes please.

This street reminded me of Jorrit (Tag) Wjin's street in Liden in The Netherlands.

Right before this picture was a catering set up... it was for some movie that was being shot in Boston. A few blocks later I walked right past all the camera men and movie stuff.

The city building.

Doing my part... I've kissed a lot of frogs!

This is in Boston's North End where David's school is.

North Bennett Street School. Piano making, cabinetry and Luthier school... it was pretty sweet.

David's desk.

The piece at the bottom is the cello David is making. His final is 4 violins, 2 violas and 1 cello.

3 of the 4 violins.

Incredible detail!! Those two black lines are inlayed wood and they are TINY.

With a little bit of this...

....this....

...and this....

...you'll get one of these!

Everything is so old!

Cemetaries all over the place, right in the middle of a neighborhood.

Near Boston Commons

Salem, MA for Halloween!!

David, Shelby and Ben

The witch house had such tiny windows, nice and dark for all the boil and brewing.

He really looked like Batman (the Val Kilmer verson)

Every street for 6 or 7 square blocks was packed like this.

This guy could barely walk down the street but not because of his shoes but because everyone wanted a picture with him.

This is where they burried a bunch of the "witches" from the trials. There were 18 "witches" tried at the trials. The city had it lit up so we could all see it.

Boston Temple.

This house has been sitting like this for A LONG time! The story goes that the awful man that lived here with his wife and baby (or babies, I don't remember how many there were) was abusive and mean. The wife made plans to escape but the night before she was to leave he found out, killed her and the baby and disappeared. It's been empty ever since. Creepy.

Indian dinner in Cambridge at Harvard Sq. SO GOOD!!!

Sunday morning walk back from breakfast!

This is David playing the violin. I had to be sneeky about taping him because he wouldn't let me... that's why it's at a funny angle.

PHEWW!! Now I can cross this off my "To Do" list.