Diet Cherry Lime Coke? Switch Me Seats

Today I took a personal day from work and spent some quality time with my long time bff Natalie and my new bff Alan (aka: Big Al D Led). We met for a little lunch in SLC , had a brief incident at the State Street Sonic, and then headed off to the Park City for a little alpine fun.

First item of business: Snowies. I got the best flavor combo ever known, Tiger's Blood and grape. Nat went safe with pina colada and mango, and Al got the most disgusting concoction I've ever seen-- lime and root beer.

After our leisurely ride to the top, we went on the zip line. I was mos def the fastest, probablky because I had that Tiger's Blood coursing through my veins.

After the zip line, it was time for the coaster. If Nat and I look a tad cozy, it's because we cuddled up in a car together.

I don't know what was more fun, the actual coaster or the blonde behind me who was screaming for dear life.

Apparently the British fella who was running the ride found us quasi-amusing, and consequently offered us another go. This time we switched up the seating. Thanks, Coldplay fan who runs the coaster!

Also: There is an inflatable kids play area at the bottom of the hill that struck me as particularly...ahem...silly. I don't mean to be raunchy here, but does that T-Rex look a little Lewenski-ish to anyone alse?

I haven't died...

...but I have moved. After getting everything unpacked and figuring out how to get our internet all set up, I am finally ready to blog again. I won't post pics of the new pad until I get it quasi-decorated and such (cardboard boxes aren't really my style), but I can post pics of Mandi and I on moving day. In true butch form, we rented a u-haul (best $40 ever spent) and took care of things all by ourselves (with the help of Steven, the second best friend in the world).

Shower Mix CDs and Poker Nights

I am only the worst friend ever and am just now getting around to posting a happy birthday to Elise! I met Elise freshman year in the dorms and we instantly bonded over a shared love of 7-11 runs and watching movies over and over again. To make up for my tardiness in wishing her a happy 24th, I have scoured my computer for some photographic gems from our past. (E: I used to have a picture of you with that cat that we drew with rings on your face--did you delete that from my computer??) Enjoy!

Dorm Days.

Watching tv for several consecutive hours was enough to make us tired to the point of napping together in my twin bed. Aw, tender...

Sometimes we wanted to avoid studying so badly that we would turn getting a powerade from the vending machines into a whole "dress-like-twins" event. Please note that she is about 3 feet taller than me...

We enjoyed a good prank a little too much, and consequently we spent some time in a certain disciplinary office. Or hiding in a closet, waiting to jump out...

Maybe we went to Vegas, and maybe we got there in a Greyhound. And it is the single most horrifying experience of my life. Three cheers for the parents showing up with the best Valentine's Day gift ever, Elise's car.

happy birthday, elise!

Ain't Nothing But a Good Time

Mandi and I took off to celebrate Independence day in the heart of America. Prepare yourselves for the longest post ever as I narrate our journey through photo and word...

Day One: This $&*@ is About to Get Western

We got to our first stop, a tiny resort just outside Yellowstone, where the rather gruff check in lady informed us that there had been a problem with our reservation and we would be staying in the deluxe $190 a night cabin for the price of our originally requested economy cabin. I immediately envisioned the Ritz Carleton of log cabin luxury. What we found instead was quantity, not quality-- the skankiest accommodations with room to sleep 20. So we jumped on the extra beds and then headed down to the river.


After we spent some quality riverfront time, we went to the local playhouse for dinner and a play. Mandi challenged the banjo player to a duel of the banjos, which he happily accepted. If you look closely, I think you can see him falling in love with her. Dinner was ok but we got bored and ended up skipping the actual play. Whoops.

Day 2: Born on the 4th of July

Appropriately, our first wildlife sighting on Friday was a bald eagle. And then we saw some elk. But all we really wanted to see was a moose.

Get a load of this guy: just hanging out with a buffalo.


We took the warning signs very seriously. Heaven forbid you should have to witness a young boy walking across a geyser which almost blows his camera off...



These two geniuses drove their Chrysler down a walking path. Ah, city folk.

Enjoying a bit of the local huckelberry soda before hitting the town for the big celebration.

Yeah dude.

I have never had so much fun as I did on the fourth of July. We walked up and down Main Street, saw the parade, shopped for all sorts of little treasures, and made friends everywhere we went. Some of my best friends from this evening included Woodrow, the hat salesman; Mr. and Mrs. Smut Mouth (and their friend) who owned the cutest jewelry store ever; the couple from Florida who demanded we get our picture put on the ad for a store; Tony the stick carver; the couple from NJ who wanted me to work for their travel agency; Bill, the log cabin restorer from Seattle; and Bill, the bartender with a medicinal marijuana card.

Day Three/ Four: ...and then we went to South Dakota

We then took off eastward, passing the gorgeous Yellowstone Lake.

Maybe we ate fried pickles. And took a picture. After 8 hours of driving. Lovely.

So why South Dakota? Um...duh. The fulfillment of a lifelong dream!
It was everything I wished for and more! The only problem was that we couldn't find a competent photographer anywhere on the monument grounds. Below, please enjoy the hideous fruits of one man's photographic labors.

(no mountain)

(10 miles away, still no mountain)

(zoomed way in, while I was talking. Thanks a lot)

But we did manage to snap a few shots.

My favorite moment was when Mandi and I were looking up at the hills and a bunch of people gathered around us and I said loudly "Ah, JFK" and then I walked away. They'll be giggling about that for a long time, but the joke's on them.

After Mt. Rushmore, we headed to Crazy Horse monument. This is what it looks like now:
This is what it will look like when it is finished:

This is us in front of the Black Hills Nature Gates:

This is our favorite sculpture, The Fighting Stallions:

And this is a picture of the moose that we FINALLY saw. In Heber, UT.

You've either you got it or you don't

We went to go see the Veronicas.
I made a comic book.
Enjoy.

Dear Catanos...

Aaron and Lindsay and I have a plan to go on a world trip, only we're going to do it dressed as though it's the late 19th century. This was mostly started when Aaron and I were bored at work one day and what started off as a funny comment evolved rather quickly into a lifetime goal of Homeric proportions. There will be boats involved, we will go on safari, and we will talk in really bad British accents.

Ummm...did anyone see Nicole Kidman in Vogue this month????


It looks as though we're going to need to add a traditional fox hunt and some sort of a western cowboy excursion to round out our journey. Thanks for the tips, ex-Mrs. Cruise...