A peephole into Sara's dating mind

Normally I don't write posts about boys and my encounters with them on the very off chance that they're somewhat like me and will stalk their way to my blog, read what I think about them, and never talk to me again. But today I'm taking my chances because I'm beyond a reasonable doubt sure last night's dude will never find this blog.

Last night I learned a lot about how I date and manipulate. I'll call it, manipudate. It's kind of funny because for some reason last night brought out all the qualities I have when I am trying to "catch" the opposite sex.

So last night four of us went to the Spurs game. I invited this boy who is the oldest son (whom I had never met prior to this week) of good family friends from my home ward. I thought it would b a nice gesture. He accepted. I picked him up at a bowling alley on my way down to the AT&T Center. Here's how the evening unfolded corresponding with the thing I learned about myself:

1. I plan every move.

I got out of the car. I mulled over whether or not to call him. He had texted me his number but I didn't text back because I did not want to seem too eager. So there I was, standing in the rain, wondering if he'll see me and come out or if I should go in looking for him. Would that look desperate too? Maybe I should just call him. I call him. Almost the second he answers we meet in the entrance. Dang! I shouldn't have called. Oh well, lesson learned. I turn off my phone for the rest of the night.

2. I rely heavily on looks. It makes or break the rest of my relationship with a guy.

There he stood in the entrance of the bowling alley, perfectly lit by the neon bug-infested signs above and behind him. He's 6'6". I immediately want to marry him. Assuming he eats meat and is averagely intelligent, I want him. See, tallness to me is like New Moon's Jacob to 40-year old moms. I totally swoon. The taller the better. this boy was BEST! I wondered if it was too soon to ask him to marry me.

3. I am not myself early on--I parrot a boy's personality until about date three.

Because it was extremely slick and I was driving a behemoth Yukon through downtown San Antonio, I asked if anyone wanted to drive instead. He volunteered. I like to sit really close to the steering wheel so I warned him that he'll have to majorly adjust the seat when he gets in. "Why, cuz I'm huge?" he asked. No, I thought, it's because I sit freakishly close to the steering wheel. "Yes, cuz you are HUUUUU-GE," I said.

4. I decide early if I'm going to like a boy.

The drive down to the AT&T Center wasn't too long, maybe half an hour. But in that time, I determined that this boy was perfect for me. My view could've been skewed because of his height (it seriously melts me until I can't concentrate on anything else), but I noticed he was conversational but not overly chatty; he was pleasant but not contrived; he was himself. He wasn't trying to be someone else. Then he names off his favorite bands. Number one: DEATH CAB. I almost died. That is my favorite band! Add to that the fact that when I mentioned one of my favorite up and coming bands "Fun" he said, "Oh yeah, he used to be the lead singer for The Format." Again, my heart skipped a beat and I feared death. Was this boy too good to be true? The cherry on top is the fact that he's from Texas, that he wants to be a high school history teacher (secret fantasy of mine), and that he's a self-proclaimed introvert, but not because he's shy--just because he does better in smaller groups. SWEET! Am I in love, I ask?

5. I put myself in jeopardy to maximize my date's potential.

As we stepped out into the frigid, rainy musk and walked the quarter mile to the entrance, I bit my lip and took it. I deliberately left my coat at home so that I could test if he would offer his (who does that??). He didn't even notice on the way in. (After the game, though, he did say "Where is your jacket, girl?" I said something and then we both went on merry way--me without a jacket.)

6. I heavily use jealousy to my expedite their crush on me.

He sat down first. I sat down next to him on that row. Linda's guy friend (we'll call him "Logan") sat next to me, then Linda sat at the end. With Logan next to me, I chatted him up, touched his arm for effect when he made a funny comment, and swapped stories about the Air Force (Logan is a doctor in the Air Force.) I occasionally moved my interest back to my boy to balance out the evening because I know jealousy should only be used in moderation. Several times as I looked back, however, the little skeez was dinking around on his iphone...

7. I am a detective.

This boy isn't dinking around...he's texting a girl. I take note of her first and last name for later use and then remember she's the girl who invited him over for New Year's. I straight up ask him about his "friend" and he tells me she's a Spurs fan. I plan on when the precise time is to ask him if this girl is more than a friend. I weight the pros and cons of each: right now so it's fresh? During a lull in the game so I don't sound too information-hungry now? In the car with Linda there? In the car alone with him? I decide on later in the game. I get an unexpected, unwelcome answer.

8. I touch boys. And I laugh lovingly at them.

Guys love two things: The love to think they're funny and they love when girls touch them. So when I like a boy, I make sure to do both simultaneously. I made sure to calculate each one to maximize each one's effectiveness. But not too much. If you overdo, it's weird. And I didn't overdo it. It was brilliant.

9. I play major reverse psychology. I manipudate the situation when I feel like the boy is getting the upper edge.

This boy wasn't a Spurs fan but he was a big basketball fan (He's 6'6", guys. Haven't you been reading?) For most of the game as I complimented him on his sense of humor, cool iphone, and his amazing height, I had to counter act so he knew I was in control of the situation. So...when I picked the winning color "dot" on the jumbo tron, I rubbed it in his face. When the Spurs would make a killer play I would slam that in his face. When he tried to bash on the Spurs, I playfully reminded him that his precious Jazz have never won a championship.

10. I find opportunities to let them shine and then I compliment them on it.

He decided we should leave early in light of the fact that the Spurs were winning by about 20 points. I did NOT want to leave until the end. What did I tell him? "Oh man, that's such a great idea." We walked out to the parking lot. We were walking for awhile and I said, "Are we lost?" He confidently responded that he has a good sense of direction and that he knew where we were going. I offered calculated encouragement: "That's great. I trust you." We drove back to the bowling alley to drop Linda off at her car. We proceeded home together in my car--just us. We decided to get shakes. EZ's or Sonic? He decidedly said Sonic and then straight up told me how good he was at making decisions. "Oh man, I love that. It is such a good quality," I assured him. Boys eat that stuff up.

Oh and just in case you were wondering, he wanted the banana cream pie shake at Sonic. Happens to be my favorite. This man could be missing his front teeth and partially retarded and I might still fall in love with him. His height and taste in music put him up there on the scale, but his taste in Sonic shakes made me fall in love. Literally. He may just be the guy version of me. I don't know yet.

11. I surgically plant in their heads the idea that this is not the last time we will see each other.

As we chatted about our favorite bands, and life back in Provo (he was leaving for P-town the next day), I talked about Las Vegas. (My friends and I are planning an explosively awesome trip to Vegas next semester). After he shared his lukewarm feelings about Sin City, I described our exciting plans and he said that sounds fun. Then I said, "Well if your Vegas trip had been like that would you have liked it more?" He said yes, so I invited him to come along. He accepted. BAM!

12. I win. Always.

Once I like a boy, they're mine. This one's got a potential girl, but she's just that. Potential. I have her name and very finely tuned detective skills. I already know quite a bit about her and she seems like a nice girl. I'm sure she'll make a great girlfriend...to someone else.

Story to be continued....

Memory Lane

Up late, studying for finals, listening to iTunes.

All of a sudden, my mind is taken back to some pretty great memories. Isn't it funny how your brain associates certain people with certain songs? Here are some songs that remind me of boyfriends of the past, starting with boyfriend number one: Sam from high school. The songs probably explain all too much about the relationship :)

Sam: Dr. Dre and Snoop--Next Episode

Brandon: Dixie Chicks--Cowboy Take Me Away

Michael: G-Love and Special Sauce--Baby's Got Sauce

Dave: Outkast--Hey Ya!

Craig: Ummm...when we first started dating we thought it would be funny to have this song as "our song," so that if/when we broke up, we wouldn't have to listen to sappy old love songs. It worked.

Eric: Anything by REM or Cat Stevens but particularly this song. When he let me control the radio, usually Britney, Alanis, or Ben. Living in NYC, this one sang me to sleep when Eric wasn't there, which was always.
- REM: Man on the Moon
- Ben Kweller: Falling

Then...I started dating younger men:

Adam: PussyCat Dolls--When I Grow Up

William: Chris Rice--So Much For My Sad Song

Daniel: Kanye West--Heartless

Bryce: There are so many-probably because it was so recent but I don't think I will ever listen to this song without thinking of Bryce, nor will I ever listen to this band without thinking about our plans to travel to India. (I promise it's worth it to click. These are rad bands/songs).
- Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk--Paperweight
- Jump, Little Children--Mexico

Tyler: Hahahaha. None come to mind because I always dominate our music-listening sessions with this beautiful song: Fun--The Gambler


I sure love music. I mean, yeah I love boys, but I really love music. It has never let me down.

$$$ at Work

Six things I am grateful for:

Friday, Dec. 4: Judicial Commission Paper Due
Tuesday, Dec. 8: Legislation Final
Wednesday, Dec. 9: Family Law Final
Friday, Dec. 11: Business Associations Final
Monday, Dec. 14: Evidence Final
Wednesday, Dec. 16: Wills and Estates Final

Because without these finals, my tuition money would mean nothing. If you don't know the bitter, you cannot know the sweet. If I don't experience finals, I cannot get my J.D.

Sara Elizabeth Payne, future Esq.

How in the World Do I Choose?

I love Thanksgiving. There are so many things flooding my head for which I am grateful. For the purposes of this blog, though, I've narrowed it down to the top ten things I have been grateful for particularly this year.

10 Love—I am grateful that I fell in love this year. I am grateful for everything that love taught me. I’m grateful for the Lord helping me to have enough faith to step into the dark and give love a shot. I did. It was worth it. I cannot hardly wait to do it again.

9 Food—I love food, and I’m grateful I always had enough of it to eat. Especially Dibs and sushi.

8 Music—It heals the soul, it spices up life, it induces, I think, the strongest emotions that humans have. Music is like my best friend. Weird? Probably.

The Gambler

7 Warmth—Heat is always good. Except that one time in July, driving through Blythe, California with no air conditioning. Other than that, heat is great for tans, swimming, sports, cuddling, hot chocolate, and scrambled eggs. It also means I’m probably in Texas or close to it…or close to someone I love.

(Blythe, California. Dying. Melting ice cubes from the cooler on to our 200-degree bodies)

6 Health—I have overwhelmingly good health. I hope it stays that way. When I got crazy swine flu and bronchitis at the same time, it made me realize how wonderful good health is…and for that, a body. This year, I’m probably more aware of how much a blessing it is to have a body: all the things you can do with it. Big responsibility.

5 Meg Gallagher—Ok, so maybe our friendship is oddly defined (BFA?) and maybe we don’t spend all our time together, and maybe we have friends that we are closer to, but somehow Meg is the one who actually gets me in moments I need it the most. She is the only person I can talk to about certain things. It’s sad to think that soon the chapter in my life with her in it will soon be coming to a close.


4 Law School—As much as it seems like it’s been a burden, I love law school. I frequently walk the halls of the school and stand in awe of the fact that I am blessed to attend this school. I am so grateful for education, for learning a marketable skill, and learning alongside some of the greatest, most accomplished, and fun people I will probably ever meet.



3 Struggles—I am extremely grateful for the trials I have had to endure this year because they have made me stronger, softer, and more understanding. My dad told me during a particularly hard time on my mission: “We will always have trials. You will have this trial, Sara. The choice you have to make now is if you will allow it to help you grow.”

2 My strong family—They have helped me get through a lot of hard times, and this year in particular, I felt their love more than ever. I think I’m becoming more homesick the older I get.


1 Jesus Christ—For offering hope in everything I do, everything I am, everything I hope to become.

Reflections on Incoming Calls

Incoming calls are like mail... ninety-nine percent of the time they're fun to get, even if you won't readily admit it. As long as a parcel of mail has my name on it, I get excited. So too, as long as the person on the other line knows me personally, I'm thrilled.

One day I got a call from CoxSmith, my dream law firm, telling me that I had been waitlisted for their summer program. "How thoughtful of them!" I mused. The fact that they decided to call instead of simply sending a letter made me temporarily forget that I would not be employed by them this summer.

Another time (actually many times) I got phone calls from my former boss at six a.m. on Monday mornings. She, as is frequent, had a little too much to drink the night before and needed me to open the store for her. Even though she was waking me up from my sweet slumber and effectively canceling my awesome plans for that day, I still found some sort of excitement in the fact that I got a phone call. Weird.

Well, a few weeks ago, I received a phone call from someone with no negative undertones. It was from Katie Bryan, my newly married former mission companion friend. She was in town for the weekend. Let me just say that Katie and I were companions in probably my most difficult transfer on the mission. We both had our own things to deal with and we're both really neurotic people. I wasn't sure we would be friends after the mission.

To my surprise, we actually make REALLY great friends. I love that girl. She thinks like me. She gets me. She has a fantastic sense of humor. And, she is smoking hot, but married, so I can use her as bait for attractive men.

Well, we went and got pedicures at the mall and then I took her out to Carrabba's for her birthday. I am so thankful for great friends who know you so well and who are willing to love you anyway.



Later that night, i got a call from this guy:



who I ended up going on a Dibs run with. (If you don't know Dibs, you must try them. Except if you shop at Smith's, don't try the Mint Chocolate ones because they are always out and they're my favorite.)



When we were leaving the store, who did we see checking out? That's right...druggy Brooke. You wouldn't know it from her Rolling Stones t-shirt and her pill-popping propensity, but Brooke is actually in law school. She sits next to me in business associations, and she's actually pretty smart. But because she's really smart, she really knows how to party well in Provo. Party on, Brooke-meister.



By the end of the night, I had partaken of so much Good-ness, that I looked like this:

Verbal Failures

In elementary school I got my folder signed for speaking too loudly and too often. My defense to the teacher was that my talking habits were a product of my genetics and that she couldn't punish me for a trait I couldn't control.

I wish my genetics kicked in today. Why is it that in the moments you most need to speak, the words just don't seem to come? Tonight I meant to say, "I will do anything for you, including loving you forever." What came out was, "You still owe me two hundred bucks."

I am not yet sure what hurts more: rejection, or wondering what might have been.



On the bright side, I'm two hundred dollars richer now.

26 Candles

Birthday wishes coming true:

1) Not contracting swine flu



2) Lots of traffic up to SLC = Mega bonding time with Kari, mission connection




3) Super cool temple session--went through for someone from Boston. TMOL.



4) Dating a football player. Or at least wearing his disgusting helmet.

Photos from Seven Days of Summer

Temple Love.



Watching The Paper Chase with Women's Law Forum



Impromptu Date...free food, free entertainment, free boys



At some sandwich place which now escapes my memory with all my companions from Boston (except Laub) after one of the most spiritual and defining moments of my life. I love you sisters!!!

Seven Days of Summer- Days 2-6

Okay, so I was going to wait to update until I actually had pictures, but it's been a long time coming, so I'll just list them now and put up pictures later.

Tuesday: Attended the temple

Wednesday: Played volleyball with friends

Thursday: Watched a dorky movie about law

Friday: Sang hymns with cute boys :)

Saturday: Drank a tall mug of hot chocolate while reading a good book.

Life can be so wonderful.

Seven Days of Summer-Day 1

Monday’s “30 minutes or more” of Summer, took about 90 minutes and I was thrilled. I took my best friend, Meg, to my favorite Italian place (that is comfortably becoming my least favorite because of how much I eat there), Carrabba’s. We had delicious food, deep conversations, and funny photo ops.



We took the above photo, but then I thought the light was not adequately portraying how I looked that night. So I took the initiative:



I like candid shots, so Meg and I decided to pose...candidly.



But really, we just love each other. Meg and I have known each other, for better or for worse, for the past seven years. There is nothing I can't tell her; there is nothing she can't tell me. She has been like a sister to me while all my family is grown up and in Texas. Last night, we talked about how much we've learned, how much we've changed, and how much fun we've had since those early days of 2002. It is so great to grow up, and it's great to look back and realize the Lord's hand in everything. I know the Lord's hand was in it when Meg and I met.



Favorite Memories With Meg:
- Del Taco runs
- Avril Night at Pizza Pipeline
- Sleeping in a twin bed
-Listening to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds on repeat
-Coming to visit me at my mission farewell
-Playing kickball with the missionaries
-Delivering a clandestine letter late at night (wink, wink)
-Laughing together
-Crying together
-Her constant "meows" via g-chat
I really could go on forever. And I hope we do.

Seven Days of Summer

Although Autumn is by far my favorite season, right now Utah is not being very Autumn-like. It feels more like the prelude to Winter. So I would like to channel the virtues of summer a bit. This week is the law school's Fall Break, which means that we get a break from going to class while we scurry around trying to digest the information that was force-fed down our throats the last two months. But it also means we get to sleep in as late as we want, stay out as late as we'd like, and do whatever with our days without feeling guilty. If I don't study for a class tomorrow, I'll be just fine in the long run.

So, this week I will be bringing a little "30 minutes or more" moment to my life. Why did I reference "summer" in this blog? It's because summer brings sunshine, warmth, and sunbeams. That is what this "30 minutes or more" moment will be for me--just a 30 minute ray of sunshine in my day. So no matter how stressful, busy, crazy, depressing, or utter failure my days become, I will always have my summer moment to know that life is beautiful.

Yesterday was a good start, but most of yesterday was phenomenal, so it's hard to choose. I will choose to highlight the moment, though, that I will probably remember most in later years. So stay tuned. Once I have the photos loaded, I will post.

Aren't you just so anxious to find out?

(PS-I find joy in the simplest things...like watching a flowing river and crunching fall leaves with my boots, so don't expect daily trips to Disney World during this experiment. :)

Persistence

Hello there. I listened to the Prophet speak at Devotional on Tuesday. His summary of Heber J. Grant's life really impacted me. A lot. That man embodied persistence and diligence. I will now be embarking on a systematic review of his life so I can closely have a role model to follow in my quest for perfection. What a marvelous man. I loved these quotes, and then found some more to add. I hope you love them as much as I do:


Persist in all those things which are good and noble.
-President Monson, remember President Grant's legacy

Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before. - Herodotus

That which we persist in doing becomes easier - not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do has increased. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

All our losses will be made up if we are faithful. -Joseph Smith (movie)

Road Trips

I was talking to a friend last night who made it very clear that road trips with a loved one somehow indicates that two people are destined to be together. I guess I am an anomaly. It worked for my sister.

The genius of the indigo girls

During the time of which I speak it was hard to turn the other cheek
To the blows of insecurity
Feeding the cancer of my intellect the blood of love soon neglected
Lay dying in the strength of its impurity
Meanwhile our friends we thought were so together
They've all gone and left each other in search of fairer weather
And we sit here in our storm and drink a toast
To the slim chance of love's recovery.

There I am in younger days, star gazing,
Painting picture perfect maps of how my life and love would be
Not counting the unmarked paths of misdirection
My compass, faith in love's perfection
I missed ten million miles of road I should have seen


Meanwhile our friends we thought were so together
Left each other one by one in search of fairer weather
And we sit here in our storm and drink a toast
To the slim chance of love's recovery.
Rain soaked and voice choked like silent screaming in a dream



I search for our absolute distinction
Not content to bow and bent
To the whims of culture that swoop like vultures
Eating us away, eating us away
Eating us away to our extinction
Oh how I wish I were a trinity, so if I lost a part of me
I'd still have two of the same to live


But nobody gets a lifetime rehearsal, as specks of dust we're universal
To let this love survive would be the greatest gift we could give
Tell all the friends who think they're so together
That these are ghosts and mirages, these thoughts of fairer weather
Though it's storming out I feel safe within the arms of love's discovery

Day One

Anyone see 500 Days of Summer? Well, today is my Day One, and because art imitates life and I will feel robbed if my life doesn't turn out like a movie, I am expecting today to be GREAT!! Today should bring lots of suitors, lots of chance meetings, lots of professional success, and lots of destiny determining my life.

Nevertheless, the last 143 days have been beautiful. Simply beautiful. Almost like a fairytale. And I will always remember them with a grateful heart and tender feelings...maybe a few tears.

Ring Shopping

Muffin made of stud

Fun of mountainous proportions

Sundance got a double dose of Sara recently. My good buds Will and Dan wanted to get together and take dates up to Sundance's outdoor movie nights. Without too much discretion or thought, I said yes. I took Carruth.




Will took Steph.



Dan? Well...


He took some chick that I had never met, and whom I will probably never meet again, knowing him. I don't remember her name. Soak up her image, folks. This will probably be her one and only cameo on my blog.



Well, it ended up being the wrong night. There was no movie. no people. no lights. nothing. So we just laid on blankets, freezing, talking about conspiracies and the inhabitants on other planets. Carruth and I left early because we only took three blankets and apparently up in the mountains you have to have an entire Bed Bath and Beyond store in order to stay warm.



[REDACTED]

Girl's Night

I am so blessed with spectacular girl friends. Most of them in Provo are old roommates or wardies. I'm so glad I got to reconnect with Katie after the mission and be her roommate. I look forward to another great semester as little Kate Spade's roommate.



Katie and I had a girl's night last week complete with soothing pedicures, a brief shopping trip, chocolate, and an all-out splurge at Carrabba's. YUM!!!



I hope to spend more time soon with my wonderful girls. I am so glad my best friend Meg and I have still been able to stay friends all these years even though we are so different in so many ways. She is so amazing and helps me through all the problems in my life. The Lord uses her to talk to me, for sure. I'm glad she came to my mission farewell. I am so blessed that we got to be in the MTC at the same time. I'm glad we wrote our entire missions, and I'm glad to live just two blocks away and that she doesn't totally hate me for not spending as much time with her as she deserves. She truly is a wonderful influence in my life.


I thought of Meg this week when we ran into this car...figuratively speaking:



Women talk women. tuesday nights at the flower basket. love it.

Fond Fond Memories

I was driving down 9th East, and I had to stop at the light just south of the temple. The temple was on my left, the MTC was on my right. I watched as a group of young-looking boys walked in front of my car. My eyes started to well up as I thought about how I felt some three years ago when I was in their shoes. These boys have no idea what is about to happen to them, I thought. No matter how prepared a person is, the mission will totally rock that person's world and change his/her life forever.



It changed mine. I prepared as much as humanly possible. I wanted to give back in service to the Lord for all he had blessed me with. Then the mission happened and I realized that the opportunity to serve a mission was the most wonderful blessing the Lord could ever bestow on me. It changed my life. These boys are going out into the world full of hope, knowledge, plans, and a testimony. They will come back men and will forever be changed. I hope I can do my mission justice by still claiming to be a representative of Christ in my words and actions even though my mission is done.

Brie and Peanut Butter

So...I have a confession to make. A week or two ago, I was eating one of my favorite foods--peanut butter--and we pulled out some Brie cheese (one of my favorite cheese) from the fridge. One thing led to another, and Bryce and I were sitting on the couch dipping the cheese into the peanut butter and eating it like that. Gross, I know. Bryce thought it was totally appropriate to tell that story about two minutes after I met the family. Really great. Anyway, now that they think I'm not that strange I decided to let them in on our little world of fun. We had a picnic Friday at Kiwanis Park and we introduced them to the brie and peanut butter phenomenon.



For those of you who are curious as to how one eats this delectable delicacy, I will show you. You first take the wheel of cheese, cut them into small triangles, and then tear a small portion of that triangle off. Then you dip it into peanut butter, and eat away. Sometimes, depending on what you're in to, you can suck off the peanut butter from the cheese and then dip the same piece of cheese back in the peanut butter. That's the method of choice for this boy:



I'm actually not sure if anyone, but Macy, tried our wonderful cuisine. But we definitely finished half the wheel of brie. Don't even worry.



It's cool, though. Marci suggested eating one of her favorite, interesting dishes: peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. I think I can live with eating peanut butter and brie in front of someone who likes the PB and pickle combination.



All in all, the park was fun. We had J-dawgs, chips, and diet DP. We rushed out of there for Bryce's physics class and then I went back to work where I researched more on the USA PATRIOT Act and how BYU must comply with it. Here's an interesting piece of trivia: Did you know that the Patriot Act isn't just a clever name? It's actually just a really long acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act passed only a couple months after Sept. 11. Very controversial, but it has not been overturned or repealed. yet.

This graphic is from The Onion, my preferred news source:



This summer is going great. I am on a pretty tight schedule; I have lots to do, but I also have lots of fun. I have wonderful, good friends to spend time with, and I'm really loving the fact that once I'm done with work, I'm done. I don't need to study or stress about tests, stare decisis, case holdings, or exceptions to rules. Although I love law school and I actually miss my law friends and going to class and learning, I can tell that when I graduate, I won't be too terribly disappointed. I think it will be nice to have a law job and to get on with life.

Keeping up with the Johnsons

Bryce and I went down to Arizona just last week, but if you tell the Johnson family to come visit any time, they really will come! Marci, Reed, Macy, and Brooks graced us with their presence this week. We went to Park City and bummed around: ate lunch, rode the Alpine slide, watched skiiers jump into a pool of water, rode a few times around on the gondola, and got lost several thousand times in the hotel. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful trip.



This is our ascent up to the alpine slide- the first time I had ever been on a ski lift and Bryce took advantage of the situation. Luckily I only freaked out when the camera wasn't looking.



haha. nervous laughter while Bryce pretends to push me off the lift.





this is my ridiculous face and this is bryce's "that. was. AWESOME!" face


Then on to the Alpine slide. I felt like the mother up there. When you get Brooks and Bryce together, you need to make sure there are no sharp, fast, or poisonous objects around. Otherwise be prepared for large hospital bills. The boys were disappointed when the ride didn't totally work them over. Luckily, Macy didn't take after her brothers. She sensitive and cool and took the ride at a reasonable pace...screaming the entire way down.


They made me go in the back because they said i would be the slowest. I may be twice their age, but that just means twice the fun, right? : )


We went back to the hotel and rode this thing:



It was so much fun, and it was free. Maybe it was fun BECAUSE it was free. In any case, I'm seriously tempted to just drive up to Park City every week so I can ride this fun little machine. I know I'm a dork.





Oh funny story...so everyone told Bryce's parents how I was flipping out on the ski lift up to the Alpine slide. So the rest of the time, their parents were deeply concerned about me and how I felt when we got up on large ledges or rode ANYTHING. The first thing they'd ask when we got off-each time- was how I felt. It was so funny. Now it's the running joke in the family that I'm scared of heights. SO not true.

I'm only scared of heights when I'm swinging on an unenclosed surface with a man next to me pretending to push me off.

This man:




...with socks and birkenstocks:




Life is good.