adios California!

We've had a busy last two weeks to cap off our internship summer of 2009.  We got around to doing some of the things we've been wanting to do all summer.  This internship experience has been great and I've learned a lot; mainly about how to get along with 6 other strongly-opinionated people in a tight working/living environment.  Were there times I wanted to  curl up in a ball under my covers because I was so frustrated? yeah!  But it was really good overall- we balanced each other out.  We were successful in our work endeavors and had a lot of fun along the way.  Here's a re-cap of the last week or so:

Our boss, Tom Knox, flew in from Sacramento to attending meetings with us.  He's a great boss and has treated us so well this summer.  He showed up for his 2 day stay with nothing but a lap-top case

All the interns (minus Brady and Betty) with Tom (his seer-sucker suit is awesome/funny in and of itself) 

KJ & Macie had a party with all the interns to celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary.  THEY cooked US dinner and it was really good.  Thanks guys!  It was fun getting together with everyone, I feel like we don't see each other quite enough ; ) Eddie was in town for it so he got to come 

We saw a play!  Our first and only one....Fiddler on the Roof.  It was incredible, really.  The man who played Tevye was actually from Tel Aviv, Israel and has starred in this role more than 2500 times.  

Having been to Israel, this play has a lot more meaning and I caught on to a lot of the simple details that I didn't catch before.  For example, "Fiddler on the Roof" itself makes a lot more sense because that's how the Jews in Jerusalem live; they live on the rooftops above their shops.  

me, Kainoa & Emilie before the play

I will seriously, seriously miss this place.  It's called It's Thai and I know I've mentioned it before, but we've continued to eat here at least twice a week throughout the summer.  We're good friends with the owner, Danny.  He knows what every single person orders and how they alter their order.  We all want him to cater our weddings

Last day of work outfit.  I hauled these boots all the way to CA I had to wear them at least once

Sitting at "The Intern Table" where we worked every morning.  Usually the biggest question was "Where are we going to lunch today?"  but nonetheless, we worked.  

We hit up one of Richard Simmons' exercise classes!  It was incredible; the man is so crazy.  He was slightly rude, but so funny.  At the end of each class he had everyone sit down and gave us a motivational/inspirational message.  This one was about not wearing our emotions on shoulder, and wearing them in a more secure spot instead. Pretty sound advice.

Goodbye 2525 N Verdugo Ave.!  You've been real good to us~

I'm grateful for this experience and excited for the next one~

3rd time's a charm~

This past weekend I went to Disneyland for the 3rd time this summer.  It's awesome because they've been offering a 3-time pass for 99 bones, which is so cheap considering a day pass is usually $80.  

Eddie came with me this time, which is probably why it was my favorite D-land trip.  It felt like it was 150 degrees but 50 water bottles evened that right out.  We rode all the good rides, ie. indiana jones, splash mountain (on which I made him ride in the front and he got SOAKED), tower of terror, soaring CA, and screamin' CA.  We got there around eleven and left right after the fireworks at 10- it was perfect.  None of this 7am to midnight crap! 

We started the day off just right with IN-N-OUT around 10:30- it was actually my first trip to IN-N-OUT this whole summer

Waiting in the 1.5 hour line for splash mountain- it felt so good after standing in the direct sun for so long

splash mountain!  

waiting in line for indiana jones to get back up and running

haha we're so boring in this picture.  Sitting like bumps on a long on Tower of Terror.  Can you find us?  We're in the middle row, far right.  

I'm good on the Disneyland-in-the-summer thing, now I want to go when it's decorated for Christmas!  I hear that's awesome.  Well this is my final week of work and we have some fantastic things planned with the interns; can't wait~

spontaneity

was the name of the game this past weekend.  Eddie was supposed to come visit me in LA this coming weekend but that's when my boss is coming to town.  So on Friday night he called and said he found some real cheap round-trip tickets to UT and I was on my way the next day!  The trip included a little driving, camping, eating  and boating. 

I like to refer to it as my weekend with nature.

The view of Provo from Y mountain

Squaw Peak

haha it was kind of bright 

overlooking Provo

the biggest rainbow I've ever seen- it was huge and so clear

Then on Sunday we decided to go camping up American Fork Canyon.  I don't know why I never camped up here during my 5 years of living in Provo- it is so pretty.  Eddie has tons of camping gear so it made camping enjoyable 

heading up the canyon

thrilled to be out in the woods

He loves his truck.  He fixed it up & it looks so much better than when he got it

Eddie showed me the spot (right behind me) where his friend tipped his 4-Runner completely into the lake. shtoopid

 

i love this

we (he) built a campfire of course

I wish I went to girls camp up here

Monday=Sailing!  It was extremely windy though so we didn't really leave the dock area.  We anchored about 150 feet from the dock and hung out on the boat

It was a really fun weekend.  I have 3 weeks left in LA then it's back to UT to find a job!  

This week in Californialand...

Betty, Emilie & I went to the Santa Monica Aquarium

..went to a tri-stake YSA bonfire on the beach

...saw this awesome modern art exhibit downtown

...and went to DISNEYLAND w/ all the interns for this girl's birthday! Happy Birthday Emilie!

One of the interns, KJ, and his wife Macie have the cutest little girl in the world.  Her name's Eva, is 8 mo. old, and goes everywhere w/ us.  I opted out of a few rides so her parents could go together; my treat.

3 of the roomies on the Peter Pan ride- Our 4th roomie Kainoa was in Seattle for the week w/ Ash getting work done up there

I love the people I work with~

4th of July~

The 4th of July is my favorite day of the year.  This year, to celebrate properly, I went on a quick, last-minute trip to Provo.  It ruled.  I was able to see Eddie, Jessie, Paige (who Spenser flew out for the weekend) and FIREWORKS.  I hope to see more friends & family on my next trip to UT the first week of August.

Provo is hands down the most patriotic city.  This was my second 4th of July spent here and I've never seen so many flags or people at a parade.  People camp out on University Ave in preparation for the parade.  Flags line Center St:

Jess & I laid in Kiwanis Park chatting for 4 hours- it was awesome and much needed.  Just like old times; we've spent many hours in this park over our 5-year BYU careers!

Driving up to Park City w/ Eddie.  I've never seen UT so GREEN before

Eddie rented a Hyundai Genesis for us to cruise around in this weekend.  Who knew Hyundai makes luxury cars now?  It was pretty posh.  At least 2 times this weekend we overheard people commenting on the car, trying to guess what kind it was.  Jaguar? Mercedes? We even heard Bentley! ha- check em out, they're pretty awesome.  

One of the best parts of the whole trip: Eddie & I went out on his sailboat with these two: ( best sailing partners ever)

I'm a pretty good first mate if I do say so myself

The captain & his two first-mates.  Actually I think our correct title was "loungers"

The water in Utah Lake isn't the cleanest or best smelling but it sure felt awesome

I just kept singing "Proud to be American" the whole day.  I'll leave you with the words because they are so powerful and perfectly describe how I felt the entire day.  I'm so grateful to live in America and for all the blessings that come with it.  I'm especially grateful for those who lost their lives fighting for and protecting this land.

I’d thank my lucky stars,

to be livin here today.

‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,

and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA!