Dear UDOT,

I understand the necessity and importance of construction. Do you really have to work on the alternate routes too?
Sincerely,
A Concerned Commuter

Crisply Refreshing

While I was in college, a few friends of mine LOVED Martinelli's sparkling Apple Cider. Every dinner party we had included at least one bottle of Martinelli's. It was fantastic. One of the side labels on the bottle said something about it being "crisply refreshing". It's been a catch phrase in my life ever since. This fall has been good for me, a "crisply refreshing" experience. I've studied for and taken the GRE and felt good about the experience. I consider that a positive. Following the GRE, I had a mission reunion and General Conference. We'll count that a double positive. Elder Uchtdorf's talk from conference spoke directly to me. I have an incredible talent to fill my life to the brim (and maybe even higher), forgetting that there are other things in my life that need attention...for example, myself.

My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness. They will teach us to do “all these things . . . in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby . . . win the prize.”

My new job doesn't start for a few more days so I've had lots of free time during the past week. I've tried to use it meaningfully and in a small part, I feel as though I have succeeded. I've been able to volunteer in the schools. I went with a high school art class up the canyon to look at the fall leaves and help with their Andy Goldsworthy projects. I was able to spend some time in a 5th grade classroom and talk to them about space camp and all the great training techniques that they would have to go through before they went to space. I was able to help a good friend move, spend time with my sister-in-law and nephews, visit my grandmother and fill up her gas tank in her car. Basic things. I do them for myself regularly and sometimes they drive me absolutely bonkers. Doing them for someone else? Totally cathartic. Now. Before I sound too much like a selfless do-gooder, I did do quite a bit of stuff for myself as well. I no longer have Nebraska plates on my car. I no longer have a Nebraska drivers license. I no longer am on my parents insurance. I watched some of my favorite movies. I did some mega reading in the Book of Mormon. I watched the first 2 seasons of the Office. I read Shakespeare and Dickens. I cleaned my room multiple times. I ate tomato sandwiches with sharp white cheddar cheese. I made and bound a book! (thanks to roommate for coaching me on that one.) I enjoyed daily rain because I didn't have to run in it. I ran in the early morning and there was no rain. I feel blessed and am grateful for it.

Crash Course

I have a picture from every state that I have visited over the past 6 weeks. (Except Kansas, I have nothing against Kansas, but I didn't have my camera with me that day. I did however, have some of the BEST french toast that I have ever encountered, EVER, in Kansas.)
Utah:

Colorado:

Nebraska:

Iowa:

Missouri:

Illinois:

Indiana:

Ohio:

Pennsylvania:

New Jersey:

New York:

Connecticut:

Rhode Island:

Massachusetts:

New Hampshire:

Maine:

Vermont:

Michigan:

Wyoming:

and just for kicks even though it's not a state...Canada:

These are just a few of the many pictures I took on the trip and are just the beginning of the many incredible things that I saw along the way. I hope to expand a bit over the next few weeks, but you have to start somewhere, right?

so I've been studying for the GRE.
on the past three practice tests, my math scores have continuously improved.
I haven't been studying math. at all.
my comprehenstion scores took a flying dive (like 20%)and have been slowly improving.
I've been studying. a lot.
I don't get it.

a quick update...

So we came home from our mega-New England tour and I noticed something while we were eating dinner. Mary moved. She isn't in the tomato plant any more. She's off to the side. I would have guess that the plant would have been gone, but apparently, I was mistaken. It's good to be home.

Dear Canada...

I know that you find kilometers to be superior to miles. I can accept that. I can even appreciate that. I can not accept the fact that your speed limit equals out to 42 miles per hour. Thank you for such a long day.
Love,
Me

Thus far...

I have fallen completely in love with the state of Maine. Surprisingly enough, I'm not a huge lobster fan, but I can think of about a million other reasons to counter that. It's been a fantastic trip.
Pennsylvania made me laugh. I saw my first out house. Literally, a house with an out house in the back yard. It looked insulated and possibly the size of a two-seater. I guess I'd heard too many Kentucky jokes.
New York was super fast, we spent the night with my cousin in Astoria(the largest Greek population outside of Athens). I do have to say, I much prefer the New York skyline at night rather than during the day. I ate breakfast at the number one Greek import of the US, the deli. It was the classic greasy spoon. We were warned before the owner took our order that he would not look at us, but the food was good and cheap. Not only was the food good and cheap, but he looked at us too! Maybe it was because he heard us talking about him, or maybe he was fascinated by the obvious tourists that had entered his shop. Who knows?
Boston was great. I want to come back. We ate paninis and gelato in Little Italy. I tried fried oysters (crispy and chewy all at the same time?). I walked most of the Freedom Trail. We went whale watching (saw 4 humpbacks); went to the Boston MFA (loved the peace and quiet...not to mention Sargent, Monet, Rembrandt, etc); and rode the trolley. Yes. I saw Fenway Park. No. I don't know how the Red Sox are doing. As we were passing MIT, some random kid on a street corner looked up at the trolley and yelled, "Welcome to Boston!" Not going to lie. It was one of my favorite moments from the trip. It was a big city. There was A LOT going on at all times, and yet...one kid cared enough to yell "Welcome to Boston!" I felt validated.
Once we left the city, I fell in complete love with New England. Like I said, Maine is my favorite. Driving the coast through all the antique shops and book shops was perfect. It's relaxing. I actually studied GRE vocab and enjoyed it. There were piles of pumpkins, apples, and fresh cider on the side of the road for sale. Blueberries are just coming on. Cranberries grow here!!! Just think of all the anti-oxidants! I love the architecture of the homes. I understand that it's cold here in the winter. It's cold in Utah too. It snows a lot. Sounds familiar. It's a long winter. I'd rather be cold than hot. If I can get the "go ahead" I'd love to sell the Malibu, buy a Subaru, adopt a large dog named Murphy, and live near the rocky coast forever. We drove through the home of the men's US Toboggan Championships!!!
Well...the trip is half over and we still don't want to come home, but there's still a week to go. Maybe I'll fall in love with another spot too.