Here I will pause from my Italy updates to interject a brief thought.
I love married people. I know I say that I don't, and I complain that my friends get married and then they fall off the face of the earth...but in reality I like them. A lot.
Yesterday I had lunch with my old roommate Julianna. We only lived together for about month, and then she got married, but being the only 2 normal people, we bonded pretty quickly. In our conversation, I invited her and her husband Jeff to an improv show that was happening last night. Apparently she was attempting to dodge some other plans, so they gladly accepted.
After the show, we stood outside talking for a really long time. We were all freezing and Jeff kept insisting that we should just go back to the apartment, and he'd make me a smoothie, but I insisted that I really needed to go home and go to sleep. And then we continued talking. After 3 similar conversations, we finally decided it was time to leave, and went to our cars.
While I was driving home I thought about how much I really liked Julianna and Jeff. Then I started thinking about how much I really like other of my married friends. I've spent a pretty good amount of time with them, and they're all amazing. Really what it comes down to, is that I have amazing friends. And they all married amazing people, because none of them are actually stupid enough to marry a lame person. So in reality while it feels like you're losing a friend everytime one of them gets married, you're actually gaining another great friend!! And to top it off you're just immediately grandfathered into this friendship because all your friend talks about is how completely amazing you are. No effort required. I love it.
So there you have it. I love when my friends get married. In fact I'm excited to get married so that my friends can all have a new best friend.
I love married people.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Episode 3: Christmas in Pisa
I love Christmas. There's that special feeling that you get as it gets closer that you don't get any other time of the year. The time that you get to spend with family, and the chance to refelct on the Saviour is amazing. And as much as you try to "make everyday like Christmas," it's impossible. Because no matter what, when you wake up on Christmas morning, it feels different.
This year when my roommates put up the Christmas trees and started all the decorations, I got sad that I would be in Italy away from everyone. I did it on my mission, but there was a different kind of Spirit there. I had important work to do, and I was spending everyday in the Christmas Spirit anyway. So I was a little worried that this year I would be missing that special feeling that comes with Christmas. However, it will go down as one of the fondest Christmases yet!
On Christmas Eve, we hopped a train to Pisa. There was an older couple (The Snows) that I knew that were serving their mission there, and when I emailed them they were excited to have "kids" for Christmas, so they invited us over. We got there at about 8:30pm, and got a taxi to their house. There was a warm welcome from the Snow's, and the 2 young Elders that were participating in the Christmas Eve celebration. We were fed, had a small Christmas message from the Elders before they headed home, and given warm beds (I got a couch and Randy an air mattress, but comfortable nonetheless).
On Christmas Morning we woke up, had breakfast, read Luke 2 and talked about the Atonement. Then the Snows had a full day planned of meeting with different families in the Branch, so we gladly tagged along with them.
Pisa is one of the places in Italy where they have a pretty large army base. We visited a small family there with 3 little boys and brought them some Christmas presents. Randy and I have both agreed that this was what made Christmas like home for us. The kids were showing us everything they got, and letting us play with them. I introduced Randy to Bakugons and he instantly became an excited 7 yr old. We built some Lego monsters, and then ended it all with a Nerf gun fight. Randy won... but only because mine broke. Jerk.
We visited a few more people and then came home for dinner. The Snows were calling their kids while Randy and I ate dinner. In the middle of our food Randy got up and came back to the table with a box and a note with my name on it. Stinker. So I smiled and went to my bag and came back with a wrapped present.
In one of the many wanderings around the random alleys of Naples we found this soap shop. The man who worked there had spent a great deal of time apprenticing under an older woman in London, and when he came home to Italy he taught his sister, who opened up this shop. It was just a small shop tucked away in the depths of Naples, but there was a magic to the whole shop. I immediately fell in love, and Randy had gotten me some of the soap.
We also found a "Temporary Store" where they set up for a short period and sell random things at pretty reasonable prices, including beautiful Italian silk ties. There was one that Randy loved, but wouldn't buy, so I bought it for him and wrapped it up.
It was a quiet, really uneventful Christmas, but there was a special spirit about it. The gifts were small and relatively cheap, but meaningful. There was thought put into them, and they were bought with pretty much the only money we had to spare, money we needed to survive. Kinda like A Christmas Carol :)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Episode 2: Napoli!!!
Alright, Episode 2!
Sunday night in Rome Randy and I realized we were leaving the next day and had no idea where we were going. So on a whim we decided on Naples, known to the locals as Napoli! Which is how I prefer to say it. It fits the atmosphere....but it just doesn't have the same effect in text. I'll tell you in person next time and you'll see =)
So Monday morning we went down to the train station got our reservations, and were on our way. Napoli is the birth place of Pizza, and they're very proud of it. And they should be, it was probably the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. The people there were amazingly kind, but I've never been more scared in my life to walk down a sidewalk.
Traffic was an adventure everyday. You know that stressed feeling you get driving on the freeway in rush hour traffic? We got that walking down the street. People swerving and honking all over the place! Plus, when motorcycles can't get around cars, they just drive down the sidewalk. And they'll beep at you like they own that sidewalk. Which, when we first got there, we thought they did. But after a while, you get calloused like the locals. By day 2, when someone beeped at us we were throwing our arms in the air and shouting like we were Neopolitan. And we thought we were. We owned that city, and everyone was in our way, not vice versa. It's pretty much the only way to survive.
Randy found the equivalent of an Italian Taco Stand. They're everywhere and they sell these mini pizzas for €1. They're ok...just like pizza with no cheese....so like dough and sauce. For me, it was enough to sustain life. For Randy, it was love at first sight. But they were only in Napoli, so he's been crying about it ever since we left. It's quite pathetic really...
The shops were full of people, and the haggling was impressive. There was even a whole alley devoted to figurines. They sell them year-round and they get especially busy around Christmas. People buy nativities and then come to the figurine shops every year to add to them. It's a great tradition, and I almost bought one just so that I'd be forced to come back every year, but I resisted =)
We stayed at 2 different hostels, the first one was crazy, expensive, and sucky. The second one was amazing! It was a monastery converted into a hostel. The people were very chill, and I was really sad that we only stayed one night. But alas, after 3 days there, we discovered that 90% of the city smoked (including children under 12), and the large quantities of cars and traffic produced an equal amount of exhaust. Which meant that my body was recieving much less oxygen than it was used to. So the stress, mixed with the lack of sleep, topped off with polluted lungs, was leaving us quite tired and slightly sick. So we were ready to move onto small town Pisa, located in the open fields of Tuscany.
Aside from the large amounts of traffic and pollution, Napoli has been my favorite. Tune in next time for Christmas in Pisa!
Sunday night in Rome Randy and I realized we were leaving the next day and had no idea where we were going. So on a whim we decided on Naples, known to the locals as Napoli! Which is how I prefer to say it. It fits the atmosphere....but it just doesn't have the same effect in text. I'll tell you in person next time and you'll see =)
So Monday morning we went down to the train station got our reservations, and were on our way. Napoli is the birth place of Pizza, and they're very proud of it. And they should be, it was probably the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. The people there were amazingly kind, but I've never been more scared in my life to walk down a sidewalk.
Traffic was an adventure everyday. You know that stressed feeling you get driving on the freeway in rush hour traffic? We got that walking down the street. People swerving and honking all over the place! Plus, when motorcycles can't get around cars, they just drive down the sidewalk. And they'll beep at you like they own that sidewalk. Which, when we first got there, we thought they did. But after a while, you get calloused like the locals. By day 2, when someone beeped at us we were throwing our arms in the air and shouting like we were Neopolitan. And we thought we were. We owned that city, and everyone was in our way, not vice versa. It's pretty much the only way to survive.
Randy found the equivalent of an Italian Taco Stand. They're everywhere and they sell these mini pizzas for €1. They're ok...just like pizza with no cheese....so like dough and sauce. For me, it was enough to sustain life. For Randy, it was love at first sight. But they were only in Napoli, so he's been crying about it ever since we left. It's quite pathetic really...
The shops were full of people, and the haggling was impressive. There was even a whole alley devoted to figurines. They sell them year-round and they get especially busy around Christmas. People buy nativities and then come to the figurine shops every year to add to them. It's a great tradition, and I almost bought one just so that I'd be forced to come back every year, but I resisted =)
We stayed at 2 different hostels, the first one was crazy, expensive, and sucky. The second one was amazing! It was a monastery converted into a hostel. The people were very chill, and I was really sad that we only stayed one night. But alas, after 3 days there, we discovered that 90% of the city smoked (including children under 12), and the large quantities of cars and traffic produced an equal amount of exhaust. Which meant that my body was recieving much less oxygen than it was used to. So the stress, mixed with the lack of sleep, topped off with polluted lungs, was leaving us quite tired and slightly sick. So we were ready to move onto small town Pisa, located in the open fields of Tuscany.
Aside from the large amounts of traffic and pollution, Napoli has been my favorite. Tune in next time for Christmas in Pisa!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Italy Episode 1: Rome
Alright kids. The series you've been waiting for: Italy. It begins!
It all started off quite well. I had everything packed (I thought), and had a ride all arranged to the airport (thanks to Larena and her amazing last minute good-heartedness). I had a layover in Detroit and stopped for lunch with a good friend. I had 3 hours so I thought all would be sufficient and I'd have time to get back and on the plane, especially since I only had a carry-on.
However, as I returned back to the airport, they told me it was far too late to check in and I couldn't actually go to Italy. Of course I freaked, and then the lady said that as long as I wasn't checking any luggage I could still get on the plane. So she handed me my boarding pass and I ran to security, which thankfully had no line. As I was about to walk past the security guy I was tackled by some small asian lady demanding that my bag was too big to take on the plane. How is that possible when I clearly got it from Salt Lake to Detroit without ever having to check it!? Apparently someone in Salt Lake had lost their mind.
So Asian Lady rushes me back to the check-in line where she tells the other lady (we'll call her unhappy lady) that I need to check my bag. Unhappy lady doesn't even look up my flight, just looks at me and tells me it's impossible. I can't go to Italy. What do these people have against me going to Italy? The she looks at the lady next to her as if to get confirmation that I'm an idiot for even thinking it was possible to take my bag on the plane. Lady #3 is petrified by the fact that Unhappy Lady will eat her if she doesn't concur, so she, of course, agrees and looks at me like I'm dumb. Great.
However, just at the moment I thought I was doomed to be stuck in Detroit with some extremely unhappy individuals who think I'm an idiot, a large black woman comes shoving through from the back. She starts yelling about calling people, and rushing my bag to the plane and makes it known that Unhappy Lady is incompetent at her job. I like Big Black Lady :) In the midst of her screaming she stops, looks at me and says "Sweetie, go get on you're plane, I'll take care of your bag." Yes ma'am! So I book it to the plane and just make it as they're threatening to take my luggage off the plane (Ha! It wasn't even on there!).
It was eventful. A simlar event happened in Amsterdam, almost making me miss my flight to Rome. I still had no idea if my bag was on the plane or not. I love adventures :)
But, I made it to Rome, my bag made it to Rome, I found a train and made it to the hostel where I was reunited with Randy. He showered, I took a nap, and we went for a walk. A 6 hour walk. The best thing about Rome is getting lost. The city is so crammed together, and so full of amazing famous things that you're bound to stumble upon something old and cool. We had no idea where we were for 6 hours, and it didn't matter! We just kept walking and magically we were next to the Trevi Fountain, then we were at the Colosseum, then the Spanish Steps, and then we trekked up this amazingly long, steep hill until we saw the most beautiful view of the city! It was gorgeous. All lit up, and you could see St. Peter's Basillica....it was amazing. It made the crazy hill completely worth it.
We of course went and saw all the sights, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, amazing cathedrals. We walked along the river, found some great markets, beautifully lit alleyways with the neatest little shops ever. The people in the hostels were amazing. We made lots of new friends, played Presidents and Scum, and experimented with fun italian desserts.
Rome was amazing, and kind of feels a bit like home to us. We rode through it on the train on our way up to Pisa the other day, and it felt so nostalgic. I will forever love Rome.
Next installment: Napoli!
It all started off quite well. I had everything packed (I thought), and had a ride all arranged to the airport (thanks to Larena and her amazing last minute good-heartedness). I had a layover in Detroit and stopped for lunch with a good friend. I had 3 hours so I thought all would be sufficient and I'd have time to get back and on the plane, especially since I only had a carry-on.
However, as I returned back to the airport, they told me it was far too late to check in and I couldn't actually go to Italy. Of course I freaked, and then the lady said that as long as I wasn't checking any luggage I could still get on the plane. So she handed me my boarding pass and I ran to security, which thankfully had no line. As I was about to walk past the security guy I was tackled by some small asian lady demanding that my bag was too big to take on the plane. How is that possible when I clearly got it from Salt Lake to Detroit without ever having to check it!? Apparently someone in Salt Lake had lost their mind.
So Asian Lady rushes me back to the check-in line where she tells the other lady (we'll call her unhappy lady) that I need to check my bag. Unhappy lady doesn't even look up my flight, just looks at me and tells me it's impossible. I can't go to Italy. What do these people have against me going to Italy? The she looks at the lady next to her as if to get confirmation that I'm an idiot for even thinking it was possible to take my bag on the plane. Lady #3 is petrified by the fact that Unhappy Lady will eat her if she doesn't concur, so she, of course, agrees and looks at me like I'm dumb. Great.
However, just at the moment I thought I was doomed to be stuck in Detroit with some extremely unhappy individuals who think I'm an idiot, a large black woman comes shoving through from the back. She starts yelling about calling people, and rushing my bag to the plane and makes it known that Unhappy Lady is incompetent at her job. I like Big Black Lady :) In the midst of her screaming she stops, looks at me and says "Sweetie, go get on you're plane, I'll take care of your bag." Yes ma'am! So I book it to the plane and just make it as they're threatening to take my luggage off the plane (Ha! It wasn't even on there!).
It was eventful. A simlar event happened in Amsterdam, almost making me miss my flight to Rome. I still had no idea if my bag was on the plane or not. I love adventures :)
But, I made it to Rome, my bag made it to Rome, I found a train and made it to the hostel where I was reunited with Randy. He showered, I took a nap, and we went for a walk. A 6 hour walk. The best thing about Rome is getting lost. The city is so crammed together, and so full of amazing famous things that you're bound to stumble upon something old and cool. We had no idea where we were for 6 hours, and it didn't matter! We just kept walking and magically we were next to the Trevi Fountain, then we were at the Colosseum, then the Spanish Steps, and then we trekked up this amazingly long, steep hill until we saw the most beautiful view of the city! It was gorgeous. All lit up, and you could see St. Peter's Basillica....it was amazing. It made the crazy hill completely worth it.
We of course went and saw all the sights, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, amazing cathedrals. We walked along the river, found some great markets, beautifully lit alleyways with the neatest little shops ever. The people in the hostels were amazing. We made lots of new friends, played Presidents and Scum, and experimented with fun italian desserts.
Rome was amazing, and kind of feels a bit like home to us. We rode through it on the train on our way up to Pisa the other day, and it felt so nostalgic. I will forever love Rome.
Next installment: Napoli!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
OK!!!
I suck. At blogging. Ha! So since my last post was in July, I think I need to bring ya'll up to speed just a touch.
As most of you know, I've started working full-time at my chiropractic office, while going to work. I'm also doing extra massages in all of my spare time, which leaves....not a whole lot. I go back and forth between moments of "BAH!!! This is INSANITY!!!!" and "This is awesome! I'm like a real live adult!" It keeps me balanced :)
But the main thing I've noticed in these last few months, is how acutely aware of each of us God really is. He gets me. More than I get me. This huge span of time has brought a whole slew of life changes for me, and I'm amazed at how exactly they were catered to my personal growth.
Most of my friends are married and the others are on their way to be. Included in this crowd is my best friend from the mission, Sharon Tidwell. It all happened so fast that I didn't even really have time to notice the change happening....just...Whamo! There it was. This summer she took a job as a counselour for EFY, an LDS summer camp. Which meant that she'd be working all day everyday for 3 months straight. As she left for this expedition the Lord oh-so-subtly scooted 2 very key people into my life- Randy Lasson, and Jared Snow (previously mentioned in my Memorial Day post). Since I've always been one of the guys I fit perfectly into their little duo, and enough fun was had to fill the BFF void.
When Sharon came back from her 3 month jaunt, she was engaged. There was a little more notice than that...but not much. :) If she didn't marry the guy, I would've wondered if something was wrong with her. Seriously wrong. He's a perfect fit for her, and I'm excited for them.
Realistically, when I look back at this summer that's all I'll remember. God working again to perfectly orchestrate people in and out of my life. I'm so grateful. So in honor of the good times of the summer, here's a Jared, Randy and Sarah moment from Halloween
As most of you know, I've started working full-time at my chiropractic office, while going to work. I'm also doing extra massages in all of my spare time, which leaves....not a whole lot. I go back and forth between moments of "BAH!!! This is INSANITY!!!!" and "This is awesome! I'm like a real live adult!" It keeps me balanced :)
But the main thing I've noticed in these last few months, is how acutely aware of each of us God really is. He gets me. More than I get me. This huge span of time has brought a whole slew of life changes for me, and I'm amazed at how exactly they were catered to my personal growth.
Most of my friends are married and the others are on their way to be. Included in this crowd is my best friend from the mission, Sharon Tidwell. It all happened so fast that I didn't even really have time to notice the change happening....just...Whamo! There it was. This summer she took a job as a counselour for EFY, an LDS summer camp. Which meant that she'd be working all day everyday for 3 months straight. As she left for this expedition the Lord oh-so-subtly scooted 2 very key people into my life- Randy Lasson, and Jared Snow (previously mentioned in my Memorial Day post). Since I've always been one of the guys I fit perfectly into their little duo, and enough fun was had to fill the BFF void.
When Sharon came back from her 3 month jaunt, she was engaged. There was a little more notice than that...but not much. :) If she didn't marry the guy, I would've wondered if something was wrong with her. Seriously wrong. He's a perfect fit for her, and I'm excited for them.
Realistically, when I look back at this summer that's all I'll remember. God working again to perfectly orchestrate people in and out of my life. I'm so grateful. So in honor of the good times of the summer, here's a Jared, Randy and Sarah moment from Halloween
P.S.
Did I mention I'm going to Italy for Christmas? :)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Ode to Jenny
So for those of you who noticed a few days ago on my facebook, my car was stolen last monday. It's been a really interesting experience, because I really actually....don't care. It's very strange, and I think it has something to do with all of my friends. I honestly have the most amazing friends in the history of the world. I'm so fortunate to have them. Let me give you some examples!
We all went out to breakfast and and the money was presented with this beautifully handmade card.
The morning it happened Sharon came straight to my house to comfort me (even though I was ok), and then picked me up on her lunch break so that I could use her car for the rest of the day. She's also offered me her car while she's at EFY for the next 3 weeks.
My roommate Susie has borrowed her parent's car for the weekend, and let me use hers until Sharon goes to EFY, and she wrote a poem about it. She's pretty good at poems.
I told my friend Randy and his first concern was that my massage table was in my car, which it was. My massage table is second only to my hands in terms of importance for my job. The car I don't really care about that much. My table....was really sad. So Randy called up all of my friends (that he knew) and started a fund to help me get a new table.
Before my mission I sold my scooter to one of my bosses, Dr. Vance. When he found out about my car, he offered me to use the scooter, or to help me find a new car.
My other boss, Dr. Adams, happened to have a massage table that someone asked him to sell in his garage that hasn't been used, and said he'd let me use it, and if I wanted to buy it, I could get a really good deal for it.
Not to mention all the phone calls, and people sending their regards to the late and great Jenny. It's been a really great experience for me. Which is amazing, because it should be something so devastating and difficult to deal with. The Lord has blessed me with such great people in my life, that it always makes big things seem so small and insignificant. It's also friends like this that will bind together stronger during these hard times. This experience has changed my persepective so much, and I owe it all to Jenny. Here's to you, wherever you are!
Here's some of the sweet stuff my friends did
We all went out to breakfast and and the money was presented with this beautifully handmade card.
This has become the current creative goodness on our whiteboard
Monday, June 22, 2009
Seattle
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Seattle to see a young woman I taught on my mission and her husband be sealed in the temple. It was defintely a weekend to remember!
That night we went up with the family and partied it up at the reception. We had an early flight and my friend Rachel was taking us to the airport on Sunday, so we left early, and met up with her. Spent the whole night chatting, got very little sleep, and then flew back for Salt Lake at 7am. And I even saw Mt. Ranier peeking out of the clouds while I was on the plane. It was the perfect end to a fabulous trip! :)
Thursday morning we (Aubree Healey and I) left early, and braved the 14 hr drive up with my friend Darrin and his wife Anna (Darrin happens to be a brother to the groom), and had them drop us off in at our hotel that night.
Friday, we woke up early, rented a car, and went to see the city.
The funny thing about Aubree is that while we were mission companions we discovered that God put the same brain in two bodies. We're constantly thinking the same thing at the same time, and saying the same phrases. It's amazing, and made for cruising around Downtown Seattle, very exciting. I even had my first oyster shooter. Something I care to never do again.
We also found out that Rent was on tour with 2 original cast members (Roger and Mark, in case you cared), so we of course had to go see it! However, we both managed to forget our cameras during that portion of the evening. One time when having the same brain doesn't come in handy.
Saturday was the big day for Leslie and Devin. We went early and spent some time in the temple on our own before the actual wedding. The whole experience was the most rewarding, spiritual experience I've ever had. They love each other so much, and now they're able to have a family that will last for eternity. It was a really special moment, that can't be compared with anything I've ever felt.
That night we went up with the family and partied it up at the reception. We had an early flight and my friend Rachel was taking us to the airport on Sunday, so we left early, and met up with her. Spent the whole night chatting, got very little sleep, and then flew back for Salt Lake at 7am. And I even saw Mt. Ranier peeking out of the clouds while I was on the plane. It was the perfect end to a fabulous trip! :)
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