Saturday, May 22, 2010

Vacation!

Joseph and I had a week off. We knew we wanted to do something but we weren't really sure what to do. Our house projects have been sucking up a bit of cash, so we decided it would probably have to be within driving distance. I've never been to Vegas, and Joseph's good friend Steve lives in Utah, so it started to sound like a plan.
Hoover Dam baby!



This is off the Vegas strip. I don't really know what that boat is, but it looked like a good photo op.

The view out the window from our hotel room in Vegas. We were on the 23rd floor.

After our tour of the vegas strip, Joseph and I got massages, and I also got a facial. No pictures of that here, but it was probably one of my most favorite parts of the trip.

This was a little electric train that runs between some of the hotels/casinos and also the very upscale mall "Crystals." Joseph promised to take me shopping, but it isn't really shopping when you can't afford anything.

In the upscale mall. You see one of the stores behind me is Versace.

Here we are at our dinner/show. We stayed in the Excalibur hotel and the show we saw was something about the knights of the round table. It was kind of cheesy but also fun.

This is the king of Hungary, which was my section. I'm pretty sure he's an aspiring actor who is stuck playing a knight in Vegas. Joseph thinks he must like it because he seemed really into it.

Here is Steve. We drove all the way to Salt Lake to see this kid. When he and Joseph get together it's really fun to watch. You can just tell they're good friends. You don't get very many good friends in life, and I think when you have someone you really click with, you need to stay in touch. This is pretty late at night; we'd just got in that day and he had to work, but he came over after. He and Joseph gossiped a bit and made plans for the next night.

That area of Utah also has other friends. We met up with Joseph's cousin, the opera singer (no picture). We also met up with Jessica, featured in the picture above. Are you jealous that I got to see your sister Ashley? It was fun to catch up.

Around six we met Steve and his wife Ellen for dinner at Fazoli's. I was so stoked there was a Fazoli's right next to our hotel! It is one of my favorite places to eat, and a few years back they closed all the chains in Arizona. Steven and Ellen were a ton of fun. I'm actually sad that I made a new friend and she lives in Utah! The good news is they're coming to visit this summer. :)

I didn't do as much homework as I should have on the trip. But who wants to do homework while on vacation? Total buzzkill. I'm just going to have to crank it out these next couple days.

Camping

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a camper. But I also don't like to be left out of a good time. When my senior at work, Matt, invited a group of us up to his cabin (with the understanding that his cabin was on the small side, so we would be sleeping outside), I really couldn't pass it up. I had running water and electricity...I could sleep on the ground one night, right?

This is Asmahan and Jose's tent...Greg is off the right right. Matt's cabin in the background.

Jose lit his smore on fire...on purpose.

Matt and Cindi were pretty sloshed. Joseph and I enjoy the antics.

He pretty much dared me to.

Smores are my favorite part of camping.

It was a good weekend. We sat and talked, played some games, had a really delicious dinner...I'd do it again. Even if I did feel like I'd been kicked all over after sleeping on the ground.

Playing CatchPhrase:

Matt: leaned over to the side and made a farting noise
Fred: Gas!
Matt: Yes, ok, and oh no, I'm on the freeway!
(The answer was "running out of gas")

Fred: The thing Jesus was buried in
Cindi: A tux!
(The answer was "shroud")

Best game ever.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Blanket, wet cat, and homework

Here is my latest creation, a baby blanket for Anna's little baby boy. I have been promising myself I would try a little sweater, so that is next on my project list...after my secret project that I can't mention because it is for someone who follows my blog....Don't you hate when people do that? Are you totally curious now? If you were me, you would be.

Joseph decided Marley needed a bath. She was not appreciative. He came out of the bathroom with her wrapped up in a towel and she did not look happy. She spent the next hour re-doing all of his hard work...by licking herself.

This will be where I am hanging out for the next eight weeks. I am doubling up on my classes...I didn't realize it was going to be so much work. Notice the books that surround me....as well as the very large candy bar my sweet husband bought for me.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. After these eight weeks, I just have one more class. Then I should be graduating with a Masters in August.

If I survive these next eight weeks.

I find that I always get a lot done when I have a lot of homework. And by get a lot done, I am referring to housework and other projects that do not include homework. For some reason, when I have a paper that I need to write, the dirty dishes that have been in the sink for three days just absolutely need to be loaded into the dishwasher before I can concentrate on anything else.

Joseph is really good at taking over those tasks so that I can actually get some work done. I really appreciate that boy.