Rivers and Roads

Long weekends warrant great fun at length: from goats to corn dogs to sleeping under trees to hot springs to Ghiradelli ice cream. The California 1 always knows how to show you a good time, bless that scenic highway.

Harley Farms Goat Dairy: exceptional cheese, exceptional I say! (Try the chili oil too.)





Pie Ranch: best strawberry tartlets and walnut pie.



Santa Cruz Boardwalk: my corn dog for the year has been consumed.



Nascimiento-Fergusson "camping," Ventana Wilderness: "This?" was where we stayed.



Sykes Camp and Hot Springs, Los Padres National Forest: 10 miles in, 10 miles out, naked hippies, and sore hips.





Carmel and Monterey: sleeping beach, antiques, and ice cream, a good ending.



Lessons learned: you can pack a lot into three days and Jared and I can totally handle a back-packing trip together.

Notes:
Listening to Head and the Heart
Whenever you can eat at Redwood Grill
Make reservations prior to leaving the house (still haven't learned this) and stay at Kirk Creek
Pescadero is amazing and visit Duarte's Tavern for Olallieberry pie and jam
Sit in the very back of the Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz - it kind of feels like you're going to fly off...in a good way(?)
Oh, to live in Big Sur
In memory of...

A Manly-Man

I think you're cute when you call me "dude" because you're really excited about something (like gear or mountains). I appreciate you carrying my back-pack for five minutes while I pouted about being hungry and tired. I'm glad you're older and (sometimes) teach me how to be an adult. I'm grateful that you're more patient than me and you like to keep things in perfect condition. I love that you think Glee is our thing and you watch every episode with me. I think it's amazing that you can stand cold conditions and you've climbed the Palisades, and Shasta, and Whitney and.....

I love you a lot and think you're a hunk.

Photo: It was extremely hot and we just came back from the beach. He doesn't normally ride in the car without a shirt, although he wishes he could.

Post: "Vacation"

Perhaps you're thinking, "Gee, Utah sounds like a nice get-away," or you're thinking of replacing Utah with, say, Mexico, Hawaii,or Jamaica. Oddly for me, Utah is like a trip back to the old family cabin where, again, oddly, I have a lot of friends and family still residing. It's hard to look at the Wasatch Range or drive through the neighborhoods of South campus without wanting to give up your Bay Area life and move back to the pleasantry of Provo. I would ramble more, but Stephanie Nielson said it best (starting with "I miss...")(Mom? Are you smiling 'cause you know now that I'm reading Heaven is Here? Well, you should). Long story, relatively, short, sometimes I miss Utah and its nostalgic presence - the people are friendly, you can ride your bike in Provo at 3am, and good home cooking is available from Logan to St. George. I'm so happy I was able to visit...

Tuesday:
My first car rental (why is it a million dollars more if I'm under 25?!); and a sleepover with Chloe.





Wednesday:
Water fun in the hot, Lehi sun; BC/DC love forever; and indulging.









Thursday:
Dinner with the best roommates I ever had the pleasure of sharing a bathroom with.



Friday:
Farewell to my raggamuffin nieces and Baby Momma; hello Lauren and Communal.







Saturday:
The Y!; hot new heels; and a Bridal Veil Falls tradition.







Sunday:
Fate throwing me a bone: Jen; introduction to baby; Mothers Day dinner with Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcakes.





Monday:
City Creek with the girls; back home to the Bay.



Oh, it was wonderful seeing everyone. We should do this again.

Part III: Sunnyvale

Our new apartment is more than we could ever imagine. Take a look!





Come and visit when you can!

Part II: The Move

Limbo is almost over. We're moving on and saying goodbye. Our little house on Adeline is no more. Sunnyvale here we come!









What will we discover next?

Preface

Berkeley and I have not always gotten along. There was that one time this homeless person cornered me in the bookstore, that time I got a $235 ticket for not obeying the crosswalk on Telegraph, the instance where I lived in a living room and paid $750 for rent. Though there were major adjustments I had some help getting through. The week before our move I was able to reconnect with all the people who made living in Berkeley great:
I: Sharon
(Why didn't I take a picture?...ugh. Well she looks like surfer Barbie, but way cooler.)
She is one of the sweetest people I know. She grew up in Berkeley, has travelled to Australia, worked for Lucas Films and found love in Seattle. I think she is so cool and I can literally talk to her for hours. I am so glad we could share an apartment together. She is getting married soon and I am so happy for her!
II: Katie



Oh my, this lady is one of a kind and has a smile that can light up Oakland. I feel she's been everywhere and tried (almost) everything once. Her family lives on a farm, she knows the best places to eat, she's always down for a good time, and I love talking to her over yogurt. She's a happy duck and I wish her luck for what's to come.
III: Meg



Fate knew we had to be friends and so our ward put us together as visiting teaching partners. She's honest and sweet and most of all she loves good food just as much as I do...maybe more. I can talk to her about anything and I know she would help me whenever I ask (eg: taking me to the hospital, oh my, thank you again). She's amazing and I can only see great things for her in the future.
IV: Danielle
(Pretend this is a picture of us putting together your desk - that was a fun day.)
Good luck with the job, you're such a friendly person. You are always happy and I will miss your energy. I'm so glad I was able to meet you. Working with you my last two weeks was so fun and it made me leaving a bit more sad. I'll miss our lunch breaks talking about Glee and Laguna Beach. Oh, you're great!
I have met so many wonderful people in this city and I'm sad they won't be as close. I know, I know, we're only an hour and a half away, but it's still far.

He puts the Wood in Redwoods.

I've never know anyone that loves Redwoods as much as Jared. He has a love affair with them and defends them as the greatest tree ever. The regional park in the Oakland Hills has a great view of the scarlet knights - its absolutely beautiful. Take a look:

From First to Last

Our second date revisited: same great food, more love, happy memories.
This is our last full weekend in Berkeley and I'm semi-sentimental.