7 Peaks

I feel like my blog is becoming an advertisement for fun date ideas for LDS Young Single Adult people living in Salt Lake/Provo. Ugh.But I have a new camera and what else would I take pictures of but the things that Brad and I do together?
Also, if it seems like I only hang out with Brad that is probably because I only hang out with Brad. How many times can I say Brad in one post I wonder? Brad, brad, brad. Oh my.

The weekend started out with tennis. While Brad still kicked my trash it was much closer this time. I just get all hyped up because the score is so close, and then I choke. It is a mental thing and not a skill thing I swear! Btw, I have been informed that I am terrible at trash-talking. Apparently you are not supposed to laugh while trying to intimidate someone.



We went to Eclipse after that because Brad's mom wanted to go... Brad actually was getting quite upset because he thinks Bella is completely stupid for picking Edward over Jacob. I quite agree. I won't share my other multitude of opinions on the series - it is not worth my time typing.

7 Peaks was our Saturday activity, and I went down the second biggest slide (see orange slide in the photo below. I did the blue one on the other side that is almost identical). I didn't open my eyes once during the entire thing, I was so scared! But despite my protests, I am glad that I was pretty much forced into it :)




As Brad was so sweet to model for me as seen below, we used some gross but effective spray sunscreen so none of us got burned... I am pretty sure that I could use this picture for blackmail if I wanted to someday...


We ate an entire $5 pizza on the way home, and then got these amazing fresh strawberry shakes. Brad got the shake all over his face.


Another good weekend almost over. I am beginning to live for them even though I like my job... I love my summer days in the sun!

Opinions/Favorite Things: Billy Joel

I have been inspired by Audrey's blog to write more often about my opinions on life or things I am ridiculously passionate about. I never think that anyone else will think these things are interesting and I also never really think of any thing that I want to talk about.

But, again following Audrey, I will post about a famous and incredibly talented man.

Billy Joel.

Oh my gosh, I love his music. And his lyrics. If any man wants to learn a ton about women and relationships, all he would have to do is make himself a student under Billy Joel's tutelage. The man understands things that most other people never think to put into words. Its like Billy Joel wrote an entire class beginning with an introduction entitled, "She's Always a Woman to Me", continuing on to "Tell Her About It" and then getting meatier through "Honesty" and "And So It Goes". I believe the conclusion of the class would be "Its All About Soul" and "Just the Way You Are".

Billy Joel was born in the Bronx, got teased for taking piano lessons growing up, so he took up boxing. He was on the amateur Golden Gloves circuit for awhile even. He never graduated from high school because he slept through an English exam. When he got famous he married Christie Brinkley, a model (who is gorgeous btw), whom he wrote "Uptown Girl" about. "Uptown Girl" is vividly part of one of my earliest childhood memories. I love that song!

So I clearly understand that sometimes Billy has that cheesy eighties thing going on, but seriously the man is a genius, which is proven by the fact that he is the third best selling solo artist in the United States having sold 100 million records worldwide. He also has six Grammys and has had top 10 hits in the 70's, 80's, and 90's all of which he wrote by himself. Most people that are famous for music collaborate. He is the star and he is good at it. And his songs are so musically different from each other! You could never get bored.

Lagoon

This is the funniest video ever; I had no idea that Brad was filming! We are on the ride the Rocket, and it is a free-fall. It might not be super clear on the video, it slowly drags us to the top, and the free-fall only lasts a second and then it bounces us up and down for a bit. Its a way fun ride.

Also, notice in the second picture above that the weird sign we are standing next to says both RAD and BRAD on it. Therefore it was a perfect photo op for us :)

One of my new favorite activities is sitting next to Brad on roller coasters so that I can laugh hysterically at his yelling. But I guess the video proves that he is not the only one who screams a lot on rides... All in all, it was a super good date.

Something Amazing

For the past many months while my sister has been pregnant, I have felt like this little dude:




This little guy did not disappoint! He is totally amazing!



Congrats Adam and Andrea!

Flu Bug

It started yesterday while I was at Brad's house with his whole family. My stomach started hurting and the next thing I know is that I am walking bags of trash with my vomit in it outside to the trash can in front of everyone. Use your imagination to figure out why I couldn't use the toilet to throw up in... TMI? Yes. But when you think about it, I am the one who had to endure this horrible experience, and you are only hearing about it (insert sweet angelic smile). Anyway, I continued to be sick over and over for the next several hours, and by that time I couldn't drive home I was so shaky and weak so I stayed the night.

Now I am home and I have kept some food down. I am very lightheaded however. And my whole body aches. And I am complaining to the void of the internet because there is nothing good on T.V. I want to do nothing else except lay here though. Laying down is such a wonderful thing. As an interesting side note, since yesterday I have lost six pounds.

Also, I am very excited for my nephew to come! I have been watching Supernanny in preparation so I can give annoying unsolicited and inexperienced advice :) Yay!

That European Feeling

This past Tuesday I wore a skirt and flats to work so that I could walk to the temple to do baptisms when I got off. I thought it would be perfect to stretch my legs after sitting all day and to accomplish my goal of doing baptisms every week.

Setting out I knew the general direction I needed to go and had a guess as to how many blocks I needed to go, but I couldn't see the temple from the City Center building where I work. But I was happy to be walking around downtown anyway. It reminded me of my Art History study abroad in Europe. We often would just start walking in a general direction and not worry about how long it took us to get somewhere.

So anyway, lo and behold, on the way there my dream came true, and I ran into the jewelry store O.C. Tanner. I had been planning on looking their location up soon, but fate brought us together before I could even do that. For those of you who might not know, for years now, I have had a hobby of studying jewelry. It started in high school, and was only enforced by my art history classes. I study jewelry, and more particularly, jewelry designers, the way that I study artists because I have a firm belief that jewelry should be designed and purchased as an art form. Anything less is just a waste of precious stones and metal. Anyway, even though they were closed, they let me in, and I have never been more excited about any jewelry store in my life. They carry all my favorite designers, and some great ones I had never heard of and I was in heaven! Oh my, it was wonderful. I am going back to visit again soon.

I continued on to the temple, and had a wonderful time there as well, in a more calming but more satisfying way. I loved it. Then I stopped at the Lion House Pantry for a roll and honey butter, and I ate that while I walked back to my car. All in all, it was a wonderful evening. And I am so glad I get to spend time in downtown Salt Lake!

Working Woman

I feel like I don't even live at my apartment. Which is kind of sad because its nice and I really like my roommates! But it is also good because I am learning so much at my new job/internship, and I am having fun spending a lot of my free time with Brad.

Work is a little crazy I must admit. Its a lot of hours (last week 50.5) and at the end of the day my brain feels like absolute mush because of the information overload. There is so much to learn its crazy. After work my brain feels the way that it feels after 10 hours of cramming for finals. Its kind of awesome though. I am on the International Asset Servicing team with five other full-time employees. I am the only intern on that specific team, and I have been assigned five projects that they need help with. Its great having responsibility for real work that will have an impact on the company beyond my 10 week internship.

I was lucky enough to be assigned to a team that moved to the temporary downtown location for the firm before they move into their new building. This means that I get to spend my lunch breaks wandering the streets of a city center trying new delis and bakeries (I recommend the Boston Deli, Gourmandise the Bakery and Toasters) and visiting the huge SLC Library which is kitty-corner from my workplace. I love living/working in a big-ish city!