An Escape from the Mundane

For almost a year, I've been going 'walking' two or three times a week, during my lunch hour, with a friend at work. For almost the same amount of time, I've been trying to remember to take my digital camera on the route we take because it's absolutely beautiful. We walk from our office building over to State Street, up State to North Temple and veer right, toward City Creek; up through City Creek to Memory Grove, and up just a little ways into the canyon there. It's so scenic, it's hard to believe we work only a few minutes from there. So last week, when we got dumped on by all that snow, I talked to another secretary in the office that takes a similar walking route that we do. She said that Memory Grove and City Creek were so pretty, I should take my camera and get a few shots. So I did! I FINALLY took my camera out on our weekly walk. It took longer, because I kept stopping to take pictures.


Anyone that's been to the building where I work knows that we have a fantastic view from our conference room windows; But it's still inside rather than outside, and being outside is always better! Memory Grove and City Creek are awesome escapes from the mundane office existence.

I am so spoiled.

Good-bye, Twenties

I love this picture... I look so evil! Hehehehe...

But check out my lei! Thanks Mar and Melissa!

As I say good-bye to my twenties, I look back and see that: I made some not-so-smart financial decisions, I didn't date much but watched most of my friends get married and start families, I happily watched my sister get married, I made several friends... some of whom I have since lost track and then re-connected with, I've switched jobs 5 times, switched companies 3 times, moved home twice - only for short periods of time, however; I battled depression - but not alone; I watched 5 siblings head to the MTC while I sat home with no desire to serve a mission and felt guilty about it; I moved apartments/condos just about every year, I've lost friends and family to death, I've travelled around the continental U.S. a little bit, been to Hawaii twice, been to Europe once, and started a road-trip tradition to Southern California with my sisters and cousin Em (who, let's be honest, is just like my sister), watched 'internet dating' develop a lot (and even particiapted some, but with no real spectacular results - just the desire to meet someone the 'old-fashined way'), had one or two heartbreaks, went to more weddings and wedding receptions than I can count, had more roommates than I can count, bought my own car (and paid it off!), laughed, fought, loved, mourned, hated, cried, raged and relaxed.
In my thirties, I'm going to get out of debt, make better financial decisions, travel a little more (if I can), finish school, get married and start a family (I hope), buy my own house, focus on being a better member missionary, watch my youngest sister go on a mission, watch my brothers and sisters get married (HOPEFULLY), lose more friends and family to death (I'm sure), beat depression, run a half-marathon, go to more weddings and wedding receptions than I can count, continue the road-trip tradition even when we're all married, play with nieces and nephews, have more heartbreaks, meet more new friends and probably lose track of some old ones, laugh, fight, love, mourn, hate, cry, rage and relax some more.
I have ten years of '30s' and I'm going to enjoy them ALL!

Happy birthday to me! :)