Mikey, this isn't the kind of place you wanna go to the bathroom...We begin in Oregon

I hope that most of you reading that title will think of one of the greatest cult classics that has ever graced the big screen. Yep! You guessed it... GOONIES!

I felt it appropriate to begin my report of my recent vacation to the Northwestern United States with a Goonies shout out. It makes sense in my mind.

A couple months ago... I thought to myself I thought SELF! You've been to some pretty decent international destinations: England, Scotland, France, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the land of endless guacamole and mariachi bands, Mexico. One should travel. Always travel. Not just to see this or consider that; but to change and grow and appreciate and eat, eat, eat. I think one of the greatest lessons I relearn every time I've gone out of the country is first, an appreciation for diverse cultures and customs, but second, how much I love my little Salt Lake City, Utah. It's true! Home is where the heart is - and my heart is in Salt Lake City.

ANYWAY!

After thinking of the international destinations that have been my great opportunity to visit, I thought how much I've not seen right here in the old US of A! How can I say I've seen the capitol of Vietnam, Thailand, France, Cambodia, and Scotland and NOT the capitol of my very own country? In fact, as far as travel within the US is concerned, I've mainly been limited to such destinations as Colorado, Vegas, Arizona, Wyoming, and California. Yep. I've not even stepped foot in Idaho! IDAHO! I mean SURE Idaho doesn't have such things as Stonehenge or the Eiffel Tower, but I'm sure it has... like... stuff! Stuff worth seeing!

Thus I made a goal this year to shelf the international aspirations for awhile and check out my own, very vast, very unique, proverbial backyard.

You all remember my trip to Charleston, South Carolina the first of May. This was as far "east" as I've ever been - and I developed a soft spot in my heart for all things fried and muggy. I also appreciate the Southern hospitality so natural to the good folks in those south easterly states. It's probably the only place where I don't feel 100 years old being referred to as "ma'am" or "miss."

Thus, I added to my US traveling repertoire this month by planning a 6 day venture to the Northwest; Oregon and Washington respectively. Why? WELL WHY NOT! EH!??! Psh. And also because I've only heard sincerely wonderful and happy things about the area... the whole area... from a multiple "types" of people: outdoor enthusiasts to city dwellers, from hard core rockers to granola popping hippies. It seems the Northwest has a little something for everyone.

And I discovered that was truly the case.

Portland. Lets talk about Portland. Commonly referred to as one of the best (if not the best planned city in America), Portland was in a word, delicious. Nay, beautifully delicious. The greatest thing I will remember about Portland is the food food FOOD! And to remember a place for its food is to write it upon your own SOUL. You know I speak the truth. Thus, lets talk about food

First, Meagan and I ate at the Food Carts. Yes. Portland has these well-known ghetto fabulous food carts parked at random areas across the downtown area supplying any manner of delectable deliciousness from Turkish wraps (which we had), to Tibetan jasmine rice and Korean Pho. And it may have been the fact we hadn't eaten since that morning before boarding our plane; but I will forever remember the Turkish Gyro Style Wrap and sauce I ate that first meal in Portland. If you go to Portland, dear friends, eat from a food cart. Eat from a couple of them.

Then naturally we had to find dessert via the nationally well-known Voodoo Doughnuts. Make note, they only take cash. Archaic maybe. But you'll take a look and then ceremoniously a taste of these quirky doughnuts and begin carrying cash in your wallet again. It's that worth it.

  Other honorable mentions must go to the Grilled Cheese Grill on Wheels. The unique atmosphere is as enjoyable as its grilled cheese sandwich options and juice boxes. Lunch on a bus! And why not? Find this and eat. We actually ran into their second location en route to the greatest sushi place I've ever eaten - except this lunch on a bus was double decker British style. Pip!

Finally, Bamboo Sushi. Perhaps being from a severely landlocked state has created lower expectations for good sushi. I like sushi places in Utah, but turns out when you visit a state that actually boasts an ocean front, the fish is a little bit (and by a little bit I mean A LOT) better. And surprise of surprises, when you eat at Bamboo Sushi in Portland (and you damn well better!) GET the bread pudding. I know I know, if you're feeling sushi then it's likely you're not feeling bread pudding. But get it anyway - and ask for an extra smackrel of the sauce on the side. I literally lapped it up with my finger. I like to keep it classy.

Food aside... but only just... We also wandered around the Japanese Gardens, the Rose Gardens, and Powell Books, aka, the City of Books. Let me tell you about my sensory overload in that store. 3 hours combing through travel, cooking, poetry, history, politics... and I had to literally exit the store in a happy delirious panic when I finally attempted to tackle Fiction. I couldn't do it I tell you! I wasn't mentally prepared for such a magnitude of the written word. So we quickly pulled ourselves together, bought some MORE books, and sensibly made a run for it before Fiction completely devoured us. We barely made it out with our lives I tell you!

Portland being a fantastic experience for two days - day 3 began with a drive to Canon Beach and Astoria.

Here is my advice

Spend the majority of the day in Canon Beach. Nay, spend the WHOLE day at Canon Beach and stop in Astoria for 2 hours on your way through to something, ANYTHING, else. Turns out, Astoria is a bit of a hole (no offense to you Astorians out there... ahem). Though quaint and boasting many a cinematic enjoyment, 2 hours is plenty of time to check out the Goondocks, the County Jail, and the elementary where Kindergarten Cop was filmed. There's some this and that about Free Willy - but who really remembers Free Willy anymore? Not when there are Goonie sites to see!! I don' t know why Meagan and I felt spending most of the day in Astoria was somehow going to be better and/or comparable to the picturesque loveliness of Canon Beach, but we did. And now, we can have a good laugh about it... with only minimal malice in our eyes.

Look at the pictures! Oh... and as an aside. I bought a $230 Cannon camera last year when I went to Thailand. It's excellent and takes really great pictures. Did I bring it on this trip? NO!?!? Why? Cause I thought I left it in my office and so the morning we were flying out, I stopped by my office to check. Was it there!?!? NO!!!  So... this pics were taken on my phone. Alas.

 And that was Oregon! Stay tuned Goonies fans, because we're on to Forks and Port Angeles next! Yes, we did. And you would too!

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris... then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast" - Ernest Hemingway

Want to win a trip to Paris? Well so do I! So don't enter the below contest or my chances drop! I just wanted to show you where you COULD have entered for a FREE TRIP TO PARIS (including airfare) if you had the desire.

http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris

And Trips to Paris aside, Oh Happy Day is a blog worth following. So go ahead and follow. And remember, don't enter this fantastic contest so I have better chances! You are all such great friends ;)

One day more! Les Miserables and a Trip to Charleston. Somehow, they connect.

Amidst all the Les Miserables contesting, I have yet to blog about my 6 day venture to Charleston, South Carolina. A gross oversight, but one must prioritize, am I right? And a coveted Les Miserables ticket seemed a more demanding task considering the deadline. And since we’re talking about Les Miserables, let me just say it was amazing, OF course, and I think my bless-ed companion enjoyed it as well!

Here he is in a picture with people he doesn’t know and me. How’s that for almost "background creeper got in our picture randomly?" Poor Pete. But he's HAPPY! That much is obvious.

And here’s one of my family – aren’t they a lovely family? What I like most is that brother Nick and brother Seth called each other before hand to see what to wear. They wanted to make sure they matched. Cute, eh? So cute.

As far as the production itself: incredible, amazing, and awe-inspiring. Truly I love the story, love the music, and love the changes and adaptations they made for this 25th Anniversary production. Nothing was amiss and all was as it should be. I’d also like to give a shout out to the wonders of CGI in such productions. It fit nicely without taking away from imagination and individual perspective. Bravo! And as always, Eponine is my favorite character, the one I identify with most. I may have to tell you why sometime… but now…

ON TO CHARLESTON!

Ahem.

So, why Charleston? Well I expect that most of you know that Charleston (like Salt Lake City thank you very much) is one of the U.S’s most desirable cities to live in (which I couldn't find a site for so I may have just made it up...). Did you also know that SLC and Charleston also boast such awards as the “best looking people” in the US as well? I find this ironic for two reasons – one: as many of you know SLC was pegged as THE VAINEST of the VAIN Cities in the US according to Forbes magazine; citing our exorbitant amount of plastic surgeons to population ratio, as well as our ridiculous expenditures on cosmetics, self-help books, dietary supplements, etc. I admit, in SLC I feel I’m an average looking girl (at best), faced with an intensely high expectation of “beauty” I find not only impossible to maintain, but not entirely worth my time. I have such things as school, work, sleeping, and grocery shopping to pencil in as well, ya know? When I travel outside of Utah, my confidence increases greatly as I find I get more attention (gentlemanly kind… there’s a difference between cat-calls and a double take good sirs) and feel that everyone has a few more things to worry about than making sure their mascara is just-so every morning. I don’t function in extremes – so if you’re going to say “Oh sure! You want us to be ugly furry people who smell like sour milk and cat breath?” Clearly not. Moderation my friends – prioritization and all that. Anyway… aside. I feel SLC beauty can be highly superficial and that’s become the standard of beauty – faux-beauty.

Secondly, however, in Charleston I noticed there were a lot of good looking people but these good looking people seemed to exude a more natural beauty. They of course all had beautiful clear skin I’d attribute to the balmy moist climate and mucho amounts of sunshine rays increasing their Vitamin D which would give any one a twinkle in their eye. But also, I feel there was a quiet confidence about these good looking people that projected outward in a “I like myself” way rather than a “I have to be hotter than that person and that person and that person” sort of way. SLC’s vanity keeps up with the Jones’s… Charleston’s good lookingness finds beauty in living and walking and being rather than buying. But hey, I was only there for 6 days and I’ve lived in SLC for 7 years – so perhaps I have a better handle on the SLC vanity pulse than I do in Charleston. It’s just my “first impressions.”

And the impressions got better and better!

I flew out there to spend time with my old roomie Nikelle who moved out there this time last year as well as enjoy the beauty, food, and humidity of the South. Let me tell you how Nikelle and I have been roomies (with a few gaps here and there) for close on to 5-6 years. That’s a pretty significant time to have a roomie and not want to smother them in their sleep. Am I right? And with a free place to stay in one of the most desirable cities in the US, not to mention after a semester of death and months and months of cold wetness, it was time for a leisurely vacation across the country. That always cures what ails me. I've also never been east of Colorado in the US save the DC airport on my way to London. I know, I'm un-American. I hope to change that in the coming years... starting with Charleston!

Photo documentation below!

First, one must enjoy the finer things of Southern culture and visit such necessary landmarks as:

AND!

 

Both of these fantastic establishments made me feel I was truly in the South. You should also know that the Waffle House is ghetto-DELICIOUS! And anyone who is telling you anything else is smokin something. In fact, let's talk a little bit about food, shall we?

Foods you must eat in Charleston: First, fried things... lots of fried things. If you don't eat fried things then you will not eat. So think about that before you pack your bags and head to that part of the U.S. where mac and cheese is considered a vegetable. You think I jest... I jest NOT lad. Fried things I had: Fried green tomatoes (delish), hush-puppies (which is basically deep fried pancake batter balls), chicken (duh), shrimps and other various basted seafood delights, grits, cheese grits, buttered grits (not fried but oh-so-Southern), and french fries (what?). My favorite place we dined was the Hominey Grill and I demand that if you go to Charleston YOU GO TO THE HOMINEY GRILL. Because if you don't, you suck. And no one really wants to suck; particularly if you sorta suck already.

Also of note is Melvins BBQ. Oh my friends, you have not eaten BBQ until you've sucked back some Melvin's BBQ. It's all about the sauce. They have varieties of sauces for to slather your pulled meat platters and oh what a slathering it is. This is also where I discovered my love for lima beans dripping in bacon-butter. That's right, bacon-butter.

Of course, the sea food is 100 times better than anything landlocked Utah can offer you, but you trade in exquisite Mexican food which Charleston does NOT have. Nikelle and I had ourselves some fish tacos at the end of a Sunday beaching excursion and felt less than satisfied. Utah, appreciate your Mexican cuisine cause you won't find of that business in the South. Not in Charleston, anyway.

Honorable food mention of course goes to Bo'jangles Biscuit and their freakishly good Bo'Jangle Blueberry biscuit shown here:

Internet, you've never tasted anything with such a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and startch. No, not ever.

NEXT! Let's talk about stuff to do.

The South is brimming with history the West can't hold a candle to. And that history goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War. However, the war that left its biggest mark on the South and nearly divided our great country in half, was of course the Civil War. Thus, visiting a legitimate Southern Plantation or two is a hands down 100% MUST!

We chose Middletone Place Plantation

And what trip to the South would be complete without a little Swampin? A pretty crappy one that's what! Below are the adventures of Cypress Gardens. We rented ourselves a wee canoe... and it being wee is significant considering we were paddling our way through alligator infested WATERS! Alright "infested" is a strong word... but they were "around." And that's a crazy thought to think that Alligators can just appear here and there in your everyday life, right?

Dude, Mr. Turtle, was my father. (Movie trivia!)

 

Next, let’s talk about Downtown Charleston and Beaches, yes? Observe.

One must naturally visit the Farmer's Market, walk The Battery, and weave in an out of the cobblestoned streets of Charleston to truly get a feel for its simple beauty and picturesque ambiance. Come, walk with me:

Turns out I took a lot of pictures. Yep! Ha! And that's not the half of them but I'm trying to keep this short...er... erp.. Fail.

BEACHES!

There were two, but really only one worth mentioning as it's a very "Southern/East Coast" sort of beach which means not necessarily the miles of white sand, gulls, and piercing heat; rather, a slight breeze, packed sand, and big brimmed hats. Tis referred to as Sullivans Beach. Follow the romper:

Naturally, in between eating and beaching and leisurely hanging about, I also did some shopping and saw a couple of movies. Truly, it was a very relaxing vacation with ample leisure time and not a lot of "we must go here and we must go there!" Many times, I feel I need a vacation from my vacation, such as the case with Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam last tear. Talk about mentally taxing. This one, this one was a true, legitimate, relax and read leisure novels vacation and one that definitely recharged my battery for the weeks ahead which involved MOVING and MOVING and also moving. That's right - I am no longer a single apartment dweller but in fact, a house-dweller with a roommate. And I prefer houses and 1 or 2 roomies in every way: socially, financially,... other significant "lys"

House pictures to COME!

To Begin...

 This weekend, my dream of continuing to further my education ascended one more ladder rung. On Friday, I commenced... walked... took the next step... evolved... graduated... proceeded... progressed, and any other word connoting "move forward." Mr. Webster defines the word commence as "to begin", which I find appropriate in every way. Though many of us (grads) felt we were closing a chapter, finishing our degree... it was really much more of a beginning of something else. It's a starting line. We are moving forward into the unknown. Rather than "finishing" my MPA I am "beginning" something new and can finally be part of that old fail-safe eye-rolling cliche "it is not the end... but only the beginning." And it really is. In a less ominous but still sort of free-failing type way. School is an anchor for me... and I guess it's time to pull up anchor and sail on. And I think I'm ready to move on... whatever "moving on" really means.

Here are some of the memories:

Ms. Kelsey and I, classmates and buddies. Both SO happy to be graduating.

I'm ready for my close-up... in the sun...

My madre and me. Aren't we a couple of hotties? I was attempting a SMIZE.

Left to right - Grandma Jo, Grandpa Petty, Nick (brother), and that hottie in the pink is yours truly.

Grandma Jo, Me, and Grandpa

 Honestly, I'm pretty proud of myself. Not an entirely encouraged Christina value, pride; but hey, turns out getting a Master's degree is HARD WORK! And anyone who embarks on the journey that is higher education, whether it be Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Ph.d (shudder), and finishes the journey, deserves to pat themselves on the back a little bit... and for some a lot. Particularly when I think back on this past semester; I submitted approximately 95 pages worth of written work. That's ONE semester. I wish I were exaggerating, but the twitch in my eye is a reminder of the many MANY late nights and 8 hour days working on paper after paper... 36 of those pages dedicated to my Major Research Paper (i.e. thesis to put it in perspective) which I submitted the day before commencement. In addition to those 90 some-odd written pages, I probably read a little over... oh man... 5,000 pages of text? Give or take? Wow. I think my other eye started twitching at the memory of all that. Calm down little twitches... it's over now... all over. Well... FOR now.

So I'm finishing... and also beginning. And I'll be honest, I'm not ENTIRELY done so I guess there's a slim chance I could ridiculously fail my 3 weekend Capstone course or my Public Budgeting class this summer, but I'm going to go ahead and say that's NOT going to happen. After a semester like this, lets just say its like signing up for a 5k after running a marathon. It's like going from a chain-smoker to slowly easing out of the habit so your body doesn't totally freak out. Right? Just got to ease on out of "school mode" and thus the summer classes will help me do that... begin filling in what was once "school time" with "leisure reading time... weekend movie night time... Boxing is for Girls time (MORE!)... training for half marathon time... volunteering time.... dating time (?? ha...er... yes! As soon as the eye twitches stop)... writing time... writing time... and enjoying the beauty of summer time." It's a fearful and exciting prospect to have such discretionary time! Even today, my first weekend WITHOUT reading or writing, I feel sort of lost... even bored... and a little anxious thinking there's probably something I should be doing or reading but really, there's not. There's NOT! There's really nothing I "have" to do... and I hope I don't discover that school being my anchor may have functioned in some way as my self-contained cocoon. A safety net of "have to's" and "sorry I can't's." For the past 2 years I of schooling, it was something to run to when I didn't want to face other things... it was steady and legitimate and understandable. It was accepting and validating. I put in the work and received the reward. There was little risk and a lot of solidarity. School made me feel valuable and contributing. But now, now I guess I'll have to face some realities that school helped blur a little. I may have to stop making excuses and start participating... an entirely new eye twitch.

There's also my future to consider. The question posited to every grad upon their commencements is "So, now what?" Hmmm, now what. Now what. Now what. I'll be honest, I've thought through some things - and being a planner and a doer - always having this or that goal to be working towards... I'm drawing a blank this time. The future for me, it's bright I know that, but it's also obscured. Now what? Hmmm, I dunno. I guess I just get to live and see what life chooses to do with me. Maybe let fate... or destiny... or God... or whatever force it is you believe shapes or paths, have greater control of the reigns for awhile and see what pans out. Ph.d? Well, yes... it's there. It's out there floating with other things and it will happen. Probably sooner rather than later unfortunately because as much as school is an anchor, it's also a key to the future I envision. One surrounded my classrooms and eager students and research and academia and cheese parties. The next great American Novel? Yep. Out there too. And I've never had such a thought as "I'm going to focus on writing" as I have this year. And I'm scared out of my mind to start taking writing seriously. But what better time then at the beginning? Career? That tends to shape its own course... and the shape right now is still where I want to be. Travel? Hell yes!! There's never soft edges around that decision. No not ever.

So even with all this future haze and a little fear and anxiety sprinkled with excitement, possibility, and always a dash of faith... I will continue to commence... to finish... and at the same time to begin. I guess it's time to get started!

(And yes... you may refer to me as Master Cox ;) if you so desire)

"I haven't got hair, I've got feathers..."

An e-high five to whomever can name that movie! In fact, I'll give you two e-high fives because that's a rather obscure quote. My old school-pal chum Ashlee will know it immediately - can any of you beat Ashlee? Doubt it! Here's another hint: There's something wrong with this yogurt... it's not yogurt... it's mayo-naise.

Go on!

Next, I'd like to tell you a tragic story. I know it's Monday and the last thing you need is a story of woe and misery, but never the less I'd like to share. Please adjust your perspective to "first-world" thank you.

For the last year, I've been in a serious battle... a battle with my hair. Let me tell you a little bit about my hair - it's thick. And I mean THICK. I have A LOT of hair... lots... A LOT of it. Every 6 weeks I have my hairdresser "razor it down" or I start looking like a poof. Not a good look. Also, I generally keep it above the shoulder. It's easier and I just feel I'm a short hair kind of gal, ya know? I'm also a short gal and short hair on short gals is a win win. But for the last year, I suddenly became very envious of girls with long thick hair. I thought, "Hey! My hair's already thick... now it just needs to be long and I can look luxurious and feminine like those mermaid hair girls." Well Internet, therein lies the tragedy.

Fail. Fail. Fail.

Honestly, I tried... to an extent... but really... mostly just hated my hair for about a year. It was an awkward length. You know, the length that just cries "indecisive!" or "non-committal!" or "given-up!" I've been of the mind you either have long hair (to the shoulders and beyond... but NOT past mid-back over age 13... for the love) or short hair (just below the chin and up). Thus, hair lengths landing at some awkward in between stage just means you're tyring to cling to some girlish long-hair fantasy (me) and not ready to enter the world of short haired professionals. Only celebs can pull of long luscious hair after 30 because they are celebs. Right? Forever youthful - or forever chasing youth - with a team of groomers always on hand. I'm not saying it can't be done over 30, but it is a rare and lovely individual who can do it. And I envy those lovely individuals.

Turns out...

I'm NOT one of those individuals.

So Friday, I'd had it. I've felt I always have three physical assets I've always admired: 1. my long dark eyelashes... eat your heart out, 2. freckles... I like freckles, and 3. thick, fast-growing hair. Well, my assets had been reduced to two for a year and along with it, the spunk and sass I've so come to enjoy about moi. My hair did not say sass... instead it said "wah wah... boring boring... non-committal." The time had come.

I chopped... I colored... and I feathered.

That's right!

I cut that hair off right to the nubbins! No... not the nubbins... but shorter than I've had it in a loooong time. Since the days of Provo... and I liked my hair in Provo. I also hit it up with some lovely highlights and reds... and then for good measure... attached a feather or two. No really, I attached some feathers and I can PROVE it! First, a disclaimer: the below pictures are total crap because my office lighting is in large part destined to make any average to semi-good looking individual appear Gollumy; sickly and droopy eyed. Couple that with my inordinate ability to take really horrible pictures in general, and you get the below. It's genetic. My mom doesn't take good pictures either. But I wanted to show you the feathers so I took one for the team. I really like them - and apparently feathering the hair (non-80's style) is like, so totally like, IN right now. In fact, I saw some blond spunk of a girl at Church yesterday that had herself a little feathery insert as well (insert? Hmmm, word choice). You could say I'm on the DL when it comes to feather accessories. A rather noble distinction. And might I just say that reactions have been ridiculsouly positive? This means one of two things; first, this is the best hair decision I've made in years and/or second, it's so terrible that people have to be overly enthusiastic about it to hide their disgust. I'd like to think it's the latter...

Here it is... or I am... rather:

Can you detect my "Smize" in this pic? I tried to smize.

The battle is won! Andrea: 1; Drab, Boring Hair: 0 Feathers: 2... Osama bin Laden: ZERO!! Mwah!

Let us talk about LIFE...

Through my 27 years of living - I feel I've had some choice opportunities to learn some valuable life lessons. For example I learned a little something yesterday whilst at the Dentist. SCOPE mouthwash is actually pointless and does not contain anything useful for teeth, enamel, whitening, NOTHIN! Rather, it is another money making gimmick made to sucker the unsuspecting customer into thinking they're being hygienically responsible. Thieves. Lesson: Stick with Listerine. Don't be a wuss; just endure the 30 seconds of quality mouth cleaning. I feel that's a valuable piece of consumer knowledge and one item of many I've added to my "good to know" stores. A choice opportunity if I've ever seen one!

Then there's other things like any movie with Johnny Depp is a win because it stars Johnny Depp and bright orange is a dreadful color on 95% of the population (so don't kid yourself). These are examples of personal experience through watching a lot of movies, particularly ones starring Johnny Depp, and the gagging sensation I get when I see anyone walking around in rainbow orange articles of clothing. These are things learned from longitudinal experiences - i.e. experiences over time. I've also learned how to utilize longitudinal in everyday jargon. What a great lesson! Many of these things can be learned the easy way... and some are learned the hard way (like using longitudinal in my everyday jargon took getting a Master's degree... just so you know what you're in for).

That brings me to more serious and dare I say legitimate life lessons as; picking your battles, finding patience among frustrating situations, cultivating faith and hope in otherwise hopeless situations, the strength of mind over matter, that breaking your heart is the surest way to appreciating the real thing, turning the other cheek, going with them twain, and that a loyal trustworthy friend is probably one of the greatest gifts you could ever receive. Clearly these lessons pack a little more significance than mouthwash brands and Johnny Depp (but only just ;)), and they also require a little more sacrifice and self-reflection. Thus, just as significant as the lessons learned is the experiences it takes to internalize these lessons. And most of those lessons are definitely (and necessarily) learned the hard way.

And I've learned A LOT of lessons the hard way.

However, this gives me hope they won't be "unlearned" anytime soon. It's the harder things that tend to stick the longest.

Thus, I've taken some time to self-reflect and recognize those "poisonous" situations, people, thoughts, actions and reactions, in my life that I could practice doing without or, practice handling just a little bit better. Just like life-lessons, the poisons in my life range from reducing my sugar intake thus not entering a Sugar Coma at 3:00pm every single day, to recognizing what battles are worth fighting... and which ones just aren't. Almost an acknowledgment of the greater good - letting sometimes trite, personal things go for the betterment of your overall environment It could ALWAYS be worse. And I don't want to be the reason they're worse. It's gauging the outcomes - and strategically selecting the one you have the most control over - which ultimately tends to be yourself. I think learning how to navigate hard situations with patience and pro-activity, making the internal, individual adjustments rather than rashly and reactively attempting to control external variables, is one of those lessons I'm truly cultivating this year. To truly pick the battles that are worth addressing and letting others lie - generally because they're petty and insignificant in the long run anyway. And maybe, that ability to reflect and navigate comes with maturity and "hard" experiences as well. Hello world! I'm growing up! I'm attempting to either remove the poison from my life or prevent it through my own choices. The rub is not everything is black and white... there's a lot of gray... there's a lot of "the lesser of two evils" type scenarios. But you do what you can with what you can. If it wasn't that way then it wouldn't be entirely worth it, I guess. No one appreciates things that come easy.

I hope I don't ever stop "growing up" and learning and cultivating and progressing. Stagnation is the first sign of character decline in my opinion, and I for one want to maintain enough of a grasp on my environment, the people I'm choosing to surround myself with, the situations I've created and more particularly those I can prevent through my ability to act or react,  to notice when I've stopped progressing and refining and instead, am stagnating. It's a long road... bumpy and arduous at times... not entirely free of poison... but it's one we all must take. Might as well try and learn something useful along the way.

Things will turn up… except when they don’t

INSERT PICTURE HERE

I’ve lost my camera battery charger. I don’t know where and I don’t know how, but never the less, lost it is. I remember having it on the boat during the great Christmas Cruise of 2010. I remember putting it in a little baggy with other electronic odds and ends I wanted to keep together.  What’s more, is all those other little electronic devices, my IPod Charger, USB cable for attaching my camera to a computer, AA batteries, they’re all accounted for. Housed in the same little blue cloth bag I kept my camera battery charger – but WHERE is the CAMERA battery charger? Nowhere. That is my last memory of seeing it alive, officer, I swear to you.


It will turn up.



That’s what I thought when I first noticed it missing. It will turn up and I will once again be able to NOT take pictures of things because I keep forgetting to pack my camera around like “legit” bloggers, eager to capture moments on digital film. Usually when I lose little things like that; my red stone ring from Cambodia (which I FOUND this morning in my pants pocket! Huzah!), a semi-important piece of mail, chapstick (always chapstick), my IPod (happens), etc, they tend to eventually turn up. Ah HA! I exclaim! There you are! Turned up as I expected! I've learned to trust in the concept of "turn-up" - it's a little like karma I guess. It will come back around - just be patience little one.

BUT!

My camera battery charger? Nuthin doin. End of March and my beautiful red Canon camera I bought this time last year for the Great Thailand Adventure, has been sitting there useless for months! MONTHS! And recently I’ve felt compelled to take pictures. For example: when that Dim Bulb of a girl ran her car through the Firestone window. THAT would’ve been a GREAT time for a picture. Eh? A great time! A time now NOT captured with a picture. Or perhaps the high volume of hipsters at the gallery stroll I went to last Friday. Another great photo moment – mustaches, skinny pants, and beat poetry galore! But did I have a camera? No I did not; for it is dead and useless at home without its battery.

Then I got to thinking today, I’m planning various trips this summer and I’d really like to make sure I have a working camera to capture said moments and wield them as proof of my coolness on the Facebook. What are my adventures without FB documentation? Shadows and dust. Shadows and DUST! (e-high five for whoever knows the movie!)

So, I gave in today, got on Amazon, and bought another camera battery charger. You know what’s going to happen, don’t you? The SAME thing that happened when I thought I’d lost my red IPod and waited for it to turn up for 2 MONTHS before finally purchasing another one and THEN having the red one turn up inside the “black-purse-of-black holes-that-has-pockets-to-a-parallel-universe-I-swear-to-you!” when I was rummaging for gum during intermission at La Boehme. Grrrr. So that's what will happen with this - though significanly cheaper which is nice. I will find my camera battery charger a week after ordering the new one  and then have two. One doesn’t really need two battery chargers (or maybe they do if they keep losing one - cough cough - me me). Irony: one of life’s real cruelties.


In other news...

I’m planning trips this Summer! Take a Look-see!

Trip #1 – Graduation March – May 6th. Hurah! Best trip ever.

Trip #2 – Charleston, South Carolina – 1 full week in May.

Trip #3 – Moab, Utah – Going with the Wardys (i.e. Church Group)

Trip #4 – Portland/Seattle – which WILL include the following… ahem hem… Portland, Astoria (Goonies Never Say DIE!), Forks and La Push (Forks for the ironic photo op, La Push for the beachfront Northwest style), Port Angeles (on the 4th of July – so cool), Leavenworth, and Seattle.

…

And that’s where I’m at! I love summer. I really do. And I’m so excited for this summer. I even revved up Holly (the Scooter) a few days ago and have been trying to locate her proof of sale/registration form (it will turn up) so when the first signs of 70+ weather and sunshine break through the grayness, Holly and I will be there, cruising around the streets of SLC! You know what would be really great for cruising around SLC on a scooter? A working camera. Sigh. 5-7 business days and I’ll have that too.

Day Seis and Siete of da Cruise, or The Restaurant that Shall Not Be Named, or more beach front and shopping, or the post where I finally reveal the face of the Spartan, or day(s) of the polar bear, monkey, and snail.

I know you’ve been waiting for the final chapter of the Great Christmas Cruise. Well, I will not make you wait anymore!

Enter: Mazatlan

Mazatlan was our final stop before pulling up anchor and cruising back to the good old US of A. They always say to save the best for last – and Mazatlan was definitely the best stop for me. I feel it took the shopping and hyped-up beachfront of Cabo and combined it with the local shopping, mingling, and eatering of La Paz. What better way to sum up a cruise than combining everything together in one big old hot mess of a port? Right? Right!

Lets look at some images:

First we ventured around town to stumble (luckily) upon the Historic District in Mazatlan. Here are some things you might find in a historic district de Mexico.

A turquoise walll... naturally 

A pot-bellied Buddah-esque Spaniard.... again, naturally. (See how I'm ALSO trying to be a pot-bellied Buddah-esque Spaniard?) 

A Golden Feliz Navidad! Alright... I know no one will pity me when I say it was really weird to spend Christmas in 80 degree weather. But truly, it was pretty weird. Hearing Silent Night being played outside churches with the bright sun warming your face and palm trees swaying in the wind is a bit disconcerting. Snort! Who am I kidding! It was GREAT! And you are all SUCKERS for being cold! HA!

And what's Christmas without... you guessed it... Jesus

                                                                      

And Church

Never fear, Tommy the donkey was there too. I mean, no way Mary was going to make it to Bethlehem without a Tommy right? Lets give a shout out to Tommy! Heeeeey....ohhhhhhh!

This little structure below happens to be a really good restaurant. Nay, the BEST restaurant in the WHOLE freaking Mexican WORLD we did ever consume of the Mexican deliciousness within!! I'm submitting that whole phrase for the restaurant-yet-to-be-named, name. It was a fairly new venture for the owner - no name - no on-hand chips for the salsa (but never fear - they had a little 9 year old senorita scamper down to the local grocer and pick us up a bag)- and a few lawn chairs set up at fold out tables. But my friends - I've never had a finer burrito before or since... nor I expect ever again. And don't even get me started on the Pico. I think this blog would turn quickly obscene if you wanted to hear about the Pico. It was... REALLY good. So so so goooooood.

We also did alot... ALOT of shopping in Mazatlan and really, anywhere I can do a lot of really great cheap shopping will always hold a special sparkling place in my heart. It's my fondest memory of Cambodia. Forget that dusty old Angkor Watt!

Here is some of that "disconcerting" beach front I was talking about earlier. I guess I could get used to a balmy Christmas and Santa in a speedo.

Speaking of speedos... here's the Spartan

WOW! I kind of just dropped that right down on your face didn't I? That's really him though. I felt there was no need for a "build-up" because frankly, I've built him up over three previous posts and this picture makes him look like a loony tune. I was hoping he'd change it before the end of this post came around - a fools hope! Guess he's happy with this picture indefinitely. He should take FB-stalking former cruisers into consideration. Doesn't he know we'll talk about him as being the basic staple of our cruise enjoyment? Sheesh. Or perhaps his friends call him Crazy-Eye Spartan back home which in such a case, I guess this picture is fairly FB perfect. Truth be told he probably was a little loony, what with his idolization of that NFL fellow, his eating of raw animal genitals, and his proclaiming ultimate victory on any Survival-type show ever created because "if the animals can survive off grass and carcass; why can't we?" Well Spartan, I'll save the obvious drivel about opposable thumbs, brain mass, and bi-ped nature of humans. Not to mention the lack of various things such as claws, fur, stretchy tongues to nab insects, and an overabundance of soft pliable flesh, and just let you live in that dream. Who am I to take that away?

Anyway - that's the Spartan - lowered on you like a BOOM from above - much like he descended upon me. 

To conclude this final posting of the Cruise - I will tell you that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was spent lounging on the boat in more sunshine, reading novels, visiting the Spartan when we could, and eating. I guess that's how I spend most Christmas's - lounging and eating - but without the Spartan or the sun (which were clearly KEY to my Christmas happiness this year). All and all it was relaxing and enjoyable. I'd recommend a cruise if you really want to completely relax - there's no major planning involved and everything is basically taken care of for you. I've been out of the country two other times - and though I loved it all - there's a certain element of mental exhaustion and stress that goes with any vacation, particularly of the international variety. So a cruise was just the relaxation ticket I was looking for. Of course, I'd never choose to see the Islands of the Mediterranean this way or perhaps not even the Caribbean. But Mexican Riviera? Sure, why not.

Oh, and don't worry, next to the Spartan, I know your anxious to see the critters we spent our final days at sea with.

There was Mr. Polar Bear

Lady Snail

And my personal favorite of which I didn't see until after we'd enter our cabin and I was tearing up because I didn't think we'd received a towel-critter on CHRISTMAS EVE! Gasp!

                                                                  Spunky the Monkey!