Finals Shminals...

I have been out of the "blogging world" for the past couple of weeks. My last final is Friday, then I am free at last! I'll give a full update on the latest after Friday.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Tradition

I am posting this in defense to the many blogs I have seen cheering for BYU. I didn't want to start a rivalry, but I must defend my team amist all the BYU fans on the blogging scene. How do you describe the rivalry? Well, the best explanation I can give is being either a Utah fan or BYU fan usually is instilled to most of us before we are even born. More of a culture really :) Rivalry week hits a nerve for those of us cheering for our bleeding colors either blue or red. For my fellow Ute fans going to the game get your passports out ready to enter Utah County (because it's a different country) and cheer on the Utes for me!! I'll be representin' in Cali over the holiday!! GOOO UTES!!

SLC Movin' Up..

Who would have ever thought Utah would come around as to host Urban Outfitters?
I must admit I have mixed feelings of the situation. On my travels out of Utah I always looked forward to visiting the nearest Urban to stock up on goods that fellow Utards wouldn't have. The store opened today, pretty sweet but still weird.

Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio

Carlee Monroe and Ben Dimaggio

Ben and I obviously dressed up as Marilyn Monroe and her former husband baseball player Joe Dimaggio. Good Times! I love Halloween, it's my favorite time of year!! What do you think of me as a blonde ehh?

Rec Therapy

Ben and I thought it would be a great idea to go hiking after work on Friday considering it was a beautiful fall day. As we were driving up Milcreek low and hold there lies 4 inches of snow along the banks of the road..Hmmmm. We were dressed in shorts and capris geared up for an evening stroll. Maybe the paths are tracked out? (was our nieve thinking) We decided to go for it anyway. We took our path, and it was definitely not tracked out. Apparently we didn't get the memo that there was snow already! Needless to say it ended up being a great hike. It looks cold from the pics, but we were super warm! The best part of the hike was watching Koda frolic in the snow. He was a mad mannn leaping and hoping through the winter wonder land! I am practically wrestling him in the picture to hold him down:) It was just what I needed to spend the evening with my 2 boys taking in the beautiful scenery after a long stressful week..

Reality

I have been summoned by many of you (Jill) that it's finally time for a new post. I will agree it has been awhile since I have done a new post, so I am officially due. There have been some great events since my last posting. Ben and I went to Moab for the annual Moab century bike ride..Which was fa fa freeeezing. Then last weekend the tri pod was reunited. (Triopod meaning Laura, Ashley and myself)We had a great weekend it was sad to see them go.
Although I've had some great things going on in the past weeks all I can seem to think about is my grandpa. He came into my work for a check up, looking white as a ghost. His once perfectly combed hair was scattered and gray. Weak with pain, I gently pushed him in a wheelchair to his apointment trying to fight back the tears and shock of his fragile appearance. At the end of his appointment he graciously accecpted me to help him to his car.(If you know my grandpa, he most definitely never asks for help) This was a process in itself. It was hard to endure seeing my grandpa in such pain. Today was not the person who I remember my grandpa as..He was weak, in pain, volunerable, emotional, and his hair was not perfectly combed..Today was reality although not how I will remember him..

Help!

Sooo, what is it 6:00pm on a Saturday and what have I done all day? Don't worry I have been spending my entire Saturday giving tours of the Cancer Center I work at here in Murray. The entire hospital opens in October, but we've been up and running since Februrary. Don't ask me why IHC is doing public tours, but they stink! I will have been here for 12 whole hours by the time I am able to leave. The people coming through are freakin' crazy. Honestly, who wants to come tour a giant hospital on a Saturday?? Seriously people, please go home! I am not kidding, the people have been creepin' out of the wood works..People making it a family affair to come tour our facility, and I know they don't work here nor are they in the medical field. Screaming kids, poopy diapers,LAME obvious questions, I can't take it anymore!! Maybe I am crazy and need some insight, but would you tour a hospital if you weren't in the medical field and didn't work here?(not to mention drag the entire fam dam along with you) I am becoming very surly, bitter and irritable. I am beginning to think I am frightning the public..2 more hours, 2 more hours!!!

Strange Experience!

Assuming most of you know, for the past nine months I've been working for IHC. Some of my duties consist of providing cancer education to our staff, patients and the community. I've been in charge of organizing monthly cancer education classes for the remainder of the year. The topic for this month's class was "Erectile Dysfunction: Exploring Treatment Options" Yeah, I am still immature and blushed like a teenager at the topic. The class was held on September 27th and taught by our ED expert and Nurse Practitioner. We only had a handful of men show up to this class (90% of men with ED don't seek help) discussing a topic that I am assuming will be embarassing to all of us. Our expert is a cute energetic woman in her late 30's who was tellin' it like it is, with her penis props all over the room on display:) All of my feelings of embarassment were suddenly washed away. I was completely engaged in this presentation among a room of men who can't get erections, and the best part was (woman/men) were talking completely free and open with all our reservations out the door. I even touched a penyle implantation..I laugh to myself still, but was extremely greatful these men were able to find answers to their sexual problems. You would be amazed at the alarming statistics among our prostate patients who suffer from these problems..more than 50%..
This was my maturing,yet proud moment of the week.

Facts of Life

Let it snow!

On Sunday Ben and I decided to hit up the sale at REI. When Ben and I are together at REI you can suspect we'll be there for a minimum of 2 hours. Mostly trying to justify buying the latest and greatest trinkets. They were having their usual 20% off one regular priced item promo going on..Although,(to my surprise) this time you were able to get 20% off sale items as well. I've been eyeing these skis ever since last season when they came out. "Oh yes,they will be mine" and considering I got 20% off the sale price, I went for it! They'll be great for the backcountry, my previous ski's were a bit long for the deep "gnar-gnar,pow-pow"!
Not to take all the joy in getting new gear, we also hooked Ben up with some sweet climbing finds as well..We joined a climbing gym for the winter for a nice alternative to the sweet dude gym.

Koda and his girlfriend..

Over Labor Day weekend, a huge group of rafters and kayakers headed for Jackson Hole. We camped at the usual Cliff Creek, it was a glorious weekend. I love a'love the weather in Jackson. As of most of you know I am super sensitive to the heat, so it was nice to break out the beanies, fleece and down jackets. It was definitely a dog trip this year, I think there was a total of 7 dogs? Maybe more..They had the most fun of all of us for sure!
We rafted 2 days on the river, with Koda Bear and his new girlfriend Stella on the back of my boat. Stella, is his new found love. There were 6 other dogs for him to play with but he stuck by his little Stella love!

It was good to relax, enjoy the scenery and catch up with old friends, and be on the water!! Mann I need to move to Jackson, its getting me depressed just writing about it!!

Tag, Your it!

I was tagged by Laura and Ash
1. What is the best thing you cooked last week?
Funny you should ask, I tried a new recipe..(sorta) I bought a bunch of these different pre packaged Indian spice pastes from wild oats..You mainly just add milk,water with whatever veggies and meat you want..My favorite was the Chicken Tika Masala. Yummmmy! They are super easy too!!

2. If money, time and babysitting were no object where would you go and with who?
I would go EVERYWHERE! Lately I have been wanting to do a road trip along the west coast of the US. I guess there is something to say about knowing your own roots, and becoming familiar with your own country...


3. When was the last time you cried?
I am a sympathy crier, I cried last week..My sis was having a bad day!

4. What is the most played song on your i-pod right now?
I do the shuffle..

5. Is there something on TV this week that you are more excited about than the So You Think You Can Dance Finale?
I rarely watch TV unless its HGTV(home and garden television) although I watched the movie "say anything" the other night.. A great 80's flick!

6. Who are you tagging?
See below...

HERE IS MY SECOND TAG!
4 Jobs I've had...
1. CNA
2. Server
3. River Guide
4. Health Educator

4 Movies I can watch over and over...
1. A Beautiful Mind
2. 80's flicks
3. Wayne's World(anything with Mike Meyers)
4. the best of Chris Farley

4 Favorite TV Shows...
1. Sex and the City
2. HGTV
3. Seinfield
4. Grey's Anatomy

4 Places I have lived...
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Jackson Hole, WY
3. Salida, CO
4. Siena, Italy

4 Places I have been...
1. Costa Rica
2. Italy
3. Switzerland
4. Ireland

4 Favorite Foods...
1. Indian Food
2. Thai Food
3. Chips and Salsa
4. Brownies, yogurt, cookies

4 Favorite Websites...
1. rei.com
2. anthropologie.com
3. blogger.com
4. topshop.com

4 buddies I'm tagging...
1. Tiff and Zack
2. Jill Parkinson
3. Katie Park
4. Erin Oakeson(I mean Shea)

Having a moment!

I often get these sudden urges to travel, leave behind everything and experience the world. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful state to live in where I can do all the things I love, but knowing what the world beholds makes it hard for me to settle down. This may be coming from the fact that I am working full time for the first time in my life, but how do we find the ultimate balance between work and play?
Ben has been my guiding light into the "real world" he is the perfect example of how to work hard so you can play hard. Ben is the smartest person I know (really) he has major success at work, but never brings his work home with him. I love this about him! I am still in search of this balance, nursing school couldn't come sooner :)
I am looking forward to working 3 days a week!

M'Man

Your so hot right now..Ben and I went to a dress up party this weekend. Ben was a professor in a sweet baby blue suit, and you can't see it but he is wearing a walrus tie. (did I mention he actually wore it in college..Ahhhh!!)

Mr. and Mrs. Hurst

I have yet to comment on Shanna's wedding from last week. It was a small quaint wedding with close friends and family. The wedding was held at the Point. I'd never been to the Point for a wedding, it was beautiful. The views of this joint are incredible.
Shanna was breathtaking, she was literally glowing with beauty and happiness. My dear friend has been through a lot in the past year, I am so proud of her for what she has overcome to get where she is today. Cheers to Shanna and Nate!

Dog Lake

These past couple of weeks I've been taking Koda up Milcreek Canyon. It's a great hike for dogs, Koda has been in doggie heaven! Dogs aren't required to be on leashes so he gets to roam and explore as his little heart desires. He especially likes when we reach the top of the hike, when he can cool off and swim in the lake.. I love how ruffled his fur looks when its wet! This our
(I say our, but Ben likes to say His) Koda Bear, we are obsessed with him, he's become our little baby. I promise he's not spoiled nor does he sleep in the bed with me:)

The Threesome is Back!

I am happily awaiting tonight when I get to pick Laura up from the airport tonight and Ash comes in on Friday.. Yeahhh! She and Ashley have been living in Arizona for a month now? Our good friend Shanna Greene is getting married tomorrow to Nate Hurst, another alta hawk..Lucky!
After the airport its straight to the Roderick residence because don't worry my mom is throwing a So You Think You Can Dance Party tonight for the finale..I know, I know call me crazy but I am seriously obsessed. It's one of my guilty pleasures, along with the Stephanie Meyer trilogies..I am dreading the day when I finish Eclipse.

TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday. The week has slowly turned to the weekend. It has been a long week. I finished my last final of the semester on Tuesday, and passed with flying colors. Two weeks off of school then chemistry here I come.. Ahhh!
Ben and I are actually staying in town for the weekend, mainly because it's the outdoor retail show. We went lastnight, it's literally a dream! Ben and I had deer in the headlights look for about the first hour until we awoke to reality.To top the extreme night off of drooling over gear, we wished Nicole a happy 29th birthday over indian food at the bombay house..Yummmm..Needless to say,yesterday was a great day! Wish us luck at the outdoor show, we're trying to get hooked up with some sweet pro deals.
I am ditchin' out on work a bit early heading off to the pool to practice my kayaking rolls. (Ben is my teacher, we'll see how well it goes!)

Hope all ya'll have a great weekend..

Ciao

Cruel Summer

I finally decided to get in the "blog scene" mainly to keep in touch with crazy people who decided to up and move to Arizona during the hottest part of the year.

This summer has been one of a kind. It has been the first summer in five years that I have actually been in Utah. Thank goodness it's the hottest summer ever!!! You all know how much I love being hot..
I am working full time and going to school part time.(who ever thought that would become of me?) To maintain my sanity Ben and I have become weekend warriors through taking trips on the weekends to forget we have real jobs during the week. We've been keeping rather busy with our weekend vacations and daily activities..

Also, I finally escaped the rents and moved to Sugarhouse! I know all of you never thought it would happen..
And, as if you aren't already shocked about my unforgetable summer..Ben and I adopted a dog. He's the best dog in the world..Pretty sure Ben loves Koda more than me these days! Laura Campbell is the biological mother, we are now the adoptive parents. That is one good thing that came from Laura leaving me for Arizona..ha ha, love you!

I'll keep ya'll posted on the latest. I am new to the situation, so bear with me!

Murtaugh section of the Snake River.

Jackson Hole..

Bear Lake before the couple moved to AZ!

Summer Fun!

Sushi is Delicious!

This is fun....

Thanks Carlee for teaching me how to blog because I know that everyone wants to know the random things that are going on in my life on a daily basis. Keep checking in for all the useless information I will be sharing with you all!

I am new to blogging!

I needed some entertainment while I am supposed to be "working" the James' sisters recruited me to become a blogger!!