8/29/2010

108. Even when it was last minute, these troops showed up to wish me bon voyage. You know they are truly good sports when they just did a 'welcome home' a month ago. It's unfortunate that it was so last minute that I didn't even get the invite out to a lot of other people that I care about. I can't wait to party and share stories with everyone when I return (whenever that might be).

8/28/2010

107. Loving Ashley's outfit? You can find it all at the BR. It's been awhile since I've shopped with these two and the discount cards left them with more clothes and less money. Prior to this, the three of us and Marci went to Joanna's for breakfast. Ash and Marci were disappointed when Lindsey's showing wasn't a surprise to me, but it was still splendid. In the late afternoon, I finally attended a 'Smith 5th Sunday' get-together. And in the evening, I enjoyed a bbq in the canyon with some new friends.

8/27/2010

106. Lindsey (who's been residing in Seattle with Zach and baby Pete), "Whitney I want to see you before you leave. I'm trying to talk Zach into letting me leave to UT early, but Zach just can't leave Peter. But, you have to go to my mom's house. I've sent a package to her for you." After her many calls and pleads for me to pick up the package, I still never caught on because Lindsey and the posse are excellent liars. Well, I freaked out when she open the door to her mom's house and Peter and I played unexpectedly for 3 hours.

8/26/2010

105. Interesting morning: with only two hours of sleep, lds (lady di smith coined by alysha) woke me up at 4:30AM. She dropped me off at trax around 5:10AM. This left me at the gateway at 5:45AM with nothing to do but to find a wet piece of grass as a mattress and a rock as a pillow. I slept uncomfortably until I worked at 7AM. After my short shift, I took advantage of my five store discounts and spent unnecessarily. At night, She and Him rocked a great show for over 2 hours.

8/25/2010

104. I don't think I could make the Bell Canyon trail look picturesque with my camera even if I tried. So, again the really attractive photos are never my own. I've realized the more I leave UT the more I enjoy it when I return. The Wasatch mountains are always stunning and I am very grateful to be so close. This trail is a quick run to, a good climb and the blazed trails eventually suit a morning mountain jog.

8/24/2010

103. We're together (and not in Taiwan eating fried rice and cabbage)! A good Taiwan get together with most of the representatives from Berhan living in Utah. We reminisced about our luxurious days in the past. Including the blessing of not having to pay taxes on food (or anything), no tipping the server and the food for half the price. Sunny, Erin (not pictured), Amy, Vivian and I enjoyed brewed drinks at Red Rock and gelatos at Settebello.

8/23/2010

102. I am blogging again about UTA. I should just end there because whatever I write from here on out couldn't be more exciting than that first sentence. Lysh and I had planned to have a rock band night but I ended up working till late. While heading home on the trax I realized I had no photo of the day. Well, I still forgot, which lead me to use the most captivating stock photo from google images. Maybe this post will boost their sales so that one day they can branch out not only to draper but to Provo and 3000E in Sandy.

8/22/2010

101. Randall followed the tweets from 'Tour of Utah' so that we could catch the leading cyclists pass by our place on Wasatch Blvd. He is slightly envious that my chipper cheering got me a sponsored water bottle and left him with none. The family enjoyed the rest of the evening cooking and preparing for Kim's entire family to come over for dinner. I've missed so many family events the last few years that it was rewarding to finally meet my cute second cousins.

8/21/2010

100. Lagoon- It's what fun is!  Okay, so it's only taken Alysha the last three years to convince the family the truth of this message. But we finally pulled an epic family event together, unfortunately losing Tara at the last minute to sickness. So, we partook in the newest of roller coasters, finally convinced Luke "Puff the Magic Dragon" would be awesome. We splashed around at Lagoona beach, and even had a classy picnic between parked cars. Oh, goodness I hate to leave this family again for the next 4.5 months.

8/20/2010

99. I didn't have dinner with these two, but I did with OJ (a old high school friend who had once asked me to my jr. prom in a hot dog costume). If we were both asked to dine with someone from Corporate America , not because we are quirky taxidermists but for other eccentricities, we'd probably both be in Steve Carell's character's position,  a schmuck.

8/19/2010

98. Dear public transportation,
I love the thought that I am helping the environment by taking you (taking you-with or without my volition). I love that you let me listen to music and read my dad's stolen TIME magazine (yeah, sorry dad they've all gone missing). I love that you rock me to sleep when I have and have not gotten lots of rest (it never seems to matter). I love that you provide some of the best people watching (and the scariest). I love that you get me from Provo to Salt Lake on only $2.25 (should've bragged last month since it was only $2 then).
But CURSE you when you drop me off 5 blocks away from my destination in the pouring, cold and windy rain. Next time I take you, I won't waste my time listing reasons why I like you so because now I know what that leads to... I can't give anyone soggy wet hugs.

8/18/2010

97.  Shopping for Utah crafts, furniture and baby clothes at Gardner Village isn't really what I am into (and apparently Nikki could sense that). But there is something sentimental about being with your girls that puts any differences (babies, style, hubbies, lifestyle) behind you and reminds you of home. Enough with the cheeze, but I love you girls!

8/17/2010

96. Luke actually was named after the infamous character in Star Wars which answers any questions as to why his mother buys him appropriate paraphernalia to play with. During our day together, I went from Darth Vader, big and little sister, punching bag and wrestling opponent. Let's just say we were both exhausted by 4PM, but he's the only one that got the needed nap.

8/16/2010

95. Mama Smith chauffeured her girls around yesterday as she picked me up from work, Tara from the airport and Lysh and Luke from band practice. I assumed we were all celebrating by getting frozen yogurt but it looks like it was just for lucky Luke.

8/15/2010

94. A day off from heading to SLC which started with a normal night's sleep (it's been 3-4 hours all week). I felt so good that I made enchiladas for  Sunday dinner.

8/14/2010

93. This is a make up up photo, but can be adequately tied in. My Saturday consisted of going to the gym and working. Even though I had a good time, it reminds me why I enjoy putting off the typical adult lifestyle. I am posed here with the hip Randall Smith because he came to visit me at work. This happens to be a Banana Republic mirror and luckily, Randall has perfected the mirror shot photos.

8/13/2010

92. Meet two of my friends! The fashionista (aka sister Lysh) and the bearded man (aka funny jefe). I didn't know what to expect when we went to see 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World' and, well, it was surprising. Earlier that day Natalie, Andrea and I had a great time visiting Courtney and her newest addition, Eloise.

8/12/2010

91. Another Twilight concert night:  Matisyahu brought plenty of his reggae followers whom we're pretty sure made us high on second-hand smoke. Out of the thousands there, Carly's friend happens to be friends with my favorite Britton Kowalk. We unexpectedly spent a lot of the evening together being our normal dorky selves.

8/11/20

90. She is just a few weeks shy of starting her sophomore year at the U....wait, what? Wasn't it just yesterday that I spent my summer's making sure Ellen and her sisters didn't kill each other? Apparently, we're all growing up and Ellen is doing so gracefully. We had a great time chatting, laughing and catching up at one of her favorite SLC restaurants, Tony Caputos.

8/10/2010

89. Happy Birthday to Katie Millar! We had dinner at Eva in SLC and then danced the night away at her nicely decorated 'big girl' apartment. (And just so I remember, it was a great day down in Provo packing and moving Ash due to the annoying homeless limbo period that Y housing provides. We had our own interpretation of a Ramadan feast at the Indian Palace as a reward.)

8/9/2010

88. It's been a long time since I've donned pink tights and canvas slippers. Melissa is gallivanting with her family in Bear Lake, so I stepped in to substitute her timid ballet classes. Ironically, out of all my dance training I studied ballet the longest but I've never (been asked?)/wanted to teach it.  

8/8/2010

87. My first day back to the good ole' Banana Republic. It'll be a quick three weeks!

8/7/2010

86. You just never know what you're going to expect when you spend a Saturday with Mama Smith and Luke. Going to the Discovery Children's Museum at the Gateway was one of those. Luke liked playing 'brother and sister' with me, but sometimes he'd ditch me for someone his age.

8/6/2010

85. It's Sha-bang! Once upon a time, I was lucky to have her as my very first college roommate. I have her to thank for showing me the ropes and teaching me everything I know. While getting together, Shan tried her first pita as we ate them at Kiwanas park. We also danced away, more like I did, to Bieber during the car ride to Sandy. Thanks Shannon.

8/5/2010

84. Silly girls, sometimes just do silly things. The night's events: a drive to Sandy, a Sonic run, Mary- ditched by the train and friends because she threw away her new drink because of the train rules. A hearty sweaty dance to Jamie Lidell followed by really losing it while rockin out to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Really sucking at directions and failing to find the Belgian Waffle place in SLC but instead finding an old shopping cart (picture: captured shadows of Mary sitting in kid seat, Ashley in the cart and me pulling/pushing the stinkin thing like that for 5 blocks). Finally enjoying the diner craving I've had for a long time at Village Inn. Realizing it was late and only catching the trax to Midvale b/c of the hour. Mary calling up her friend at 1AM to drive us to Sandy. A laughing dozing drive back to Provo. Sleep by 2:30.

8/4/2010

83. I've missed my natural beautiful roomies, Jess and Ash. Three summers ago was quite some time but it feels like it was just yesterday that we all were lounging at the Villa pool chatting about the trivial things of life (oh, wait. yep, we still do that). Watching the rainstorm, eating 'sub-zero' yogurt and laughing at baby Sam (aka. baby Charles) followed up by 'How to Train Your Dragon' was a great way to spend the evening.  

8/3/2010

82. After a long (8 hr.) first day of volunteer training in Provo, it was nice to dine with the beautiful blondie Marci while the two hottest Joe Vera's girls (Ashley and Tara) served us dang good Mexi food pretty much the entire evening.

8/2/2010

81. A five year reunion with the dance company trio! Melissa and I went swimming with Terri (Woodward) Camp, whom I haven't seen since she's married and started replenishing the earth. We were quite the swim crew with their 2 darling babies, Mel's 2 nephews and my nephers Luke (they refused to take a picture with us).

8/1/2010

80. One of the biggest cravings I tend to have while abroad is definitely mom's Sunday dinner. I finally got my fill after 218 depraved days (7 months, 1 week and 1 day) later. She never fails to disappoint. This list is to remind me why I should visit more often: grilled honey chicken, green spinach salad, grilled veggies, fresh corn, fruit a plenty, french fries, and whole wheat rolls with homemade jam and can't forget dessert- choco chip cookies and homemade banana chocolate ice cream. I'm full!