A New York Girl Leaves Utah

 

I know I should have written this post a long time ago…but this is honestly the first chance I have had to catch my breath since July 8, 2009. 

 

July 9: Last day at my old job.  I cannot even begin to describe how hard that last week of work was.  It wasn’t that I had a lot to do…just wrap up stuff and exit checklists…but knowing that is was going to be my last latte in the office, my last trip to Jamba Juice with my Utah dad, my last breakfast at Sill’s with the guys…it was very emotional.  To make matters worse I was in the middle of buying a new car.  I haven’t really blogged about this, but buying a car in Utah as a single woman is an interesting experience.  The whole time the salesman thinks he is, at some point going to be speaking to your husband, you know the one that makes the decisions…and then after speaking for several minutes on the phone you have to inform him…nope it’s just me and it’s my salary that is going to be paying your salary and if you don’t like that, I will just buy my car elsewhere…thankyouverymuch.  I remember spending an entire Friday on the phone calling every dealer in Utah trying to get the best price for what I wanted to buy and explaining to the salesman, that yes…it was just me and no they were not going to be speaking to my husband and oh yeah, I’m not the kind of girl that buys a car for the cupholders…I know exactly what I am looking for and if you can’t help me find it. I will go somewhere else.   

 

I ended up buying a Red 09 CRV-EXL which I completely love and have every intention of driving until the thing rusts out from underneath itself.  But that particular day Ken Garff Ogden (where I bought the car) decided it was going to be difficult.  I had talked with the representative from the dealership on several occasions, confirming that they had what I wanted at the price I wanted it for and that I would be able to just go in and sign the papers, bring my own financing and walk out the door.  That sort of happened.  I went in and test drove my new car…because while I had test drove similar models they wanted me to drive the one that I would actually purchase.  I wholeheartedly agreed because the last thing I wanted to do was buy a new car that was defective.  However, after the test drive they made me go sit in a room while they got the paperwork ready.  I was more than a little miffed because a. the paperwork was supposed to be ready b. I had to pick up my parents from the airport in an hour.  True to my nature I informed them that they had a half an hour to close the deal or I was walking because I had better places to be.  Wouldn’t you know, as soon as I said that, I was brought into the room and told where to sign.  Then they took my car into the shop to take off the chrome wheels (because how many times do I have to tell you I’m not paying $1200 for chrome wheels?) and I went to the airport.   

 

It was at this point that my Honda Civic, that I needed to relinquish to the lease company became a magnet for all the debris on I-15.  I almost got hit by a piece of a tire, a large rock and a piece of large metal just on the 20 mile drive to the airport.  I had been driving that car for 3 years and the only thing I had ever been hit by was several small rocks (oh yeah and the time that jackass decided to key it), but here I was on a collision course to disaster and I only needed to drive that car for 2 more hours. 

 

I picked up my parents with little fuss and we set off for my apartment. 

 

Then my dad and I set off to pick up the new car.  I have little patience as anyone who knows me can attest to, but I really have no patience with car dealerships.  I just wanted to walk in, get my keys and get the hell out…but the dealer wanted to take pictures and congratulate me on the fact that I now owe my financing company my first born.  So there I was stuck taking pictures, by myself in front of my new car.  Whoo…go me…what a grown up purchase!

 

That evening my real parents and I went to dinner with my Utah parents.  I couldn’t have asked for it to go better if I tried.  Other than my dad almost falling asleep after dinner (see I told you that flying from Syracuse to Utah is tiring!!) they all got along so well.  It made me even sadder that I was going to have to be saying good bye to them in the next week. 

 

The next week was pretty much a blur of driving, packing and showing my parents around Utah.  We did all the typical touristy things...Olympic Park, Park City, Antelope Island, and even some things I hadn’t done before like Bingham Canyon Mine (apparently the largest man made excavation, suck on that Brazil!).  I think my parents had a good time, I know I definitely did because I finally got to show them what I had spent 3 years doing. 

 

Then it was time for my dad to leave and my mom and I to face the daunting task of moving me out of Utah.  But not before we returned my 2006 Honda Civic to my leasing company.  I almost cried.  That car was my first step towards being an adult and I was trading it in for a better model (or one that wasn’t overly priced).  I went in, gave the guy my keys and waited while they performed their last inspection.  They asked me why the hood paint looked different (oops!  Definitely a rock chip I got fixed at the same time I got the keyed marks out...told them about the rock chip…definitely didn’t tell them I had been keyed, not that it mattered).  Then I made sure I had my old plates (for nostalgia) and I hugged and kissed my car one last time (I’m totally kidding, I wasn’t that attached to a stupid car but I did almost need to borrow my dad’s hankie…I mean come on, that car represented my time in Utah and I remember signing my life away the day I got that car and then eating at Pizza Hut!)  In all seriousness if anyone is thinking about getting a Honda Civic I would totally recommend it…that car got me through the worst blizzard of my life because I was the dumbass who decided it might be a good idea to go snowboarding when it might possibly even think of snowing.  And as I’m snowboarding I’m thinking that I should board along the snow making machine lineup, because if I fall and die because I can’t see at least they can say they found my body by snow machine 4327 (side note: best powder I have ever boarded on in my life).  And it took me 20 minutes to get to the mountain and 2 hours to get home…yeah that Civic got me through that.  And now it wasn’t mine anymore…

 

We put my dad on the plane Wednesday morning and spent the rest of the day getting the apartment ready for the movers to come on Thursday. I had a going away lunch Wednesday afternoon and all my coworkers came out to say goodbye.  I did my best not to cry and I think I did a really good job.  But it was so hard to look around at all those faces that supported me through so much and not want to cry.  I have been very grateful and very blessed to work with such a wonderful group of people. 

 

Thursday morning started bright and early when the movers showed up 15 minutes early.  Then for most of the day I sat on my porch balcony and sipped wine…because quite honestly I think it was more stressful this time to move than it was last time.  I remember when I left New York and I saw them put my saddle and my French horn on the truck, I couldn’t believe what I was doing.  Now I saw them pack that same saddle and French horn again, but now that saddle had climbed a mountain and that French horn had played Carnegie Hall…it was all very surreal and I hoped I was doing the right thing. 

 

This realization got me thinking about the choices that we make in life.  If I had never moved to Utah, I could be married by now to a man that would have made me content, but wouldn’t have been right for my life.  I would never have learned to snowboard, never played Carnegie Hall, never met my “Utah dad”, “Pam I am”, Rebecca and all my military boys, never traveled the country and saw places like El Paso, Tx (which I could have lived without) or drank beer on the beach in Florida (which I thoroughly enjoyed).  I would never have gotten elite travel status on Delta or tasted wine in New Mexico.  It was the most trying 3 years of my life…I lost 2 grandparents and a horse.  My mom had open heart surgery.  I dislocated an elbow.  But I have experiences that most people that grew up on the east coast don’t.  I know what it’s like to be scared out of my mind by 3 rattlesnakes in an hour and a half.  I know what it feels like to be a minority, to be excluded because of who you are and what you believe.  I have been on 186 airplanes in 3 years.  I know the adrenaline rush that comes along with skeletoning down an Olympic track.  What it feels like to board the best, freshest powder in the world (even if I almost died in the blizzard).  I know what it feels like to get a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall.  I know what it’s like to feel so alone in the world that all you want to do is drive home, but you know if you tried to do that, it would take at least 3 days and I know the feeling of emptiness that comes with that knowledge. But despite all of that, looking back on the choice I made to move to Utah, I don’t regret any of it.  It made me a much more independent stronger person (like I really needed any help...I know) and for that I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to experience the mountain west!

 

I was in tears by the time the movers loaded up the last of my stuff.  I couldn’t believe my time in Utah was over.  The next few days my mom and I spent a lot of time doing “lasts”.  My last trip to Park City, my last trip to Bear Lake, the last time I will walk on my running trail on base.  I know it seems stupid (and I know I tried for 3 years to get out of that state as quickly as possible) but I was genuinely upset. 

 

Monday morning we packed up the last of the stuff in the car and had my apartment final walkthrough.  As one last little farewell my apartment complexes vacuum cleaner had totally crapped out and of course I needed to use it since the movers took mine.  They told me that I could either get one or I could get charged a huge amount per room for cleaning.  So I had to go on craigslist and pick one up.  Well since I had no room in my car for one more thing, I gave the vacuum cleaner to my Utah dad.  I guess he has a “man cave” that needs vacuuming.  He came over and picked it up and when he left I was sobbing.  I was lucky to be able to work with him and learn from him and I know that I won’t ever work with anyone quite like him again. 

 

I managed to stop crying long enough to pack my cats in the car and get on the road.  My mom suggested we let them wander around the car and find their own place to sleep (preferably on the blanket that we had laid out).  This seemed like a good idea at the time, but was actually horrible.  As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot my one cat had made a beeline for the back of the car to try to find a hole to crawl into.  That’s not so much of a problem, but if the load shifts…you have no more cat.  Meanwhile, I’m stopped at a stoplight and I hear the window down…wondering where that’s coming from I look in the backseat and my other cat has put the window down herself and is sticking her head outside like a dog.  So needless to say, the cats weren’t outside their carriers very long. 

 

That first day we went from Layton, Utah to Casper, Wyoming and I was so exhausted when we got there.  It had been a very emotionally draining day and a whole lot of driving through nothing.  I mean there are parts of Wyoming that I find really beautiful…and the fact that I can do 90 on a road is even more beautiful…but it doesn’t mean it’s any less draining. 

 

The next day we went from Casper, Wyoming to Oacoma, South Dakota.  (Side note:  there is a sign on the Mass Pike somewhere around the Berkshires that tells you that the next highest point on I-90 is in Oacoma, SD…I’ve been there!!)  The fact that it is the next highest point on I-90 is it’s only redeeming quality.  There is nothing in Oacoma…much like there is nothing really in South Dakota, outside of the Black Hills area of course.  So along the way we stopped and saw Devil’s Tower, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore.  All of this sightseeing meant that we were on the road for a good long period of time…like 15 hours or so.  It was totally worth it, but driving from Rapid City to Oacoma in the pitch black (no kidding…there are no towns, no streetlights, nothing but stars) was probably the longest drive of my life.  I think we got in around 3am or something ridiculous like that.

 

The next day it was Oacoma, SD to Waterloo, IA.  South Dakota was starting to get really long and there was nothing but miles and miles of farm land, when I saw a sign for the world’s only corn palace.  And who doesn’t want to go to a corn palace??  So my mom and I decided it was time for a stretch and to see the corn palace.  Only in Mitchell, SD.  If you ever find yourself there a. I’m sorry b. go to the corn palace.  The outside of this building was decorated entirely with corn cobs and various grains.  It really was something to see.  Then it was back in the car where we saw more fields of nothing.  Waterloo, IA has probably the most ghetto hotel I have ever seen in my life.  I didn’t know Waterloo had a ghetto, but we were in it.  Complete with the red light district next door (note to self:  just because it looks nice on the internet, does not in fact mean it’s respectable.) 

 

After we survived our night in the ghetto it was on to Shipshewana, IN where we met up with my Aunt Karen, Uncle Dick and cousin Amy.  It was nice to get to see them and it was a complete 180 from where we had stayed the night before.  This time we stayed in an Amish motel run by Indians (country India).  It was a very cute place and for dinner we had some good Amish cooking. 

 

The last day was a push from Indiana to Syracuse.  By this point the drive was getting very long and it was the one time where we missed an exit (near Cleveland the 90/80 split) luckily I noticed in time to get us back on track without going out of the way. 

 

I spent a day in Syracuse and then the last 5 hours I did myself with 2 very angry cats.  That was definitely not the highlight of the trip…but they made it and so did I. 

 

Overall the drive was fantastic we saw literally a few drops of rain near Chicago and another few drops near Buffalo.  Other than that it was completely sunny the entire drive.  Also, it was sunny the first few weeks I was in Massachusetts (after they had had a summer of almost entirely rain), so I’m pretty much convinced that I bring the sunshine.  (My point was further proven this past weekend when it was sunny and warm in Syracuse where I was for a wedding and snowing and miserable in Massachusetts).  So if you want it to be sunny…invite me. 

 

So that’s it…the New York Girl is no longer in Utah.  I do miss the mountains on a daily basis.  I think the Midwest needs to not exist.  If I could have the western border of New York and the eastern border of Utah somehow match up…I think I’d be happy.  It is comforting to know that I now have family in Utah (as is evidenced by the care packages I get…thanks Sam, Cathy and Pam!) but it’s not the same.  I saw a commercial the other day for Utah sports (hiking, biking, Olympics, skiing etc) and I could name every single location that they were showing (Salt Lake, Moab, Park City etc) and it made me miss the great expanse out there.  I think I’m going to head out in January for some real snowboarding…

Thanks to everyone who read about my adventures for 3 years.  I hope it was as entertaining for you to read as it was therapeutic for me to write.  I have started a new blog: www.anewyorkgirlwasinutahnowinboston.blogspot.com, but I don’t know how often I’ll write.  I guess that will depend on how many bad first dates I go on. 

 

Another chapter in my life closed, another one beginning.

That is all. 

I think one of the coolest experiences of my life is getting a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall.

That pretty much sums it up.

A month ago today I got that standing ovation.

It all started back in August when my band director for the Ogden City Concert Band asked me if I would like to audition for the Weber State Wind Ensemble and that they were going to Carnegie Hall. I definitely wanted to play Carnegie Hall (I mean come on it's the premiere place to play!), but I hadn't auditioned for anything since my junior year of high school! Not to mention I had a couple of TDYs coming up, so I only had 3 days to practice before I actually had to audition. I must have done alright in the audition because I made the ensemble and then spent the next 7.5 months preparing for this concert.

My parents and 4 of their friends were in New York City for the concert and it was so cool to have my own box seat of people cheering for me. (Yeah, they had box seats...that's how they roll.)

Before the concert our director informed us that there were going to be some pretty important people in the audience including the principle trombonist of the NY Philharmonic and Johann DeMai, who wrote the Lord of the Rings symphony. So yeah, we were all nervous.

That nervousness only lasted about 5 seconds once we got on stage and we played an amazing concert! I think this is definitely one of the best ensembles I have ever played with, and to think it was just a bunch of kids from Utah!

Carnegie Hall was slightly smaller than I thought it would be. But it is every bit as majestic and the sound just echos forever!

Upon arriving in Utah I had the next day off, and I woke up in the morning and I felt empty. I didn't have to rush to rehearsal, I didn't even have to practice...it just felt weird.

Now that I am going to rehearsals for the Ogden Concert Band, it's just not the same. The music is so much easier and how do you top Carnegie Hall? The good news is that I will be moving to the Boston area and there is a symphony orchestra that I may try to audition for. Of course I hate auditioning, but I played Carnegie...so they should take me!

When I graduated from college I wasn't sure if I would ever touch my horn again. I always hoped that I might find an outlet for it, but I never expected it to lead me to Carnegie Hall. Even now I have to look at the pictures to make sure it actually happened!

Now some stories from the trip. So we were in New York for a few days. Since I didn't really know that many of the band members and I'm out of college, I spent most of my time on my own. However, one day for lunch I went to Rupert Jee's deli with my roommates and Rupert Jee took our order (You know the deli guy from the Letterman show) and it was a good ol fashioned New York deli sandwich, which I have missed so much!

One of the nights we went and saw a musical. I was signed up for The Lion King (yes I saw it again) and it was still awesome! As I'm walking through Times Square heading for the hotel I run into some band kids who were staring wide eyed at the whole scene. I stop to chat and find out they are on the hunt for dessert, as am I, so we all set off to find dessert. As we are walking down the street some random hip hop musician stops us and wants to know if we want to listen to his music. I've been to NY a few times so I just push past him and keep walking. The Utah kids however, stop and listen to the music. I roll my eyes and went back to pick them up. Well come to find out this guy was selling CDs for $10. These kids are not stupid and they realize that they should not shell out $10 for what could be a blank CD...however, one of the students (return missionary) sees the opportunity to tell this guy how he can support his family. That's right, through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So he pulls out his little pass-along card and starts trying to convert this guy right in Times Square. I was mortified thinking we were going to get shot or shunned! But also I was slightly intrigued because I was wondering what was more annoying...a missionary or some hip hop hustler. Well the missionary won. As soon as he went into his little spiel the hustler tried to find any excuse he could to get away from this kid as soon as possible. As we were walking away the missionary kid said, "wow I can feel the energy! This place needs saving!" I then informed him that no, NY does not need saving and I personally want to survive the evening, so how about we quell this talk.

It was very interesting traveling with the group I did. Most of them are LDS and extremely naive and sheltered. I think many of them got a good dose of reality and some even want to live in NY. Of course being in Manhattan for 4 days is nothing like living in the Bronx.

Overall though it was an extremely awesome trip!

That is all!

A Blog Update I Never Wanted to Write

 

I haven’t updated my blog in quite awhile for those of you keeping track and other than the business that is my life, I don’t really have a good reason for not updating.  I just knew that in order to update my blog I would have to write this particular update and if I avoided writing it, it seemed less real. 

 

On March 1^st I was a ball of stress trying to figure out how I was going to get to Montgomery, AL since both Delta and the weather seemed to be against me.  I had to take a 2 week class there and I already had several flights get cancelled on me.  I was trying to find another option for travel when my cousin Jayme sent me an IM asking if I was ok.  I was wondering why I shouldn’t be ok and called her.  She then told me that Grandpa had died.  I assumed she meant my Grandpa House who has been in less than stellar health for awhile now, but she informed me that it was Grandpa Taisey.  I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t even cry…I was just in shock.  Grandpa Taisey was in good health, he was supposed to have knee surgery in a few weeks and had passed all his pre-operation tests.  He was going to get back out and golf this year, he was going to travel. 

 

For those of you that follow the blog he was married to my grandmother that passed away in October 2007.  Those two had a love that everyone else in the world should want to have.  They were married when I was one (my biological grandfather has passed away some years earlier) and they were inseparable.  He was my grandma’s hero and she was his angel.  When she died I have never seen someone so sad or lonely.  Even months later when I was home for some reason or another and he stopped by to see me, he told me how much he missed her and how lonely he was.   When Jayme called me that day she told me it appeared he had died sleeping in his arm chair, probably of a broken heart. 

 

I was set to go to Montgomery the next day and I could barely keep it together long enough to travel.  I had already missed the first day of class due to weather and I knew that if the funeral was during the week, I wouldn’t be able to go and still graduate from this class.  I had no idea what the Air Force’s repercussions would be on paying back a trip that I didn’t successfully complete the mission for and I figured this didn’t qualify for family leave because it wasn’t an immediate family member that had died.  So off to Montgomery I went.  I was delayed in Atlanta for about 5 hours and when I finally reached Montgomery I remembered why I dislike the south.  Everything moves at the speed of paint drying.  I finally got a rental car and went to retrieve my bags, but one was missing.  Apparently there were 2 flights that landed at the same time but not enough baggage help to unload them both.  Well myself and a few others had to go back to the Delta check-in counter to report our missing bags, because Montgomery is too small to have a baggage office.  As I’m standing in line I’m thinking in my head that I should be on my way to Syracuse and it’s ridiculous that I’m standing in Montgomery where I know no one and have no one to even give me a hug.  That’s when the tears started…and when they start they don’t stop.  So here I am 25 years old standing in the Delta line crying.  This woman behind me said, “Aww sweetheart, it’s just luggage.”  I then explained my situation and she gave me a big hug and said, “I’m a preacher and I know nothing I can say right now is going to make you feel any better, but if you want to talk…I’m here.”  Then she gave me another hug.  It wasn’t like being home, but it was what I needed at that moment.  I finally got my luggage and checked in at Maxwell. 

 

The next couple of days were a blur.  I was trying to figure out how I could get home, if it was economically feasible and if my class would let me.  Since the funeral was on Thursday I would miss too much of the class for the professors to ignore, so I wasn’t able to go home for the funeral.  There is nothing lonelier than knowing that your whole family is there with each other while you sit in a stupid dorm room in Alabama crying alone. 

 

I heard the memorial service went well.  I still don’t feel like I have closure.  It probably won’t hit me until I actually go home and realize that I can’t go to 30 Daniel Drive.  I wanted to get up and tell some Grandpa stories at the funeral and since I couldn’t do that, this forum will have to do. 

 

Grandpa Taisey wasn’t our biological grandfather but since our biological one died before any of us grandkids were born, he was the only grandfather we knew and he always treated us like we were his real grandkids.  Which meant that we were spoiled, a lot. 

 

When you were sick you always wanted to go to Grandpa Taisey’s because he would let you watch the Price is Right and then take you to McDonald’s for Happy Meals. He even let my sister go fishing when she was sick. 

 

The Lorton Lake camp was fun for both my grandparents.  I remember going up there and my grandfather saying that there was a sign that said “No Grandchildren Allowed!”  When really it said something about loving grandchildren.  He just had to pick on us. When we went out on the pond in the paddle boat it was always a race to see if we could get away from the fountain in the middle before Grandpa turned on the fountain.  And no weekend at camp was complete until Grandpa made pancakes on his outdoor griddle. 

 

I remember my grandma telling me that Grandpa was very upset the day he saw me walking at the county fair holding hands with my high school boyfriend.  It wasn’t that he didn’t like the guy, he just didn’t want me to be growing up.  Recently he decided that I was going to marry a military guy (Grandpa was in the Navy), and every time I went on a date with one, he would call or send a card telling me that you can’t beat a good serviceman.

 

Grandpa is probably best going to be remembered for his sense of humor.  He was always playing practical jokes on people.  One of the jokes he used to tell us as kids was, “Adam and Eve and Pinch Me Tight went down to the river to see a fight…Adam and Eve fell in who was left?”  Of course the answer was Pinch Me Tight…which then would get you a pinch. 

 

Then of course there was the Papa Red snowmobile and the circus tent bathing suit that he insisted on wearing.  All the grandkids would fight over who got to ride with Grandpa on his snowmobile.  And that bathing suit was just loud! 

 

Wednesday night I played a concert at Carnegie Hall (more on that in a coming entry).  On a necklace I had my grandmother’s engagement ring.  My grandfather had given it to me last April when my mom had surgery along with a very touching note that I still have.  It might seem silly, but I’d like to think that if there is something beyond this life, then my grandparents were there watching that concert.  All night long my fellow band members were asking about the ring and I was so proud to tell them about it.  I only almost started crying once but I managed to keep it together.  To me that ring is a tangible symbol of their devotion to each other and a reminder of what I want to find in my own life.          

That is all.  

I've been thinking about updating this blog for almost a week now, and I'm just getting around to it now.  

The past month seems to have been pretty busy even though I have not traveled since the 2nd.  My trip back to Utah was pretty uneventful.  We took off an hour or so late and then I waited at baggage claim for almost 2 hours while they got the bags unloaded.  These are the things that happen when Salt Lake has a blizzard, which is probably why I refuse to travel in the winter.  

I went boarding at Sundance.  I expected it to be all posh and celebrity-ish.  It totally wasn't.  The ski resort part is really small and the snow kinda sucked.  After the 4th time I fell and almost broke a body part on the crappy snow, I decided to call it a day.  Now I only have 6 more resorts to hit before I have boarded every resort in Utah that will let me board.  (Yes, there are 2 resorts here that are too snobby to allow snowboarders.)  

Then the state of Utah went through a two week snow draught.  This was good and bad.  The good part was that Luke was able to come visit without any delays!  (That part was crucial because there was no time in his schedule for delays.)  The bad part was that there has been no good snow to go boarding on, which is what I fully intended to do on my federal holiday...but didn't.  

The inauguration.  I must admit, I'm a horrible poli sci major...I didn't watch it live.  I saw most of it later (at least the important parts) in various forms.  I was at work during the inauguration and we were allowed to watch it through some military streaming program, but let's face it...I was busy.  Yes, I was actually busy at work.  It seems to be happening more and more frequently lately. 

Sundance Film Festival!  Luke came into town and we headed up to Park City to see the Sundance Film Festival (and to get out of the inversion).  While we didn't get into any movies we did get to see Pierce Brosnan, 2 moose near Olympic Park and some skeletoners and bobsledders sliding.  So all in all...a productive trip.  

This past weekend I went back up to the Sundance Film Festival alone to see the John Krasinski movie.  It was really good, but unlike most films I have seen at Sundance, John Krasinski did not do a Q&A.  Which was a bummer, something about having to get back to LA and work.  I managed to make some friends with the people I was standing in line with and they ended up sitting next to me at the theater and there was one seat left at the end of the row.  They were trying to pack the theater, so every seat was going to be full.  This emo looking kid walked in and asked if there was anyone sitting next to me.  I told him no and then he informed me that he was going to get something to eat and asked if I wanted anything and that he was going to leave his jacket on the seat.  I just looked at him like ummm...excuse me emo kid...I'm good but thanks for asking and what do I care if you leave your jacket there?  As soon as he left the girls next to me started giggling and informed me that Landon Pigg was sitting next to me.  I guess he's the latest teen heartthrob and he had a song on Grey's Anatomy.  So yeah, my brush with fame. 

In weather related news, inversions suck.  For all you people who hail from non inversion areas an inversion is when the cold air in a valley gets trapped in by warm air above.  This means that there is no circulation of air.  And Salt Lake is really polluted...when there is no circulation of air we get to breathe the same toxins every day and it looks like smog!  But it's worse than LA, no joke.  We beat LA for worst air quality in the country for the past week and a half.  The only way to get rid of the inversion is to get a storm to come in and blow the warm air over the mountains.  Luckily this happened between Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Unfortunately not before I drove home from Park City in the worst fog of my life.  That's how bad the smog was...I couldn't see feet in front of my car.  It was like you could chew on the air....disgusting! 

In local news, the locals are starting to annoy me again.  I guess that's what happens when I don't travel for 3 weeks.  Although I must admit, I do enjoy traveling...but not every week.  I think one week a month would be good for me.  I was traveling once a week for 12 weeks out of the past 4 months...that was a little insane.  But back to the local news...this was the big news story this week...and by big story I mean leading off the newscast...for like 4 newscasts in a row. 

GOP, LDS Church representatives discuss liquor laws

State lawmakers may be one step closer to getting rid of the private club law.

It appears The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports an alternative liquor law that some believe could men the end of private clubs in Utah.

Lawmakers met with church representatives in a traditional pre-session lunch meeting yesterday. Senate President Michael Waddoups says the Church expressed an interest in an idea for bars to electronically scan driver's licenses.

"The Church indicated an interest that that may be a good way to lessen the number of underage drinkers and also that the minors are not exposed to drinking underage," he said.

"They encouraged us to continue to explore it to find out what potential is there," he added.

But Waddoups and a church spokesman both say the church did not talk specifically about private clubs or specific legislation.

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said in a statement to the Deseret News, "As has been the practice for many years, the Church met with Republican legislative leadership in an annual luncheon as one of its many constituents. A luncheon with Democratic leadership was held earlier this month.

"The issue of alcohol regulation was briefly discussed. However, private clubs were not. The Church took no position on any legislation but expressed its long-standing concerns about limiting over-consumption, reducing impaired driving, and eliminating underage drinking."

This is exactly what I mean when I say there is no separation of church and state here!  Why the hell do we have to ask the church anything??  Things like this totally make me so angry and very grateful that I only have 5 months and 24 days left in this state....not that I'm counting.  And yes, it's official I am moving to the greater Boston area to continue my work with the Air Force on July 19th!!!!

There's so much to do before then!

Vegas in 2.5 weeks!  

That is all! 

Sometimes a Christmas Miracle Happens...

So I woke up at 2:15am to make the journey to New York on Tuesday morning. I left for the airport at 3am and parked at the Park and Ride around 3:45. The whole point of the Park and Ride is that you park and then they pick you up in the shuttle and take you to the airport...hence park and ride. Well I parked and there was no shuttle. So after making the freezing half mile trek to the little booth and the guy apologizing profusely that he didn't see me pull in, I finally got my ride to the airport. When I got to the Northwest ticket counter there were 8 people already in line and the counter of course was not open. When it finally opened the people in line had no clue what to do...leading me to be in a state of annoyed that one can only feel at 4am with no caffeine in their system. So I finally checked my bag after almost beating up some jackass line cutter and arguing with the desk agent (because I'm a medallion member on Delta...so hell no I'm not paying your baggage fee) and I headed to security. There is a reason I hate traveling during the holiday season other than just the weather sucks...it's because there is always a ton of infrequent travelers who have no idea that you aren't supposed to load your carry-on with liquids and insist on wearing their belt, with its big metal buckle through security. Well when I got to the security line there were about 100 people in line already...in the green (beginner) line. So I walked right up to the black diamond (closed) line and demanded to go through. Yes, I know...I was being kind of bitchy...but I just wanted to get through security and get my coffee..yes another reason I know I travel too much. I know where the 24 hour Starbucks is at the airport. So they let me through and I got my coffee. Flying to Minneapolis was pretty painless, other than the fact that there was pretty much no visibility when we landed. I had a decent 2 hour layover there and then it was off to Detroit. I was in a little better mood by this point because a. I was still heading to my destination, I wasn't stuck somewhere b. I was reading Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, read it if you want to be thankful that you aren't an alcoholic drug addict. And her writing style is very sarcastic...so I found it very entertaining.

I made it to Detroit and for the first time ever I didn't run right off the plane. I figured since I had a 5 hour layover there was no sense in me pushing people out of the way to get off the plane and there were others that had tight connections...so yes I had a little bit of Christmas cheer and I decided to be nice for once. As I saunter off the plane I looked at the departure board and I realized that my next flight was not even up on the board yet because my layover was so long. However, there was another flight to Syracuse leaving from 3 gates away and it was scheduled for 2:05 but it was actually going to leave at 2:40. I looked down at my watch and saw that it was 2:40...but then I looked up at the board and it had updated to 2:55. So I ran down to the gate, figuring I was still going to have to wait for 5 hours...but you never know. I walked up to the gate as they were announcing that it was the final boarding call. I asked the woman if there was a seat on the plane and could I get out of Detroit early. She looked less than thrilled to be dealing with me, but she took my boarding pass, ripped it up and handed me my new boarding pass. I wanted to hug her. So I got into Syracuse at 5pm instead of 11pm...cause that's what time my luggage got there.

So that's my Christmas miracle...I got home 6 hours early, I didn't spend the night in an airport and the ulcer I had given myself the previous day from all of my worrying was for nothing.

That is all.

“Ma’am please keep your clothes on!”

 

On a recent trip to Kansas City I hit a few glitches…ok more than a few.  So I’m pretty sick of spending time in the airports and I have the route to the airport perfectly timed so that I can park, get to the terminal, check in and get to the gate approximately 10 minutes before the flight starts boarding.  This is all well and good when the highway is good.  Well this particular day some asshat decided to flip his car in the second lane of I-15 creating the traffic jam from hell.  I had just gotten on the highway and seriously contemplated backing down the on ramp, but there were police all over and I figured that I didn’t need a ticket on top of missing my flight.  It seriously took me like 45 minutes to go 5 miles…it was that bad.  So as soon as I cleared the traffic I was gone.  I had no idea that a Honda Civic could go 90 and I don’t ever want to find that out again. 

 

So I arrive at the airport and I figured I would park in the economy lot rather than my offsite lot because in the economy lot at least I’m at the airport…it should be quicker.  Well I get on the shuttle and I realize that the shuttle is dropping people off as well as picking people up.  It wouldn’t be so bad but I live in mormon land where the approximate family size is 8.  Of course when you have families that large it takes them a wicked long time to get everything on and off the shuttle.  Of course by this point I was ready to start helping them along…and they weren’t going to like it. 

 

I finally arrived at the Delta terminal 25 minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave.  I ran up to the agent and told her I wasn’t even going to try the kiosk because I knew that it wouldn’t let me check in and she just looked at me and said, “I can’t check your bag.”  I looked right back at her and said, “Well it’s a good thing it’s a carry on size.”  Then she retorts that there is no guarantee that I am going to make this flight.  To which I state that if she doesn’t give me a boarding pass, I’m never going to find out.  She begrudgingly gives me the boarding pass and I proceed to start hauling liquids out of my suitcase.  (As a side note I thought I got all of my liquids greater than 3 oz…turns out there were quite a few things that TSA didn’t even touch that they should have thrown out...I think the Salt Lake TSA deserves some Christmas cookies from me).  So I throw out some liquids and go tearing up the stairs to go through security.  By the time I reach security I am on the verge of hyperventilating.  The people in line were nice enough to let me cut ahead and the guy checking IDs states that he will only let me through if I take a deep breath.  I take the deep breath and proceed to throw all my stuff on the conveyor belt.  I start to walk through the metal detector and I hear a loud beep.  I yell something not PG rated as I realize that my belt is still on.  So I yank that off.  I go to step through again when I hear another beep.  I again yell something not PG rated and rip my sunglasses off my head.  The third time there was another beep and I just looked at the TSA guy and I said, “What the hell I have nothing left to strip off?”  He looked at me and said, “um ma’am you have a metal piece on your shirt.”  I look down and sure enough I had forgotten when I chose the outfit that might be a problem.  I looked straight at him and I said, “Sir, I need to catch my flight…I take this shirt off right now if it gets me out of here.”  To which he said, “Ma’am please keep your clothes on and step over there.”  So I ended up in the clear pat down booth, hyperventilating and trying to run away…I’m really lucky I didn’t get arrested.  The lady who was doing the search asked where I was going and why…when I told her, she hurried her search along.  Meanwhile the other TSAers had taken all my liquids, my belt and sunglasses and thrown them all in my bag and brought it over to me.  I grabbed my shoes and I was off running again, barefoot through the airport.  When I say I ran a mile…I probably did and when I say I did it at a sprint, I totally did.  When I got to the gate they were in final boarding and I asked the gate guy if I made it…he said I did and that I should move right along to the outside gate.  So yes, I ran outside on the concrete in my socks all the way to the gate, knocking over old people and little children along the way.  When I finally got to the plane I must have looked like a wreck…so much for looking put together when I got off the plane! 

 

Lesson learned…I should just suck it up and leave for the airport way early.  It’s better to sit there and be bored than to have to run through the terminal in your socks. 

 

That is all.      

Single handedly destroying the earth, one airplane ride at a time. 

 

So I know that I haven’t updated in a long time…and actually I did have an update from the middle of November partially saved, my computer deleted the rest of it…and it may get posted…but for right now I’m going to try to explain what has been going on the past couple of months.

 

I think I may travel too much.  How do I know this?  Well, I compiled a list of the reasons I think I might be traveling too much. 

 

1. When filling up my gas tank this evening I had to look at my dashboard because I could not remember which side of the car my gas tank was on. 
2. I know the airport off site parking shuttle drivers.  They recognize me and ask how things are going.
3. I know my Delta, United and American frequent flyer numbers by heart…probably better than I know my own social security number.
4. I get really annoyed that after roughly 2 years people still haven’t learned that you can’t take liquids on airplanes in any significant quantity…but yet know exactly how much and where to hide my own liquids in my own luggage so I don’t get my 4 oz hand cream taken away by TSA. 
5. I have the off site parking phone number memorized (Note: I can’t even remember my desk phone number.)
6. Other patrons in the expert traveler line note the efficiency at which I strip and then get redressed.
7. I start heckling those that should not be in the expert traveler line.  Complete with my notorious eye rolling and annoyed sighs. 
8. I take baby aspirin like an old person so I don’t get blood clots from being cramped up in those tiny damn seats. 
9. On the rare occurrence when I am in actually in my office people come up and introduce themselves stating that I must be the new girl. 
10. I wake up in the morning and have to consciously think about where I am waking up, and get slightly unnerved when my first couple guesses are wrong.
11. I travel more miles by air in a year than I do in any other mode of transportation.  I am single handedly responsible for destroying the earth with my carbon footprint.
12. In my spare time I am trying to figure out how to devise a mechanism that will universally charge my ipod, cell phone, laptop and gps.
13. I realize I no longer really need the gps because I am more familiar with the roads where I travel than my own roads outside my apartment.
14. I have spent more time in Kansas City in the last month than I have in Utah (that’s not even an exaggeration.)
15.  I’m annoyed when I realize that I have already seen the in-flight movie twice on two other flights
16. I spent my 25^th birthday sleeping by gate 62 in the Denver airport.
17. I have been on 156 airplanes since August 2006.
18. I have been in the Salt Lake International Airport at least once a week for the past 6 weeks. 

 

Ok, I think that’s an extensive enough list. So in the next couple of days (since I’m actually going to stay put for once) I hope to give a few brief updates…and hopefully make them mildly amusing (yes Mandi that’s for you).  In actuality it will probably have the same continuity of a David Sedaris novel but be far less amusing (which means I’m going to jump around a lot and not be funny, just a warning). 

That is all.  

So I was told that this is getting pretty lame to read. Apparently it doesn’t have the angsty edge that made it so funny a couple of years ago. But I think the reason behind that is the past month has been a rollercoaster of emotions between sad and happy…not too much angry or angsty. Also, another reason this blog is so lame…I’m not in Utah long enough to make fun of the stupidity anymore. I continue to travel way too much to get annoyed by my oh so wholesome neighbors. However, every now and again I do see something that catches my eye…

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4642173

The funny thing is (and is stated by several of the comments) they won’t show this movie because it has the word porn in the title…but they are currently showing Saw V. Because slicing and dicing human beings is sooo less offensive than seeing a boob. And I absolutely loved the bottom paragraph. Imagine all the little teeny bopper high schoolers with their hair in pigtails and their saddle shoes…sitting there all so cute, not daring to hold the hand of the boy that brought them (because that would be sinful and might lead to…oh no…a kiss…oooh and that leads straight to sex which leads to the devil…) waiting with baited breath to see the dreamy Zac Efron kiss that chick that made a sex tape…but oh no…the horror…instead of seeing high school musical, their tiny young minds were corrupted by the opening minutes of the movie, “Sex Drive.” And the way the paper writes it, “nudity and bad language.” Oh no! Not the bad language!!

Not really much else I want to talk about in this forum. Trying to protect the innocent…or maybe not so innocent.

That is all.