I really should wait 'til tomorrow...

BUT if i do, i'll put it off AGAIN.

Why tomorrow, you ask? Because it would make an even two months from my last post.

Yeah, I know. I'm getting really bad at consistently posting... so, here's an update on all that has happened these past (almost) two wonderful months. :) :) :)

Palmyra for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was a lot different than I remember from when I saw it as a 6 years old... but so are a lot of things. On the same trip we went to Niagra Falls and did the "Cave of the Winds Tour"where they give you a poncho and water shoes. It was really wet! But so fun. :)

I went to Utah to see Kelly and Nate (or as i like to call them Nelly) get hitched! The wedding was beautiful and it was fun to see some old friends.

Cameron had to go to Washington D.C. on business for the week so on friday, I took the Chinatown bus down and met him there. We had dinner at a good BBQ place and headed back to his Aunt Irene's house. The saturday was full of an early morning bike ride on the Potomic, a visit to the Zoo, lunch at Ben's (a famous restaurant in DC that bill Cosby and Obama eat at for free) , a long afternoon nap, the Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday and a quick stop at the Washington DC temple on the way home.

Our next adventure was to Boston. It was so fun! We did the Freedom Trail which is a red line painted on the sidewalk that takes you to all the historical sites in the city - including where the Boston Massacre occurred and Bunker Hill (the picture is me in front of the Paul Revere statue). We also went camping and rode bikes in Cape Cod. We (but mostly I) wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard but it didn't quite pan out.

Also, Cameron bought a bunny! His name is Hendrix. He is a Netherland Dwarf and is so cute and friendly. We are trying to box train him. Also, we're working on his lap sitting skills.

Last but not least, yesterday we went to the most beautiful gardens i've been to! the Longwood Gardens. They have old fountains, lakes, a HUGE greenhouse and meadows. The flowers and plants were beautiful! Here are a few of my favorite pictures I took. :)

There's grass on the door... crazy!

There is your update! Stayed tuned for more of our exciting adventures.

PS. We also went to a philly's game somewhere in there... we have twinner shirts. :)

The kind of thing that only happens in movies...

I really wish I had a picture of this moment. I REALLY do. But it all happened so fast and the only thing I could do for a while was laugh to myself... So you're gonna have to put two and two together yourself.

Picture this... 

My boyfriend Cameron and I went to NYC for my birthday (which was amazing, btw). We planned things that we wanted to see in the city and used the subway system to get around. We were doing great at navigating our way around...we had a map and everything. At one point we were planning to get off at a stop near Columbus Circle. 

So there we were. Just sitting there. Looking at the map. When I faintly hear the next stop being announced over the intercom. But I didn't quite register that we were planning on getting off there. When the subway stopped. I looked up and thought. Oh, I think this is our stop. So I say to Cameron... "I think this is our stop". Then I get up and rush off of the subway. I knew Cameron was right behind me, so I wasn't worried, but as I was stepping off onto the platform I felt my ankle narrowly escape being squished by the doors. As i turned around, this was all I saw...

with Cameron on the inside saying "OH NO!!" (At least I think thats what he was saying... all I could see was his mouth moving because he was inside and I was outside)

He was looking out of this....

and me looking like this...

with his face like this...

I watched the subway pull away and Cameron's face get smaller and smaller. All I could do was laugh. It happened so quick. Thank goodness for cell phones or we might have never found each other. It is called the BIG Apple for a reason.

Fifty Seven Days

Its been fifty seven (57) days since my last post. I have gotten a lot of requests to blog lately (mom, aunt kristina, the few of you who actually reads this thing) SO i thought i'd finally do an update... It only took me 57 days....

Where i've been and who i've seen since my last post:

Me and my roommate Shanelle fostered some kittens from the local PAWS shelter. They were SUPER cute but we soon came to find out that they gave us reject kittens.
LEX: he is a "twisted kitty" which means his arm is crooked and he walks on his wrist
DARLA: Cutest kitten ever but has a severe heart murmer and a short life expectancy.
SARGE: Has the letter "M" on his forehead. I just have to feel sorry for the guy...

I had my FIRST visitor. It was such the surprise!!! Barratt Edgington from Orem, Ut. stopped in to see me on his way up to Connecticut for his job at NBC. I gave him a little tour of downtown and even showed him my favorite spot in the city... The Reading Termial Market!

Then I got my SECOND visitor...Kyle Barnett from NYC. We were good friends back in college (am I old enough to say that?!) and now he's going to law school at Columbia. He came to visit me after finals were over for the semester. When he was here, we went to Valley Forge

And the art museum...

Both were AMAZING!

One of the coolest things that i've done lately is go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The beach was good, but the best thing was to explore some of the sites that North Carolina has to offer. We went to Roanoke Island and saw the place where the first English baby was born in America, we roamed through some Elizabethan Gardens that are there in honor of these people and we stood in the place where the Wright Brothers had their first flight. Oh, and the company wasn't so bad either. ;)

This is getting too long...
ok
my first horse race was not as exciting as I was hoping.

and last but not least.....

WILD ANIMAL SAFARI at six flags great adventure.
The animals just walk right up to your car! AMAZING!

I missed a lot of things but hopefully you can get a little idea about what my life is like out here on the east coast. I LOVE IT! :)

The best weekend!

I went to Washington DC this weekend for the first time since I was a little kid. It was amazing! The first day we went to the Air and Space Museum (so did everyone else it seemed...it was SO crowded!). Then we went to the Holocaust Museum. That was so sad to see, but life changing! Then we walked around Georgetown and did a little shopping and saw some fireworks shooting off over the Lincoln Memorial while we stood on a bridge that went over the Potomac River (amazing). The next morning, we woke before the sun rose to go to an Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial. We sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while we watched the sun rise over the Washington Monument. The choir sung Easter songs and we even got to sing along at some points. It was magical! Here is the sun rising...

This was probably my favorite part of the trip.

Then we went home and went back to sleep, woke up and went to church and then took a scenic drive through Alexandria. A walk in the park was next and then back to the house for dying some easter eggs and a delicious dinner. After we were so stuffed, we watched a few minutes of golf and then got in the car to head back to Philly (aka home sweet home).

We had one quick stop at the Washington DC temple. It was chilly but SO BEAUTIFUL! I never noticed before but there is a stained glass window running down the whole side of the temple. If you can't picture it, here is a picture:

Cool huh? I like it. Anyway, those are my adventures! Many more are coming. :)

Never a dull moment!

OK. So I know its been forever since i've blogged. Sorry. I've had some technical difficulties. First I lost the battery charger for my camera and now I can't find the cord to transfer pictures! UGH! Well, you'll just have to imagine what happened tome this past month... Sorry. I'll put in some substitute visual aids to help the imagining impaired.

FIRST! I went to Washington DC.  I went there once when I was a little but I don't remember much of it. Actually, I didn't really go this time. I went to the Washington DC Temple. Which was SO cool. Obviously. :)

The next weekend .... I WENT TO NYC for the first time! It was so cool! I went shopping in China Town. SOOOO sketchy! They lead you into these hidden rooms to show you "Gucci" and "Prada" bags and while you go in they lock like 5 doors behind you. Then they wont let you leave until they radio up to see if the coast is clear. Those knock-off bags are NOT worth that. We also went to Central Park, saw the Statue of Liberty from a distance, walked through Time Square, ate a $3 cupcake (also not worth it) and saw the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh! and riding the subway was a blast!!! I definitely have to go back soon so I can see more of NYC!!!

I've also seen a lot more of Philadelphia. Just from driving around and stuff. I keep seeing these awesome places to go, but instead of actually going, I just write them down to go to later. But in reality I just forget about them.... someday i'll remember to go to all of them.

Ok thats a lie. There was this ONE place that I've wanted to go to for a while now and I actually went this weekend. Its called the Wissahickon River trail. It is super close to my house and I pass it every time I go anywhere.  So this sunday, me and my roommates decided that it was the perfect day to go on a sunday walk. I suggested that we go on the Wissahickon because I haven't been on it yet. So we went. 

We actually drove a little ways to where the cool part of the trail is so that we wouldn't have to walk too far. We were walking and loving the weather and the trees and the river. Our destination was a statue in the middle of the forrest. It was about a 15 minute walk there. So as we were walking, it started getting a little windy... then it got a lot windy. We were almost to the statue so we decided to just make it to the statue and then turn around and go back. As soon as we sat down to enjoy the sunset by the statue, we saw lightning. GASP! with wide eyes, we looked at each other, jumped up and scrambled down the mountain. 

As we were walking fast through the forest, we felt it start to sprinkle.

Then start to rain.

Then start to pour.

Then start to Hail!

We were still a good distance from the parking lot and all we could think to do was to run as fast as we could though the forrest.

There was a river of water and hail underneath our feet as we ran up the hill to the parking lot.

The hail was the size of a nickel and was hitting us all over. I tried to look up but there was just a sheet of water and hail. 

SO we just kept running. and running. and running through the water and the hail.

We finally made it up to the parking lot and under this covering and I felt like I was going to pass out. But instead I threw up in a near by trash can. We then walked to the car and by the time we drove away, the rain was gone and the sun was coming out. RANDOM! and CRAZY!

So those are my adventures in philly lately. I really just want to blog about my awesome roommates every time because they are awesome and hilarious... but they would probably kill me in my sleep...

Also, if you've made it this far into my FOREVER long blog. CONGRATS! you win. :)

My Humble Abode

I found a place to live! I am moving in with a couple girls from my singles ward  (Shannelle and Nanette) and its gonna be so fun! 

Its in a row house in the neighborhood of Manayunk (Man- ee- yunk). The name Manayunk comes from the Native American word that means "come to drink". I think they named it that because its right next to the Schukyll River. But in recent years it has become a hot spot for college kids to come and party on the weekend. I'm making this place sound bad. Its really just this cool part of Philadelphia that the younger, hipper crowd appreciates. This is mainstreet where everyone comes to eat and "stuff" on the weekends. 

Its not that great of a picture but this is main street in Manayunk and it has all these cute little shops and restaurants and lights on the trees. I'm excited for the summer to go strolling down the streets. :)

Because we're moving in this week, me and one of my roommates (Nanette)  bought mattresses at Macy's the Department store and brought them to our new home. This is Nanette carrying in one of our mattresses. We had a really hard time getting the box springs up the stairs to our room and may or may not have made a huge hole in the wall..... We were laughing the whole night. 

The house has a basement and a backyard. Also it has this creepy cellar thing below the basement. Shannelles' s boyfriend tried to go down there but all the stairs broke. We already have plans to decorate the non creepy part of the house and have a garden in the back. 

Bill Cosby aka: Why i love my job part III

You know who this guy is?  

Ok, Ok, stop guess already. Its Bill Cosby! 

What does this have to do with me, you ask? Well the Forensic Science Center where I work used to be an elementary school. This elementary school taught none other than our beloved Bill Cosby! And the characters from Fat Albert are inspired by people that he went to school with and this building! Cool huh?!?!

I learned this all on my tour of the Firearms Lab in the basement of the Forensic Science building.

I has the coolest tour today! Ok, during the tour, the tour-guy told me his theory about the crime lab that is SO true. He said the building used to be a school... but it still hasn't lost its school-ness. Here's why...

 

The people at the top of the building (3rd floor) are the DNA people. They are just like the AP kids in high school, nerds, scientists, etc...

The 2nd floor people are the Crime Scene Unit. They are like the Jocks in high school. They get most of the "publicity, the praise, the hot girlfriends" (direct quote)...

And in the basement is the Firearms Unit that wear army jackets and blow things up. HAHA! This guy was hilarious and also SO true!

Then he showed me the gun locker with all the sweet guns that they have acquired over the years. There were a ton of homemade guns from pens, car antennas, bolts, flashlights and canes. There was even one that had a melted handle from it being in the broiler in the oven. Someone must have stashed it there earlier and forgot and then turned on the oven. He said they get about 3-4 of those a year. 

Then at the end, he said that if I ever wanted to learn how to shoot a gun I can go down to their firing range and they'll teach me... and they can tell me what gun to buy if I wanted to get one. This totally fulfills my dream of being the ultimate CSI. Now all I need is a leather outfit, high heeled boots and a Hummer.  Just like this! 

More reasons I love my job!!!

Ok, I know you're all probably sick of me talking about my job... because its all I ever talk about... but i LOVE it! Sorry.

So yesterday, I got to go to court and watch my coworker testify as an expert witness. This is something that I will also get to do someday after I'm all certified (can't wait). But it was so awesome! I got to sit there and listen to the court proceedings and soak it ALL in and get paid for it! The best part was watching my coworker, probably in his late 20's, try not to laugh at the Defense Attorney who was obviously not prepared. She would ask half of a question and then say "Wait, let me back up" and then start a whole other question not in any way related to the first question. Then she asked my coworker the same question three times in a row but getting increasingly feistier and louder every time she wasn't getting the answer she wanted out of him. Later I find out that she even rolled her eyes at him! LOL. It was great. 

Then today was field trip number 2! I got to go to a press conference about a serial rapist that they arrested last week and our lab linked him to two attacks in the city. My coworkers got to stand behind the main SVU officer guy while he press conferenced and be on TV. I might have the opportunity to do this later too. But this time, I stood in the back and watched it all in amazement. It was really a great success for the city's police department for this guy to be under arrest.

I have more reasons to love my job:

• I have my very own locker.
• I get to go on field trips.
• When we go on field trips, we get a ride to our destination by an awesome cop. (They are usually hilarious!!)
• They had donuts for us yesterday morning.
• It is just awesome.

I'm sure i'll think of more... and then i'll blog about them. :)

I LOVE MY JOB!

I feel so lucky.

I mean, who gets their DREAM job at their first shot?! (ok it took more than one dreaded application and a lot of hours of searching) But seriously, my job is the best. I love it! (shout out to nacho libre)

This is were I work.

Today was my first day. It was just how I thought it would be. Basically, its just lab work with an awesome twist... CRIME!!! The PERFECT type of job for me. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and funny. Nothing crazy or awesome happened today. I just love my job. 

Why I love my job: 

• Tomorrow I get a badge with my picture on it that I get to wave at the wall that gets me into TOP SECRET doors.

• I get to work on TOP SECRET evidence from crimes and put bad people in jail and let the good ones free.
  

• I get to testify in court.
  

• I get to wear a lab coat and gloves and protective goggles.
  

• I can tell people what I do for a living and they get all excited.

• I don't have to deal with people complaining how their steak is cooked anymore. 

• I will eventually have my own desk... the lab has limited space at the moment.

• I get to be in a lab all day.

• I get paid for a whole hour of lunch.

• I get to pick my own schedule.

Those are the reasons that I thought of today. I'm sure that I'll think of some more tomorrow. :)

My homeless person phobia!!!! AHHHHHH!!!

As requested, here is the explanation for my homeless person phobia. 

I've had this phobia for as long as I can remember. I think it stems mostly from where my houses were. The first house was close to this drainage ditch behind the mall where a lot of homeless people would live. (if you want proof - 14682 Ponderosa Ranch Rd. Victorville CA)  I was always afraid that one of them would sneak out from that ditch and look in my window at night. 

Then a few years later my mom lived in a house where the backyard faced a golf course and then the desert beyond that. The fence was about waist high and anyone could EASILY step over it. Not to mention, I was the only one who's bedroom was on the first floor of the house and that bedroom's window faced the side of the house where anyone could hide until the night time and then look into my window. SCARY right?!  (12624 Ashbrook Ct. Victorville CA for more proof)

ALSO, my dad's house is pretty close to the mojave river and the train tracks that run along it. Both are homeless hotspots! Plus his backyard was big and easily accessible. So whenever I stayed at his house (15454 Tuscola Rd Apple Valley CA in case you aren't convinced yet) I would make sure that all the blinds were tightly shut and that nobody could see in while I was sleeping. 

SO there it is. Its not really that I hate homeless people, but who wants to be watched through the window at night? And who more likely to look in your home at night than a homeless person. Just imagine this... you are happily in your house, possibly listening to some music, maybe singing along, maybe dancing. Then you glance over to the window and you see a dark silhouette and two glowing red eyes!! Then the lightning flashes and they are gone! Then you freak out!  THAT my friends is my greatest fear!!!

You can't tell me that that is not scary.

What I've learned from traveling

I have never thought of myself as a "traveler". In fact, I hadn't left the country until I was 20 (if you don't count crossing the border to Canada when I went to the Niagra Falls). But this last year for me has had me going all sorts of places for all sorts of reasons.

About a year ago, me and my favorite cousin Shannon randomly got to go to San Francisco to present some research that I had done a year before. We ran around this awesome city, riding the trolly, becoming BFFs with one of the drivers (that was kinda creepy actually) and running away from homeless people (one of my greatest fears (you'll have to ask about that because that sounds heartless) ). But from that trip, I decided that Big cities are AWESOME! and look where it got me. :) 

The next trip that I went on this year was also awesome. One day, some friends and I were sitting around the kitchen table and the topic of traveling somewhere in the summer came up and instantly everyone agreed that we should go somewhere. That night we all had the homework assignment to go home and look up the cheapest flights out of the country and to see where that would take us. We ended up planning a trip to the Yucatan in Mexico. With a total of 10 people it was not an easy task to coordinate with everyone, but everything worked out swimmingly. Maybe except for that one time that we locked the keys in the rental car in the middle of the jungle. HAHA. That was funny. One of the suggestions from the locals was to smash the window with a rock. They even found the perfect rock. Oh man... good times, good times. BUT from the Mexico experience I learned that having all your possessions in one backpack and going anywhere, whenever was one of the coolest experiences you can have. 

Next... I'm gonna put this one in because I consider it a trip. Angels Landing! WOO HOo! For the longest time, I hated hiking. I thought that it was just glorified walking, and who likes THAT? But when I was doing my internship in Cedar City I gained such an appreciation for hiking (especially for all the hikes in Southern Utah). So I was stoked to go to Angels Landing! and to see Les Miserables with some of my favorite people.  What I learned from this trip? Don't let go of the chain or you will die. Oh, and being afraid of heights is for sissies.

Then everything with my job started happening and I had my first interview in Philadelphia. This was a little intimidating because I was going to be all alone this big city that i've never been to. Plus the fact that everyone was telling me how dangerous it is... I was kinda nervous. But I went, rode the train by myself, stayed in a hotel by myself (that was weird), and explored by myself. Although it would have been fun with someone there, I loved it! I learned that traveling alone can be really fun! Especially when you really want to get a feel for the city because it forces you to talk to people and people watch. Not to mention that you can do whatever you want and nobody will complain.

THEN!...oh man I DID go to a lot of places.... The Dominican Republic!!! Definitely the coolest place i've been. It was the Jungle, the people were so unique, they were SO poor but SO happy, there were BEAUTIFUL beaches and it was the perfect temperature in December :).  I went there with my Dad because it was the 30 year reunion of the "pioneer missionaries" to the country. Meaning, 30 years ago my dad and about 10 other missionaries opened the mission. It was so cool to see how much the church has grown! They even have a temple! This place taught me how much places change. That decades later, you can return to the same street and not one thing will be the same. It just makes me want to go back in 3o years and see what is different. So, just because you've been somewhere once already, doesn't mean you can't go there again.

I went to Philadelphia again for a second interview. That taught me that I really REALLY wanted to live here. 

And last but not least, driving across country to live here. That taught me that everyone should drive across the country once in their lifetimes just so you can gain an appreciation for the beautiful country that we live in. I suggest taking a different highway than the 80. Its pretty boring...

There's my travelog for the past year. I think that every new place you go can teach you something different if you let it. If you don't think so, then I guess you're wrong. :)

Finally made it!

After driving for 39 hours straight, we finally made it to Philadelphia...

Driving through Wyoming and Nebraska was BRUTAL. And this is what it looked like.

B-O-R-I-N-G!

Then we got into Pennsylvania and it was beautiful! But because it was dark, I didn't take any pictures. You'll have to just come to visit to see it for yourself. :)

One thing I noticed about Philadelphia is that there are so many cool places to eat! We ate at "Philly Diner" and it was amazing! We walked past an African restaurant and it seems like everywhere you look there are Indian restaurants. If you are craving any type of food, you can find it.

OH! Here is a picture of where I am gonna work. The Forensic Science Center!

I still don't have a place to live... thats for tomorrow. But i'm just crossing my fingers that things will work out.

Isn't blogging for married people?

Ok, here it is... my blog.

I apologize in advance for it not being witty enough. You're just gonna have to deal with it. 

But here is where the adventure starts. 4 days and counting until I leave the bubble and venture into the real world. Still doesn't seem quite real enough, even though I announce to everyone around when its my last time doing a particular thing.... "This is my last time eating a PB&J standing in the kitchen on a sunday" for example. I think everyone is getting annoyed of it and just wanting me to leave already...

So the City of Brotherly Love aka Philadelphia. My new home sweet home. Kinda weird. Kinda scary. But mostly awesome. Really. It freaks me out that it could possibly be my home for the rest of my life. Or not. I could go somewhere completely different! I'm thinking England. That sounds cool.

Its late and I'm sounding scattered. But I hope you're happy Jason. I've just blogged for the first time in my life. I hope you know that all future humiliation that i'm going to go through because of this is for you.