Social Famine Quenched Part II: Utah

Tuesday, June 16th I woke up at 4:00am to shower and finish getting things in together so I could leave by 6:00am. I received quite the welcome in the Salt Lake Airport from Mom, Jessica, and my cute nieces and nephew Tayler, Rylee, and Jayson! Thanks guys! Once I loaded my 65 pound bag (yeah, that was a $25.00 fee) in the car we headed to Paradise Bakery for some yummy lunch. After lunch we went our separate ways- Mom and I did a little shopping and Jessica and her kiddos went home so they could be the welcoming committee when Jenny and her kiddos arrived.

Auntie Julie, Tayler, and Rylee at Paradise Bakery

That evening Mom and I had a relaxing evening watching the movie, Bride Wars. We also talked to Ryan and Marcela and congratulated Marcela on becoming a US Citizen and learned they are expecting their second! Congrats Ryan and Marcela! Wednesday, June 17th We began the day in the yard… nothing better than doing a little work while it is beautiful outside. I got to deadhead the rose plants while Mom weeded. I feel I got the better end of the deal! After playing in the dirt we got ready for the day and headed up to Tooele. We spend a lot of time and money in Wal-Mart I’ve noticed. I guess it makes up for the past 6-1/2 months that I hadn’t been there! After our trek to Tooele we braved the harsh rainstorm and went to Jessica’s. Jenny was in town to help tend the kids since Sean was having surgery today. (As an update, Sean is doing great and recovered quickly from the surgery!) It is so fun just chill with my Mom and my sisters. It was a beautiful day (surprisingly enough it was actually warm enough for me without a jacket) so we soaked up the sun. We were entertained by the kids by numerous dance routines (which I had the pleasure to be a part of some). Here are some pictures from the day:

Cool Mr. Eli!

Jess and two cute boys! Tayler and Meggy showing us their mean dance moves!

Jenny and I just chillin'!

Jenny, Mom, and Jess enjoying the beautiful day!

It was rather loud in the house with so much fun and excitement going on all around. So, we got out and headed to the mall for dinner. Chick-fil-a was a top choice and I had a delicious smoothie from orange Julius! That night, once we said goodnight to the kids, Jessica headed to the hospital to be with Sean, and Mom, Jenny, and I visited for awhile before Mom and I headed home.

Eli loves Chick-fil-a!

Thursday, June 18th

Mom and I had a lovely day hanging out. We decided Thursday would be the perfect day for test driving vehicles. I sold my car when I left, so I knew as soon as I get back I would need a new car. I also really want an SUV, so I thought it would be fun (and helpful) to test drive some. So, off to Quality Dodge we go… I test drove a Mazda, CX7 (or something like that) and a Ford Escape that had all the bells and whistles except one very important one for me- dual air control! It was fun to test drive vehicles. Don’t worry, I was good and didn’t buy a vehicle on impulse, but I was tempted!

The rest of the day was spent lazily enjoying the summer day. After I taught Mom how to read Arabic numbers, showed her what the money (Kuwait Dinar and Fils) looked like as well as all my pictures, we were off to enjoy a beautiful afternoon. We walked to Copy Cottage so Mom could mail something off and when we were there I noticed a flier in the window for “My Fair Lady”. It just so happened that Ms. LaForge was putting on a community theater production of the musical during the time I was there, so we bought a couple tickets. Fun! Fun!

Friday, June 19th Mom and I began our day by sawing up the peach tree, mowing the lawn, and chopping up some overgrown branches of the hedge. I would say it was a very productive morning! We did our work for the day, so now it was time to go play. We met up with Jessica, Jenny, and the kiddos at the pool. I didn’t get in of course, but it was fun to watch the kids having such a good time. There is just something magical about water during the summertime! We enjoyed a lovely afternoon all together and parted ways around 6:30pm. It was great that Jen and the kids came down from Boise so I got to see them. Thanks Jen, Meggy, Alyssa, and Eli- it’s always fun to see you! They were all heading to the duck park and Mom and I headed to visit Grandma. Jared and Katie drove to Utah this day, but didn’t make it until about 1:00am! As the slogan goes, “we left the light on for them!”

Sisters Just Having Fun

Auntie Julie and Meggy

Looking Good Grandma

Saturday, June 20th

It was fun to wake up and say hello to Jared, Katie and Cayden. We made a Tooele run, but mostly we just enjoyed our day hanging. Jess brought the kids out that afternoon and we were thoroughly entertained by all of dances performed!

Jess and Jayson- so cute!

Cayden's Big News- Yeah, it took Jess to come out to notice.

Mom and I are a little slow!

Grandma's Turn to Dance

Rylee and Uncle Jared's Dance

Tay and Uncle Jared's Dance

Cayden reading a book- too cute!

That evening was Jared and my 10 year High School Reunion. It just so happened that I was in the states at the right time so I could attend. I heard later that they may have moved the date just for me, but I’m not so sure I believe them. Here is what happened…I received a message on facebook saying they were looking at holding the reunion on June 27th. Well, I immediately sent a message back asking if that date was set in stone or if it was a possibility that date could change to June 20th, if so, I would be able to attend. Oh, and I also let them know that I am fairly certain I would win the coming from the furthest away award! Next thing I know I the details for the reunion were sent out and the date was now June 20th- perfect! Alright, so Jared, Katie, and I headed out to the reunion. We met up with Todd there and we had a fabulous evening. It was fun to see old classmates. 10 years is a long time! We ate, played a game, explored the beautiful building, but mostly we just visited with old friends. After the reunion Todd treated us to some Cheesecake Factory- their cheesecake is delicious!

Jared and I before heading to the big 10 year party!

Does this outfit scream successful and no longer in High School?

'Cause that is what I was going for!

Sunday, June 21st

After Sacrament meeting Jared, Katie, and Cayden had to hit the road. It was a rather quick trip for them, but I am glad they came. The reunion just wouldn’t have been as much fun if they weren’t there. They finally made it home around 10:00pm. Mom and I played our obligatory Sunday Scrabble Game. Good times! Then we went on a lovely walk to see the new High School grounds. It was such a beautiful day in the neighborhood…. I want to burst into song! It was nice to skype Ryan, Marcela, and Reyes as well as Brent and Ashley that evening. Always a pleasure talking to the Seattle clan!

Monday, June 22nd

The highlights from Monday were cinnamon rolls, haircut, and the musical. Mom made huge delicious cinnamon rolls. They really were a meal by itself-Yummy! I also got my much needed haircut. You see in Kuwait you say take an inch off and they barely take a centimeter off. You say even up the ends and they leave it very uneven. I don’t get it! So, when I walked into get me haircut, I said I don’t want a drastic change; I just want you to fix it! She laughed when I told her why and it dawned on both of us that perhaps they don’t have a whole lot of practice cutting women’s hair since women cover up their hair here! Anyway, I was pleased with how it came out. That evening Mom and I went to the theater. Ms. LaForge did a fabulous job with the conditions she was given. I mean, it really isn’t the most ideal setting to hold a play in a Cafeteria/Auditorium! It was a fun night.

Tuesday, June 23rd Our fun day! For Mom’s birthday I told her to plan a fun day and we will do it while I’m there- those were the only two rules: 1. It must be planned and 2. This fun day must take place in June while I am there. Mom planned an excellent day for us and the weather was fabulous all day long- the day couldn’t have been more perfect! Here is our day: We did a session at the Salt Lake Temple at 10:00am. We barely (and I mean barely) made it on that session, but all is well we did make it! I lost Mom in the temple (you have to remember that this was only my second time ever doing a session in this temple, so I really didn’t know where I was going nor did I know where Mom was going to wait for me), but it all worked out with the help of a mutual friend and we were off to continue our adventure for the day. I guess if you are going to be lost, the temple is probably the best place to be! After the session we walked to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to change. The Lion House Pantry was our next stop. You have to get delicious Lion House Rolls if you are at Temple Square around lunch time.

We decided to walk to the Library to get help rid us of all the calories from our tasty meal at the Lion House. Neither one of us had been to the new Salt Lake City Library, so we went and checked it out. It was huge! I was really impressed with the new library- it is very clean, orderly, and the displays and set up in the children section was a lot of fun. We explored for a bit and then it was off to our next destination: The Gateway.

Mom in front of Library

We took Trax this time since we were still within the free zone and it was a bit farther to walk then we were willing. Mom made us a reservation to have our nails done at a salon there, so we shopped gateway for a bit, got our manicures, shopped gateway some more, and just a fabulous time.

Trax

Mom and I outside the Salon

Julie Overlooking the Gateway

Mom at the Gateway

Before we left the Gateway we stopped in at the Chocolate store and picked up a couple chocolate turtles to enjoy while waiting for the concert to begin. That was a fabulous idea- it was delectable! We took Trax back to our car were we deposited our bags, grabbed our jackets and blanket and walked to the park. There was a free concert in the park performed by local artists. They did an evening of show tunes, a lot of songs I recognized, but there were a few that I had never even heard of the musical before! It was a beautiful evening and a perfect end to our perfect day.

The Concert in the Park

Performing "If I were a Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof"

The concert ended about 9pm, so by the time we walked about to our car and made it home it was around 10pm. I would say that was quite the full day! Thanks Mom for planning such a great day for us! Wednesday, June 24th

We didn’t do yard work on Tuesday, so Mom and spent the morning outside beautifying the yard. After the manual labor was over Mom made a cherry pie with the cherries from our tree. We also used this day for hemming my work pants, doing laundry, washing the dishes and other things around the house. That evening we headed up to Jess and Sean’s to spend the night. We enjoyed a great dinner (chicken rolls- love them!), went to the park, painted toenails, and just had a great time together.

Toe nail Painting Fun!

Thursday, June 25th After enjoying a fairly lazy morning and playing Disney bingo with the girls, it was time to say goodbye. I am always so touched when Tayler is in tears and doesn’t want to say goodbye. She is such a sweetheart and then it makes Jess and I cry- it is quite the scene! Thanks Jessica, Sean, Tayler, Rylee, and Jayson for letting us stay with you and letting us enjoy your company. It was way fun to be with you!

Yes, Jess you still look better then me even though I am the one ready for the day! :^)

What cute neices I have!

From Jessica’s house, Mom and I headed North to spend the day in Logan. Our good friends the Balagna’s recently moved there, so I thought it would be fun to see them and since I graduated from Utah State University I always like an excuse to go to Logan! It was quite tricky finding their house actually… yeah, we got lost! Not to worry though, we have cell phones and know how to use them! Bud got us heading the right direction and met us at a church so we could follow him the rest of the way. It was so nice to see them. Jennie and her kids even came over, so it was great to see her as well. We had a nice lunch there and then I left Mom to visit, and I headed into town where I met up with my roommate and good friend, Jeana, to enjoy reminiscing over all the great times we had while eating some Aggie Ice-cream! It was fun!

The Balagna's and Mom and I

Jeana and I

I also stopped by the USU Bookstore and said hello to the people I still know from back in the day when I worked there 6 years ago. It was fun to see them and know that they still remembered me! Great times in Logan I tell you!

Sue, Annalee, and I

On our way home we made one small detour to stop in and say hello to Tanna and Kip. I worked with Tanna at the Bookstore and I knew Kip since we sat right next to each other in an Economics class. So, I knew both independently from each other and I found out they were dating at the time- too funny!

Tanna and I

It was nice to visit with them for a few minutes before hitting the road again and making it home around 9:00pm. It was an enjoyable day and so good to see such great people! Friday, June 26th Alas my good time in Utah had to come to an end. I did one last chore, which was kind of fun actually, not every day you get to climb out on a roof to sweep and throw off all the big branches that have fallen there! Good times! Once I got all packed and ready for the day Mom and I headed up to Tooele to go to the Arts Festival. The Tooele Arts Festival is pretty small, about an hour is all it took to make it around to all the booths. It was fun to see the different displays. Not to mention I found Cayden the cutest pajamas made out of a Lightning McQueen (from Cars) fabric!

Mom at the Arts Festival

This cracked me up... I discovered this in the bedroom downstairs- Nice Jared!

Around 3:00pm Mom and I headed to the airport so I could continue my fun in Denver. So, that is the end of my wonderful time in Utah. Thanks Mom for keeping up with me as we went from one place to the next, for the good times, and for your great company! I love you! I am proud to say since I sky capped my bag I did not have to pay the overage fee even though I’m sure my bag weighed over 50 pounds! Also, since I was flying Southwest and I forgot to check in on-line I thought for sure I will be stuck with a “C” boarding pass- nope, I was in the “A” group! I’m not sure if either of these two things are because I sky capped, but I like to think they are and I will use that service more often! I made it to Denver around 6:00pm which I will pick it up there in Part III of my adventure.

Happy Birthday Jared!

I mean, really, can you get a better twin then this? I submit that you cannot! I am definitely lucky to share my birthday with you Jared! Sad that we are not in the same place this year, but know that I was thinking of you and hoping you have a wonderful day in the Happiest Place on Earth! Love you tons!

Social Famine Quenched Part I: Denver

Thursday, June 11th

About 13 hours later… I arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. at 6:15am local time. It was seriously so nice to be on U.S. soil- weird I know, but I was just extremely happy! My flight to Denver was supposed to leave at 8:30am, but due to mechanical concerns they delayed the plane and we didn’t leave until 10:45am. So, I arrived into Denver at 12:30pm and was welcomed by a hail storm and heavy rain. It was pretty cold, so I am glad I had my jacket- it was completely zipped up!

I left the airport around 1:00pm and picked up my rental car. I have now learned my lesson to NOT accept a free upgrade unless they show you a picture of the vehicle first. I don’t really know cars so when I was told I get a Mazda 5 that meant nothing to me. I walked out and as soon as I saw it I said to myself, “You have got to be kidding me.” Yep, I was driving a mini-van! At least I could get around, right?

It was off to Qdoba where I met up with a previous co-worker and I enjoyed some delicious chicken nachos while we visited. I’ve been craving chicken nacos for a few months now, about 6-1/2 months to be exact! Anyway, it was fun to visit with Nicole and meet her husband.

After lunch I headed to Buckley where I was able to visit with some previous co-workers. They are such good people who I miss a lot. It was sure nice to see them and have the chance to visit for a few minutes.

Around 5:15pm I finally left my old stopping grounds and headed to Jared and Katie’s place. After a quick shower (since I felt super gross from traveling for 24+ hours), we were out the door and headed to a birthday barbeque for Chris. Good times! That night I crashed around 10:00pm- traveling wears me out!

Friday, June 12th

I woke up at 5:30am and was out the door in time to make the 9:00am session. It has been hard not having the opportunity to go to the temple these past 6-1/2 months. I guess I was spoiled since I worked there and went at least every other week and attended quite regularly with my ward. Annie joined me and it was so nice. We got to visit afterwards for a few minutes while we enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria. Thanks Annie for joining me and for lunch!

Jared didn’t have to work that day, so when I got home from the temple Jared, Katie, Cayden and I were able to go to Southlands where I was able to do some clothes shopping! It was great fun and nice to finally find some clothes that were my style and in my price range! Friday night was Relay 4 Life (the fundraiser for American Cancer Society which turns into an all night party). It poured on us as soon as it started, so I hid in a tent until the rain stopped. I knew that if I got wet I would be super cold and would probably not make it the entire night. So, I waited out the storm and about an hour later it was safe to come out. Jared, Katie, and Cayden joined us for a little while. Thanks Katie for letting me wear your Winter Coat- I definitely needed it! It was great fun to visit with people and see them again- such awesome friends I have! We went to IHOP at Midnight to use their bathroom, warm up a bit, and get a bite to eat. I got about 45 minutes of sleep that night and that was while sitting in a chair so it wasn’t the most quality sleep. It was well worth it though- good times! Here are some pictures from Relay:

Every year they have a closing ceremony where they have a nice speech and then release doves. It is nice, but we’ve seen it and it typically lasts about 30 minutes too long. So, this year we opted to hold our own ceremony and then go enjoy a nice breakfast at the Egg and I.

Saturday, June 13th Once I got home from Relay and got showered it was off to Southlands again. I was looking for a straw hat and Katie knew of the perfect place for finding such a thing at the Farmer’s Market. I had never been to the Farmer’s Market at Southland’s before so I guess it was time that I experience that after having lived in Denver for 4-1/2 years.

From there we went to a Disney story in Westminster. The selection was pretty picked over by the time we got there, so it was kind of disappointing. We didn’t want to waste our trip out that direction so we stopped at the Westminster Mall. I had never been there either and was amazed to see 31+ empty stores there. I think that mall was struggling before, but especially now that the economy is so bad- yikes! That really hit home for me since I don’t see it in Kuwait- they haven’t been affected by the world economy crisis. There is a cute playground in that mall, so we enjoyed watching Cayden explore and have a good time.

That evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner and then threw on a movie. I typically cannot fall asleep in movies even when I want to, but I only lasted about 10 minutes before I was completely out. I guess a combination of jet lag and only 45 minutes of sleep the night before caught up to me and won! Sunday, June 14th I slept in on Sunday… clear to 6am! I got my 8 hours, it was so nice! We enjoyed a leisurely morning and had Scooby Doo Waffles for breakfast! I haven’t had homemade waffles for 6-1/2 months so that was what I requested. (Note: I have a waffle iron, but I can’t use it since the power is 240 versus 110. I haven’t bothered to buy a converter either- they scare me!) The waffles were delicious!

I went to Maplewood Ward and while Jared, Katie, and Cayden attending their own ward. The good part is both wards meet at 1:00pm, so the timing is perfect. It was nice to go to church in Maplewood again and say hello to some good friends there. After church we got to spend the evening with the Showell clan. Annie is too good to us and always makes great dinners and desserts. Thanks Annie! I love hanging with the Showell clan, they are very entertaining and it is just fun to be there. Check out the “Carpet Sliders”- it is like ice-skating on the carpet.

Annie is tending my plants for me and my roses were in bloom!

Monday, June 15th Monday was another fun-filled day. Jared had to go to work, but I got to hang with Katie and Cayden all day. We began our adventure at the Aurora mall- who knew that none of the stores opened until 10am? Luckily there was a little playground where Cayden was able to run around while we waited for the stores to open.

Our shopping excursion was definitely successful. I love going shopping with Katie, she finds all sorts of cute clothes for me- thanks Katie! Being at Aurora mall I was able to meet up with a few co-workers from Buckley and have lunch. I feel so loved that Bob, Kevin, Ron, and Dave would come spend an hour with me- they’re great! I am sad I didn’t even get a picture. I was also very happy that I got chick-fil-a for lunch. 6-1/2 months without my chicken nuggets is a long time!

Once lunch was over we got back in the car and headed to the Denver Aquarium where we met up with my good friends David, Lisa, and Skyler (their cute 2 month old baby). It was a raining sort of day and I had never been to the Aquarium before so I thought it would be fun. I enjoy looking at all the color fish and the variety of animals that inhabit the waters. I was a bit disappointed with how short the tour was (especially with how expensive tickets are) but overall I thought it was fun. Cayden enjoyed it and that makes me happy!

After the aquarium we headed to Jared and Katie’s where we were able to just relax and enjoy the evening. It wasn’t too long before Jared got home and was able to join us as well. Also, our friend Katie was able to come over so it was a fun little get together. We ordered pizza, ate ice-cream bars, watched Nemo, and had a wonderful evening.

Once everyone left it was time for me to pack and get ready for part two of my vacation. I had to leave super early in the morning, so I was up until about 1am getting everything ready to go! For some reason it seems I never get more than 4 hours of sleep the night before I fly somewhere. Crazy!

Vacation Time: Getting There

6-1/2 months I waited for this… in fact I was so excited for my vacation that I was certain I would be disappointed in how everything played out since my expectations were so high. Well, I am happy to say that my vacation was absolutely wonderful and far surpassed all my hopes. When I took this job I knew I would get one vacation halfway through my tour that would be paid for by the Government. What I didn’t know is the stress, headache, hassle, and waiting that is associated with taking a military flight versus a commercial flight. Different people all told me the same horror stories of taking a military flight, so I opted to pay my own way and know exactly when I was leaving, when I would get there, and didn’t have to spend an excessive amount of time waiting or being ushered from one location to another. It was well worth the money to have an extra day in Denver and avoid all the uncertainties that come with the military flight. However, the airport was still an interesting experience… A co-worker dropped my off around 9pm. My flight didn’t leave until 11:45pm so that should have given me plenty of time to check in. When I arrived I had no idea where to go, so I did what seemed right and followed the crowd that was toting around luggage. I got a good way into the airport when a worker asked me which airline I was flying. When I said “United” he was nice enough to point out that I needed to go completely out of the airport, head to the right, and enter the double doors that say “Zone 1”. I thanked him and was on my way. One would think that signs and clear directions would be commonplace in a location such as an airport, or am I asking too much? Okay, so once I was on the right track and went from one stop to the next I was feeling pretty good about things… until the line that I was in came to a complete standstill. In fact, all the lines came to a halt. It was quite funny to watch the people jump from one line to another by simply butting in front of people with the hopes that line would begin moving again and be faster. I guess manners are a lost art for some people in this country or people feel they are entitled to this rude behavior. At any rate, I wasn’t too concerned about this sudden stop until we had not moved for 40 minutes and there was no indication that we would move any time soon. By this time I had only an hour before boarding would take place and I didn’t know what other hoops I would have to get through before actually boarding the plane. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned, but not panicky at this point. About 10 minutes later the lines began to move again- hooray! Another 20 minutes and I was through to the next stage which landed me in yet another line. This line was long, but seemed to be moving okay, so I knew I would be okay on time. Then I lost my visa! Seriously, I made it through the entire airport and was so careful to hold on to the little piece of paper with Arabic numbers scribbled on it and I lost it! I put my visa along with my ID in my jacket pocket which I even double checked it was actually there before I zipped up the pocket. A few minutes later I heard something fall to the ground and when I looked down there was my ID card. Huh? How did that pocket get unzipped and where is my visa? This is when I hit panic mode! The people in line around me were probably thinking I was an absolute freak, but I know that visa was important and I thought I would need it to get through the last checkpoint before boarding the plane. I looked around, but I could not see the little piece of paper anywhere- it was gone! Turns out I did not need my visa again to get out of the country, and when I got through the last checkpoint I only had to wait about 5 minutes before I walked onto the plane. Let my vacation officially begin! Stay tuned for the continuation of the visa story- who knew it might be important when trying to get back into this country?

Funny Stories

Happy 4th of July everyone! I wish you all a very happy Independence Day and hope you enjoy some fireworks, bbq, watermelon, and icecream for me! This is as close as I got to fireworks... I was really surprised to see any.

Okay, I know this is not what you were probably expecting, but I've been meaning to post these few stories and decided it would be best to post them before my long R&R post and my 4th of July weekend post. So enjoy!

Bookstore

On Memorial Day a few friends explored Fahaheel Shopping area in search for a book. There are not many bookstores in the area… in fact, I had never seen one, but my friends knew of one that they said they would show me. When you enter the bookstore you first see a row of magazines against the wall. I walked by not giving them much thought when my friend called me back and pointed out that the magazines have all been “edited”. You see, in Kuwait is a very conservative country and pornography is illegal (or highly frowned upon, I’m not sure which), so in order to sell certain magazines portions of the covers were blacked out with a marker. I thought it was great!

Buying Ice About a month ago I needed to buy some ice for an event here. That may seem like an easy task, but where does one buy ice when there are no convenience stores? I stopped by the grocery store on my way home from work and when I didn’t see big ice displays at the front of the store I headed to the frozen foods section. No ice there. Huh. Once I found the remaining items I needed while there I headed to the checkout where I asked the cashier where I could buy ice in this area. She replied “On aisle 4”. I know communication is a bit difficult here so I was quick to point out that I needed ice, not rice. She shook her head understandingly and sent a young man to get two bags of ice for me. Sure enough after a few minutes he returned with two small bags of crushed ice just as I needed. To this day it is still a mystery as to where that ice is… I walked aisle 4 and found nothing by rice and oil!

Cold Shower The day I flew out to the States I had a lovely cold shower to get me going that morning. Even in 120 degree weather I hate cold showers, so this was definitely not by choice. I sent maintenance an e-mail letting them know that my hot water was not working and asked them to fix the problem while I was on vacation. They called me later that morning to explain that they turned the hot water heater off. The tanks are located on the roof of the building and get warmed by the sun all day (and it really doesn’t cool off at night either) so if I turn the water to cold, it will actually come out warm. How would I have possibly known that? I’m just happy I haven’t had a cold shower again!