Flash Flood of Memories

Hey guys! Did you like my mom's post? Isn't she cool and witty? I get all my coolness from my mom and my dad for sure!

Anyway... as you're aware Hurricane Sandy is hitting the East Coast hard. Several places have been evacuated -- including my sister's old stomping grounds.. if I remember correctly.. Battery Park City.  You probably don't remember, actually I'm almost guaranteeing you don't remember, but during the summer of 2010 my mom and I flew out to NYC (my first plane ride ever!) and spent a week in the life of my sister.  As I've been thinking about New York with the recent storms, I pulled up my pictures from the trip and I realized that I felt like sharing some of the greatness of that trip with you -- how lucky you are!

My sister Dawn knows how to plan a weekend, so we did lots of fun things.  Because we are women (according to my dad), we love to eat the good foods in life... so we also ate a lot of good things.  Below are pictures, stories, and a video as I recollect them!

What New York Doesn't Look Like Right Now...

 Let me begin by saying that probably one of the biggest reasons why a person would decide to never show pictures of their trip to New York is that you look down-right nasty on the trip.  You may not believe here at the beginning of the post, but as I continue you'll see.. Maybe just maybe New York should rip off Las Vegas's motto and make it their own because seriously.... humidity kills a good photo!

Super Fun Event One: 

Top of the Rock! This was one pretty fun! We didn't do the traditional Empire State building, but we did get just as high with a great view still!  It was actually super fun to look through the binoculars and wave to the people on the Empire State building -- what a great sense of community I felt!

Dawn and Mom -- Top of the Rock and looking hot!

Dawn, Alfalfa Kelli, Mom!

Crazy about Binoculars!

Dawn's enthused!

So much to see!

Good Eats Number One:

Max Brenner.. I can't remember what about this place made it so high-class, but it was a little too high classy for us! So we opted for the most amazingly cute and delicious desserts ever. Seriously.. give this place a try!

Super Fun Event Two:

   Wicked!!! I had heard the sound track a lot so I was so excited for the real thing.  Turns out the cast changed and with it so did the voices.  We also had the understudy Elphaba.  While it was a little different.... It was so amazing! I do not know how Elphaba could have been better than she was, so that star must be off the wall!

This picture is blurry because we were so excited about just seeing Wicked!

Super Fun Event Number Three:

Time Square. This picture was taken post Wicked really late at night with no flash!! It's so bright there it's crazy! You can't see it, but we had just finished eating McDonalds on the Red Stairs(Steps?) -- my treat! I was so generous! ;)

Good Eat Number Two:
   Dawn, an experienced New Yorker -- really new what was up.  She took us to this great little place called S'MAC.  The only thing they serve there is different varieties of insane Macaroni and Cheese! I was still a picky eater in those days, so I kept it tame with an pretty plain thing, but it was amazing!

S'MAC your face with greatness!

Super Fun Event Number Four:

On Sunday we did some things that didn't cost money, like walking the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a long walk and it was sort of raining and of course it was humid.  So the walk was fun, but I look sort of on the gross side.

NEW YORK!

Loving the Walk.. Can't you tell?

Super CRAZY THING:
Dawn and Bryan worked in the tallest building in the background -- that part is New Jersey.   This morning I saw a lady reporting from this exact spot -- so I guess the Esplanade is still in tact!

Aren't they sweet?

 Super Great Food Number Three:
We also got pie at Rocco's! So delicious.  BUT SO RICH! We couldn't even finish it all, so we took it to go in these cute little white boxes.  To let our dessert settle, we walked to Washington Square Park, and with our cute little white boxes clutched in our hands.  We walk into the park and right near the entrance (it was late at night too) these men call out: "They say good things come in small packages." -- IN SUPER CREEPY WAY. Not in like a I'm from Wyoming and not used to this situation creepy, but more in that was weird and gross sort of way.  Needless to say we walked quickly into a different direction.

Super Fun Event Number Five:

Central Park Is HUGE! It's so massive, but so pretty and awesome.  But when you're tired from a long walk, the beauty starts to dissipate a little. So we were walking down another huge path and then we see this dog in the distance. I say to my friends (mom and Dawn) -- if that's a Balto statue I'm going to freak out. It was and I did.

Balto and me!

Super Good Eats Number Four:

   Some cute brunch place in Manhattan. I don't remember much about it, except that Dawn lost her camera and then found it there.  And that doing brunch is very New York and very fun! 

Super Fun Event Number Six:

  The picture below could speak for itself.. BUT I have to make a comment.  We were going along .. not any rain in sight.. yet.. I was getting so wet -- not from the wild waves.. instead it was from the nasty humidity.  I said it then and I'll say it again... It seriously felt like we were taking a shower a little at a time.

The Statue of Liberty.

 Super Good Eats Number Five:
Authentic Italian in Little Italy. It's totes amazo. Be jealous.

THE LAST DAY:

   Here's my picture of eating a big apple in the Big Apple.  I think it's pretty symbolic: I came, I saw, I conquered. And I want to go back.

My sweet hostess sister: She's great!! 

IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR YOU GET A BONUS VIDEO. Three words: Dirty Water Dogs. Jealous?

So there's the recap.  I hope that New York is able to recover quickly from Frankenstorm so that it can continue to be the wonderful metropolis that I enjoyed two years ago! 

Guest Post: Gone But Not Forgotten

Hey Folks! Kelli here -- there was a big event in our family recently, and so I got my mom to write about it! Isn't she great? Anyhow.. here's what she's got to say:

I am very excited and yet extremely humbled by Kelli’s invitation to post on her blog.  I do not have a blog myself, so all of a sudden I feel that my life has meaning and that it is worth living.  I am happy to accommodate Kelli’s request.

Gone But Not Forgotten—

I thought I would blog about a little bit of Lewis family history.

What this car probably looked like in 1982!

                When Scott, Kelli’s dad, returned from his mission in July 1982, one of the first things he did was purchase a brand new car.  He was headed to Provo in the fall to resume his studies at BYU and was going to need the wheels to get there and to get around once he was there.  He and his parents went to Billings car shopping at an event called Car Wars, (two dealers vying for your business) and when it was all over, Scott was the proud owner of a 1982 Chevrolet Chevette.  He paid $4400.  Wow, how times have changed!  Scott adorned his car with his home state license plates, 9er plates even.  This was before 9er drivers had earned themselves the reputation of being bad drivers. 

Authentic '9er' Plates

Scott and I started dating in March 1983 and that is when I was introduced to the Chevette.   I didn’t have a car at school, so once we were in engaged this car became our car, and I drove it when I needed to get my hair cut, shop for my wedding dress, or run other errands.  It had a standard transmission but that was okay because I had learned how to drive in my brother’s pick up.

The  Chevette ties to our family’s history because of the significant events that took place with this car.  On January 10^th, 1984 Scott officially proposed to me in this car.  We had already decided that we were going to get married and had shopped for and bought the ring, but it was not yet on my finger.    When he came to pick me up that night, after we had gotten in the car, he reached into the back seat and brought to the front a beautiful red rose.  It was embellished with greenery and baby’s breath and was wrapped in green tissue paper.  I noticed almost immediately that my ring was there at the base of the rose.  He had taken the ring and slipped it up the stem of the rose and it glittered beautifully in the light.  We were officially engaged.

For the first two summers of our marriage we lived in Cowley.  The Chevette was our U-haul  in our moves to and from Provo.  If we couldn’t fit it in, we didn’t take it.  This was true even when we had Toni and were packing a crib around.  We were pretty much minimalists during our years in college. I suppose most important is that this car brought home from the hospital our first three children.  When Ty, our third, was not quite two, we purchased our first mini-van and the Chevette became our second car, driven mostly by Scott from that point on.  He would take it deer hunting—yes, this little hatchback has hauled around a few dead deer in its time.

The car has been in a few scrapes in its 30 year history.  The first one was in the parking lot of the West Bank  Hotel in Idaho Falls.  It was the day after we were married and we were getting ready to leave on our honeymoon trip.  We noticed someone had swiped us and left some damage.  No note and no offer to pay for the damage.  The second was in the parking lot of Wymount Terrace at BYU married student housing.  This time there was a note and an offer to pay for the damage, and he indeed did pay for it to be fixed.  The third  time was when it was parked in front of our house when we lived in Riverton.  No note and no offer to pay.  We fixed each scrape and tried to keep it nice.  Eventually the hatchback hinge stopped working and when I went grocery shopping, I had to prop it open with a stick.

I can’t forget the pepper spray incident.  Scott had purchased a can of pepper spray when he went on an overnight hike with the scouts into bear country.  Somehow the can did not get unloaded from the car with the rest of his stuff.  On a hot afternoon in August the can exploded and splashed pepper spray all over the interior.  It was terrible.  It was a long time before we could ride in that car without our eyes watering and our fingertips burning. 

Where it's been since 2006

We put a lot of miles on this car before we bought the van.  There were countless trips from Riverton to Cowley and to Idaho to see my family.  Scott maintained it and would fix it when it would break down.   It was definitely showing its age when it broke down in the latter part of 2006.  It was the clutch and this was one thing Scott did not know how to fix, but he was determined to learn how.  We pulled it in the garage and there is sat for a really long time.  He was always going to get to it but never found the time.  It sat in the garage during the winters when our other cars would sit out in the cold.  After it sat there for several years I started to look at other options, like selling it or just junking it.  Scott didn’t really want to talk about those options.  Obviously he was attached to his first car and still had every intention of fixing it, but reality started to set in with him and he knew he needed to do something.  The most appealing option was junking it.  He wouldn’t have to put any money into it by fixing it, and he could get salvage cost out of it.  So after months of agonizing and mentally adjusting he agreed it could go.  We secured a car hauler trailer and loaded it up and we were off to Billings. 

These pictures document the last few days of our family’s first mode of transportation the vehicle that was part of our family for 30 years.   

                 

Chevette Hearse

All Loaded Up

Ready to Die.

Right before they crushed it!

A Hopeless Romantic No More, but Still as Ditzy as Ever.

Taylor Swift's new album, Red, came out this morning at midnight.  I woke up an hour later than last time she released an album -- not at 4:30 like last time. But the reason I woke up had less to do with Taylor, instead I was finishing homework, with Taylor serenading me in the background.

I wasn't as excited for Taylor's album this go around for one main-ish reasons:

A Hopeless Romantic No More. So... I read a lot.  I love it.  The bad part is when people ask me what I like to read.  I try to own it as much as possible, but still there's a hint of shame in my face when I saw -- cutesy-love-stories, usually with some kind of self-actualization vibe at some point.  But in recent months, I've been developing this whole new perspective on how this isn't real.  No REAL person is EVER like the person in the books I read or the movies I watch or unfortunately the music I listen to.  So then I listen to Taylor tell these fantastic stories with such awesome music in the background, and I get annoyed at how fake it is or sad at how that's never going to happen ever, and then the music has the opposite effect that's it's supposed to.

So maybe... I've outgrown some of my hopeless romantic tendencies for now, but at the same time I have this overwhelming need to get a boyfriend and break-up with him, so I can nurse my broken self back to health on a steady diet of Taylor break-up songs and chocolate chip cookies (with milk so I don't get osteoporosis).   HER BREAK-UP/I-MISS-WHAT-WE-HAD SONGS ARE THAT GOOD. I'm serious. They are the best.  I particularly like: All To Well.

So.. here is a link to All To Well as well as a playlist with her entire album on it (do it quick or the Youtube copyright police will take it down.)

Now to the part where I'm Still as Ditzy as Ever.

Last night I was at Ward Prayer: an event made by Single's Ward Bishops desperate to get us all married off a delightful social event for the ward to bond outside of Church, and I struck up a conversation with some random guys in my ward (rare occurrence -- ward Prayers are just awkward if you haven't already made friends before the blessed event). We were having a pleasant conversation, but I was on my way back to my apartment to watch the last part of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. As I was exiting the conversation, a guy right next to me engaged me in conversation, so I was backed into a corner (literally: my back was right in the crook were two walls were meeting) by my man-friends.  Then they started talking politics.

Not like.. "Yeah I like his social issues, but his tax plan is not my favorite."  It was like "I don't think I agree with how Obama dealt with Libya the first time, but I don't think Romney would have done anything different than Obama the second time."  Then started the in-depth discussion on his tax plan, and how it would affect each group of people.  Then there was the part about drones vs. foot soldiers. My part of the discussion was like:

Boy: "So Kelli what do you think?"
Me: "I don't think I know enough to say anything, but I'm enjoying listening."

How scintillating. Amazed by my wit?  Encouraged by how well informed I am as the future of America? Me too.

NOT!

Yup. I was pretty embarrassed for myself as well.  So I came home, after easing my way out of the corner, and decided to get 'informed.'  Only to be discouraged again.  Do you know how long it takes to become informed? I would have pages and pages of reading to become informed. What's a girl to do?

If only they had asked be about Taylor Swift's new album.  Or even if they had asked me about Therapeutic Recreation.  Or maybe on discrimination in America. Or my opinion on TOMS shoes (ask me about it -- it's juicy!).  Or anything remotely pop-culture or somewhat in my area of interest.  But alas, they did not, so I'm just left regretting how ill-prepared I am to be a contributing member of society.

I'm very open to suggestions on the best ways to become informed quickly.  In fact, I'd be more then open to them -- I'm begging! HELP A SISTER OUT! (I'm also interested in your opinions on Red. In fact, let's be honest, I'd be more interested in that than becoming informed!)

p.s. GET EXCITED -- My mom is going to be doing a blog-post on Friday... It's going to be awesome.  Tell your friends!

A Solo Soirée: iPod Dance Party

Maybe you've heard of these:

Maybe you haven't... The basic concept is that everyone downloads the same playlist to their iPods (its usually all put together so you download one 'song,' but it's 30 minutes long and has a billion songs!).  Then you press play at the exact same time.  So it's a lot like a dance.. but anyone watching you would have no idea what was going on. 

I've heard of them, but this week I had a chance to go to one! It's a busy week on campus, and I couldn't find anyone to go with me, but I really wanted to go.  This seems to be something that happens to me quite a bit, and I'm always disappointed that I'm not confident to go solo.  So.. this time I took a step in the right direction and KIND OF went by myself.  

There was the huge group of people all ready to start dancing when Stacey (who was headed to the library) walked by.  I totally chickened out and went into the library with Stacey.  Stacey, bless her heart, took pity on me and walked me back to the party.  She got out her headphones, and helped me settle in.  We took the opportunity to meet some people, Hannah and Rae, and then I told Stacey she could leave me--now that I had a friend.  Turns out Hannah and Rae had people to meet, so I just kind of stood there, sadly. (I should say that we ended the dance together and they would check in on me every now and again)

Then the music started.

First ten minutes: TERRIBLE.  I was concerned because everyone was dancing to their iPods in groups and I was dancing solo.   

THEN... I opened my eyes: one random hipster girl was just jamming on her lonesome -- having the best night every.  The girl who put the whole thing on was also just doing her own thing too...  Then my eyes opened even wider: this party was divided in two: part one was the 'group' half -- part two was the solo crowd.  The ones who felt the music and let loose and had the best night ever! Obviously I knew which crowd I belonged to!

Last 20 minutes: GREAT!!!!! I had so much fun! I just jammed my way around campus and really felt the music.  It was super empowering: one of the moments where you look around and realize that everything you thought everyone else was thing was wrong and your whole life changes just for a minute.  

Anyway.. now that I'm a pro.. I thought I'd give you all you need to know in one easy picture:

p.s. Do you like my infographic? The girl who writes one of the blogs I LOVE uses infographics, so I thought I'd give it a go!

Kayaking

I'm a (soon-to-be) Rec Therapist and I've got the Teva's to show it! My sister thinks these shoes are a little granola, which had me a little worried.  Then a Rec Therapist came to one of my classes in Chaco's and she said that every Rec Therapist needed at least one pair of Chaco's, so I didn't feel too bad.  I would seriously recommend these shoes to you so comfy... BUT I digress, this is not a post about shoes, but rather about me doing this:

Last winter when I was signing up for fall classes I signed up for a required recreation class.  The class is called RECM 223R, and it's called Outdoor Leadership Skills. I had no idea what it was so I signed up for a section where the time worked for me.  Then fall semester rolls around and I notice that instead of Outdoor Leadership Skills on my schedule it says: Sea Kayaking.  Um.. what? That was my first reaction.. then I frantically looked up my schedule. Turns out the every section of RECM 223 is actually a different outdoor skill. I could have had mountain biking or canyoneering or something, but I got kayaking... 

Now you may remember from a previous post that Kayaking is part of my before-I-get-married goals, so although I was hesitant and although it sort of interfered with this great service opportunity I wanted to try, I STAYED IN THE CLASS.

This is why every Tuesday afternoon I was driving out to Utah Lake, which smells gross and has dead fish in it and tons of ducks, to learn some kayaking skills.  The Tuesdays all worked towards the final goal: a overnight trip ACROSS THE 8-MILE-WIDE LAKE.  This was supposed to happen Friday night, but unfortunately, it was raining and windy on Friday night, so we just met up on Saturday morning to go for a 6-mile paddle.  That's right ... six miles propelled by my upper-body alone.  3 of which was into the wind and the waves. 

But I was prepared: 

What you see there is my Kayak -- the one filled with CANDY and treats.  Yep. I follow after my mother -- every trip you go on is about the food. ALWAYS. No matter where you are headed or how you get there (kayaking, hiking, or driving) you have to bring the treats.  I already super splurged on the snacks BEFORE the trip was cancelled and I was not going to waste it all... SO I packed it in my kayak. This turned out to be a good thing, because I was able to share with my whole class during the break! Good times.

So here's the gear:

I always choose the ones that look like the one above because I think they are the cutest.  I call the design Sunset Shimmer.

Speaking of equipment, I found out for one of the papers for this class (every class has a least one down side), that I'm a kayaking purist.  Most of my classmates couldn't wait to release their rudders and take the easy route to steering.. I myself learned that there are quite a few kayaking purists that don't believe in rudders, so I learned to master the "lean and paddle." If you just lean over the way you want to go, and paddle on the opposite side you can maneuver pretty well, and I never ever had to use the rudder once!

Below is my spray skirt:

That sucker keeps out most of the wet, which is a GREAT BLESSING, because the wet can get everywhere.  It gets in your mouth, your eyes, your hair, and all over your hands and arms so keeping your legs dry is wonderful!

On the trip, I took some pictures of the scenery:

We kayak RIGHT next to the airport, so planes are always flying pretty low over us.  On Saturday we had a huge-o Army plane land right over us -- so cool! (Speaking of the sky: check out this video of a man breaking the sound barrier -- OUTSIDE OF A PLANE. to jump to the cool part go to about 1:00 minute in. The guy is 24 MILES up in the air -- so psycho!)

And this great vista was also visible:

It snowed the night before on the mountains so it was beautiful! The reason the sky takes up most of the shot is that I had to crop out a guy in my class or a man fishing (I can't remember which), but I thought it was still pretty!

And this view is pretty common for me:

Yep. I'm kind of a back of the pack type of kayaker. I think that's mostly because I'm a class with a lot guys and a girl that is on the track team for throwing.  There are a few girls that join me here in the back though, so that's kind of fun!

And that my friends is the story of my kayaking class! I hope you are all inspired to try something new today, because sometimes it turns out to be a blast! So until next time as we say in the kayaking world,

Paddle On!!!

(We don't actually say that in the paddling world)