tacos, tacos

I'm one of those who believes everything happens for a reason. I've been thinking about it lately and it's sort of mind boggling when you think about it too hard... when you try to figure out why and how certain things came to be.
But I feel like I've got somethings figured out.
Like this guy, I forget his name, but he dated one of my best friends for awhile. They seemed to be perfect for each other but in the end it didn't work out. While spending time with the two when they were dating, Jor and I found out one of this guy's most hated "quality?" about himself... he was a pit sweater. Now when I say pit sweater, I mean PIT SWEATer. He was embarrassed about it his whole life. Then, his new girl friends-best-friends-husband came a long, (Jory) who had his same self concious trait in his younger years. After many different kinds of deoderants and anti perspirants Jory conquered this unattractive habit with a 30 dollar book from amazon and a garauntee that if you don't use soap you'll stop sweating. Who woulda knew? Long story short. Jory shared his inspiration with our new friend, and changed his pit sweating life! What if my friend met this guy, just to cure his self concious sweating problems? Maybe that's not the reason. But now there's two men in this world I know of that DON'T use soap on their pits and have very minimal sized tacos.
Jory grew up in South Jordan (and boy those So jo's have got pride I tell ya), and I having grown up in Orem, we were relatively close to each other our whole adolescent lives. I like to think about if there were times when we were younger if possibly we once drove next to each other on the freeway. Or maybe if we checked each other out standing in line at a Wendy's when I was in High School. Possibly we were at opposite ends of the exact same park, and had no idea that our other half was just seconds away. Maybe we felt something and didn't quite know what it meant. Maybe? I like to think, yes.
In between semesters of college I needed a morning job and my good friend Monica told me that I should apply to Alpine School District and give my urning for Elementary Education a try. Who would have known I would have walked into this cute quirky guy Mr. Schmidt's 4th grade class room.
Thanks Monica. : )

Skinny dippers, hot pots, and allergies

So maybe I should clarify... Our weekend consisted of only one skinny dipper. A sweet, bearded, tan old man that so peacefully sat in a bubbling and steaming hot pot located in our very own LEHI! Possibly in Saratoga Springs, we're right on the border.

Interesting... hilarious? Yes, very. Me and Jor had heard about some hot springs that are literally 5 minutes from our house! So Saturday morning we drove down the road, walked 6 minutes and showed up to natural hot pool, just steaming away. It was picture perfect. A steaming pool, tall cat tail looking grass with the snow capped mountains behind it all... and. A naked man. Just having the time of his life marinating in mucky water while drinking his gatorade. It was priceless. I cannot tell you how mad I was that I didn't have my camera with me (but don't you worry, I have the images ingrained). He asked us to hop in with him, he said the water was great. We told him we didn't come prepared to swim... which was a stupid answer 'cause he didn't either, really. Bahaha. It started our hot pot weekend adventure off perfect.

Now picture a man sitting bare bummed on that log. Can you see it?!

That afternoon we drove to the EXCITING Lava, Idaho for a Valentines Day get away. We got a "package deal" at a Bed and Breakfast and we were really excited to get away. I'm not sure if any of you have been to Lava... but it sure isn't a happenin' place. You should try to google places to spend the night there... It's so entertaining! The adds act like it is Vegas! THE place to be! Ha ha. So we booked our stay and weren't sure what we were getting into.

I'm not great in cars too much longer than my commute to work, so just a two hour car ride was a perfect length. When we finally pulled up to our turn off there was a big nice cabin on our left and a dumpy little cabin on our right. Unanomously we said out loud, "please oh please be the left house...be the left house"... Yeah.. the road merged to the right. Our Saturday night get away! Putting on our positive faces we walked inside. Now, keep in mind that I am the living, breathing allergy woman. As we walked up the stairs looking for where to go, we pass... 3 cats, 3 dogs, 2 large parrots and a little too much pet dander for really any human to have to be around.

The house ended up being really great and the owners were really sweet. A little on the odd side, and now I can proudly say that I met a real life cowboy. Even slept in his house!
We got everything we wanted in our room, a large bed covered with chocolates, a big screen t.v. and a glorified space heater that had picture like flames moving on the front of it (... "curl up to your own personal fire place in your room".. is what it said in the add.)
Bed and Breakfasts are interesting. People are literally just opening up their homes for you to come spend the night with them. Me and Jor didn't really realize that, that's what Bed and Breakfasts were... The owner made us dinner, Steak and Lobster and it was incredible. I am still kicking myself for not A. asking how in the world she cooked her steak. and B. Not asking if I could save half my 5 pound slab.
We really had a great time.
One of the main reasons we chose to go to Lava was to go and marinate ourselves in some NICE non-naked hot springs.
We showed up at about 5 pm. Advice for those with sensitive eyes. GO AFTER DARK. There was just a little too much flesh around to feel completely comfortable. The times I have been to Lava was always in the night-time, and I am grateful for that.
The sun went down quick and we were able to find a spot in the hottest parts of the pools where not too much skin was around. It was SOO nice. Infact, I wish I could transport us there at this very moment.

he loved this picture. AND did tell that steam to move, I have you know
We had the best little trip. I could spent every minute of my life with that man and I wouldn't get bored of it.
We finished the trip up with playing with some of the random animals that were scattered about. Our first attempt. The Cockatoo.

That's about all the action I got, with the bird that is.
Now, Jor on the other hand, didn't even want the birds attention, and the bird LOVED him! That's usually how it goes.

Boy meets bird.

Bird likes boy.

Bird flirts with boy.

Bird wouldn't get off of boy, and girl was insanely jealous. But she was happy for boy to spend quality time with the bird.
...
Girl spent quality time with the families turkeys instead.
We had a super V-day.

Camera savvy

Oh how I love art. Looking at it, creating it, seeing how people perseive it... I remember my favorite thing in my past art classes was the way everyone in the class was usually assigned the same "project" or same "idea" of how to draw, paint, whatever, to your picture. If it was all looking at the same still life, or drawing a landscape... every single person in the room had the same idea but their pictures were completely different from anyone else. But everyone's all were all really good and interesting. The same thing but completely different. I loved it.

Any way. Jory over these last ALMOST TWO YEARS.. yahoo, we're almost older timers... has spoiled me with artsy stuff trying to inspire me to be creative. He knows I love it... but working full time and trying to keep on top of WHITE laundry -and stupid t.v. shows getting in the way of absolutely everything in my calm little life.. I don't seem to find the time to get away with immersing myself in art. Last year it was a easel and a sewing machine (yes I consider sewing an art, do I know how to sew? H E double hockey sticks no!) for Christmas he got me a Camera! With a real life lens! And a bag. With a neck strap. It's pretty legit and I'm really excited about it. He did just inform me that I payed for half of it... oh he's a sneakster.

So I haven't been taking as many pictures as I would like to because of this negative 42 degree weather... but whenever I do go out, I feel like a professional and I just want to roll around on the ground telling people to "hold that position", and "work it" .. then get up and run a jump and take a picture at the same time.

how could I resist a "jumpy pic"?

The capitol building is incredible!


And finally, on Christmas day, we got to skype Dodee! I thought I needed to document that awesome experience with my new camera... I didn't know how to take the flash off. HA!
5 more months!

Now... if we could only just transport to the breathtaking forests in Sweden and have some photo shoots... now that would be just perf.