Sunday, May 31, 2009

Also...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJEDUainX4

Gotta love Buzz and Woody.

This is Wordy

So tonight I just realized that yesterday marked the one month anniversary of my return to Utah from my study abroad adventure in Spain. My initial excitement at being back in familiar territory has long since worn off and now I feel almost like I'm stuck in a rut. I'm laying in my bed right now thinking back on the past month and wondering what I've accomplished. The answer? Not a whole lot.

I got a mission call, got a job, and got a lot of tootsie rolls at Tim Abbott's birthday party tonight, but I can't help but miss the life I had in Spain. There was no shortage of excitement. One day I'd be in Sevilla watching flamenco, and the next I'd be in Valencia eating napolotinas and watching things burn. Now, I'm in Orem one day... and Orem the next.

It's getting harder and harder to simply hang out on weekends, especially as the male population of my group of friends go on their two-year-exodus' all over the world and leave me behind all summer. I think I need to find some new ways of diverting my attention that don't rely entirely on other people.

Hopefully I'll be able to live like my parents when I'm older. Since getting back from Spain, little more than a month ago, they have gone to Las Vegas, Arizona, Cancun, and are now BACK in Las Vegas. In the year 2009, they have been at home for MAYBE two weeks tops. They're like big Engergizer Bunnies.

I'm not saying all this to try and convince anyone that my life sucks. It's far from sucky. In fact, if anything sucks, it's me. It's not like there is actually a shortage of things to do, it's just that I don't DO any of them. I'm just so lazy that it's like I wait for pastimes to be laid, gift wrapped at my feet rather than make an effort to be productive.

Well, we'll see how things turn out, and if I can make it into the MTC on August 26th without having gone insane. I'll keep you posted.

And to end off on the right note, here is a blurry picture of me as Peter Pan.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sand Dunes


Last weekend some friends and I went to the Sand Dunes for fun, and as a last little activity for Hiram who enters the MTC this week (He gave his farewell talk yesterday, and it was fantastic if I do say so myself). We didn't take any four wheelers or machinery like that besides the car, but we kept ourselves entertained by simply playing in the sand.


We even encountered a tiger!




We hauled a grill along with us, but for some reason, after trying for what seemed like forever, we could not light the dumb charcoal so we took the grate off and balanced it over the fire with a cinder block. We felt pretty innovative.


By the way, those were the most delicious burgers ever.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Found!

My senior year in high school, I made myself a longboard in woodshop. Randomly last summer I realized it was missing! I couldn't find it anywhere! And now, almost a year later, it has been recovered. Apparently,my friend Caitlin's brother had it hidden away in his room for some reason, but now, all is well, and it is back in its rightful owner's hands.


It's totally plain besides this little RHCP insignia on the back, but I like it!



And all is well in Orem.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mom.

Happy Muddah's Day Mom!


You've done well.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Call


After months of waiting and anticipation, it finally came! My excuse for a two year absence from my normal life. AKA my mission call! I opened it amongst my family today at about noon. And where am I being sent??? Vina del Mar, Chile! Spanish Speaking. August 26. Boo-yah.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Florence


Florence, AKA Firenze if you're in Italy. Home of the Uffitzi Art Gallery and Michaelangelo's David. After leaving Venice, this is where we ended our Italian travels. We started off by walking from our hotel to see the Duomo. The outside is covered in really cool looking marble panels. See for yourself!


This is actually the Baptistery and the Duomo. The Baptistery is known for it's doors, which depict several stories from the Old Testament.


Here are the doors! These are actually fake ones. The real ones are in a museum behind the Duomo.
Other than just seeing the Duomo, we did go see David, and the Uffizi, and on our final day we took a little trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower!



After a brief visit back to Spain to get our stuff, we ended our European adventure with some Doner Kebabs and Napolitanas. I was sad to go, but just as excited to come back home to America!

Spain wont stay Mark-less forever. I'll be back some day!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

I stood in Venice

So about two weeks ago, my parents and I visited Venice for about a week. So here's my week in pictures!

This is the Piazza San. Marco. The shuttle boat from our hotel dropped us off here every day. It's also where the beginning of The Italian Job is shot!



Here's the Church in the Plaza. It's really unique because the interior is covered in mosaics. Too bad they don't allow pictures!


The pidgeons there were really friendly.


Obviously there are canals everywhere, which is nice because it eliminates the possibility of having tons of cars everywhere, making it very peaceful.



Venice is famous for it's masks. There are mask stores EVERYWHERE. They were probably my favorite part of the city.



There were even Guernica masks!


My favorite store.


It rained most of the time we were there.

Here's the Rialto Bridge...


...which passes over the Grand Canal.
And I just like this picture.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Thank You Baggage God

Our lost luggage finally was found and just arrived home last night! I was very distraught when we found out they lost it, because among other things, my bag contained my journal which I've written in every day for the past four months I've been in Spain. Phew.