Acorn Hunt and Leaf Raking with the Colliers

So Ryan, Delinda and I went to Gilbert, S.C. to visit my Uncle Mark and Aunt Sally and cousins Laura, Jack, Elaine and their kids Grace, Christian and Aidan. We had a really good time there, our main purpose was to go and help clean up the yard but we also had a fun time laughing and being family and just having a good time!

Gracie (who now has a nice little crush on Ryan!) headed up a wild acorn hunt where she recruited all of us adults to walk around the yard and pick up acorns- which ended up being thrown at each other most of the time. I think most of us all got pelted in the head by SOMEONE... Not sure what she's going to do with all of those acorns, but more power to her!
Then Ryan and I raked up leaves and pine straw as they call it here in the South, I personally refer to them as pine needles... anyway- we did about half the yard and loaded them into Uncle Mark's trusty blue kiddy swimming pool and hauled them to the spot where we made a bonfire.

After a walk with my sis and cousin Laura and her kids, we all went in for dinner and then moved our way out to the yard again to make s'mores! It was a beautiful and warm fall day and it was even better to have been able to spend it with my family! It is a memory I will always keep and cherish!

My cousin Laura and her kids

Our trusty bonfire and Delinda actually working!

And I want you to know I feel lucky to know you

Cut open my heart And you'll see that it's true

I want you to know I feel lucky to know you

Yeah summer fades into fall And with it

Came the writing on the wall

So I sent a thousand letters on the Backs of silver angels through the sky

And I want you to know I feel lucky to know you

Cut open my heart And you'll see that it's true I want you to know I feel lucky to know you

Midnight train to Georgia...

The other night I spent some time with my sister and it was nice. We didn't do anything special, we just went and ate and then watched CSI together- but it was enjoyable to laugh at stupid things with her and be all into the show together and just talk. After she left, I went to bed and I got to thinking about the day and it's happenings and how I missed Ryan because I only got to see him for a total of 5 minutes for the WHOLE day! (I know, sad isn't it??!) I had the window open and I was all snuggled up in my comfy, warm blankets and as I was thinking I started to listen to the sounds coming from outside. I could hear the crickets and frogs... frogs.
I decided in that moment of listening and thinking that I really like the sound of the frogs, as long as they're not TOO loud. I feel that it can be a soothing sound. Now, I'm from the West where there aren't a whole lot of frogs to be seen or heard for that matter. The only thing that even resembles a frog that I remember seeing in Flagstaff, Arizona were Horny Toads. Yes they are similar in that they are both amphibious, but the two are NOT similar in looks at all!! And horny toads don't make a chirp like the frogs here do. Here's one in case you were wondering what they looked like. I used to love catching them when I was little.
Anyway- moving on with my story... My next train of thought after this momentous realization of me liking the sound of frogs was that I would have never pictured myself living in Georgia someday. I knew that Georgia was a state, and I'd flown through it one time on the way to Europe- but I didn't really think of it as a place where people lived and had a culture of their own!! I didn't know about grits, or that some people consider Mac & Cheese to be a "vegetable" or that people could drive so horribly!!! Probably just like people here have never really thought about Arizona, and if they do- they most likely think of it only as the desert with rattle snakes and cacti and all that stuff. Which is quite the contrary to where I grew up. Flagstaff is a small beautiful town in the Northern part of Arizona only about 70 or so miles away from the Grand Canyon. The elevation is 7000 feet and our landscape consisted of LOTS of Ponderosa Pine trees and the San Francisco Peaks. It snows a good amount just about every year and there are hardly ANY cactus there, unless someone decides to use it in their landscape! A good portion of the people I've talked to that have actually been to Flagstaff got caught in a snow storm there! You learn something new every day! Unless, of course, you already knew that...
The difference between the way life is in Flagstaff and in Atlanta is huge (except for the pine trees!) and it has taken a lot to get used to. Being in the midst of VERY tall highrise buildings was and still is at times overwhelming. I almost feel that I am used to it all now and although I do miss Flag a lot- I really like Georgia. Someday I'll get used to calling it "home"!
I think of my life and where I've been so far and how I've gotten to each place. I know that where I've been the last ten years I was supposed to have been for one reason or another. I have had many neat experiences and seen so many cool things and most of all learned TONS about myself. I also feel really grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and it's small and sweet whisperings and promptings. I feel that had I not listened to those promptings that I wouldn't be here in Atlanta. I wouldn't have grown the way I feel I have, I wouldn't have become closer to my sister like I have in the last two years, I wouldn't have met the friends I have, and I know that I couldn't have found a better man than my Ry-ry.

I can't wait to see where I am going to go next in life! There is so much ahead of me that I am so excited and ready for and it's good to know I'm not doing it alone! I feel so blessed, I feel like I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world and completely undeserving of it.
All in all- I realized that life is a crazy unsure thing. That you NEVER know where you'll end up- even if you have a "plan" in mind, things can always change. And if you don't have a plan in mind- you may never expect what lies ahead of you! Who would've thought little Heather would've ended up all the way in Atlanta, GA? Not me!
"No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for."

It's Fall... And I'm lovin' it!

To me, there are two times of the year that are the best; first is in the Spring when life is being breathed back into the winter torn nature and it's starting to become warmer and bearable outside. You can start hearing the birds singing again, and the beautiful blossoms on the trees and the deep blue skies. I also love the Fall when it's starting to FINALLY cool down and the leaves change into beautiful colors and there's that great breeze and smell in the air. It's also like a precursor for the Holiday's for me too. It means that Halloween is right around the corner, then shortly after that it's Thanksgiving... Then shortly after that it's already Christmas! After New Year's though I'm done with the winter and am already looking forward to Spring again. But until then, I am super excited! I love wearing sweaters and warm clothes and cuddling up in nice comfy soft blankets, and now especially with my boy! I love the activities to look forward to in the Fall too- going to haunted houses, making pies and soup or any comfort food, raking the leaves at my uncle's and jumping in them or burning them is fun too, pigging out at Thanksgiving and chilling with the fam. And then it's already time to start thinking of Christmas presents to buy and getting a Christmas tree and decorating and getting out my Christmas music!!! I love it!
I also wanted to mention that I am so grateful for the people I am surrounded by. I think I've mentioned that before, but I really am so lucky. I get to do so many cool things with them, I get to learn new Gospel principles or about new music or just laugh a lot!!! I feel VERY loved and unworthy of it- but I hope it never ends!
HAPPY FALL!!!!

Here are a bunch of us with the missionaries that have been teaching Ryan. The one on the right has been here through the long haul and goes home this week sadly enough. He's a good man though and I'm so excited for him to get going on his new life back home!

Grease Traps

I love www.wikipedia.org because I can really find just about anything I want to know about on there.

I took this picture of the grease trap at Taco Mac just because it was amusing to me and it also in a way grossed me out. So I did research on the subject to see why such a thing is necessary. A grease trap is a receptacle that kitchen wastewater flows through before entering the sanitary sewer lines. This receptacle captures, or "traps", grease. (This was interesting to me) Passive grease traps date back to 1885 when the first US patent was issued. Today's large and small grease traps use the same basic operating design as the 1885 model. While they do a fine job trapping grease, removing the grease is a task left to the owner.

Not sure which trap this kind was... but it reminds me of all the little things that become important that you have to remember to do when you are a business owner, especially in the restaurant industry.

This may be yet the most boring blog I've posted. But I hope that someday this information becomes one of those "Hmmm, that's interesting" moments for someone! :)

Some women can be a pain in the toosh!

So I went to get a pedicure this afternoon during my lunch break. I'm no pro at getting a pedicure, but I've been enough times to know what I like and what I don't. But for the most part- I just let the person do what they do because it's their job. I mostly enjoy it because who wouldn't love their feet and legs to be rubbed while sitting in a massage chair? Well, there may be some that don't, but to me- it's close to heaven. While in the spa I was sitting next to two women who really sort of angered me. Not only for the way they were acting but how they were treating the ladies working on their feet.
I have a issue first of all with people who treat those who are serving them at a restaurant or the spa place like they are "servants" or there at their beck and call. To me, they are doing their job just like I do mine or the person they are "serving". Ryan and I went to Taco Mac a couple weeks ago and there was a large group at a table near us that made their waitress cry and it made me really angry. And that's kind of how I felt today at the pedicure place. These women were talking down to the ladies working on their feet. Here's the thing, most of them are Vietnamese (or wherever their from) and there may be a language barrier- but just because they don't speak great English, doesn't mean their STUPID. These women were just being plain catty and talking to each other about how "she must not understand me" or "where's the other girl who knows what she's doing?..." They can hear you! One of the women was throwing a fit because she didn't know what the type of manicure she wanted was called and was arguing with the poor girl about it. I tried my hardest to be nice to the girl helping me out because I felt bad for the others who had to deal with those wenchy women.
It made me think about the "princess" mentality and how I hope I never become like that. I think it's great to be pampered, and when you are paying a decent amount of money service is important- but why is it necessary to be petty or rude about it when it doesn't quite go your way? I just don't feel like that gets anything done. It makes everyone around you uncomfortable, it makes the person that's helping you feel worthless and possibly even more angry at you for being impossible and it makes you uptight and marked as an unpleasant person. So do you think that frame of mind comes from how that person is raised or what kind of a lifestyle they live or have lived? Do you think it has to do with being a woman? I'm not sure of that- but I don't think I see too many men (unless they are on the effeminate side) act that way. To me, it gives women a bad wrap. I get upset or frustrated with men who think women in general are high maintenance or are a nuisance. Because I don't feel like I'm like that. Or at least I could be A LOT worse. But when some women act like that, I don't blame them for thinking it! I promise we're not ALL like that guys!

Anyway... I think I'll get off my soap box now and show you my cute toes and give the cute lady at Nail Talk & Tan props for putting little flowers on my toes! I'm always really thrilled when they can get it on the little itty bitty baby toes too! Yes, I know my toes look like little Vienna Sausages!

Side note: I hate it when I go to the restroom here at work of which there are several stalls to choose from and I hear someone come in go to the bathroom and then leave with out washing their hands. SICK!

Georgia Aquarium

Ryan and I had a date today and we went to the world's largest new Georgia Aquarium! http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/ It was a lot of fun!
It's a very large place and instead of being herded through as cattle like they do at the Chattahoochee Aquarium- you can choose which area you want to go in to. Here are some shots of our adventure.

The Beluga Whales

Another one of our famous self taken photos

The Whale Shark Exhibit

Aren't they awesome? I'll give you a couple shots of these guys...

Ryan looking good in front of the Ocean fish exhibit.

Hmm, I could possibly look like an Asian woman...

So I copied Yvonne and went to http://www.myheritage.com/FP/Company/tryFaceRecognition.php and put in a couple of pictures of myself. One of them was of Ryan and I and the person they came up with was Halle Berry. Now, I take that as a compliment although I completely disagree with it. I don't really think that I of all people resemble a BEAUTIFUL black woman... So I tried another picture and this is who they came up with. I'll give you the picture that I gave them first and then who they said I looked like. Interesting eh?

I too got Mischa Barton, bleh! I couldn't find any pictures on the net that resembled the one they compared me to on the website though. So this will have to do!
This one is my personal favorites and one that I totally disagree with!! It's quite humorous really!

It's not a malt, it's a blizzard.

So Ryan and I rented a Cadillac DTS this weekend and drove down to visit my friends Jill & Brent in Florida. Jill was my roommate in Utah and has been a really good friend ever since. So, this was the first of hopefully many road trips Ryan & I have taken together and it was SOOOOO fun. It was a LONG 8 or so hours down there- we left after work and didn't get there until about 4:30am Saturday. Poor Brent had to camp out on the couch until we got there. We woke up pretty late the next morning- had a late breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon and then went 4 wheeling on some of the property that Brent is developing into a subdivision. I rode with Ryan for a little bit- but the two boys mostly raced each other around- ahhh, those manly men.

We went to Cocoa Beach after that and swam and played in the sand. Brent and Seth buried Jill and then Seth helped me bury Ryan. Lots of fun in the sun! We went to Sunset Waterfront Bar & Grill- my favorite place to eat in that area. Had my gigambous plate of crab and was a happy camper!

Sunday we did the church thing and then ate dinner and then Ryan and I went back and took a walk on the beach at sunset. It was awesome. And romantic I might add, but I'll spare you the gross details and just leave it at that! We went 4 wheeling again yesterday before we had to leave. It was sad to leave because we had so much fun- but we will be making our way down there again for sure! Jill and Brent are the best!!!

I guess it's time to update.

Today is my sister Delinda's birthday. Happy Birthday to her. I would like to take this opportunity to pay her a little tribute. She is one of my hero's and I think she deserves to know how much I love her and admire her. She has been the best roommate I've ever had these last two years. She has supported me and loved me through the hard times and has made me laugh frequently. I don't know what I would've done with out her being here in this far away place- I don't know that I would've made it. She has been such an example of perserverance and hard work and has never given up even when it was so hard she didn't think she could go on. She is intelligent, funny, BEAUTIFUL and one of my best friends. I love her! And I think that everyone in the world should too!

I also wanted to add some other random photos of some fun stuff. Nothing spectacular other than the wonderful and lovely people I am constantly surrounded by. I love my friends. I'm such a lucky girl.

So other than having a ginormous headache today- I had a good day. I woke up earlier than I usualy do on Saturday and went and worked out with Ashley and Andrea. It was a HARD workout, and it's been a while since I've done something like that. But it was good. Much needed. And it finally hit me that I really want to get in control of my body again. Sometimes you have to just have that moment when you realize you're ready to change something in your life. And it's the ONE moment that you know you can. Even if you've been wanting to for so long before. So I'm going to do it. It might take some time... but I will.
To top it off, I got to spend the rest of the day with my boy- and he always makes me the happiest chick in the world.

"The Big Chicken"

Did I tell you I finally got to see the big chicken of which I had only heard about up until a couple weeks ago? It's a freaking miracle... that's really all I can say about it. A landmark it is...

Check this out. It's dang funny- and if you hear me ever say "WHATEVA" this is where I get it from. It's also to make you laugh now that you've read my depressing and crazy comments before this one!
http://www.ifilm.com/player/?ifilmId=2461479&pg=default&skin=default&refsite=7347&mediaSize=default&context=product&launchVal=1&data=null

I had a grown up moment

Tuesday night was weird for me. My friend Jennifer's father died earlier during the weekend and so I decided to show support by going to the viewing. I met another friend there who is going through some life changing experiences, mainly marital problems. So I was standing there thinking to myself; here's one friend to the left of me who is about to end a marraige and another friend to the right of me whose dead father is laying in a casket in front of me. I know I'm not that old- but I can say that my life is remarkably different than it was 4 years ago or even 1 year ago. And at that moment I felt officially like an adult. It was kind of weird. I had to stop thinking about it when I realized also that my parents will eventually die- and that's a terrifying thing to think about. I love them too much to think they'll someday not be in my life.
Sorry for being so sober... it was just one of those moments I needed to share.

So last night I had this crazy thought come to me while I was saying my prayers half awake. My inner dialogue didn't sound like my own voice. I got to thinking and as crazy as it may make me sound (I know there are a few of you that have had this happen to, at least I hope so...) I find that I do that a lot. It could vary anywhere from a British woman to an Asian man. I know, it's strange. I find that it tends to happen more right after I've watched a movie or a TV show that has a person with an accent of any kind on it.
Not sure why I'm publishing this so that possibly many people could see... but I just wanted to see if it happens to anyone else. I also found it quite amusing at the same time! Ha, crazy little me.

"The glove compartment is inaccurately named. And everybody knows it. So I'm proposing a swift orderly change, behind its door there's nothing to keep my fingers warm. And all I find are souvenirs from better times. Before the gleam of your taillights fading east to find yourself a better life."
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE LYRICS "Title and registration"