I realize that I have not been as diligent as I should be at writing this blog, and I deeply apologize to all of you that depend on Babbling Blather for your daily dose of pure joy (yes, I'm sure you're out there...somewhere), but it's been Summer. During summer I flip my brain's switch off and try not to think. At all. Alright, obviously it's impossible not to think at all, but I do try to at least dim the switch a bit so I don't wear my thinker out during the school year. After all, I've got at least seven more years of school before I get that Ph.D., and a worn-out noggin would be catastrophic.
But that's all about to change. Why? Because I've been seeing dreadful-yet-happy signs of Autumn. While walking at my cabin last weekend, I noticed the first sign: the crisp smell of aspen leaves changing from bright green to subdued yellows and browns. It wasn't quite the enveloping aroma that comes with raking leaves, but the small whiffs were everywhere. Oh, and don't worry...it snowed Saturday Morning, too. Also, while spending a couple of days at North Fork up Ogden Canyon, I saw a few orange and red leaves. Don't worry, though. Most of the trees are still holding out for September. They have the right attitude.
Of course, seeing the signs of Fall in the mountain's isn't a huge deal because it takes a while for the season-change to creep to the lower elevations. However, as I was searching for a stall in the McKay-Dee Hospital parking lot the other day (no...I'm not sick. I was there for lunch. What? Are you judging me because I went to the hospital for lunch? Shame on you. $4.45 is an amazing price for meat, two sides and a roll!...sorry...random) I looked toward the east and saw the big one: half of the trees on the hospital grounds have begun turning yellow! It actually depressed me for a split second, until I began reliving the amazing Summer I've had.
In May, I traveled to New York for a few days and experienced the sights and sounds of the Big Apple.
In July, I ventured to San Francisco for a night with some buddies. We stayed in a 4-star hotel, walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, ate sourdough bread on the Wharf, experienced my first taste of Chinatown (including a delicious Pork Bao), witnessed the San Francisco Giants' first No-Hitter since 1976, rode a roller coaster on a beach boardwalk, swam in the ocean, got lost and therefore traveled up the beautiful coastline and through a redwood forest, and, most importantly, ate at In-N-Out Burger.
Also in July and into August, my mom, brother, and I took a road trip to Vegas where I experienced casino gaming for the first time in my life, and subsequently lost my shirt (after winning a small jackpot on a Wheel-of-Fortune Machine). I tried pâté for the first time at a Vegas Breakfast Buffet, ate at In-N-Out twice, and, most spectacularly, made it from St. George to Ogden without one bathroom break!
I've also gone to the Cabin many times, read some great books, spent a night in three 4-star hotels, discovered Priceline.com and all of its goodness, started an internship which will continue through the fall semester, watched my first Blu-Ray movie, learned more Photoshop and photography tips and tricks, played soccer in a downpour, scored a goal or two in a soccer game (which is more than I ever did while playing in elementary school), flown on six planes, visited six states (including layovers), and even found time for a couple of naps. I think that explains why I haven't been writing all that much.
So, as you can see, I've had an adventurous Summer, and I'm semi-sad for it to end, but I've made memories that will last a lifetime. In fact, my break from school isn't even coming to an end because of my internship (I'm not starting school again until January). I'm having even more adventures this fall including traveling throughout Utah and visiting places I've never seen, recruiting at dozens of High Schools for the University I love, visiting two states I've never been to (Oklahoma and Texas), going to Jackson Hole and many other parts of Western Wyoming, spending about six weeks on the road for work, and who knows what else! It looks like Fall is going to turn into an even bigger adventure than Summer! But hopefully I'll have more time to write.
