Friday I'm in Love

Hello hello!

What a great weekend.  It was surprisingly relaxing.  Jeremy and I drove to Logan for the weekend.  It seems like the weekends we travel, while fun, are kinda stressful.  But this weekend wasn't.  Maybe its because I was going home as opposed to somewhere else.  Granted Friday wasn't super relaxing for Jeremy. :-)  The purpose in going up this weekend was so he could talk to my Dad.  Apparently my Daddy is kinda intimidating... especially when a certain boyfriend is asking for permission to marry his oldest daughter.  Poor Jeremy about gave himself a ulcer.  He was ok until we got out of the canyon, then he started to rub a hole in my thumb.  We had to stop by Walmart to pick up some batteries.  We went through the whole walmart, passing two battery stations.  Then we finally got some batteries, and started to get in line.  Then Jeremy was like, I need some chap-stick.  So we got some chap-stick.  Then he was like I need some gum.  So we go get gum, of course it had to be extra polar ice, which required looking in the different check stands until we found it.  Then as we were getting in line he decided the chocolate milk looked good.  So we grabbed that.  By the time we got in the car he had drank most of it.  Twenty minutes later it was making his stomach already jmore upset than it was.  I've heard of girls comfort shopping, but watching Jeremy may have been the first time I've seen a guy comfort shop.  I love you anyways Jeremy.  Its funny now though.

We finally made it to the fire station so he could talk to Daddy.  Daddy was washing his truck so we helped with that.  Then Jeremy's dad called to give him a hard time. That wasn't very nice :)  After a while we went in the firestation and I gave Jeremy the grand tour of the station.  Mainly to kill time while my mom came up.  Then the grand moment.  Jeremy survived talking to my dad.  He has to learn the Young Women's theme, but thats ok.  Its not too hard.  I'll practice with him.  As for the next step, a ring...soon.  Very soon.  By thanksgiving likely.  Its up to him, I told him he can propose whenever, I just want an official proposal.

Friday night we went to Iron Gate Grill.  It was actually pretty good.  I was surprised.  My dad gave me a gift-card ages ago.  He didn't know how much was on it, so we checked.  $30!  Nice.  It paid for our meal we just had to pay tip and like two dollars.  Free dinner yea!  I got the chicken cordon blue.  Yummy stuff.  Then we went to a Mindy Gledhill concert around the corner.  Way fun!  I've heard of her and listened to some of her songs, but never officially became a fan.  Her new CD Anchor was alot of fun to listen to.  Its very bubbly and upbeat.  She also performed a song called "Friday I'm in Love".   Ok this is totally Jeremy and I's theme song.  We LIVE for Fridays now and the start of the weekend.  Its a random song she sang, its not on her CD or anything.  Heartbreak.  I hope she uses this song on her next album.



Saturday was really nice.  I slept in until 8:30 which was nice.  I went up and helped my grandma a little bit with breakfast. I finally decided at 9:30 it was time for Jeremy to get up.  Apparently he thought it was only 8...the clock on the wall doesn't work and he was thinking about 8:30 he'd get...only it never reached it.  I laughed...alot.  Breakfast was good.  I love my grandma's pancakes.  She makes them from scratch, no bisquick for her.  I have such a hard time understanding why bisquick is so much easier.  Grandma just mixed some oil milk and flour and it was just as good.  I need to get her recipe.  After stopping at my house for a little bit we went to Dan and Stephanie's house.  It was sooo good to see them. I've really missed them.  We had fun playing aggravation.  Jeremy kick all of our butts.  I also introduced Jeremy to Casper's.  Yummy ice cream.  I can't say its the best ever, but it is good.  Also the atmosphere is fun, a little ice cream shop in Lewiston. I love Cache Valley.  I don't know if I'd want to live in Logan or even Smithfield, but Richmond or Lewiston...I think I'd like that. But wherever we end up I'll love it.  Later that night we went to my house where poor Jeremy had to survive the Downs Family Mario Cart.  He didnt' come in last everytime...which is quite the accomplishment.  I don't think they've really played since I left, I was able to hold my own and I was rusty.

He also got to meet some of my uncles, Uncle Ron and Kelly.  Kelly stopped by after the Aggie game, and as always was a hoot.  He's got quite the personality.  If nothing else Jeremy cannot say he wasn't warned about joining the nutty family.  He sure got a taste of it Saturday night.

Sunday was nice, I took him to the singles ward and introduced him to a few people.  It was actually kind of fun to show him off.  Lol we even got some marriage comments. What fun!  I love the branch...thats now a ward.  I got to see it grow and change so much.  I'm glad I could be such a part of that.  The drive home was nice as well.  I was surprised at how relaxing the weekend was.  Usually when we travel its kinda stressful, but this one wasn't.  It was nice...for a change.  Next weekend will be interesting.  We are going down to his family to cut down a tree or something.  I'll just show up...as usual.

Things are going good overall.  There's opposition of course, things aren't going perfectly, and it seems to intensify the better things go.  But I know holding on will help and things will get better.  If things aren't going crazy it means something isn't right.  Keep telling myself that...

Ward temple night tonight! I'm excited.  And Jeremy is coming back! Yahoo.  Last week he was gone from Sunday night to Thursday afternoon.  I was so lonely!  I'm glad its only two days time.  So I'd better finish getting ready!

      

Trax Travels

So for kicks and variety, I thought I'd post my english paper on here.  I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be done with the boring report part of English 2010.  This next part is supposed to be more creative and personal.  Something I think I will do better with.  If nothing else its easier for me to BS my way through.  Happy Readings.

Trax Travels

                The doors to the train slide open.  A gust of air brushes against my face, the smell of oil from the train and of too many bodies in an enclosed space accompany it.  Normally white, today the car has a blackish-grey covering, a modern techy design with white words bolding declaring “10 Years and counting…. 110 million riders to date!”  I climb up the silver stairs with yellow striping on the ends, automatically grasping the silvery bar meant to keep riders from falling.  I try not to think of how many hands have also grasped that bar, and where those hands might have been.  A worn blue faded seat beckons to me, I am grateful there is a seat, and quickly move towards it, sliding next to the window. Sometimes there isn’t one and I am forced to stand holding on to the silver bar, trying to keep my balance.   Sitting down on a seat is much more comfortable.  I glance out the window, but only for a moment.  The scenery no longer interests me.  The buildings, streets and trees change only slightly, the train flies by too fast for the eye to notice the changes.  Only the construction sites seem to change much. 

I notice a smell of cigarette on a coat never washed and alcohol assaulting my nose. It draws my attention from the window to the guy sitting across from me.  His blonde-grey hair is entwined in knots blending in with a scraggly ill-kept beard.  He wears a dark green coat that has various stains on it, mostly dark and wet.  A frayed tear is on the right sleeve revealing a worn red flannel shirt.  His brown eyes stare out the window, but are distant as if he’s looking at something that isn’t outside.  He is oblivious to his surroundings, including me staring at him.  One hand is placed under his chin, his elbow leaning against the narrow ledge of the window, the other hand curled up in his lap.  His jeans, once a dark blue are now faded with stains similar to the ones on his coat, are too short for him.  Grey socks stick out of solid brown shoes, they are ragged and frayed and in want of a washing machine. 

I feel myself being pushed forward, this distracts me from staring at the guy in front of me. The cars grind and clang to a stop.  “Millcreek thirty-three hundred south” the computer voice tells me. I glance at a speaker over my head.  The voice irritates me, loud and monotone, I wish I could get her to shut up. “Next station:  Meadowbrook, thirty-nine hundred south. Passengers must purchase ticket before boarding.”  Sighing, I decide to ignore the voice and glance around again.  My favorite part of riding trax is to “people watch”.  Rarely do I see the same people twice.  The usual varieties of people fill the train.  Businessmen with their suit jackets and shiny shoes, open briefcases revealing a slew of important looking papers , picking one to read.  Teenagers sit and gossip about who is going out with whom and debate about which twilight character is hotter.  A mother tries to keep her toddler from grabbing the purse of the women across from her.  Students study textbooks or listen to their ipods, heads nodding to the beat.

Kitty-Corner from me is a pale, skinny girl.  She has long brown hair and is engrossed in a book.  I tilt my head as I glance at her.  She reminds me of myself, eight years ago.  I too would have been reading a romance novel set in the 1800s, sitting alone on a train.  A smile drifts across my face as I notice our similarities.  Her hair, though long and pretty, is kept free from any sort of trend or style.  Her face, clear from any sort of blemish, is also make-up free.  Her clothes are clean, but slightly out of style. I smile as she gets off at the next stop, silently wishing her luck in life.  I hope she learns to love real life instead of books sooner than I did. I’m lost in the memory of the girl I used to be.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEPBEEP-BEEEEEP.  The doors close with a thud and clank. Once again I am pushed back as the train speeds up to its next stop.  I shift in my seat, the blue benches aren’t comfortable.  They have probably been sat on too many times.  As I glance at the train, I am mildly surprised that there is no sign of vandalism or abuse.  It is relatively clean, it reflects Salt Lake City, clean to the public eye. However, it’s the back streets that you find the hidden trash.  Perhaps Trax is the same way; in the storage shed are the cars that get vandalized.  The scenery passes by me as I glance out the window again.  I’m almost to Sandy, I can tell because the buildings of businesses and stores have given way to homes.  I can see over the wall into people’s backyard.  Do the owners ever think of the fact that people on the train can see into their back yards? Or do they no longer care? The train has faded into the background of their lives, another part of everyday life.

“Sandy Civic Center, one hundredth south.”  The annoying female voice interrupts my musings. I stand up.  I almost chant with the lady “The end of the line, as far as we go.”    When I start mimicking the female voice, maybe it’s a sign I ride Trax too much.  My fingers push the bright yellow button on the silver railing, again I cringe as I think of the many people that have touched the button.  The doors swish open, then a clank as they hit the sides of the car.  I step down the silver and yellow stairs, automatically grabbing the silver railing again. Glancing at the train I once again read the words “110 million riders.”