Across Lakes and Over Oceans

Hello and aloha! I am here in Hawaii, preparing myself for an exciting year of school, here at BYU-Hawaii! I haven't written in a bit and I have adventures to tell!

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Shasta with family and a couple of friends on a houseboat vacation trip. It was part of my graduation celebration and it was basically my one last shindig before college as well as my best friend's. We drove all day on Friday in three separate cars, boat and jet skis in tow. It was the normal kind of road trip: there were slumbering people, many stops for the bathroom and complaints about needing food at appropriate mealtimes. That night, we slept in a hotel room in Redding, California.

The next morning, we packed up our things and headed to the mega grocery store of Winco's for our week's food supply. There, we happily met with my two remaining siblings for the trip and embarked on one of the most epic grocery trips ever. Well, that is if you don't count all the trips made for Girl's Camp food this last summer. Now, that is an epic collection of food. Anyhow, we snatched at least three carts, or maybe four, and rapidly went through our lengthy list of items and necessities. It was simple enough but...how do we get it safely to the boat? No problem! Just shove some of the fridge items here...and...hm...I don't know how we did it, but we got that food together and we set off on the next stage of boat preparation.

Up the winding road along the coasts of Shasta lake, we finally drove into the marina, sighing as we took in the heat of the sun and...the long wait to get your vehicle to an area to unload everything to your rented boat. Let's just say that when we got on the boat, we were ecstatic. Of course, my best friend and I claimed the best room! Windows on almost all walls and it was basically our own private place...just wonderful. The only flaw was that the windows weren't sealed from water all the way, so when kids or, ahem, brothers decided to throw a bucket of water at our windows, water splashed in and got some stuff wet! Still, it was a great place!

Our week was an amazing experience. We ate such great food as we cycled through our turns for dinner and we even witnessed some actual pizza dough tossing! I seriously must have gained weight on that trip because it was all so delicious! But, by far the most exciting thing that happened all week was the extreme battle tubing tournament. The director, my brother, was very serious about it and it was kind of hilarious to watch him setting up all the matches and making sure we captured every one of them. During the tournament, we had several moves that we used against our opponents. They are as thus:

*Shake and bake-grabbing the handle of the opposite tube and trying to shake it violently.
*Clam Shell-lifting your own tube and somehow managing to place it over your opponents.
*Vice Grip-pushing down one side of the opponent's tube with both your fist and foot.
*Pogo Stick-push down on one side of your opponent's tube...then watch it flip.
*The Kick-well, it's just kicking.

Most of these didn't work, but it was still fun to shout, "Oh, he's using the Clam Shell!" At one point, I flew up in the air about three feet--which is some serious air--and then five feet or so another time. It was cool while you're in the air, having a similar feeling to "Weeee! I'm flying!" Then you come back down and you're saying, "oh snap" in your head and finally, "OUCH" as you hit the water again. You feel a bit like a rag doll flopping back down to the ground. When the tournament finally ended, my oldest brother was in first place and my second oldest brother came in second. My best friend was third and I was in fourth...but I got first for most air!

My brothers and one of their friends also got together to make an action movie. Again, they didn't skimp or go cheap with anything. They went all out. The chosen stars, my second oldest brother and his friend, climbed up the side of the boat as part of this movie; my best friend and I were the bad guys, getting shot and dying in various creative ways; and we even had a shootout scene with water guns. Of course, the rest of the family were supposed to shoot the water guns at the main characters as they swam towards the boat and we were told to miss. Apparently, we are horrible shots because we kept hitting them in the face and such and my brother replies, "wow! These guys are really bad at missing!" As I was shot as a bad guy, I had to fall in such a way that I would slide down the slide. I felt a bit like a Sweeney Todd victim as I slid right into the water! My best friend had to fall backwards into the hot tub and stay there as the characters continued their espionage moves. It was very intense, it'll be interesting to see it all together.

Another highlight of the trip would be the family water fight. The guys were in charge of it and they made a terrible mistake. They chose to have the water and the shore as their domain while the women, children and my father had the boat. Keep in mind that the boat has a hose, a hot tub full of water, a kiddy pool full of water and a large bucket. Both teams had water balloons and some water guns, but that meant nothing. While they swam helplessly in the water, trying to squirt up to the top of the boat, my dad doused them in bucketfuls of water until finally they climbed aboard our ski boat and fled. They tried to come back and get us again, but that didn't really work out and they were forced to surrender. EPIC FAIL!

At night we would play board games and eat various junk foods. We had some seriously funny times, especially with the game Balderdash. The game overall took a long time and it was difficult for people to win, but we had some great laughs and we still chuckle about the phrase, "Wild Women of Wongo." Outburst was by far the favorite, as we played it almost every night, and it was refreshing to play an Outburst game that wasn't made in the 80s! We actually knew some things!

Overall, the houseboat trip was a blast and what a party!

When I returned home, I was met with all sorts of requests for my attention! Everybody wanted to hang out before I left! I seriously sprouted a social life just before I went to college. It was great to see everybody and spend some time with them; I'm going to miss them! One weekend, an old friend of mine that I had known in the third grade told me, "wear something casual, I'm picking you up at five o' clock." So, obediently, I did so and I was met with the wonderful surprise of...seeing other people from grade school! I was part of a program in elementary school called EXCEL and our class was pretty close. We were together for third and fourth grade, then I moved towards the end of fourth grade and I hadn't seen anybody from then for years! To my surprise, one of my closest pals from the good days came to this party and I got to see him again! Promptly, we hung out the next week on his day off, going to a park where you could see the gorgeousness of the city. It was fantastic to catch up and we discovered we were still the same! We meshed just as well as we did in grade school and we were still having the best of times together. So, we hung out the next week!

The following week we went just about anywhere we could. We went along trails and sat out in the rain; we even traveled to a swimming hole in my hometown called the Potholes. We took off our shoes and socks and we walked around in the shallow parts of the river, but I am too clumsy for that to be safe! I slipped and somehow scraped my toes on a rock! Ouchies! Then I was bleeding and I was just sitting there staring at it...so he says to me, he says, "Laura, put your foot in the water." I was like, "Oh! Yeah...right..." I suppose I don't really think about things sometimes. After that, we pranced about Vancouver like it was our playground. Some of the best fun I've ever had!

My summer was wrapped up in some seriously good times and I'm so glad that my last moments at home were happy and full ones. But, I already can't wait for Christmas break to come!

When I left for Hawaii, I didn't feel nervous or anything, but perhaps that's all just delayed. My apartment wasn't quite ready for my arrival, so I had the chance to stay with my parents for a couple of days while they helped through some orientation things and college preparations. I had to get my TB shot and my ID, then I had to go through some more hoops for employment and other school things. I can't wait until everything's done and settled! But, by then I'll be starting school and I just don't know how that'll be... It's weird to have people stop texting me by eight in the evening, as I'm used to texting until eleven or so. Time is just at a different level here I suppose! I'm sure I'll get used to it sure enough. Time to step into a new stage of life. College, here I come!

The Adventures of a Random Girl....

Wow, what an incredible summer! I spent time with a particular visitor to my lovely town and I went on a wonderful date with said visitor. Hey, what a brave guy for taking a girl out on a city he's not familiar with; kudos and I feel super, hecka, mega special! I'm sure his extended family will get a kick outta that...who just happen to be friends of mine... Still, the week he visited was great; we had a great day out on the water, boating and jet skiing happily all the day long! Mostly, anyway...this leads me into an epic tale.

My best friend and I had been commissioned to take the jet skis back to the dock, where my father would be waiting with the trailer. Easy enough, right? We would ride for maybe an hour to the dock, laughing and going slow through the marinas. No. Life had a different experience for us. About fifteen minutes from the dock, my best friend's jet ski runs out of gas. Oh no! It was a minor setback; we used a rope and tied hers to mine and went on our way again. I towed her along and the dock was only a few minutes away, automatically giving me a mix of being thrilled and worried at the same time. Well...we didn't make it. Mine ran out of gas and we found ourselves floating down the river...alone, no one to help us, and I was frightened. Yes, I was extremely frightened. How long until they would look for us? Where would we be? Could they even find us? I expended all my options: towing, pulling, swimming. The river was too strong and I was about to have a nervous breakdown. Thanks to my best friend in the whole world, she kept a level head. Thank you! She calmed me down even though I was freaking out, getting cold and shivery from dehydration and river water (I'm probably making this more dramatic than it really was), and she offered up an idea that I don't think entered my mind.

"Let's grab onto a dock!" she suggested and I looked at the slimy, green dock logs and cringed. But, hey, surviving and grabbing onto a nasty dock or...floating down a river until somebody helps or finds you. I think I'll take survival. Kaitlin grabbed on first and held onto the jet skis while I, being the less athletic one, struggled to climb on the slippery wood. Again, this may be more epic than it really was, but I think we should look at everything with an epic eye; it makes life exciting! Anyway, I held the jet skis while she searched for somebody with a phone and we stumbled upon some good luck! We used a nice man's phone and called my parents and they came after a half an hour while the jet skis bobbed violently against the dock and filled up the skis with a little gas. Miraculously, we were on our way and safe. I am so thankful that turned out the way it did! I hope that wonderful man is getting some great blessings poured out to him for his niceness.

After we got home--weary, sunburned and hungry--we showered and head out to Gustav's for a dinner with just the two of us. It was nice to spend some quality time together after that tiring experience. After I swallowed a couple glasses of water, we mention how thirsty we were to the waiter, having gone through some crazy stuff that day. He asked us about it and listened patiently as we told our tale. How nice! He was a great waiter, let me tell ya. Super attentive and friendly. That day was an adventure!

The next week I left for Girl's Camp, eager to begin my task of an assistant cook. We packed and unpacked and went back and forth between my house and the camp. When the week began, we were a little stressed, not knowing how the cooking would go over, but...it went well! We were met with praise and 'thank you's. The cooks laughed together and I did a little dancing as I prepared the food...

One night, I was charged by the Stake Leaders to put a rubber, creepy crawly wannabe in a fellow cooks bed. Being thorough in my duty, I put it at the foot of her bed for maximum effect. Mwa ha ha...She screamed, she jumped and it was awesome! I laughed so hard! Well, it could be because I was so, so, so tired, but I laughed nevertheless.

Another day, I was in charge of making a five tiered cake by 9:00pm. I frosted the layers and my mom helped me put them together and then I set out for decoration. It was hot and the icing was getting a little...melty. Girls were watching, making me sort of nervous, but I was eager to entertain... One girl kept eating the icing and frustrating me. But! I kept going, even after the flowers fell off and rolled down the cake, ruining the work i had done! I was mad, I was disappointed, I was about to drive a rusty cleaver right through that thing. No joke, there was a rusty cleaver in one of the kitchen drawers. But, after some very...ahem...motivating encouragement from my mother, I finished the darn thing.


The girls came filing in and the cake was now fragile. With the frosting getting a little melty and the table having the sturdiness of jello, I feared for the cake's life! Would it slide onto the floor? Or make it long enough to be devoured? Fortunately, my qualms were deemed worthless and a grin was plastered onto my face. We sang "Happy Birthday" to all the people who were celebrating their birthdays that week and my mom and I picked up some knives and cut that cake to pieces...literally. I had a cake flavor for everybody: chocolate, white, lemon and carrot cake. I made the frosting myself and, yay for me, everybody thought it was very yummy! The cake shrank as we handed out slices rapidly and I realized how silly I was for getting angry when it didn't matter in the end. Everything worked out so beautifully! It was a little sad to see all that hard work eaten by a pack of hungry teenage girls...

Still, the week was fun, though energy draining. I had a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. What a fantastic couple of weeks! But, my favorite part had to be getting a box of Hot Tamales delivered to me with a sweet poem from a very special person. I can honestly say that is one of the sweetest things that's ever happened to me!

My Summer so Far

Look! My first post. Aren't you proud? :)

It's been an amazing summer where I've met some admirable people and spent time with other awesome beings. :D I kicked it all off with a high school graduation and I also graduated from the community college with my Associate's Degree! I was so proud of myself as I stood up on that stage...shaking random people's hands. From there, I frolicked into the welcoming arms of a free, happy summer. Maybe not free, since I have things to do. But fun, most definitely.

In the early days of my summer, I was able to participate in a Dance Festival put together by my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was hot, it was tiring...but it was fun. Imagine 2,300 teens preforming for an audience; it was an experience to share. I learned that the older you get, the faster you change in the dressing rooms. I also noted that laughing makes everything better and that a snatch-and-grab pizza system doesn't entirely work. My orange dress was a sight to see and I suddenly love spandex shorts after a certain gust of wind during my dancing. What a show, what an experience!

Without much of moment to collect myself, I left my cozy home to the grasps of Utah. It was a long road trip and I wasn't exactly certain what would result in my ventures...but I discovered that those long hours were incredibly worth every experience I had in that dry state.

I went to a church camp with my best friend, taking a deep breath and entering onto the college campus where it took place. I didn't know if this one would be better than last year's or the two years before that. I was just an out-of-state girl, looking for some memories to put in my memory's storybook. I spent that week in a great company of teens, where I felt welcome and could happily let out a giggle or two. Sure, I felt out of style, since my wardrobe was completely different from everyone's around me, but I had some good times and I used some precious time hanging out with my precious best friend. One very important lesson I learned was this: dances outside don't really work...when it's light outside. But, the greatest part of this camp--it's always been my favorite thing at EFY--is that the boys escort the ladies. It is extremely charming and I advise all men to do so, because it's gentleman-like and the ladies dig it...maybe. At least, I do! I said a tearful goodbye to our company and hopped into my best friend's family van to move on to other epic adventures.

I remember being offered brownies and cookies for breakfast as soon as I slid into the seat and put my seat belt on. I was a little tired from my week...but I was beyond ready for the next step in my vacation: Lagoon. Lagoon is an amusement park in Utah and I was eager to experience it's happy innards. It called out to me with a sweet, luring voice...and I followed inside. I was immediately dragged around by my best friend's family, although I didn't protest since they knew all the best roller coasters and I was happy to follow. I was tossed up and down, side to side, I coasted down a vertical track and I heard support poles whizzing by my head. I laughed and I grinned and I quickly went to the next ride. Then I met one thing I didn't quite anticipate: water rides. Oh no! I wasn't ready for those! But I went anyway and chuckled as I walked around in wet clothes and teased my drenched companions with a dazzling grin. I was alright until I went on one of the more...nauseating rides. After that, I never felt quite right. I left the place dehydrated, a little nauseous but quite satisfied.

My fun didn't dwindle as I jumped into my last three days in Utah. With the encouragement of my best friend's cousin, I accomplished back flipping on a trampoline! Most of his "encouragement" consisted of "just do a back flip already." Hey, I guess it worked! By the end of the three days, I had experienced amazing ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen, a crazy and dangerous firework show and riding a dirt bike. I went back home with a smile and a new friend.

Perhaps you're expecting me to go back home only to swim with a school of salmon and make more friends. That would be both frightening and awesome, but no, I didn't. Instead, I spent time with some of my old friends. Not to say they're elderly, just well-known to me. We took advantage of our time, our friendship and my family's ownership of a ski boat. We went...water tubing. Battle water tubing, to be exact. It was epic. I even made a handy movie to portray the awesomeness.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to next week with excitement. My new friend from Utah, who happens to be my best friend's cousin, is coming to visit! Warning: good times ahead! No more sitting around the house and watching the wall do...nothing. I'm itching to collect more memories and add them to that pop-up book in my brain.

I love this summer! More is ahead and I can't wait. I'm sure I'll tell you all about it anyway.