Yellowstone: Back in the Saddle

Back in West Yellowstone for my third summer. It love it here more each time.

Grant, Melissa, Melissa, and I spent an evening in the park.

This is Grant. He is a local.

Enjoying the view from Canyon.

Best part of this photo- Melissa and Melissa prancing in the background.

Still waiting for the snow to melt up in these parts.

Yellowstone Lake.

Laughter.

Getting some ice cream from the Old Faithful Inn. Cheers.

This was a good semester.

It snowed a lot. I like the snow. Isn't it pretty?

I cooked more of my mother's recipes.

Did I ever walk up this sucker? Every day.

Spring Break in Mexico. Huzzah.

The Blue Cottage. My humble abode for the semester. Moving out tomorrow.

School. Friends. Good grades (hopefully).

Japan relief efforts.

Good drives, good conversations, good company.

New eats. New thoughts. I love diners.

Reuniting with Diana (galpal from Europa).

The semester flew. FLEW. "Busy busy."

Mormon convention with cousin Ty.

Worst of the worst this semester: my bedroom's buzzing fluorescent light. Ick.

My best friend in the whole world weds her high school sweetheart, Braden.

Spring. Finally. Enjoyed the outdoors to their fullest this week.

Breakfast at the Original Pancake house with the female friendlies.

Instructing Nattles on how to reunite with I-15.

Mother's Doing a Giveaway!

So as I'm sure most of you are aware, I have a mother. Aka Si. Aka Abountifulkitchen. She runs a fabulous site full of recipes, photos, etc. And in honor of Mother's Day she's doing a fabulous giveaway.

All you need to do:
Visit her website- abountifulkitchen.com
Leave a comment on her most recent post-
[What you love about your mom or being a mom.]
"Followers" can submit two entries.
Winner announced Wednesday. That's tomorrow.
Cheers.

She's giving away this cookbook.

And these chocolates (Mrs. Cavanaugh's- yum-oh)

And some cute cloth napkins.

BREAKING NEWS

"Osama bin Laden is dead, CNN's John King reported Sunday night, citing sources. President Barack Obama is to address the nation momentarily regarding bin Laden's death." . . . Unbelievable.

I found a blog post that broke my heart.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Letters Between Lovers
(The Things We Leave Unsaid)
By Ashley Shaw

Danny,

It is sunny here,

But not as warm as expected.

Dusty yellow rays bounce off

The shiny red paint

On my car,

But I still shiver.

I never realized how

Cold it could be

In Florida

-Leslie

Leslie,

I, too, am cold.

But for a different reason.

I miss you.

I wish you would come home.

I can still hear your tentative footsteps

Walking through our bedroom.

It still smells like gardenia,

Even though all of the flowers

Have died.

It is brisk here.

Love,

-Danny

Danny,

Yes, I am aware of your brisk temperatures.

Like the cold tone of your letter.

I made it to the beach today

And let my toes drift lazily

Against the water's edge.

I wore my black bikini.

The one we picked out together

In one of those little stores on the

Jersey boardwalk.

I caught men staring at my

Rounded bottom.

I don't know why I'm telling you this.

I chased the seagulls

Into the foaming surf.

It's so beautiful here.

But I still long for home.

I hope you are keeping occupied.

-Leslie

Leslie,

I am keeping busy.

To distract myself from

Thoughts of your hair

And toes and skin and shoulders

And scent.

I feel your ghost in each

Breath I take, and

I keep thinking I see you

Out of the corner of my eye,

Your lips stretched into a smile.

It was so rare to see you smile

During the past few months.

I wish you were here.

Yes, I'm very busy.

-Danny

Danny,

I'm having my lawyer send up the papers.

Please sign them at your earliest convenience.

Why couldn't you just talk to me?

We could have resolved this.

I'm sorry it worked out this way.

Why didn't you just

Love me?

-Leslie

Leslie,

The papers are signed.

I'm sorry.

I wish I could have fixed this,

But I know

I could never be what you need.

I wish I could tell you

How much I love you,

How much I long for you,

How late I stay awake each night

Just thinking of your eyes,

But some things are

Better left

Unsaid.

-Danny

- - -

Post found via StumbleUpon at Daily Love.

Add this song to your newest playlist.

 

"Brackett Wi"

Bon Iver

An easy swing had its time shouldered
Slow bending axe
Now it's a photo framed
The swing hasn't had it

And here we are rebuilding roads
Right by roosting towns
It's just like the love
The one that's never been enough

So I'm counting on your fingers
'Cause you've reattached the twitch
And if you want opinion
I will die along the ditches

And every summer is a hot token
To the cold, cold take of lust
And every autumn singes
With the business of sadness

Friend had it wrong they see
Honey let it burn
And the curve in the county
Is never served

So I'm counting on your fingers
'Cause you've reattached the twitch
And if you want opinion
I will die along the ditches

I post too many photos.

And it's been a while since I've just written.

LATELY
-An overall consumption of peanut butter concoctions and hard boiled eggs.
-A desire to be completely in or completely out of a relationship. I just can't stand the millions of middle phases. Shades of grey (you know). Date me or not, hate me or love me. I'd rather be doing homework than talking or text-messaging if I know you aren't into this (me). I am not one to waste my time, feelings, or opportunities. Alright?
-Another letter from my brother in the MTC. He is doing great.
-A new favorite film: Source Code. Suspenseful, emotional, catchy.
-Zumba once or twice a week.
-Five new ideas on how to leave this country and where to go from there.

TODAY
-A moment of relief as a peer offered me her extra scan-tron when I realized I had forgotten to purchase my own on a test day. Eek.
-One of the best two-hour naps I have enjoyed in a while.
-Dinner in the front seat of my car. This, for some reason, is something I really enjoy.
-A pep talk from one of my professors.
-An opportunity to hold a human heart, observe, and memorize.
-A very messy bedroom. Are you surprised? No.

IDEALLY
-Brooke Shoko, College graduate. I wish to be a working woman.
-A bungalow with a nice porch. I will own the residence and have one or two room mates. It will have a nice lawn, porch chairs, and a vegetable garden. I will pay the neighbor boy down the street to mow the lawn and scoop the dog waiste (refer to next bullet). My dad avoided teaching me how to mow the lawn growing up. It was a work opportunity he wanted to reserve for my brothers.
-Own a dog. A bigger dog. Maybe a Lab. Some dog that will be my best friend, go on walks with me, chill with me in the kitchen, and be there when I get home from work. I will, by the way, have the coolest job someday. I will make a reasonable living and enjoy being independent. 

REALISTICALLY
-My social life, happiness, and complexion have suffered from scholastic stressors.
-I should be sleeping. Resting my brain, emotions, and spirit. I couldn't fall asleep and so after surfing the internet, attempting to watch GLEE for the first time (which lasted five minutes), and logging onto Skype, I decided to blog.
-Realistically I should have died in three car accidents by now and be nearing the end of my Junior year in college. I am still alive. I am also completing the end of my Sophomore year. Let the good times roll.


BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS
-Life is good.
-I have enjoyed the little things.
-This blog post was effective in that I most likely roll to one side and be out within seconds.
-Thank you.