Alpine Loop

If you have ever lived in Utah during the Fall, you have probably done the Alpine Loop.

This year I did it three times.

Alpine Loop Take One

The first time was on a blind date that Jeff set me up on. As you can see, it was really pretty, but very, very green.

That date was pretty much a disaster. Not a single person on that date was even a little bit interested in their date. My date and Jeff’s date were second cousins and just talked the whole time about their third cousins-next-door-neighbor’s-best-friend’s-dog. Or something like that.  They really had their family history figured out.

As we were laying out the blanket for the picnic, my date decided to try and lay it on these bushed that were about 3 feet tall.  Now the whole place was covered in underbrush and stuff, but there were definitely spots that were not already occupied by bushes.
He explained his actions by saying that he thought the bushed could be padding.  Weird kid.

The best part of the date though was when we were getting dropped off.  We had to drop Jeff’s date somewhere else so she could get to Salt Lake, and as she got out of the car, she said “nice to meet you” to Jeff and I and then thanked Brigham. It was weird, but then my date drove to the Elms and dropped Jeff and I off- not even getting out of the car. It was so weird.

And before you get all skeptical, I promise you that Jeff and I did not act like we were on the date together. Even when they were swapping storied about their first-cousin-once-removed’s-first-grade-teacher, we did not start talking to each other about our mutual friends.

Alpine Loop Take Two

The next week, a group of friends and I went between the conference sessions on Sunday.  As you can see in this picture, we were not the only ones with the idea.  There was practically a traffic jam up there. 

Still a whole lot of green, but some of the leaves were changing!

Since there were so many cars up there, we didn’t get out in time to get home for conference, so we stopped at a park on the way back and turned it on in the car.

I’m not sure how effective that was…

Alpine Loop Take Three

The next Sunday, Jamie, Matt, Kristin, Mei Ling, and I went up. Jamie told us to wear fall colors, and then got mad at us when none of us brought a scarf.  :)

The colors were much more brilliant this week though, even though my camera got a little funky with the colors in Jamie and Matt’s pictures.

Anyway, so it was cool to see the progression of the leaves. I’m glad the loop is so close to Provo!

 

DADD

Have you seen this?  I find it pretty funny.  Not anything my my dad of course, who doesn’t acknowledge that we’re dating anyone until he absolutely has to, but I was amused by it nonetheless.  :)

Jamie’s Birthday!

Jamie’s birthday was AWESOME!  We went to Noodles and Company.

Matt was extremely excited to be there.

I mean, ridiculously excited to be there.

It was delicious, of course.  Especially now that they have one of those soda machines where it has a touch screen. We all got water though, so we didn’t get to fully realize the amazingness of it.

Later, Jamie and I went to her garden and got some CORN!

Look how good that corn looks!

Some more of their sweet crops.

Sunday was the actual birthday dinner, composed of the Hoffmans, Jenny and Henry, and me.

The weather was great, so we had a picnic across the street.  The food was so good!  It was almost completely grown out of Matt and Jamie’s garden and oh man you could tell! (That’s for Matt)

But really, it was super good.

This is Henry, before the chip made him choke and he threw everything up.

Jamie and her husband.  Aren’t they cute?

The corn being eaten!

Then we went inside for presents, which is always extremely exciting. Unfortunately, all my pictures are blurry from this part.  My favorite of her presents was “Letters to Juliet” though.  Good stuff. 

Happy birthday Jamie!  I hope it was great!  The best part was probably Matt’s blog post, but you’re 22 now! 

Time to have a baby…  ;)

One of the better tricks

I love this.  If you need a laugh, watch it.  It’s only like a minute long.  :)

You wish you were so lucky.

Which would you rather have?

Half eaten Altoids?

Lysol wipes?

or half eaten dessert flavored gum?

 

Too bad, because I’m not regifting any of them!

Thanks Jamie and Matt!  :)

Whatta guy

I am currently listening to Truman G. Madsen’s lecture series on the Presidents of the Church while cleaning my atrocious room.  Right before starting the lecture on Brigham Young, Madsen told this story.

“There was, years ago, the practice of holding street meetings, often in Britain, and often at Hyde Park. One night a missionary was holding forth but was continually heckled by a man who kept shouting, “How many wives did Brigham Young have?”

And he ignored him repeatedly until finally it just became unbearable and he stopped and said, “Brother, I don’t know how many wives Brigham Young had, but when I get to heaven I’ll ask him.”

To which the man replied, “Oh, Brigham Young did not go to heaven.”

To which the Elder replied, “Then you ask him.””

True or folk story, it’s pretty funny.  :)

I don’t watch scary movies

And finally, a quote that justifies me.

“You see, I let myself care about characters in movies. I can't help it, it's how my brain is wired. But at some point, filled with tension and fear, I realize: This is a movie. I don't have to be here. In fact, I paid to be here and I'm not enjoying myself, I'm frightened for these people. Only they're not real, nothing's real, I'm getting jerked around just for the sake of scaring me, and so why am I putting up with it?”

_Orson Scott Card