Last night I met up for a drink with an old friend that I hadn’t seen or heard from in 2 1/2 years. I think he moved to another planet or something. It was funny because even though so much time had passed, we still remembered how good of friends we used to be. The part that wasn’t funny, in fact quite the opposite, was recounting what has gone on in my life over the past 2 1/2 years.

At first I had no intention of sharing any part of my sob story with my long lost friend, but warm kind eyes and an attentive caring listening ear allowed me to let my guard down enough to talk about things that only my closest friends and family know. I shook a little telling parts of my story, I hope he didn’t notice, but at the end of it all when I knew no more details were required, my friend looked me in the eyes and said, “I am so sorry. I wish I could have been there for you.”

Without hesitation I responded, “I don’t. You wouldn’t have even recognized me back then, I was a shell of who I am today. You couldn’t have been there for me – I wouldn’t have let you in. You couldn’t have saved me – I had to save myself. I am the strong healthy happy independent woman that I am today because I learned how to be alone. Accepting that I am OK on my own, making myself happy, those were challenges that I had to overcome on my own. I’m grateful that we are becoming friends again today because I am better now than I have ever been.”

2008 has been a fabulous year for me. I traveled a lot with friends and even made it outside of the country for the first time. I started back to school after a 10 year hiatus and have generally remained busy happy and productive. In fact, I even paid off my car this year! That’s right, I OWN my car for the first time in my life! All things considered, my life is pretty damn good.

Here’s to an even better 2009!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Emotions get the best of me, Just me, Lessons Learned

This was my first experience snowshoeing, but certainly will not be my last. I was a little worried that I would not be able to keep up with the group as school and the holidays have prohibited me from working out as much as I used to. OK, so prohibited may be the wrong word, but they have served as a convenient excuse anyway. I am happy to report that I did great. I kept up with the group, I didn’t pass out or keel over. I did however have a goofy grin on my face the entire time. I couldn’t help it, it just felt SO GOOD to be back out in nature, I had an endorphin high that lasted all day long.

We snowshoed The Pioneer Trail up East Canyon Road at the Little Dell Reservoir. This is actually the first hike I blogged about last may. I tried to get pictures of the same spots because I am a giant nerd like that.

After hiking I called up Karina the Russian to tell her all about out. I was bouncing off the walls explaining it to her. I told her that she had to come with me next time because it was so beautiful, the air was so clean and fresh, it felt so great to be out in nature, it was a killer workout but low impact cause it didn’t hurt my knees at all and it was just so amazing!
She laughed at me and told me I sounded like I was glowing and that she hadn’t heard me this excited since I got an unexpected text message on Christmas from a crush, good ol Mr. New York. I laughed and had to agree except the butterflies that this snowshoeing outing gave me were actually created by me, not by a man. So pretty much that makes snowshoeing fucking rule in my book!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Hiking

My favorite part of throwing Christmas parties is getting to spent time with friends. My second favorite part of throwing Christmas parties, is leftovers. I had so much food and booze left over from my Tacky Christmas Party that I invited a few friends over the following night to prevent me from eating a whole plate of 7 layer dip by myself.
My small leftover party ended up being a lot of fun. Midway through the night, we decided to change the theme of this party into a pajama party. Which basically means take your bra off and get comfortable. I am proud to report that I have the best time for removing my bra out from under my clothes. Like, 5 seconds flat! Freedom!

I’m not quite sure why we decided my tree needed more decorations, but I think stiletto heels (or “hills” as Karina calls them) and bras made a nice addition.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have the “breastest” one ever!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Holidays, Loved One(s)

I am “officially” in a relationship with my BFF Karina the Russian. I suppose it was only a matter of time. I can’t even tell you how many times we have been asked if we are “more than friends.” Well now, thanks to the postal service, there is proof that we are in fact “more than friends.”

Our first piece of mail together! To my family Christmas party no less! I was worried they wouldn’t accept my new relationship… I am so happy to see them embracing it with open arms! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that even though we are “officially” in a relationship, we still are not lesbians. That’s probably helping with the whole acceptance part. Honestly I think it would be great if we were lesbians, we already make such a cute couple and all. But, sadly, we are both big of fans of the penis so until the penis fairy comes around we are content to have our non-lesbian, best friends relationship.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Holidays, K to the R stories

This year I let Christmas take over my tiny 1 bedroom apartment. Instantly I started regretting getting so festive once I realized that the only people who would be seeing my festive bachelorette pad, would be me and my cat. My simple remedy?
Throw a party.
Nothing big, just a few of my closest girlfriends. My place is tiny, any more than 8 – 10 would have been uncomfortable anyway. I chose a theme, which was inspired by my Mother.

Behold the tacky Christmas sweaters in all their glory!




Of course to thank my mother for letting us borrow a few of her sweaters, my sister and I took this picture which we printed out and framed for her.

I’m pretty sure my Mom thinks it was a giant party to mock her, but it wasn’t! In fact, someone wanting to be like you is the biggest form of a complement. So that makes us saintly daughters. You’re welcome Mom!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Holidays, Loved One(s)

Summer

Holidays, K to the R stories, Story Time

After spending Friday night partying with rock stars, I woke up mid Saturday morning knowing that I had another very important party to get going to. So I rolled out of bed and managed to get dressed. I sleepily walked into the kitchen to start some coffee only to look out the window to see 6 inches of new snow! I seriously considered just going back to bed, but the consequences of having to face my niece after missing her 3 year old princess birthday party were just too great.

My princess baby sister decided to play along and dressed up in an old bridesmaid dress. Here she is holding the birthday princess, her daughter Brielle.

A swarm of princesses buzzing around the birthday princess opening her presents.

There had to be 8-10 little princesses running around. Even my “daughter” Pasha made it, thanks to her father being an incredible sport. She was a little shy at first, but just like her mother, Karina the Russian, give her a little candy and she warmed right up! She did however feel the need to stay incognito to avoid the paparazzi.

I brought my makeup to the party and put blush, eyeshadow and lipstick on all of the girls. Of course the pink eyeshadow was the most popular color chosen. I’m slowly creating little monsters everywhere I go. Already both Brielle and Pasha ask me for lipstick every time they see me because they know a) I always have it on me and b) I am more than happy to put it on them.

So that is pretty much most of my weekend. Partying with rock stars one night and going to princess parties the next. Never a dull moment it seems. At least that is how it can seem if you only ever hear about the exciting parts of my life.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Loved One(s), Out and About

Friday night Karina the Russian, my sis Staci and I went to the X96 Nightmare Before X-mas concert featuring Anberlin and Hoobastank.

Somewhere around 6 years ago, Karin the Russian had met the guitarist for Hoobastank while working for a hotel. She has often talked about him and how much she wished that she had returned his call way back when. So I suggested to her to reach out and contact him (through the lovely myspace world) to see if he remembered her, which of course he did – vividly! Long story short, we ended up hanging out with the band before they went on stage, we stood on the side of the stage while they played their set and partyed with them at the unofficial after party. Needless to say, Karin is “in love”… again. Unfortunately we didn’t bring a camera and didn’t think to take many camera phone pictures so this is our only “good” picture.

The band(s), their technical people and their friends were all amazingly cool. It’s safe to say we had a VERY good time. I’d like to say that I have gotten to the point where I am not star struck by rockstars, but sometimes I still am. For example, I couldn’t get up the nerve to go over and say “hi” to the lead singer of Anberlin. I LOVE those guys! In fact, 3 years ago I actually got to meet them, but for some reason I lost my nerve completely. He was sitting maybe 15 feet away from me too! Guess it didn’t help that I was a little tipsy and they are a “Christian Rock” band so I am not sure if they even drink or not. Regardless, I just kept picturing making an ass out of my self by saying something stupid like “Hi! Remember me? We met 3 years ago. I LOVE YOU! I have all of your albums – memorized! Let’s get married and have lots of rockstar babies!” then security would inevitably be called and they would have to pry me off of him and the whole time I would be screaming “I love you! Call me!” while shouting out my phone number.

Regarless of my chicken-shit-ness, we did have a lot of fun.

Rockstars, motocross guys, tour buses, Doritos, VIP section, lots of laughing… you know, our typical Friday night out.

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Concert whore, K to the R stories, Out and About

Last night my family and I got in the holiday spirit and went to “The Forgotten Carols” by Michael McLean. Now for those of you who are not familiar with The Fogotten Carols, let me tell you, in Utah, it is a big freaking deal! My mother bought the tickets about 2 months in advance. It is a live performance of the book and the soundtrack which are about a woman who learns the true meaning of Christmas through a series of “forgotten carols”. Very Mormon, very spiritual, a little cultish.

This was my third time seeing the carols. As a young teenage girl, I read the book and fell in love with the story and the carols. In fact, this year is one of the first years I have not listened to the soundtrack as I decorated my tree. It has probably been 8 to 10 years since I last saw the carols being performed, but I remembered it almost perfectly. Honestly I was a little scared to go. I’m far from religious but this show always seems to make me cry and I have had enough crying to last me a while.

I made it through the first 30 minutes; cool and collected. Then the stupid song about Mary letting someone hold her baby (the baby Jesus) so she could rest and it changed this lady’s life because she could never be a mother, but it made her feel like one. Ahh! Tear jerker! My cute little sister sitting to my left, who IS a mother, takes one look at the tears that are running down my cheek, reaches over and holds my hand. She knows. She knows heartache and fear that I suppress. Always cool and collected on the outside but slightly tormented on the inside. At least when it comes to the subject of children. Then my Dad, who is on right, notices my snitch tears and puts his gigantic hand on my leg. Luckily intermission was shortly after that song so I was able to pull myself back together.

At the end of the concert, Mr. McLean who is staring and narrating the show, leads the audience in a giant sing-along complete with linking arms to the person next to you.

“Everybody now! We can be together forever someday! We can be together forever someday! We can be together forever sooommmmeeee DAAAAYYYY!”

*insert giant eye rolling and slight feeling of nausea*

I was definitely in the middle of my biggest nightmare-de ja vu-flashback of my upbringing. But it was, after all, Christmas and my Mother had gone to the trouble of organizing the outing. Anything to bring a little spirituality into her heathen daughters life.

Being in the middle of a Mormon concert has it’s advantages however. Like the people watching. I swear to you I have never seen so many tacky Christmas sweaters in one place! As soon as the show was over I told my sister “quick! Grab out your camera phone and start taking pictures of the Christmas sweaters!”

Unfortunately the only pictures I was able to capture were of my own mothers hideous sweater.

Mom: “Why are you taking pictures of me? You’re not going to put this on your blog are you?”

Me: “Of course I am.”

Mom: “I want you to know that there is a whole womens center at my work who wears sweaters like this. You tell them the 50 year old women are rebelling!”

Me: “OK Mom.”

Mom: “And you’re writing about the concert too?”

Me: “Of course.”

Mom: “…and you will only talk about it with…?”

Me: “Complete respect.”

Mom: “Good girl.”

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Loved One(s), Out and About

Me: “Guess what honey? I just finished taking my math final and…you’re never going to believe this, but I got 100% on it which also means I am going to get an A out of the class! The teacher graded our finals as soon as we finished them. It was all I could do to keep from jumping up and down in the middle of class! Can you believe it?”

Karina: “Oh my god! Honey that is so fabulous! You are such a little Frankenstein….or….um…”

Me: laughing

Karina: “Einstein! You are such a sexy little Einstein! You are like, the sexiest nerd I know! I bet all of the college boys have to put their books on their laps when the sexy nerd walks into class! I’m so proud of you honey! Seriously!”

Me: “I freaking love you!”

Karina: “I love you too my sexy-crotch-Einstein-college-girl!”

I have completed my first college course in over 7 years. My first math class in over 10 years! I am actually very impressed with myself. Honestly, I have never been an A student. I was more concerned with boys or working or being a social butterfly. I suppose the difference this time has to do with maturity or perhaps discipline levels. Maybe it is the fact that I am paying for the classes and I’ll be damned if I will let that money go to waste.

No matter what the combining factors are, I got my first college A and it feels great!

Blogfully yours,
Summer

Back to School, K to the R stories