Where to Begin

Mount Olympus hike for Allie's birthday!
This picture hides perfectly that moments ago I was crying out of fear.

Where to begin, or even to begin at all. Pretty much been my thought each time I've sat down to blog it up. But begin I shall!
Life can be immeasurably heartbreaking, but it can also be just as heartwarming. A side note I feel is important to mention. This thought of mine stemmed from reading a book I've started (and read about half of today already). It is just brilliant and has been described as something of a "beach read" should anyone be interested in said things its called Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.
While not much has happened since the last time I posted (I'm so sorry for the neglect), some things certainly have. This is the real world after all. Surprised? No way. 

Thanks Dad for the coolest tubes ever.

I've done some more writing at work and sat in on some strategic meetings and participated in others. There is also now an espresso machine at work which is super exciting and delicious, but has caused some serious jittering and spazy movements (you might be confused thinking something along the lines of, "Wait, aren't you always like that?" and I would respond with, "Not to this extent."). Now for the general crowd pleasers!

Bullseye!
No Last Call, best bar in Salt Lake

Some friends have gone away, some friends have stayed. While this can be one of the more tragic things in life, friends are forever (if you want it). The other day I became somewhat stressed out and I couldn't identify the origin until a couple days later. With some friends leaving paired with me moving onto different parts in my life, I was so afraid I'd lose contact with people I cared for immeasurably that I panicked. Then I realized that losing contact with people is something I have complete control over. It is all on me (and maybe them a little) and thats a bit overwhelming, but also so wonderful! There are so many things in life that we don't always have control over, so when we do, what a great thing that is.

Sadie the Wonder Dog

Summer is upon us and with it came some serious heat and some even more serious fun. Camping and grilling and dancing and swimming and music and friends, you know the usual. On a partially related note, if you come across any absorbent coasters please be sure to let me know, my cocktails are sweating just as much as I am these summer days and I really can't take them ruining the wood of my table.

Hot springs from a little while ago

Friends!

Sometimes I feel old and some of my friends who are even younger than me have said the same and I know it sounds crazy, but it made me wonder why we do so. Of course I would sit and contemplate something like that, like what? As expected I didn't come up with anything because who could, but I did decided I wouldn't for a second go back. Not because I didn't enjoy portions of it more than I could possibly explain, but because theres so much ahead and so many things left to do and live and say and feel. Even if it were the end, I'm not sure I would feel any differently because the past holds with it certain times that are nothing less than perfect, but if they happened again it just wouldn't be the same. And I love that, how each experience is its own and you have to take it all in because that's all you'll get of it.

"Nona lets take a picture!" "Why?"
Pretty much the gist of things with my mini best friend.

Failure, A Saving Grace.

Across the Tracks - Salt Lake City - 2015
The amazing street art outside my building. I just love street art!

Guess who got herself something of a dream internship. The chances of you (reader) guessing the right person are fairly high, but I'll give it up anyway. I did! I am now copywriting intern at Write On Network. I absolutely love it. The work is challenging and, therefore, that much more rewarding. There is a wide variety of clientele allowing me to gain just the sort of experience I was hoping for. My bosses are also the kindest most helpful women who also have great style, which I think is important. We work in a super creative space that's a restored warehouse. There are several different companies who share the general space and each of us have our own little work area. So many creative minds in one place is intoxicating. My boss also offers me snacks and beverages every day which was a huge thing for me.

My desk.
"Easy reading is damn hard writing" - Nathaniel Hawthorne 

If it wasn't obvious by my description how happy I am to be pursuing my writing career, well then maybe reread that last paragraph because it doesn't get more descriptive than that, for me at least.

We call it 'The Pickle' and rightly so.

In the end it was failure that saved me. It still shocks me that had I not experienced one of my greatest fears, I would not be in this amazing place I am now. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young once said, "We never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do." And while failure can sometimes be easy (I mostly think it comes from a lack of trying mixed with just the right amount of carelessness), it can also be earth shattering. However, in the cheesiest way possible, sometimes what you need the most is your earth shattered to make you realize just what path you truly want to take. When every possible path seems equally difficult to achieve, its far easier to decide which one you actually would put all your effort into.

Some books I've recently finished, in the process of reading, or intend to read soon.
Spend your money on what you love my friends.

If you'd like to read the interview about me on Write On Network's blog, click here.

Becoming A Sellout and Loving It, Mostly

Fire on the Beach - San Diego - 2015

There are certain things that a money conscious mind has made me. Perhaps sell out is the wrong word, but close enough to the right word. I'm not here to put myself down for a couple paragraphs though, I'm here to tell you the perks of being a sellout.

1. I can't afford something like, oh I don't know, a Van Gogh original. Are there even any still available for sale? So instead of buying a poster for $29.99, I got a paint by numbers for $18 straight out of China. I've learned upon beginning it that in replicating a masterpiece, I am doing exactly the opposite of being artistic. Art isn't about staying in the lines, making sure you follow the number tutorial to the T. Art is about feeling and this activity has made me appreciate Van Gogh even more for his ability to create such an amazing piece of art without someone telling him what to do. Don't worry I'll share the finished product, theres just a lot of numbers in very small spaces and as we all very much know, I'm not Van Gogh.

2. I've also begun downloading samples of books on iBook instead of going to the book store, reading the back, then purchasing if it's cool with my mom and full of just the sort of thing I love to read. I don't have a kindle or tablet or anything that really makes downloading samples reader friendly, so instead I read portions of books on my phone like some caveman. A tablet for ants. But what I'm getting at is, although the author doesn't get anything from this sample they provide me with, it is just brilliant. I love being able to see if I like the style of writing, the characters, the plot, everything before I buy it. Its also terribly intriguing because whoever makes these samples knows exactly what you'll be dying to know and will be sure not to tell you it.

3. Lastly, I'm not entirely sure how this started, but I became very fed up that clothing wasn't ever exactly how I wanted it. I was getting weirdly upset that I would buy something only to wish it was slightly different. So I took to buying things all my little dudes in China made for me and every other person in the world because if I'm not going to love it, at least it'll be cheap. And then a passionate wave of "I will get what I want out of my wardrobe!" hit me (this is unusual, a passionate wave hitting me as well as me exclaiming anything) and I went to the thrift shop and decided to alter preexisting clothes to be just the piece I imagined. Not only do I love being able to customize things, its also such a great feeling to see that I took a size large tank top from a mom in 1995 and transformed it with the help of my grandmothers sewing machine. Accomplishments rock!

While this kind of became a story about me being poor, I didn't intend for that. These realizations just happen to come out of a search for a way to live how I want to live regardless of the income I have. Its so incredibly fun to take on activities and learn something new about yourself and the world around you. Who says you can't have things the way you want them and who says you can't make them that way yourself?

A couple of pictures I love from the film I just got developed.

Surfer Chicks - San Clemente - 2015 

Brown Baggin' It - San Clemente - 2015 

When They Look Better Than They Taste - Thailand - 2014

Mom and Bobo Beachin' It - Phuket, Thailand - 2013