Fighting Your Unemployment With Fun

Cheyanne came to visit - Red Butte Concert

Guys job hunting is so much fun. You get to scour the internet for hours and beg people to hire you and then never hear back from the majority of them. And repeat. Like hello hiring managers, you're missing some serious potential! Or at least that's what I keep telling myself because job hunting can be very discouraging. Although it can bum me out, I'm thrilled to at least know what it is I want to do. A year ago I wasn't sure, which made applying for jobs immeasurably more difficult. Now, however, since I know what I want to do, I have less uncertainty in what to apply for and more just flat out rejection. But a little rejection is good for you, right? Builds character and all that crap. Forgive my choice of words, e.g. crap. It's important to keep on keeping on.

Rosemary and Morgan - Hugs forever

Outdoor concerts + Friends

So here I am, trying to enjoy being jobless, but not enjoying it that much. I have had a good deal of fun doing summer activities like swimming and skateboarding and outdoor concerts. It seems when a lot of people are at an uncertain point in their life, they can certainly find ways to have fun because fun is saving us all.
Wish me luck in achieving my dreams folks!

Morgan and Cheyanne - Photo taken by Rosemary

Chicago Coming in Hot and Humid

Last weekend I took a trip to Chicago and guess what my new favorite city is, yes it's Chicago! The people are so great, the food is delicious and the buildings are in abundance. Also maybe I'm an idiot or maybe I'm from the west and no one tells you small aspects of cities further away, but Chicago has a beach! Like wait best all around city in the world.

The first night I got there I took the cta to my hotel and now looking back I realize how unnecessary my fear of finding my hotel was because this is the real world and there are smart phones and people to ask for directions. So I found it (obviously) and it was amazing!

Chicago Harbor

On Friday I went to the Art Institute of Chicago and it was really hot and humid, but absolutely beautiful out. The museum was amazing, filled with masterpieces abound.

Joan Mitchell, City Landscape

Claude Monet, Water Lilies

I had a chicago dog for lunch which was just so dang good. Even though by this time I felt like a local (in other words, not needing my maps very often), I found I was totally not a local because I should have gotten the Italian beef. You live and you learn.
That night I tried Lou Malnati's, a highly recommended pizza restaurant and while I was waiting for my order I chatted with this great group of people also waiting to be seated. Firstly they had some serious rims on their car. Secondly their 4 year old Jason was one hell of a guy. The dad started talking to me about Utah Jazz players and I tried to act like I knew what he was talking about because I wanted to look cool, of course. Anyway this story goes to further exemplify how great the people are there, if you couldn't tell.

Saturday I spent roaming the city with local legend and tour guide Ben Hannon. Its just the best city to walk around in. I looked up and saw the Willis Tower from the ground because the line was 45 hours long to go to the top, but it looked pretty tall. Instead we went to the Hancock building and got the 360 view on top which was super cool. Not only did I see several roof top pools, but also the beach!! Really I am still so shocked and thrilled there's a beach in Chicago.

Tour guide Ben

That is one tall ass building

My girl Natalie Sweeney drove down for Saturday night and we enjoyed the hotel's complementary wine hour that preceded an awesome pizza dinner and more wine. Best friends catching up, how can that not be fun? When we returned from dinner, Ben and his friends met up with us at the hotel for drinks on the roof then going out to the bars. I can't speak for all of them, but I had such a great time.

I have deemed Chicago the greatest city in the U.S. and well if you go there I'm positive you'll feel the same. The culture is live with art, music and food and really who doesn't love all of those things immensely? I dream of living there as soon as possible.

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.

A Mexican themed week

And holy smokes what a week its been. Not only was it Cinco de Mayo (one hell of a holiday in my books), my sister and several of my friends graduated. I'm so proud of them. I remember graduating and thinking it wasn't anything special, but it certainly is recent graduates and don't think anything otherwise.
So Cinco de Mayo was pretty jam packed. I had my first day of my new copywriting internship (which I love and will tell you all more about soon enough). I also had to nanny some little kids who I absolutely adore. During my break between interning and nannying I dropped my sister off at our friends house to begin the Cinco de Mayo party and boy did that get me excited for what I could actually participate in come 6:00 pm. If I told you I didn't count down the hours until then, I'd be one heck of a liar.

Just a couple of friends having one heck of a time on Cinco de Mayo

If you've read any of my other posts you'll know how I feel about friends, food and fun. If you haven't read my other posts (maybe get on that, they're funny and interesting), I love all of those things immensely. That is exactly what the celebration consisted of. Yes, it rained. No, we didn't mind (much). There were yard games and cervezas and eventually some borrachos eating nachos. I can't think of a Cinco de Mayo I didn't enjoy. I also attempted to speak Spanish at one point which ended in me humiliating myself, but I did succeed in getting others to speak Spanish which I love listening to. So winner winner chicken dinner would probably be me.

Graduation weekend was super fun. All of my family came out to visit and we celebrated and ate until we couldn't eat anymore and then we ate some more. What a wonderful time it is to see folks you haven't seen in awhile and just simply be together enjoying each others company. Its like something out of a story. I also had the privilege of meeting some of my friends parents that were so kind and eager to listen to your story. How nice it is to be heard. We drank some beverages, ate some cake and marveled at bouquets cut from the garden.

HELLO SALT LAKE CITY

Sisters and a Cow

Flowers at the Grand America

Talking to all the graduates made me remember just how terrifying graduation can be. So many 'what do I do now?'s and I wanted to reassure each person who felt this way that they would be okay, everything would work itself out. However, that is the sort of thing that doesn't bring much reassurance because its only truly realized after the fact. Nonetheless, I did my best to express just how proud I was of each and everyone of them, its not always expressed enough.
Anyway, so its essentially summer. I pretty much deem it summer when I start sweating on a regular basis. So I can't wait to spend some time doing all the outdoor things I just love. I hope all of you are getting out there as well!

Margaritas with the graduate!

Dad, Bobo and Uncle John happy as clams eating some Mexican food

HGD Boh Boh!

Natalie and her dad, Terry.
Just wonderful people!

3 chicks who graduated college

The Pizza That Brings The People Together

So the other day, after a last minute text message, I jumped off the couch I had been laying on since I don't know when (just kidding, it was like 20 minutes) and ran to my car because of how thrilled I was to finally see the house my best friend from high school had bought in this crazy city of Salt Lake. While the reality of the situation was far less dramatic, for instance I have only run to my car once that I could remember and that was because I thought I was late, the thrill I had was still there. A little background I suppose?

Jessica (or Yarm as she is known frequently and in my case most commonly) and Matt are that really cool couple who toured Eastern Europe together and went just about everywhere one could hope to go and while doing so took amazingly beautiful photos and wrote a blog I actually very much wanted to read which doesn't happen often. They have a golden retriever named Lola that is actually more of a model than anyone I know, yet she has no idea of her beauty, well maybe a little in that everyone loves her and she loves that. And Matt's alter ego, Jeano, makes the worlds BEST wood fired pizza, that they share far and wide like the kind souls they are.

The prosciutto, pear and fresh mozzarella!
My favorite would have to be the Margherita because I'm a classics chick.   

This night I also had the privilege of seeing my other best friend from high school also named Jessica, yes sometimes it got confusing, and her fiancé Alex. They are v perfect for each other.
('v': a term translated closely to mean 'very' that Alex is plaguing the english language with.)

The crew.
This is a special shot because Matt actually had a moment to eat some of the pizza he slaves over.

Not only was I able to have my favorite Jeano's, but they also had some tasty appetizers, excellent conversation and homemade cinnamon infused lemonade. Oh shoot there was also a most delectable oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that my stomach understandably made room for after like a hundred pieces of pizza. I can't remember how many times I've said this because I have a horrible memory, but I absolutely love food and it makes me so happy to share meals with people. The meals can be anything from extravagant steak dinners at my dads favorite casino to the time my friends and I ate yogurt and plastic bottled wine for dinner on our last night in Paris because we ran out of money.

The model who maybe moved as I was taking the picture and doesn't normally have a blur for a nose

And now as I sit in my dungeon-like basement room on my (terribly comfy) bed I think how wonderful friends, including all of you of course duh, transform nights of expected couch lounging into something far more social and far more fun and I just love that!

Disclaimer: I'm in no way knocking couch lounging, a favored pastime of mine.

Disclaimer #2: Really drink in that exclamation mark I just used because they don't happen very often.

Who would I be without a blurry picture of a dog licking my face

Hobbies Shmobbies

When I was a kid I thought Snap Dragons talked to each other when you weren't looking.

Exploring hobbies one hobby at a time. While my favorite hobby will probably always be drinking cocktails with my wonderful friends chatting, I've been searching for (and finding) new and fun ways to spend my time. To name a few: sewing, skateboarding and (fake) painting. Of course some of my hobbies like reading, writing and drinking cocktails remain and take up a significant amount of my time, I've had so much damn fun with these new things. With the fun has come some obvious frustration, but whats fun without frustration?! Here's what I've come to learn about some of these things.

Sewing: once I relearned how my sewing machine worked from the guide book and recalling things my mom taught me, I found its pretty damn simple. Obviously I'm not a seamstress or able to do just about anything I want (like my pro sewing mom), but it's certainly something everyone can learn if they want to. It'll take patience though and you'll have to be able to fear not the prick of a needle when you least expect it.

Skateboarding: I've just started to pick it up again. It's definitely something that the opinions of others can keep you from trying. Don't let their opinions get you down though, most people are actually quite supportive. Anyway it's so much fun and I'm super excited to improve. Sure I'm not a boy and super impressive, but honestly my goal isn't to be a boy and super impressive anyway so we're good. It doesn't hurt to have a best friend who also wants to test out the waters of this crazy thing called skateboarding, that way you two (or 3 or 4) can bond together and throw caution to the wind and all those other clichéd statements. One of the more thrilling aspects of said hobby is I get to meet and hang with so many new people and some I know, but don't see as often.

Natalie will probably win best dressed skater chick.

Painting: yeah you guys already know, I bought a paint by numbers and it's sort of difficult for my shaky hands (I have a tremor), but it's cool and fun and calming and I wouldn't really call it painting and it's taking awhile and its going to be so pretty and and and.

Reading: it'll save your life. Okay that's a bit intense, I know. But it's my favorite thing to do. Naturally that makes me seem somewhat boring and quiet, which sometimes I am, but it also allows me to live thousands of lives in addition to mine and thats something I just love more than I can perhaps put into words. I would love to one day write a novel, but I have yet to get to the point where as Toni Morrison put it, "If there's a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

Drinking cocktails and chatting with friends: I haven't learned a thing about it other than its a wonderful way to spend time. It often brings with it laughter which I can say is one of the more thrilling pastimes I have encountered in my somewhat short life. Also its not dictated by the weather which is a huge perk.

Exploring new hobbies is, I think, very important. It helps to remind you what you're capable of and sometimes what you aren't. In the end what I like most about exploring hobbies are the people I have unintentionally and unexpectedly become closer to. There are so many people out there and its often difficult to bond when there isn't a clear common ground, but these things have provided me with some new common ground. Alright back to my main hobby of watching Netflix, see ya later.

We had fun.

Friends and The Stories We Tell

Seasonal friendships are tough.

Friends are like lifesavers, the candy and the floatation device. Sweet and they keep you afloat (similes are not my strong suit as you can see). Where would we be without them? Seriously, friends are my favorite. I was almost too tired to finish this because of all the fun I had with them this weekend. Friends, food and fun. Some of my absolute favorite things (food especially). Whether it be a thrilling night out, a day in the sun, or a lengthy lounge session watching endless Netflix, its a good time. I couldn't ask for better friends. Shout out to all the homies! You know who you are. Also, shout out to all the food out there as well!

Brighton closing day, one hell of a time. Photo: Erik Overson

Warning: heavy material ahead, bring your hard hats. HA HA HA
I'm not entirely sure why this happens so frequently, I like to think people generally trust me with sensitive information, but honestly I couldn't tell ya. Regardless of why, I have been witness to many a story I wasn't sure I should be privileged to hear, but sat quietly listening as they seemed to hope I would. These stories paired with those I've read in books have taught me to be utterly amazed with the way in which people are. So many people have endured so many things that break my heart simply hearing about. And yet on they move with the turning of the earth because that's how it goes. Honestly where would be if the world didn't go as such. What I mean to say with all of this is that people are extraordinary. Tell your stories and tell them with heart and know that we are listening, well I am at least.
A quote I love by Markus Zusak, "It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing and searching, and finding."

Remember this? Confession: I think I willed it into being.

When your dinner is wine and cheese.

I leave you with something the four year old girl I nanny and adore said to me the other day, "I wonder what its like to be a boy and a dog." Because really I would love to know as well.