the first three days

disclaimer: I can’t possibly share everything I want to. Neither you nor I have that much time in our day to take it all in. But the size of this entry is pretty big!

I was wide awake at 3 am Friday morning, and my parents weren’t far behind me due to my subtle trips around the apartments turning lights off and on (they told me to wake them but I didn’t want to do it straight up).

We took advantage of the early start and headed for Kruger National Game Park a few hours away. In my opinion spending the day in the car was the perfect way to start my vacation. At my liesure I could nap a little here and there, suprisingly I even snuck a couple naps in while we looked for animals. I’d wake up to my mom calling out BABOONS! or ELEPHANT! or VULTURES or... It is so strange to see these animals in the wild. We saw: crocodiles, impalas, warthogs, more impalas, pretty birds, a rhino, more impalas, a few hippos, bunches and bunches of monkeys, an eagle, guinea fowl, elephants, zebras and more impalas.

I'm including a link to here of a video shot at Kruger, you've gotta see it. A fight between lions, buffalos and crocidiles. You won't believe who wins!

After leaving the park we drove through the rainy countryside to Plumbago Guest House, my first experience at a B & B. I now have extremely high expectations of all B & Bs here after. This place was exactly what I dreamed a B & B should be. When we arrived at the gate and rang the bell, dad says ‘Hi, we have reservations…’ ‘Mr. Rix! Please, come in.” We were met at the car by the owners, Ilara and Robbie, their cute dogs Bezel and Refuge Bin (her name in Afrikans sounds much cuter) They welcomed us, gave us umbrellas and then a tour of the place.

Our rooms were in the back garden away from the main house. Ilara said my suite was the single. Uuum, yeah - My bed was way bigger than theirs by far. The power went out for a couple hours (power share) so we lit candles on the patio and watched the fog settle in on the avocado and banana farm Plumbago is situated on. Dinner was served in the main house by candle light.

I won’t even try to describe the food. I’ll let you use your imagination. Four course meal; fancy mushrooms my parents hid by feeding them to me, raspberry sorbet to cleanse the pallet, red snapper, and a desert I don’t have the first idea what it was, but wow, was it good.

I was sad that the massage I’ve been dreaming about since I checked this place out online was not available because it was too late to get someone in to come in so mom was nice enough to give me one, then dad shared half of a pill with me since I’d still had not had a lot of sleep yet. The constant cat naps were bound to get annoying. Next thing I know after crawling into my gigantic bed my parents are knocking on my door telling me its time for breakfast. I don’t know if I have ever slept that good in my life. Our delicious breakfast was served on the porch then we were off to the Elephant Sanctuary where we walked the elephants, Casper and Keezo. Pet and hugged them and learned really great facts about elephants I won’t go on and on about because we’re watching a spy movie and I know I’m missing important details because of my blogging obsession.

Gettin down

I thought I was pretty sneaky as I caught one of the gas station guys dancing while he cleaned the windows of the car next to us. I didn't realize his buddies were watching his back and clued him in that he was on camera. He laughed, waved and kept dancing, a little more self conscious now though. I gave him a thumbs up, and bounced around in the back seat like the white girl that I am. His friends didn't need any coaxing to join in. After we left they were all still dancing and laughing.

24 hours later

I'm here and I don't know how I'll ever talk myself into ever getting back on the plane to come back! It wasn't all that bad honestly, I didn't wait in any lines anywhere, the flights were easy enough to live thru, customs didn't harass me at all, and I found my parents on this end. In fact, they were chatting up some stranger (big surprise) and I watched for a good while as I almost walked right past them as they kept glancing up looking for me, looking right at me, but not actually seeing me. It was really funny. Or maybe it wasn't? I don't know. Everything is funny at this point.
We just got back from dinner across the street where I sat and giggled with my folks about this and that as the world lurched around me making me more air sick than I've been all day. So weird.
Check my dad out driving on the wrong side of everything. I was super impressed and not worried at all. Good thing too, we'll be in the car all day tomorrow.
gooooodnite.

take a hike

If I had two hours to do with whatever I pleased: (asked this question in RS last sunday) I would go for a hike.
It's one of those simple pleasures that I love to do anytime, anywhere, no matter my mood, good weather, bad weather, preferably with a fury friend, here, there, anywhere really.
I adore it.

90% of the pictures I downloaded off my camera today were of The Beautiful St. George. I edited big time, but these are just a few of my favorites. I know they aren't all the best, but I still like them for my own reasons. Maybe because of the memory that comes with them? The Green Valley Gap area is probably my favorite place to hike in St. George. It's accessible (safe as a kiddie pool dad) but hardly ever do I run into anyone else out there and there are so many different trails to play on I could never get bored.
My should be trash trail blazing shoe. :) Gibson chewed the backs of these shoes up pretty bad but I still love them, maybe even more so because of his nibbling? Yep, I'm nuts.









my sweaty mug.

if this is what happens

when you drive a liberty, count me in. I love this commerical!!

today, tomorrow, then goodbye

Finally! The much anticipated trip is just about here. I don't think I've ever had a vacation feel so monumental before. The way life worked out this summer this trip has taken on the feeling of a pivotal moment in my calendar. So strange, it wasn't supposed to be like this at all, but I'm glad it has acted as a speed bump in the way I was doing things. If life went as I planned it wouldn't be as good I'm sure. That is why I'm never too disappointed when plans change. If life would have gone according to me, Africa would have still been scheduled between holiday orders and the beginning of our huge rush and it wouldn't have become this thing that has kept me from keeping up the accelerated pace I'm accustomed to.

I won't lie, the last three months have been a serious struggle for me. I wouldn't ever allow myself to see it that way until now, at the precipice of change, but not having my usual tasks in my life to feel important was a strange and uncomfortable feeling for me. Feeling like I wasn't contributing to anything felt selfish and indulgent and I don't plan anytime soon to take an extended break again. I need schedules, constant projects, things to throw myself into for fear of going insane with too much quality time with yours truly.

Feeling stagnant is a scary thing to stare in the face. I understand completely why there is no such thing as neutral ground in this life. It has been a challenge for me to fill my endless days with things that I could be proud of and feel like I'd done something important with my time. There is nothing worse than realizing I've wasted time so at least I can say I haven't wasted my down time. I used up every minute and I'm sure I'll wish I could do it again sometime. Just not anytime soon that is for sure!

Totally unrelated: I finished Eclipse today. I tried to read slow but I couldn't drag it out any longer. Afterwards, in a fit of obsession, I got online to see if there were more books to look forward too. Ever checked out the official website? Do it here, there are movie options and everything to get excited about, not to mention two more books in the works. I'm usually not a book made into movie fan but wouldn't it be cool if they got it right? She even has photos up of the actors she would cast if she had her choice. So fun.

teaser

I've been chatting online this afternoon with the African freaks while I work on some writing samples for a possible job (more to come on that when I know if I got it or not.)

They are getting me so worked up about my trip next week I had to go look for pictures to calm down.

We're going to Cape Town on my bday where we'll stay at the mission presidents home. We will be going to the very southern tip of Africa where I'm told we will get to see penguins. Yep, the first thing on my list of things to do is see, and hopefully touch, some animals. How hard could it be to catch and cuddle a penguin? I'll let you know!

birthday bry

Happy Birthday RC1!
What can I say about Bry? Usually bday blogs are full or stories and memories.
So one of each:
A couple of nights ago we trespassed in the rain to take pictures of a billboard he designed. What a thrill it must be to see your name in lights?
And a memory... well, I just don't know which one to chose but it's great to have so many fun ones to chose from.

soggy leaves and gray matter

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I know it is a common complaint but I really wish I could remember things better. Growing up, my class would memorize poems constantly to recite for the friday devotionals. We did a play a year and I loved the day after lots of practice when I could go thru my lines with out the script. I liked it when our teachers pushed us into memorizing the books in the bible and undecipherable things in French.... so now, when I can barely remember something I read in a book earlier today I wonder if I could memorize something again.

photo today from the bountiful temple. drawing by the man, Tim Burton. I am so in the mood to watch his movie Nightmare Before Christmas. The music is so halloween.

it's not magic, it's an illusion

I have always been a sucker for delayed gratification. Let me explain as best as I can. If I get a package in the mail, even if it's an online order I placed myself, I do all other menial tasks I can find BEFORE opening the box. I try to make the suspense last as long as possible.

This also applies to holidays, birthdays and special occasions. I love the build up much more than the actual day. I don't like my birthdays for unexplained reasons, I almost always end up crying. But I love the whole month of October waiting for it and saying my new age in my head so I'm ready to bust it out when the opportunity presents itself.

So tonight when RC1 told me he had sent an email (a rare occurrence to be sure) with a funny clip from his night I told him I was going to hold out and not look at it until AT LEAST late tomorrow morning.

But I'm suffering from insomnia. It's so late I could easily pull and all nighter and I can't figure out why I'm still up after the long day I had. Casey and I went to McDonalds (for two hours!), ran a gazzilion errands, picked Camel up from the airport, she went to work, Casey and I had a full on tussle getting into soccer gear (more for the fun of it than anything) went outside to discover it had worn him out so completely that we had to lay on the grass awhile before he decided he could go to practice. But when I got to the field and got out of the car he was passed out cold in the back seat. I cleaned my car, ran more errands, and whiled away my monday night ignoring the fact that I should have been in a barn dancing like a fool with the rest of my ward (suckers). Totally kidding.

And still, hours later, I am wide awake and rrrar rrrar raring to go (name that movie)

So I caved. I opened the email. Though I can't watch the much anticipated video since I'm on the computer in the office and I'd probably still be sitting here when the sun came up waiting for it to load, so you guys will probably still see it before me. I won't say any thing more, except it's a clip from his FHE activity tonight. Enjoy.

unity

I'm so in the mood for another one of those vague introspective blogs better suited for a journal but I don't keep much of one anymore (because I have a blog, why would I need to?)

I won't bore you with the details but it has just been yet another one of those days where I look around and wonder how the heck I have been blessed this much. My family (especially the Smiths today, I love living here!), my friends, my challenges, my goals and all the opportunities... I am overwhelmed.
I talked to Kwona today and our conversation reminded me of a great story. We were talking about Devin and she told me how he wants the baby to be a boy so he can keep His Cari to himself.
She also said he didn't quite get what they were saying when Ben and Kwona told him he was going to be a big brother again. He asked if they were getting a baby from the orphanage which is what actually reminded me of the story.

While Kris Grandma and Terry Grandpa were living in Washington with Kwona and the kids, Devin asked my mom if she was his dad's mom. She said yes. Then he asked if she was my mom too. I don't know how the conversation got around to telling him that I'm adopted but she told him and he got VERY excited about it. Peppering her with questions, he asked, "Is Jenna an orphan?!?!!?" Then very quickly, "Does she KNOW?!?!?!" and finally, "Can I tell her?!"

Oh man, I laughed so hard when I heard this.

This revelation must have made some impact on him because he was talking to Kris Grandma shortly after this conversation about his birthday wish list he'd written up. One of the top items (if not The top item) was indeed: a sibling from the orphanage. Have I said lately that Korea is way too far away??

My pictures today are from my drive home from Ogden. I went and heard RC1 speak. I can't go on gushing about how impressed I am since he checks in here randomly. I'll keep it simple and quote my favorite fictional office character, 'woow.'

when is too much too much

I went into some kind of obsessive overdrive this week and went to town on my dresser. The poor thing has been every color in the rainbow and now it is funky orange and suffering from overkill I think. Oh well, I kinda love it anyway. It's no where near done in my neurotic mind. If I let myself I could really go nuts with a few more layers of distressing and craziness but I think we need a break from each other for awhile so I officially put the paint away tonight and am calling a truce. For now.

quiz time

It's been awhile hasn't it? Time for a quiz. And since I've just admitted to being a full fledged fan of the vampires, this one is fitting.

Find out who you are here.

u climb like a cat

It takes a little coaxing and bribery to get the cool cat of the house Casey to want to go to soccer practice but once he's there he totally rocks. I love mondays and my small dose of soccer-cousin when I get to go to practice with him. Casey's outfit is awesome right? I think the kid has serious style.This week has been gorgeous. 70's and perfect. I went for a hike yesterday to the Farmington waterfall. Probably not the smartest thing to do with a lousy cold, but such a fun hike and my fuzzy head didn't really make me any more clumsy than I would be with out a cold to blame. I've been told I hike like a cat. I'll take that as a compliment.
And in other news.... well.... ok. I don't have a whole lot of other news. I'm almost done with New Moon and I'm probably going to have to retract my previous statement about not getting it about vampires. I'm getting it now. And loving it.

guessing game

I know some of you have already seen this, I think my parents sent it out when they got a copy. So don't spoil it for those who should guess what the commercial is advertising. My favorite thing about Asian ads is how serious they all sound! Good times!

Kwona didn't like the idea of me running off with the agency to do this job. Partly because they were never too informative on what was going on and also I was going to be going out of the city so I couldn't catch a train home if things weren't what they were supposed to be. There is always the concern that the 'token white girl' used in advertisements could be asked to do a lot more than 'stand there and be white'.

We caught the subway super early to meet up with the agent and other 'talent' then drove out of Seoul to a beautiful town located on a river. we pulled up to a beautiful hotel/restaurant right on the river bank and a camera crew was setting up outside for what appeared to be a major production. I thought we were possibly working with them, but not actually part of what they were up to outside since I was told it would just be a couple of shots.

Once inside we were directed to a marble foyer and I was told I would be the 'rich wife' and we would definitely be outside shooting a commercial. My new absolutely gorgeous friend from Czechoslovakia {I know it's not called that anymore, but I learned to spell it once, and dangit, I'm going to spell away} was a little flustered that she didn't get the better part. I didn't care really, we would be paid the same either way and this just meant I would have to work more. But I did get to wear better clothes so I guess I can see her point!

I didn't so much like the acting part, it wasn't much more than standing and pointing, something I got used to with other jobs. My favorite was goofing off with the camera guys because we couldn't understand each other and it made the time go by faster under those extremely hot lights and soggy summer sun. I couldn't breath right in my super tight outfit and my 'rich husband' stood on a bag of rice in most of the shots so I didn't tower over him. Our most common cue was 'look rich, and like you love to be rich' and 'smile, you are rich and very happy'.

This was the first of a string of random jobs I did for that agency and I liked it so much more than teaching at the haugwahn. Getting paid to sight see and travel around Korea couldn't possibly be a bad deal right? Right!

My Girlfriends Kitchen

Last night I went to a bebe shower for Jackie and Lucy who is due to make her appearance any day now. I think Jackie makes pregnancy look good. Totally possible I think by the way! She also makes it seem easy. Before the party she was at the gym working out and she plans to do things the natural way. But this girl also has a higher tolerance for pain than most I think so more power to her.
The party was held at a fun place in Layton called My Girlfriends Kitchen. It's set up with a few different assembly lines to create yummy dinners to go for whatever reason (think RS dinner duties with a too busy schedule.) We made bunches of dinners for Jackie and company to take home and freeze for the crazy days to come.

I have joined the ranks. Sarah bought me Twilight for my birthday. (Thanks Peach!) I read it in a couple of days (on accident, sorry Peach) and I'm onto the second book now. Good stuff. I'm having a hard time with how young Bella is. I keep wanting to shake her and tell her she doesn't know love, she's not in love for real... but who am I to tell her that right? I guess I don't understand the appeal of a vampire? Fun read though.

want

Camel has forbidden me to blog about the haunted house we went to last night (because she thinks it's embarrassing the way she screams like a banshee the whole time) So I won't tell you it was funny and not that scary.
Instead I'll show you a coat I found and drooled over earlier when I was checking out the latest on urbanoutfitters. Cute right? But probably not that warm. I want the best of both worlds. Warm, cute and in a fun color other than black or brown. Is it too much to ask? Obviously. I've searched the malls, consignment shops, even online... zip. nada. zero. I want to design the thing now.
I promise I'm not obsessed, just a healthy game of cat and mouse looking for The Coat. If I've gotta be cold, I want a cute coat to be there with me.