Moab

We drove down to Moab to camp on Friday the 14th. Monica and John went down for John's spring break and invited us to join them. We had a blast! We stayed next to the Colorado river in Hal Canyon up highway 128 just east of the entrance to Arches.

We got to our campsite in time to set up camp and enjoy the sunset. The orange rock was so vivid against the blue sky with the sun shining directly on the cliffs' face. Orange and blue: my favorite pair of compliments.

We ate a dinner of potatoes and beef, cooked in a dutch oven. Monica and I sat by the fire in the evening and chatted. I love camp fires. I was our self-dubbed fire supervisor. I found wood to burn and tended the flames.

In the morning we packed up and drove through Arches. The views are spectacular. I felt so at home. The terrain was so familiar to me. A flood of fond memories poured into my mind as I saw the different rock formations: being banished to the back of the car for obnoxious behavior on the way home from a camping trip, avoiding the black soil patches on hikes, building mini rock houses, finding hiking and fire sticks...Those were the days!

We made our way through Arches until we reached Devil's Garden. We hiked all the way to Double O and the boys climbed up to the top arch. Dad: I got you a rock from the hike! I should have sent it home with Erika. Maybe you need to fly me home just so I could give it to you in person.

When it Rains it Pours

Have you ever had one of those days when everything you did seemed to be wrong? That was how my day went on Wednesday. I was ready to burst into tears all day but managed to stop the flow just long enough to last until I walked through my apartment door at the end of the day. Luckily the Ensign came that exact day and had some comforting articles.

When things go wrong it seems it all happens at the same time. This is what I call Mohammad's Jinx (aka: Murphy's Law). But on the up side this law also applies to good luck. And that is precisely what happened last night...

#1: GOOD
AJ received notice that the "The Book of Y: Let There Be Laughter" charity joke book project he has been working with just sold enough pre-copies to obtain a better printing price. This joke book will benefit the Tiny Tim Foundation, a group that aids orphans and people infected with AIDs in Zambia, Africa. 100% of the proceeds go to Tiny Tim. By getting this better printing rate more money can be given to Tiny Tim rather being spent on printing expenses!


AD Side Note: If you are interested in supporting the Tiny Tim Foundation by purchasing a copy of "The Book of Y: Let There Be Laughter" joke book please click here:
http://www.byubookstore.com/ePOS?store=439&item_number=0%2d8425%2d2704%2d4&form=shared3%2fgm%2fdetail%2ehtml&design=439


#2: BETTER
AJ's friend from work is looking to sell a pottery kiln (really hot oven, fires up to 2400* F!). We are going to look at it tonight! Getting a kiln would make my dream of having my own ceramic studio come true! My ambition is to start a small pottery business and sell ready made and custom pieces! I am so happy that AJ supports me in this!


#3: BEST (Last the best of all the game, of course)
Let me paint you a picture: AJ and I sat on the love seat. Having just arrived home from a long day of work and school, we were getting reacquainted (in a platonic way). AJ noticed he had a voice message so he played it on speaker phone and it was Sebo Marketing inviting AJ to accept the internship! AJ promptly called back and accepted!

http://www.sebomarketing.com/index.php

What this means:
1. AJ can take classes while having an official, on-transcript internship.
2. AJ will almost certainly graduate in December 2008 (rather than April 2009).
3. We can start our family after graduation! Babies!
4. We can get a house after graduation!


I was so excited I couldn't fall asleep last night.