This morning...

Began like any other Monday morning. Woke up, got ready, rode the bus to work. Little did I know that this would be my last morning riding the bus, climbing the stairs to the second floor, clocking in, checking my email. Little did I know that I would be cleaning out my desk and leaving for the last time. This morning I had a plan that I was prepared for. But that all changed when I got a call from BYU offering me a opening in their full time MPA program. Oh and by the way it starts tomorrow. "OMG" (I'm not a big fan of that saying but it seemed to fit.) After a quick discussion with my parents and weighing the pros and cons in my head I decided to go for it. So I am now officially unemployed. (The loss of my regular paycheck was a little twinge in my stomach.) But I am officially a student at BYU in the MPA program. And I feel really good about that. More details to come later. I need to get to bed. This is going to be a big week.

Peru pictures are FINALLY HERE!!

Our adventure began in the Amazons. We flew from Lima to Puerto Maldonado. We were picked up at the airport, that had a total of 2 gates. We left our suitcases at the agency's offices are traveled by bus to a dock and then by boat on a river for an hour to our hotel. This was one sweet hotel. There was no electricity except for the lobby; at night they used kerosene lamps. And our rooms opened to the jungle and we watched monkeys from our rooms. At night we slept with nets over our beds like a canopy. We went on hikes through the rain forest, talked to a medicine man, and just relaxed.  Sleeping in the jungle when it was raining was so relaxing.





 
Cuzco was once the Inca capital of the world and it was fabulous. Shopping fantastic. People fun. A taxi ride across cost only a dollar. We visited the Inca ruins around the city and drove through the Sacred Valley.

After an hour and a half train ride from Cuzco we get to Aguas Calientes. The mountains around Machu Picchu were amazing.






From Aguas Calientes we hike up Putucusi (literally straight up) and got an awesome view of Machu Picchu.






Machu Picchu was fantastic. The only thing I would've changed about the whole trip is to have more time here.





































  These are the Floating of Islands in Lake Titicaca. They are literally man-made out of the reeds. Many generations ago when there were conflicts between Peru and Columbia there were people that didn't want to be associate with either and so they built their own islands in the middle of the lake. And people still build and continue to live on these islands.
I loved everything about this trip. The adventure was fabulous. Peru has so much to offer and it was so great being in South America again.
One more adventure checked off the list. On to the next!!

I know, I know...

I know I am way behind on blogging and I really need to post Peru pictures. Life has been busy.

Quick note from Peru

I just noticed that I have 100 posts. Wow! This trip to Peru has been fantastic. Right away I started remembering all the reasons I love South America. Before my mission I was more partial to Europe and I wasn´t that interested in So. Am. But of course on my mission it became one of the best places in the world. I love the fun unorganized towns and streets. Random small stores along the street. Where you can buy just about anything you need without going too far. The people are so nice and so laid back. And they want to please. They will anything to serve you. The food and fruit is so great and cheap. And Peru has not dropped the ball. It is a great place and this has been a fantastic trip.

Brief run down

First couple days were in the jungle, we had to take a boat to a remote, rustic motel with no electricity except for in the lobby.r

We´ve spent the last couple days in Cusco, a very fun city with Inca Ruins and great markets.

Today we head to the town near Machu Picchu.

Everything has been perfect, except for I somehow got pink eye. But one of the girls I am traveling with is a physicians assistant and knew just what I needed. We went to the pharmacy to get it. No prescription needed. Another great thing about South America.

More details and pictures to come.

Cowboy take me away

A few days ago I was talking with a friend about how much I love the Western Stampede Rodeo that comes to West Jordan on weekend of the 4^th of July every year, just down the street from my house. It makes the city is so  patriotic and so "...Where the green grass grows"-like.  And there is no better way to celebrate the 4^th than watching the bulls and cute cowboys. I'll admit I'm a sucker for a guy in a hat.  My friend asked me if I went last year and I couldn’t remember going last year. Which was weird. I go every year that I am in WJ. It’s just one of those things I don’t miss. But I couldn’t remember going last year. Then later it hit me. No, I did not go last year. I wasn’t in West Jordan. I wasn’t even in the United States for the 4^th of July. I was clear on the other side of the Globe. I was in Israel.  I can’t believe that it has already been a year. I look at the pictures and I say to myself, “I was actually there.” It still feels so surreal and amazing.

Love at first bite

So, on my little whirlwind trip to DC there were a few places that I for sure had to go. One of them was Potbelly’s. Bekah ate there once a week when she lived there. She loved all the food, especially the ice cream sandwiches. I didn’t get there the last time I was in the area, so, Saturday afternoon while I was wondering around downtown D.C. with no particular destination in mind, (One of my favorite ways to travel.) I wondered to Potbelly’s to order an ice cream sandwich. The whole atmosphere of the place is fun and antique looking. A little bit like The Cracker Barrel but smaller. As I watched them make the treat, I knew that my life would never be the same after one bite. They take two of their soft, loaded with chocolate chips, “homemade” cookies and stick a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle. My eyes got wide and I started salivating. And yes, after one bite I was in love. Chocolate chip cookies are my weakness anyway and adding ice cream to it…it was hopeless.
I realize that it would be hazardous to my health to live so close to such goodness. But after I finished the divine delicacy I began thinking that in spite of all losses that a move to DC would involve (family, friends, etc) that sandwich could make the move worth it. My lip popped out at the realization that the closest Potbelly’s to Utah is in Texas. Why hasn’t anyone opened one in Utah. Don’t they realize…? They obviously have no idea what they are missing out on. The prices are really very reasonable. I was surprised at how cheap it was for being in downtown DC. (Kitty korner from the White House.)
The fates smiled on me again on Sunday afternoon when I was facing spending the next 8 hours of my life on two planes, that don’t feed me, and a layover in Atlanta. I know that some people frown upon making purchases on Sunday, but I needed to eat. So I wondered around the airport browsing my options when I came upon none else but a Potbelly’s. Right there in the same airport I was departing. It was fate and I couldn’t resist a sandwich and another heaven sent ice cream sandwich. 
I could to go their website and check out the calorie damage, but with some things ignorance is bliss. And this is definitely one of those things. So if you are ever in the DC area there are many important places you don’t want to miss, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the American History Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and Potbelly’s. 
Beijos

Look at this Picture...

What do you see wrong with this picture? Here look closer...

If your answer is there is no clock above the refrigerator. Then you are right. You might not have noticed that because you didn't know that you are suppose to have a clock above the refrigerator because you haven't had a clock above the refrigerator your entire life. And you probably don't keep looking to the top of the refrigerator to find out what time it is, or find out how many minutes you have before you have to run out the door. And so you probably don't feel as lost as I do when you look to the top of the fridge to find out what time it is and the clock that has been there your whole life is not there.

This is my mom's new refrigerator complete with ice maker and water dispenser, and it fits just perfectly into the nook in the wall. However there is no room for the clock on top of it.