Tears, hugs, and night lights

I managed to escape the Provo bubble; although, the joy of my escape was tainted with crocodile tears and stomach pains as I drove away. I now live in Saratoga Springs with my friend Natalie and her two kids, Pyper and Kazdan. Although my room only has three walls and no furniture, I like my new crib (no pun intended) and my $10 Wal-Mart air mattress. The kids are adorable and it’s fun to come home to their excited little voices and big hugs. Sleeping in a room alone has never been my thing, and when I crawled into bed last night I was overcome with the feeling of being completely alone. It helped that the kids’ rooms are next to mine and their night lights leaked light into my room. Boy do I need a dog. Too bad Dollar isn’t house trained; he’d be fun to sleep with.

It's a Girl!

Well, after more than 24 hours at the hospital and 3 1/2 hours of pushing, Kaitlin and Jeremy introduced Alexis Page Whitesell to the world. "Lexie" was 9lb 6oz and 22 inches long. Her head was too big for the vacuum, so they had to use the hand suction. (She must take after her Daddy!) Congrats Jeremy and Kaitlin! I love ya’ll!

(I'll add a pic. once I get one!)

Tick Tock

I'm going nuts staring at my phone. Jeremy (my little brother who I used to play barbies and horses with)is at the hospital about to see his baby be born. He's been texting me as Kaitlin has progressed. 4cm, then 7cm, now some other number that I don't understand. He knows more about babies and the birthin' process than I do. In this moment I've never been more homesick. I never thought I'd miss my little brother's wedding and the birth of his baby girl.

I'm coming home (again!)

Well, atleast for a visit! As previously posted I'll be home Saturday, June 24th, but I just purchased an additional flight home for the 1st weekend in Septemper (Labor Day). The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. Thanks to this "important" national holiday, I get to come home and see all my family! Uncle Scott...get the boat and the wake board ready cause here I come!

Random updates

Well, I joined a riding club and will be taking Dollar over to this huge arena twice a week to ride with a bunch of people and supposedly we’ll take some cool overnight camping trips with the horses. I already don’t fit in, since I’m the ONLY person riding in an English saddle. : ) I love it.
I went climbing 2 weekends ago and did a really cool canyon last Saturday, so I’m still finding time to enjoy my new outdoor activities. I just need to find a way to integrate them all together.
A week and ½ ago my friend Jake went to feed Dollar and his horse Moon. He tried to give Moon a shot and Moon knocked him backwards and struck him with his front foot in the head. Jake got rushed to the hospital and luckily will be ok. No riding for a month though. It was a tough reminder that although horses are our pets…they’re still animals and can be unpredictable.
Oh yeah...I'll be in SC June 21st-25th, but will only be in Rock Hill on Saturday (I'll be boogy boarding the crazy 2 foot waves at Myrtle Beach the rest of the time), so if ya wanna hang out plan on Saturday night; I'll be with the fam, but you're welcome to join us.

Create your own adventure!

Equs Lovus

I hear they're hiring dancers in Vegas right now....

On the verge of making some big decisions, I’m considering leaving the “stable” 9-5 for a different kind of a job. (No I’m not going to become a dancer in Vegas…and If I did I wouldn’t write about it here : ) There are a few wilderness therapy programs I’ve researched and plan on sending applications to a few of them. I would be a field mentor for troubled kids/adults. 8 days in the wilderness, 6 days off to travel and ride Dollar, and an active lifestyle to prevent that ghastly weight gain my family knows too much about all sound really appealing. The money is not great, but since when did that matter to me. I hope everyone had a nice memorial weekend.

Moving on, making necessary changes

(Originally posted Jan. 17, 06; Just as relevant now)
I hope you enjoy these. After a great deal of thought, I am ready to move forward in certain aspects of my life, leaving the past to the past.

I demolish my bridges behind me...then there is no choice but to move forward.
Firdtjof Nansen

You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing on.
Heraclitus

The worst thing you can try to do is cling to something that is gone, or to recreate it.
Johnette Napolitano

The Athenians, alarmed at the internal decay of their Republic, asked Demosthenes what to do.
His reply:
Do not do what you are doing now.

Joseph Ray

Hitch Hiking is Awesome!

(sorry no pics..I had to travel light)
5-22-06
Friday-
11AM – A guy from work, Jason, told me he was going down to Vegas for the weekend and my wheels started turning….I knew my friend Keith had been down in Zion since
Wednesday and should be there till Sunday. I had found a ride at least part of the way to Zion.
12PM – Went home on my lunch break and packed my canyoneering gear
4PM – Jason and I left work and drove south
8PM – Got dropped off at the Toquerville exit (22 miles from Zion)
I then hitch hiked to Mosquito Cove camping area where I hoped to find Keith camping with some of his friends. I left him a message on his cell telling him where I’d be and spread out my sleeping bag on the banks of the Virgin River. An overly nice fellow camper stuffed me full of hotdogs and insisted I take some money from him. So with a full stomach and 5 bucks in my pocket I went to sleep under a gorgeous star filled sky with the soothing sound of the river running past. I was nervous Keith wouldn’t show up and I’d be stranded. Luckily, Keith woke me late that night letting me know they had arrived.
Saturday-
The sun finally was successful at waking me up after I tried to ignore her for a while, and then I went and found Keith’s camp site and our group set out to do Key Hole and Pine Creek Canyons. It was a special trip for a few reasons; a few being, we stumbled upon a sleeping owl deep in the Pine Creek slot. It opened its eyes and watched us as we walked past, moving nothing but his head. He was magnificent. There was also a raven who came right up to us as if saying hello and then it kept swooping down the last 100 foot rappel just to swoop back up moments later. It was a very memorable day of canyoneering.
Sunday-
I headed back up to Provo to start yet another week at work.
Thanks for everyone who remembered my birthday. I love and miss you all! Life as a 23 year old ain’t too shabby!

Pics of Canyoneering trip to AZ

Me doing the guided Rap in Cibeque canyon.




Me sitting in the water course enjoying myself

My big head

Sick of being sick

I’ve been sick since Thursday with a bad cough and a lot of congestion. The fever left Saturday, but the cough remains.
Weekend highlights:
-Played in my softball game Fri. night anyway and had a beautiful slide and a beautiful play at short (even on drugs)
-Passed out by the pool Sat morning for a few hours
-Sat afternoon went and watched BYU track meet to see my friend Kelly run for the U.
-Went to IHOP Sat. night for roommate’s birthday
-Passed out on the couch for 4 hours Sun. afternoon
After that not so eventful weekend I’m now back at work.
My B-day is on Wednesday and I better be well!!! (All major credit cards accepted)

He He He....

Maybe I take on the look of my surroundings

Me and my friend Andrew

This blows my mind

I think it is really funny how much Jeremy and I look alike.