Heading to Forks

We went to Forks to go deep-sea fishing. By "we" I mean me, Andrew, Glenn (the Dad), Heidi (the Mom), Wesley, Elise, and Hannah.

While waiting in the atrociously long line for the ferry to Kingston, we realized that there were a plethora of blackberries on the side of the road, and over the fence onto a public sidewalk.

So Wes, Elise, and Hannah picked blackberries. And the rest of us enjoyed eating them.

And then we rode the ferry! I've never been on a ferry. It was fun, kind of like sailing (which, at this point, I had only done on a lake). The horn was loud and scared the crap out of me and I jumped. Almost over the edge into the pit of jellyfishes.
Here we are fairies on the ferry. I freaking LOVE this picture. I mean, can it get any better? I submit that it cannot! We are so cute. My idea to be a ridiculous fairy on a ferry. My sisters-in-law rock for being a dork. I think there are a few more fairy pictures, so stay tuned!

Yay Mt. Rainier.

More to come! Hopefully after Church, but we shall see.

My First (and I Pray Last) 2:00 AM Blog Post

I usually am a patient person. I also usually fall asleep quickly. And I, of all people, struggle with the rules of "quiet hours" in an apartment building.

But this is ridiculous.

The people who live on top of us are way noisy. But not during the day. No, that would be too nice.

Last night, 10:40 PM or so, they are running up and down the stairwell.

Then a few minutes later, they begin to hammer nails into the cinderblock wall. Andrew is asleep so I can't ask him about the ability of cinderblock to carry sound, but I can tell you that it VERY good at conducting sound. Little kids should give up their cans with strings to them and start doing Morse Code through cinderblocks.

Around 11:05, when I'm trying to fall asleep (which usually takes 2 minutes to do), they are talking loudly, making milkshakes, and having footraces or something that sounds like running in their apartment.

Now, it is 2:04, and I can hear their TV. It is loud and it is on. It should be neither of those.

I am not a night person. I am a morning person.

From now on, I will not hesitate to vacuum, use the blender, or practice my Phantom of the Opera singing at 6 AM when normal people are awake.

Good night, I'm going to try to go back to bed. Ha, ha ha.

A Computer Vacuum

I really want to tell you all about deep sea fishing in Washington cuz it was a blast! I can tell you about it, but you know me and my blog posts - I love to include pictures! This becomes a problem when you are in a computer vacuum.

Let me explain. This doesn't mean that all the computers around me suck (ha ha). It doesn't mean they have all imploded. It means:

• My brother is beginning college at Utah Valley University and needed a laptop. Since he plans to serve as a missionary for two years in one year (he will leave in 2011), if he buys a new one, it will be pretty much obsolete by they time he returns. So, I gave my laptop to him, as it still runs very well despite being in use by moi for the past four years. In return, by dad is going half-and-half with me to buy a new computer.
• I don't have my new desktop (!) yet. But I have picked it out. It is pretty and has a 20 inch screen. I really didn't feel the need to have a larger screen, or even one that size when all I do is write history papers and blog. I will get my computer on Wednesday when Andrew picks it up on his way back from hunting.
• Thus, I am using Andrew's laptop. Last week, he wiped it totally clean and has not yet put all his picture files back on it. The pictures do exist in two locations: his camera, which is with him hunting (except cameras don't hunt, it is tagging along to take pictures of the elk we hope he will get), and on his external hard drive, which is conveniently located at my parents' house. So I cannot post pictures of deep sea fishing.

Those are the reasons why I am in a computer vacuum. I feel like I am surrounded by computers, but I can't get to the things I need. But it is all good. You'll see the pictures soon enough.

Another thing for you to consider and be angry about with me:

People who rent those storage PODS and put them in the parking lot right in front of your apartment, and to make it worse, it takes up two parking spaces and they put the PODS in the second and third spaces from your apartment door. Inconvenient? Yes, definitely. I'm trying to figure out who to complain to because we are also in RA limbo right now. It wouldn't be a problem if it were in the spots near the road where no one parks, but the freaking PODS is plopped right in the most competitive parking spot area. Now the Rock Star Parking Spot (the first one in the row, a mere 20 feet from my front door). I am angry. So I shall continue to stew as I blog and stare out of my window at that abominable PODS.

Fishing Post - Again

I must be getting obsessed -- this is my second post about fishing in like two weeks, and I can guarantee another this month -- but I am falling in love with fishing! (I am sure that I have mentioned this before.) I think that I will have to dedicate a Facebook photo album to this fun thing.

Anyway, this morning, Greg (my cousin), Stacy (his wife), and I (Sarah) woke up early and went fishing at 6 a.m. We went to First Dam. Where Greg caught this monster:

It was his first fish! Seriously, who catches a 20" brown trout that is old and worn for their first one? I think he was the king of First Dam, and Greg has ended his reign. Now some other fish will have to be the monster.

We wanted to let him live a longer and happy life, but he didn't revive when we put him in the water, so Greg kept him. He joked about taking him to the taxidermist. Can anyone say, "fish eating par-tay"?

Then we went to Second Dam.


Stacy also caught a fish. It was a normal-for-the-Logan-River-sized rainbow trout. This picture is freaking cute and mostly awesome. Now can anyone else say, "Christmas card!"?


Me fishing at Second Dam. It was kind of funny to watch the fish. They would follow my worm and then at the last minute decide they didn't want it. One fish even ran into my line, which made me laugh really hard. I got 3 bites, but no hooks.

Until I said, "Two more casts," which I only said cuz I still needed to get ready for work at the WHQ.

And then...

Caught ya! A normal sized rainbow trout. May I just say that I am the cutest fisherwoman I have ever seen or heard of (sorry Stacy)?

I am glad that all three of us caught fish. It was the perfect ending to a very exciting fishing trip.

It's the Wedding!

Melanie and Ross got married on July 31. How happy for them. Due to a series of wardrobe malfunctions and memory lapses of appointment times, Andrew and I almost missed the sealing. But we made it to the Logan Temple on time! It was a nice sealing, and then THE PARTY BEGAN!!

Here, Leslie has a "bride" picture while holding the bouquet.


Me waving. Andrew straightened my hair cuz we were running so late. He was annoyed by the wave on my right side. It is the side that always gives me trouble, too.


Matt, my sweet little brother, was taking pictures. He actually got some pretty good ones! Also some funny ones, such as this one of a couple we don't even know. Alison loved her dress, and now it is immortalized for all time.

Alison's saucy face. I think she could be a Victoria's Secret Lotion model.

And then the newlyweds emerged!

Disco Ross.

Melanie and my Dad

Probably the COOLEST picture Matt took. I'm letting him borrow our camera more often! It is fun to have someone hyper taking the pictures.
Tenderness.

Two pictures follow, and I can't decide which I like better.

They look happy, don't they?


THEN FOR THE EXCITING RECEPTION!!

Everything was beautiful and ready to go. Then came the massive thunderstorm, complete with heavy rain. Ultimately, we moved the reception into the house. About halfway through the reception, it cleared up and everyone moved outside.


Ashley Bland did the cupcakes and they were so cute! They were tasty, too. If you or anyone else needs some great cake for a good price, let me know and I will find out how to contact her. We grew up together, so I can give a plug for her cake-making-awesomeness.


Olya, Kaleb, and Baby Andrew came to the reception! We hadn't seen Olya and Baby Andrew since March, when they left for Russia. I am happy that they are back. Baby Andrew has gotten so big! I don't think he's a baby anymore, so maybe I'll have to start calling him Little Andrew.


Little Andrew loved all the lights outside for the reception.


My mother-in-law Heidi did all the decorations, and they were very lovely. She has done a lot of weddings. If you need flowers, let me know and I'll get you in contact with her.

Mel's colors were navy blue and silver - so Heidi used blueberries as a decorating element! The best part about this (besides looking summery) was that we got to eat them afterwards!

Beautiful lanterns.

Unfortunately, we didn't take a picture of my lovely matron-of-honor dress. It was pretty. Maybe someday you will see it.

Hooray for weddings and thank goodness it is over!

Fishing for Moose

We were in Utah for Melanie's wedding, and the day before the wedding was a "date with the river" (quote from Andrew).

We drove to the Blacksmith Fork Canyon to fly fish in the river there.

We then found a beautiful spot to fly fish, and then when we pulled into the campground near it, we found...

A bull moose eating in the river! He stole the lovely fly fishing spot.


It was fun to watch him eat for a little bit, but we decided that it wasn't a very good idea to fish near the moose. He would win if we met up with him.


We went somewhere else to fish, and Andrew caught the only fish of the day! Good job!

I still love fly fishing and regular fishing. We only have one fly pole so we took turns. We also brought a pole with a Rapala on it. It was so fun to be out on the river and to walk through the river and not get wet! I did see a big fish by my feet, but by the time I got the Rapala ready, he swan away. Bummer. I know, I know, it's a fishing story about the One That Got Away. Andrew also got 4 other bites but they, too got away. I got 2 bites. I guess they just weren't trusting fish or something.

What is it I like so much about fishing? I think it's the casting that I like. Trying to aim for a spot where the fish might be hiding is just cool. I really need to work on my aim, though. That is one of my afternoon activities while Andrew is in Washington and I am in Logan. Casting looks easy, but it is hard. I never realized there was so much technique in fishing. If I hold it one way, and flick the pole in a certain way, then the line and the lure will do one thing. I definitely need practice so I can cast to where I want to. I need to practice both normal fishing casting and fly fishing casting.

I am also pleased to announce that I am slowly conquering my fear of fish hooks.