Driving Day from Hell

So, yesterday I wake up at about 11:30. This was quite a bummer, because I had had plans to do a lot of stuff, and it all kind of fell through because I had homework to do, and no book. So, after trying to find ways to get this book without having to go to the bookstore (because it was $100+), I finally suck it up and go. My plan was to purchase the book, and also buy the book for $30 off e-bay, then return the book before next Wednesday for a full reimbursement.

SO, at about 3:00, I leave to go to the bookstore. Things are going fine, and I get on the freeway. I go about 3 miles, and then find traffic completely stopped. Yes, 4/5 lanes of traffic, not moving. Then I see a sign that says "freeway closed at 600S. All must exit." So 4-5 lanes of traffic all had to exit the freeway at one exit. So, a bunch of cars start taking this little dirt path that takes them to the frontage road just east of the freeway. When I get to the frontage road, I need to turn right, and some guy decides to drive next to me so I can't move over to the right lane (forcing me to go West when I needed to go East). So, after I turn West, I try to move into the right lane so I can at least try to get back on my course, and this guy won't let me over. Finally I manage to pass him, and go North, then eventually make my way up to the U. That's not without a ton of traffic, by the way.

When I got to the bookstore I went to buy my textbook, and all they had were eBooks, which are non-refundable, and cost $65. Great, considering my homework was due at midnight, and there was no way to do it without the book. So, I suck it up, and then head home. When I get to about 500s and Main Street, and Main Street is closed. I continue on 500s and turn south on West Temple. When I get to 600S, it's still closed. And, then I get to 700S, and guess what! The traffic lights are out. So I manage to get onto the freeway further south, only to get stuck in rush hour traffic. So, when I finally get home, it's about 4:30 or 5. So, since I have plans at 7:00 to go see the Orbit Group, I try to download the book, only to run into a bunch of errors for over an hour. After an hour of trying to figure that out, I FINALLY get the homework started... and then work on it until 9:00. Afterwards, I go up to see the Orbit group, only to encounter more traffic on the freeway, and more road closures at 600S and Main Street. Good thing though, I had a blast watching the Orbit Group and at the party afterwards!!! It was a total blast, even if someone sprayed beer in my hair! Good times, good times. I'm glad I got to see them one last time, and wish them luck in the future!

Now I want to go see dueling pianos. Someone come with me! Give me a call :)

/Edit: Here is a link to an article talking about the incident that happened, which caused all the road closures in Salt Lake.

Q & A

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Annette Whaddups (I'm not even entirely sure that's how you spell it!)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Yesterday :/ It was a stressful day.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Nah, it's too boyish. At least it's legible though!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Ham... yummmmmmmmmmy

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so... I have the kind of personality I get along with. Or maybe I wouldn't, because I'd be fighting myself for attention all the time. Or I'd fight myself for guys, or friends. Wow. Okay, I change my answer to no :)

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Of course not.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP
Heck yeah! Without a doubt!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cap'n Crunch and Corn Flakes

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends on how tight they are, and what shoes they are. For example, I don't untie my tennis shoes, but I do untie my converse.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yeah, although I've had people give me a reality check on that haha. I am stronger than quite a bit of people though.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Mint Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, and Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Hair and smile.

15. RED OR PINK?
Red

16. WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE RIGHT NOW?
Sunny, warm and windy.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
I'd rather not answer that...

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
If you want to.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A Hot Pocket

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
People talking at the front desk at the Cliff Lodge... where I work :)

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
As much as I should say green since it is my favorite color, I must say Red. GO UTES!!!!!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Hm... yummy food. I don't really have any specific favorite smell, except a couple things that I try to forget.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
The last guest who called.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Of course! She's my sister!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football and Basketball!!!

27. HAIR COLOR?
Red (out of a bottle)

28. EYE COLOR?
Green

29.. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Sometimes (I did yesterday)

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Bacon, garlic bread, pizza, burgers

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy Endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Alice in Wonderland

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
White, with a burgundy sweater vest.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Right now I say winter... in the winter I will say fall.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends who it is from... but for the most part, hugs.

36. CAR OR TRUCK?
I like cars, but I drive an Explorer

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Julian haha

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Whoever doesn't read my blog :)

39.. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Harry Potter V

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Just black

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Random stuff on TV

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Oh no, you didn't just ask that... Well, here goes. I love the sound of an ensemble that is so in tune, and so in touch with the music that you can't help but delve completely into it. The sound of music that is so well played that you are completely enveloped in it. I love the sound of a symphony playing a piece that touches you so much that you can't help but tear up, whether it is the first time, or the 10th time that you have heard it. I love the sound of accomplished players performing their instruments that they have spent so much time learning and perfecting, to be able to perform for others. I love... just music in general.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

44. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO NEXT?
New York... or Europe...

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Uhm... I can play the saxophone... and conduct an ensemble... but I don't know if those are special talents?

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN
Albuquerque, NM

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Everybody and anybody.

New Mexico, July 2010

So, it’s been over two weeks since I was in New Mexico, but I can backtrack and point out some highlights about the trip! 

I was originally supposed to go to Canada to see Rob, but given circumstances, it was decided that it would not be a good idea to go up there.  Since I already had a week off work, I decided to go down to New Mexico.  Here are some highlights!

•  Great gas mileage on Gabby’s car (excluding when I drove in D3 and wasted half a tank of gas in 90 miles) – I only had to fill up three times, and it was awesome!  I also made Adrian and Jason help me clean it.  SLAVE LABOR!
• Dog Park – I’ve never been to one, but we went a couple times while I was there.  It’s really not what I expected at all, and I hope to start Ginny to one in Salt Lake soon!
• Glee – I watched all of “The Road to Sectionals” and it was excellent!
• Hair Cut – I got my hair cut, and it made me happy inside.
• 4 Dogs – While I was there, Daisy and Ramses were dog sitting Eric’s dog, Patton.  She’s a cutie, although sometimes she seems to be dumber than a brick.  Her head is about as hard as one too.   So, the four dogs that were there were Pepe, Darla, Winky and Patton.  I wish I could have taken Ginny with me, but it would have been too many haha.
•  Barbecue – We ended up barbecuing 2 or 3 of the nights I was there, and oh my goodness, it was great!
• Dad and Mary – I got to see Dad and Mary a little bit while I was there, and it was fun.  I got to drive Dad’s Explorer around, which was interesting because 1.  I’m not used to New Mexico drivers, and 2.  I’m not used to an Explorer.  It was super fun though, and now I have my own (at least for now, but the exhaust is smoking and so we’ll see what happens).  The only bummer is that Mary got her wisdom teeth removed and she wasn’t feeling too hot.
• Dion’s Pizza – Daisy and Ramses treated me to Dion’s before I left, and it was sooooo good!  I really really wish that Dion's would extend up to Utah, because it is possibly my favorite pizza on the entire planet.
• Shopping with Daisy – we got to go shopping, and it was nice not only to shop, but to spend time with Daisy too.  We shopped for Baby Shower decorations for Gabby’s baby shower, for food, and for random stuff in general.  It was nice to be able to go out and just spend time together.  I was afraid that a lot of the time, she would be working, and we wouldn’t get too much time with just the two of so we could just blabber on, but we did, and I enjoyed it a lot.
• Seeing Leanna – I haven’t seen Leanna (Daisy’s best friend) and Caleb since I was in High School!  It was great to see her, along with her family.  She has adorable kids, and I hadn’t met three of them before this trip.  We had good food, and a great time.  I hope she is feeling better now!

Well, that’s all I can think of off the top of my head!  If I think of more stuff, I will definitely add it!