Cold Feet

     The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things.....of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings......and WEDDINGS!!!  Five days people, five days.  Pretty sure next week is gonna be a little crazy, so I'm taking advantage of this time to write down some recent happenings.  Where to begin....

Let's start with a party.  The 26th of August marked one of my best friend's birthday.  Penelope Celeste turned 25.  I'm proud she's embracing this year as an odd number (she prefers the even years) because I feel like it's going to be a great one for her.  We celebrated at the Olive Garden in Provo, and then I got to see her sweet place afterward.  I love the Wings.  They are the coolest people.  Myrna wins the prize for the best quote of the week:  

Myrna: "So, do you have cold feet yet?"

Me: "No - not yet.  But there's still time."

Myrna:  Well, just remember, when you get cold feet, you can wear socks."

Golden.  That comment made my night.  Another friendly fete took place up in Logan last weekend.  Steve and I went up there to spend time with his siblings and watch the O.M. temple dedication together.  As it turns out, Lindsey and Tyler live next door to Michael Murray, a great friend from high school.  So, I called Michael on the phone and asked if he wanted to come over for pizza and games (I guess I could have walked 20 feet and knocked on his door, but that might have freaked him out), and he accepted.  Spontaneous adventures are the best.  And, we all got to meet his cute little lady, which made it even more fun!  T'was lovely.

My time at the JSMB has officially come to an end.  Funny how I worked my first and last functions in the Empire room.  Instead of saying that I hate that room, I now prefer to say that there are simply others I prefer better - namely, the Wasatch, Sharon, Manchester, Palmyra, Harmony, Kirtland, Ambassador, Jade, Gold, and President's rooms.  =)  It was a great job.  I love the building.  I love the people.  And I loved the view.

I haven't managed to tie off all loose ends yet.  I basically finished my internship at the U of U art museum (the UMFA) this week, except for one last page that I need to make for the African backpack.  Two new exhibitions are opening in October - an Egyptian and an African exhibit - and I'm excited about the project that I worked on for them. 

Somewhere in all the craziness I managed to get stung by a hornet.  Ouch.  My wrist is still sore.

One other party that needs mentioning.  Last night was my second cousin's wedding reception.  Her name is Kristy Irvine (yes, extremely close to Kristen Irvine, right?) and the best part is, I've never met her.  Her family lives in D.C. and tonight was the first time I've met her in person.  Random connections all around.  I know her husband from the MTC.  We were in the same zone, and came and left at the same time.  I was roommates in Jerusalem with one of her best friends from Maryland - the one and only Ashley Cooper.  And, I saw Sister Sonntag at the reception last night (a mission companion of mine, and nearly next door neighbor....she lives two streets away from me and we're in the same home stake) because she was Kristy's next door neighbor in Provo.  Small world, eh?

Met some of the most wonderful people in the world tonight.  Only a few people who read this post will know anything about Debbie and Jim Lloyd, and what they both mean to our family, but, we already consider them our own family.  They have lived great lives, and they raised an incredible son.  I'm so glad I got to meet them this weekend.

I think that about sums up the latest events.  Hope to see you at my next event, and if not, well, I guess I'll be sending you greetings from Scotland!!!

Oh happy day!

No pictures this time, just some really great news -- I GOT MY VISA!!!  Well, I don't have it in hand yet, but I received the email today from the British consulate general in L.A. that said it was approved and is being shipped to me.  So, from the time I mailed off the application, to the time when I have it in my little hands, it looks like it will have taken four weeks.  Bittersweet.  Steve can't apply for his until we have our marriage certificate, so if it takes as long for his as it did for mine, I may be living it up in Scotland on my own for three weeks.  Not the most ideal situation, but we'll make the best of it.  Still, I'm really glad that my visa was approved.  Such a relief!

Sneak Peak II

So, it's time for another illegal post!  Ladies and gentlemen, four weeks from today I will officially become Mrs. Steven Grant Adams!  I'm slightly excited.  Okay, no, I'm incredibly excited.  The following pics capture a tiny piece of the fun and happiness that occurs when I'm with Steve.  And thanks to our awesome photographer, Brody, we have some really sweet shots.  You'd think that Steve and I would be totally nervous since we were decked out in full wedding attire, but no, it was an absolute blast - totally comfortable and fun.  Hope you enjoy.  We don't want to spoil all the fun, so we picked some pictures we like, but we're keeping our very favorites in reserve for September 3rd....

Can we say, "prom?" Ha! Brody made us pose like this, I swear.

The best part is that he broke off all the tree branches to create a nice twig/branch

frame effect. Awesome.

Believe it or not, we're in a cemetery. True story. Look close

and you can see the headstones amidst the trees.

Now do you believe me?  We loved the look of a stone archway, 

so we picked the Mount Olivet cemetery as one of our locales. LOVE IT.

Still outside in this one, though you can't really tell. Now we're in the

Harvard/Yale area of Salt Lake - another favorite location of mine.

Brody kept trying to make me take these serious, seductive shots

and this was the result - laughter.  Not exactly what the doctor ordered,

but still funny after the fact.

Sure do love this boy.  That's really all there is to it.

The end.

90,000 miles and counting

That's right!  Today was the day when my car hit 90,000 miles.  It was an event worth celebrating, so I treated my car to a 24-hour spa treatment, if you will.  I decided to pamper it with new spark plugs, an air filter, a timing chain tensioner, gear oil (my car was sooooo happy about this one, so much so, it's driving like a brand-new machine!), anti-corrosion pads, basically, the works.  I figured that on top of the 90,000 mile tune-up, I would treat my car to something extra special for all the work it has put in as my go-to girl, or guy.  That brings up an interesting point.  I've had this car - my cute little 2001 toyota corolla - since 2004 and have yet to name it.  My car has no identity (except for the license plate which still manages to keep people guessing at stoplights.  It says BLUIDQT, in case you haven't seen it).  But, name or no name, I've had some great adventures, thanks to my little engine that could.  I was thinking about the places I've been in my car, as I was driving home from work tonight, and I'll mention just a few for your reading pleasure.

First road trip in my car - a trip to Lake Powell - summer of 2004.  Though all subsequent road trips have been a blast, I think this first one was most memorable, due in part to the passenger sitting next to me in the passenger seat - Geoffrey, aka Jeff King - but mostly because of what happened during the drive.  We listened to Ugly Kid Joe's, "Everything about you" over and over again.....until.......BUSTED!  I got pulled over.  True story.  I think that was the first time I'd ever been pulled over.  I freaked out for about 5.47 seconds, but then turned on the charm, and played totally innocent to the officer.  I think I claimed that I wasn't sure how fast I was driving.  The speed limit was 65mph, and I was cited at 87mph.  Ouch.  He found out we were BYU students headed to Powell, and basically let us off with a slap on the wrist for speeding.  He knew I couldn't afford the fine, so made me promise to drive the speed limit the rest of the way (WHICH I DID, I'll have you know.  I'm not totally corrupt, I just suffer from a lead foot.  It's genetic, I swear).  Not my proudest moment, but I'm impressed to this day that I weaseled my way out of a $200 ticket.  I really think my car enjoyed the trek - it stretched its little wings, got sand in its gears, and delivered four passengers to Lake Powell in one piece.  A job very well done!  

Most other road trips landed me in Sun Valley, Idaho.  2008 was with Marie over President's Day weekend, and the most recent was with Steve for the annual Utah State Bar Convention earlier this month.  After passing Snowville, it's a tediously bland drive until you hit the turn off at Twin Falls, and head due North.  Not the most exciting drive, but well worth it to spend time in fabulous Sun Valley.  There are snow sculptures to play on (including a sweet ice slide), laundromats to visit, ice-shows to watch, and great food to eat.  Desperado's will always have the best tortilla soup ever made.  Delish!

So, my car has been good to me.  I hope the time with the mechanic today keeps my silver beauty happy.  I'll be leaving it soon, trying my hand at public transportation in Scotland.  Maybe my car will enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle of I-15, and I-215, or the gruesome workouts climbing Chelsea Dr. at least 5 times a day.  Only time will tell, I guess.  Hope my car has had as much fun as I have over these 90,000 miles...