It was only a matter of time...

Yesterday morning (before the nasty storm). I was in traffic (like every morning)... and the car in front of me came to an quick stop - I was able to stop in time but the lovely tailgatter behind me didn't. So I started my Monday morning with my first rear-end collision, I feel like an official Utahn now, (can I go back to CA now?). We exchanged numbers quickly because it was freezing and really windy, tried to get off the freeway (with all the friendly, polite drivers...not). I finally made it off, called my insurance and they told me were to take it. I stopped by my office so they would know that I wasn't making it up and took it to the shop.....

Now I'm trying to deal with the girl who doesn't want me to tell her insurance and she wants to pay it out of pocket..... aaaaahhhhh!!!

When's January over??????

Also I need to give a shout out to Saturn - the damage was minimal bent the interior of the trunk and crack part of the side panel. Could have been worse, now I hope that's my quota for the rest of the year.

Here's pictures of my little car.....(the trunk was tied down - it was so much driving with it flapping up and down trying to get off the freeway)

New Alarm Clock

Random Experience:

I have to share my new alarm I was awoken to this morning. About 5:30am I started hearing a really high pitched, annoying noise that I had never heard before that sounded like it was coming from right outside my window. But being in a sleeping stupor I just laid there and tried to think of what toy one of the girls might have been playing with (sometimes they wake up way to early). After several minutes of this noise (still not sure if it was real or a dream), I couldn't go back to sleep and got up to use the bathroom. When I got out of my room my mom was in the living room opening the window to find a deer standing across the street. I told her about the noise, and we figured the his friend must have been under my window talking to him.... poor deers out there trying to find food and keep the neighborhood on schedule.

New experience - that better not become a regular activity.... that's too early to be woken up by nature.

Very quick - MIRACLE trip to CA

Most of you don't know that I made a very last minute trip to CA this past weekend. My friend Jennifer said that she wanted to go out of town for the weekend. I said I'm up for it, thinking something local. The next morning (Wednesday), she emailed and asked if I was serious about going and if I'd go to CA. I thought about it and realized that I needed to go, I had also just found out that one of my very good friends Sapi Fonoimoana had just been diagnosed with cancer and it was moving very rapidly. I wanted to go see her while she was still here, not at her funeral.

So here's were the miracle part starts to happen. I asked my office about taking more time off, they understood. My company is renting a house in St. George that wasn't being used that night, so they said we could crash there and get 1/2 way down. Then my old roomate let us crash at her place in Upland. (Free room - Bonus!).

Then was able to visit with Sapi and her family, whom I miss soooo much. She was in so much pain, and was not herself, it was hard to see, but I'm glad I got to see her, especially since today I got the news that she passed away early this morning. Another reminder to not put off anything (I almost didn't get to see her). Let everyone know what they mean to you now - not later. She taught to me to live life to it's fullest. She did so much, and was always full of life and love and family was always first in her life. She's going to greatly missed, but she's able to be out of pain and continue her mission. Aloha Sapi!

The rest of the weekend was very full with PERFECT weather, sunsets, memory walks, new adventures, no car/driving problems, reflections, food, people watching, stress releaving, then back to reality. We were also able to miss the "STORM".

I am very grateful for so many things and this weekend helped me remember some of those. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.

Sunset at Santa Monica beachTraffic in Beverly Hills"Wolfgang Puck" dinner at the Griffith Park Observatory cafeteria

Sunset at Laguna Beach - PERFECT!!! Sand graffitti

More California pics...

Topanga Canyon Sculptures

Ferry to Balboa Island in Newport


Laguna Beach sand (out of the car)

Dinner on the beach at Sunset - the only thing missing was a guy (sorry Jen)

CA Vacation

Summary of my quick vacation to CA!!

We arrived on Thursday and had fun making our way around Glendora area visting family and friends and eating our way thru town
(of course In-n-Out was lunch) . All we kept hearing about all day was the "STORM". So we adjusted our plans a little and went to Downtown Disney that night to do some shopping and watch the Fireworks from the Plaza.

Friday was supposed to be Disney, but because of the threat of "weather" we decided to make other plans so we got up and ran some errands for Mom then met Janna, Claire, Jason and his mom Patti at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disney Hotel. It was soooo much fun. Claire loved the Mad Hatter and Alice... she didn't know what to think of Baloo. The food was great we will definately have to do it again.

Friday night we got ready and headed into Hollywood to go see WICKED, just in time for the rain to start and traffic. After a fun LA commute we got to the theater in time to get into the ticket lottery, which we didn't get, but they opened discount tickets, so we got our tickets!! WooHoo!!... now the fun begins. We had lots of time to kill and a little hungry. So thanks to Donna's suggestion we went to find some food... in the pouring rain - flooded streets of Hollywood Blvd. So needless to say by the time we got to the restuarant drip dried - then made it back to the theater we were drownded (we later heard that Hollywood got the brunt of the storm). But we made it back to the theater in plently of time to relax and dry a little before the show - WICKED - LOVED IT!!!!! Trying to figure out how I can get back to see it again before it leaves LA because it won't be coming to SLC until 2009 (not nice). Everyone should see it - Highly recommended. Thanks again to Donna for all her insider help and love of the show too... thanks for the CD.

Saturday was out to visit the Family in the Wildomar, it was fun to spend some time with all those that were in town. Fun to see everyone that came out, and all the growth that's going on out there, not going to be able to recognize it pretty soon.

Sunday we got to go the our old home ward in Glendora, then visited some more people on our way to the airport, where we forgot that we would be on the same flight with all the returning college students - note to self - double check calendar.

After a very long trip home to my own bed... vacation was over and back to reality (yuck). But it was nice while it lasted, so you won't hear a complaint out of me... Now I just need to see who's free this weekend for a quick road trip to go see Wicked...hehe.... I'm serious!