Whoa, Nelly

Several months ago, a friend of mine "pocket dialed" me out of the blue. At the time, I wasn't really talking to anyone unless I absolutely had to. She had no idea what was going on in my life, but once I gave her a brief overview, she commented "Maybe that's why my purse called you. To check on you." As little desire as I had to speak, period, I was so thankful for her call. I'm sure she has no idea that our conversation put my mind at ease, if only for a few short minutes.

As I was leaving work yesterday, she called me again, though this time it was on purpose. When we last spoke, we talked about planning a weekend where she'd come stay with me and we'd just hang out and do whatever came to mind. Since our last conversation, I've thought of her a number of times in passing, but never got around to calling her. When she said she wanted to just see how I was doing, my mind immediately starting thinking of all the "excuses" I had for not calling her. The old stand-by ("I've been soooo busy.") seemed lacking. I have been busy, but not that busy. In fact, the real busy times I've had have been over the last month, not so much the last six. We chatted for a while and caught up and then again discussed getting together.

During our conversation, I mentioned that I often feel like I might be wishing my life away. I tend to like to be able to look forward to something or to know that there is some milestone or marker than I'm coming up on. That, I don't consider to be too bad; having goals is good and having something to work toward is good, too. It's the "I'll feel better/be happier/be content/have it made when I'm making more money/out of debt/married/have kids/in better shape" that is not the best. I would like to think that I am enjoying the stage of life that I'm in, but I do find myself wanting more or wishing I had something to fill the void-of-the-day.

I then found it interesting that I came across this article as I was reading the Ensign tonight. You see, I'm forever in a hurry in my mind. In my life, I try to be on the early side. It stresses me out a little to be late or when other people are late. My mind is always racing, though. I'm always planning my next move, my next meal, the order in which I will complete menial tasks or errands, even pack my suitcase for a trip that's over a month away. Seriously, when I look at the clock and it's past 8:00 at night, I'm figuring out what time whatever I'm watching will be over so that I know when I'll be ready to start my nightly get-ready-for-bed routine. It's a little crazy sometimes.

After the conversation and the article, I'm really starting to realize that I do need to slow it down. I need to just let things happen and not be so concerned with what's to come. I really have little control over the things that I want so desperately to have control of. When things are meant to happen, they will. I need to be better at realizing that the best things that have ever happened in my life have been a surprise or have happened when I least expected it. And that it was when I took a step back and a long, hard look at what was happening to me that I realized that I couldn't have planned for things to have happened any better than they were turning out.

Does that mean that I'll stop counting down how much longer until Coley gets home? Doubtful. But I will think more about how I hope that he is soaking up every single minute of the time that he has serving and that he takes two years to recount all of his memories with us, once he is back.

Clank

We got my dad a Wii for Father's Day last year. After more than six months without touching it, I decided that it was high time we bowled again. Too bad I'd forgotten how sore you are after bowling game after game.

I even tried to teach my 70-something year old grandfather how to bowl. He used to bowl all the time and has a bunch of trophies from tournaments he'd competed in and whatnot. It was no easy feat trying to teach him because he had a stroke over 20 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised when he hung in there and bowled an entire game without giving up and saying he couldn't do it. The experience could've only been better if he'd won the game. Unfortunately I'm not capable of throwing a game just to go easy on someone. Is that mean?

For a short time this morning, my parents and I thought we might have to have a Wii marathon because it was so overcast and rainy. Luckily the rain stopped and we went to beach, even though it was far from sunny, and hung out for a few hours. When we were getting ready to leave, I decided that I'm ready for retirement. But only if I can just hang out and go to the beach whenever I feel like it.

We did manage to squeeze in a few games of bowling before I left. My dad was insistent on just one game. Then just one more. And then one more. He is hilarious to watch when things don't go the way he wants them to. He promised me that he'd be practicing and that he'd beat me the next time we play. We'll see about that. I have the best record in our house. In fact, I probably have the best record of anyone that's ever played on our machine! Yeah, I said it!

If only I could bowl another 298 game. That might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Thank goodness I had witnesses AND pictures of the TV screen.

1000 Words

I have never claimed to be a fantastic photographer. I wish that I were but, instead, I must settle for what my little point-and-click will do for me. In reality, no matter how "good" the picture seems to be, it's no substitute for the real thing. Especially when you're in a place like Cabo.

I took almost a gig's worth of pictures while I was there. Below are some of my favorites, though they can never compare to what you see with your own eyes. I'm ready to go back.

Who wouldn't want to stay at a hotel with a lobby like this?

Dinner the first night at Mi Casa in San Jose. Absolutely worth every calorie. Especially the chocolate ice cream. We were resistant to even get dessert, but were talked into it by the wait staff. They brought out the ice cream and some flan. The flan was better than I've ever tasted, but I am by no means a connoissuer. I don't know how they made that ice cream, but I'd pay top dollar to have it delivered to me right this very minute.

I am terrified of lizards, so you can imagine what this scary little creature did to my heart rate. One picture was all I could muster and it was only to prove that I saw a wild iguana with my own two eyes. I'm not even close to kidding when I tell you that I scoured the sidewalk for him every time we got near that rock. Every. Single. Day.

I wasn't all that upset about waking up every morning, considering the view.

This little side street in San Jose had me wondering if this is what Coley sees every day. It definitely made me feel like we were that much closer, since we were already in the same country.

I got to attend the cooking class that was offered as an activity. Here I am, as the chef's happy little helper, making some of the best guacamole I've ever tasted. And I'm not just saying that because I made it. I'm convinced that it's all about the molcajete. I think I need one...

Please remove your hats and bow your head to show respect for what can only be described as Heaven In Your Mouth. I couldn't tell you which is better: the actual churro or the chocolate sauce.

This is what the front of the hotel faces. I would guess it's facing northwest, but I'm no boy scout.

Heading out of the marina.

All the ladies in front of El Arco. It looks like a backdrop, but it most certainly is not!

These two seals apparently decided that Sea Lion's Colony was much too crowded for them and found their own private island.

And then they posed for us. :-)

The arch from the Pacific side.

Those tiny little people in the lower left-ish part of the picture are taking wedding pictures. I don't know how they go there, especially without getting wet, but I bet they'll have some fantastic pictures and fun memories of their day.

This is the beach at El Chileno Bay, where we stopped to swim a little. You can also snorkel in this little bay. There may or may not be a picture of me doing a lame cannonball off the bow of the boat. Don't let anyone fool you; The water here is frigid.

You don't see waves like this in Satellite Beach! (And a little note to myself, from myself.)

One of my co-workers and I kept laughing about how wonderful every picture we took was and we were working especially hard on the ones that captured the reflection in the pool. This happens to be one of the better ones that I got.

My dad was a little disappointed that I didn't take the opportunity to go horseback riding on the beach. I probably should have and may, if given the chance, another time. It was still really cool to see the horses on the beach so close to the hotel every day.

We had a local artist paint this at one of our events. We tried our best to figure out how to get it back home with us, but ended up leaving it in Cabo with "Speedy." It was even more beautiful in person.

Dusk on my last night there.

The morning I left. I was anything but ready.

"Angel Kisses"

The sun and I have always had a love-hate relationship. I like to go to the pool and swimming, but I hate sun screen. It feels gross and smells even worse. As a kid, my least favorite thing about being on vacation was putting on sunscreen. It was such a hassle, especially when you're already wet.

As a teenager, I wanted to be able to lay out like my friends did. The problem with that is that I would get sunburned and be miserable for days on end. Even if I put sun screen on when I first went out, I'd forget to reapply or just tell myself I'd suffer the consequences. Suffering the consequences of a painful sunburn are much easier said than done.

As an adult, I've finally made peace with the fact that I have to wear sunscreen. In the past couple of years (and with the invention of spray sun screen), I've gotten much better about it. I get annoyed with myself if I get burnt, but realize I have no one to blame but myself. I've also come to terms with the fact that I will never tan. Never. I'm still trying to figure out when people, who have known me for years, will figure this out also.

What I do get are freckles. I must have millions. When I am out in the sun for long periods, more start showing up, too. You'd think that, with as many as I have, you wouldn't be able to spot new ones. But the word "freckles" is weird. If you use the word to describe what someone looks like, it more a strike against them.

When people talk about mine, I sometimes feel defensive. In my head, I think "Don't talk about them! If you don't mention them, it's like they don't exist." I need to get over that and I'm starting to. Lately, I've seen more and more people that I think are beautiful and it has occurred to me that they have freckles, too. I think I'll keep working on mine. I don't have much of a choice, do I?

What I have yet to come across, though, is someone who wishes they had more. That'll be the day...

Oh Mexico...

I'm going to miss Cabo. It's strange that I've been here almost two weeks. In some ways, it feels like I just arrived and in other ways I feel like I've been here for months. I'm looking foward to seeing my family (the ones in the U.S. anyway), but I'm going to miss the great people I've become reaquainted with.

A few highlights:
- The shrimp. I've had it, on average, once a day. I don't know what it is about being here, but every time I would read a menu, whatever they were doing to shrimp jumped out at me. I wouldn't say that I've given up meat though.
- The fantastic weather. It's hot, but breezy, which makes you want to be out by the pool or on the beach allllllllll day long.
- The service at the hotel. Top notch, I tell you. If you ever go to Cabo, stay the Hilton Los Cabos. You will not be disappointed. And if he didn't look under age, I might be bringing a Mexican waiter back to the states with me in my suitcase.
- The view I wake up to every morning. It's just indescribable. And the fact that I can be standing in the shower and looking out at the Sea of Cortez's blue, blue water isn't bad either.
- The compliments. The attendees are thrilled with the program that we've put together. It's always nice to hear that people are happy with what you worked so very hard on.
- The churros. I'm having a moment of silence for them right now. They are a.maz.ing.

A lowlight... or five:
- Not being able to play on my iPhone and use my apps (namely WWF and Shazam. Watch out Sky Harbor. I can't wait to tap in to you WiFi!)
- The flies. They're as big as birds sometimes. I don't understand it.
- The language barrier. It's my own fault. I should really try to learn to speak Spanish. It would make life so much easier and more interesting.
- The fact that I'm probably not going to get anymore pool time before leaving.
- The frigid air blowing right on me all day, every day in the office.

One of the people that's helped us with the planning is from Cuernavaca. He was the nicest person the last time we were here and has definitely stolen a little piece of my heart because of Coley. We talked about Cuernavaca and where Coley's been. He actually lived in Salt Lake City for a while, so he told me he has lots of Mormon friends. And he told me I was "really cool" with his little accent. How can you not love someone who thinks you're cool?!

Coley's been telling me all of the places that he wants to visit after he gets home. I added Cabo to his list. He will not be disappointed. For now, he's busy getting used to being a District Leader. Did you hear?

I'm Moving.

Yep. I've given up on good old O-Town and I'm moving to sunny Mexico. I'm contemplating not even going back home. Ever. I'll just have someone pack my things for me. Or better yet, sell them. I don't need much more than what I brought with me. My lease is almost up...

I could not be having a better time. And I'm working! The food is fantastic. I've had some of the best guacamole in my life. It really gives Chipotle guac a run for its money. And the churros...

Last time I was here, my very last night in the hotel, I couldn't figure out what to eat. I'd had everything on the menus twice and nothing sounded appetizing. So I ordered the crazy combination of shrimp cocktail and churros. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I took my first bite of the churros. You can imagine my excitement when I found out that I was coming back here. Churros have been on my mind for the last six months. I'm pretty sure, if I haven't already, I'll be eating my weight in them. I don't know what's better: the fact that they are so fresh or the chocolate sauce that accompanies them.

And the people are so nice. I realize that it's their job to be nice to me and all, but they don't give you the "I'm only doing this because I have to and don't want to get in trouble" vibe. They are just so accommodating and kind and will do anything for you. I told one waiter that I wasn't used to being treated so well; I just don't know how to behave myself! I mean, I remember people, especially if they make an impression. But it blows my mind that the staff of the hotel remember that our team was here two years ago. In fact, one of the waiters asked about me a couple of months ago when people from my office were here. That's love. ;-)

My brother is already here. I just need to convince my parents that they should move, too. They have the beach, so my mom will be perfectly happy. Satellite Beach is great and all, but it doesn't hold a candle to Cabo. I'm sorry. And my dad... well, he's happy whenever my mom's happy.

So then it's settled. Anyone else want to join?

Lately

My blog is boring. Maybe that's because the only things that I think about putting up here are crazy thoughts that are better left in my head or angry rants that would be a waste of time typing out.

I've been busy lately. Busier than I've been in quite some time. I reached my limit last Friday morning and had a melt down. It's funny to me (in hindsight, of course) that these things sneak up on me. The straw that broke the camel's back was a flat tire.

Looking back on it, there's really no reason for me to have flipped out the way that I did about a tire, but it was the last thing that I needed that day. What made me grateful to "only" have had a flat tire was hearing a fire truck outside my apartment, going outside to see what all the commotion was about and seeing firemen busting out all of the windows of a car that had caught fire in the middle of the night.

At that moment, I was thankful that it wasn't my car on fire. I was also thankful that the owner decided to park far away from my car that night, when I would typically be right next to the car or within a space or two. And that my dad didn't yell at me for waking him up at 1:45 in the morning to tell him about it.

Soon enough I won't have anything to worry about for a while again. I'm looking forward to it, but I know that after a day or two I'll be looking for something to occupy my time again. One day at a time, right?