A bright golden haze on the meadow.

I keep telling myself to go to bed, but I won't.

I haven't even washed my face yet.

It is a very great feeling when the person you are marrying makes you better than you are. The tag-team is a nice asset. Suddenly we are funnier, friendlier, happier, more fun to be with, cuter, smilier, and more contagiously irresistible. Maybe just to each other, but that's good enough for me.

Houston is a nice city. There are lots of neat shops and antique shops, though I haven't been to any yet. I live right down the street from Rushmore Academy, AKA St. John's School. I have a 52" TV which has been great for watching HD "Frasier" re-runs. Wedding plans are coming along nicely.

Also, Jeff and I will be in Utah in mid-July, and because I didn't see you (Ashley, Regan, Carl, etc.) right before I left, I insist we rendezvous.

I was informed a few days ago that a man I taught in Waterloo Branch was baptized today. This is a very blessed thing because his wife and family wanted him baptized very badly. I am so very happy for them. He and his wife have the greatest kids in the whole world!!

Michael goes to the MTC on Wednesday. This is a joyous thing for me. I was somewhere the other day, actually I think I was just sitting by the pool, and the thought of Michael wearing his glasses and his slim fit white shirts and his double-vented suits all around rural Japan hit me like a vision of the Tree of Life. And I saw his big, glowing, sincere smile and I felt the love those sweet Japanese brothers and sisters will feel emanating from him. They will love him so much for being the nicest, most polite and considerate American boy they have ever met. They will love him because he carries the Spirit of God with him. They will know he is so very special.

Anyway, I think I'm ready for bed now.

Everyday I waited for you.

These guys won't win any prizes for originality, but I sure like this song.



I am tired of updating resumes and things. I feel like I just did this yesterday. Oh wait I did. I mean, I feel like I've been doing this for awhile now. Probably because I did it a few months ago only to be hired at Wells Fargo, and now I am doing it again. Oh well.

I really like cooking dinner for Jeff. I only did it last night for the first time, and even then he did half (or did his Fasta Pasta?), but I like cooking for him nonetheless.

Also, Chick Fil-A has really amazing soft serve. Yum-may.

This is it!

As of Friday, June 18, about 9 pm, I officially started living in Houston.

Thursday morning I woke up ready to rumble, only to have a dead battery in the Rat. Panicked that my ten-year-old was going to throw a tantrum that day, I took him to the shop to have him looked over. Blessedly, the shop I go to is just a few blocks from Kneaders, so I enjoyed me a plate of french toast before heading back. Nothing was wrong with the Rat (of course) so I took off about 11 am. GOODBYE PROVO!!!!!, I yelled somewhat maniacally at the top of my lungs until the Y was no longer visible.

Utah is a beautiful state. All the way to Moab, to Monticello, I regretted not having spent more Saturdays traveling to all the amazing natural wonders and historical sites in Utah. It is a great place.

I drove and drove all day, lamenting the safety corridor in Farmington and hitting Albuquerque about 8 and getting to my over night destination of Tucumcari about 9:45. This sleepy little town boasts one element of notoriety--it's perched on Historic Route 66--so it features lots of kitschy motels and diners. I LOVED it. Perfect for a one-night stop. I stayed at the Motel Safari. Cheap, clean, extremely comfortable.

Friday I drove and drove through Texas. All day it was Texas. I'll spare you details, as the only one I care about was reaching Houston. We ate Chinese takeout and celebrated that "Whoa, we actually did it!" and then realized what "Whoa. We actually did it" means. So far it has meant lots of laughing, permanent smiles, sweet hugs and soft kisses, and joy. Always joy.

So anyway, I live in Houston now. I don't have a job. It's really hot. But all I really need is that man of mine, so I couldn't be happier.

John's window while you work

I am a useless packer. One of those types that can't/won't pack unless someone else is there. I just find too many distractions. Like the nice weather outside. Like the chickens my landlords have. Like blogging and the Internet. Maybe that's why the dwarfs whistled while they worked. Maybe it helped them maintain focus. When I was little I thought they sang: "John's window while you work...oowee oo oo oo oo ooooooo." I was wrong.

Anyway, Mo came down this weekend to help me with my yard sale and pack up my stuff. We almost finished everything! Now I just have what's left in my room, which by comparison, isn't much. The yard sale was a nominal success. I fell short of my sales goal by $85; my big things like my bed, TV and kitchen table set just wouldn't go. Prices are negotiable!

Thursday is my last day of work. I can't wait. I can't wait to be with Jeff.

I guess I should go pack now.

NO TURNING BACK

Official announcement! Two weeks until Houston! I'm leaving Utah June 17 and driving like a madwoman to reach the man I love by the night of the 18th. Then, FLOAT TRIP ON THE 19TH!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will miss Utah. I will miss many things. Unfortunately many of these things center around food, which means I am going to be doing lots of eating in the next two weeks.
I will miss:
JCW
Cafe Rio (pork tostada)
Stan's (grilled cheese and fries)
El Mexiquense (tacos al pastor--thanks Tim, for telling me about the BEST TACO EVER!)
Grandma Sycamore's white bread
WinCo
Jack Sprat sprouted wheat bread
Blue Bunny
Taylor Maid Beauty Supply
Hobble Creek Canyon
The Mountains
everyone I love
The Olsons
Trevor
temples everywhere
Hires Big H
The Pie (especially the cheese pull-a-part)

I gave notice to WF today.
I am packing up my vinyl after I pen this and shipping it off tomorrow.

If you're in Utah, I would probably really like to see you before I move. Please call me if you'd like to see me too. Keep in mind that I'll be in California from the 11th to the 16th, so let's try to see each other before then. If not, we'll still be friends.

Also, my crazy pregnant roommate cooked pig's feet tonight and she kept offering me some. It smelled so disgusting and it looked even worse. Pigs feet with hominy and beans. Some things just weren't meant to be consumed.