how does it work?

Are there simple, everyday things that you don't know anything about?  Last night I sent a pair of slacks down for laundry service.  They were dry cleaned.  I take clothes to the dry cleaners all the time.  I grew up with my mom picking up my dad's shirts at the cleaner's each week.  Shouldn't I know how this common process works?  And yet it's still a mystery to me.  The clothes are cleaned by steam (hence they stay dry).  Are there any soap or chemicals involved?  How does steam alone clean clothes?  And how does the really hot press get my old pant creases out so only the new one shows without burning the pants?  I think I need to take a tour of a cleaners operation.  But what is there to tour?  The only thing in the building is a large conveyor system of plastic hanging bags.  And I think they just hang up clothes to make it look like they get a lot of business.  Anyone else with me?  How are there always so many people that don't pick up their clothes?

And why is it so expensive?  I paid last night to clean a pair of slacks what I would spend on 3 big bottles of detergent that could last me a year.  Who can answer these questions?

Thank you Carrie for letting me do my laundry at your house! 

Judgment Failure

Had an experience over the past few days that seriously called into question my judgment.  I'm so embarrassed I even let the situation go on for as long as I did.  I knew full well all along that he was weird.  Lots of weird things about him, but he was an OK nice guy and I went along with it.  Please stop me next time.  I have to think - if he wasn't tall, would I still give him the time of day?  No.  Ok.  there's my answer.  I'm a sucker for tall guys.  If he was shorter, I wouldn't think twice about him.  Please make him go out of my life forever.  I'm smart.  I knew better.  I am stronger than that.

My last request of him: Please don't call me again.

A few visuals to go along with the stories

Just a few pictures to go along with all the stories...

These were taken down in Zions.  (Some will be repeats from Bekah's blog)

Famous view from the backyard 

Making zucchini fries

Here are some from this past weekend: 

My little cottage in the woods

What an awesome camping spot!  Seriously

That's the best tent - it kept us dry and warm in all the rain

And I can't wait to go back this weekend!

Signs

Really.  There were so many mosquitoes in the mountains last weekend.  I felt like I was a baseball manager giving signs to the pitcher.

At one point we passed a group of campers with the mosquito hats and netting around their heads.  My dad said he thought they looked really goofy until he realized what he looked like trying to keep them away....

Oh the places you'll go

What a great week it's been!  I spent last weekend in Zion's with my favorite BYU roommates, continued the fun with Jen and Tami, then Bree and Tami, then Brent and Tami, then Nancy....I loved spending time with them.  They really are some of my favorite people.  I respect and admire each of them so much.  

I picked up my dear ol' dad on Friday night from the SLC airport.  After spending some time in the fishing section of Dick's Sporting Goods, we headed over to Biaggi's for dinner.  I totally recommend Biaggis - it's an Italian restaurant at the Gateway and they had the best bread (of course)!  You dip it into this 'cheesy butter' - olive oil with parmesean and Romano cheeses sprinkled in.  I will definitely be going back there again.  It was late when we were about to head up to the cabin, and I might have suggested we could stay in SLC for the night.  Dad said, no let's go on up.  And it's a good thing we did because my cousin Dan was up there waiting for us because we had the key!  It was fun to see him and have some company up there.

We did some hiking on Saturday morning before heading up to Island Lake with our backpacks for the night. The mosquitoes were horrendous.  And I mean the worst I've ever seen.  And I've seen bad mosquitoes.  I tried to take a picture and they were on my camera lens. I like camping with my dad because he likes to have really good food when he camps.  Like shrimp.  Yes, I packed in raw shrimp.  And my dad cooked it up so good!  And I'm sure it wasn't just because everything tastes better when you're camping.  And there's one reason I don't like camping with my dad - it always rains.  ALWAYS.  It hasn't rained on me camping probably since the last time I was with my dad.  Ok, I don't remember for sure, but it has been a while.  And it was a good thing we were in my new super deluxe tent.  We didn't get wet a lick.  It was so comfortable and dry and warm.  We hiked out this morning about 4 miles. I've got some pretty red bruises on my hips from the pack.  My legs are still strong, but my whole body is achy from no sleep for two nights.  I'm not sure why I like camping so much.  I think next time I'll take earplugs.  That way I won't hear the animals around the campsite.  Or my dad's growling stomach.

This evening, I went to visit my old roommate from Atlanta who was here visiting here parents.  We had a delicious dinner, they have a fabulous backyard with lots of gardens and chickens.  Her little boy was the cutest - he sang songs and counted and jumped on the trampoline all evening.

On the way home I noticed that my trip odometer is almost clicked up to 900 miles.  I reset it last Sunday after church when we went to Grafton.  I've driven almost 900 miles in the last week!!  That's crazy.