Trip.

In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can't do,
Now you're in New York,
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York -
Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z


What. A. Trip.

Empire State Building.

Mets Game.

Yankees Game.

Wicked. 

Philadelphia.

Liberty Bell.

Independence Hall.

Statue of Liberty.

Manhattan Temple.

Intercourse.....PA.

Amish.

HersheyPark.

Go-Karts.

Mini-Golf.

Batting Cages.

Central Park.

Only 3 things could have made this trip better:

#1- More sleep.

#2- More money.

#3- Less traffic. 

Alas. It's over. Good fun. Good memories. Good Jake. and Good Maggie. But it's all in the past now. And I'm back to life. Sad day. :[ But it's okay. Back to getting tan and seeing my friends...and working towards my goal.

Goal- $1200 saved for college....so I don't have to get a job.

Current- $672.

Not too shabby I'd say. ;]

Kids.

"Do you remember when we were just kids, and cardboard boxes took us miles from what we would miss? Schoolyard conversations taken to heart, and laughter took the place of everything we knew we were not....
I wanna break every clock, the hands of time could never move again. We could stay in this moment...."
Inevitable- Anberlin


Have you ever had one of those moments where you've gone back and reflected on your life? When you were 7 and nothing mattered except your after school snack and what games of make believe you were going to play in your tree house?

Or when you were 10 and you tried to act all "cool and teenager-ish" and you would a tank tops and sunglasses on and ride your bike with your best friend to the Sno-Shak....trying to impress people?

Or when you're 13 and in that horribly awkward stage of life....and were trying to desperately give something for people to know you by besides your braces and glasses and acne? (Thank heavens on the acne part: I've been blessed with great skin. :])

Do you remember your first time a boy asked you to dance? You first high school football game? Homecoming? Your first crush, heartbreak, kiss, boyfriend, break-up? The first time you fought with your friend? All the talks and late nights? When you GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

Well, I sure do.

I have spent every summer back east here in the town of New Canaan, Connecticut my whole life, along with many other towns back east. It's pretty much become a part of me. People in my grandparents ward came up to me today and knew me by name, and asked how my life was going. Semi-strange.

Anyways....

Coming back here always make me go back to when I was little and catching fireflies, or the 4th of July party up in PA, or reading Harry Potter in my grandpa's office, or trips into NYC to go to the huge TOYS-R-US store, or other stuff....and in a way it's made me realize that I don't want to grow up.

Okay. That's not what I mean. It's fun to grow up. Like really, I love all the stuff that comes with growing up, like driving, dating, parties, weekend get-aways with friends....all that stuff is AMAZING. But do you just ever wish you had the chance to be a kid again? That you could just go back to worrying about nothing and loving life?

I miss those days. Especially watching Nick run around. It makes me want to go back sometimes.

But alas. I will never be able to. So I just look back and realize on how it's become a memory, a part of me....something that  I've built myself off of. And what I can look forward to in the future.

These two cities are just a part of who I am. They've helped shape me as a person. It's nice to get away from the craziness of life...and forget about a new problem...and just relax. :] ah. I'm excited.

"Amazing how life turns out the way that it does...."

Day.

In 24 hours....
I will be on a plane.
Headed to the land of Philadelphia....

Which is sincerely on of my favorite places in the world. :] I love Philadelphia.
And from there....we will head to New York....

Where I will live someday. We will hit up things like Central Park and of course, a Yankees game. :]
And seeing the grandparents in Connecticut of course.
The next week, my besties Maggie and Jake will come out....

Who are on the same side as me....and we will tear up New York.
And go to a Mets game and go see the good old Statue of Liberty. :]
It will be AMAZING!
And finally at the end of the week...i'll experience something new:

BOSTON! I haven't been there since I was 4....and I'm super excited.
What can I say?
I'm a history junkie. :]
So.
For now.
Goodbye St. Geezy...
HELLO EAST COAST! :]

Reminisce.

"Reminisce, talk some ****, forever young is in your mind."- Jay-Z


SO.
I know Jay-Z is not exactly an ideal guy to quote. And this quote is kinda crude. But...it truly describes one of the weirdest weeks of my life. I really mean it.

On Monday I'm just doing my job working at the Spoon, when a Polynesian kid and his lanky friend walk in and start talking to me. Look familiar? Yes. I was to say something. But. I just give them their yogurt like a good employee.

And then they mention Bountiful...which is where my roots are. So I mention I'm from Bountiful.

Thomas Hamilton. The kid was Thomas Hamilton. And lanky Kevin Allen. Then Evan Parry walks in.

Woah. It's like stepping into the Twilight Zone.

And this begins a week of nonstop fun. From sand volleyball to good talks, we just chilled and had some pretty good times. Seeing some dead birds after swimming and such. Talking about couples and ex's. Good old Mueller Park times.

This week, I've been reflecting on my life more than I have ever before. I have looked back...what if I hadn't moved? Would I still be hanging out with my old friends? Would I have made new ones in high school? What would my life be like now? And the big one:

Do I regret moving?


In ways, I regret I did. Moving was the hardest thing I've ever done. My 4 best friends were the greatest. We were so close and I know we would've stayed that way throughout high school. I would've been taking a Senior Trip with them, probably to Hawaii like we talked about. I would've been in better sports programs, and watched my football team actually win some games. I would be in my element, near Salt Lake, and hit up some major fun parties and such.

But. I loved my high school experience. While it was in a town I never thought I would live in in a million years, it's been fun. I've learned so many new things, had friends, boyfriends, break-ups, fights. I've had some great memories such as soccer trips, California, and State Volleyball...and I wouldn't have had those if I lived up north.

I love these boys. Especially Evan and Greg. We go way back....to the days of dating my friends in Junior High. But. I can't sit and wonder about what could've been....when I've had a truly great experience down here.

In 6 weeks, I'm moving again. But it's a move I'm excited for. And if it's anything like my move here or greater, I can't wait to move. :]

Walks.

Ah.
I love walks.
Seriously.
Those nights where you just get together with a friend.
And catch up on life.
:] yay.
I went on a walk tonight.
With a really good friend. :]
We've been through A LOT.
And somehow...we've still managed to be friends.
And we just talked.
About life.
And families.
And growing up.
And funny things. :]
Things that just make you smile.
I'm grateful for these nights.
The nights when you can just talk.
And always know you have friends to lean on. :]

PS- He is my new hero. 32 points....8 3's. And leads his team to defeat the Lakers. :]

..chelle..

Curveball.

Woah.
Have you ever just been at a happy point of your life?
You know, when nothing's wrong and life is just going great?
For instance....
I have just graduated high school. I'm heading up to college at the end of August. I have money, thanks to my jobs. And i have great friends. :]

However....
Life is funny this way.
And things are thrown your way that you never saw coming.
And suddenly, your life that is going so smoothly...isn't going smoothly anymore.
It's like a game of baseball.
In which the pitcher throws the exact same pitch the entire game. A fastball...
But then tries to throw you off by pitching a curve.
It makes you stop and think.
You have to reevaluate your decisions.
And problems.
And come up with a whole new solution so you can hit the curveball.

Blast.
I guess I'm just a rambler.
And a ranter.
Like I get mad when there is no room in the fridge for my water bottle.
Or when I get an inconveniently placed zit.
But I guess that's just how life is.
Take the curveballs as they come.
And move on.
And live you life the way you want to live it. :]

Tennis.

I love tennis.
And the beginning of the summer is the best time to watch it.
At the end of May....like right now...it's the French Open.
Tennis, European style.
On clay.
Anything can happen.
Like Roger Federer losing to Robin Soderling.
In 4 SETS.
Ah-mazing.
And Jurgen Melzer(#22) defeating Novak Djokovic (#3) in 5 sets...a match that took four and a half hours.
Ah...so refreshing.
And once we crown the king and queen of clay, we move to London.
The best place in the world.
And home to Wimbledon.
The grass major.
Where Roger Federer himself reigned king for so long.
Until Rafael Nadal swooped in.
And stole his title.
Exciting things can happen there too.
:] ah....
I love tennis. Watching and playing.
I think i'll go play this week.
Get off all the rust. :]

Summer....is just so great.
Waking up, watching tennis, going swimming, hanging out....
nothing beats it.
:] Nothing.

Andy Roddick is my favorite tennis player. Even though he's not too good.
He's just stolen my heart. :]
..chelle..