Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Europe!

I am still waiting for my photos to come in the mail, so for those of you who are just dying to see some of our pics you can go check out Andrea's blog here. She is doing a lovely job of posting some highlights from each place. My posts will follow next week.
I am ready to go back to Europe now, by the way.
Care to join me?

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Interlaken...From Above

While I am anxiously awaiting the CD of all of our pictures from Europe so that I might share them with all of you, {they are currently being compiled by A} I figured I would post the only photos I have. While we were in Interlaken, Switzerland we decided to get our adventure on a do a little paragliding. It was so amazing. And Switzerland is breathtakingly beautiful. And I got the cute guide...much to the dismay of all the single ladies.

There was a point while flying that I remembered that I have a little problem with motion sickness. I remembered this because I suddenly had an overwhelming need to {how do you put it daintily?} vomit. I realized that this could possibly result in the most mortifying moment of my life because it would mean one of three things: 1- I throw up all over my cute guides legs, 2- It is windy enough that it all comes right back into my face or 3- it falls to the earth below and lands...where? On someone's head? On someone's windshield? I dont even want to think about it. It got a little closer than I would like when my guide asked me, "You like roller coasters? Yes? We go on a roller coaster ride." Then proceeded to release the parachute somehow and we begin to plummet to the earth doing a corkscrew. While very very fun, it was almost too much. Lucky for me I have years of practice at calming my sad little motion sick self and I was able to land without any unspeakably embarrassing moments.

With the stint of sickness aside, this was one of the high points of the trip. It was absolutely incredible, and definitely a once in a life time experience for me!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Pinch Hitting

Today is day 15 of 17 being away from my wonderful wife while she is off galavanting around Europe with friends and family. I am happy to report that I have survived this long and it appears that I will make it all the way until Saturday evening when Megan returns thanks in large part to my dear mother who fed and lodged me for 10 days in SLC, and our great friends here in Portland who have likewise provided many wonderful meals and entertaining distraction during this perilous time.

While my primary purpose in going to Utah was self preservation the trip did offer a myriad of different non-food related perks. I had a great time hiking in the beautiful but overtly vertical Wasatch mountains. Silver Lake near Brighton is sentimental favorite.



We also had a great two day trip to Bryce Canyon which was far more stunning and mezmerizing than I remembered.







I also got to go to the Utes home opener against Utah State which is of course the first game we played since our BCS Beatdown of the Alabama were this guy had one of the sweetest signs I've ever seen.
It was so great to be back in Rice-Eccles with my old friends watching the Utes start what we hope to be another BCS Busting season. I had a great time back in Utah and it's been a wonderful, much needed break from school. Saturday I'm off to Eugene so Stevenson and I can put our friendship on the line for the big Ducks-Utes showdown where I will do my best not get Legarretted Blount-ed by any depressed and unruly Duck fans after my Utes put a Mountain West sized beat down on the the over confident Ducklings.
GO UTES!!!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Au Revoir

My backpack is packed, my passport is tucked safely away in my touristy under-your-shirt purse and I am ready to jet.
I feel 100% ready for this trip now that I have a new beautiful neon yellow pocket sized Moleskine notebook and 2009 travel guide book given by my sweet friends at work.
Now all that stand between me and Europe is a few hours.

See you all in a few weeks!