A Trip Down Memory Lane

During the wedding planning process, our lives were so busy. Even though I only live three hours away from Idaho Falls (my hometown), I did not go home for seven months. I felt awful for neglecting my grandparents and little brother and told them both I would come visit during the third weekend in August (the only weekend in August that I didn't have a wedding to go to). I told my grandparents I wanted to go on a long drive through Annis and LaBelle, where they grew up. Just before that weekend, though, my Grandma was hospitalized. Instead of spending the weekend spending quality time with my grandparents. I spent most of the weekend in the hospital.

Although my Grandma has been in the hospital before and had problems with her legs for awhile, this was the first time I was truly scared that she might die. My Aunt told me that she had been diagnosed with TTP, which affects the platelet and red and white blood cell counts. As soon as I started to research, I realized that this is a terrible disease that has an extremely high mortality rate (80%) and can lead to sudden death. I barely left my Grandma's side. I put on a happy face for Grandma, but I was heartbroken and inconsolable as soon as I left. It seemed so unfair that when I finally have a chance to spend time with my Grandma, I lose her. I was so angry at myself for not making more of an effort during the wedding process.

When her doctor got back on Monday, I talked to him to ask some questions about her treatment. After a few minutes, it became very clear that we were talking about two different diseases. It turns out she has I-TP, not T-TP. ITP also affects the platelets, but it has a low mortality rate. Within a week, she was out of the hospital and running around the house cleaning and giving Grandpa "honey-dos".

We re-scheduled our trip down memory lane to the first weekend in September. Grandma and Grandpa showed my where they grew up, where they went to school, where they met (rollerskating), and told me all about their courtship. Most of the buildings were either gone or abandoned. The ones that were still standing had not weathered well. It was so fun to see these places that I had heard so much about. I am so grateful that we had this opportunity and that it was not really too late. We ended our trip with a visit to the Annis cemetery to visit their parents' graves. After spending the morning talking about how they grew up, it brought things full circle to hear them talk about where they would be buried. Life is too short!

I suck!

I suck (sorry Lisa Dawn)! I'm sorry I haven't posted for awhile. This week has been really crazy and my camera card has been acting up. Now things have slowed down (fingers crossed), I'm going to post as often as possible so hopefully (still crossed) you will keep reading next time I get too busy to post.

Also, because a few people (you know who you are) have asked, I'm going to post more about some of the wedding details and planning process. I'm sure this is a subject that is not interesting to most of you, so I will try to only do it once a week, Wednesday. If you don't care, don't read that day.

Be back soon.

All the Cool Kids at the Back of the Bus

G Love was great! It was probably the most fun I've had at the Red Butte concerts all year. It started out with a little dancing in the rain and a double rainbow. The opening acts--Tristan Prettyman and the John Butler Trio--were both good, especially the John Butler Trio. The whole sold out crowd was on their feet for most of the night.

Another great season

Sunday night, Rod and I sat out under the stars, drinking porter, and listening to Joan Osborne and John Hiatt. Rod packed a picnic of grilled cheese and pepper jelly panini, tomato salad, and peaches drizzled in balsamic vinegar. It has been a really incredible summer for the Red Butte Gardens concert series. Rod and I missed some of the best ones (Emmylou Harris) because we were doing wedding/honeymoon things, but we tried to make up for it when we got back.

Although the music is always wonderful, my favorite part of the shows are spending time with friends. The setting is really unbeatable too.

I didn't take any pictures of the John Hiatt/Joan Osborne concert. Here are some pictures of Emmett, Mike and Kim's son, at the Wilco concert. He is too cute for words!





If anyone is interested in catching the last show of the season (G Love and the Special Sauce) Thursday night, let us know. Rod always packs an amazing spread!

Eleven

Sorry that this blog has turned into a wedding blog lately. There must be something in the water. I have a elevent weddings, including my own, to attend this summer. All of them were fabulous and, surprisingly different. It is crazy how you can take the same basic formula (white dress + flowers + wedding cake) and get such unique events.

Anyway, here are some pics from some of the weddings I haven't blogged about already.

Bryan and Elyse. It was the first wedding I've ever been to at La Caille. It was such a beautiful setting, complete with wild peacocks, busty waitresses, and a driving range. Elyse was such a beautiful, fashionable bride. For dessert, they had bananas foster. I love flaming desserts. Also, Bryan is a vegan, so the grooms cake was a vegan cake in the shape of a t-bone steak with a cow grazing on top. Too funny! Rod and I sat with Mike and Kim and had so much fun dancing.









Kelli and Dave. We almost didn't make it to Kelli and Dave's wedding because we were prisoners in our own home. Our garage door decided to malfunction on Friday evening, trapping our vehicles for the whole weekend. Luckily, Robyn and Jonathan were happy to bum us a ride.

Kelli and Dave tied the knot in Memory Grove. Kelli looked stunning (as always). She could not stop smiling. It was contagious. Chief Justice Durham performed the ceremony that was so uniquely Kelli and Dave. For me, the highlight of the evening would be a tie between the toast relating Kelli and Dave's NYE streaking story or watching Kelli and Dave shake it on the dance floor. Those two have such great energy! Instead of a traditional wedding cake, they had cheesecake! My fave! It was so great to catch up with friends that we hadn't seen for awhile. Rod and I helped Kelli and Dave close down the party.












Brent and Ashlee. My cousin, Brent got married in a ward house in Idaho Falls. They had a very colorful decor and unexpected guest in the receiving line. It was great to see my family and catch up with my cousins.

A Perfect End to a Perfect Summer

It is hard to believe it is over already. My weekend started with a doggy date, playing in the park, and ended in snow.

On Saturday, Rod, Rumba, and I met Dave, Inga, Gabe, JoJo, and Gypsy at the park for Rumba's first play date. Rumba was a little aloof. She just wanted to do her own thing. I guess aloof is better than aggressive.






After working up an appetite, we checked out the new Dodo restaurant in Sugarhouse. It was surprisingly good. I had eaten at the one at the Gateway before. It was just . . . eh. Apparently it is under new ownership. I had the Cioppino. It was excellent! They made it over pasta which gave it a really interesting texture. Rod had the pulled pork quesadilla, which was also quite good. They pull the pork in house. It is nice to have a new restaurant so close to home.

The next morning, we packed up the car and headed to Oakley. Jess and Sarah were kind enough to invite us and two other couples to stay at their cabin for the weekend. Our friends, Susan and Kevin, were getting married at Rendezvous Ranch, four miles from the cabin. Beautiful weekend at the cabin with good food and good company and no driving after a night of partying up at a wedding . . . yes, please!

It was so fun. Sarah had the margaritas waiting when we got there. We hung out on the deck catching some sun . . . until it started raining.

The rain paused just long enough to get the cermony started, but the minute Susan walked down the aisle, the rain started to pour. We all grabbed our chairs and headed for the barn. Susan took it all in stride. It didn't slow the wedding down at all. The ceremony was very memorable. And if rain is really a sign of good luck, Susan and Kevin had more than their fair share. It was such a fun night. After the shuttle left, there were really only our group of friends left. We had the whole dance floor to ourselves. Sarah showed off her worm skills, among other things. :) Towards the end, Rod and I were the only ones dancing.





The next morning at 7:30, Rumba was coughing up a storm. She has apparently contracted a case of kennel cough. It sounds like she has had a 2-pack a day habit for the last 40 years. Sometimes the hacking is so pronounced you can almost taste the flem in your own throat. Gross! I didn't want her to wake up the whole cabin so we decided to go for a walk. It was a beautiful, brisk morning. We followed the road to the top of the mountain to get a good view of the valley. On the was, we chased some deer and got chased by a moose. There was snow on the mountaintops and dew all over the grass.




After we got all packed up and ready go, the rain started pouring again. We decided to settle back in with spiked hot cocoa and a lopsided game of cranium. By the time we finished, the rain had turned to snow. Summer is officially over.

Tagged

I usually don't respond to these things because they take too much time, but Mindy said that I was the least likely to respond. I find it hard not do something when people tell me I can't. Here goes:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:46 am (On accident, my clock said that it was 9:37).
2. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls, but honestly, I don't like expensive jewelery.
3. What two things do you always have with you? My blackberry (it's addictive) and my camera.
4. What is your favorite TV show? Right now, Grey's Anatomy. Ever, Friends.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Instant oatmeal.
6. What is your favorite book? Classics - Little Women or Les Miserables. Recent favorites: Kite Runner, Glass Castle, and Memoirs of a Geisha.
7. What is your middle name? Lee
8. What food do you dislike the most? I love food! All of it, except maybe seaweed salad. I can't get over the slimy texture. I don't love frog legs or alligator either.
9. What is your favorite CD? NIN - Pretty Hate Machine, The Cure - Disintegration, or DM - Violator.
10. What type of car do you drive? Rav4
11. Favorite sandwich? Grilled goat cheese and pepper jelly.
12. What characteristic do you despise? Ignorance or those who insist on voicing their opinions without knowing what they are talking about.
13. Favorite item of clothing? My papa roach t-shirt. It's soft.
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? My latest obsession is Africa. I'm planning trips to Ireland and Australia too.
15. What color is your bathroom? One is blue and tan, one green and brown, and one purple, green, and aqua (it looks better than it sounds.
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Banana Republic, chic and cheap.
17. Where would you retire to? Costa Rica
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Rod took me swimming with Whale Sharks
19. Favorite day of the week? Friday, I like to have the whole weekend ahead of me.
20. How many years at your current job? 4 years
21. How many keys on your key ring? 2
22. Favorite saying? It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
23. When is your birthday? July 25
24. Are you a morning person or a night person? Both, maybe insomniac?
25. What is your shoe size? 7 1/2
26. Pets? A sweet kitty, Ani, and her arch enemy, our new dog: Rumba.
27. What did you want to be when you were little? A pilot or veterinarian.
28. How are you today? Great! The Tigers won their first game of the season and we have a play date with our friends Dave, Inga, and their dogs.
29. What is your favorite candy? Peanut Butter Cups
30. What is your favorite flower? Hydrangea and, lately, kermits
31. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? October 25, we are going to Baton Rouge to watch the Tigers kill Georgia.
32. What church do you attend? None, unless you count Rod's biannual trips to mass.
33. What are you listening to right now? Utah about to beat Michigan (fingers crossed)
34. What was the last thing you ate? Left over Chicken Tikka and a handful of grapes
35. Do you wish on stars? Yes
36. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red
37. How is the weather right now? Sunny and warm
38. Do you like the person who tagged you? Yes, she's my best friend and sister since seventh grade :)
39. Favorite soft drink? No thanks unless it's mixed with Bourbon
40. Favorite restaurant? Wahso
41. Hair color? Strawberry Blonde
42. Sibling? 1, 5, or 8 depending on how you count
43. Favorite day of the year? July 4. I love parades, picnics/BBQs, and fireworks.
44. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies . . . I have over a hundred of them. :)
45. Summer or winter? Summer.
46. Hugs or kisses? I'm a hugger.
47. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate (especially if it's mixed with peanut butter).
48. Do you make friends easily? Acquaintances, yes. Friends, no. Sometimes I'm independent to a fault. It can be really hard for people to get to know me.
49. When was the last time you cried? Last weekend, I thought my Grandma was dying. It turns out that my aunt told me she had the wrong disease. She's home now and doing fine.
50. What is under your bed? Rubbermaid bins full of shoes. You can never have enough money or shoes.
51. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Mindy, since seventh grade.
52. Favorite smell? Rod or rain
53. What are you afraid of? Being average.
54. Plain, butter or salted popcorn? Butter and salt
55. How many towns have you lived in? 11 (Idaho Falls, Vallejo, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Roberts, Aurora, Logan, Segovia, D.C., San Jose, Salt Lake)
56. How many countries have you lived in? 3 (Spain

TAGGED: CarleyAnne, Inga, Misty, LisaDawn, and Kristine (Carrie just got tagged and I don't think this would fit with Sarah's theme).

Welcome Rumba!

Please welcome the newest member of the Tomchak Smith Family: Rumba. A few weeks ago we dog-sat Chloe, our friends' chow mix, who couldn't be sweeter. Much to our surprise, Ani and Chloe got along. At one point in time, we even caught Ani trying to rub up against Chloe.

It's hard to tell, but this is Ani and Chloe within feet of each other

When Ally and John came to pick up Chloe, I told them that Rod thought they would be unhappy if we kidnapped her. They agreed. So the only thing left to do was to clone her.

A few days later, I received this link from Allyson: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11661927 with the subject line "Chloe Clone".

She was perfect for us.






Rod and I were determined to rescue a dog and wanted to rescue one that was older and less likely to be adopted. Rumba, a five-year-old stray, was at Salt Lake Animal Services. There were so many dogs there. It was heartbreaking! Natalie, our adoption counselor, told us that most of their dogs are either adopted or placed in a rescue, but 95% of their pit bulls are put down because there are no pit bull rescues. If you are looking for a dog, I recommend checking out this website. Also, you can make a donation to No More Homeless Pets or the Humane Society by clicking their respective links. Don't forget, have your pets spayed and neutered.

The Morning After

The morning after the wedding, we woke up exhausted and with a pound of birdseed in the sheets. I'm sure Hotel Monaco's housekeepers are still wondering about that one. We checked out and headed home where my bridesmaids, Miriam, Stephen, Elise, my mom, Larry, and Holly had already gathered. Michael stopped by on his way out of town (Mom, Larry, and Holly left at the same time). It was the first of many goodbyes we would have to say that day.

Those friends and relatives that were still in town met us for brunch at Porcupine. It was nice to finally visit with people without being completely preoccupied with the wedding.

After brunch, we went back home. I'm happy to say that instead of packing for the honeymoon, unwrapping presents, or organizing all of the stuff from the weddings, I sat down and just talked to my bridesmaids. I think it was the first real conversation I had with them since they got here. It was so nice.

When it was time to take Mindy to the airport, we all hugged and said goodbye. It has been so incredible to be surrounded by my best friends and family the last week. I'm glad that Stephen and Elise stuck around to see us off or I would have been depressed to come home to an empty house.

Rod and I spent the rest of the afternoon unwrapping presents and packing for the honeymoon. We couldn't stand to see all of our beautiful flowers go to waste so we packed them up and took them to a nursing home.

We ended the night by taking Stephen and Elise to The Bayou. I wish that we could have stayed a couple days more to show them around Salt Lake. I guess now they will have an excuse to come back. :)

The next morning, it was off to the Yucatan. Check out the details on my travel blog.