Havasupai: Good Times and the End of an Era

Our Labor Day weekend was bittersweet. It was one of the most fun long weekends I have ever had, but it was also one of the last weekends we had with our good friends, Sarah and Jess, before they move to Germany.

Sarah is seriously amazing. Despite the fact that she had been packing up her entire life and figuring out how to ship it to Germany, she still managed to plan the perfect weekend. It started with a 12-hour drive from SLC to Havasupai. We broke things up a bit by stopping for breakfast in Utah County, where we encountered the most convenient flat tire ever. We stopped for breakfast, noticed that Sarah's tire was flat, they took it to the service station while we ordered breakfast for them, they arrived just in time for breakfast, and we picked the truck up as soon as we were finished eating and headed on our way.

We followed Sil's prego nose to Carl's Junior in Las Vegas for lunch, after which the girls piled in one car (with our mixed fountain drinks) and the boys piled in another. We had a brief stopover at in Henderson, gambling and trying unsuccessfuly to get a helicopter ride, and Rod gave us an insider's tour of the Hoover Dam. The girls took advantage of an unexpected detour to spend all of the their quarters and shop for Sarah's new car. We rocked out the whole way down Route 66 until we picked up Fry Bread and stew at the lodge.

We made it to Havasupai well after dark. We weren't too disappointed, though. The camping area was basically a parking lot. Rod and I slept in the back of the 4Runner. It was hot, but the drone of the mosquitoes in our ears forced us to close the door and windows.

The next morning we started the long, hot hike to the campground. Sarah outfitted us all with more jerky and trail mix than we could have eaten in a month. It wouldn't have been a bad hike (all downhill or flat), but it was unbearably hot. By the time we made it to the Village, all I wanted was a cold soda. There were still two miles until we made it to camp. By this time, I was really wishing we had caught a ride on one of the mail donkeys that kept passing us. Yes, the tribe still receives their mail by donkey.

When we made it to the campground, it was all worth it. I did not know that places like Havasupai Falls even existed. Words and even photos can't do it justice. The limestone in the water makes the water an milky aqua color. That water in contrast with the red rock walls shaped like petrified waterfalls was unbelievable.

Wicked Games and the Hangover

It's been so long ago that I can't remember what we did for the rest of August. There was a Chris Isaak concert--he is always the best entertainer of the Red Butte lineup, a double date to see The Hangover (again), Banter with the Bench, squeezing in date night, a trip home that included an interesting (but not exciting) night out in St. Anthony and a trip to see my new second cousin. There was work--a lot of work. I billed 240 hours. Rod was out of town nearly every week. Yikes for both of us! But, on the bright side I didn't have time to miss Rod and I've already made up for Ireland. Anyone up for another two week vacation?

Chicago and Sundance

After Ireland and Seattle, we were exhausted. We tried to ease back into life in SLC. Our first Tuesday back was the much-awaited Chicago concert at Red Butte. Unfortunately, it was a big let down. Instead of singing all of their greatest hits, they sung 30 seconds of their greatest hits in a medley of 30 seconds of their other greatest hits. I was just getting into one song, when they would start with another. At least the setting was great.

Friday night we headed to Sundance (the ski resort) for an overnighter with the Summer Associates. Due to budget cuts, we skipped the Tree Room (saddest day), but we did spend some time at the Owl Bar. We also were um "entertained" by The Fantastiks. It was not my favorite. We didn't have the chance to enjoy any of the bike trails around the area the next day, though. My family was in town for school shopping. Jayde, Jordan, Mom Dena and I shopped until we dropped, literally. I nearly fell asleep on the floor of their hotel room. We did take a small break in the middle of it all to see Funny People and pick up a Little Ceasars Pizza and bread sticks. I cannot believe that Jayde is going to be a junior in college and Jordan is going into Junior High School. I feel so old! I love those guys.


We finished off our weekend with a brunch with the fam, Dave, Inga, and Gabe at the Salt Lake Pizza & Pasta place. This has become Jayde and my go-to place for brunch (at least until she turns 21 and can get into Fiddlers Elbow).

Shantel & Tom

Less than twelve hours after arriving home from Ireland, we headed to Seattle to attend Shantel's wedding. One of the first memories I have of Shantel is at a barbeque, after which she asked me if she could get a ride. I said yes and asked her where she wanted to go, "It doesn't matter. I just need someone to drive me 19 miles from here so I can run back." (She was training for a marathon). I thought, then, "this girl is crazy!" And I was completely right. When I think of all the crazy things we have done together, I can't help but smile. During law school, we spent nearly every weekend hitting the clubs--usually in Park City and usually ending up at some random house party. On breaks, we would hit the road to NYC, Vegas, Santa Barbara/Solvang, Seattle, Moab to Alberquerque, wherever. Each trip ended up even crazier than the last.

It wasn't all about having a wild time, though. During our first year at law school, Shantel practically lived with me and my roommate Mark, entertaining us with her Korean puppet shows. The second year, I practically lived with Shantel and her roommate Mark (Mark liked to get around) and, although Shantel and I were not moot court partners (Mark was actually my partner), we spent the most of our time together. Then third year, Shantel moved in with me. It made sense since we already spent so much of our time together. I can't even begin to count the number of nights we spent over a bottle of wine.

Her wedding was very elegant. And it was so apparent how much Tom loves her. He started tearing up when Shantel started walking down the aisle. I don't think there was a dry female eye in the house after that. The tables were topped with leaf wrapped vases and pretty pink orchids. The food was probably the best wedding food I have ever had. It was a full spread of gourmet appetizers and lamb shanks. They were passing around champagne with Frangelico (so Yummy!) and Chambord all night. I was tipsy after two, but that didn't stop me.

Our weekend didn't stop there either. When we first arrived in town, Shantel invited us to the rehearsal dinner. It was such a unique restaurant. There is no menu. The chef comes around to talk to you about what you like and dislike, then he comes back with a wonderful surprise. It is perfect for people like me who can never make up there minds.

The next day, before the wedding, Rod and I met up with Tracy and Dave to grab lunch at Pike's Place and check out the Seattle Art Museum. I can never get enough of all the great food at Pike's Place. Although I love modern art and have been to Seattle many times, I have never been to the SAM. I don't know what I was waiting for. It was fabulous! The exhibit started with a full size Ford in various stages of flipping. There were a lot of familiar artists--a few of my favorites--and even more new ones I had never heard of. I think Rod and I both liked Some/One by Do Ho-Suh, and the Titus Kaphar exhibit the most. Some/One is a coat made entirely out of dog tags, each of which represents a soldier who has died. Even though the coat is in the center of a large room, it fills almost the entire space. Titus Kaphar recreates fine art masterpieces and then reconfigures them to tell an alternate history. For example, one painting--A Conversation Between Paintings--he cuts out the picture of a little boy looking adoringly at a white soldier and superimposes the boy on a painting of a black soldier, which were traditionally depicted alone in paintings.

The next day after the wedding, we went to a barbeque on Lake Washington. It was so fun spending the whole day catching up with old friends and meeting Shantel's new family and friends. Afterwards, we went to Shantel and Tom's place. We had planned on going out, but were having so much fun just hanging out that we ended up just ordering pizza.

Sunday, we all had brunch at the Elysian Brewery, before saying our goodbyes and heading back to SLC.

Congratulations Shantel! I am so happy for you.

Ireland, but not really

I've been trying to narrow down the pictures I should use in a single post about Ireland, but the task is just too hard. Rather than make you wait until December to hear about what is going on with us, I'm going to (gasp) just skip Ireland. Well, kinda. I will do a full write up on my travel blog: http://www.whereisqt.blogspot.com/. Until then, you will have to settle for this:

As a part-Christmas, part-Birthday, part-Anniversary present, I took Rod to Europe (for the first time!). We spent 11 whirlwind days making a counter-clockwise trip around Ireland.

The highlights were spending time with our friends--Kara, Colby, Flannery, and Finnegan--exploring Howth and Dublin.

spending a night on the wrong side (depending on who you ask) of town in Belfast,

the Coastline,

(Giant's Causeway)

randomly ending up in the front row of a David Gray concert in Galway,

riding our bikes around the Aran Islands,
the Coastline, (Cliffs of Moher)

Dingle Peninsula,

Spending my birthday in the most incredible bed and breakfast




the Castles.
And did I mention the Coastline?

Ireland was so beautiful, but cold. It is the only trip that I've ever come back from whiter than I left. :) Everything was so green--in shades that I've never seen. It fully lived up to its Emerald Isle reputation. July is supposed to be its warmest month, but it never got above 65 degrees.






The Guiness deserves its own paragraph. If you can believe it, it tastes even better in Ireland. It was silky smooth, great for cutting the grease from all the fish-and-chips and full Irish breakfasts, which include bacon and sausage, eggs, tomatoes, two types of bread, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and cereal.



All of this completely made up for the fact that they drive on the wrong side of a very narrow road, the overabundance of fried foods, and turning 29.

Mellie, Book Club, and other Random things before heading to Ireland

In the weeks leading up to Ireland, we did so much that it's hard to remember everything. There were a few book clubs--Book Club #3: Round 2 of "Animal Vegetable Miracle," which I still haven't read, and Book Club #2: "All the Pretty Horses," which I loved. We met the summer associates and Clay Parr (the Parr of Parr Brown) for dinner at Porcupine--our favorite pub.

One of my best friends from law school, Miss Mellie, celebrated her 30th Birthday. Nici, the hostess, threw a fabulous bash complete with pinatas, Carluccis, and We Take the Cake. The cake, flown in from Florida, was to die for. I can see why it's one of Oprah's favorite things. I actually (discretely) licked my plate.

Stacia and Dave were there with their adorable son. I have a weakness for redheads. I tried to sneak him home, but I didn't get very far before Stacia noticed. :)