Jayders!

I may have mentioned this once or twice before, but I have the cutest little sister ever. The third weekend in June she came to SLC to visit me. We kicked the weekend off with a Red Butte Gala with Smokey Robinson. Red Butte is one of my favorite things about SLC. It is such a fun, laid back concert venue, where the night is as much about chilling out with your friends as is it about enjoying the music. With our VIP Gala tickets, compliments of David Gee (one of my law partners that is on the Red Butte board), we got drinks, apps, dinner, and dessert before, during, and after the show and reserved seating.

The next day, we decided to get the best of the rainy weather, and spent the day getting massages, check out the farmers market, and go see the funniest movie I've seen in a very long time: The Hangover. I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt two days later.

On Sunday, before leaving, Jayders and I took a hike up Rattlesnake Gulch despite the rainy weather. Luckily the weather cleared just in time for the hike. It was beautiful. We had so much fun talking that we extended our hike through brunch at Fiddler's Elbow.

That afternoon, Rod and I celebrated Father's Day with our good friends, Dave, Inga, and the Gabester. Gabe is such a cute waterbaby.

Down and Dirty

Now you might find this hard to believe, but I have been terrible about bringing my camera with me and/or using it this month. Maybe I got burned out on photos during Puerto Rico. Probably not. I have just been so busy that I'm forgetful. Also, my computer crashed (again). So I am behind posting (again). Shocking! I know.

After my week lounging in Puerto Rico, I was in no shape to be on a bike. But Dirt Series (a mountain bike camp ran by Rocky Mountain Bikes) called. Saturday morning started with an intensive skills camp, where I worked on slow descending and ascending switchbacks, straight line riding, front wheel pops, and manuals. In the afternoon, despite the downpour, we were still planning on heading out for a ride . . . until lightening lit up the sky. Our ride got postponed for maintenance classes--gears and cassettes, brakes and shocks--and bike fit instead. We ended the day with a BBQ, beer, and prizes.

The next day we started with the ride. My group, which included my good friend Susan, went to Johns and Sweeneys on the Mid-Mountain trail. We did a shuttle, so it was almost all downhill. That is my kind of ride! We workshopped several switchbacks and some raised objects. Even though I didn't get everything, I definitely felt more confident and am riding much more aggressively. After the daily rain for the last week (seriously! I feel like I'm in Seattle), I was surprised that the trail wasn't muddier. The roots on the trail were slippery, though. I fell hard a couple of times. After beautiful morning weather, the last 30 seconds of the ride were a very painful hail storm. Then the rain started (again)! They ended moving the skills sessions to later into the afternoon, but I had to leave at four to make it to a wedding. I missed the climbing session. :( My legs were still purple two weeks later and I haven't been that muddy since I was a kid, but it was a lot of fun and I learned SO much.

Before, during, and after all the biking excitement, I got to catch with old friends. Friday night, I started the night in American Fork, visiting my friend (since 7th grade) LisaDawn, her family including new little Jackson, and Rachel Anne who was visiting from Ohio. The after party was at The Bayou, where Rod and I met up with Megan and Paul. They are some of our best friends from law school. Megan and Paul have been there since the beginning of our relationship--Paul was a reader at our wedding. They are in town for Brian and Katie's wedding. Paul showed off his new party hat.

Saturday night (after bike camp day 1) was a camp-themed goodbye party for Ari and Patty, who are heading to Philadelphia for dental school. I am so proud of Ari, but I miss them already. I fed my sadness with carmel s'mores (and maybe a few drinks).

Sunday night, after ducking out early on bike camp day 2, I went to the lovely wedding of Brian and Katie. The wedding was in one of our favorite locations, Millcreek Canyon. It was raining like crazy, which is supposed to be good luck. Their wedding was VERY lucky! Their favors were incredibly cute gumball machines. SO CUTE! Congratulations Brian and Katie!

Puerto Rico, In Short

After an all night flight, I landed in Puerto Rico midday Saturday. I hopped in my rental car and headed south to the colonial city of Ponce.

The next few days, I hung out around the southern coast diving, hiking, and visiting ruins.
The night before my family arrived, I managed to swing a private tour of the bioluminescent bay near Vieques island.

After meeting up with my family, we checked into the posh Wyndham Resort. The next day, after checking out the resort's beach and pool,

we headed to Old San Juan. Such a charming colonial town (probably the only part of the territory that left me wanting more . . . well except the scuba diving, which was exceptional). Our sightseeing was cut short, though, by a torrential downpour that knocked out the power in the city.

The next day, Jordan, Grandpa Reeder, and I headed West to check out the Rio Camuy Caverns, more ruins, and the world's largest radio telescope.

We got home LATE, but not too late for me and Jayde to check out Old San Juan's night life with my friend from high school, who was stationed in PR temporarily. Jason showed us all of the hot spots.

Friday we made a trip to El Yunque, the jungle just across the street from our hotel. It was really the only thing close to our hotel.

Afterwards, Bug and I headed out to the beach to take advantage of the perfect waves and the setting sun. I cannot believe how grown up he is getting!

After a late night arrival Friday, Aunt Kelly and Aunt Diane joined us for my last full day in PR. We decided to head back to Old San Juan to check out the half of the city we missed due to rain and to do some shopping.

We left early so that we could catch some more rays and relax before heading back to SLC.

The best part of the whole vacation was the time I got to spend with my family. I love them so much!

[For the full story, check my travel blog--www.whereisqt.blogspot.com--in about a month when I finally get around to posting. :)].

Is May Seriously Over Part III

The last few weeks of May are a bit of a blur. I was so busy trying to get out of the office (for a trip to Puerto Rico), that I did not do much else. Somewhere in there I:

1. Celebrated Mindy's 29th birthday. I brought blueberry cheesecake from Gourmandies: The Bakery. YUMMY!

2. Won an award at Inns of Court. Inns of Court is a professional organization that combines socializing with continuing legal education. I'm in the fun Inn (i.e. we drink). Each year it picks a book and all of our presentations revolve around that book. This year we read Missing Witness, a legal thriller. I got the award for the best Doug MacKenzie. I know I should be flattered to win an award for acting in front of so many attorneys, but . . . the part I was playing was the inexperienced/incompetent associate. :)

3. Got in a few more bike rides, mostly on Dry Creek.

4. Went to an unsuccessful (only 1 person--not me--read the book) book club.

5. Went to see Miss Saigon at the PTC. I was SO excited to see how this play compared to Madam Butterfly, on which it is (loosely) based. I was surprised at how much more emotional I was in this version because the soldier actually cared about the Asian girl. It made the devastating ending all that more tragic. The set was AMAZING! It even included a helicopter exit. I am always amazed to see what a fantastic job PTC, a regional theater, does with these large productions. The actors are SO talented, the sets and costumes are so intricate, and the seats are so inexpensive. Next year's line-up is out already; get your tickets now!

6. And spent a weekend at Jess and Sarah's cabin (to celebrate Carrie's birthday).

The day I flew out to Puerto Rico, I had a deposition that I thought would end before noon. It ended at 2. I still had a filing that afternoon. I finally got out of the office at 5. I hurried home to pack and attend a BBQ at Jeremy and Leslie's. Rod dropped me off at the airport at 11. It was a LONG day (and night).

Is May Seriously Over Part II

The third week in May was a bit more hectic than the last. But it was one of the most memorable. It started with a book club (my work book club) at my house. The book was "The Fool", a raunchy but hilarious re-telling of King Lear. We served bangers and mash with G&Ts and trifle for dessert.

Thursday, on her due date, CarleyAnne had her beautiful baby girl, Baby J. CarleyAnne is a rock star. She did it with no epidural, no birth plan, and no lamazze. 12 hours in labor au naturale. You go girl!

Friday night I got to spend some time shopping with my BFF, Mindy, at the cute shops on 300 South. Most of the shops stock cool retro thrift finds. My favorite shop, though, is Model Citizen, a clothing store that stocks clothing from only local artists.

Afterwards, Rod and I went to the Salt Lake County Bar spring dinner and silent auction. I am always surprised about how much fun we have at these events. We spent a lot more time than we had planned drinking, dancing, and socializing. The proceeds of the silent auction benefited the Children's Justice Center so we bid away. While we didn't get everything we wanted, we managed to walk away with a couple of goodies.

I worked most of Saturday during the day, but I did get to spend a few hours with Miss Carley, Baby J, Alicia, and Mindy when Carley came home from the hospital. Saturday night, we attended one of our favorite annual events: the ACLU of Utah Annual Bill of Rights Celebration. The keynote speaker, Rachel Maddow (of MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show"), was so poignant and funny. She reminded us how quirky Utah is (like we need to be reminded), but pointed out how important it is to take actions to protect our subcultures. I was also incredibly impressed by Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank, who has made an open and adamant stance against cross-deputizing his officers to act in an immigration-related capacity. As someone who has worked with victims of domestic violence who are afraid to report their abuse for fear of immigration repurcussions, it is so important that all people can report crimes without fear. I'm proud to live in a community with a police chief like Chris Burbank.

Sunday, Mindy and I had an early morning yoga session followed by a good talk in the park and a lunch at Sages (my favorite vegetarian restaurant). I worked in the afternoon, but let off steam with a bike ride at Glen Wild. This is not my favorite trail--it is generally very hot and the front side only has a view of the freeway. It wasn't too bad this early in the season though AND I managed to ride up the steep rocky climb and make a couple of switchbacks that I have never been able to ride before.

What a great (exhausting) week!