Thursday, July 22, 2010

thus far at Red Fish Lake Lodge...



























I had tried before to upload my blog but the internet being lame and a busy schedule had kept me pretty dang busy.
Working at Red Fish for the summer is great. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in Rexburg… and I never come up with anything that great nor do I ever find a scenario where I think of such a great experience as this has been.
I mostly work housekeeping I jump around and do my part in other departments ( dish washing, server assistant, wedding stuff, or just whatever.)
Life here is pretty simple. My most lingering questions typically are who I want to partner up with for the day and what we are having for lunch and dinner. Every day I wake up I get to see the beautiful Sawtooth mts. I love all that this place has to offer. Some days I’ll go enjoy kayaking or the amazing hikes. Other days I feel like going river rafting or horseback riding. Sometimes I go on road trips to Sun Valley or Boise.
Summers in Idaho are great because they have basically zero humidity and hardly any rain to stop my plans.
I guess there is one big question that I just push away. I’m going to be here till October. What am I going to do after this? I’ll have 2 and a 1/2 months to kill before school starts. I feel like a lot of the times I act impulsively and just do whatever. I could possibly go home, live with mi amiga Cassie in Washington, live in Boise, live in Idaho Falls, or … work at a ski resort . Yeah I have no clue but I’ve got some time.

I often find virtue being tried and tested here. The most difficult task for me is finding the balance of being how I should be, befriending all types of people, and not offending others.For Example: drinking. It use to be pretty easy because only in the past year or so do people look at me and think I could possibly even be old enough to drink. Now that I am 21 turning 22 this year... the age reason doesn't work. Altough it is true that it is not in harmony with the word of wisdom in my church.. not drining really is a personal choice. I've never seen a greast exampel of drinking in my life. It has also caused a lot of heart ache in my life as well. If it be a boyfriend who drank, or people I care about putting themselves in danger, or all that stuff...
The real questions are: Who am I? What do I stand for because of who I am? Annnd what good or bad do I do when when I feel like no one around is there watching me? I spent most of my teenage years defining myself with nothing. All that mattered was having someone to be shadowed in. I spent a lot of time not jumping into college. I had to know what I wanted. I had to spend time just by myself getting to know people, traveling, and deciding the things I would and would not do in my life. I have come to love the LDS church and do my best to respect all other people of beliefs or lack of beliefs. I do my best to be kind and do what I feel is right. Although people can be difficult I make it a goal to love everyone and if they are jerks I find one amazing thing about them and let it grow to respect for them and typically loving them. I love music, road trips, animals of all shapes and sizes, learning about people, my church, learning in general, my family, my friends, and the ability to create if it be with art, music, or doing service for others. I feel that I stand for what I feel is ‘good’. I do at times dwell in places I typically would not feel comfortable in, however, sometimes you have to be in the world and not hidden … if that makes any sense. When I think no one is watching I’m pretty much the same if not a little better. I am at times pretty impressionable, so I will loosen some slack to makes spending times with others easier while still keeping to my standards. When I’m alone I try to be honest and just the way I think I should be if people are watching. Sometimes I think thoughts I shouldn’t and pretty much beat myself up for it and switch it around to something better.
One night I was trying to fall asleep and made a life plan it went something like this :
Back to school in January of 2011-> Mission papers in by April 2011-> serve a full time mission and get back in December of 2012-> obtain a degree in art education and agriculture (the ag one may change) in April of 2015-> (while in school become dog training certified) do student teaching-> join the peace corps and use my agriculture degree to help people become self-sufficient with agriculture (be in peace corps for 2 years)-> come home from peace corps in 2017-> move back to Texas, Washington State, or somewhere close to the mountains and teach art.-> get a dog ( preferably a cardigan welsh corgi->go to graduate school-> teach at the university level-> get married 2020-> have 3 kids-> Name one after mt doggie->live, teach, and be happy til I die -the end. Yeah. I like it. As I wrote it down I realized that these were things I have wanted to do for a long time… So this is really what I want…please let my find a way.
I just wonder how I’m going to adjust going back to school. All the freedom and fun stuff to do will be greatly missed. I hate wearing jeans now I really only feel comfortable in running shorts. No homework, no classes, no extremely straight edged people ruining your fun, no pressure to date or get married, ample amounts of sun and soft serve ice cream. Oh Red Fish I love you!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

my first day off :)

I've officially been here for over a week now!
Today was my first day off!!!
I went horse back riding, ate lots of food, caught up with friends, napped, and well the day isn't over yet.

What have I been up to?
Enjoying the great outdoors.
meeting new people.
working.
went to Stanley a few times.
Went to Sun Valley.
Went to the hot springs and I Will go again.
Went to my new tiny branch for the first time this past Sunday.
Did a service project with my FHE group.
Enjoyed not always having phone service.
Met some of the wildlife.

Being outdoors is one of my most favorite things. It is why I love to go on walks, camp, hike, bike ride, all that good stuff. When you are outdoors it is so easy to just put your life into perspective and reboot. I get to do it every day. I get to see the beautiful Sawtooth mountains every day. This place is amazing.
I dread the thought of going back to the concrete world were expectations are irritating and life isn't so simple and beautiful as this.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Red fish Lake Lodge and the road up to it... I guess.

I spent this past weekend trying to feel better about everything that has been going on.
Thursday was just a big let down. On Friday morning I got the offer I had been looking for.
I got an offer to work at Red Fish Lake Lodge in Stanley, Idaho.
I spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday spending with people as much as I could.
I realized how much I'd miss my friends and how I'd miss out on every one's life. I realized though that I really needed this.
When I called them last week they knew who I was just by giving them my first name. After I got off the phone I was pretty positive I would be getting the position.
Things have fallen so out of place in my life that this just seem to fit perfectly and other things in my life just happened to align so that I could go.
So really there isn't any reason I should stay in Rexburg. I don't have a job and I'm not in school if I could I would have just gone home like most people do when they aren't taking classes.
My friend drove me to Red Fish. It was an interesting ride, although it was four hours... it didn't really feel that long to me.
I realized I wouldn't really be able to talk to this kid anymore that was taking me, we really wouldn't really be friends anymore after this. I think for the ride being the last time we would spend time together .. it wasn't what he thought it'd be.
My friend said that I seemed different... but when I get hurt I have a hard time feeling better all of the sudden. It is hard to know how to act after so much has changed.
I wanted to the ride continue longer. I knew I would miss this friendship but I guess no one can be in each other's life forever ...right?
Well other than Carmen, my family, and if I ever get married...
Once the ride ended and I got to my destination a new part of my life would be starting and I know so much is going to change now.

I had my first day of work today. It wasn't so bad and I was going to be a server-ish person as well ... but really I think I may just end up only doing house keeping which would be pretty cool because house keeping goes by fast.

There are hundreds of cute little chipmunks around even albino ones..and a half albino one.
The sights are beautiful.
I would upload pictures but I don't have my SD card for my camera...so if I ever do find it then I'll post pictures.

Monday, May 10, 2010

400 profile views ...

I don't really have much to say .. but umm life is going.
It is pretty swell, it is going fantasicly well in places I never thought would be....and not so well as far as the job thign goes.
I just wish I had a job.
I've had lots to keep myself busy for sure.

Hmm ... changed my fb profile pic.




and here is a song I like a lot right now.
Props to mi amigo sharing it with me.



and yay for 400 profile views :)

Friday, May 7, 2010

job hunting and relationships and living...

What has been going on lately in my life?

Hmm... yeah job hunting rules most of my days.
On a scale from 1-10 the difficulty of finding a job in Rexburg, Idaho is probably a 10.5... ya know slightly more than impossible but still do-able.

I spend most of my days chasing job leads, cleaning, running errands trying to fix lots of messes, seeing my friends, and seeing Nate helping him with homework and just kickin it.

Everyone in my life seems to be doing pretty well, in school, and kickin' butt in life.

I'm still waiting to figure out what I'm doing until I take classes again next year.
Going on a mission is still in the works. Firstly I need a job..and then I need my wisdom teethies out and then I need to start saving the bucks I need to serve the Lord for a year and a half of my life.

Yesterday Nate came over and we made a fort and roasted marshmellows in my back yard.
I was fun and lots was said and it is just a amazing feeling that he is back.
He is in my life again and it is great to have one of my best friends back in my life. I showed him the notebook with all the letters he gave me and he has mine so I'll get to see them. I had sort of thought he didn't write me as much and from our conversation I realized he wrote me a lot for what he did.
I never really think to bring my camera around when I'm out and about with my friends... oh well !!!

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Any yeah.. things are crazy like always. I just have to focus on the outcome I want and not think about the inbewteen.


Tunes of my life lately :











ohh lets see if you can handle some tech n9ne





p.s.

got a fishy his name is Joe or Jo-jo

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Monday, April 26, 2010

all hairs cut


Ugh.
I could write about how much I dislike something...
But I won't. It'll all be good.

My good friend recently started me doing this thing where I have a separate journal in which I write a miracle every day.
It came up because as I was skipping through the Preach my Gospel I came across a certain part I have troubles understanding.
The journal has helped greatly and in the end made me much more happy every day.

Today I got my hair cut.
I sometimes need encouragement for drastic choice I have to make in my life... sometimes I just like advice even for not so drastic choices.
I recall one day I was laying in the hall talking to my roomie and all I said was "Hey Erin pick one yes or no." although she is too inquizative and had to have more information. Sometimes I'll wonder if I I want a pp&j sandwich or a ham one and I'll pose the question to ChaCha ( a texting answering machine)...
and then yeah...
back to what I was saying. I was looking in the mirror this morning thinking about how grown out my layers where and how long I had allowed my hair to be. I was struck with a sudden outburst of short hair desire... still being fueled by the outburst I went into our second living room to find my roomie... with her blessing of short hair agree-ance I headed out the door. I called my old roomie Chelsea and asked her to tag along.
AS we made our way to Hair We Are I began to fall from my short hair outburst high...
I finally made my way into the salon and on the chair. before I knew it I was loosing many inches of hair. I tried to fight back the past and how people said I look like a man with short hair and tried to linger on the dream I had last night where I was dating a extremely hot boy that use to be my co-worker...and then it trailed off to a boy I'm interested in dating in real life...and then it drifted off to all the other things I had to get done today.
Next came the blow dryer and the straightening...she turned me around...
and I felt unsure.
annnd now with the compliments and the positive feedback I'm pretty happy with it.
takes a LOT less time to blow dry.

uhh what else has been going on in my life:

*hair cut being approved by all
*Nate is back and we hang out now, pretty cool.
*Nate has awesome roommates!
*I made a friend walking home the other day... its a border collie...and yes its very cute and friendly!
*Not living in student housing with people that don't live the honor code is kind of a shock
*I have a cool room-roommate
*It hasn't snowed in a while here in rexburg... but typing it may jinx it. It'll still be below 40 come Wednesday :C
*I am job hunting

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

a little update.

The question still lingers... will I be a student next semester?
Meh, I'm trying and I know I'll work at getting the best result possible.

I could write alot but I feel like just making a list of how things are right now:
*My brotha from another mother is here AKA Caleb
*for the past FHE we did finger painting, I make lame FHEs
*I am a very good listener
*I have been extremely good at learning peoples names this semester
*I like a cute boy and I've been pretty laid back about it.. which is rare for me..good news is hes still around and wants to hang out..hmm...sweet.
*oh speaking of boys I had a missionary, this said missionary has been back for a little over a month now annnd we haven't spoken ( typically this would be life life alteringly sad to me but I've been so caught up in my life ...well..it hasn't been) He's from Burley,ID so I think distance isn't the reason.
*I made a 92 on my last intro to visual arts quiz.
*let us not talk about the rest of school
*I spoke to my loving and amazing bishop about the process of what I'd need and go through for serving a mission... most probably starting my papers this up coming semester!
*So I'll probably still not be going to gospel docterine and probably stay in mission prep or go to temple prep
*Speaking of missions!!! My friend the Great Paul Henderson gets his papers soon and will be off serving the Lord. Not to mention my buddy Ryan Laleh will be starting his papers this up and coming semester as well. His idea is that we could get out papers back at the same time...meh, we'll see.
*It rained in Idaho today_ rained not snowed!!! Although it didn't help my cold.
*My beloved brother and his amazing wife Lorry are going to be having a little Rudd soon!
*Last but Not least, I got an art scholarship for $200 dollars. If I'm here next semester then I get to put it to good use.

Here are some bad images of what I sent in for my portfolio:
I was a little sad I didn't get to make a bunch of new stuff for my portfolio. Most of it is from my snior year 2006-2007.


^Metal bird: This bird is a bit redunkUlous. ON the bottom are the first lines I've ever welded. The feathers I cut with this great and beautiful plasma cutter. One weekend my senior art teacher took me "welding" really I just saurded all the pieces together. The craftsmanShip is not amazing. I added the piece to make it seem like I have a wide range of artistic abilities.


^ " Goat boy" : I added this piece to show that I understand the casting process ( how the mask was made) The boys proportions are horribly wrong, but I didn't really care in my high school years about those types of things.



^ probably 2008: I went to a circus with my friend Cassie and shot this pic, I thought it was interesting. My friend Jonathan said it was bad... but oh well.



^ 2009? : some birdies flying around behind Cassie's g-ma's house in Gig Harbor, WA


^ 2006-2007: my senior year..... I cannot understand why I added the shotty watercolorNess to it. I think it looks like the hall way in my high school...


^ 2010_ I wanted to prove that I understood how to draw people a bit more...but if you understand drawing then you are good at sculpture and so.. I sculpted this little baby. This way I felt better making something new for my portfolio!


^Viggo Peter Mortensen: Oh yes what a gorgous and amazing man. It'd take him any day. Uh... maybe not. Either way I made this during the great Mr.T year. 2005-2006 I believe. I added this to show that I was aware of how to kinda make a lineoleum cut print.


^2009 Made this for my sister's living room! This is my first landscape ever. I'm so glad she likes it!


^ "Beehive lady": 2006-2007 part of my ap-portfolio my senior year. Later on I made bees and they were glued on. I added it because I heard it is good to add pieces that show you can add texture...


^ lastly is "Cowboy on Mars" : 2006-2007 Umm I think it looks not so nice but I was given advice to add it because of the use of color. SO I did.

So That was my "freshman art portfolio" scholarship thingy...
I'm pumped to get better that is for sure!
At the same time I'm wondering how a year and a half not doing art could effect being better.

I think it would be neat to student teach back by my home. I hope to someday work at a magnet arts school. Like Booker T. Eventually if I felt worthy I'd love the chance to teach at a university level.
We'll see :).

P.S. here a few songs I've liked more so recently...











enjoy.