Friends and Fun in Foenix

What should you do if you are in the middle of packing and moving in a week? Why, go down to Phoenix, of course!

Spencer and I, along with our friend Callie (see previous post), went to Phoenix last weekend to visit our friend Sarah Campbell. Sarah and I met in a Spanish class a couple of years ago, roomed together in Spain, and then again in Provo before I got married. I hadn't seen Sarah in months because she decided to go to China as opposed to spending her summer in Provo. Therefore, I needed to get my SAC-fix one last time before we moved.

Phoenix was a lot of fun and more beautiful than I thought it would be. We spent the time by swimming, watching Bro. Campbell in action as a federal judge, hiking, boating, water skiing, tubing, and dying on said tube (thanks to Bro. Campbell). Basically, the time went by too quickly, and I am requiring Sarah to move to NYC.

Take It Easy

Well, we're a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.

That's from the song "Take It Easy" by the Eagles in case you didn't know, and that is the corner in Winslow to which they refer.

Timpanogos, Mountain Timpanogos, Timpanogos Mountain that We Love

This past Saturday, Erica and I climbed Mount Timpanogos. Mount Timpanogos is the second highest peak in the Wasatch Range, rising 11,749 ft. above sea level. It was a grueling, 9-hr, 13-mile hike that began at 4 AM. Our reason for beginning so early was 3-fold: 1. It's a LONG hike! 2. Provo hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit that day, which we were hoping to avoid by beginning so early 3. Parking is a HUGE issue at the trailhead in the summer. We weren't even the only ones beginning that early. When we arrived there, the lot was already half full and there was a constant flow of people arriving.


For her entire lack of hiking/camping/backpacking experience, Erica did phenomenally well. She was very brave and powered up and down the thousands of feet of vertical with ease. On the way home, we pulled over to the side of the road and waded in the cold stream of Sundance canyon. We were so tired when we arrived home around 1 PM, we slept for 3 straight hours! It was an awesome day.

The Facts of Life

I, Erica, have graduated college.

I can legally drink alcohol.

I have been married for 6 months.

I still get asked if I am at least 15 years old.

Shakespeare in the Park

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of both Erica and my Mom (which included, but were not limited to: getting up at 3:30 AM 2 days in a row, waiting in like for over 8 hours, etc.), we all got to see the Central Park production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" on Thursday evening in Central Park.


It was my first serious Shakespeare play and it was amazing. Anne Hathaway, the actress from The Princess Diaries, The Other Side of Heaven, etc. had the lead female (but cross-dressing) role, along with several other big names in Hollywood and Broadway. The acting was phenomenal, the music was fantastic, and the show was incredibly entertaining.



I'll be honest - having been exposed to a lot of opera in my youth (thanks to my parents and their season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera), I was concerned that Shakespeare might also possess what I like to call the "Emperor's New Clothes" qualities - ie, no one wants to admit it is incredibly dull and boring and simply pretends to thoroughly enjoy it so as not to be viewed as "uncultured." To the contrary, the Shakespeare production was awesome. I will totally go again next year*

*pending Erica's willingness to wait in line again from 4AM - 1PM for tickets.

Hallelujah and Amen!

I know it's been a ridiculously long time since I've posted on the blog, but come on, vacationing for 3 weeks is hard work. You don't really expect me to be on the computer, do you?

But I have some wonderful news! After many months and a crazy week of hunting, Spencer and I have an apartment! It's on W 46th Street between 9th and 10th Ave. We will be signing the lease in about 2 hours. Here are some details on the apartment:
-biggest one that we looked at
-in Hell's Kitchen or Midtown West for those not familiar with NYC neighborhoods
-has a great kitchen with counters and cabinets! Others we looked at had no counters and 2 cabinets
-on a beautiful and quiet street next to an Episcopal church (pictures to follow)
-short subway commute to NYU. We were hoping for Spencer to be within walking distance but those apartments fell through. With this one, it's the exact same commute time, just on the subway.
-12-ft ceilings. It really helps the apartment feel bigger
-first floor. No crazy walk-up for us! Although, it is an elevator building. Also, we have no A/C so first floor is great.

So although things aren't exactly as we planned, such as having the lease start immediately, we have successfully apartment-hunted in NYC and have an apartment that we love!