Jess

the land where everything's bigger

2010-02-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Bouldering at McKinney Falls State Park, Taven exploring a new hobby, San Antonio river walk, fire on the beach in Port Aranses and eating real Texas BBQ

2010-02-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

We've had a crazy road trip- driven over 5500 miles (over half of I-10), ran from adverse weather and changed plans about a thousand times. Last night was this week's highlight of sleeping on cots next to a stone tub and an outdoor shower at eldorado hot springs in Tonopah, Arizona.

After spending time with friends and climbing in St. George and Las Vegas, we hurried to Santa Barbara to visit Matthew before the storms hit. The meteorologist camped next to us in Red Rocks warned us to hurry east as fast as we could. We camped outside matthew's house and spent the morning with him whilethe rain started to come and we decided to leave.

We drove and drove and eventually ended up in lockhart, Texas to spend some time with our friends, Nate and Steph Dutson and their cute son Taven. We had so much fun with them visiting areas surrounding Austin and san Antonio and even climbing at a few different limestone crags. We all camped on the beach one night and woke up to some crazy wind, keeping us from getting in the ocean. The game Bejeweled kept us entertained when it rained or when Taven was napping.

We are now finding our way back to the cold very slowly and figuring out what our future will look like. Pretty exciting time! I have figured out that I like the desert and I think I could be a nomad for a long time.

more to come...

2010-01-20T19:38:00.001-08:00

Life on the road is grand.

somebody's piggy bank

2010-01-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

People always ask me what the weirdest donation to come through the thrift store has been. I never have an awesome answer because the weird ones are usually things that I have no idea what they are, or something really disgusting. However yesterday I came across a noteworthy donation: a jar containing the pieces of a shattered piggy bank and a used bottle of super glue! Perhaps someone with some time on their hands needs a project...

I will miss my off and on again employment at this happy place and the people who work, shop, and volunteer their time there. I've learned a lot, not only about clothing brands and valuable antiques, but also about life.

p.s. this year Somebody's Attic was able to donate around $80,000 to abuse prevention in Cache Valley

(photo by dad: James Neeley)

Riding the bus

2009-11-11T10:35:00.000-08:00

Every monday, wednesday and friday I get on the bus at 9:40 a.m. I put my bike on the rack so that I can ride down the hill and make it to work on time. Every monday, wednesday and friday at 9:40 Dave is on the bus on his way to work at McDonald's. He greets me with a smile and then asks me where my helmet is. When I tell him I left it at home, he shakes his head and says, "safety first, yes, yes, safety must be first." After a moment of silence we then talk about the ducks that live in the canal and Dave's basketball preparation for the Special Olympics. However, today our conversation was a little different. When he saw my lack of helmet he said, "safety first, you need to listen your mother." Yes I do. I will wear my helmet on Friday. Thanks mom and Dave for your consistency and caring. Why does it sometimes take so long to listen?

Happy Fall

2009-10-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

colors at Indian Creek

newspaper rock

leading at the City

Nick on "the Gash" Indian Creek

my boys

Heather Feather

Sunset at the City

scouting

I don't know why these are blurry. If you click on them they are not. hmm

International Day of Climate Action

2009-10-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

October 24, 2009 is coming up. That day, millions of people around the world will take action to spread the number 350, the safe level of CO2 in the atmosphere measured in parts per million, and make sure world leaders are on course to reach that target. Yay! Visit the website for ideas of what to do.

Reduce and reuse

2009-09-03T17:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/garden/03recycle.html

very nice article

Rufus survived a year

2009-08-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Rufus had a birthday sometime in the last week or two. I don't want to be one of those dog owners who throws their puppy a party complete with doggy treats and fake squirrels when i can just give him a stick off of the tree and he will love me just as much. He's been a good little doofus.

2009-07-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Moab is hot and the prickly pear are no longer in bloom. But we bought misters for the dogs, we drink lots of water and chase the shade all day long. This is still a very happy place.

Visits from Heather the Canadian, Nick's Parents, Mia and Mom and Dad have all been grand! The more I explore this amazing country the longer I want to stay - especially when it is with people I love. Nick and I finally made it to Indian Creek, the best place to climb cracks in the world, only 50 miles south of Moab. Last weekend we were the only two souls there besides Heidi (the Dugout Ranch owner) and her workers - wow! that's solitude. I think the dogs enjoyed the quiet also, but it was sometimes interupted by a brief ganter after the cottontails. Pretty amazing landscape.

spring?

2009-04-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely spring break in the other-worldly park known as Joshua Tree. The weather in the Mojave Desert was ideal. Now if only we didn't have to drive 12 hours to find nice weather. That would be nice. more pictures are coming...

Way down here you need a reason to move

2008-12-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

Playa del Carmen

Mayan ruins at Tulum
Teva the spider monkey at the Jungle Place

2008-10-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

I love Castle Valley.

2008-10-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

The other day mom and I vented over the phone about the overwhelming task of keeping up with all of the happenings on facebook. I checked my profile after months of not and had 74 friend requests. I quickly closed the browser, my heart racing from anxiety. Mom said I should at least contribute to the cyber world by updating my marital status. Nick and I had a beautiful little wedding surrounded by those we love. We are so grateful for the support and the sacrifices made by so many to be with us on the Snake River that day as well as the congratulatory notes.

Nick and I have spent the past 3 months in Moab where he guides off-road adventures and I tell people how great the trips are while having them sign their lives away before they go. We are renting a lovely home in Castle Valley with lots of land for the dogs and a great garden that is very overgrown.

Tomorrow we move away from our little newlywed dream life to Logan which will seem like a huge city with too much traffic. However my sadness is replaced with excitement to be near family and friends and to further my education on paper.

anticipation

2008-07-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

The other day Niku asked me on the phone whether I was more looking forward to the wedding or to having a week with my sister. I really had to think about it! Mia Fran flies in tomorrow night and I can hardly contain my excitement (obviously- I'm blogging about it). If you squint you can see us in the reflection of the sphere at the United Nations in New York.

one lucky girl

2008-06-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

My initial sadness of not getting an INL internship or finding a convenient temporary job and being away from Nick has since transformed into a pretty great summer.

Dan just happened to get a job assignment in Moab last month, so I got to tag along with him, Wendy and the girls to visit my boy. We visited the home that will soon be mine too for a few months in the beautiful castle valley. Gas for the trip was paid for by Deloitte. A few weeks later gas was paid for by mom and dad when we went south again to take engagement pictures. In two days we crammed in a photo shoot, a hummer tour guided by Nick, a two hour off-road experience in the suburban, hiking at fisher towers, gardening and driving through the La Sal mountains. Mom, Dad and I then came home for the evening before catching a plane to minnesota the next morning. There we saw lots of beautiful things from our rental bikes but the best part was hanging out with Jape. I am amazed at his creative genius and his employment success. I tried to meet up with Kim, a friend from the Germany program, but she is in Iowa City where the flooding has been devastating. I am glad that we didn't attempt to make the trip and I pray that she stays safe. Today I am heading up to Seattle to meet up with Alice Schmidt from Switzerland who has been on a crazy adventure all over the western U.S. and Canada. We will visit Heather in B.C. and then make our way south to Yellowstone and anywhere else we decide to stop. It will be nice to see her and Canada.

This summer is a nice farewell to single life, but I don't think I will miss it much.

the Mississippi River Valley from Buena Vista overlook

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-06-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

55 and still amazing.

This is new

2008-05-14T00:17:00.000-07:00

Wow... I finally had the intense desire to update my blog. It's after one in the morning and I should be exhausted from my trip, but this burning desire just won't go away and my eyelids won't close. Strangely, it is 3 o'clock a.m. in New York, so it is a mystery that I am going strong. I changed the format only to realize, once again, why it is that I didn't go into graphic design.

The past month has been a month of firsts:

The first time I got engaged to my favorite boy

Consequently, the first time I've worn a ring for longer than 24 hours

The first time I have been this excited for Spring and it just won't come

The first Honda I have ever seen acting as a truck (oh- that's Nick moving to Moab. The chair was only for two blocks)

The first time I have moved home for a summer since high school- it is so nice! With this comes the first time that I can't wait to mow the lawn and plant the garden

The first time I went to the United Nations in New York

The first two guys that have asked for my e-mail on a plane ride (even though they both knew I am engaged)

The first dessert I have eaten that was so beautiful and so delicious that there are no words
The first time I had a personal tour of all over the city by a real New Yorker who also took me to the place where I found a giant gummy snake. (Thanks Mia)

The first time I aced a final

The first time I realized how huge the wedding industry is

That's enough for tonight.

Dresden

2007-07-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Es tut mir Leid...es ist Spaet!

The past photos were all taken in Dresden a couple of weeks ago on a group trip with my professor. I learned a great deal of history about East Germany especially because my German professor was a historian before his Deutsch days. On the way to Dresden we stopped at the Grenzwald border control museum...it was pretty amazing to see the divide between East and West. I was able to see a lot about the way of life in Soviet Germany which I haven't really studied. Lots of propaganda etc. In Dresden my time was filled with art, history and a nice ferry ride down the Elbe to Meissen- an old city that is famous for their china. I had a very enjoyable weekend in the East.

2007-07-04T21:44:00.001-07:00

2007-07-04T21:33:00.001-07:00

2007-07-03T22:16:00.001-07:00

Mein lieblings Getraenk in Deutschland...Apfelschorle. mmmmm.

Die Schweiz

2007-06-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

I could definitely live in Swit

erland. Catie, Kim and I traveled to Zürich for the weekend to visit Chad and Elisa Parry. Wow, it was fabulous to see some familiar faces so far away from home! The first night Elisa made us a very Swiss meal on a grill that we had the privilege of helping them try it out. We grilled veggies on top and then there were slots for trays that melted cheese from above which we then commenced to pour on top of our potatoes. Schmeckt mir sehr gut! In the morning we had müsli (one of the best things here). Our Saturday was filled with hiking, relaxing, blowing in the wind, sitting by the lake, listening to the street musicians, and buying way too much chocolate. But oh, the Swiss know how to make their chocolate. That night we enjoyed another delicious Swiss meal of spätzle with cheese and meat and a cucumber salad. We found out that Iron Man Switzerland was being run in Zürich on Sunday, so Kim and I woke up at 5:30 to watch the start of the 2.4 mile swim. Pretty amazing. We got to see many transitions to the bike and then walked to see the finish line and checked out some of the festivities. Later that day we watched the marathon at the end of their race for a while. Awesome. After the swim watching we took the train back to Dietlikon and then attended Sacrament meeting where we got to see Elisa perform “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” and it was beautiful! Our stay ended perfectly with crepes on Sunday afternoon. My favorite combo was Chad’s experiment of nutella and applesauce, to which I added nectarines and bananas. Mmmm. I don’t think that I have ever had such a weekend where my taste buds were so satisfied. Danke sehr Chad and Elisa!

Alles gut zum Vaterstag

2007-06-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER's DAY!

I never have photos of you... you are always creating art behind the camera.

Thanks for supporting me and making me better everyday.

Thanks for the games of hotbox, orange julius, computer help, family trips, songs on the guitar, countless ski days at Targhee, your example, testimony and willingness to serve.

I couldn't ask for a better father.

Ode to Slacklining

2007-06-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love to slackline. I saw a dude setting up a line by the river (Dreisam River) and luckily I brought mine to do the same. Germans can slackline too! So many days of relaxation in the park have been enhanced by this wonderful pastime introduced to me by Nick. Yesterday I set it up in my room to dry my laundry. I think it’s a hobby that more of us should explore. It’s kind of yogish, Mia.

look familiar?

2007-06-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

It's our van! The hotel took it over and turned it into it's shuttle. Oh, good memories in that van! I guess most of my memories are dreams I had while sleeping. However, the anteater was a good companion to have through europe.

WURST!

2007-06-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I would love the mystery meat here in Deutschland, but alas, it is so good. The Bratwurst is tasty and the cheapest meal I have had here yet (besides my yogurt and musli every morning). Th other day the zivis (kind of like R.A.s) taught me some local cooking. We made potato pancake like things and "Fleischkaese" (meat cheese). When I asked what kind of meat it was made with, neither of them knew. They said, "it's just meat!" yikes.

my photos

2007-06-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

I apologize the the unnecessarily large photo files. I will edit soon. However, it does feel good to finally post pictures!

2007-06-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

The view from my window

My dorm!

Deutschland ist sehr schön!

2007-06-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

The internet at the dorms is working again! The reports from Freiburg have been few, but the good times have been many. I am thinking in German, even with my very limited vocabulary. I think that is a good sign after the first week of classes. This weekend I hiked for 15 miles in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) with my professor and a friend I made from Wisconsin. We took the train to Himmelreich: translated “Kingdom of Heaven.” From there we walked a couple of kilometers to the next city (Buchenbach) and found our trail into the mountains. We then commenced to climb in the rainy woods. The scenery was amazing! We ended up walking through some little farming towns high in the hills and then down into a valley and Hinterzanten. By that time we needed food, so we decided on ice cream to hold us over. Mmmm. Then we continued on to the Titisee, a beautiful lake surrounded by woods. We hopped in the water and then took the train back to Freiburg where I bought the makings for peanut butter and jelly. Probably my best day yet!

Here, mostly

2007-06-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

I made it to Freiburg! The city is so beautiful and I already love the European way of life. I am going to be breif, but I want to say I landed. My luggage is somewhere in Europe... who knows where. Hopefully it arrives soon so that this orange shirt can finally be retired and i can wear shorts. I got 50 Euros from the airline though. score! ciao.

Deutschland

2007-05-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Check out the university I will be attending in Germany. Called the Goethe Institut. I leave June 2nd.

thank goodness for sisters

2007-05-22T21:58:00.001-07:00

too bad Lydia's is the only really visible face. Wendy is there too, I promise. I still love this picture (yay for grandpa!). I got back from Hawaii today and Mia wasn't here. sad day. She's a big- city girl now in the Big Apple. No doubt she's showing those New Yorkers some Idaho charm. Traveling the world is great, but jumping in the air with sisters is ten times better.

Hoss

2007-05-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

not only is he cute, he's famous. Son of Shorty from the movie Eight Below, this dog has some serious blood. Niku will find skijoring at 20-40 mph somewhat intense with this pup. Just have to keep him out of the antifreeze.

Blog

2007-05-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

The word "blog" is weird. Then someone decided to add -ger to create "blogger," now turning the noun into an action. Interesting... very clever.