Catagory 1 Hurricane

Ridiculous! I am still in shock that I experienced this last night. I was in Tempe for Esther's going away party. There were about 10 of us at Four Peaks, enjoying dinner when all of a sudden a downpour started, Devin and I went on the patio to watch the events. Lightning looked similar to strobe lights, there was hail, and then the power went out! I was very lucky driving home, the storm came back right in the first 10min of my drive, the freeway was flooded and trees had fallen everywhere. Our awning in the backyard proved that it's hurricane ties worked, unfortunately for ASU the "Devil Dome" did not share the good fortune, it was shredded and strewn about Tempe. This was one intense storm...check out these pics and articles from the news:

Hurricane-force winds, heavy rain hit Valley

Monster Storm Packs 100 MPH Winds

I woke up at 4:30am to take mom and dad to the airport. They are headed to Seattle, then meeting up with my grandparents for an Alaskan Cruise to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Be praying for safe travels! Since I was up so early we saw wreckage from the storm, heard all the crazy stuff on talk radio, and then I had the opportunity to watch an AMAZING sunrise...one of those that looks just like a painting. God is good.

Livin' On A Prayer

"We've got to hold on to what we've got,
'cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not.
We've got each other and thats a lot,
For love - well give it a shot...

Who-oah, we're half-way there,
ohhh, Livin' on a prayer!
Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear.
ohhh, Livin' on a prayer!"



Yeah... I did just quote Bon Jovi. I love this song, but lately it seems to apply to my life a lot. I am definitely living on my prayers... before I get into that here's a run-down on the road-trip with Ashley:

Tuesday morning we left for Tucson, we arrived around 10:30am and spent the day with Tena. first we had lunch with his sister, then we all took a nice afternoon nap. After we celebrated with his parents, sister, and her husband at Macayo's. To end the night we went out on 4th Ave. with a bunch of his/Ashley's friends... good night minus the creepy drag queens. That's a whole different story that we won't get into here. Wednesday morning we were off for our too long of a driving adventure on the 8. We arrived, rested, then headed to the House of Blues with Lisa and her friends. The next day we enjoyed California Adventure for free! (the joys of having friends who work for Disney). Friday and Saturday were spent at the beach, Huntington first for tradition- we ate at Sharkeez Bar. Then Seal Beach for something new - although we had the mandatory Ruby's lunch for the trip there. Over all it was great fun with my LLT, possibly the last road-trip until we get our post-college lives figured out! It was also nice to see Lisa again, and was amazing of her to let her stay with her for free, use her free parking card, and get us into the Theme Park for free... overall we paid for gas, food, and some small thank-you gifts.
[[Road-Trip 2008 Photo Album]]

Now...
Back to me "livin' on a prayer."
A lot has been going through my mind lately, I've felt really anxious, and I tend to occupy myself with things just to be doing something. These include: reading, surfing the internet, creating graphics, cleaning, organizing, etc... not that those are uncommon, just that I am not happy doing anything for even a short period of time lately. Things I've been thinking about:

1) I am extremely grateful for the few that have stuck with me over the years. Everyone says "friends forever," but how many people live up to it? Think about your life... elementary school friends changed in junior high, junior high friends in high school, high school friends in college, and so forth. I am NOT saying there aren't exceptions, they just seem few and far between.
2) I am realizing more and more each day that I am a "fixer." I hate it when people are down, I can't stand when people fight, or cause drama. I want to fix it. But, I can't fix the world.
3) I am also the kind of person people go to for advice, and not simple stuff either. Maybe I should have majored in psychology and gotten paid for all the counseling I do...
4) I miss Quinn ...a lot! Definite understatement.
5) Joey has surgery at 7:30am (4:30 for me) tomorrow morning, all I keep thinking is: "Lord show us that modern day miracles happen." I know they do.
6) The next year of my life is going to be one crazy roller coaster ride... am I up for the challenge? I hope so. Do I have a choice? Not so much.
7) WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE?

Tommy & Kyle...
Welcome Home!
Glad you're back
from Iraq Safe =)

Going, going back to Cali, Cali...

Later this morning Ashley and I begin our epic annual LLT road-trip (possibly the last one! ...have I mentioned I'm getting sick of all these "last" moments, events, trips, etc..?) Anyway, we'll be heading down to Tucson to spend the day with her boyfriend Tena for his birthday, then the next morning we are off to California!

So let's take a look at some of the last week's events:
Sunday and Saturday Phil and I finally got back to the PRG. After 2.5 months off it was a bit of a rough start, although we both agreed we hadn't lost our technic just our strength and stamina. We also agreed that he will always be a better strength climber, where as I am a better agility climber. We started on 5.9s and were back up to 5.10s in no time! =)

On Wednesday April set-up a Girl's Night Out on Mill Ave. We started at Gordon Biersch where Ashley and I split an amazing garlic roasted white chicken pizza. After dinner we headed over the the dueling piano bar known as the "Big Bang." It was so much fun to just hang out together! One guy came up to Ashley and I and asked if it were a bachelorette party... when we said no he continued on by asking "Are you having fun?" When I answered "yes" he told me I was a good liar... Boys. If you are going to pick up on girls, do not make one of your opening lines... "You're a good liar." haha...

I am now "officially" 21, almost a year later. I'm sure you're a bit confused by that statement. Let me explain, today I finally went down to the MVD and got my new license. It is no longer vertical, and I am no longer a 16yr old with braces in my picture. Hallelujah... although my eyes look like they do above in my and Ashely's "Asian" picture. I also applied for a job at Jamba Juice today... minimum wage, what the heck was I thinking? ;-p I put down Mon-Thurs 6am-12pm, so we'll see if I even get it. Gas & Spending $ would be nice though!

I better get some sleep before we head out in 7hrs!
California trip updates will posted when I return!

Where did July go?

Does time ever slow down...even for a little? Yeah, I guess not...

Monday July 28th we received one of those phone calls you never want. My little cousin Joey had been rushed to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, he had run out in front of his dad on the riding lawn mower. His big toe had been almost completely taken off, and his achilles tendon and the surrounding tissues and skin had been removed. He was placed into surgery each day for repairs and cleaning (he wears a vacuum pack due to there being no tissue on his heel). He was finally sent home yesterday; still with the Vac-Pac, and an assistant. He has to return to the hospital this coming Wednesday, then Monday the 11th, and Wednesday the 13th for Plastic Surgery. Please continue to keep his mom (Leigh) and dad (Joe) in prayer for finances since neither of them have been able to work during this crisis. Heavily for Joe, that any sense of guilt will be lifted from his shoulders. Of course prayers for the health and restoration of little Joey, and strength for his sisters, grandparent's, and uncle (who is currently serving in Iraq). Thank you!

This past week was the end of VIK camp, and possibly the end of a 4yr summer job for me. I will be graduating next May, and hopefully moving on to "bigger and better" things, wherever it is that God leads me. Quinn and I had one of those conversations tonight (you know the kind that make you realize how serious things are). We talked about future deployment(s), re-enlistment, the whole military life type of deal... and with as much as I cried, was nervous, and hated the uncertainty of it all... I don't want to be with anyone else. I'm glad for that knowledge, not so sure about everything else at the moment. I think the whole "marine girlfriend/wife" thing is captured in this quote from Captivating: "...we long for intimacy, and for adventure; we long to be the Beauty of some great story." AwhiIe back I heard someone say that "God is the author of your love story, let Him tell it to you." I guess it's time for me to start listening a little harder, huh?

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart,
all you who hope in the LORD."
---Psalm 31:24