Confessions Of A Campfiresmokaholic

There is nothing in the world too darned much better than...
-Crawling into a sleeping bag while smelling like campfire and bug spray
-Eating s'mores til you have a beard made out of melted marshmallow strings on your chin
-Having nothing to do but keep the fire going and pick the dirt out from under your finger nails
-Roasting every candy in sight because you can
-Not giving a living crap that you haven't showered in days, smell like b.o. and have worn the same dirty jeans for too long because nobody else gives a crap either
-Falling asleep to the sound of rustling critters and crickets
-Waking up in a tent
-.....everything about camping basically

So guess why I am ranting so much?! Because Marshall and I went on our very FIRST camping trip together last weekend, and it was sort of amazing. Kinda ironic that it took us so long to do it together since it's one of our favorite things to do. And this is the best part. These cute little deer in the picture were our camp-mates!

These little guys were so nosy! We kinda freaked out about them at first, and took about a thousand pictures...until after a few hours we realized they weren't going anywhere so they just kinda became part of the scenery. Basically we had the most perfect time. All except for when a crow landed in a tree branch above our tent early in the morning. I woke up and said the exact words, "that would suck if it pooped on our tent"...then WAM or...SQUIRT. Talk about Jinxed. But we had an amazing hike, hung out at the lake, swam, and CHILLED OUT. Ate way to much junk, and didn't worry about much. We didn't even have cell phone reception, so even if Marshall WANTED to deal with his managing responsibilities...well...he couldn't! DARN! ;)

Anyways, i just wanted to say, camping changed my life this summer. You need to go. Even if you think you hate it. Try again. It can really be amazing. Promise!

I'm FUN-employed...and my husband is a salesman.

Guess I'll send my venting out into cyber space because I am SOOOO BORED. It's bad this time guys. If you have a spouse looking into being a door-to-door salesman, talk to me first. I'll tell you that the money is great, we love not having to work during the school year...but the summers? Ohhh the summers, they are basically trashed. The sad thing is, Marshall and I live two completely separate lives. He is so busy from Mon-Sat (9a.m.-11p.m.) and I am so cooped up and bored Mon-Sat that any down time we have he wants to sleep and enjoy the A/C I want to get out of the house!

Not too sure how people handled life without cars. Not too sure if my laptop is going to survive all the movies I force it to play for me. Not too sure if I can survive without a microwave for much longer...but I am sure of one thing, my husband has it worse. Let me tell you my latest insecurity. I TRIED doing the door to door thing with Marshall, and guess what? It's about the crappiest thing I have ever done. And I suck at it. And I chose this boring misery over it in a heartbeat. Therefore, I cannot complain much.

It's one thing to be out in the heat, have aching tired feet as you experience the humidity and massive mosquitoes of North Carolina, and it's another to have the door slammed in your face, to have people threaten you, roll their eyes and you, and snap at you door after door after door after DOOR. Ahh!! Ok, ok, so understandably the average salesman is a pest. I used to hang up my phone in mid-sentence and shut the door when I realize who they are too...but guess what? Their job SUCKS! They're chasing after the American dream in the worst kind of way. Give em' a break.

Just remember the next time you ruin a salesman's day, they are going home to a wife that has waited all day for them to come home successful. I'm not saying you gotta spend a DIME on a salesman, but for Pete's sake, be nice! You only have to talk to them nicely for a few minutes, they have to talk to crabby people ALL DAY. Who is it affecting more? Just saying. Being kind never ruined anyone's day.

I'm done.

Humbled...

So remember in my last post how I complained about driving for three days...well after 20 hours of driving (nearly 11:00 p.m.) we found ourselves driving through the place where we would celebrate our (belated) anniversary, the beautiful little Nauvoo, IL. I looked exhaustedly at the cute old buildings, and as we rounded the corner there it was. The temple was glowing and I was shocked at the beauty and the size which no picture could do justice. I felt completely and absolutely humbled.
A distance that took me 20 hours in pleasant air conditioning, with stops for food and restrooms at my convenience was suddenly NOTHING to complain about. There the temple stood, as if it was always there, as if it had never been destroyed. I imagined the feat it must have been without the current resources to construct such a magnificent structure, and I imagined what it must have felt like to leave it all behind. To walk the distance I just drove...even though it was late, I didn't want to leave. It was incredible to see all of the homesteads, and shops, but the best part was the spirit there.
I know the Prophet Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know he sacrificed everything he had, even his life, to bring forth the true word of a loving Heavenly Father. I feel so blessed to be a Latter Day Saint, and I feel honored to be a part of the everlasting gospel men and women sacrificed, lived, and died for....
Humbled.

Diving Into Summer Head First

I wish I could say now that we're all sweated out from finals that we could take a breather...but a three day, 2,030 mile drive will have to do. We are off on another adventure. In the battle of east vs. west coast...looks like we are going to Charlotte, NC.
I am glad Marsh and I are best friends, cause that is a loooooong time to be sitting it a car. I am feeling guilty for blogging right now, because in a matter of a few days MUCH is happening, and it all revolves around me not being a lazy girl and getting busy!
First of all...Sunday is not just mothers day, it's our one year anniversary! This has been the speediest year of my LIFE. I am still left to wonder why people always warned me that after the first few months being married gets really really hard. If this is hard...then we need to re-define the word. I suppose being married to a person who ADORES me, is entirely selfless, works harder than anyone I have ever known, and lightens the load of every trial I face makes it pretty hard for any negativity to creep it's way in...being married to someone who only makes you want to be the best person for them, well that's been a blessing too!
It just seems like Marshall is only getting better and better at being a husband. For instance, that one time in the month that I despise...well Marshall always knows it's coming, and he always comes home with piles of chocolate (ammo). What a smart fella!
Anyways, there was my Ode' To Marshall and all of his wonderfulness...Next this summer is going to be insane because I have to get all my applications ready for the ELED/SPED program here at USU which is EXTREMELY competitive...funny how hard I will have to work to become a teacher to get paid just about the lowest salary...that's a conversation for another day.
Marshall is going to manage a team of about 15 people this summer doing sales!!! I know he will do fabulous, I just don't know if I can keep up with that kid sometimes is all.
ANYWAYS...sorry for all the rambling, but I guess I'll just conclude with saying, if you want a vacation this summer, come out to the east! We have a way too big apartment, and no furniture, so there will be plenty of room for you!

Cemetery Flowers

About a month ago some new neighbors moved in the apartment below us. The family consists of a single mother and two cute little girls. The older daughter is in 4th grade and goes to an elementary school nearby so she rides the Aggie Shuttle home from school at the same time I do!

It has soon become a highlight of my day to ride the bus home with Catherine because she always has the most hilarious things to say. I don't know if you are familiar with the Junie B. Jones books but if I could tell you a person that was a real life form of Junie B...it would be Catherine. Sparing the details, from what she has told me, and what Marshall and I hear through the thin floor boards...Catharine's home life is far from peachy.

One day one of my friends and I made some mini-cheesecakes in little cupcake tins and I thought maybe my new neighbors downstairs would want some. On the bus ride home I told Catherine I would be stopping by that evening with a treat. She was pretty excited when I showed up. She started rambling about how her sister and mom don't like cheesecake so she would eat them all...I told her she better at least offer to them first :)

A few days later my husband came in from school with a bundle of fake flowers that were a little muddy-ish and said "these were on the porch...know where they came from?" I said I thought I had a pretty good idea. The next time I saw Catherine on the bus she asked me how I liked the flowers. I told her I loved them and that they were beautiful!

She seemed pleased with my response and said back to me, "well, it was like totally a coincidence because I was walking home from swimming lessons through the cemetery and I just saw those yellow flowers by a grave and thought, Caitlyn would LOVE those! They were a little muddy from being splashed by they bikes driving by so I just swished them in the gutter and actually they looked great!"

I hope whoever those flowers belonged to won't mind...I'm not in the mood to get haunted!! But I can proudly say the second time flowers have ever been given to me in my life were stolen from a dead person.

Spring Fever

All the best things happen in the spring time. Mothers day, Easter, MY BIRTHDAY, our anniversary, and the ever so awaited END OF WINTER. Don't get me wrong, snow is wonderful for sledding and beautiful around Christmas time, but that's about it. Marshall and I are getting a little bit cooped up in this little apartment of ours, and it's feeling a little less cozy and a little bit more like a jail cell. Especially with the white cinder block wall...

We got a blissful opportunity to play tennis...OUTSIDE yesterday!!! And boy was I grateful we took up the opportunity since it snowed today. I love my husband soooo much!! (just a cheesy side note). He got an Aggie Bike, they let college students rent them for free, and he is like a kid with a new Christmas toy on that thing. I thought about forcing him to wear a helmet since he keeps trying to do tricks, not because of the tricks really...just cause I think it would be hilarious to see him wear a helmet while he tinkers around campus...but then I decided a helmet wasn't worth sleeping on the couch...

Spring time makes me think about my home back in good ole' Rupert, Idaho. There's something about spring time in the country that makes me smile. I hear the birds and smell grass being cut for the first time, and I think of home. I remember when I was a kid, at least more kiddish than I am now...bolting through the fields behind my house, feeling like I had a new life because I didn't have to wear a coat for once in such a long long time. Sometimes I miss those kid days.

I guess in a rambling scrambling way I am just trying to say...I love Spring. I hope it decides to take a seat and stay awhile. Do me a favor and pray for no more snow with me!

Valentines Day Dinner :)

CARDIAC ARREST CARBONARA
3/4 lb bacon
4 eggs
1 lb bow tie pasta
1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 serrano chilies – chopped
3 large cloves of garlic – chopped
1 bunch of green onions – chopped
1 cup Parmesan cheese – shredded
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 oz sautéed shrimp*
*Melt one stick of butter in saucepan; add shrimp with liberal doses of lemon pepper, cracked black pepper and crushed red pepper, and a very generous layer of garlic powder. Stir and simmer until cooked. Set aside.
Cut bacon into small slices and fry until crisp in a deep iron skillet. Remove bacon w/ slotted spoon and place onto paper towel to drain. Add chilies, garlic and onions to bacon fat, sauté for 1 minute and remove w/ slotted spoon, & add to shrimp. Add drained bacon to shrimp. Retain one tbsp of bacon fat in the skillet. Turn burner setting to warm. Melt 1/4 butter in microwave and add to skillet.
Whisk eggs and cream in a bowl until well mixed. Fold in cheese.
***Note: These three items need to be at room temperature; therefore, let them set out for 2 hours prior to preparation.
Cook pasta al dente, having added the olive oil to the cooking water.
Drain pasta and immediately add it to the skillet. Add the egg, cream, cheese mix, and toss the pasta until well coated.
Stir in the shrimp, bacon, onion, garlic, chili mix.
Serve immediately.
Bon appetit!
Submitted by: Dr. Dan
(Original Recipe calls for mushroom instead of...SHRIMP!!)