solitude

Well, I don't think I've had this sort of solitude since my college apartment. 
My brother is out in the field for the rest of the week. 

I think I'll make pasta and veg for dinner tonight.  We had chili and rice again yesterday.. I think my brother could eat it everyday, all year long.  But, it was spicy.. probably not good for my health.  ..but, yummy. 

I'm trying to focus on finishing this painting.  I'm thinking maybe I'll come home at the end of July.  Spend time with my grandparents before they leave and I start school again, and do some real job hunting.

Oh, I put pics up on old blog entries, so if you haven't seen them yet.. check em out:) 

It feels weird how close to broke I am. lol  Well, I know that it is time that I grow independent from my family income.  So, I feel like a moocher when relying on them.  I need to hurry up and get school over with, find a job, place of my own and stop mooching. 

I think I'll finish up as many classes as I can this school year.  Take a full load of summer classes next year. 

Anyway, this blog is meant for my travels ;-P 

So, me thinks that we're going to visit Arches this weekend.  The narrows are off our list this time.  It's just about monsoon season here and we're not prepared/ equipped to hike the narrows. 

~

SaltLakeCity

I visited my mom's uncle and aunt, their son- my uncle and his family this weekend....
The first thing I noticed when we arrived (after a 5 hour drive) was their giant roses!  Their garden is gorrrgeous... and my uncle and his dad did it mostly themselves.  The roses are as big as my hands.  They have my fav flower- stargazer lily =) in different colors..  there was one blooming that was peach with maroon inside--yall know maroon is my fav color... but, I still think the the white-pink one is my fav. ~_~
Anyhow, all of their plants and flowers bloom beautifully.   I grabbed some to press.  I used to press flowers and collect dried flowers when I was younger... but, stopped doing so because of how many had fallen apart and left such a mess behind.. but, I framed a few of them.. and, I think I'll frame these.. my uncle had a really good idea... I can frame them along side pictures I've taken in Utah so that I can remember where they're from.  Maybe I'll do that with my old india ones as well.  I also have some peepul and mangoe leaves I wanted to do many things with...hm..

I had a really nice time ~_~  They were really nice and it was great to get to know them a little.   Not to mention my adorable 3 year old cousin.. she's such a lil cutie with a bubbly personality.  jelly cheeks :)

So, on Saturday my uncle & aunt took us out into the mountains while the elders stayed behind.  We headed to a city in the mountains for dinner.  I had sweet potato cannelloni -- very tasty and very filling.  Yeah, the pounds are probably accumulating on the belly & all.   We also had sun dried tomato bruschetta for an appetizer (I normally don't like sun dried tom's.. but these were k).. it was really good with their fried goat cheese and salad (which included thinly sliced pear) on top.  After dinner we headed back home.  Friday and Saturday night my brother and I stayed up late talking to our uncle ...mostly about our silly family ;-]

We left sunday afternoon and it took us exactly 5 hrs to get back.  For the past few weeks I've been watching a movie+ each night with dinner, it seems.  Last night I watched Toy Story 3-- I remember going to see the first TS when I was a kid I think with my parents~~
So, I've generally been watching whatever I can watch.. so far I've seen
-the secret lives of pippa lee- <3 ..would have to talk in person about it~_~
-prince of persia- i liked it, although I could argue about a couple things.. you know how I am about semantics and whatnot =P
-last song- good for passing the time in a chick flick kinda mood.. the acting was down to earth so that's good.
-dear john- like a teenish note book
-toy story 3- not bad if you like kid-y movies and were into TS as a kid
-avatar- another good one..
-diary of a wimpy kid- I saw the novel while shelving all of the time, so thought i'd check it out.. too kid-y lol
-sex and the city 2- ok
-remember me- i really liked it. 
-iron man 2
...I think I'll watch the lovely bones tonight.. or time travelers wife.  Although, I think I want to read the book & in past experiences I can't get myself to read a book after watching a movie off the book.. hm.
Hmm..I've been wanting to watch Tuesdays with Morrie.. al..?  Should I save it for our list..?

Anyway, I scrub-cleaned & rearranged the pantry so it's more efficient.. that's about all I did today.. slept in.
I don't think I'll go to the animal sanct this week.  Instead I'll volunteer at my bro's work and job hunt.  My bro took a hike on a nearby trail today... he says it's a good up-hill/down hill hike.. I'll go with, tomorrow.

Goodnight~_~  about to have dinner- bro cooked chili from a recipe and rice.. brought some spinach from my mom's uncle's veg garden.. so, I'll have some of that as well.  I had a fruit cup, some nastho (indian junk food), a pear, a slice of cheese and popcorn, earlier today.  So much for a med diet ;}  lol... uhy.... I'll have more means and probably a job to buy what I need to eat it back home. 
~
<3

to do, to think over, to put into practice...& just..stuff

SO, I browse the net A LOT.. as most of you know. 
And, for the past year or so when I find new stuff I save it on my stumble upon account...
I think that maybe I need to be a little more selective.. or at least pick out the things that I really need to pay attention to.. or things that I really want to do.  I'll start writing them into my blog, and trying to work them into my life, as smoothly as I can. 
I have thousands of "favorites"... articles/sites on recipes, hobbies, mental exercises, physical well-being... It all just piles up like old news papers or magazines that working adults pile under their coffee table, telling themselves they'll read them when they get the time. 
I need to work on this, before I become one of those people in adulthood. 
Always telling myself I'll get to it (although, when it's important I really do get to it..in my own time ;] ) but, putting it on a never ending list. 
Hm, well...
I'll start with a few little things ..nothing too important. 

When I was little, my parents owned a shop... I hung around there a lot.  I think I was in Kg.. where I can begin remembering ...there were a few adult characters around there that my memories of the place kind of revolve around.  One man and his wife had a flower shop near by (I think.. I was small, so my memories are a little fluffy) Well, he gave me treats every now and then.  One day he gave me a bag of these amazing biscuits... I remember exactly what biscuit they were.  Biscotti.  They were heavenly.  I've always had the memories of that kind couple attached to biscotti.  I don't think I've ever had biscotti that measured up to the ones they gave me.. but, that's probably the sentimentality thinking ;) 
Well, I've decided that I want to bake my own biscotti. 
I've been looking online and.. this is what I've come across: 
The all over known biscotti which is nonnis. 
Elana's Pantry.  She has several varieties. 
Well, there's 1 of the things on my lil to do's. 

I also want to bake some focaccia bread.  And, I've been wondering what the difference between focaccia and ciabatta bread is for a while now..
I really do like ciabatta, but focaccia (I think it's the semolina<3)  is mmm.. better. 
I feel silly obsessing over food.. but, I need to get it out of my system.. it's a guilty pleasure of mine. 
I go through phases of obsessing over the temporary pleasures of "everyday life" & phases of trying to focus on what's possibly the importance of life.  But, right now I don't know where I am, spiritually.  I need some time.  I want some time to just go with the flow of my phases, of my moods, of my ...I don't know.. just.  You know? 
Well, anyway.. focaccia... I intend to attempt to bake it.. and, I came across one of showmethecurry videos on how to make focaccia...but, I don't think they used semolina...hmm.

So, while browsing the blogs I "follow" (wish I could remember which one).. I came across RealSimple.  I've been browsing through it, and there are a lot of recipes I'd like to try.. like this ( - the meat =P*), for example.  Oh, and they have cool ideas like these. 

Oh, and Yahoo always has articles that I'm drawn to... like this one on 10 small changes with big health payoffs... I think I'll try flossing every other day.. instead of when I feel like it.  heh. 

Also, my dad bought me some coconut milk ice cream sometime this year.. and, it was amazing.  I just came across this flavor...\;]  do need to try it.  I'm sort of allergic to dairy.. so, we get these non-dairy ice creams every now and then.  They're not the cheapest though, soo eh.  

Anway, I should probably leave it at that for now.  I have too many to list here and, if I started listing all of them.. it would defeat the purpose.  

peace<3

a day of cheap labor

Mi hermano decided not to go on the hike... We woke up around 8:40am.. went to the farmers market.  There weren't very many veggies, but the man selling them had lettuce, spinach, chard(which was sold out), rhubarb, and radish.. we got the leafy greens for 1.25 per bag.  My brother bought a tomato plant and a pepper plant all for 3 dollars..from a lady who bought the seeds from the dollar store.  She lives down the road on the border of Arizona and UT.

So, it was a little chilly and I finished walking through all of the tents.  I sat in the car, munching on my biscotti [best one I've had in a long while] while my brother talked gardening with the veggie sellers and buyers.

I got tired of waiting finally and went out to where he was talking to some man who had just bought a bunch of tomato, squash and pepper plants.  Well, he offered to give me the job of planting them for him.. I asked for 8/hr (bro said I should have asked for 10, he's right =P) and, my brother was gonna just help out for no charge, but then asked for pay.. so we ended up getting 40 bucks for 2.5 hrs.  Not bad, I guess.  It'll pay for gas. 
We tilled the soil by shovel (not easy), planted a whole bunch of plants and my brother sort of cleaned the front side walk.

Oh, and the big +.... twas a good work out!

I have to admit I do enjoy a job that entails a good work out... two birds with one stone, come on.
I might go back to shelving back home, eventually.  But, I really wouldn't mind doing manual labor like a maid or a gardener if I was getting paid justly.. I can be a perfectionist.. so, yeh.

Oh, so while working a cat came out of no where, straight to me hehe... I'm like a cat magnet hah.. 


 

Well, it started raining a little after we finished up the job.  And, on the ride home the rock-landscape was especially gorgeous and colorful.  All the pics in this post are my point & shoot cam.. so, don't think it quite captures the color.. or image =P

When I got home, I took a nice long shower and collapsed on my bed~  we both pretty much napped till about 10pm hehe.. It's 1am right now.  I just finished up the last 2 slices of pizza.

I bought some Herb/Garlic focaccia  ciabatta bread... I think my favorite bread is either Rhye or Focaccia bread~

So, my brother just had a tuna sandwich ;<*

I'll probably have a spinach+lettuce+sour cream+ herbs+ if we go shopping tomorrow, cheese+whatever else we buy..sandwich, tomorrow.

Oh, I think I forgot to mention we had dinner with the neighbors upstairs, last Tuesday.
She made a sort of lasagna dish (manicotti pasta layered with marinara, spinach sauce, and cheddar + maybe other cheese.  It was yummy.  I brought a Cinnamon bunt cake for dessert.  It was good too.

We got to know each other a little.  I was a little tired that  night, so it probably showed (I hope they didn't get the impression I didn't want to be there.)
They're really cool people.  They're an older couple, but laid back.. open-minded.. curious.. active.

They are getting a house built down the road, so it should apparently be done by the end of summer/ beginning of fall.... they're sort of retiring up here.. but, working for the bird & bunny dpmts of the animal sanctuary.

Oh, the lady is a photographer and she's taught some classes... so, hopefully I can get her advice and insight on my photog so far.

No real plans for tomorrow, we'll see.
~<3

auto-smarts, arts & job huntin

Zzz......I woke up in the middle of the night hearing sort of skittering/scratch sounds next to me.. I didn't even have to open my eyes.. my camelbak was next to me & only one thing could make that sound.. mice.. in a split second while opening my eyes, I jumped up and whooshed my sheet around the bed.. I stood there on the bed, holding my sheet looking around ..up and alert.. but, didn't see a thing.. these mice are fast and tiny... I couldn't sleep well after that.. and I already had the closet light on cuz my bro told me he thinks there were mice on him (he's been sleeping on the couch) the other night.. there, the rest of the night I tried sleeping with the lamp and closet light on.... guhh.... this is lame.. I know they're just tiny mice.. but, I still wanna freak out around them.. and, yeah... they might bite me heh.. 
Oh well, it seems like we catch one and lose some every night.. there's a collapsible bridge-entry system in the live trap, but if there's already a mouse in the trap, hiding under a part of the bridge.. another can escape.. I guess, they probably did that because they say if they're stuck in there with each other for too long.. they'll kill each other.  


Anyway, my brother woke me up around 8.. and, I dropped him off at work and went to get the car checked out and to get an oil change.  
It was realllly interesting heheh.. I planned on taking an autoshop course in the future.. so, now I have a bit of basic knowledge.  
I told them that I heard we can change our own oil, and so they told me how.. and, yeah it's a bit more difficult if you don't have that car lifter thing.. but, I'm small.. I can get under the car.  run engine, drain, drop filter, replace filter, refill, run engine, measure..done=).. make sure to have the right filter and know the differences between synthetic and regular oil.. he said it's better to stick with reg.. but, they say syn has its benefits.. hm. just don't switch back and forth btwn reg & synth..

And, I asked a bunch of Q's on the brakes.. now, I know that a reason your brakes squeak is probably because they've worn to the point where this "alarm" (metal thing) will scrape against the.. rotor? heh.. 

and... Well, we all know we shouldn't brake too hard and suddenly, right? ../=?.. It's because the rotors (brake disc.. ok I'm still a little..lot confused about stuff and need study it properly).. the rotors warp over time, but if you over work them, they're gonna warp sooner than later.  


they used to make rotors thicker so that they could be resurfaced.. but, that's changed, as of late..


hm, also.. make sure your caliper slide pins are lubricated whenever you get your brake pads or rotors changed.  It improves your mileage, and brake system... duhyy ..  ;)




ok, ok.. I'll stop blabbering about car stuff =D  


After the auto shop, I wenta job hunting.... applied to the grocery store, the dollar store, the pizza place, sort of the theatre.. and learned of some other places to apply.. 
I'll probably stop by the employment place next week.... 


I went by a veg cafe/grocer.. and, it's a really small business.... she said she doesn't hire, but they were awesome.. she referred me to the theatre where the manager may need my help on days when the regular concession man is unavailable.  She also let me in although they were closed and I bought (well, I didn't have enough cash & she didn't take credit..so she told me to pay her next time!.. wow.  )  ...good reason for me to come back to her store, huh?  I got a smoothie and a biscotti.. I chatted with them for a while, and they seem really nice.. I'd probably hang out around there if I get the chance.  
They told me of a bunch of places I should apply.  


I also hit the local art gallery.. they had some school childrens artwork up in correlation with Earthday or something.. it was neat.  They're going to have a show of collage works later on, so I'll check that out.  It's another place I could volunteer... hm, maybe I should just move here for good ;-0 


Then, I went over to the paleo lab and worked on cleaning a dino patella ... it's amazing how much time it takes to scrub dry mud off of bones.  
My bro is working on cleaning and putting together some bigger parts now... he was working on a spinal cord, today.  
I wonder how I passed my anatomy class in high school annd was exempt from the final.. \;-p  ....I really don't know/ remember the bones of the body... sheesh.  


Had pizza for dinner last night, for lunch today & dinner tonight =-P... farmers market tomorrow morning!... can't forget this time!!... after I get those veggies... hopefully, I can turn my diet around.  
I was planning on going for a fairly fresh/ not so cooked Mediterranean veggie diet this summer.  
And, after a little walk today.. I feel like walking more... but, the gnats.. 


I think my brother plans on going on a difficult hike tomorrow.. to find a dino that an officer came across.  His sub-boss is leaving at 9am... so, I guess I'll be at the farmer's market on my own.  
And, the rest of the day.  Another weekend gone and no national parks visited. =P  


well, goodnight<3

meow meow meow

I've been volunteering every afternoon at Cat world since Monday.

Basically, I clean, feed & socialize with the cats.  I like how laid back everything is.. yet, organized.
I am thinking about fostering a cat for a month or two, but meanwhile I have a cat on a sleepover, today.
Her name is Stalker, but they call her Talker because she's so talkative.. This is her first sleepover, so the people working there are really excited for her.



She was reallly expressive about not liking being in the carrier and on the ride over, but now she's totally silent =P
She likes it under the bed for now.. but, she's exploring the place now and then.

Oh about the mice; we caught a few, last night (some escaped the trap .. smart lil things.. or just lucky)
and I let them loose before heading to the animal sanctuary.










Yay! She's talking a little and coming to me... rubbing against the lap top..hehe... cute.

:)

continued since that day...  so, she warmed up to the place quickly... started roaming around, but avoided my brother haha...

When I stopped petting her, she would pat me lightly with her paw. =P she's so lovely.

...she climbed into my lap haha..

Ehy.. Wutcha lookin at??

 

At bedtime she snuggled up next to me.  They say she's a feral cat, but she just doesn't know it.... but, she was adopted once.. and, the lady let her out.. so that broke the sanctuary contract.. and they took her back.. I say she's pretty domestic.. she's so sweet!

<3

Camping ...

Heylo..

We finally went camping yesterday.. the hike up wasn't a breeze, but it wasn't bad.. If we end up going hiking every weekend, I wonder if I'll be in any better shape by the time I go home.  hmm.
Oh, I'm thankful for pretty much only having to deal with mosquitoes back home.. they have gnats here.. there were a bunch up where we were hiking (only seen some near the house), but there were swarms of them ... !!!!!!!!Insect repellent, Hat with side flap thingies, & Buff!!!!!!!....not advertising it.. just letting yall know what you should get if you're trying to avoid gnats..:)..those things were worth getting.  Well, the hike and camping are convincing me into possibly trying to hike the narrows...hmmm~~~

I bought a live trap for the mouse.. but, I'm getting a feeling I'm not dealing with a 'normal' mouse here.. like the movie.. what's it called?.. Mouse Trap?  ..when we got back, there were mouse droppings around the pantry floor leading up to the shelves.. it looks like the mouse hopped up the bench, onto the microwave knobs and onto the second shelf..

.... and, who knows... he coulda outsmarted the trap... nah, but the chip is still there.....
anyway.. we should probably get some peanut butter and cheese to replace the chip =P
...I wonder what he/she's eating to make it poop so much.. heh.

I might continue to look for a job around here.. but, I'm losing interest and hope.. I mean, I'm not gonna be here for very long and they don't want to give an outsider a job they could just as easily give to one of their small town's folk... =P  oh well, my brother is nagging me about how I need to get a job.. urg... so, whatever... won't do any harm trying, I guess.

Anyway, I'll be at the animal sanctuary every afternoon this week and possibly just about every week that I'm here.  And, I'll volunteer at the lab in the mornings..

<3

Utah.. the past few days

Well, I volunteered for the paleo people the past couple of days.  I've been cleaning and reassembling dinosaur bones.  Pretty cool stuff.   I am also definitely going on field with them when my brother goes.

Yesterday, I dropped my brother off at work and went to the animal sanctuary.  I took a tour of the sanctuary and went to a volunteer orientation.
I hope I can foster a cat while I'm here.
The sanctuary is basically located on some hills/cliffs.. I'll take photos when I get the chance.
After the sanctuary, I went home had another burrito =P and went to the lab to work on the dinosaur bones.

I borrowed my brother's boss' dvd of Avatar.. so, I finally watched the movie.. not in 3d, but it was still good.  ...
I also watched The Secret Lives of Pippa Lee recently.. I really liked it.. I'd recommend it to friends.. depending on who they are..if I think they would like it. 

Welllll, we missed farmer's market.. totally forgot about it.   Next week, then.  Guess we'll have to go get some veggies from the grocery store.  
 I'm getting tired of burritos.. I didn't think I'd say this so soon, but I miss home cooking.  Oh and food, gas, things are more expensive up here... but, cans of beans were around 89cents lol... good deal.

Hm, my brother wants to go hiking in hip-high water.... the narrows in Zion... I'm not so sure I'm up for it right now... but, we have found a lot of cool places to check out... but, like my bro's boss said, we only have so many weekends...  I don't feel like going anywhere today.. but, there is a hiking trail to some native american reservation ruins nearby.... maybe, we'll go there today.

~

Utah day 5-6

Well, sorry to bore you.. but, not much happening.  lol 

There are plans, but they're stillll in progress.. so meanwhile, I'm waiting and wasting...

I did begin a painting today.. and went grocery shopping. 
Woohoo! 

Anyway, I am most probably going to either Bestfriends or my brother's workplace, tomorrow.  Apparently, there's a lady at his work that could use my help.. I've also been invited to help out on the field... my brother says they'll probably put me to work in the lab.  Beats sitting around in a dark basement most of the day. 

I've been updating my ipod.. so, I finally have a lounge playlist~_~ 

I think the lack of shelving exercise is creeping up on me...  My brother's been telling me to take walks...  and, I've been lazy about it... but, I guess I'll get to it.  I'm also gonna do some yoga and pilates. 

Had vegetarian chili and crackers for dinner:) 

~~~~<3
*finally figured out why I couldn't upload pics here..

Utah day 3-4

After a late start on Sunday, my brother and I went exploring through the surrounding parks, campsites and paths off the highway.. onto no named roads..

After hours of searching, we came across the perfect (well despite it being so close to road noise) place to camp.  We hung out a while, but decided to come back another time.  It's beautiful, with the Grand staircase (we think)  wrapping around one side and distant hill/cliffs wrapping down another side.  It had a lot of plant life and we saw quite a lot of what my brother thinks is deer droppings. There were a lot of flies, but I guess I'll load up on the powder next time.  The sun sets pretty late around here (during this time in the year, I guess)... around 9:30pm+.

So, apparently we have a tiny field mouse in the house... my brother saw it running around.  =P  I might freak out if it comes out of nowhere or near me.. my bro said it's pretty fast.  I just hope it doesn't come close to me when I'm asleep... sauna's looking good as my bedroom right about now.

I should be going to the animal sanctuary tomorrow, but we'll see.

We're going to have dinner with our neighbors, upstairs sometime.  The lady is a vegetarian so that's nice.. don't know when we're planning on it though.

Today, I didn't do anything.

Well, goodnight yall!

<3