Sunday, May 30, 2010

The rest of spring break...

It seems like a long time ago, especially now that school is almost over. But I figured that I needed to post these pictures before too much more time passed. When I left my brother in Phoenix, I flew to Las Vegas to meet up with Alison and Chris. It was my very FIRST trip to Vegas, and it was quite an experience. I can't say that I would want to go back for any particular reason, but I did enjoy getting a taste of what it was like. Plus, vacationing with my best friend and best-friend-in-law is always a bonus. I'm a master at third-wheeling it.


My brother and I having breakfast before heading to the airport on our last day together...(thanks for taking such a great pic Natalie!)


Vegas from our hotel window...








Walking around the inside of the hotel...






Before our first night out...


An entire (eight hour) day at the pool! Ahhh, it was lovely.




Front row with plenty of sun...




Alison and Chris...






Greg, Chris' best friend, and his wife Julie...


Greg's sister and her husband...along with many other people...


Joe, the birthday boy, his wife Kim (the trip organizer), Mike, and Vinnie all relaxing by the pool...




Our BIG night out...and my last night before leaving...it was a quick but FUN trip!!


Friday, May 7, 2010

Friend or Foe?

During my lunch today, I read this article about Facebook and their privacy breech. I can't say that I'm surprised, but it just serves as another reason I'm glad I haven't joined. Click the link and read it for yourself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/technology/internet/06facebook.html?src=me&ref=homepage

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Spring Break in Phoenix...

I got new glasses a couple weeks ago--new red glasses, which you can view in my profile picture to the right, newly uploaded. I have wanted new glasses for years, but I haven't found a solid reason to pay 300 or more dollars to get a pair until recently, when I stepped on my purple glasses and broke them in half. You may be wondering how I could have been so careless. I am also still trying to figure that out. I certainly was not planning on breaking them, obviously. I guess you could say that's what going to Vegas and not really sleeping the night before you leave could do to you?! I simply forgot that I had even worn them on the plane when I got up to leave. I had FORGOTTEN that I had even worn them, clearly indicative of the sleepless state I was in when I put them on or the groggy state I was in when the plane landed. Either way, I nearly left the plane without them altogether, until someone behind me said something about glasses, and I thought to myself: "Huh, I think I was wearing my glasses. I wonder where they are." As I was slowly realizing this, I looked down at my feet and saw my glasses, broken in two solid pieces--each lens attached to its own arm. Shit, shit, shit. Those were the words that came to my mind (and maybe out of my mouth) as I picked up the two pieces that used to fit on my face as one pair of glasses. Now, I HAD to get new glasses, which was not exactly factored into my tight budget for the month of April. Oh, well. I guess you can't plan for everything, right?! They are nice, and I do like them. I have been wanting a pair of RED plastic glasses, so I guess I should be excited I finally had a reason to splurge and get them! Ha. :)

Spring Break was just about a month ago now. I haven't had much time to write or post since I've been back because I have worked the past two weekends. This being my first complete weekend free, I spent the entire day yesterday reading the first book in the Twilight series -- yes, that's right, a teenage drama about vampires. I have been resisting reading it since it came out and instantly became so popular. However, a couple weeks ago I watched the movie with Meg and Loren when I was at their house for "dinner and a movie" night. The movie was pretty good, but I know the books are always better so I finally broke down and read it. I actually borrowed it from one of my students--funny, right?! I read the entire book Friday night and yesterday. It felt great to finish a whole book so quickly and spend the whole day doing something completely relaxing! Anyway, I'm clearly off topic, which is to say that today is the first day I have felt like I've had the time to update my blog.

I have some pictures from the first part of my trip in Phoenix, visiting my brother and his wonderful girlfriend Natalie, and then the last two and a half days of my trip were spent in Vegas with Alison and Chris (et al). The pictures below are from the first 6 days of my Spring Break in Phoenix.

Spending Sunday afternoon bike riding and eating yogurt in Tempe with Natalie and Josh was a ton of fun! It was beautiful outside, the temperature was amazing, and it was overall just a great day!




Aren't they a cute couple?? I just LOVE Natalie (and of course I LOVE my brother too!)!!








One night, Josh and I went to this AMAZING vegan restaurant, which we have been to before, and Josh had a "soynami," which is the delicious dessert below! I tried some of it; it was MAGNIFICENT!


One morning I spent a good couple of hours outside of Starbucks drawing, taking pictures, and writing while Josh got his taxes done. It was nice out, so I didn't mind. Plus I had time to practice my picture composition, and Josh tells me I need to work on it so I'm trying.


The night before I left, Josh, Natalie, and I went to visit the cousins: Derek, Jaime, Aunt Marti, and cute little Ella! Ella was the star of the night, of course, and she was pretty adamant about wearing sunglasses (particularly these black ones--the Tom Cruise pair) all night long.




Then, Ella wanted Jaime and I to join her in the "sunglasses wearing" party.


Josh joined in the fun as well, with his sunglasses on for a bit.


The "Ella and Josh" series of photos...#1


#2


#3 (Ella saying something really funny, but I can't remember what it was now.)


#4 (check out Josh's expression)


#5 (The "tickle monster")


Ella and Jaime--so cute!






Hey there movie star!


Josh and Natalie, are you guys ready to have a cute little kid like Ella? ;)


Josh: "Ella look at the camera; it's that way."


CHEEEESE!


me and Ella


Ella taking pics on Jaime's camera. Get 'em started early! She'll be a pro soon. :)


I loooooved spending time with Derek, Jaime, Ella, Aunt Marti, Josh, and Natalie on my last night in Phoenix!! It was a blast!