Stranger than Fiction

What a week it's been! A couple moments this week I felt like we lived in a movie mostly because that is the only way I could process what was happening. With the bombings on Monday everyone here was a little unnerved. The news went nonstop coverage on the bombs and we all hoped for some answers. Then Friday morning I woke up to a voicemail from my boss with the news that we were under lock down and work and school was cancelled. As happy as I was to have a day off of work it was taxing mentally and I almost wished I had work to do to distract myself. I did rather well at the beginning of the day as nothing really felt real. Then as the day went on there were no answers and it was anybody's guess as to how long we would have to deal with a terrorist threat. On top of that after we fixed dinner I burnt a brownie in the microwave and smoke was everywhere in our kitchen. Luckily we are in an old house and not in a new apt with an over-sensative  smoke detector. I was so worried the alarm was going to go off and it would become a huge issue since we were under lock down. By the time they found the guy I had lost my nerves and felt that at any moment someone would come through the windows and attack us. That was our terrorist day. I'm realizing that there are multiple reasons to have a 72 hour kit-hurricanes, snow storms, loss of power, and terrorist threats.

By Saturday we were so ready for life to get back to normal, which it did, until today. We went to visit our friend Aaron who is in the naval base in Newport, RI. It was so good to see him and such a sunny and beautiful drive. We were driving home on the highway having a nice chat in our car when we go over a moderately sized bump (not unusual here) and then we hear a whoosh when I look in the side view mirror to see our back windshield window flying in the air twisting and Jason saw it crash into a thousand pieces when it hit the road. Stunned, we pulled over to the side of the road. Luckily no one was hurt and so we just drove home with our back window completely taken out. We have no idea what happened. In my inability to cope with things I had to hold back a laugh, I mean how does the back window just completely come off? Who knows but now we have to figure out how to fix it. Just the cherry on top to our terrorist threat, finals, job hunting, and life decisions. Isn't it great. I look back at this week flipping back and forth from tragedy to comedy. Mostly comedy when I think about the window. Oh what a memorable week! (I PROMISE my next post will be happy :) )

There's no place like home

Okay so apparently I'm really bad at updating this blog. Sometimes it just takes so much to write! Also I've been pretty philosophical lately so I apologize if it appears that way in the post. The philosophical me generally comes out when I'm about to fall asleep which frustrates Jason to no end so maybe I've just been really tired the last couple days...Anyway, this last week I went to Utah to visit my brother before he left on his mission and it was wonderful. First of all I'm so proud of my brother who will be serving in Hungary Budapest for the next two years! It was hard to say goodbye to him but ironically I think I will actually hear more from him now that he's gone. I already wrote him his first letter so who's the best sister ever?

As hard as it was to leave Stephen it was even harder to leave Utah. It was a good thing Jason had to stay in Boston for school because otherwise I might not have come back. With Jason being here in Boston it was so weird to fly into Utah. When I landed I felt like I was torn between two places but neither place really claimed me as home anymore. It's so strange to visit Utah instead of fly home to Utah. Before, my family and my home have always coincided and now they are separating and I kind of went to panic mode when I had to fly back to Boston. Utah represents everything comfortable and everything I've ever known. You people who live there have no idea how nice it is to be able to talk to someone while you're driving because driving is easy, or how nice it is to lay on the floor because there's carpet, or how lovely it is to grocery shop because you can park and there are no people. Then of course there's the perks of being close to mom which includes a full fridge of delicious food that I haven't had in forever, my hair dresser that I love, my beloved piano and a treadmill, a sister and mom to shop with, family and friends, basically everything that makes me happy, all in one place except for one. Jason was really close to being outnumbered. He still won though so no worries there. When I flew back to Boston I felt like I was sacrificing everything for what? Doing something hard so I can, oh I don't know, grow into a better person I guess. After being back for a few days I'm definitely climatizing again and things are getting less dramatic. I like it here, I really do. Boston definitely has it perks sometimes you just have to look harder. Like these spring flowers...

Why Spring Breaks are wonderful

Sorry that it's been so long since I've posted on the blog. We feel like life hasn't been that exciting lately with various snow storms, and the stomach bug it's been a dreary winter. March has been much more fun but busy so there you go. But this last week Jason and I got our first spring break of our college career! (BYU doesn't believe in Spring Breaks) I actually got the whole week off and we decided to go to D.C. so Jason could do some informational interviews at companies, I could revisit my favorite city, and we could visit all of our wonderful Cambridge friends. It was great and just the break we needed and I now realized I was cheated out of my mental sanity for my whole college career. Here are a few of the highlights....

 This is the Masonic temple in Old Alexandria. Very poor museum exhibits but really cool to see anyway.

 This is the top of the Kennedy Center. We tried to make a free concert but was mistaken on the time. Instead we went to the roof and got a beautiful view of the city. It was cold but it was also beautiful with the sun setting. Also one of the best parts is spending all week with my husband without all the stress off life.

 Food! Namely Good Stuff Eatery, I've been dreaming of these milkshakes for the last couple years since I left. It was heaven.

 Museums, this was the coolest from the Hishorn museum, the whole exhibit just engulfed you. I like the more modern art since it really makes you think.

And one of the best parts is the Cambridge get together we had. Honestly everything about this picture makes me happy; the people, the food (pazookies were awesome), and the GREAT conversation. These people just make me want more out of life and is proof that you can love life. I love it and we miss them terribly.

And now it's back to work and school but I refuse to let stress impede on my life just yet because life is so much better without it.

Happiness

Right now I am on a journey to find happiness everyday. Here's something that made me smile today. Enjoy!

Best morning break

One of the simple joys of marriage is having someone that can help turn the day around and one of the things I love about my husband is how he helps me. Today I had a rough morning at work and I needed to get out of the office and clear my head and needed someone to vent to for a minute. So for my morning break I text Jason to see of he could meet me for five minutes at his library. He graciously agreed and then he met me half way between his library and work (which is only a five minute walk, I love it) and he gave me a good hug which immediately relaxed me...seriously there isn't anything else in the world like a hug and kiss on the forehead from your husband and he let me vent. Then randomly he took me into a curious George store around the corner from my work and picked up a dr. Suess book and said "this break was brought to you by Dr. Seuss" and proceeded to read the book. He then told me I was tough and thanked me for working so hard and that was it, I was back at work and feeling much better about life. I've recently have discovered and am still discovering that you are in charge of your own happiness and I don't think having a Husband instantly makes you happier but today I learned that what my husband does for me is provide a great environment which makes it easier for me to choose to be happy and for that I am ever grateful.

Monday

What a heck of a day. One of those days that was probably better off spent in bed. Work was hectic, the sky is gray with rain and the sidewalks are covered with ice which goes along pretty well with my mood. As I sit here and wait for Jason to finish his school so we can take what I'm sure to be treacherous walk home I'm trying to to be positive in hopes that the evening can turn itself around. At least I'm enjoying the best part of my day so far... A good strong chocolate drink with my new favorite pandora station. Also a glimpse of Jason as he does all his school stuff and I'm reminded how lucky I am that I have him and we are here. At least that's something.

Snowed In

Sorry about not posting in January. January sometimes can be so bleak and I never feel like I want to do anything. But now we're on to February and things are looking much brighter. We are completely snowed in today. Not going anywhere. Love it. I'm finishing all my craft projects, finishing the hobbit, cleaning the house, and cheering Jason on as he takes on the enormous task of shoveling! Staying inside drives Jason crazy but I love it. Yesterday work got cancelled early so I came home, ate, read, took a nap, it was heaven.

Anyway here is the one thing of note that happened in January, we went to New York City to visit my dad who was there for work and it was so much fun! We went to Evita (not awesome but that's okay), the Frick collection (one of the coolest museums), and tons of good food, notably a wonderful French restaurant that was delicious.