"Sunday Adventures" and Good Friends

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I've made a lot of good friend over the years. Some have come and gone, and others have stuck around for a long time, for which I am most grateful. One such friendship began years ago in Provo at BYU. I dated Brandon Erickson's roommate, and long after that relationship ended, Brandon and I still remained friends. I think our friendship was finally solidified though when we were bored on Sunday afternoon during the summer of 2004. He and his roommate, another good friend, came up with the idea of "Sunday adventures." We piled in his roommate's (and my friend's) SUV and took off for a rocky, bumpy drive through (literally) Provo canyon... all the way to the other side. "Sunday adventures" stuck. At least the concept stuck. And so did the friendship.

Me, Nicki Dittemore, Jordan Muhlestein and Brandon Erickson on our first Sunday adventure in 2004

After our BYU days, Brandon left for Arizona, and I left for Washington and Florida. It seems funny to think about now, but I think most of our "chatting"/catching up times were via MSN Messenger. Brandon soon moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he was accepted to dental school at VCU. In his class was Brian Richman, who Brandon introduced to my twin sister Brittany, on a weekend visit to Washington, D.C. Less than a year later, Brian and Brittany were married. What a good friend, eh?!

Since then, I have made the move to D.C., (just an hour and a half north of Richmond). On my way to D.C., I stopped in Richmond and Brandon and I took a "Sunday adventure" through University of Richmond's campus and Brandon gave me the grand tour of Richmond. Brandon still frequents our nation's capitol on any given weekend. We're still buddies, just like we have always been. And at times when I take the trek down to Richmond, Brandon and I will get together too. He's just one of those people you know who will always be there. Well, Brandon (and Brian) graduated from dental school a few weeks ago. And now Brandon is moving across the country again to his home state of California. We had one last "Sunday adventure" together before he left... though it was on a Wednesday. It's nice to have good friends stick around... especially when they can teach you a lesson or two about what it really means to kick back and have an "adventure" every one in a while. Brandon is a living example of that.

Brandon and I, May 2010 in Alexandria, VA

Good luck Dr. Erickson! Rest assured I'll be visiting the Golden State for some adventures!

OBX: A Memorial Day Tradition

OUTERBANKS, NC- It's a yearly tradition on the East Coast for all the single Mormons to head to the Outerbanks of North Carolina for some fun in the sun at a place called Duck Beach. Hundreds and hundreds of YSA's flock to the coast from all over the country to get in on the action...

You may remember my video summation from two years ago (it's still pretty accurate):

I start with our daily bike rides along the beach and to breathtaking views of lighthouses. Yes, our beach mansion, named Ocean's Grace, came equipped with bikes. It was pure bliss. (And yes, I am aware that I am in need of some major arm definition. I'm working on it. Back off.)

Next, we have some good, quality beach time. Wish I would have gotten a wide shot of the entire beach, or at least filmed a video clip, so you could see the sun bathing/football throwing/frisbee chasing/ocean soaking/fool making pandemonium unfold. It's entertaining just sitting back and watching it all. There's nothing quite like hundreds of LDS singles strutting their stuff in the sand. This particular picture is with my good friends, Amanda and Melissa. Melissa is one of my favorite Florida friends who made the trek to Duck. I will be forever grateful that she risked her life to come.

Next up we have a little BYU reunion of sorts. My senior year, I constantly hung out with the same crew... Justin Smith, Joe Burton and Nicki Dittemore, to name a few (The group used to be bigger, but the others are now married, of course). Here we are, meeting up on the east coast, seven years later. Nicki and I via DC, Justin via California, and Joe via England. It sure was good hanging out with them! There were also others from the BYU 61st Ward who stayed in our house for Duck, but they didn't make the cut in these pictures. Maybe next year.

And lastly, on our way back to DC, we made a stop in Richmond to visit this little guy... he sure is cute! And the perfect way to end a fantastic weekend:

(Disclaimer: This video was actually taken a few weeks ago. But my camera died at the beach, so this is the most current video I have of Mr. JB)

It Took a Month to Stop an Oil Leak?

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I've had a hard time fully grasping how it could take so long to stop this oil leak in the Gulf Coast. Seriously, I know there's a lot to it, but no one could come up with a quicker method to stop millions of galloons of oil from leaking into our ocean and onto our lands?!

Today officials finally claim the "Top Kill" method successfully stopped the leak... at least for now. I have been wondering how exactly the whole thing works or what made it stop that hasn't worked with their other methods? Maybe no one else finds this fascinating, and perhaps I'm the only one who is completely enthralled by all this... but FINALLY someone broke it all down today and put it in simple terms that made sense. Thank you Bill Nye "the Science Guy" for making it sound so easy. (But then again, if it was so easy, why couldn't they have stopped it sooner????)

Happy Mother's Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Happy Mother's Day to my mom who is celebrating her first Mother's Day as a grandma. I know she couldn't be more proud of her family. And we couldn't ask for a more loving mother. She has been telling me repeatedly for months that all she wanted me to do for her today was make her a video of her two grandkids... So, mom, here it is... Enjoy! They sure are cute little stinkers...

Last One Standing

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It has finally come to this. I am, once again, living life officially by myself. No more family around. It's just me. (On the count of three... pooooooor Andreaaaa) Life is a funny thing. I moved here to be closer to my siblings. And now... they've done it... they've all moved away and left me in their dust. (Britt leaves next month!).

Amy has been my sidekick for the last two years. As much of a pain in the butt sisters can be to each other sometimes (and we know it) I don't think I'll ever miss anyone more than I'm going to miss her.

I'll be honest, it took awhile to adjust having family nearby again after I had lived away from them for so long. I had been flying solo for several years, and I just got used to it. It was just me, and I loved the independence. But now I've gotten used to having them around again, and I prefer it that way. I may have shed a tear or two when the little Maizer packed her bags and left. There'll be no more baseball games, no more random shopping trips (maybe that's a good thing), and no more Abe therapy. I'm going to miss this kid. She's become one of my best friends. And I guess that's the way it ought to be.

Thanks John for the fantastic photography :)

I officially hand over my duties of watching out for her to this guy... and I wish him luck (lots of it)! :) He's a lucky guy to get a girl as magnificent as Amy.

Trip to Sweden: Check!

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - I feel like I just left for Sweden yesterday, and yet I've already returned. Vacations are never long enough. But I had a great time! It was a fun trip, filled with lots of time with a cute, energetic nephew...

Good company... (yes, that is Michael "superman style" in his stroller. Hey, the kid needs some diversity to stay happy.)

Old buildings in the oldest city in Sweden... Sigtuna.

More time with a cute kid...

Good food (yes, that is a Belgium waffle covered in chocolate and whipped cream, and yes, it was amazing)

More time with a cute, rambunctious kid...

...and great views all over a spectacular city!

And finally... a little video for your viewing pleasure, illustrating one of the innovative ways Rob and Lorena have found to keep Michael happy... you've got to love this kid!

Why is it that vacations always seem to
go by too quickly? Who wants to go on the next one?

Thanks Rob and Lorena for a great week!

My Thoughts on Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - My mom forwarded this to me. I think it sums up my thoughts on health care reform quite nicely.

Let me get this straight. We're going to be gifted with a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it,  passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke. 

What the *heck could possibly go wrong?

*expletive changed to adhere to my blog's code of conduct