Adventure seeker

Ok, so I never considered myself an adventure seeker...but I am starting to realized that I am. My first great adventure was in 2002 when I decided it would be fun to go skydiving. My mom's friend Dave invited me to go to Ogden and participate in this great little adventure. It was his birthday and he rented out the hanger, provided a band, and had Famous Dave cater it. So I drove up from SLC and had the time of my life. I don't know how many of you have been skydiving, but the first time you go you are strapped to an experienced diver. You hook yourself up to the diver before getting in the airplane and then once you reach the desired altituted you are suppose to slide over to the door where you put your feet on a platform that is attached to the plane. You usually rock back and forth and then you just fall out of the plane. The only problem I had was that my diver had such a big belly that I couldn't sit in the plane and reach the platform. So really I was just hanging out in the air with nothing around me, until my diver decided to fall out too. The rush that you feel when you are free falling, is absolutely amazing. Little did I know that my love for adventure was born that day.

The next little adventure came during the summer of 2007 when I was in Europe. Lori and I were in Switzerland and we were looking for something to do. So we decided that it would be fun to go paragliding. I mean...how cool is it to say that you have been paragliding around the Swiss Alps? So we rode in a van up to the top of the mountain and got strapped up to our guide. Once you are hooked in you run towards the end of the cliff and basically just run off the mountain. As soon as you run of the side of the mountain the wind catches your sail and you just sore. If you ever want to feel like a bird...you need to go paragliding. you basically just catch the wind drifts like birds do. You go around in large circles slowly circling upwards. Then you can do dives and tricks to go all over the place....then you catch an air drift and start circling back up. The view from up there was absolutely amazing. It was so gorgeous. But I must admit that paragliding is not for the faint in heart (or maybe I should say those with a weak stomach). You do end up going around and around in circles a lot and get to pretty high elevations. But don't worry...they have puke bags...just in case you need them.

The last and most recent adventure was while were in Africa this past December. I have always wanted to go bungee jumping...but never knew where. I guess you could say that I always wanted to do it somewhere fun. I mean...paragliding in Switzerland sounds so much cooler than skydiving in Ogden. :) So when we found out that we had the opportunity to bungee jump not only in Africa...but into the Nile, I jumped (literally) at the opportunity. I went first (out of our group of four) because I was the one who was the most excited. I sat there and got strapped in and felt extremely confident about it. That is, until I got to the end of the platform and looked at how far I had to fall. Once I jumped though all fear left. It was the most exhilarating feeling I have ever had.



So basically I am in search of the next big adventure. Let me know if you think of anything. As a disclaimer...it is true that I went White Water Rafting while in Africa...but I am going to save that for another post.

Look what I've learned

Ok, so I just LOVE my mac. I know I wrote about my mac a few times ago. But I just learned something so cool about it. So there is an application that comes with iLife '08 (which is installed on all macs) called iMovie. I never knew what the purpose of iMovie was, but I learned the other day.

As some of you know, I went to Africa in July and December. While I was there I was able to shoot about 7 hours of video. I didn't know how I was going to edit it, but I was really excited to learn how. Well I was talking to my boss about it and wondering what I was able to do. That was when he told me about iMovie.

So the last couple of days at work I have been able to watch my movies and edit them. I had a presentation today and I made a video for it. I hope you like it. It might not be that great, but I am happy to say that I did it all on my own.

Are you kidding me?!?!?

So I have a great story for ya. A few posts back I wrote about my love for my Chaco sandals. It was no exaggeration...I really do love them. I wrote it thinking that my family and friends would get a kick out of it. Well they did. I got emails about how funny it was and how creative it was. Well I thought that was the end of it...that is until I got an email from a Chaco employee. He wrote me the following:

" I went ahead and forwarded your e-mail address to our director of Marketing. He actually sent a link out to your blog to everyone at Chaco, so you've been seen by lots of people!"

Yikes, I hope they liked what they saw. Apparently they did, because the next day I got an email from the director of Marketing saying:

"Pretty passionate blog you got there, sister! What's your shoe size and address?"

I couldn't believe what I had just read. Where they serious? So of course I wrote back and gave them my shoe size and address. What do you think showed up in the mail today? Yep...a new pair of Chacos...only this time it was a pair of shoes! I am so stoked. I can't wait to wear them! Check out my new kicks.
So I guess I have to say thank you to Chaco. I never imagined that I would actually get a free pair of shoes out of it. Yeah I might have hoped, but I never thought it would really happen. I have to give a special shout out to the Chaco employee who contacted me first (you know who you are). Thanks for getting the ball rolling! Also, thanks to the director of Marketing for actually sending me the shoes. You two guys are the greatest!

Tag...

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 4 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Let's see...10 years ago I was 15 almost 16 and a Sophmore in high school. The middle of February was always a busy time of year for me. Basketball season was winding up and softball season was already beginning. I would spend nights practicing for basketball and during the day I could be found in the girls locker room talking with my softball coach. The varsity was on a roll and we were getting ready to head to State. Even though I was excited for the chance to go to State with the "big girls" I was counting down the days till it was over so I could get outside and start playing softball with my team. It was also around this time of year that I fell in love with Caesar Salads. I ate one every night when I got home from basketball practice. I think that phase lasted about two months...can you imagine...nothing but Caesar Salads for two months!!!! What was I thinking?

5 things on my "to-do" list today...
1. Work-out
2. Read Scriptures
3. Go to the temple
4. Men's volleyball game
5. Play basketball

6 snacks that I enjoy...
1. Beef Jerky
2. Cheetos
3. Chex-Mix
4. Cheez-Its
5. String Cheese
6. Cottage Cheese
(can you tell that I like cheese?)

Bad habits...
1. Biting my nails (can't seem to shake the habit)
2. My SportsCenter obsession
3. Spending way to much time on facebook
4. Getting sucked into a book and forgetting about life.

If I were suddenly a billionaire I would...
I would make it so that my mom wouldn't have to work...she could stay at home and take care of herself and her family. I would have to steal Kami's idea of a private jet...that way I could fly over to Africa whenever I wanted and visit Kasekende. I would also make a college fund and put money in it for all of my brothers and sisters, that way they wouldn't have to take out any student loans (cuz those just suck).

Places I've lived...
1. SLC, Utah
2. Wichita, Kansas
3. Rexburg, Idaho
4. Layton, Utah
5. Charlotte, North Carolina (and surrounding cities)
6. Logan, Utah

Jobs I've had...
1. Penny Power Distributer
2. FantaSea Employee
3. Home Depot cashier
4. Taco Time worker
5. Tasty's worker
6. EK Ekcessories
7. IOWSE-Utah State University
8. STI-Utah State University

5 things people don't know about me...
1. I only have one full brother
2. I've jumped out of a plane (skydiving), jumped off a platform 100 yards up (bungee jumping) and jumped off a cliff (paraglyding)...but the thought of going down a mountain with nothing but two thin pieces of wood strapped to my feet (aka...skiing) terrifies me.
3. Growing up I HATED corn with a passion...but it has now become my favorite veggie.
4. I learned how to surf this summer and even though I might not be good at it yet...it has gotten into my soul!
5. I don't like wet hair getting stuck in between my fingers.

Now I'm tagging...
1. Reese
2. Tammy
3. Melissa
4. Scott/Laura

Como se llama...Obama

Now I am not saying that I support Obama...but you have to admit that this song is really catchy. I don't know who else has a song about them...but this one is great. Enjoy.



And if you want the words here they are:

Oye mi gente este es un hombre preperado.
La esperanza ha llegado.
Como Se Dice…Como Se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Dicen que no contamos…
Invisibles porque no votamos…
Pero aqui estamos y todo esto va cambiar…
We did the marchas y ahora vamos a votar.
Listen to me gente, es tiempo para algo diferente..
What we need is un nuevo presidente…
Como Se Dice…Como Se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA! (Repeat)
Mexicanos como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Puerto Rique_os, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Peruanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!

En esta gran nacion ya no existe una buena educacion,
Dicen que todo el dinero va a la imigracion
Es facil culpar el que no vota
El gigante Latino esta que brota
Despierta!
Vamos a eligir alguien que de veras entienda…
Colombianos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Dominicanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Los Cubanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Los Brasilieros, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Salvadore_os, como se llama?
Latinos!!!
Es un Hombre preparado…
La esperanza ha llegado…
Obama! Obama!*

Chacos

Dear Chaco Company,

I recently purchased some of your sandals. All of my friends just ranted and raved about how great they were. I decided to take them with me on my trip to Europe...surely I would see if they were all they were talked up to be. I strolled up and down the streets of London in them, climbed up the Eiffel Tower with them strapped to my feet, and stood on them in the Sistine Chapel.

I came home with Chaco lines on my feet and felt proud that they had held up as well as they did. So I continued to wear them all summer long. I wore them to work...I wore them to the lake...I even wore them to church. If you look at this picture you can see that I wore them tubing down the Logan canals. We were inseparable. I took better care of them then I did most of my other personal belongings.

Then after returning home from Europe and playing the summer away, we decided to take another trip. This time around we decided to go to Africa. Oh the fun we had as we took a boat trip down the Nile and watched as the elephants and giraffes walked by. We even stopped and had a moment on the Equator. We have shared many great moments over the past few months. Never once did they give me any troubles. They were such troopers as I walked and walked and walked. I'm sure they were tired...but they never gave up on me.

Now Chaco company...all I have to say to you...is thank you. Thank you for making such a great product. My only question is...can I have a free pair? I'll even give you this picture for marketing purposes. It's worth a shot...don't you think?
Your valued customer,

Alexis

Where has the time gone?

Man at times I feel so old. I know that 25 isn't that old and most of the time I don't feel old...but the other week something happened that made me realize just how old I was. On January 21 my little brother got baptized. Now for most of you that wouldn't make you feel old. But you don't know the relationship that Christian and I have. He was born my Senior year of high school. When I came back from my Freshman year of college I would take him to the store and more often than not I would run into someone I knew in high school. They would usually stop me and say "Alexis, I didn't know you had a baby". I'm like "wow, did you not know me at all in school?"Christians baptism not only symbolizes that I am eight years older...but that I have been out of high school for eight year. Where has the time gone? I have been able to do so much and accomplish so much these past few years. Would I change anything? No way. I am who I am today because of what I was able to do these past few years.

It also made me realize how great it is to be baptized. What a great blessing the Lord has given to us. So Christian, I hope you realize just how special January 21 was for you. I am proud of you and your decision to get baptized. I sure love you!This is our first family photo since Reese and Tammy got married...let alone had a baby. Man we should seriously work on that.

One last tribute

So, I was looking at my brother's blog this morning and he had this video posted on it. I really liked it and thought it was one of the better ones that I have seen. Hope you all enjoy it. I don't know how many of you were able to watch President Hinckley's funeral, but I did. I thought it was great. Let's all remember to stand a little taller.