Island Indigo

"Happy Hallowe'en!!!"

It's Hallowe'en, the sky is dark, the wind is in full motion, and I am sitting here in my cubicle wearing nothing but a hawaiian mu mu, a wrist and head lei, and some flip flops. Not at all scary and not at all warm! Tonight I'm going to my parents to eat granny's chili and to see my darling nieces and nephew all dressed up. Then who knows what the night will bring....

Alya had to go in this morning for a biopsy on her liver. They're not sure what's wrong with it, but it's been giving her trouble for awhile now. I hope and pray she will be alright.

I watched "The Shining" at Dave's last night....

Dave and Chris were at work all night...I DO NOT recommend watching this movie alone! This picture is enough to keep me up at night....

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful...."

I woke up this morning and as I was frantically running around completing my morning routine, I glanced out the window only to find SNOW!!! It's the first of the season...and today's high is only 40 F. It was bound to happen, I will just have to 'man up' and deal with it for a bit. "73 more days...."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMI!!!

Last night was great. Mary, Matt and I went to Chili's for dinner...it was SO yummy and it's always great to see them. Then I went to Dave's for our Tuesday night ritual of watching "The Real World". We are Real World junkies, but it's so much fun to watch all the drama and realize that at least our lives aren't as pathetic as 7 strangers in Vegas. I brought my spanish flashcards with me and we ran through those a few times. He left for work around 9 and I headed home.

I got a surprise phone call from Jason. It's always great talking to him. I love that we've kept in touch throughout the past couple years. Here, I've been in SLC, and he's been living in Cali, Missouri, Texas, and next...North Carolina! I had my favorite day yet this year with him, Willits, Laura, and Sommer over St. Patty's day weekend. The whole thing started with a fortune cookie "Pleasures await you by the seashore...", and that was that! I hadn't seen Jason in a year. Last year over St. Patty's weekend, me and the crew (including Jason) were in Oakland at the Buffett show. We were all missing him, so we decided to head down for the weekend. We arrived around midnight on Friday...we were all hanging out and talking with Jason and his friends when we were trying to decide what to do the next day. Venice Beach? Santa Monica? Hollywood? That is when Willits came up with the idea of the year..."Let's take these girls to Mexico!" he announced! So we all got up early Saturday morning, packed up the Jimmy, and headed to Rosarito Mexico. That is where I fell in love...Ortega's Patio was the place. It was just what I had always imagined Mexico to be. Rosarito is THE home of lobster and if you know me, you know I LOVE lobster! We each got 2 lobster tails, homemade tortillas, chips/salsa ("to die for"), rice, beans, and soup for dirt cheap! We sat in the same spot, overlooking the ocean, for approx. 6 hours. Eating, laughing, talking, dancing...it was surreal! Then there was some puking in the bathrooms, Sommer kissing some mexican named Eric, Laura 'buying' souveniers for loved ones back home and trying to communicate with the spanish speaking operator on my cell, and Willits and I trying to deal with the bill. On our way home, everyone was passed out in the back, I drove and Jason was shotgun. He treated me to a surfin' monkey bank, we crossed the border and we were on our way. I suddenly found myself getting VERY sleepy...so I decided to pull off the freeway for a quick "20 minute nap". 2 hours later, I woke up and was back on the road. As we neared the La Verne exit, the Jimmy jolted...I looked down and realized we were on empty. Lucky for us, Jay-Z and company came to the rescue. They pulled behind the Jimmy and pushed us up the off ramp to the nearest Chevron. We finally made it home! What a day...what memories...what were we thinking?

It's times like those that make me adore my friends as much as I do. They are always up for a good time no matter how extreme it may be. I love you Sommer, Laura, Alya, and Jami. We're all starting to go our separate ways and change is not something I welcome so easily. Jami will be getting married on 30 November, Alya and Laura are graduating from college, and I'm leaving the country. Who knows what the future holds for us, but I am SO grateful I have had them the past few years. It's amazing how 5 girls can live together and get along so well. I am very lucky gal!

"Mad Anne Bonney"

"Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!"

What is YOUR pirate name?

"Livin' la vida loca..."

These past few days have been crazy!!! Laura and I hit some movies, we saw The Ring and Abandon. Now I'm not one to get scared at a movie...but I'm telling you 'The Ring' was the scariest movie I've EVER seen and I will only recommend it an enemy. It has caused me some lack of sleep the past few nights! Then for some reason I had a dream about Katie Holmes....I will leave that for some private conversations because it's too embarassing to type out.

Friday Jen Z. and I made the trip official....we went to STA Travel and bought our plane tickets!!!!! I will leave on 11 January for Mexico City and arrive back to SLC from Costa Rica on 08 June. I can't believe it's really happening! I am starting to freak out a bit. And advice for a first time backpacker?

Saturday night we had a Halloween party (pictures to come) at our house. I gave up the Carmen Miranda idea after trying on a fake fruit hat at the Costume Closet and looking like something out of a fruit of a loom commercial...I went with being a butterfly. Jenny put together a fabulous party and there were SO many people there. I never even made it to the other parties. Jen Z.'s costume was by far the best, but my roomies got creative and looked so cute! This morning, as Laura, Alya, and I cleaned up the mess, vowed to not have another party again! Our house was trashed and we had 3 in the past 3 months...we're partied out.

Tonight I'm just hanging with the parents, doing some laundry, and getting in a good meal. Cami should be having her baby any day now!

"Ah YEAH!!!"

Thanks to Brandon for making my day! He just informed me of this news....Jimmy Buffett is coming to UTAH next SUMMER!!! Jimmy hasn't been in Utah since '94 and since then, our only good outdoor venue has been closed. Although, traveling to see Jimmy has been half the fun....I've gone to Viva Las Vegas (4x), East Troy Wisconsin, Oakland California, and Irvine California. I'm a little...obsessed?

Last night was fun...I got home from the gym and Megan had stopped over. So she, me, Sommer, Laura, and Alya went to the Pie. I hadn't been there in so long! I ran into my good friend Doug from high school, and also into these guys I met in Wendover this weekend. It was crazy! In Wendover, we went to eat at the cafe in our hotel. I needed to bet on some football games for Dave, but wasn't sure on which teams to bet on...there was a table of guys next to us, so I just went over and sat with them and we talked football for awhile. Anyway....I ended up not even putting the money on the games because I won $40 on the craps table (I was hitting yo's left and right!)...and those guys DID put money on the games we decided on and they LOST! Poor fellas....lucky me!

I'm bound and determined to get my Halloween costume together today...I guess we're hitting a bunch of parties (including one at my own house) this Saturday night...so I need to get lookin' good. I was thinking Carmen Miranda...this could get interesting!

"Hump Day"

Today is one of those days that is WAY more than I can take.

1) My co-workers' clients' childrens' names (are you following me on this one?): Ace and Butch
2) Another co-worker spread the ketchup on her sandwich with ALL her fingers and then licked them off in the cafeteria at lunch (this is an ADULT co-worker...oh I am fascinated with who they are hiring these days...)
3) ANOTHER co-worker came out to meet with her customer, Betsy Ross
4) Someone actually said the word "Snazzy!"
5) This one takes the cake....a customer's name is Woody Viagra!!!

The only thing keeping me going today is the fact that I get to watch Dawson's Creek tonight...oh what a sad life I lead these days...

"Wild, Wild West....Wendover(?)"

This weekend was just what the dr. ordered! We headed out to beautiful (haha) Wendover on Saturday night. Me, Caren, Christa, Terri, and Shelly. Upon arrival, we met up with Cathy, Lori, Debbie, Wendy, Lou, Brooke, and Heather and got the party started! Now I can't mention too much because "whatever happens in Wendover, stays in Wendover..." but I WILL say it involved a night of blackjack, craps, La Bare, 4 AM search parties, hula-hooping, near-death experiences (thanks to Terri and Shelly's 'off-road wake-up call), portable potties, and naughty shot glasses. Wendover will never be the same....thanks ladies!

Sunday was spent napping and hanging with the family. My parents made me a lobster dinner...mmm....and then we went up to visit the grandparents/cousins/uncles/aunts. I love those Sundays! I made a quick drop by to Lorri's and she had burned me this CD. I have been listening to #7 ALL day long! Tonight I'm doing some volunteering up at the Red Butte Garden for the 'Garden After Dark' and then I need to get my butt some rest!

HEY YOU....

Sign my guestmap!

please?

"Aye Curumba!!!"

Thanks to my favorite travel sites:

AND

Jen Z. and I are ready to roll!!!

GRAND TOTAL??? $545.37 Round Trip!

We will depart SLC on 11 January and arrive in Mexico City....the LARGEST city in the world...est. population? 33 million!

We will return from either San Jose, Costa Rica OR Panama City, Panama approx. 11 May....or whenever we run out of funds.

"Ooohh....Mexico! I've never really been, but I'd sure like to go...."

-JT

---

This weekend is going to be CRAZY! I'm sure I'll have many stories to share on Monday. It's deer-widows weekend down in Wendover, so me and the DWS crew are heading down tomorrow night for a night of trouble...Wendover will never know what hit it!

"PROPS"

I need to give some props and love to my dear friend Mike in San Angelo, TX! He came up with the whole "Cindi's Changes in Latitude..." on my webpage and he needs to know how greatly I appreciate it!

So here's to you my cyber-buddy! I'll save you a spot on the beach....

"Twists and Turns"

Where do you want to be in 6 months? 5 years? 30 years?

What are you doing to get there? What are you doing TODAY that will make that happen?

It's crazy how one event can make you take a look at your life and really think about what you're doing and how the every day decisions you make can effect your entire future....

I got news today about a very good friend of mine. I'm not really sure how to react to the whole situation, but I do know I will stand behind her and help her any way I can. She has a lot of close friends and family that will love her no matter what. I am happy for her and I wish her all the love and luck in the world!

"A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
-William Shedd

"Just another manic....Tuesday"

After a fabulous weekend of plenty of R & R...I came back to work only to have the computers down, 14 new messages on my voicemail, and about (what seems like) 200 screaming kids in the foyer. I just keep telling myself "3 more months....3 more months...." I hope I can make it!

This weekend was fun. It began with Laura and I hitting the town red....we first hit the Sky Bar. The crowd wasn't that great (although we got a few laughs from the 80s guy on the dance floor grinding black lady, not a good combo), but we did get a free plate of hot wings! After we couldn't take that place anymore, we headed to Natalie's. I'd say we were there maybe 20 minutes (another unmentionable crowd) and headed to Shaggy's to end the night. I needed a little La-La time.

Saturday was the "kind of day people dream of" as Dave would say. Living with 5 other girls rarely brings any time alone. Sommer and Alya ran off with the Hopkins clan to Moab, Laura had school/work, Amber had work, Jami was at her boys....that left me home ALONE!!! I woke up and did some cleaning, took a bath, read my new Glamour, took a nap....serenity! Then I headed to the marina for work. I caught a beautiful sunset






I have the greatest (2nd) job!

After work Dave called and he and the UPS crew were going to the Twilight Lounge. So I met them there and we closed the place down. Then we went back to his place and we decided to go to Wendover. It was so much fun! We got a 4 team parlay and watched football all day long....we ate at the buffet....we played some craps....we came home. I didn't win big...otherwise do you think I'd really be at work today?

Monday I hung out with my sister a bit. I bought my nephew "The Jolly Mon" by Jimmy and Savannah Jane Buffett for his 5th b-day and took it out to him. It was great to see them, I don't get to enough. My sister is the most amazing mom! She's a stay at home mom, but she isn't just home. She's always planning activities, teaching them new games/songs, reading to them, taking them out for 'daily adventures'. Plus, she and her husband practically built their entire house and she has refurnished it with things that she made in a community woodshop class she takes. I can only hope to be as good as a mother/wife as her someday.

Well, I'd better wrap it up here at work and hit the gym. Ciao!

"Karma Baby"

Last night I learned I should never make snide remarks about my friends and their driving skills (or lack of). I apparently am not one to talk.

I was heading out to the marina for work, I left my other job about 10 minutes late...so I was in a rush. I pulled into the parking lot and was going to run into the restroom to change. I grabbed my clothes, shut the door and started running in...when I heard a funny noise and turned around only to notice MY emergency brake was not on. It was quite the site! I dropped my work clothes, grabbed my keys and somehow pulled off unlocking the door and putting on the emergency brake while the car was rolling. Lucky for me, I stopped it in time. Sommer wasn't so lucky. She had her sister's car and it rolled straight into our garage. Our idiot neighbors tattled on Sommer and called the landlord. The damage? $400! Sommer has been trying to work 2 jobs and get back into school. $400 was not something she wanted to spend on a 100 year old, piece of sh** garage. But our fundraiser paid off and she only had to fork over $150 of her own cash. When 6 girls put their head together...amazing things happen!

I've learned my lesson. I will no longer make fun of my friends on this site....it will always come back to bite me in the butt. I just never expected it to be so soon.

"Off To See The Lizard"

Last night Jen Z and I went to the library to do some official trip preparation research. Here's our tenative plan...

11 January-Arrive in Cancun, Mexico. Hang around there for a day and begin making our way south. Make stops in Chichén Itzá and cruise around the Yucatán Penisula. Head towards Guatemala. Visit Tikal and Flores. Eventually arrive in Antigua (around the 25th?) and sign ourselves up for some spanish classes. Study spanish, take some salsa dancing classes, do some volunteer work, visit the markets and explore!

23 February-Head out of Antigua and work out way over to Utila (Bay Islands, Honduras). Do some serious diving! Perhaps stick around there for 6 weeks and become Dive Masters.

06 April-Leave Utila and head towards Belize. Dive for a week or so and then head out before we spend too much $$...travel south through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicuragua, and eventually get to Costa Rica.

May-Try to get a job and apartment in Costa Rica. Do some volunteering. Sharpen our newly learned spanish skills. Take some surfing classes, do some river rafting, hike through rainforests and sit in hot springs near volcanoes. Walk along the shores of the white and black sandy beaches. Drink Pina Coladas. Save the turtles. Sleep in a hammock. Eat a lot of rice and beans. Make a week trip to Panama. When we run out of money...head back to the states!

Now can you see why quitting my job and moving away won't be so bad afterall?

I know you want to come with me.....

T-Minus 93 days and counting....


After the library, I headed to Travis' with my roomies. All 5 of my roomies were there. Here's a picture of all of us...let's see if I can figure this out....



(oh and for the record, this picture was NOT last night....this was last week. Sommer bought us all pizza for helping her with her "fundraiser" to save the garage...I LOVE YOU SOMMER even if you don't know how to set the emergency brake)

"FEAR FACTOR!!!"

"Aren't you scared to travel to a foreign country where you don't speak a lick of Spanish?"

"Are you crazy? You have a fabulous job with great benefits! You have a great (nearly paid off) car! You will be miles and miles from your family and friends!"

Yes, these are the things I have to listen to from my concerned loved ones....but to tell you the truth, I'm not afraid to quit my job or sell my car or move far away from family and friends...what scares me the most is what I have to endure today for the 3rd time! I am going in to get 3 more shots...I have already endured 3, but never 3 in one day! I'm making Dave come with me to hold my hand and catch me when I faint and buy me ice cream after. I figure, if I can survive my worst fear I can survive anything...

BRING IT ON!!!

// posted by Cindi @ 10/09/2002 01:14:00 PM (0) comments

I'd like to recognize a person who if it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here right now! Her extraordinary talent and creativity has got me up and running on the net and now I can keep you all updated on the day and life of ME! Thanks Jen the site looks fabulous and I can't wait to get on the road and tell you all about what I am doing and what I have seen.

Estimated departure date: 11 January 2002. SO much to do, SO little time.

Thank you Jen!

;-)

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