HAPPY MOOB!!!

This past weekend was MMT 2008 (Massive Moab Trip), the third annual exodus to the magical land of Moab, Utah with about 200 people mainly from the Provo/Salt Lake area. If you haven't heard about this trip, you are definitely missing out on one of the greatest friend/memory-making experiences of your life and should come partake of MMT goodness next year. MMT sets you up with 200 insta-friends that would be more than happy to share their summer with you. It's so AWESOME! So here's a little break down of the trip...

Carly (sister), Abbie (might-as-well-be-sister) and myself headed down to Moab late Thursday evening along with the Justin/Kendall/Mike caravan. We made it to Happy Moob around midnight and started into the canyon to find our campsite which was about 9 miles in. After about 12 miles and some serious off-roading in an Altima with two sketchy axels, we rendezvoused with other MMTers and camped off the road because our scheduled campsite was taken over by aliens/monsters/hostile enemy campers or something like that. Needless to say, we got ZERO sleep, even though I totally insisted about 400 times that we sleep in the car for some peace and quiet. Forget it. We totally froze and were so uncomfortable, but don't worry...a true Moabite never backs down. My little group of girls left before the rest of the crowd to peace out to McDonalds to grab a bite, wash faces, and change into our suits for a day on the Colorado river. The river trip was most excellent! Juh brought a Jolley Roger (Skull and Crossbones) flag, and Dain dubbed our raft the 'Yellow Banana' and we took over just about every other raft out there thanks to our fearless captain/river guide the Dreaded D-Train (aka Derek). It was a crazy good time and we all felt like the $50 price tag was well worth it.

After we Pirates decided to retire, we hit the local swimming pool for a quick dip and a shower (YEA!) which was definitely worth the three bucks we had to pay. Then we swung over to Zax pizza before heading up to delicate arch. We beat every one else up there and really got to enjoy the beauty of Arches without having to deal with a bunch of people. That place is SO gorgeous! I love Moab, it's the greatest place in Utah!

We decided to get some sleep Friday night by crashing in the last available room in the entire city with 8 people. I have never slept so good in my life! I laid down on the bed and was completely out until 8 o'clock the next morning.

That day we hit Sand hill, swam Ken's (yeah, it was named after me) Lake, and then hiked up to Left Hand for some serious cliff-jumping. Left Hand is probably my favorite place in Moab. Last year's MMT spawned some daredevil tendencies and now I LOVE jumping off stuff. So hitting Left Hand again was a nice was to connect to my inner Evil Kinevil. I tried a couple jumps that I didn't try last year and loved them. Maybe next year I'll have the guts to do a backflip or something crazy.

Well, MMT 2008 wrapped up with a stellar BBQ provided by the brethren (Austin, Jake, Paul, John, Juh, etc.) which included Austin's grilling bounty (40 lbs of steak and 20 lbs of chicken) and topped off with banana's foster. YUM! Delicious food, good friends, sweet hikes, and jumping off cliffs; what else is there?!

All in all, this was definitely one of the best trips I've ever been on. I'd like to thank Carly and Abbie (my ladies!) for coming down this year and letting me gush about how awesome Moab truly is. I think they felt the fire!

24 or something...

This past Saturday I turned 24 years old. I wasn't really caring about turning another year older; I feel great, look relatively good in a tight pair of jeans, and am still playing like I'm 17, but then my friend Rick decided to oh-so-subtly let me know that I am entering my mid-twenties. Ugh! For all that read this and are older and wiser than myself, you're probably thinking that I'm being retarded, but think about it?! I'm in my MID-TWENTIES! When I was younger I thought that once you reached the age of 21 it was over for you, and now I'm 24! Crap. Oh well, right? So besides me freaking out over a stupid number, I actually had an awesome day! Worked out in the morning, went wake-boarding on our 1986 Seville aptly named JAWS (who's definitely been running like a 22 year old boat lately) and then had a BBQ with family and friends where we played a mean game of beach volleyball (have you ever watched a bunch of swimmers play land sports? Oh, you're in for a treat!). It was a fun, fabulous day! Now, I'd better go take out my hearing aids and dentures for my mid-morning nap.

Summer?

Well, summer has finally come. Or so we thought. School wrapped up on May 30 and in my great anticipation for 90+ degree weather, I failed to recognize the ominous thunderheads rolling in to destroy my first week of summer. It has seriously rained almost everyday since the 30th. For cryin' in the night, people! It's supposed to be warm! I guess all I can do is wait for the sunshine and bask in its greatness as soon as it decides to show up. (At least I already have a killer tan! Yeah for 14 years of swimming!)
My baby sister also graduated from AFHS this week making the Smith family 4 for 4 on getting HS diplomas. As she was on Senior Council like Carly and I were, she had the wonderous opportunity to speak at graduation. She thanked the teachers and I cried like I was at a wedding/funeral/U of U football game in the last two years...She did so good. Its so weird, I think the majority of adults in this country still feel like they're 18 years old. I do. High school will forever be one of my favorite memories, but honestly I'm really glad that it's over.