Dialog I - Brian and Amy take Brian's niece out for ice cream
Brian: Abby, do you like it when Amy and I come to visit?
Abby: Yes.
Brian: Why?
Abby: Just because I love Amy!
Dialog II - Amy has fallen asleep before getting ready for bed, but appears to be waking up.
Brian: Amy, you have to brush your teeth and take your drugs.
Amy (appearing awake): Through a giant tube?
Brian (laughs): Are you conscious right now?
Amy: Part way. I thought they were talking about where the towns were.
Brian: Huh?!
Amy: In Ohio.
30 seconds later, Brian recites to Amy what she just told him (after writing it down), but she has no recollection of it
family
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Provo to Columbus: 1703 miles, about 1 day 3 hours
Brian's words
Amy' words
Both
We left Provo in the early afternoon. It was a momentous occasion for me because I have never actually lived outside of Utah not counting the mission, was leaving the desert, and would be closer to farther from family.
My Amy's dad was a huge help. He drove one of the cars the entire way by himself, allowing us to share the other and discuss the mountainous monotonous scenery that is Wyoming.
Originally we had planned on stopping numerous times along the way to do some sightseeing. Then we did some research and learned there isn't anything to see along I-80. Occasionally we saw signs that read "Point of Interest" but we figured that if something actually was interesting, it wouldn't have to be introduced as "Point of Interest." There was a thing in Nebraska that looked like a tree growing out of a rock or something and it had its own interstate exit, but we saw enough of it as we drove by.
Needless to say, we were happy when we arrived in Columbus on Sunday morning.
We pulled into an LDS church parking lot (adjacent to the Columbus temple) around 11:00 AM. We went to sacrament meeting, then to sunday school without making much of a scene. (we were slightly late to both meetings) After Sunday school one guy pointed at me Brian and said "You're Brian Casaday aren't you." It was one of my Brian's mission buddies that I he didn't recognize at first. The guy was one of many med school students in the ward. We were told that that ward is a great place to have an emergency because so many members are doctors or studying to become doctors.
We talked to a number of people after church, and it wasn't
long before we had a few invitations for dinner or were offered a place to stay before moving in to our new place. We were also asked to check out a number of complexes so that we could be somebody's neighbor.
Sadly, we didn't have much luck with housing options within the ward, and we may have to choose housing in a different ward (and stake). We're waiting on a couple calls before deciding. (I was going to write more on house hunting, but it may be obsolete by the time you read this)
Long story short- I really like love Ohio, and...
Amy' words
Both
We left Provo in the early afternoon. It was a momentous occasion for me because I have never actually lived outside of Utah not counting the mission, was leaving the desert, and would be closer to farther from family.
My Amy's dad was a huge help. He drove one of the cars the entire way by himself, allowing us to share the other and discuss the mountainous monotonous scenery that is Wyoming.
Originally we had planned on stopping numerous times along the way to do some sightseeing. Then we did some research and learned there isn't anything to see along I-80. Occasionally we saw signs that read "Point of Interest" but we figured that if something actually was interesting, it wouldn't have to be introduced as "Point of Interest." There was a thing in Nebraska that looked like a tree growing out of a rock or something and it had its own interstate exit, but we saw enough of it as we drove by.
Needless to say, we were happy when we arrived in Columbus on Sunday morning.
We pulled into an LDS church parking lot (adjacent to the Columbus temple) around 11:00 AM. We went to sacrament meeting, then to sunday school without making much of a scene. (we were slightly late to both meetings) After Sunday school one guy pointed at me Brian and said "You're Brian Casaday aren't you." It was one of my Brian's mission buddies that I he didn't recognize at first. The guy was one of many med school students in the ward. We were told that that ward is a great place to have an emergency because so many members are doctors or studying to become doctors.
We talked to a number of people after church, and it wasn't
long before we had a few invitations for dinner or were offered a place to stay before moving in to our new place. We were also asked to check out a number of complexes so that we could be somebody's neighbor.Sadly, we didn't have much luck with housing options within the ward, and we may have to choose housing in a different ward (and stake). We're waiting on a couple calls before deciding. (I was going to write more on house hunting, but it may be obsolete by the time you read this)
Long story short- I really like love Ohio, and...
to be continued
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
fruit flies
We recently had an invasion of fruit flies. We weren't sure where it came from, since I had been buying bunches of produce all summer. As it turned out, there were some forgotten potatoes rotting in our pantry (yuck!).
Any idea how to get rid of the little pests? We have some brilliant ones:
1. Suck them up in a vacuum (thanks, Scott)
2. Set out traps for them and wait for them to die (did you know they'll crawl in the small holes you poke in plastic wrap but won't crawl out?)
3. Brian's personal favorite: light them on fire
They can't go very far once you singe their wings. Believe us, we know.
It's much better if you can just kill them right off though. Brian was trying to figure out how to get the flame close to them without them realizing what was happening (as it turns o
ut, they can sense rapid movement). Several weeks ago, I had bought some bug spray and we never ended up using it. Brian put it to good use, effectively creating a flame-thrower. Sure, the cabinets and floor were a little sticky afterward, but those little guys had no idea what hit 'em.
Any idea how to get rid of the little pests? We have some brilliant ones:
1. Suck them up in a vacuum (thanks, Scott)
2. Set out traps for them and wait for them to die (did you know they'll crawl in the small holes you poke in plastic wrap but won't crawl out?)
3. Brian's personal favorite: light them on fire
They can't go very far once you singe their wings. Believe us, we know.
It's much better if you can just kill them right off though. Brian was trying to figure out how to get the flame close to them without them realizing what was happening (as it turns o
ut, they can sense rapid movement). Several weeks ago, I had bought some bug spray and we never ended up using it. Brian put it to good use, effectively creating a flame-thrower. Sure, the cabinets and floor were a little sticky afterward, but those little guys had no idea what hit 'em.P.S. Don't try this at home.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Moon and Star
This evening during a (romantic) stroll to our mailbox, Amy and I were admiring the beautiful scenery that occurs just after the sun has set.
I pointed to the thin crescent moon and single nearby star (actually a planet) and how they looked nice as the only visible objects in the clear blue sky.
Amy: Yeah, just like the Communist flag!
I pointed to the thin crescent moon and single nearby star (actually a planet) and how they looked nice as the only visible objects in the clear blue sky.
Amy: Yeah, just like the Communist flag!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
hiking
Brian convinced me to go on a couple hikes with him in the last few weeks. Two weeks ago, we went to Timp Caves. I'd been there once before...I was probably 10, and my cousin Autumn had to carry me most of
the way up the mountain. Fortunately, I'm slightly more used to higher elevation and steep climbs now, so Brian did not have to do the same. We had lunch near a beautiful (and COLD!) stream by the visitors' center and then did the hike in about 45 minutes. (I'm a slow wimp.) We had about 30 minutes before our cave tour started, so we rested and looked at the trees and animal life. When our tour guide came to collect tickets, we realized ours was nowhere to be found. (We looked in the car when we got back, and it wasn't in there either. Who knows what happened to it.) Apparently we looked like honest enough people that she let us go on the tour anyway. It probably didn't hurt that someone else who was waiting vouched for us because he'd been in line behind us and saw us pay in cash.
The caves were amazing! We saw all sorts of cool formations, and the pictures don't do them any justice at all. It was pretty chilly and damp inside, but I had brought a jacket and didn't freeze to death. My main problem was that I had been drinking a lot of water. I went to the bathroom just before the tour, but I continued drinking and didn't realize how long the tour would be. Whoops. The last 20 minutes or so were a little painful (sorry if that's TMI), but we found the bathroom again and I was fine.
I'm still not sure how, but Brian convinced me to hike Timp the next week. Working the day after Timp Caves was a little rough because I was pretty sore. I guess I love him a lot, because it didn't take much arm twisting for me to agree to the longer hike. He assured me that it wasn't as steep as the path to the caves (mostly), and even though it would take several hours one way, it would be completely worth it.
We started at the trail head around 5:30 AM and got back to the car at about 4:45 PM. Again, I'm a slow wimp. But in my defense, we also took several extended breaks for food
(lunch at 9:30 AM) and the bathroom. (Did I mention we were on a mountain? There are no bathrooms....) We also spent about an hour on the summit. The scenery on the mountain was breathtaking, and we decided God is an amazing landscape architect. On the hike down, I was enthralled with all the wildflowers (I was on the way up too, but I just wanted to keep going while I had energy) and took bunches of pictures. I like to call myself a nursery nerd. (As my co-worker, Chandalar, put it, "Welcome to the world of horticulture.") Brian thinks it's very attractive that I know the scientific names for many of the plants, not just the common names. ;)
Overall, I enjoyed the hike. There was only about an hour where I was angry that I had let Brian talk me into it. ;) Shortly after we started down the mountain, I slipped on a steep, rocky slope. I landed hard on my bum (there's a pretty bruise now, but I can't show anyone) and gouged my hand. I think it was the sight of blood that started me crying, but it was the pain in my rear that continued it. Part
s of the hike down were more painful after that, but I made it out alive.
It was crazy to me that I started out in shorts and a t-shirt and eventually progressed to a long-sleeved shirt, jacket, and Brian's warm-up pants. I swear I'm wearing a slightly different outfit in every picture. We'd be sweating in one part of the hike and walking through snow 15 minutes later.
There will be more pictures later. Oh, yeah, we saw a herd of mountain goats, and we were practically close enough to touch them? Also, the peak of Timp was in a cloud for part of the time that we were up there. Way cool.
the way up the mountain. Fortunately, I'm slightly more used to higher elevation and steep climbs now, so Brian did not have to do the same. We had lunch near a beautiful (and COLD!) stream by the visitors' center and then did the hike in about 45 minutes. (I'm a slow wimp.) We had about 30 minutes before our cave tour started, so we rested and looked at the trees and animal life. When our tour guide came to collect tickets, we realized ours was nowhere to be found. (We looked in the car when we got back, and it wasn't in there either. Who knows what happened to it.) Apparently we looked like honest enough people that she let us go on the tour anyway. It probably didn't hurt that someone else who was waiting vouched for us because he'd been in line behind us and saw us pay in cash.The caves were amazing! We saw all sorts of cool formations, and the pictures don't do them any justice at all. It was pretty chilly and damp inside, but I had brought a jacket and didn't freeze to death. My main problem was that I had been drinking a lot of water. I went to the bathroom just before the tour, but I continued drinking and didn't realize how long the tour would be. Whoops. The last 20 minutes or so were a little painful (sorry if that's TMI), but we found the bathroom again and I was fine.
I'm still not sure how, but Brian convinced me to hike Timp the next week. Working the day after Timp Caves was a little rough because I was pretty sore. I guess I love him a lot, because it didn't take much arm twisting for me to agree to the longer hike. He assured me that it wasn't as steep as the path to the caves (mostly), and even though it would take several hours one way, it would be completely worth it.
We started at the trail head around 5:30 AM and got back to the car at about 4:45 PM. Again, I'm a slow wimp. But in my defense, we also took several extended breaks for food
(lunch at 9:30 AM) and the bathroom. (Did I mention we were on a mountain? There are no bathrooms....) We also spent about an hour on the summit. The scenery on the mountain was breathtaking, and we decided God is an amazing landscape architect. On the hike down, I was enthralled with all the wildflowers (I was on the way up too, but I just wanted to keep going while I had energy) and took bunches of pictures. I like to call myself a nursery nerd. (As my co-worker, Chandalar, put it, "Welcome to the world of horticulture.") Brian thinks it's very attractive that I know the scientific names for many of the plants, not just the common names. ;)Overall, I enjoyed the hike. There was only about an hour where I was angry that I had let Brian talk me into it. ;) Shortly after we started down the mountain, I slipped on a steep, rocky slope. I landed hard on my bum (there's a pretty bruise now, but I can't show anyone) and gouged my hand. I think it was the sight of blood that started me crying, but it was the pain in my rear that continued it. Part
s of the hike down were more painful after that, but I made it out alive.It was crazy to me that I started out in shorts and a t-shirt and eventually progressed to a long-sleeved shirt, jacket, and Brian's warm-up pants. I swear I'm wearing a slightly different outfit in every picture. We'd be sweating in one part of the hike and walking through snow 15 minutes later.
There will be more pictures later. Oh, yeah, we saw a herd of mountain goats, and we were practically close enough to touch them? Also, the peak of Timp was in a cloud for part of the time that we were up there. Way cool.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Blogs
So Amy and I have been contemplating the formation of a family blog for some time, and I've been trying to crystallize in my mind its ultimate purpose. Is it to...
Check back in February-
Maybe-
Anyway, the point is, what do you, the reader, want out of this blog? I mean, really, honestly, was the time you spent reading this post worth the time, and what can we do to make it worth your while? Do you want updates, philosophizing, pictures, videos, incriminating information and evidence, games, jokes, or the random narrations of my head about the wonderful lives that are myself and Amy (Winder) Casaday? Anyone may respond, with the understood condition that anybody may be ignored.
- Serve as justification for not maintaining a consistent journal?
- Brag to others about our latest adventures?
- Affirm to my mother that I am still alive? (I admit, I should call more often)
- Disseminate cute pictures of our children, and until we have children, disseminate cute pictures of random peoples' children?
Check back in February-
Maybe-
Anyway, the point is, what do you, the reader, want out of this blog? I mean, really, honestly, was the time you spent reading this post worth the time, and what can we do to make it worth your while? Do you want updates, philosophizing, pictures, videos, incriminating information and evidence, games, jokes, or the random narrations of my head about the wonderful lives that are myself and Amy (Winder) Casaday? Anyone may respond, with the understood condition that anybody may be ignored.
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