This is for you Becks...

A few thoughts about summertime which seems to be the destination season. Every other season is just a journey to summertime:

• My mom bought me a short sleeved jersey sheath dress to just wear casually for the summer. I've worn it out twice and let me tell you...that dress is going to get me married. Or pregnant more likely. Both times I've had strange men stop and tell me (in nice ways and in naughty ways) what they think of my dress.

• I've been given the opportunity to teach swim lessons for a few weeks this summer. The way it all played out has been a much needed reminder that God has a hand in my life. In December our ward had a silent charity auction. The only thing I could think of to offer up was some swim lessons. Our ward has a lot of triathlon buffs and swimming is usually everyone's weakest leg. So I thought someone might be interested in learning better technique. But I didn't really want to do it. I got anxiety about having to be in a swim suit in front of someone, having a pervy dude win it, or worst of all having no one bid. I did it anyway and the guy that won it went on to suggest me as an instructor to his friend who had done all the registration for lessons at the beginning of the summer and was high and dry without an instructor. So during my current employment crisis I've gladly stepped in. I'm getting paid well, mom's are impressed and want to add more lessons which means more money, I'm getting a killer tan, and I'm making great friends with the woman I'm working for. All because I didn't hide under a bushel in December!

• Since the end of May I've had the chance to travel quite a bit. I treated myself to a trip to New York for my birthday and went and saw my friends Whit and Chad. I could live in New York just for all the food that's there. You could eat at a different place every night for the rest of your life.
  

• Stray observations: New Yorkers aren't rude, they are just very efficient. I watched a New Yorker curse out a guy trying to get past him as we were de-boarding the plane but then turn around and help an older lady get her bag down and let her go past. I just think there's so little space in that city that every movement or action is meant to be done to maximum effect. Also, in a land where smart phone batteries die quickly, the girl with the paper subway map is king!

• Last week I went to Alaska with my Dad's family. My dad in Alaska is like a kid in a candy store. The first morning we were there it was like Christmas morning for him. If they weren't already so established where they are in Dutch John I think they would move there. Alaska is everything you think is is and more: beautiful, remote, dangerous, cold, Repulican, everyone packs, wild. It was really crazy. We went on a hike and our host, my dad's cousin, who works on an oil rig, wore a giant handgun strapped to his chest in case of bears. Yikes. He also drove like a crazy person. I never knew if I should feel safer or more in danger around him. We fished a lot but didn't have much luck. My brother caught a king salmon and we watched a guy land a record breaking 350 pound halibut. That was cool.

• My favorite part though was our cruise in the Kenai fjords. I could've done that everyday that we were there. I saw otters, porpoises, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, humpbacks, orcas and we went right up the the face of a glacier and got to see (and hear!) it calve (I don't know why but that's what they call it when the ice breaks of and falls in the ocean). It was really cool.

So that's my summer so far. Garden is growing, so are the weeds. The wedding is fast approaching. And Kerrie finally bit the bullet and bought a ticket out here. I thought she was going to stand me up.

I'm going to do a better job of updating. I can't commit to weekly but maybe biweekly?