this is unnatural

You know why we, as humans, are designed to sleep for a good portion of the 24 hours allotted to a day? Because when we don't sleep our brains suddenly go into hyper speed and the next thing you know you've completely rearranged your class schedule, planned out your graduation, whitened your teeth, applied to a job, stared at the fish swimming in its tank for an undocumented amount of time, re-rearranged your class schedule, created a budget for your less than meager income, and written a blog post. And to think I could be dreaming of living in cotton candy clothes.

Instead I'm sitting on my couch trying to decide between a class on public ethics and one entitled "Jurisprudence." I kind of really want to take them both but they're at the same time so I guess I'll just have to talk to Hermione about getting one of those time turners and now I realize that my brain has stopped thinking in punctuation so let's just all get on board with a huge run-on sentence except I'm not good at running so I'm bagging that now.

The point is, we are meant to sleep. Obviously. And I am here at 4:49 AM going against what my body was intended to do. And I'm wearing my retainer. Which is a completely unnatural contraption.

And now here are the last 4 photos on my phone, just to satisfy your curiosity.

peace and pillows
it's time i made up with it.

rrw

by any other name

I read somewhere, at sometime, that nicknames were a sign of endearment and affection, so I take the fact that my name has been altered and built upon in a variety of ways as a good thing. Some of the names may have originated as a form of ridicule, but I still choose to take them as form of flattery. Because I am empowered and can choose to blindly assume that all who come in contact with me love me if I want to.

Anyway, I was mentally listing all the nicknames I have been given in my life. And because the only better thing I have to do than write them all down for your benefit is eat all of these chocolate covered goji berries, I'm going to exercise my multitasking ability and do both. We will follow a chronological listing.

Ages 0-5

As a toddler I liked to chew things (which my family expounded upon with song at one point), loved being strapped into a life jacket, and resembled a chubby Asian child more than anything else.

The Names:
Rach
Rachy Boo Boo
Rach-meister


Ages 10-18

Fortunately for the world there is very little documentation of my late elementary/junior high life. I was lanky and taller than most people in my grade with buck teeth and bony knees. Actually it's a real shame I can't show you what I was. It might act as a sort of handicap and excuse for my current appearance, because sometimes I just don't want to shower or put real clothes and makeup on ever. 

#innerbeauty

The Names:

Beavy
Mr. Mole Man
Ratchel
Bunny
Rachebunny
Beverly
Bon Qui-Qui


Ages 19 to Current Day

I don't have much to say about myself now except for that I really, really like dairy products.

The Names:
Ray
Ray-Ray
Momma
Momma Ray

****

At this point I wish to take a moment and acknowledge the givers of my "Momma Ray" nickname.

Even while in Turkey, they still see signs of me.

kinda

What studs.

****

Rachy Rach
Rachy
Ms. Waychel
Sneezeasaurus
Ratchet
Ratchel (revived)
Ice Queen
Rach-babe


So take your pick or make your own. I'm still waiting for someone to refer to me as Star of the Universe.
Just saying.

peace and goji berries
i don't even know what these are. they make my taste buds sing.

under God

My recent physical condition has caused all those who would call themselves my most dear to put a wide distance between me and them. I can't really blame them. I mean, when your saliva is basically radioactive, you wish you could give yourself some distance as well. In fact, I've prayed for that exact thing quite a few times in the last few days but I'm not about to get all religious on you so let's move on which i realize is ironic considering the title of the post. The point is, for the first time in my entire life, I spent the 4th of July alone. All alone. From the time of 6 pm (when my little sister left on her date and i mean what the heck why is she having success in all the places i've previously failed in life?) until...well...I'm still here alone, I have spent my time with the TV watching Will Smith save the planet over and over and over again because for some reason channels like to play Independence Day back to back to back to back on the 4th of July. That, along with the constant companionship of my strong and then stronger pain medicine, has made for quite the holiday. here's to the land of the free and the home of brave. except i'm terrified of moths so do i count as a citizen here?

Well, I finally decided to do something besides rearrange the magnets on the fridge into different faces of sadness and pain and went on a drive. I put my thinking music on and went up the canyon as everyone else was driving down i do what i want and just thought. I thought about a lot of things, like whether or not I was even allowed to be driving with certain medication that may or may not have been in my system. I thought about the first time I drove all the way up that canyon and my best friend almost threw up on me, the happy news my family just received, how many pounds of mashed potatoes I've eaten in my life, and whether or not I'll ever return to Provo.

Then I reached the top, parked the car, got out, and sat on a rock.

My thoughts changed at that point. I sat, looking at the natural skyline of the Wasatch mountains, listening to the water tumble down the canyon. The silhouettes of the pines and aspens stood out against the moon and clouds and the grasses in the meadow gently stirred and slowly danced as a cool breeze wound it's way up and down the small valley. And it hit me. That is America. That is my home. That is the land I am proud and extremely grateful to live in.

Our government and our people are not perfect. We are all corrupt, selfish, and overly opinionated. But the valleys and rivers and mountains and lakes are not. The people can be lazy and greedy and incompetent. But the coasts and forests and plains never are. If only the people of this nation could invoke as much conviction, honor, and love as my 6 minutes in the mountains did. And if we could only live to be worthy of this beautiful place.

Happy Fourth Yo.
rrw

get in the zone.

A story:

A few days back my car read as "my parents car" in case they actually read this  died. The soul of the car sputtered in resignation and forfeited on the journey through life. It left me without vehicle for a space of time, but fortunately kind people take pity on those that are truly pitiful. Finally, after reaching a point of frustration due to my lack of mobility and post-pep talk from my dad, I obtained the necessary aid to remove the battery from my car. After assuring me that we didn't have to put the heart of my car into a cooler and jump on a helicopter in order to make it to the nearby hospital where Dr. McDreamy was waiting to transplant the organ into a needy patient whoa. what tanget did i just go on? we lugged that battery to the nearest Autozone. And then we lugged it to the second nearest Autozone because the first was useless to us.

I flexed my impressive muscles as I lifted the part onto the counter for the man to inspect oh wait. the guy i was with actually carried that unbelievably heavy cube for me. also, i do mean that he was to inspect my muscles, yes. and told the man, with a level of authority and pride previously unbeknownst to my being, why I was there and what I needed. The conversation went as follows:

"I bring you the heart of my car, which is in need of repair. My vehicle is of the Nissan make and the Versa model with a manual transmission. I trust you to find the absolutely best. Go forth and do not disappoint me." 

"oh. hey there. this is my battery and it stopped working so what do i do now? also do you have sink i could wash my hands in? and perhaps some lavender smelling lotion because i have some dirt on my pinky finger."

"Ah, as I examine the fine specimen before me I can see that the vehicle, and the vehicle's owner, are of the highest caliber. We are honored by their presence and will do everything within our power to supply such a noble pair with our most valiant battery replacements. In fact, we shall give it to you for free, in payment for your wonder. You do a service to the world for simply breathing and driving."

"HA! Look at that cute little battery. We for sure don't have anything that size. I'll probably mount that thing on a wall somehwere. Hahahaha what a joke. Oh, and that will be $130."

Moral of the story? Sneaky lives.

Second moral of all this? I always have more pictures.

Biking The Carriage Roads

Acadia National Park

The Beehive Hike

This was the first vacation since I was 18 that my sandals didn't join me.

RIP Merrels.

 

peace and cookie dough

i want a lifetime supply

rrw

maine monday

Remember that one time my family went to Glacier National Park and I posted photos from it for the next year? No? Ok, well here's one to remind you of that phase of my life. you're welcome.

Oh Glacier, your hold is still so strong.

Also, bangs. sheesh.

Anyway, I give the example of Glacier because I feel like a similar occurrence is about to...occur. I went on vacation and, true to character, took more photos than I know what to do with. But because I'm also a crazy I've formed an emotional attachment to each one of them and can't imagine not posting them all. don't worry. i won't post them all. probably. I think I have a problem with believing that inanimate objects have personalities and feelings and brains. This tendency is usually only present in young children, but here I am, at 22 years, almost crying at the thought of parting with the vehicle known as Sneaky Jason Bourne. ok. he does have a personality and is my best friend and oh my gosh i need help because my best friend has tires instead of legs.

Each day in Maine was full of beautiful things i mean, we were there so....hehheh. meh.  Here's our Monday in Portland and Acadia National Park.

Portland Head Light

Cape Elizabeth

Portland's Downtown District

 Sand Beach

Acadia National Park

 Jordan's Pond

Acadia National Park

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park

More to come because biking, selfies, pop overs, hiking, and sea kayaking. But for now there's a basket full of laundry that feels bad because I haven't given it any attention in days.

peace and anthropomorphizing 

rrw

packing

It's nearly 2 am. I'm sitting in bed at my parents house waiting for my clothes to finish in the wash so I can start and finish my packing. I've struggled with this feat in the past, a fact that my family refuses to let go. I can almost guarantee that at some point before we leave my dad will ask me if I remembered to pack my underwear. it was one, maybe two times that i forgot ok?! it's not that big of a deal. let's all just let it go. I'm just hoping that packing at such an hour doesn't result in me bringing 7 swimming suits and nothing else. hello portland! 

Even if I do end up bringing only underwear just to spite my reputation I am going to have a great week. I can just feel it. I've wanted to go to Maine for years and while I can't quite describe why I feel such a draw to that most Eastern of states, I am drawn nonetheless. So my dad, in an act of kindness typical to his personality, bought tickets for my little sister and myself to join him in the visiting of lighthouses, the strolling of boardwalks, the kayaking of waters, the hiking of hills, and the tasting of lobster. my, don't we sound posh? we'll probably just end up at a Wendy's for a Jr. Bacon Cheese Burger and a baked potato. #callusclassy

Anyway, my life is grand and just keeps getting better. For instance, my laundry is finally finished and I can now sit in the softness of warmth infused clothing. But holy smokes I think I just burned my skin on a flaming zipper. And now I need to stop because I'm typing from a pile of apparel.

peace and portland

rrw