creaky frrrozen lakes

CJ and AUD explore the Eastern Sierras of California, 2012.

CJ is back in Nevada for a little bit and he waited patiently for my week work to end so that we can explore on my three day weekend!

We initially planned to go to Yosemite because the pass isn't closed due to the very dry winter we've been having. (I think the big guy upstairs has answered my prayers of a not-so snowy time here in NV!)


One of my coworkers suggested we try out June Lake which isn't very far from Yosemite. CJ googled it (because of course we had never heard of it) and he said it looks very beautiful. Just like that, plans changed & we decided to check it out!

We packed a lunch, water & some snacks and set out for June Lake...

On our way up you can see these waterfalls that are half frozen and half running. 

It was beautiful.

Our first stop was Silver Lake. One of the lakes near June Lake.

It was completely frozen over & it was making crazy creaking sounds.

Here's a video of us at the lake.

It was our first time stepping out onto a frozen lake. When the lakes around here freeze over and there isn't snow, it is normal for visitors to whip out their ice skates and go skating!

CJ and I are thinking about investing in some for ourselves when we explore so that way we can join in on the fun!!

CJ walking on water... ok ICE.

Meditating on a lake was pretty bad ass, if I do say so myself!

Dumb or Dumber? Hanging out in the middle of a frozen lake or trying to lick it?

After our fun on Silver lake we decide to head up to June Lake. 

Parts of June lake was frozen, but the scenery was breathtaking.

THIS is where the saying "stop and smell the roses" originated from. (OK so there are no roses around, but still)

In life, it is so important to stop and appreciate the beauty of nature...

I never really stopped and appreciated nature until I met CJ.

We decided to have a picnic by the lake and CJ was skipping rocks along the frozen areas of June Lake.

Here is a video of CJ skipping rocks on the ice... Listen carefully for the cool sounds it makes!

On the June Lake Loop there are several trails. 

CJ was going to hike one, but there was snow on the ground, it was cold, and the mile hike would've included a 1000 incline he was not prepared for.

The city around June lake is so quaint. We would love to rent (or maybe even own) a cabin here one day.

Look how picturesque this is!!

A little drive later and we're in Mammoth which included the most snow I've seen since arriving in Nevada (& it's not even Nevada)

Mammoth IS open for business, my snowboarding/skiing friends.

AND you can totally stay at my place if you want! (though it is an hour and a half away)

We stopped at a restaurant in town and ate a delicious lunch!

I had sweet potato fries & a tuna melt. CJ had onion rings & a philly cheesesteak.

On the way home CJ had to stop the take a picture of June Meadows.

It was hard to believe that we were just in Mammoth where there was a lot of snow.

I loved that we got to explore the Eastern Sierras.

CJ mentioned that we (probably) would never have found these little gems if I didn't live in Nevada. I hate to admit it (because deep down I think I'm avoiding reasons to be thankful to be living in NV) but he's totally right, and I know it won't be the last time we explore it!

the adventure gets serious

CJ and AUD get engaged!

I was going home the weekend before Christmas because I worked the weekend OF Christmas

I made CJ a list of things that I definitely wanted to do:

1. get a shrimp burrito from El Patio (check!)

2. watch Sherlock Holmes 2 (check!)

3. visit my family --daddy, mom, sisser, & grandparents (check!)

 4. watch Cirque du Soleil - Totem in San Francisco  (check!)

5. get my Christmas presents early (check!)

best year for Christmas presents EVER: iPad & Tiffany's necklace WOWEE!

lastly and most importantly: spend QT with the love of my life (check!)

Saturday, December 17, 2011 was the day of the CdS show.

When it comes to big dates like this, CJ usually tells me to choose where I want to eat before the show.

This time around I told him to take care of it & that was that...

On our way to SF, CJ was talking about going to lunch at the WaterBar Restaurant.

I never heard of it, but apparently it had an awesome view of the Bay Bridge.

CJ's best friend, Matt, and Matt's girl friend, Karen, were at the restaurant.

"Oh" I thought, "This is a double date"

Lunch was great, very good food, but a little pricey for my likings 

(have you ever bought tickets to CdS? they're expensive! taco bell would have been sufficient)

Afterwards, the couples took turns taking pictures in front of the Bay Bride and in front of my favorite, the Cupid's arrow. 


SIDE NOTE: the last time we were at Cupid's arrow taking pictures was towards the beginning of our relationship in 2007. You can see the blog where I wrote about it here.

It was a beautiful day in SF. Our eyes are so squinty because it was so bright!

Convinced him to do the scary face with me. The things my man does for me!

At the cupid's arrow, CJ was being SUPER critical of the pics Matt was taking;

"Try using the flash"

"Get more of our bodies"

"Turn the camera sideways" ... stuff like that

I told him, "Geesh! Stop being so critical, it's just a picture!"

CJ stared into my eyes and said, "You know I love you, right?"

Feeling a little awkward that CJ was professing his love to me in front of his bud

(anyone that knows us knows that we're not a big PDA couple)

so I said, "CJ we can talk about this latttterrr?"

He replied, "No, we can't"

and proceeded to get down on one knee and pulled out a little box and opened it

(well according to him, he got down on both at first then remembered it was just one knee)

"Will you marry me?"

FINALLY!!! THE WORDS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOREVER!!!

My first response of course is, "Are you serious!?!!!!!!"

In the end, the answer obviously was YES!

I couldn't believe that we were FINALLY engaged!

Trying to keep the waterworks away from camera view.

His hugs are always good at making the world go away

CJ did SO well choosing the ring, I am impressed.

It took him this long to finally propose but I have to say that time with him is irrelevant

I knew early on in the relationship that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him...

and now I will

2012 preparations

CJ and AUD go to a New Years Day Party, 2011.

January 1st, 2011 CJ and I went to his Uncle Johns annual party. 

Sometimes the party is closer to Christmas, but this year it was on New Years Day. 

I love going to dinner parties, and his Uncle's dinner parties are always a good time.

John and Ixiim married in 2010 in Mexico and that was our first BIG vacation together.

This is our first picture of 2011 and like the previous years, it was the first of many to come.

Today I sat and thought about this past year. A time of reflection.

It has had it's highs and it's lows.

and when I say "highs" & "lows," I mean EXTREME "highs" and EXTREME "lows"

EXAMPLES:

highs: graduated and got my RN license, got engaged to the love of my life

lows: moved 300 miles away from my loved ones, my dad's health is declining

As much as I would rather have a year of "highs," I have learned a lot due to the "lows"

I've learned that when times are rough, you shouldn't have to go through it alone.

I've been blessed with loving family, friends, extended family, & an amazing fiance.

NOW, in preparation of the new year I have set ground rules for myself.

1. have a positive attitude every day (& be grateful for what I have, even if it's 300 miles away)

2. love like there is no tomorrow (this includes telling the people I love that I love them)

and 3. save money for my WEDDING!!!

Merry Christmas, Darling

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Merry Christmas, Darling by the carpenters is the song I dedicate to this Christmas season.

Here are the lyrics:

Greeting cards have all been sent the Christmas rush is through 

But I still have one wish to make A special one for you

Merry Christmas darling We're apart that's true 

But I can dream and in my dreams I'm Christmas-ing with you 

Holidays are joyful There's always something new 

But every day's a holiday When I'm near to you 

The lights on my tree I wish you could see I wish it every day 

Logs on the fire Fill me with desire 

To see you and to say That I wish you Merry Christmas Happy New Year, too 

I've just one wish On this Christmas Eve I wish I were with you 

Logs on the fire Fill me with desire 

To see you and to say That I wish you Merry Christmas Happy New Year, too 

I've just one wish On this Christmas Eve I wish I were with you 

exploring like Magellan

CJ and AUD explore Nevada, 2011.

On one of my days off, we decided to explore what the area had to offer.

We wanted to check out Walker Lake and CJ also really wanted to climb a mountain (preferably Mt Grant).

Us all decked out in hiking gear. We would be so cute as Columbia models.

A view of Walker Lake.

Dirt and dirt. Welcome to Nevada!

The mountain we chose to climb. Can you spot CJ?

CJ taking a picture of me while I was taking a picture of him!

Me taking a picture of CJ while he was taking a picture of me!

Look at him go!

...almost to the top!!

Alas! He finally reached the top!

Here are a few of the pictures CJ took when he got to the top of the mountain...

And it wouldn't be a proper blog if there wasn't a corny metaphor to life... 

Life is similar to climbing a mountain. 

You can either be scared or lazy & wait at the bottom of the mountain (like me on this day, unfortunately) or you can work hard to reach the top.

The best part is that when you reach the top, what you find is something that no one could have imagined and you realize that your climb was worth it.

have a holly jolly christmas!

CJ and AUD watch A Christmas Story in Woodland, CA, 2007.

CJ and I got an invitation from The Mears' (who were not yet "the Mears") to accompany them to watch A Christmas Story play in Woodland.

I've never watched the movie and I never knew the story, but I thought it was a funny play!

Not sure if the movie would be quite as funny. It always seems boring when it's on TV.

Afterwards we found a Charlie Brown tree & wanted to take a picture with it.

I'm not positive, but I think that this is our FIRST picture with a christmas tree!

oasis

CJ and AUD go to the "Oasis of Nevada," 2011.

Growing up in a place where your family, friends, and boyfriend live within 10-60 minutes away from you is a blessing. I know & appreciate that so much more now that I live 6ish hours away from anyone I hold dear to my heart.

Living in a city with a shopping mall, target, in-n-out, chik-fil-a, 24 hour fitness, AND a hospital is something that I will NEVER take for granted in my life ever again.

I now live in a city that's small enough to one day become a ghost town.

I miss my hometown.

Today CJ left to go home and it has been an extremely sad 24 hours.

The closest (larger) city to Hawthorne is a city called Fallon and it is an HOUR away.

A FULL hour when you go 10 over the limit. There's no way to get to it in less time unless you speed.

seriously. sucks.

It's called the "Oasis of Nevada."

I used to laugh about this... Now I agree with it.

I can finally say I'm "going into town" when I go to Fallon

We stopped to take pics because it was so funny

Look at this handsome guy. Is it sad that I miss him already?

Sitting on my new couch thinking about how lonely it feels to be one little person on one big couch and I am saddened knowing that I'm back to being alone in Nevada.

Hopefully when I go back to work tomorrow I'll get back into the flow of things and not think too much about how alone I am.

Moral of the blog: sacrifices aren't easy for a reason.

I'm being tested on whether I buckle or whether I persevere.

I will persevere.