Trip Day 1

me at Fossil Butte National Park, Wyoming :)

So I have sold all my stuff, or stored it at Marian and Vern's and I spent the night at Kathy's and my car was packed so that I could JUST BARELY see... so that means it was time for me to go.

Amy came and got me from Kathy's and we went to the post office and mailed some more of my stuff but I wanted but could not fit in my car.

I went over to Marian and Vern's and said "goodbye" to them and Janessa, which was VERY HARD...I just started crying... like waaah! I'm scared to leave!!!!

Then I went over to the bishops house and said good-bye to Gwen.

Then Amy took me home and I got Spike and we drove out...

and we drove and drove and drove...

Logan Canyon is SO PRETTY in the winter. One thing about living in Utah is I barely ever had anyone to go with me any where ever... I had to beg people to go places with me. The people I knew were so busy and when they did spend their money and go someplace fun, they did that with their families. I was sad I had never really explored all the places in Logan Canyon that I got a chance to but I know that I will be back someday. I also know that Spike and I have a lot to explore here in VA.

Bear Lake was so PRETTY! another place I want to explore more of.... then we were driving and driving and driving... I saw some place called Fossil Butte National Park I stopped there, they had SIX people on staff and NO ONE WAS THERE! Like hey I want this job! just sit here and read and wait for tourists to come in... in January... I bought a magnet there... WHICH WAS LOST IN THE WRECK!!!!..... and kept driving.... and driving and driving I was seriously in the middle of NOWHERE WYOMING...... there were all these signs for a hotel called Little America that they were promoting like it was Disney Land like STOP HERE! we have a playground! or they had a mechanic's shop... THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE and NOTHING but these billboards every so often.... like um FREAK if I need a mechanic I hope that I can MAKE it to Little America!!!! Their Dining Room is also open 24 hours a day... and they have ice cream cones that are only 50 cents...http://www.littleamerica.com/wyoming/ that is the website....I drove right on by... I did not even stop for a 50 cent ice cream...

There was nothing in Wyoming for so long... I did pass a little shack t hat sold porn in the middle of no where I thought um.... OK.... a little ways up the road there was a truck stop so I guess that is their buisness....

I think the biggest city that I passed through was Laramie. .... when I got to Colorado it was dark... and I drove and drove and drove the weather was good just very cold... very very cold.... cold like people in VA just don't even KNOW about....COLD...

I got to Becky and Marianne's and took care of Spike who had been a good sport for the trip.... :) and They fed me some wonderful food and home made red velvet cake.

I went to sleep in a large bed with silk sheets, I had never slept on silk sheets before but I now know I hate them... aaah! I don't like to feel like Im going to fall out of the bed..

I am very grateful I had great weather and grateful that Becky and Marianne let me stay at their house in Arvada,CO :)

storytime

so I moved to VA and sold or gave away most of my stuff and now I am here in VA sometimes I feel naked with out all my STUFF even my stuff I don't use that much... like I really wish my TV was here( I do use that a lot) and I wish my computer was here... and I wish I had a bed... but here I am and I hope I get a job soon and things turn out well..

I sold my red couches, which got sun-stained from sitting near a window Kathy said they must not have been color-fast... also when I had the cats they had scratched them up. I asked for 40$ for both. One lady called me and said would you take 25$ I said no. She was like PLEASE my son has NOTHING! I was like well I am sorry... but no. She was like well fine I will get something at DI for better. I said no you wont. She said how do you know... ? I said I know because I volunteer at a thrift store in Smithfield and you can not get anything with this current of a style, fabric and color for 40$ . She said if I changed my mind to call her back...

I was glad I did not give in to her because a student from USU came another day and bought both for 40$ and she was very happy with them... I was sad to see my couches go because well I had no where to sit but also cause those were the couches that I bought with my commission from Qwest that I took many naps on that kissed Mitch on...

my entertainment center sold to Mike M.that I worked with at Qwest.

my bookcases sold to the Nebeker Family. all three of them... now I have books stacked up all over my room @ Heather's

my black cool table that I LOVE... is still at Marian and Vern's

my cool, wonderful coffee table sold to someone from Logan that said she was going to re-finish that. I was so sad to see that go too. I danced on that and had so many people eat on that and did so many projects on it..

my computer desk sold to Amy and Dave J.

my black kitchen table is still at Marian and Vern's

my bed frame sold to the Nebeker's

my dresser sold to Shelli and Matt

I gave my mattress to Doddie

I sold my trampoline to Shelli and Matt I was SO SAD to see that go... when I lived at Kathy's I would lay out there in the sun on Sundays after church and take naps and read... and I had so much fun jumping on it .. and I did kiss a guy on it too :)

I gave my park bench and swing to Marian and Vern... because I owed Vern money for sending a shuttle to pick me up at the airport...:) I kissed Mitch and someone else on both those things too...

my patio set is at Marian and Verns

and I gave away tons and tons and TONS of other stuff like for real TONS!!!! it got to a point where I did not even want to give away my stuff like I NEED or WANT this but I did...

Kathy and I took a whole TRUCK load to the DI

Doddie came and got several truck loads

anyone that helped me took something

the bishop and Vern took several things to the dump...

and I still have tons of boxes sitting at Marian and Vern's that I need to get mailed to me..and since my car accident that I will write about soon I also have tons of stuff sitting in Nebraska...

I wonder what the day will be like when I have all my stuff together again and I have a bed to sleep in. It will be a glorious day!

I am going to the Salvation Army in Manassas today to check out what they have. I have not found a thrift store to volunteer at... yet...I have to have that feeling... like YES this is where I want to spend my time... and money....

holiday

For new years eve I did..... NOTHING... For New Years day I did.... NOTHING... I live a very exciting life and just wanted everyone to know...

holiday

Ok so I did this BEFORE Christmas and I am just getting around to blogging about it. I also went caroling. I love to go caroling. I have no idea WHY since I am possibly the worlds WORST singer...no seriously I am .... so anyway... I went caroling with my ward and we ended up at my friend Amy's where we had hot cocoa and treats :)

then a few night later, Magdali and Harley and I went caroling but the inversion was so bad I could barely see to drive and we only made it over to Marian and Vern's and they fed us some pizza so after that the girls were about done...

so that is my caroling for 2009. one of these years I SWEAR that I will be organized enough to actually bring homemade treats to the people that we carol to... I SWEAR... we did bring homemade treats this year... I just did not make them:)

Holiday

Christmas 2009 was wonderful for me. :)

For Christmas Eve I finished up so last minute shopping and then went to my friend Amy's parents house in Richmond,Ut. we enjoyed sandwiches and chips and veggies, I brought some of my way good dip that I make that is just chili with no beans and cream cheese mixed together... then you dip fritos in yummy yum yum! :)

I went home and watched Its a wonderful life on TV ( my christmas eve tradition)

the next morning I got up and I opened my gifts from people and at noon I went over to Kathy's

I had a great day with Kathy, Becky, Dan and Marianne. In the evening Kathy's nephews came over and we had a wonderful prime rib dinner.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night :)

FAME

December 23rd 2009 Cindy Ivie and I were in the local paper the Logan Herald journal for going to every restaraunt in Cache Valley,UT we only have three more to go to. I would love to post the article here but it would not let me.If you want a link I would be happy to email you one myself.

I love to make a list and do everything on that list. When I was at Kathy's one night over a year ago I remarked that I thought I had been to every restaraunt in Cache Valley so I looked in the phone book and realized that I had not been to over FOURTY of them.

I asked several people if they wanted to go with me to visit food places and NOBODY wanted to go with me. They either did not have time or money or the desire to do it. They did not know they were giving up an opportunity to be in the paper!!!!

I asked my co-worked Cindy if she wanted to go and she said yes. We started out going to the places that MAKE food
we went to Gossners where I got one each of their flavored milk and we had so much fun tasting their cheese:)
we went to Lowers where I took home some meat
we went to Pepperidge where we bought a ton of stuff and had some goldfish samples
we went to Aggie Ice Cream and had their ice cream and some of the BEST SANDWICHES EVER!!! I highly reccommend the chicken salad there
we went to Caspers and had ice cream.
we went to The Bluebird and got an O'Aggie bar, a special bar native to this valley. I liked mine. I thought the food at the Bluebird was good and I really like the atmosphere in their. The service there is really slow though at least everytime that I have been in there and one time I found a hair in my salad there.
we went to Bluebird chocolates around easter and they had a huge easter bunny on sale that was 85$ and he was HOLLOW the chocolate there was good though:)

when we were done with all that Cindy said where should we go next and I thought well lets start going to all these places that I have not gone yet. So I had gone to a lot with Kathy or Kate or on various dates but then Cindy and I really got down to buisness we started going to a different restaraunt every week.

Over time our friendship grew at first we were just co-workers we became really good friends and we laughed and cryed. After I lost my job at Qwest in July 2009 I was happy that Cindy and I kept our tradition and frienship strong. Since we only saw each other once a week we sometimes would sit in restaraunts from about 4:40 until seven PM sometimes later we talk about EVERYTHING. It has been one of the highlights of my week and something I will REALLY miss when I move to VA I know that no matter how bad my week is I will have dinner with Cindy and we will laugh and have some good food.
Here is some of the restaraunts we have been to and what we thought of them-

I have been to the A & W fast food place in Smithfield when I was on a break from the thrift store and I LOVE THEIR LIMEAIDE!

Kate and I went to the Artic Circle in Preston and had fun getting their sweet pototo fries they were really good :)

we went to Blackstone in Logan when that was still open which is a VERY NICE place... I did not like my meal at all... the waiter even warned me not to get it but I did anyway... Blackstone has since closed down

we went to the Beehive Grill in Logan. we really enjoyed their homebrewed orange drink and rootbeer drink. There food was just OK.

I have been to Beto's for lunch it is OK

I have been to Big J's tons of times since that is the nearest fast food place to me. I like a lot of the stuff that they have.

I don't really like Burger King

WE BOTH LOVE BURGERZ EXPREZZ in Smithfield, that place has great service and good fries and really really really good food :)

I LOVE CAFE RIO- been to ones all over UT :)

I really like Cafe Sabor. I have been there on dates, with Qwest and with Kathy and with Kate everytime I have loved what I have gotten:)

Caffe Ibis had great sandwichs all though they made us pay extra for our drinks but would include coffee in with their meal deal which I thought was lame.

Carls Jr is OK

Center St. Grill is OK

Chilis is OK

I really like the Copper Mill I went there on a date once back in 2005 this guy was like yeah arn't you lucky that you are on a date with me so I could find this cool restaraunt. He said I would not be able to find a cool restaraunt like that on my own... little did HE KNOW

El Sol was OK

El Toro Viejo was neat I had never been in a small authentic restaraunt like that

The Factory Pizzaria was SO GOOD! Kate and I went there and I loved it and I thank her for showing it to me :) Cindy and I had so much fun there, it was very much my kind of place and we got a TON of food!

Cantonese House in Smithfield... YUMMY!!!! I go there so much on my breaks from the thrift store that they say is this Keli?:)

I DID like the Firehouse, UNTIl Kathy and I went there one night and were treated VERY RUDE. I am never going back there... not even for a skookie there are to many good restaraunts to waste my time there..

Callaways in Smithfield was expensive but REALLY GOOD some of the best mac and cheese I have ever had ever :)

Frederico's was good I loved their salad :)

I have been to Golden Corrall lots of times in lots of states. it is what it is.

Hamiltons is WAY NICE. I have even been to a wedding reception once there with Kathy. I am just OK with the food though

IHOP- is well IHOP

Indian Oven was DELICIOUS great service great food we loved our meal there I want to copy all the stuff that we got there:)

I have eaten at Iron Gate Grill many times because they used to cater for Qwest and give us gift certificates. They have good food and it is a cool place

I love the Italian Place in Logan! they have great sandwiches!

Jamba Juice-is good

Juniper Take-out had some really yummy food and great fries

Kamin Thai food - was just OK I was a bit disappointed every other time I have had thai food it was way good this was just OK

Korean BBQ was great! great service great food!

LD's in Richmond was MY FAVORITE! I love that hometown yummy food! it just says Cache Valley

pupuseria el salvador was good my second little tiny authentic place

I really liked Logan's Hero's.

I have been to Mis Amores in Preston so many times for some reason people love to take me out to eat there. I really like it

the Olive Garden is just OK. Kathy and I went there last December (2008) and they sat us so close to the door that everytime someone came in a big gust of wind did also

panda express is good

papa johns and dominos are OK but I am a pizza hut girl :)

Papa Kelsey and Henrys was way good!

Pier 49 had great garlic bread.

I really liked the Pita Pit when I lived in Provo do they even have that here anymore?

quiznos and subway are good for lunch breaks

Taco Bell was rude to me so I try to not go there except on Halloween when they were giving out free Tacos and Matt and Shelli got some for me

Texas Roadhouse was DELICIOUS!!!! YUMM great bread great food!

wendys is good

I loved Wingers tortilla soup and their popcorn and their salad. I went there on my lunch break from Qwest a lot

I got Wok on Wheels a lot at Qwest too.

Yah Poh in Logan was great their empanada's were so good!

I also liked tummy yummies yogurt and concept

I love La Tienda in Franklin,ID that place has the best chicken strips EVER we loved our meal and the service there. It is my SECOND favorite place to eat

I really like The Cracker Barrell in Paradise too. They have delicious food

my friend Rachael and I went out to a place in Weston, ID called Papa Js or something like that and WE LOVED OUR food there too..

I am so sad to leave here but I can at least say that I have made my mark and I look forward to start going to places in Centreville,VA :)

I think that I will follow Cindy's tradition of always asking the waiter or waitress what they like I have gotten some really good food that way and I think that would help people like my mom that are almost PETRIFIED to try something new.She was so paranoid the first time that I took her to Taco Bell when I was a teen she wouldnt even ORDER she just went to McDonalds after and got something there... she needs to get out of that rut...

holiday

I love white elephant parties and I think that I want to have one every year. I have had this thought before... but the last time I had one I lived in Provo... that was a long time ago like maybe even five years ago or more... so I had one this year and I plan to have one next year and the next so that is good enough for me so here is a synopsis of Keli's white elephant party 2009!:)

I invited people, I meant to make cute invites and invite EVERYONE... but well I was not feeling good and um I did not so here is who came: I will not put their whole names because not everyone wants my blog to come up if they are googled
The ( P) family- Amy, Kent and Nathaniel

The ( N) family- Jeff, Megan, Silas, Livia and Lucy

The ( R) family -Carla and Jorge

The ( C) family- only Rachael and Taylor

The ( W) family Carol and Steve

Harley

and Carla and Jorge brought their friend Steve

everyone brought an appetizer or a dessert, Harley and I made a chex mix and put in cheez-its and pretzels :) When Harley and I went to Lee's I said that she could pick out what she wanted to bring she picked cinnamon rolls, so we had those too.

Amy brought oreo truffles YUMMY!
Carol and Steve brought 7 layer dip and chips
Rachael brought chips and dip
Megan brought homemade gingersnaps
Carla and Jorge brought a big tin of cookies
and that guy extra guy Steve did not bring anything

we ate some food, then I gave everyone a number and they were allowed to pick a gift even the kids played :)

I don't know if I can remember right what everyone got but I will try!
Keli- I got a box of hot chocolate
Harley- a book about cowgirls
Amy- she stole some stuffing from Jorge I am not sure what she had to begin with
Nathaniel got a little magnetic Cars thing
Kent-got some kimchi I would have ate some there because I like kimchi but Carol and Steve had all ready left and I was not sure how old it was...
Jeff - got some paper ornaments that Steve( the extra guy) had made
Taylor traded Steve ( the extra guy) for a kids book and some tootsie pops
Rachael -Im not sure???
I just remember that Amy also got a book about canning...
Livia - got a leopard print blanket that Harley had picked out at family dollar
Silas-??? some sort of food
Megan- a CD case
Lucy-???
Carla- some mens cologne
Jorge???
Steve- the extra guy got some dominos that Taylor gave him because she wanted the tootsie pops
Carol and Steve left early because they were going to FL.

afterwards people stayed and chatted. Carla, Jorge, the extra guy Steve and I watched a movie and Harley spent the night

it was a good party and I all ready have a gift for next year :)