180 Degrees South

This movie changed my life.

I don't know if I can say the same for any other movie. I first watched it a little over a year ago last spring and I can honestly say since then, I've thought about something from this movie almost everyday. It's kind of weird how much I think about it actually. I used to watch it a lot when I was still in Rexburg enrolled in classes but that was always a bad idea. As much as I love this movie, it does bad things to me when I have responsibilities. It always makes me want to drop out of school, sell all my things I don't need and just travel the world, hike, and be a part of nature. But then I remind myself: 

1. I'm going to school for something I actually want to do in life. (Video Production and Photography)

2. I should just stick it out and finish my last year. I've already completed three years...I might as well do one more.

3. I can be a hippie, traveling fool when I graduate.

Reminding myself of these three things always helps but I'm still left with that longing to be out in nature more. I have an interview this Friday to work and live in Yosemite for the summer. So if I get the job, that will definitely help fill that void.

Some of my favorite quotes from the film:

"I'm drawn to open country. It's where everything becomes clear. Where the world makes the most sense. When I put myself out there I always return with something new. A friend once told me that the best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask"

-Jeff Johnson

"The word "adventure" has just gotten overused. For me, adventure is when everything goes wrong. That's when the adventure starts."

"The hardest thing in the world is to simplify your life. It's so easy to make it complex. The solution may be for a lot of the world's problems is to turn around and take a forward step. You can't just keep trying to make a flawed system work."  
 
"You know where I want to be right now? Is right here. No where else. Not in the future, not in the past."      
-Yvon Chouinard

One day I will go to Rapa Nui. 

One day I will go to Patagonia.

Until then, a summer in Yosemite will do just fine. :)

Half Dome. photo taken in March 2012

Lake Yosemite, CA

Lake Yosemite is located in Merced, California and it sure is pretty during sunsets when hardly anyone is around.

Tuolumne River

Yesterday I went on a motorcycle ride with my dad to Sonora, CA. On the way home he pulled off on a side road off the main highway and asked "Want to see some fish?". That's where we discovered this really cool bridge named Basso Bridge. (Well, he knew the bridge was there but I didn't.) It's weird to think I've lived in this area my whole life yet I'm still discovering cool new places.

Prom Photo Session

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take prom photos for these fine folks. We went to Lake Yosemite to take photos on the boardwalk/walkway that goes out over the water. The sunset was seriously beautiful! I don't know if we could have picked a better evening. Then we went to a different part of the lake where two sets of parents had prepared dinner and dessert for them. It was really cool! I would take dinner next to the lake before a restaurant dinner any day!

Déjà vu

Guess who got flowers again today? This girl! You know how some people always think bad things happen to them? Well I'm the complete opposite. For some reason good things always happen to me. Like getting beautiful flowers in the mail by accident. Here's what I think happened: yesterday I got my correct flowers along with some other ladies' note. I think the company tried to fix their mistake today but sent me those ladies' flowers with my note. That's quite alright with me though! Now I have two bouquets of flowers and two lovely new vases. Mary and Lillian, whoever you two may be, I hope you ladies are enjoying my flowers as much as I'm enjoying yours.

Chinese Camp, California

Today I went to Chinese Camp with my dad and brother. It's an old gold mining town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. There's not much left of the town but a few old buildings on what used to be main street. There also remains a little white church on the hill with a cemetery surrounding it, built in 1854.

Last, but not least, this is my brother Forrest. He wanted to take a "Noah picture" like from The Notebook. :)