Hiking Thrills

Just this last weekend I got to do a couple of hikes that were on my list, compliments of Darrin and his friends for letting me tag along as the lone girl.  

This was at the Wave, it was a very scenic hike, and I am so glad we took the slight detour so we could see it.

View from the Wave, pretty spectacular.

Darrin amid the Wave

Up above the Wave

View in a different direction

I liked these rocks because they looked like brains.

Happy hiking Cambree

Darrin and I "riding the Wave"

This was in Buckskin Gultch at the Cesspool.  It was absolutely foul, as the name implies.

Some fun little holes along the hike

Darrin in one of the holes

Post hike dirty feet

Such good times.  I was a little nervous hiking and camping with 6 guys, but it ended up being a lot of fun.  I was just glad that I was able to mostly keep up with him, I would hate to be that girl that slowed everyone down.  Next hike on the list, Pine Valley.

Grand Adventures

Over Pioneer week Erica and I had our adventure for the year.  We drove up to Seattle and camped out there for 4 days.  We didn't really have much of a plan going into the vacation, which is very unlike us.  It ended up turning out fabulous.  We got to see a lot of fun things and really enjoyed ourselves.  Here is a picture recap of our journey.

This was our camping home while in Seattle.  We stayed about 20 miles outside of the city at Dash Point State park.

We went into Tacoma to explore and found this fun mosaic fish on our way back from eating dinner.

Our first stop in Seattle was to Pike Place

At the Seattle Aquarium 

On a bay cruise out in Elliot Bay

At the Experience Music Project (EMP).  It's a sculptures of guitars/

Space Needle

View from the Space Needle

At Point Defiance park just outside of Tacoma.  They had a fun botanical garden and a lot of fun hiking paths through the woods.

A freakishly large tree

Me trying to fit into a monkey family at the Woodland Zoo just outside of Seattle.

Hanging out with a hippo

At the Science Museum.  I am standing next to a mirror.  There were a lot of fun things at this museum.

Large table and chairs that begged us to get a picture with them

The famous gum wall down Post Alley

Last stop was the Seattle Temple.  

Erica and I had a great trip and the best part is despite the immense amount of time we spent together we never got angry with each other (at least that we let show).  Yay for fun adventurous friends!

Trans Zion

My roommate and I did the trans Zion hike.  It was amazing.  We decided to do it a little differently than I was originally planning, but it turned out to be amazing.  Instead of taking a couple of days to hike across Zion we decided it would be more fun if we did it as one intense hike and just pound it out all in one day.  40 miles later we may have thought differently about it, but in the beginning it was an amazing idea.  We decided to do it this way so we wouldn't have to obtain permits or take additional camping gear.  We started about 3 p.m. on a Friday and ended about 9 a.m. the next day.  We did take two 30 minute naps to help us keep up our energy, but other than that it was just a whole lot of hiking.  To tell the truth we didn't actually do the whole thing.  We started at the Kolob Cayons entrance to Zion just south of Cedar City and hiked to the main entrance of Zion.  The full hike continues on along the East rim and ends at the East Entrance.  Quite honestly after we dropped off of the rim into the main park we just didn't have any more energy to hike back up onto the other rim.  Had we continued on and done the whole thing we would have hike a total of about 50 miles.  However, being the hard headed people that we are we have already made plans to do it again, this time doing the whole enchilada.  We took some video of the trip to help give us something to think about other than just hiking.

Race #2

I ran a race on a whim last Saturday.  Even though I was sick the night before I decided that hopped up on ibuprofen I could still do it.  About a half mile in I decided that it probably wasn't the best idea I ever had.  I was able to at least walk most of it and ended up with a time of just over 41 minutes.  The main reason I had signed up was that they had a Kindle Fire they were giving away.  I stayed for the drawing and was about to leave dejected when my number was called for the Kindle Fire!  I was so stoked.  It was crazy because as soon as I saw the flier for the race I knew that the Kindle was meant to be with me, and low and behold it came true!

In summary race #2 was deemed a success despite my crappy time.

10K: One Race Down, One to Go

My 10K went really well and I was very pleased with the results.  My goal was to finish in under 1 hour, and I finished in 55:20.  I felt good and it was a great run overall.  Yesterday was just a good day overall with a good mix of family, friends and work.  

Next race: Mud run in June.  Super-stoked!

Plans are also coming together for my trek across Zion and Grand Canyons.  I really need more vacation time to be able to do all of these fun things!

Update on Goals

Oh my gosh I just can not believe how quickly this year is just flying by. There a many fun things happening and I am excited to report that all of my goals are coming along very nicely.

1. PhD program I have found the one that I am interested in doing. However, since I have started teaching a class down at Dixie I know I don't have the time to start it right now. I have committed to teaching fall semester at Dixie and in the mean time I will save up so I can afford to go to school.

2. TV time is much reduced, I think that happened naturally because I got a lot more busy picking up extra employment. I still watch some, but it is less than 3 hours a week.

3. Run 2 races - I will be running my first race of the year next weekend. I will be running a 10K which is going to be the first time I have ever run a 10K race before. It is a race that is being organized through my work so I am going to be a volunteer and run for free! As of now I don't have any specific plans for the 2nd race. I would like to do another 5K and see if I can get a PR.

4. My racquetball dreams have been put to a halt. My partner I had been playing with decided to get married in February so I we haven't played since then. Who gets married these days anyway? I have been actively trying to find someone else to play with, but so far no luck.

5. I have read 1 full book so far this year. I read The Peace Giver. I quite enjoyed it and it was nice that it was a quick read. It really helped give me a little different perspective on forgive

ness of others. I have started another book called The Willpower Instinct. It talks about the science behind willpower and it is completely fascinating. I also finally finished a book that I started about a year ago. The Omnivore's Dilemma. I also enjoyed it, but I think the first part of the book was more interesting to me than the last part. I have also started reading The China Study, it is another heavily science based book and will probably take me awhile to get through.

6. I am afraid that finding a man with marriage potential is going to have to be left to a higher power, because I sure am not having much success. I have not given up however, I still fight the fight and will continue to do so.

7. Making budgeting a monthly habit has proved to be harder than I thought it would be. My work purchased Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and I listed to that, so I have been trying to follow his baby steps. So far I have baby step 1 accomplished!! I have been trying harder to budget and keep track of my money, but it has been a challenge.

8. Okay so the pull-up is one of the goals that actually makes me really excited. I am getting so close to being able to do a pull-up from a dead hang. Right now I can do one starting with a partial bend in my arm. When I did it for the first time it made me so excited. It is slowly coming along, but it is much more of a reality than when I started the year.

9. The downstairs bed and bath are coming along nicely. I hired some people to work on it and I am sooo glad I did. It had some major problems that I could have never been capable of dealing with. Last Saturday I painted both the bathroom and the bedroom and I am obsessed with it! My aunt had given me some green paint she didn't use and it makes me ridiculously happy when I look at it.

10. My little garden is growing so well. I have a whole set up in my kitchen where they grow. It has been such a mild winter that I am so tempted to go plant them in the ground now, but I know I can't. I am pretty sure it is supposed to snow tonight so that probably wouldn't help them much.

10. Erica and I are in the middle of planning out trip. Right now we are looking at going to Seattle. I have been really craving a roadtrip and I am really excited for this.

11. My birthday is shaping up to be awesome. It is not going to be with friends like I originally planned. But, I will be with my family which is going to be a lot of fun. My family planned a vacation down to Coronado California. So I will be spending my birthday on the beach, it is going to be perfect.

12. I have planned a weekend to hike Pine Valley and I think it is going to be awesome.

13. My roommate and I are going to be hiking trans-Zion in June. I am really excited she wants to do it. Also my dad and I are going to be hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim. Pretty much my hiking season is gearing up to be epic.

14. I have not made any progress on compiling recipes, however I have started collecting more of them!

15. Desk is now in my room and making me happy.

New Year Goals

I came up with a list of things that I want to accomplish this next year. I am so excited because I think that everything on my list is very doable and they all make me excited for the future. I also think that these goals are going to provide for some good blog posts!

The List (in no particular order, just how they came out of my brain)

• Find and start a PhD program - hopefully online style
• Reduce T.V. time to 3 hours per week (can be stockpiled to be used towards t.v. marathons, one of life's greatest pleasures)
• Run at least 2 races - any distance will do
• Find a Racquetball tournament to participate in - most likely the summer games
• Read at least 5 books (seeing how I only finished 1 last year this is a pretty lofty goal for me, but I figured since I won't be watching as much t.v. and will need something to do).
• Find a man that has marriage potential and date him
• Make budgeting monthly a habit
• Be able to do at least 1 full blown real life pull-up
• Get the downstairs bathroom and bedroom finished so it will be usable
• Grow garden starts from seed my own self instead of buying them at the nursery
• Have an amazing garden and share the abundance with others
• Plan at least 1 adventure with friends (namely Erica)
• Have a sweet birthday party
• Hike Pine Valley Mountain
• Plan at least 1 other major hiking adventure (trans-Zion anyone?)
• Start to compile and organize recipes
• Get desk for room to study at
• Attend temple ordinance at least 12 times this year

The plan is to breakdown each goal so that I get started on them right away and keep track of where I am at with everything. I am pretty sure Excel will be able to help me with this. I will be sure to post updates as I start making steps towards accomplishing each goal.

Having so many fun and exciting goals is going to lead to a super great 2012! Anyone who wants to get in on any of the fun let me know and I will make sure that I let you know when I am planning on doing that particular goal.

Yipee for a New Year and a brand spanking new start...bring it on!

Abba Mania

I went to an ABBA Mania concert last Saturday. It was amazing!! Here is a little video of the fun times had.

Thoughtiness

It is strange how I go through writing droughts. I went on a walk today and I was thinking in prose and I thought to myself, "I guess my writing drought is over". So here I am writing on my blog because I don't know anywhere else to write these thoughts down.

My brain has been moving at the speed of light for the past couple of weeks. I think I may have finally found the source and the reason why. It all started about a month ago. I was on my way to work just like most mornings in my week. This morning however, I had a thought. This thought is the type of thought that I am afraid to say just might be one of those life changing moments. The thought was tentative, but assured. Just three little letters P....H.....D. I didn't want them to come, but they did. I can't make them go back, and I can't get my mind to change itself.

Like I said ever since those three innocent looking letters entered my brain it has been going crazy. I practically have a dissertation topic picked out and the introduction already started. My brain is so inconsiderate, never once did it stop and ask me what I wanted, or even give me the time to catch up and get used to the idea.

The one defense I did have was not to say those three letters out loud. I thought to myself (when my brain wasn't listening) if I don't verbalize what my brain is thinking there is no way that it will happen. My one little defense however was useless because it seemed that my brain was talking with other brains when I wasn't paying attention and he (why is my brain male? It makes no sense to me) leaked the secret, and before I knew it everyone I talked to was bring up the subject.

I couldn't say no, I couldn't get away. I am moving full force in the forward direction being driven by a force beyond myself. I don't even know who Cambree Johnson is anymore. Another being has taken control of my body and is reeking havoc without my permission. This is what happens to me in the spring time when I think that my life is going to settle down for awhile. Bam! Something intense hits me and my life is all awhirl again and I don't know which way is up and which is down.

Brain's are funny creatures and I wish I knew how to train them better. It sure would make life a whole lot easier.

Vaycay!

So I figured I should blog again before a whole year has passed me by. I went to California last week and had a blast so I thought I would post about it. I recently had a friend move to California near San Francisco, so some friends and I decided to go visit his new home. We did lots of touristy things and hung out.

The Golden Gate Bridge. One of the Highlights of the trip was skipping across part of the bridge. I got some really funny looks, it made me really happy!



I will Squish you.



It took me a really long time to get this shop just right. It didn't turn out quite as cool as I was hoping, but it was fun trying to get it.



This was up in a building on Stanford's campus.



This was a random doll we found on the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, kind of freaky.



There are a lot more pictures I just don't have them. Other things that we did that were a lot of fun included: checking out lake Tahoe, a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory, a visit to the famous Mystery Spot, a drive through Yosemite, and a flying car hood. Good times were had! Now I am looking forward to a Christmas Trip!

Isn't Mail Great?

Two weeks ago I came home to a nice looking envelope sitting on the front porch. I opened it up and a nice surprise was inside. A cute little DIPLOMA! Of course I had to take some pictures with the long awaited piece of paper that I had worked so hard for. So for your viewing pleasure a small photo gallery of my diploma and I.

You better watch out Cedar City...because here I come

Fun things have been happening and also some big moves and changes. I got a new job down in Cedar City and am now living there. A few grand adventures took place before the big move.

My last activity in my ward was going to the State Fair. Good times were had.

A Jake Billy Goat


An Evan Billy Goat


Hungry Fair Sheep


Hungry Fair Piggys




Erica had a birthday so we celebrated. Good friends, good location, and huge cupcakes. What more can one ask for?

Good ol' wardie friends past and present.


Birthday girl at her best.


The people.



Jake threw me a fabulous going away party with delicious food provided by the Mike and fabulous company provided by everyone who showed up. Unfortunately we were too busy having fun to think about documenting the event.



Here in Cedar I am staying with my brother and his family and I think it is great.

They graciously provided me with my own room.

With a comfty bed.




My new job is great. I am really excited to be working out in the community and being around fantastic people

My new office...with a nice window, but in need of decoration.


It is in a nice quiet area that not many people pass by, so I just keep the door open.


And last but, not least, my new haircut compliments of my sister.