Fear Factor Ev Style

I have determined that I have been quite the sap in recent postings. I really try to pretend after seeing other's blogs that I'm all cute and normal and exciting. Not the true story. I know, shocker. The fact is, I still wear a helmet to bed. I also have determined I like to take pictures with my nose up and my mouth open. See above.
But, I also like to take pictures with the head down, the double chin out, and the freakiness on. I thought I'd let everyone know that I may be getting really old, as I'm reminded by kids on a daily basis, but I can still throw down yo!! Below you will see me eating an octopus. We went to an Italian dinner with our friends in Little Italy. It was such a traumatic experience that it has taken me awhile to post about. I also have determined that I blog a lot about being old, and it doesn't help that I will enter the UPPER twenties this month. But as for the octopus and all it's danger, eat THAT, old people!!!

Yeah, Yo, this is awesome. I ate an octopus. How is that for a blog story?? Yes, I still need help!!!

I hate alarm clocks

When the alarm goes off in the morning, I fight the urge to murder. It's a thing I hate. But with so much negativity around me, I thought I would take time today to write on a few more of my loves.
I love sleeping in, for one. It was a three-day weekend full of beautiful, beautiful things. And I love that.

I love my friends. I don't get to see them nearly as much as I want to but I love each one of them. I'm so grateful for all of you and for the changes you have made in my life. I can't believe that you put up with me!! I love the chance to blog and catch up with so many. I love that I get to be myself and not everyone will run away screaming.
A few months ago I went up to Kisty's cabin with a bunch of us and never posted. Poo on me!! But that's still a thing I love!!


And totally more sappy, I love my family. I love my way too insane but beautiful sisters. Becca, you're a favorite too. But I don't know about your neck. We try to keep her big neck a secret but it's pretty hard because she runs out of scarves. :)

And yes, I love Carrie even though she is going into hooker-ing. Or maybe cross-dresser-ing. (OK, it was a colorguard competition last month but I did see plenty of spandex so it made me wonder....)


Right now, I love that Jake is graduated. I love that when I come home, HE'S HOME TOO. I love the excitement that this new job search is bringing and the endless possibilities in front of us. Yes, I'm scared to death and peeing in my pants a little, but I love it. (not the peeing part though). The rumor is out - there's a good possibility we will have to leave this beautiful home we love and our wonderful friends and neighbors here, but it makes room for new experiences and friends and fun and.... . ok, that's too sappy, even for me.
I also love to torture people in many fun ways. I love to win wars with Jake in licking each other's faces. And he will admit, he cries himself to sleep at night because he's so gooey and wimpy that he can't fight back. I have so many loves and blessings in my life that I am overwhelmed. I was recently talking to a friend that gave me inspiration - to write at the end of each day the hand of the Lord in my life. It has started to go beyond squishy things, forts, and blankees for me. I'm in love with life and though it can really stink at times and has felt pretty dang hard recently, there is too much to love to stay focused on that!!!!!

He's a BIG boy now!!!

I need to post and say how proud I am of my Jakey. He graduated with his BFA in Graphic Design from Utah State on May 4th (maybe more pictures later). It only took him a short 8 years (with a mission in between) and he made it.
In my life, I used to think I found a few true loves - pudding, forts, squishy things... until I met Jake. He put pudding to shame. I can honestly say he is my one and only true love!! I don't think there would ever be anyone quite so insane yet so perfect. I love this man.
I love him for his dimples, his patience, his ability to make the best out of the worst situations, the way he will clean up my bean-burrito puke without puking himself and even hold my hair back. I love him for his strong testimony and his ability to set the perfect example for me in the hardest of situations. I love him for his hyena laugh, his muscular dancing legs, and his bad-a Harley jacket, (even though he rides a Yamaha). I love the fact that we fell in love and he first kissed me when I was in a wheelchair --- (he knew I couldn't fight back). I love him for his ability for everyone around him to love him too, and to have 3 year old neighbor kids who think he's their best friend.
I truly feel that I am the luckiest woman in this WHOLE world. Sappy but oh so true. I truly am so grateful for Jake and the fact that I can be with him for forever. A lot has happened in this last month that has deepened my understanding of what this means and how truly blessed I am. I hope everyone can pull their loved ones aside and let them know what they mean too.

I heart New York!!!

I swear, most days I feel like Jake needs to check me into a nursing home. Despite all numbers, I am senile.

I think the computer is upset and lonely .... I have been trying to upload photos for the BIG NYC trip and it is sure being fussy. Fussy old computer. So I am ending up uploading them one at a time and have lost all patience. So here are a few highlights!!


Like I mentioned before, we went with Jake's art history class from USU. It was the only way to ever afford a cheap enough trip to NYC. And despite the odds of all cheapness, we felt OH SO CLASSY the entire time!!


It was awesome. Jake's professor was a pretty cool guy and spent the entire time wasted (started at 11 a.m. on the plane, folks) so we pretty much got to do our own thing.


The night we flew in a group of us went to the Empire State building. Coming out, a guy in our group flagged down a limo driver and talked him into taking all 10 of us all around town at night for like ten bucks.


This is our CLASSY limo picture. I have never ridden in a limo!! It had pimp lights.





By the way, notice by beautiful, glowing orange hands. Needless to say I will not be re-visiting self tanner anytime in the near future.



We checked into our hotel which was beyond ghetto. We had a teensy little bathroom to share between eight rooms. The rest of the trip was like none other I've ever had to New York. (My mommy is from New Jersey so I've had a few trips in my life). We did hit the touristy stuff like Times Square, Staten Island, WTC, etc. but a lot of it was the true New Yo-ok (*that's how you have to say it to be classy like me) experience. Our hotel was in Greenwich village and so we lived the true villager life. Look at me contemplating on the deeper meanings of hot chocolate here.

One of the favorite things for me was getting to see two Broadway shows. We went to Hairspray one night and then Monty Python's Spamalot the next. I will forever, forever cherish the in-explicable experience of getting to see Clay Aiken in tights.

And yes, I had to stop and pick up my paycheck at the sight below.


A good rest of the portion of the trip was spent in Museums. The Met was so awesome. We also took the Subway to the top of the island and went toa place called the Cloisters which is one of the coolest things ever!!

And a few other picture-less highlights: we saw a real pimp, I got robbed (if you count leaving a bag of souvenirs on the ground and returning to find it gone), I rode the pole on the subway, had Pinkberry frozen yogurt and big fat pizza.... it was heaven.

Good place to visit but I still like my potato-driven life.

I confuse myself

OK I seriously know I have mental issues. I'm insane. And I love it.... really, besides the drooling.

First thing first - Jake and I just got back from a trip (hey, he got credit for school so it's not TOTALLY a vacation) to NYC. That will be the next post, but I have some explaining to do in this one. The above photo is my favorite one from all of New York. This bull is well known and in the financial district. Jake and I decided to be obsene. There was even a group of cops standing right next to us, apalled that instead of grabbing this bull by the place where most people do, I got a litle creative. I don't care, I'm insane. And this describes how I feel most days when I got home from work!! Anyways....

I posted on the last blog that I had been to a training that made me become worried about my blog. The training was all about the dangers and advantages of technology and the internet. So basically I got all freaked out that I could get a blog stalker, logging in to see my full name, the small town I live in, that would show up at my door and want to cook me alive and make human meat pie. Besides, I work in a job where a lot of people are not happy and could want revenge. But then I started thinking... if they're really crazy to want that kind of pie, they could find me anyways. And I thought about the benefits of having an open blog. It's easier to re-connect and find people that I haven't talked to in way too long. That is starting to outweigh my fear. So I really appreciate you sending me your email addresses. I am saving them. I will try staying public for awhile and if I get all freaked out and insane again, about my stalker craving human meat pie, I will go private....

I will also leave with this promise!! I'm no longer going to be a blogging bum. I will update oh so much now. Well..... I guess I better not make promises that I can't keep. I don't even have time to explain why life is all flipside down right now.

Remember... I'm insane.

And I'm BACK

It has been FOREVER. Life has really turned itself upside down and then over again, and a little bit sideways.
I have lots of pictures and stories, but I recently attending a securities training on some of potential dangers of blogs. I'm sure you've all heard the shhpealll (how in the heck do you spell that?) So I will be going private. I should have chosen that a long time ago, especially considering my stinkin profession, but it takes me awhile to catch on to some things.
There are a bunch of your blogs I love but don't have all your email addresses. Please send me a post if you want to be invited or hit me with an email : evster2000@hotmail.com
I hope you want to keep in touch!! Just gotta keep this booty under wraps, yo!! :)

We all need a Vacation!

I've been sitting like an old lady in a rocker lately and reflecting on the things that make me happy in life. There are SO many and I too often forget my blessings.
I realized this week one thing that I will always live for is a VACATION. I love travelling - I love vacations - I love everything about it!! I like staying in all kinds of hotel rooms, from the Hilton to some scary super 8 where I know dead bodies hide. I love meeting the strange people and eating weird food and I love the long airpline rides or car trips. Jake and I have been so blessed in the three years we've been together to have some unforgettable vacations.

One of the most fun ones was pretty close to home when about 9 months ago we decided to just get away. We drove up past Boise and stayed at this little Victorian hotel and went water-rafting and hiking. Check me out in my hot wet suit. Rarrrr.

Yeah, I don't know that all albinos went out in the sun like me :)
This is in front of the hotel. This weird fish was sitting in the middle of the road. I think this made us laugh for several hours. The thing about Jake and I is that it doesn't take a lot to get entertained..
I know it looks like I'm pooping but I think I was just .... squatting?? (What's WRONG with me?)

Also this year we were fortunate enough to be asked to 'chaperone' Dad's choir trip to Southern California. I think Dad thought I would use my Probation officer skills to do some beating. No, it was a vacation and we weren't much of what you'd consider 'chaperones.' Jake got the kids cited in riots and even had a sugar-packet eating contest. I also tried to pimp out my little sister Carrie and embarrass her as often as I could. It was an awesome trip. We went through Vegas, Sea World, San Diego, and even stayed in the Embassy Suites. I hope he'll ask us to 'chaperone' again but the riots might have been a bad idea...

Me with Carrie. so cute!!! And date-able. She's 16!!

And of course I've already posted this but my favorite vacation of them all this year has been to Switzerland. It was so neat to spend a week in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I just want to say I'm grateful for America - for the food, the toilets, the non-spitting language.

We have a few more vacations planned for this year that I can't wait for. In March Jake and I will be heading to New York City for a week. We are going with USU with an art history class. I decided after spending three weeks alone last summer, I'm not letting Jake take any more trips without me :) We also are hoping to join Jake's family on a church history tour this summer and then take an Oregon Coast trip of our own in the fall.

I live for this!! And if anybody else out there likes a vacation, I urge you to consider Franklin Idaho and come see us. We have some of the biggest potatoes. And trees. There's some dirt too. :)