Goodbye.

& here I thought I had already done away with all my missionary goodbyes...

Elder Ryan Ah'Kiong (also known as mi hermano) came to say goodbye to me at work today, literally ten minutes before he went into the MTC.

I've known Ryan since diaper days. It's crazy. We were primary crushes with a bit of a competitive edge, always trying to be the fastest to list out the 12 tribes of Israel. We've been in the same ward since birth and so many of my best church memories include Ryan in them.

I was lucky enough to share a special sacrament meeting with him and my dad as the other speakers the Sunday right before I came out to start senior year. It was definitely one of the best Sundays of my summer. I miss him terribly already BUT, you know what this means?

I have a new pen pal!

p.s. I didn't take that first photo. Ryan's missionaries photos were taken by Krissie Booth. :]

Why I want to work at the DMV.

I had to go to the DMV today (obviously.), the Compton DMV on Santa Fe. It took longer than necessary -- as most appointments at the DMV do.

Mom parked the car while I went to go wait at window 22.

I liked standing in line at window 22. I discovered you can tell what people are in line for by looking at their feet. Body language. The tension is high in the window 22 line (driving test check-in also takes place here).

I was serene.
In my relaxed state, I took interest in observing the workers at my local DMV. Okay, I admit, I did this partially because I was really tired of the girl in front of me's attempts to strike up a conversation.

Back to the workers.

I recognized a couple of them from previous visits. I noticed that window 22 was now occupied by its regular tenant, a pretty black woman. Last time I was here it was occupied by a man who slightly resembles Abis Mal from Return of Jafar. Slightly.

I had been curious about window 22's real tenant mainly because of a poorly done collage featuring pictures of said real tenant and her boyfriend (husband?) surrounding one of those cheesy quotes teenagers are drawn too. You know, the ones that have all kinds of crazy fonts used to highlight different words? So it doesn't just say, "I Love You," but "I Love You," with hot pink squiggly type-face.

That's how you know it's real.

Customer service is horrible at the DMV.

I always try to be extremely nice to the workers there, because I figure, they could probably use a smile or two.

I decided though today, that I want to work at the DMV. Maybe even specifically at window 22. I would have a dish of candy at my cubicle and maybe even a roll of stickers (too much?). I would always reassure those nervous drivers that they'd be fine (even if I knew deep down they'd probably fail). I would understand that normal everyday people don't always know DMV protocol. I'd cut them some slack for not knowing that their legal driver has to be in line with them (if they're here for a driving test). & If people passed their driving tests or permit tests or motorcycle tests or (you get the point), I'd give them two thumbs up. Really. Maybe even a high-five if they strike my fancy.

Excuse me, I have an online application to fill.

21.

21st birthday looked a little like this:







Hope your 8.8.11 was lovely.
xo.

Garden of the Gods & other stuff...

Our second Colorado Springs outing was by far my favorite day of the trip! It was the trip that almost didn't happen though. We woke up and drove to Manitou Springs to purchase tickets for the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. I figured, Thursday not too many tourists, perfect time to catch a train ride. So wrong! We were put on a waiting list and by some miracle were able to get tickets on the 12:00 train. We rode up 14,000 feet and saw some of the most spectacular views Colorado has to offer.

We tried out the loop mexican restaurant (it hardly compares to LA Mexican food. obvs.) & then went on a little stroll of historic manitou springs.

The best part of the day was visiting the breathtaking landscapes of Garden of the Gods. It happened to be a rainy day when we visited so the red rock formations against the purple sky simply took my breath away. To think somebody owned the land before it was given to the city of Colorado Springs. Lucky man!

We also randomly/spontaneously attended a rodeo?

The conversation in the car went like this:
Dad: A rodeo! Oh I've been wanting to go to the rodeo! Who wants to go?
Everyone else in the car: . . .
Needless to say we all went.
& they reenacted some scenes from the war on terrorism in Afghanistan?
Quite the experience I must say.

All my ♥,
Lo