Rafting

Don't worry, people! I survived the Deschutes rapids.

This was my first time rafting. I was a little nervous because, even though the internet tells me that only 6 to 10 people die while rafting for every 2.5 million people who go on guided rafting trips, people die! Not to be dramatic, but I could be dead.

But what actually scared me more than death was spending 36+ hours camping and rafting with a group of my coworkers. I mean, these are mostly software developers. And we have nothing in common except work things. I'm 100% baffled as to how I got an invite to this thing. But I did, and I went. Suckers! And they love me because I'm a willing designated driver. (Though now that I think about it that may be why I was invited. No, I'm sure it was my personality . . . I'M SURE OF IT!)

Overall, it was actually really fun. And beautiful. And I only left with one bruise. 

NYC

I went to NYC last weekend to visit my Brother and sister-in-law who are living in Manhattan for a year. And now I'm going to post an excessive amount of pictures from my trip! You love it.

Autumn

Autumn is here, people! I bought pumpkins. I went to a corn maze. I have a "Harvest Welcome" scented candle burning 24/7. I made a pumpkin roll. I'm drinking cider daily. And I'm getting mentally prepared for the best Halloween weekend ever, which I'll be spending in Provo. Delicious.

Autumn pictures from my photo excursion to Catherine Creek!:

Chicken Coop

I'm not really an animal person. Ok, that's an understatement. What I meant to say is that I hate animals. Not in a heartless, I want to cause animals harm kind of way. Just in a leave-me-alone-and-I'll-try-my-best-not-to-cringe-when-I'm-forced-to-come-in-contact-with-them-and-they-invade-my-bubble kind of way. They're so smelly, and messy, and needy, and expensive and unpredictable. I just don't want anything to do with them. The closest I'll ever come to having a pet is within my brief daydreams/daymares that I'm a 40-year-old woman from the 80s with over-sized glasses, bushy hair, and 15 cats curled up around me as I read a book. Incidentally, I'm always a hoarder in these daymares.

However, tonight I went to an RS activity (shock!) about cooping chickens, and I'm absolutely hooked on the idea of owning chickens (double shock!). First, this would finally satiate my unfulfilled desire to grow up on a farm Little House on the Praire style. Second, I'm a sucker for a good project. Third, the idea of producing my own food is really cool to me. 

Here's some info: it's only about $10/month to keep chickens. They're much lower maintenance than dogs or cats. They lay about 1 egg/day. They're very obedient and stupid. You only have to clean the coop about twice a year if you use a deep layer method where you add layers and layers of straw to the bottom of the coop regularly (when you clean out the coop, this stuff is great for fertilizing your garden). Chickens help reduce weeds. They're not very noisy. They don't smell very much. 

Kind of cool, huh? Unfortunately, it's kind of illogical for me to own chickens because 1. I hate eggs, and 2. I don't have a house/yard.

Every time I dream, all my hopes are crushed. 

Some pics from tonight: