The Good, The Carlsbad, and The Ugly

Last weekend, Dallin and I had an adventure that can only be described as "The Good, The Carlsbad, and The Ugly."

We had decided to make a day trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico with some friends. However, after a slight change of plans, Dallin and I were on our own, and decided to wing a backpacking trip.

After two pit stops and a three-hour car ride, we pulled into Carlsbad Caverns. At first, it was underwhelming. Cacti, hills, and heat were all that surrounded a busy parking lot and a yellow building.

After buying our pass, we followed ranger instructions to get to the natural entrance of the cave. Let's be real, we were nature-starved and were not about to ride an elevator down to the belly of the cave. 

To be honest, I do not have a great explanation, or many great pictures, of our experience in the cave. At first it smelled like swallows and everything that goes in... And comes out of them. But eventually, the smell dissipated and we were swallowed into the damp darkness of the cave. 

Soon, the spotlights used to illuminate certain rock formations were the only sources of light. 

It was humbling to be sure, but also a little spooky. Especially when Dallin went around doing things like this:

Eventually, it got so dark my camera simply could not take in enough light to take a picture. 

(Look closely and you can see Dallin's shirt. Tilt your screen, and you can see our faces.)

After walking for over two hours, and down 750 feet, we arrived at the underground restaurant (*snack bar*) and the elevators.

Back on the ground level, we asked a park ranger about camping in the park. 

Dallin: We wanted to ask about camping in the park. 

Park Ranger: Well, we recommend that you carry in a gallon of water, per person, per day. 

That's a lot of water.... What about coverage? Any trees?

*Shakes head* None. Most everything out there will scratch or poke you.

*All hopes crushed*

As we walked back out into sunshine and 95-degree weather, a stark difference from the 56-degree cave, we decided that if we could find someplace decent to camp, we would stay. As fate would have it, there was a small KOA just outside the park that offered campsites. So we reserved our spot and then headed back to the park to watch the bat flight. 

Basically, every night people can sit outside the cave and watch the bats as they fly out of the cave. Dallin and I were both expecting something like... 

Instead we sat in the amphitheater for an hour and a half and silently watched groups of bats zigzag their way out of the cave. Sorry, but no proof. Phones had to be turned off. However, this picture explains perfectly how we each felt about it:

After the bats, we headed to our campsite to set up our tent in the dark. It was still remarkably hot, about 85 degrees, so we slept in our mesh tent, with no cover. 

It could have gone better. 

Dallin became paranoid about strangers. Around 1 AM, he, being driven mad by the heat and exhaustion, accused me of being a stranger and was inclined to act on his suspicions. I was worried about the coyotes howling in the distance, and it was so hot that we each slept in half hour intervals. Then there was the rain. So darn it all! We packed it up and headed back to Midland at 3 IN THE MORNING. 

So there was the good: Spending the day with Dallin, experiencing new adventures and seeking new thrills.

The Carlsbad: Carlsbad Caverns of course. 

And the ugly?

The 5 o'clock stop.

Dallin stopped for gas while I wandered through the convenience store, so delusional from lack of sleep that I couldn't find the women's restrooms, despite the neon sign and it's approximate location to the men's. Not to mention my sleepy-time, sweaty hairstyle, glasses, no makeup, and breath that could scatter an army. 

But hey... At least the guy at the register was nice about it.

The Neverending Project Story

When Dallin moved to Texas with all of our worldly possessions, we had a bed and a kitchen table. Enough to support the basic necessities of life: To eat and to sleep. Eventually he invested in a TV and a couch, as these provide the necessities of the bachelor lifestyle: To watch TV and fall asleep on the couch.

And we have continued to live this way. Even after I got here.

I'm not complaining, but something about the TV's placement on the floor screams.... 

"DIRT POOR NEWBS WHO MOVED TOO FAR FROM THE DI"

Oh, the truth and accompanying shame.

To improve our situation, I started shopping around at the local estate sales. For those of you who don't know what an estate sale is, imagine walking through a stranger's home after they have passed away or moved. Not only have all of their knick-knacks been put up for sale, but also the pictures on the walls, the clothes in the closet, and just about anything you can find as you meander through the house. It's a different experience, but the deals can be incredible! 

That's how I found this little beauty,

And how The Neverending Project began. 

It was supposed to be simple. Strip it, sand it, repaint it, line the drawer, and change out the hardware.  Easy peezy, lemon squeezey.

But I got high on that Home Depot fix and convinced myself that I could do more. So I bought 5 more pieces of furniture at another estate sale. Dallin was supportive, but he told me that this was my baby, and that he would not take participate in the renovation. 

Pinterest was also supportive. She provided loads of ideas and DIYs. She also assured me that the hardest part would be "waiting for the paint to dry." 

Well, it's officially been months and I only have two finished pieces to show for my hours of hard work and sweat in this deadly Texas heat. My garage still smells like paint and there is a thin layer of sawdust covering the array of dresser drawers and my car.

Worst of all, Pinterest LIED to me! Waiting for the paint to dry was the easiest part because while waiting, I could wash the paint out of the brushes, my hair, off my skin and clothes, and all in the comfort of an air-conditioned home! 

If I ever finish these neverending projects, I'll let you know. 

Until then,

Wish me luck.

Let's Go

Loooonnnnggg time... No post. 

Sorry.

A handful of events have happened since I last posted:

I worked on my dirtbag list. The highlights include:

I wasn't able to cross everything off my list, but I got to spend quality time with people I knew I would miss when I got to Texas.

I graduated from Utah State.

And finally, Dallin and I made a road trip to Midland to finally be together.

But since then, there has not been much to report. 

To be honest, we have been a little bored in Midland. In our defense though, even those that have lived here for years and years will tell you that there is not much to do. There is plenty to do in TEXAS, but it takes a drive of at least two hours to get there. Very different from having Logan Canyon just right down the road.

However, we have been taking recommendations for things to do from everyone we meet, and have made some new friends that are willing to go with us on new adventures.

So Midland.... Let's go. 

Let Us Be Dirtbags

Dirtbag: 

A person who is committed to a given (usually extreme) lifestyle to the point of abandoning employment and other societal norms in order to pursue said lifestyle; Someone who is seeking to spend all of their moments pursuing their lifestyle.

Personal interpretation:

Committing oneself to certain goals or experiences in order to find personal achievement and satisfaction.

So let us be dirtbags. 

After feeling some serious feels at a slam poetry night featuring The Asia Project, and reminiscing over old pictures, I realized that I'm not doing everything I can to make this last semester count. 

With only five weeks left in a familiar, mountainous playground, there are a lot of things that can't be left undone.

And so I've made a list. 

- Do a sunrise hike of the Crimson Trail

- White Pine

- Go rock climbing. MULTIPLE TIMES

- Go hammocking

 - Go to a Bee's game

 - Go DANCING

 - End of Year Bash

 - Lord Huron concert

 - CONQUER the 5.10's

 - Play volley at least ONCE a week

 - Have a bonfire

 - Bear Lake

 - Get a CHACO tan line

 - Get a PoBev shirt 

 - Go on a weekend trip to somewhere NEW

 - Spend quality time with real friends

How am I going to do all this and graduate from USU with acceptable grades?
How am I going to do all of this without my partner in crime?

Not sure.

But Dallin gave me the OK and I'm going to do what I can to make it all work.

Let's get things straight though. I'm not growing dreads or planning on living out of a van in the canyon. Rather, I am planning on committing myself to finding a more few adventures, a little more freedom, and some unforgettable memories before Texas officially claims us. 

So LET US BE DIRTBAGS!

Who's in?

(So you can feel the feels too.)

Home

For Spring Break this year, I flew down to Midland to spend 10 days with Dallin. It was probably the best thing I could have done. 

But the truth is... Midland is different. 

When the pilot announced our decent into Midland, my first thought was,

"This is where aliens come to draw in the dirt."

Here are the rest of my impressions of Midland: 

I've never been so lost in my whole life as I was during this trip. No mountains, no hills, just the flattest land you ever did see. Not to mention, most of the major roads seem to merge into an endless loop. It's a good thing Dallin drove everywhere, or we probably would have ended up driving in circles all day. 

People in Midland have money. Since it's a town built on oil, it's probably easy to believe that most of the people there have reasonable stacks on stacks of the green stuff. Because of this inflow of cash, the cars there are NICE. Most parking lots go truck, truck, truck, Camaro, Mustang, truck, VW Bug, truck, Mustang, VW Bug, truck, truck, and another truck. All of them probably less than three or five years old. 

We also saw a Lamborghini racing around the private airport.

Midland is also full of contradictions. On one side of a street there was a trailer park with older vehicles and a dog that really needed some love. But on the other side was a massive house, completely fenced in, with three cars and a boat in the driveway. 

When venturing about in Midland, you soon learn that the only things to do are shop, go to the gym, eat, or drink. Too bad the service at most of these establishments is truly the most terrible I have ever received. Butt cracks and bad meat, (Chipotle, I'm talking about you!!!), delayed customer service, and rude and short-tempered employees. It got to the point where if I received any sort of competent and complimentary service, I was willing to tip well above the recommended 20%.

Growing up in Utah, I'm used to seeing clusters of churches throughout town. But everything's bigger in Texas. Some churches are bigger than my old middle school, and others are rodeo churches where members of the congregation have opportunities to ride into the ring. 

And don't forget about the oil. 

Automated oil pumps dot the landscape, slowly pulling oil right out of the ground. In the middle of town, between stores in a shopping center, was a half-acre of land, fenced off with a well right in the middle. 

Walking through the airport also leaves no question as to what this town is all about. Signs like this plaster the walls.

But despite the oddities and differences of this "Hey ya'll" culture, I can't help but think of it as home. 

There are just so many endearing qualities about this place. 

Texans love America, and are proud of their great state, and their great nation. And that Texan accent? Who couldn't love that?

Sports are taken seriously. Some high school football stadiums could rival those of some colleges.

They have the best ice cream.

They know how to make a dang good burger.

And Texas is where my boy is. 

Wherever Dallin is... Is home. 

The Pros of a Rough Situation

Dallin is gone. It will be two weeks tomorrow, but it feels like much longer. 

My very Fukui family is a little less Fukui without him. 

BUT

Lucky for us, there are some pros in this rough situation. 

1. My mom and dad let me move back home. Some people might think of this as a con, but sometimes they laugh at my jokes.

2. Technology has advanced. Dallin and I can FaceTime, text, call, or Skype. And we do...
But I probably abuse my emoji and gif rights.

3. My mom makes me dinner. She even texts me when I'm at school to see if I'm going to make it in time to eat. 

4. I've learned how to remove cookies from my computer. The Internet is just too good. After checking Hotwire 1,000 times for tickets, their ads start to follow me. 

5. The time spent commuting to school is great for singing loudly and off key in a judgement free zone. 

6. My parents have TV. Like... Real TV. This could be a pro or con, depending on how you look at it. From an academic perspective, it's a con. But my sudden obsession over CHOPPED and my love affair with Parks and Rec reassure me that it's definitely a pro. 

7. I can make popcorn and run the microwave AT THE SAME TIME! This was quite the risk in our old apartment. I may or may not have shorted out the entire kitchen once.... or twice...

8. I get to spend extra time with some really great people. It's only been two weeks, but I've felt a lot of love and support from friends and family. And I'm grateful for them.

8. Dallin likes his job and the people he works with.

9. I leave for Texas in 30 days.

Spring Break can't come fast enough.