Music for Your Midweek: Bastille

I couldn't find a more perfect song this day.

Here's the original version if you're curious.

And some of the lyrics cause they're great:

I was left to my own devices

Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down

In the city that we love

Grey clouds roll over the hills

Bringing darkness from above...

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices

In your pose as the dust settled around us...

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

If you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

Recap attack: The Tetons, Jacob Lake, and random stuff my dad left behind

Here some more of those photos all y'all like so much.

First off, going through my day's belongings, we've found some pretty random things, like these wipes:

I could see them coming in handy, I guess?

And this questionable supplement:

Not quite sure what it does, but I'm taking it. I'll let you know when I start seeing some muscles. 

Oh! We went camping!

We just happened to have this tent in our basement. Lucky.

We drank sarsaparilla.

And made a fire...that was quickly overcome by summer showers.

And then made a mad dash tithe car with the mallows we had been roasting in hand.

The next morning was misty and beautiful.

Home sweet home.

After a good breakfast at Jackson Lodge, we headed to the trailhead for Hermitage Point. It was beautiful!

So many lily pads!

The sweetest tiniest babiest tree.

There were a couple trees covered in this bizarre furry stuff... Any of you guys know what it is? So eerie...

Great view

Ingrid and Julie taught me how to take panoramic photos, but now I've forgotten haha

We took a wrong turn and ended up in this field. It was worth it though, obvy. 

Then we found this weird creature! I wish I could have taken it home, but it probably wouldn't have lasted the journey.

Everywhere was beauty. This was from part of the drive to our campground. Do you see the Bison?!

On our way out, I got a picture at "Mormon Row".

The next weekend, I went to Jacob Lake with Katie, Melinda, and Hannah. We had a grand old time, so much so, I hardly too k any photos. Here are some shots from the reservoir:

Sand and sky.

They made and impressive sand castle with a moat.

Jacob Lake in passing.

Sometime when you're single, it feels like even your food is mocking you.

MGMT

My mom and I lucked out and got last minute James Taylor tickets. It was incredible. I was weepy the whole time!

Downtown Salt Lake was insane this weekend! With comicon, there were a ton of people walking around in costume.

I tried to get some shots, but it was too hard to from the car. This was an attempt at catching some Adeventure time kids. 

We went through a bunch of prints that my parents have kept through their travels through Europe and across the country. The one shows the world's "prevailing religions".

And last but not least, by brother moved into his own place, and hung his sweet poster he got from some band. I kind of want to steal it.

That's it!

A Poem for Saturday: Thomas Sayers Ellis "Or,"

Or Oreo, or
worse, Or ordinary.
Or your choice
of category


            or
            Color

or any color
other than Colored
or Colored Only.
Or  "Of Color"


            or
            Other


or theory or discourse
or oral territory.
Oregon or Georgia
or Florida Zora


            or
            Opportunity


or born poor
or Corporate, Or Moor,
Or a Noir Orpheus
or Senghor


            or
            Diaspora


or a horrendous
and tore-up journey,
Or performance, Or allegory's armor
or ignorant comfort


            or
            Worship


or reform or a sore chorus,
Or Electoral Corruption
or important ports
of Yoruba or worry


            or
            Neighbor


or fear of...
of terror or border.
Or all organized,
minorities.

Music for your Midweek: Pheonix

Another brilliant video from La Blogothèque.
Read about it here.

Let's leave the country.

SOCCCCCEEEERRR

OMG I LOVE OUR TEAAAAAMMMM

Also, this is hilar:

Soccer is the world's greatest sport

It's Labor Day!

So get off your computer/smartphone/tablet and 

PLAY OUTSIDE

Oh. It's too hot outside? Here's a funny video then.

I'minheredogI'minheredogI'minheredog

Something for Sunday: Un-plug

I may be relatively new to this smart phone world, but I already feel myself turning into its slave. Nobody told me these phones need to be charged EVERYDAY and sometimes MULTIPLE times a day. And it's SO fragile. And temperamental. It's practically like having a baby. I've seen it infiltrate all parts of my life (mostly for the better), but sometimes in not-so-positive ways. One of my friends posted this on her wall last week, and it struck a chord:

Too real. 

It reminds me of Sister Wixom's talk in General Conference:

"“Dad … started reading phone messages while the toddler struggled to get his attention by throwing bits of pizza crust. Then the dad re-engaged, facing his child and playing with him. Soon, though, he substituted watching a video on his phone with the toddler until his wife returned.
“… [Dr.] Halfon observed a dimming of the child’s internal light, a lessening of the connection between parent and child.”
...Precious moments of opportunity to interact and converse with our children dissolve when we are occupied with distractions. Why not choose a time each day to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other? Simply turn everything off. When you do this, your home may seem quiet at first; you may even feel at a loss as to what to do or say. Then, as you give full attention to your children, a conversation will begin, and you can enjoy listening to each other."

I found this article about observant jewish people trying to negotiate between technology and their spiritual life. Click here to give it a read.

"There's real value in embracing technology. It's just about knowing when to turn it off."

Amen.