In order to avoid packing my things to leave PA tomorrow, I thought I'd blog for the first time in...ages. 

What else should I do when I'm home? Trader Joe's is obvious. And Panera. And REAL BAGELS. Oooh and H&M, which is at my local mall and not half an hour away like in Utah.

Is it next week yet?

I want to be like my parents. I know that isn't something people say often, and sure, I want to be my own person.

But seriously? Check out this picture of my parents from my cousin's wedding last weekend.

They were dancing to Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" - my dad picked it out. I just want to be in love like they are. 34 years and going strong.

I was just trying to make plans with a friend to take a class, and realized I basically have 4 hours of reliably free time a week. Between school and work and TAing and working out (boxing, yay!) I am stretched beyond thin (metaphorically only).

Plus, September is going to be a really busy month. Filled with fun things every weekend, but still, I'd like some time to catch my breath.

Today I'm heading back to the East Coast for my first cross country trip of the month: Philadelphia! Cousin Helen is getting married, so it's back home for me until Monday.

Here's hoping I can be zen and calm and the opposite of anxious on my flight!

Remember how I missed music monday last week? Ooops. I was kind of busy moving/helping Kristy move/working/finishing a doc.

Moving on...Matt Pond PA is one of my favorite bands that no one has every heard of. And not just because they're from PA. They are absolutely amazing and it is a dream of mine to see them live. Seriously. Listening to their music takes me back to driving around in Sarah's cabrio with the top down on the way to the beach. And walking through the woods at home. And wonderful things in general. That's how sappy I am.

My mom tried to show me where they keep the towels. My parents kept all my shampoo and conditioner in the shower. And my mostly empty face wash.

It is so green there. So, so green.



Sarah came up from DC to visit. As usual, we did not take a single picture together. I was reminded how nice it is to be around someone who understands you so completely.

Seriously? So green.

We ate at (almost) all my favorite places: Seasons 52, Iron Hill Brewery, Classic Diner, Rita's, Panera, Christopher's, Riverstone...I can't even remember, but I basically ate out for most of my meals. But when I didn't....

HOME. COOKED. FOOD.

My dad ate this sandwich that was basically an entire crab, fried, between bread.



Sarah and I wandered around West Chester and visited my favorite thrift shop.

I spent almost enough time with Angela. See above re: someone who completely understands you.

TRADER JOES.

Did I mention it's very pretty there? It is.


I played the piano. And brought my guitar back to SLC. Maybe soon I'll learn to play it.

I visited my grandmother and she let me stay for an hour. And she was wise. Bopcha on love: "You have to find someone who's a good balance for you...someone who can mess up and it doesn't bother you as much as if someone else did it."

My parents watched Tangled, and when Sarah and I watched it later my dad kept popping in to tell us his favorite parts. (He liked the chameleon, and the horse that acted like a dog.)

Hours and hours spent with Rachel catching up. I'm a big fan of that girl (and the boyfriend that I finally got to meet!).

And one more just because...

I'm home in PA! I wish I could say I'm doing something super exciting, but the truth is I'm watching Scrubs. My folks are asleep, and I don't really have anything else to do...

It's an episode where they play a bunch of clips from previous episodes, set to music.

It makes me wish I could make a 'best-of' video of my life, with my favorite moments set to music based on the mood.

I think I'll have to settle for making some fun videos this summer with my free time (which is most of my time).

I hail from the great state of Pennsylvania (PA to most). And this week, I really miss (in no particular order):

1. Rita's Water Ice: there is no substitute
2. Valley Forge Park
3. Wegman's and Trader Joe's (even though TJ's recently discontinued my favorite Tamari Almonds)
4. my parents
5. Trees
6. Getting Zwahlen's with the girls
7. Above mentioned girls
8. the Chester County Library system
9. King of Prussia Mall


...that's all I can come up with at 11pm. But there's more. I think I miss everything but the humidity and traffic. Seriously.

I think it's time to plan a trip home. I could use a week, or several.