Surprise!

Last night I was chillin' with Lisa and Brooke. We were at dinner and Lisa decided it was time to dye her hair again. I've been considering dying my hair darker lately, since my hair is long enough now that dying it wouldn't be a waste of money. So we went to the store and bought our dyes and then got to work.

I'm not gonna lie to you, I was pretty nervous...I've colored my hair before, but I've never gone darker, and I've only done streaks...never all of it. Anyways, here's a before and after shot. Tell me what you think. :)

BEFORE
Kind of a dark blonde/light brown color.


AFTER
I'm now a brunette! It's so different!


Another after shot. Obviously.

Happy Birthday, Janae!

So I took Thursday off to celebrate Janae's birthday with her very quickly. (9/20). I took her to lunch at Chili's with Goose, and it was a nice day. And driving through Sardine Canyon was LOVELY, as the fall colors are beginning to show...

So very beautitul...

More fall colors.

Ryan's up-close self portrait in the car. :)

Another shot from the car...

Goose and the BIRTHDAY GIRL at Chili's.


Janae's yummy dessert from Chili's in Logan, UT.
I call it the ChiliCake...
By the way, when I gag, it's because Goose
shoved the spoon into my mouth too far.

Ginabean and Naeners...

The birthday party hug...
(Janae is the short one in the middle:)

Smooshin' the birthday girl...
head to head to head.

A shot of the beautiful Logan Temple.
The picture would've been better had I gotten out of the car...

This really was a FUN day! Janae had no clue that we were coming to visit her; it was good to see her again! Happy Birthday, hon!

Oh yeah...I also realized that I do kinda miss Logan in some ways! This is amazing, because up until this past Thursday, all I could remember about Logan was the hell of graduate school. But that's not the case any more! I remember good times I had there as well, and I do rather miss Cache Valley, not just the people there! :)

9/15: Hiking Table Rock!

Last Saturday I was welcomed back by my friends to our regular summertime activity; HIKING! I have missed hiking with my friends for the past...month at least. So we had planned to hike to Table Rock. We hiked the Face. We woke up much earlier than should be legal on a Saturday morning. (Who knew that a 5am existed on the weekend!?) So...we jumped into the cars and drove to the trail head.

I'm not gonna lie to you...this hike was a TOUGH one! I like to think that I got myself into b pretty good shape this summer. But alas...I think that we should've gone on this hike BEFORE I went to Scotland. I hadn't worked out in a month, and I hadn't hiked in at least 5 or 6 weeks...it was rough. But beautiful...at the top and along the way. Near the top, I couldn't breathe...I make the excuse that I had adjusted to sea-level altitude in Scotland. Whatever though...I am stubborn enough that I kept going (although slowly). The view atop was completely worth it! Here are some pictures/videos:

The beginning of fall colors...

It got kinda steep. See?
(Most of it was steep, actually. I love the Face).

Along the way...


My true feelings. Truly.

The pose I always strike after conquering a mountain.
Those are the Tetons behind me.

Another gorgeous view.

Being silly with Brookey at the top.

I like to think this one is a bit cuter :)

Me and Lisa...


BEAUTIFUL! After lunch (and REST!)
we hiked a little bit further to Inspiration Point...

It took us a while to get down (we went down Huckleberry Trail), and my calves hurt pretty bad a couple of days later, but it was an amazing hike! OUCH a lot, but so pretty! Maybe I'll make a yearly trek up there...

for Dad...

So I wrote this poem for a few friends who help me...ah...celebrate bananas. I told Dad about it and he's been waiting patiently for me to post it. Here ya go, Pops...

Crazy for Bananas

by Gina O.

The color is the ONLY good thing abouta fruit called the banana...

The flavor, smell and even sound are repulsive; holy Hannah!

I know all about the WONDERS of the fruit in question, okay?!

Cameron printed me off a list of the joys of bananas...hooray.

I won't deny that eating them is a healthy thing--how can I?

Potasium-rich, plus vitamins...and you can put them in a pie!

I've tried at least a time or two to like this blasted fruit...

But even mixed with berries and ice, the point is completely moot.

If, by chance, this fruit is peeled within six feet of me,

My gag reflex kicks into gear and I simply have to flee!

And that's just from the smell alone; if I ponder on the sound

That the nasty fruit makes inside a mouth, my stomach flips around!

But don't you worry, don't you fret! I'm good at avoiding them!

At least I was till I moved here...my new friends are such GEMS.

You see, I'm a passionate person with my loves as well as my hates...

When I watched Jason eat on once, my emotions would not abate.

When my best friends in Idaho saw my over-reaction, though small,

They laughed and then got over it--or so I thought; what a bad call!

Before too long, little tricks and "treats" appeared on my car and such...

Jason, Nolan, Lisa too...but still it didn't happen that much.

It truly was a three-way tie between them all for a while...

Then Nolan dropped out of the race and Lisa improved her style...

I recall a time when she conned me into going to a ball game

With the promise of a treat; I still trusted her--how LAME!

Some folks say I'm gullible, but TRUSTING is what I call it...

When I showed up and she gave me a gross yellow candy, it was the pits!

Though I loathe bananas to the core, I laugh it al, ya know?

It's funny and somehow I feel loved...plus, friends are better than foes.

On and on the pranks continued; I started to expect it;

Being chased with a peeled yellow fruit...the joke has some merit...

But when I left my charming friends home and left for the UK,

I figured, "out of sight, out of mind..." I'm wrong a LOT, okay?!

When I returned to IF from my lovely holiday abroad,

My roommates were gone, nowhere to be see--their absence made me sob.

But not for long; I walked back to my room to put my things away

And discovered banana stuff in my room--all yellow, bright and gay.

"Welcome home" and "I heart Gina" were posted here and there;

Yellow streamers, plates and napkins were strewn about EVERYWHERE.

Let's not forget the variety of banana-flavored snacks...

The most depressing one of all was banana Reeses: ACK!

I felt love oozing out of every yellow surface in the room;

I was thrilled to know that I was missed--though bananas are my doom.

In defense of my hatred of this foulest food of any kind,

I find nutrition elsewhere, you know...vitamins are easy to find!

Potasium is found in extremes in the state of Idaho--

It's called a POTATO, everyone! A delightful veggie to grow.

As for fruit, I'll stick with apples, berries and Utah peaches;

All things in moderation is what the Good Book teaches.

So...thank you for expressing your love in a way that's funny...yet sick.

I love ya back; you KNOW it's true! I think you're all a kick!

so many ways to embarrass myself...

Wow. I just embarrassed myself pretty good today. Well, yesterday, really...but just found out that I needed to be embarrassed a few minutes ago. That's why I'm writing in pink; I'm still blushing...

So yesterday I was helping a girl in the branch move. Last night, my friend Chris told me that my friend Matt Svedin had called me big. (This is funny but not; I've been called a big girl 2 times in one month now, and I don't appreciate it!) So...when I found this out, I texted Matt to let him know how I felt about it. The text read, "Big, huh? Girls don't like to hear they're big. Butt head." I didn't get a response, but didn't think anything of it. So today at work, my boss (Matt Stevens) told me he got a text. (You can see where this is going, right?) "It said something about being called big?" Matt told me. I started laughing and blushing, telling him the text was NOT intended for him; what person would EVER call her boss butt head?!? Matt laughed and said he wanted to make sure I didn't hear from someone that he had called me big. He actually thought the situation was quite funny. He told me, first of all I need to tell Matt Svedin to choose his words more wisely; and secondly, I'm not, in fact, a big girl.

Wow...how is that for embarrassing?!? And yet...I'm sharing the situation with the world. (Something might be wrong with me, eh?)

Welcome Home!!!

So I forgot to mention...when I got back to Idaho Falls on Saturday evening, my roommates were gone on a monstrous hike. I was all alone, sadly. However, when I was bringing my lugguge and stuff into my room, I walked into a mess of yellow streamers, balloons, and a plethora of banana...stuff. Lisa missed me, what can I say? (For those of you who don't know, I hate bananas. Lisa has a grand time teasing me about it. She missed several opportunities to tease me while I was gone, so she decked my room out while I was gone). Here's what I found:

I thought I'd make a video to really capture it all.

HERE ARE SOME PICS OF LISA'S HANDIWORK:






What a waste of money! Look at all that food that I can't make myself eat!
I'm sure she'll find a home for all that garbage. :)

Apparently Lisa had been planning this since before I even left on my trip. What a silly girl. Oh well, I'll take her; she's a terrific friend. (Thanks Lisa!)

Glasgow...(8/23-24; 9/5-6)

August 23-24 and September 5-6
GLASGOW

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND, BABY!!!
"The best small country in the world"

Glasgow, I must admit, is NOT my favorite city. In fact, I dare say it's worth skipping. In defense of Glasgow, I must say that I don't think it was judged all that fairly; Carrie and I landed in Glasgow at 7:30am (Glasgow time; it was 12:30am at home)...we were able to check into our hotel and take a shower much earlier than we thought we could. But...we didn't allow ourselves to take even a short nap. No sir, we showered and changed and got ready, and then we walked around town. We were, basically, dead on our feet. We went to the Kelvingrove Museum and walked around Glasgow University, Byres Road, Great Western Road, etc. Hopped on the subway to see other parts of town. However...I wanted to SLEEP! (Jet lag SUCKS!) Carrie and I did our best to be civil to one another...we didn't allow ourselves to go back to the B&B until 6pm, where we ate sandwiches for dinner, and then I showered and promptly fell asleep. I slept for 12 hours straight; I don't think I even moved. I woke up refreshed and happy, and then we went on to London, as you can read about below (under "London..."). Then we went here and there in the beautiful country of Scotland, and made our way back to Glasgow for one more day (because we flew out of Glasgow). I forgot to mention above that there's not really a heck of a lot to do in Glasgow outside of a pub...and since Carrie and I don't do that thing (ya know, drink and the likes), it limited our options of entertainment. (We went for reading and making reminiscent videos at the B&B).

Our 2nd time in Glasgow included wandering around Buchanan Street and Princes Square, as well as Haggis-hunting. (Not for ourselves, mind you. I bought some for a cute little Scottish friend in Brigham City). By this time, I was feeling a bit antsy about the LONG flights ahead of me the following day, and I was ready to see my family and friends back at home again. Anyhoo...we didn't take tons of pictures in Glasgow, but here's what we've got:

This is Carrie and Glasgow University in the background.

The Kelvingrove Museum
Look at those blue skies!!!


Inside the Kelvingrove Museum.
Yeah, those are silly faces floating around up there.


Several pigeons at the Botanic Gardens.
I'm afraid of this large bird (with good reason!)
but they seem to be better behaved in Glasgow than in London.


Solid Rock Cafe...
I asked around for directions to the Hard Rock Cafe in Glasgow
and I got a bunch of confused looks.
"You mean Solid Rock." Yeah, okay.
So I went there and even looked inside to see if they sold
shot glasses (so I could buy one for Lisa).
I went inside and it was rather dark and scary.
They were playing loud heavy metal music and so I made a quick retreat...
Turns out the Hard Rock Cafe is in Edinburgh! Silly Gina...

Overall, though...this was the trip of a lifetime! It simply cannot be duplicated! On our flight from Salt Lake to Newark, there were 50 or so wealthy older men (one dressed as the, hopefully, the ugliest French Maid ever) who were on their way to NYC for "mancation." The fellow sitting right in front of us (Dave) was telling us of this group of wealthies. (I have to tell you, it's like a frat party for old men who are just LOADED with all sorts of money). They play pranks on each other...but these are very large-scale pranks. For example: one guy in the group, who was very excited about his new pool. Well, Dave thought it would be funny to put a BOAT in this guy's pool. So that's what they did. And this poor old bloke (I use the word "poor" loosely...he's really so rich he can't think of enough ways to spend his money)...anyway...this guy had to empty his pool and have a crane lift the boat out. Thus ruining his new pool. And he flipped the bill because he's in this ludicrous rich-man group. Although I strongly believe that these gentlemen have obscene amounts of money, they were all very nice to us and even offered to buy us liquor (which we obviously declined). They sure made the very start of our journey memorable and entertaining!

It goes on from there. If you want details, gimme a call; I'd be more than happy to talk your ear off about my Scottish adventures. :)

Edinburgh revisited...(9/2-9/5)

September 2-5
EDINBURGH...again

So...we hopped another train back to Edinburgh. Along the way we met Bill; if you want to know all the nasty details that go with him, gimme a call; it's a much better story LIVE. :) Anyway, once there, Carrie made me walk with all my CRAP (luggage, I meant to say "stuff") to our B&B. It was 2 miles away, and 1/4 of it was uphill, all of it on cobblestone...my feet and shoulders ached after that little number! But I survived I suppose...then it was off to do more touristy stuff. Holyroodhouse Palace was lovely. Back to the Royal Mile to finish up souvenir shopping. St. Giles' Cathedral (all for you, Briant!) This and that...

I made a video to capture the slight disappointment in our B&B...

This is what Scotland is all about, baby!


St. Giles' Cathedral


A cool shot of St. Giles' steeple.
Very artistic of me, no?



Views from Calton Hill


Holyroodhouse

Holyrood Abbey ruins...

There was more, of course...but I don't have Carrie's pictures yet. Let's just say that Edinburgh was my favorite city. Because of architecture as well as the..."other" beauties. :)

Inverness...(8/30-9/2)

August 30-September 2
INVERNESS

Following our quick stop in Edinburgh, we took yet another train up to Inverness, up in the highlands! What a gorgeous town! We stayed our first night in Kilravock Castle, just past Croy. That was a GORGEOUS place to stay! Then we headed back to Inverness to stay at another beautiful B&B. (Inverness definitely offered the best accomodations!) We sailed the Loch to Uruqhart Castle, took a train to Dunrobin Castle, and wandered around the town. A lovely place. Although we enjoyed delightfully dry weather, it did get a bit nippy and I was forced to buy a wool scarf...(Blue Dress Stewart tartan...my dad's mom is a Stewart, so why not buy the Stewart tartan?)

The River Ness

Quite the slogan, if you ask me...

Me and Carrie on the boat, on Loch Ness,
headed to Uruqhart Castle!

They say that the Loch is fresh water...
to me, it looks like TEA.
It's brown because of the sediment, so they say.


Me standing in Loch Ness


Video of Loch Ness from Uruqhart Castle...
No sightings of Nessie...maybe I would've been
more capable of seeing her if I'd've drunk
"Nessie Beer." It's a real beverage.
I think intoxication helps you to see the moster...
nevertheless, this was my favorite part of the whole trip.


Me and Carrie at Uruqhart


Tell me that this picture of Uruqhart ain't stunning,
I dare you! I took this pic from the bus park up above the castle.


Dunrobin Castle
The train ride here was nearly 2.25 hours
and we only got to walk around for 1.75 hours.
But it's stunning! 189 rooms inside!

Inverness from the islands along the River Ness.

Pathetic, but this is really what we did with our evenings in Inverness.

Things would've been different if we weren't 2 girls traveling. Annoying as it is to admit, the trip would've been more fun if we had some guys with us (so we could be out and about in the evenings! That's all I meant, nothing more!). At least our B&B was lovely! (Four stars, by the way...)

Edinburgh...(8/28-8/30)

August 28-30
EDINBURGH

We had plans to do Edinburgh Festival stuff while there. However...the festival ended the day before we got there...how rotten is that?!? Anyway...we took a train from London to Edinburgh. The first thing you see at Waverly station is Edinburgh Castle, which is, in a word, stunning. Carrie and I took a taxi to our B&B, which was actually in Portobello (which is, I think, north-east of Edinburgh). The B&B was lovely, and our back yard was the beach of the North Sea! -Not quite the warm sunny beaches of SoCal, but lovely nonetheless! We ended up taking buses to downtown Edinburgh, because walking would've taken a couple of hours. :) We ended up walking around Princes Street, Rose Street (which is dedicated, mainly, to pubs), and the Royal Mile. Edinburgh is a LOVELY town!

Here is Edinburgh Castle.

Another view of the castle... Stunning, eh?

The Scot Monument at dusk...


A view of Edinburgh from its Castle...

Inside the Castle grounds...

This was our B&B in Portobello...


And our back yard...the North Sea!

A gnome guarding the B&B.
Somehow, this little guy reminded me of my friend Jered...

Saying goodbye to Portobello while standing in the North Sea...

Frolicking in the North Sea.

The Bad Ass Pub on Rose Street.


That's funny stuff.

Another pub.
They actually have an amazing chicken wrap.
I believe it was called the "Filthy Chicken Wrap."
One of the best wraps I've ever eaten.

So...Edinburgh is a lovely town. Actually, there are a number of hotties in this great Scottish city, if I say so myself. :) The Royal Mile is a fun (touristy) place to spend your time and your money. My favorite part of Edinburgh was the Castle. And also Filthy McNasty's. (The bar tender had a thick accent and called us "darlin" which was quite endearing). The city is gorgeous and lots of fun. Also, down on Princes Street right above the Princes Street Park, there was always some man in a kilt (sigh) playing the bagpipes. Very nice...