Bleh.

Rory went to Mexico.
Three songs jumble in my head when I hear Mexico.
Mexico, by James Taylor,
That's Why God Made Mexico, Tim McGraw
and
Kokomo, by the Beach Boys. . .
although I'm sure Kokomo makes no mention of Mexico.
Weird.

Anyway, with all this free time I decided to do a bunch of projects.
So Far....
I've purchased and watched "Food Inc." OnDemand
while binging out on WildBerry Skittles.
Looks like I've been really productive.

6 month recap.

So, remember how I have posted pictures FOR. EVER? Since we've moved to California, it seems that everything has been a whirlwind and we are finally settling down and getting into the swing of things. So, here's just a few pics of the events.

These two lovelies got married. I love my brother Eric. I once dedicated an entire blog post to how great I think he is. He is the funniest person I know. And hello to marrying the funniest female I know. I appreciate good humor, and it rolls out of these two. Plus, Mal always remembers to send me e-mail invites to the GAP/Banana Rep friends and family sale.

Just a pic of the girls. I love love loved Mal's dress. It was positively exquisite. And when in the world did Hailey turn 22? What the?



During the summer we went to a couple of Padre's games. I can't really even recall if they won any of the games we went to. Anyway. I love baseball games because everyone just mills around and doesn't really get too serious. At least not the Padre's fans.

We went to see Wicked with Rory's family and it was great, of course. I had a gigantic smile on my face the entire time.

Reminder: My Dad is the world's biggest UCLA fan. I mean really. As a child I was taught that every star was different and so is every child, but I grew up in Orem, Utah, a place where everyone doesn't seem very different. And as far as I could see, my house was the only one with a UCLA flag hanging from it on game day. I was the only kid at school who didn't have BYU apparel and I was terrified when we would go out on Saturday's during football season because the only thing you would see was BYU. Everywhere. Anyway, as crazy as those BYU fans may be, we are just as crazy for going all the way to Knoxville TN to see UCLA.

I actually really loved Knoxville. I loved it so much. I already blogged about how nice the people were, but really. So nice. I can't even stop. Those Tennessee fans, they love their football. They talk a mad game and then when they loose they are so nice. It just doesn't make sense. Other than the fact that we had to take a red eye to New Jersey, then fly to Charlotte, then drive to Knoxville, the trip was a success.
Here's the whole clan at this restaurant we ate at on the River. Some serious good prime Rib and a whole lot of other good food. Tennessee is beautiful. I mean, a really pretty place. If I were going to live in the South, I'd pick Knoxville, TN. Still has the charm of a city, but not too big.
We made a daily stop at the Waffle House. I love the Waffle House. I don't care what anyone says. I'll eat there everyday and twice on Sunday.

Then there was the time I went to Utah for Jenni's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding. Too bad I don't have any pictures of the bride and myself---- just Morgan and me. Meow.
And, my favorite little niece ever ever ever ever. I can't get enough. I know people always think that their little girls are cute and what not. But really, they aren't as cute as her. Sorry.
Oh, what's this? UCLA again? Afraid so. Dad and brother and sister Mal came down and we went up to the Rose Bowl to watch UCLA get stomped all over by Oregon.
Now, here's a photo for the keeping. Just me and my UCLA football slash basketball loving Dad.
Then, there was the time Rory and I went to a San Diego Chargers game. And if you are wondering, yes those are some amazing matching jackets that we have on. I'm not kidding when I say that five hundred million people were like, "those jackets are SO cool! Where did you get those?" Gotta love NFL fanatics. Gotta love my Dad for buying those for us.

Then there was the time I painted my kitchen a really bright yellow. It was A: supposed to be A LOT lighter, and B: have a lot more green in it. Oh well.

Then there was the 3 year anniversary celebration. We enjoyed a nice quiet dinner at the Brigantine. Good food, good company. All around goodness.


Anyway, this has been way too much blogging for the likes of me.

Stomping Grounds and the Sandbox.

So, last night, Rory showed me his old stomping grounds. Or, more like we didn't have any plans so we tagged along with the parents to a football game at the LCC (La Costa Canyon). It was funny. Why? Because when I was in high school I could have sworn the boys on the football team were so big and manly. Kind of like how the castle at Disneyland seemed gigantic when I was a kid then one day I grew up and went back and all of the sudden the castle was disappointingly small. Anyway.

People keep asking me about my Wipeout audition. I went to the studio in Burbank. They asked me a bunch of questions on camera including, "what's the meanest thing you've ever done?" to which I replied, "when I was a kid I was playing with my friend Kristin (I'm sorry again Kristin) and we were playing in our sandbox. I told Kristin to open her mouth and close her eyes. She obeyed. Then I stuck a handful of sand IN HER MOUTH. WHAT? I did that. So mean. Then I was like, 'oh shoot, let's clean that out! how did that happen?' so I hosed her mouth out and she was screaming and my mom came out and was like 'Ashley! What did you do?!' Of course she immediately blamed me. I was that kind of child. And then my mom made me go buy her a My Little Pony and take it to her and apologize. I was so ticked. I wanted that My Little Pony."

Then they asked me a bunch of other questions and made me fill out about 40 pages of background information. I guess I will hear back in 3 weeks to 4 months or something.

Okay. That's all for today.

STILL remembering the DMV.

So remember how the DMV sent me a license. . .
with my maiden name on it?

Well, I called.
They gave me no option but to go back in.

So, I went back.
They were rude. Naturally.
I kept calm... not so naturally.

I got replacement #2 today.
Still with maiden name on it.

Naturally.

Three.

Once there was a girl.
She lived with some lovely roommates and a little dog in a little pink house.
Once there was a boy.
A very cute boy.
The boy and the girl crossed paths in the Orem Institute of Religion.
He told her he liked her shoes.
She said, "thanks."
He couldn't believe she was from Utah.
She couldn't believe he was from California.
She played hard to get.
And so did he.
FINALLY, he cracked and asked for her phone number.
A week later they enjoyed their first date at Mama Chus.
They saw each other every day after that.
Then they realized they were going separate ways for the summer.

They stayed in touch.

She still thought about him.
He still thought about her.

Leaves turned and fell, and soon after the snow came too.

He called her one day.
She didn't answer or call back. She was chicken.
He called again, and again.
She called him back after a couple of weeks.
They found an excuse to go to Sensuous Sandwich together.
They laughed and smiled the entire time.

Then they found more excuses to get together.
I need help with this, can you help me with that. . . you know.
They were together every day after that.
Soon after they realized they were indeed in L-O-V-E.
And so it was.

Wait. It's not over.

Prior to falling in love she had plans of serving a mission.
So he told her she needed to make a decision and they parted ways. Again.
Her heart was badly broken.
She was going to show him.
So she started planning for a mission.
He said, "wait!"
She said, "why?"
He said, "because!"
And a few months after that,
he put a ring on her finger.

And then they got married.

Three years ago TODAY.

I love you Rory.

A Special Visitor

Check out these two favorites of mine browsing some surf mags together.
So. Dang. Cute.

The Other Day...

For whatever reason . . . ahem, or maybe I don't want to tell it on the blog, Rory asked me if I was going through menTopause.

I love Rory.