End of summer

The summer has gone by way too fast! I worked at the pool all summer and tomorrow is my last day of summer school. It has been a great summer so far, despite all the bad going on lately.

UPDATE: I got a call from my insurance company yesterday, telling me that the girl's company that I hit is accepting full liability and I dont have to pay for anything on my car now. That made me pretty happy. Later that day I found out that I will be the lead guard for private lessons at the pool. Not the best reaction came out of my mouth and things have not been good at my job. I also got a speeding ticket today. Hope everyone else is having a fabulous summer!

Not what I needed...

On the way home from California, Courtney and I got in a car accident. It started raining about a mile from Hodge Road, right outside of Barstow. I hate driving in the rain since it scares me, so I got in the middle lane and started to slow down. I was probably going about 60 mph, maybe less, and we saw a car speed past us in the fast lane. Courtney made a comment that that person was stupid and was going to get in an accident. Not more than ten seconds later, that car fishtailed and swerved across all three lanes to the right. Then it came back to the left through all the lanes. I knew I couldn't slam on my brakes or I would start swerving and I could not get in the other lane fast enough or I would start swerving. I told Court that we were going to hit this car. We slammed head on into the driver's side, behind the passenger door of the other car. All I kept thinking was why did this have to happen to me again? I started crying really hard and shaking. The other driver never got out of their car to see if we were ok. Two men stopped and made sure that we were ok and waited until the Highway Patrol arrived. The girl in the other car was eighteen and a stupid driver that had no idea how to drive in the rain. Her back was hurting and her car was halfway in the fast lane still so she came and got in our car. It was so awkward and definitely not what I needed right then. Then again, no one ever needs this to happen... Courtney and I are doing alright. My neck and back are hurting pretty badly today and Court's back hurts, but other than that we are just lucky to be alive.

We called our parents and mom and pop were going to come get us. It would have taken then a lot longer to get up to Barstow than normal, though, because of traffic going to California, so pop suggested we take the bus home. The tow company dropped us off at a Denny's that was about a fifteen minute walk from the bus station. We were not thrilled about having to take a bus home because we just wanted someone from our family to be there for us. We walked to the bus station and on the way mom found out that a lady in our ward's parents live in Barstow. Their son was actually on his way back to Vegas and was going to be able to give us a ride. We were so lucky that we were able to find a ride. Thanks Warren, you were were a lifesaver!

I went to class today and had to run out of lab and throw up. I have not been able to stop crying all day and I know I am still in shock. My body feel likes it is shutting down. I had pop give me a blessing early today, but right now I am pretty messed up.

Cali Weekend

Courtney and I decided we needed a vacation weekend this summer. We both want to go to San Francisco, but since gas prices are so high and we don't know anyone that lives there, we decided on Disneyland instead. I called Aunt Leslie and she said it would be fine if we stayed at her house while we were down there. We left Friday night around 7:30 pm for Irvine. I drove the first half and Court drove the second half. I fell asleep and when I woke up we had missed our exit and ended up in Newport :) We always seem to get lost at least once when we go to California. We got to the house around midnight and went straight to bed because we were both so tired. The next morning we left for disneyland at 9 am. I told Court I think that is the earliest I have ever been to Disneyland. The weather was beautiful and in the seventies. The reason we wanted to go to Disneyland so much was to ride the new Nemo submarine ride. The line for the ride had at least an hour wait all day long so we waited until the firework show to get in line. It still took about an hour to get on the ride, we at least had fireworks to watch while we waited. We stayed at Disneyland for 13 hours and our feet hurt so bad by the end of the day. We got back to Uncle Mark and Aunt Leslie's around 11:30 pm and passed out. The next morning we went slept in until 10:30 am and headed to Newport Beach for some fun in the sun. Unfortunately the sun was not out until the last ten minutes we were there. We left Newport around 2 and on the way home got in a car accident because it was raining. It was a much needed weekend away and there is no one else I would have rather spent it with than Courtney. She is my best friend and soulmate. That may sound weird, but I know we were destined to be friends. She has a twin sister, but we always joke that I am their fraternal triplet. Thanks Court for a great weekend, love you boo!

Court and I

Teacup ride

Toon Town

We got soaked on splach mountain!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

The Mickey lit up for the year of a million dreams

Ariel's shell

Nemo's submarine

Newport Beach

Life in Las Vegas

I don't understand, sometimes, why people find it so much fun to go to Vegas for the weekend. Maybe because I have lived here for 15 years, or maybe it is because I barely go to the strip, that Vegas just seems like a normal place to live to me. I do love living in such a big city with so many attractions, but for me life in such a busy city is boring most of the time...

Currently, I am still working at the pool as a lead lifeguard. I need a different job that pays me well and works with my school schedule, but right now it seems impossible to find just the right one. I start summer school next week and I am looking forward to it, but I know that will change after the first week. Not much is going on in my life, but I am just fine with that. I am grateful for good friends and family that build me up and never bring me down. I am grateful I have this life to live and that through all the trials and mistakes I make, I can still reflect and see that life goes on and each day is a blessing.

Dodger vs. Cubs Game

Pop planned a huge trip to California for a Dodger's game on Saturday. He invited the stake presidency and all our family that could go. We left from the stake center at 6 am in two 15 seater vans and went down Olvera street when we got to Los Angeles. Pop took us to Philipe's, which is the original French dip place in L.A. Then we headed over to Dodger Stadium, which is Pop's Celestial Kingdom. The game was amazing and I actually watched the whole thing. Usually I get bored and just eat a lot and talk to people. I still ate a lot, but I watched the whole game. The Dodger's beat the Cubs and it was pretty exciting. We, of course, had to stop by Tito's tacos on our way out of town. I felt so sick after that day from all the crap I ate, but it was a really fun day.

Greg's Police Graduation

Greg finally graduated from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Academy. He started six months ago and worked really hard. I am really proud of him because the academy is not an easy thing to go through. Greg's family and a few friends were all at the Orleans to support him on this amazing accomplishment. Congratulations Gregory!

Grandpa's 80th Birthday

We had Grandpa's 80th Birthday/ Dougherty family reunion in St. George this year. I drove up with Ben and his kids and we got to the park about 30 min before that portion of the day was over. Everyone brought their own lunches and played volleyball, basketball or in the water. After the park everyone went back to their hotels to get ready for a catered dinner. Kylie sang a song for Grandpa and Pop made a wonderful slide-show of pictures from Grandpa's life. After dinner, each family took pictures and some of us headed back to Vegas. I drove back with Kara, Brad and Hallie. It was a fun day to spend with everyone and celebrate Grandpa Dougherty's life.

Ben and I at the park

Mom and Pop looking so happy

Kylie, Emily and I

The Dougherty family