Gallivantin' Sorensens: March 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015

"Dirty" 30 Adventures... Painting @ Antelope Island

First off, Andrea made me the most yummy-o turkey dinner for my birthday.

It was so good, I was too excited to eat it that I forgot to take a photo of the spread.

So you get the leftover version that Andrea packed for Derek.

Because she's awesome like that.

After dinner we spent some time in the hot tub, watching Mars pass in the night sky, having a great discussion about, well, just about everything.

Secondly, Painting at Antelope Island with Andrea and Amber M.

Mini hike up this trail.. Amber has been super sick so we couldn't go far...
this time...

Random fires across the lake...

Herd of buffalo kept getting closer.. some random guy stomped out of his car and towards the buffalo.

We think he was trying to start a stampede with his behavior that followed.

It didn't happen.

Nor did he get chased by buffalo.

*le sigh*

Amber. Andrea.

Sunset on the beach.

We made Gladiator jokes.

And finished off the night with ice cream.
Because my friends love me.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

"Dirty" 30 Adventures...St. George

Even though Derek wasn't able to join me on my annual birthday hiking in Zions,

my friend Leslie & her family were kind enough to go hiking with me!

Friday:

Afternoon Temple session led to meeting some long distant relatives. I stalked them down at the end to ask them if they're related to Nephi Savage, since anyone with the Savage name has a high probability of being related to me. After much discussion we concluded: we have no idea. My dad checked the book o'Nelson and didn't see a Levi Savage.

Then I met up with Dani and spent the evening with her & her cute lil puppy Harley.

Saturday:

Zion awaits!

But the way things shook out,

I wasn't able to do Observation Point,

the hike I normally do, but that's ok.

Emerald Pools it is! Parts of the trail was closed due to ice.

So these guys...

Super nice, took some group photos for us even!

Funny thing is, that log they were squat pressing,

Leslie's little boys were lifting it around and playing with it just minutes before.

I love this park.

Hiking now involves the use of "Jazz Hands"

The evening ended with the Johnson's being ever so wonderful to let me watch the

RSL vs. Timbers game. And pizza. I'm pretty lucky.

Sunday:

Hiking the reserve to collect Moqui Balls.

Her boys are so goofy!

Red, White, and Blue...

Cinder Cone Volcano:

By far my most FAVORITE hike.

EVER.

Has been. For quite a while.

With this view... can you blame me?

That's Snow Canyon State Park in the background.

Snowball "fight" in the crater...

There's Leslie and her boys in the carter

What the volcano gave me..

this was a few days later.

The bruises were pretty epic.

The side I did my epic tuck n roll down...

Snow Canyon State Park

Did some deep breathing in my "spot".

It's right by a popular area, but always left alone.

Lots of hours spent here in this little shaded oasis over the past decade.

Monday:

A quick stop to Kolob Canyons on my way home

to finish out the weekend.

Timber Creek Overlook Trail. I was going to try a different one,

until I saw this was the only one hike-able without snowshoes...

Sheer bliss :)

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And with this Dr. Seuss quote, we dive into the third book of the UnWind series...
most fitting.

UnSouled (Unwind Dystology #3) by Neal Shusterman

Pgs. 404

I've put off this book for a year now because book two was not the best. This book was ok, much better than book two but a far cry from book one. I do like how the author incorporated 3D printing technologies, and yet keep the evil of unwinding. Guess this is as political of books I'll get to that aren't Dr. Seuss. Eventually book four will be read and the series ended. I've heard rumors of this becoming a movie. I won't hold my breath.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17334446-unsouled
***

Inner Demon (The Asylum Tales 3.3) ByJocelynn Drake

Pg. 96

The finale of the series, being left at a cliff hanger and the author has no plans on revisiting this story, at least from these main characters point of view, but another's set some time from when it left off. I think that this final installment was the better of the three, and this concluding story was much better than book two altogether. More action. More twists of creatures already established in literature.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20957432-inner-demon

***

The Necromancer (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #4) by Michael Scott

Pgs. 416

I love it when authors take mythology and twist it to fit their story lines. It makes the myths feel more real and fun to hear how they've interrupted them. This book has some big myths explored and fitted into the main story line and I've really enjoyed reading it. Pretty excited for book five to see where everything goes and what myths will come to light.
"Why are there always snakes? I hate snakes!" Sounds like the author enjoys Indiana Jones.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6693332-the-necromancer

****

The Warlock (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott

Pgs. 380

Ah... start off the book with good ol' Good Guy vs Bad Guy pickle for a wavering main character. Then the big ol' twist at the end! Book 4 was still much better.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8458018-the-warlock

***

The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #6) by Michael Scott

Pgs. 513

Still hard to wrap my brain around the fact that this 6 book series only span the time of an entire month. Book 5 covering only 2 days and this one barley 1 day for most of the book. The way things are presented it feels that so much more time has elapsed. It did feel like the author repeated a lot of unnecessary information. Also, why was basically everyone vegetarian?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8519822-the-enchantress

****

The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan

pg. 557

I got on a mythology kick thanks to the Nicholas Flamel series, and since I can't do the Percy Jackson series since I've already watched the movies, this Heroes of Olympus series it is! Yes it's written for a younger audience, which is fine, but the no meat thing... why do so many authors feel the need to make that such a point? Are they trying to campaign for something here? *le sigh*

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7736182-the-lost-hero

***

6,406 + 2,366 = 8,772 Total Pages/ 30,000

20 + 6 = 26 Total Books

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