Graduation

So I realize that this is really late. But I have been wanting to put up my graduation photos. Being the fantastic person I am, I was able to graduate from the University of Utah in Economics and get married in the same week! So pretty much I am amazing.

My Dad, Me and Cousin Brandon. Outside of Cafe Trio- where we went for lunch after graduation with Ben's family.

Ben and me after the great event.

Me, Erin Anderson (Erin's sister in-law), Lauren and Erin (my sisters in-law). We all graduated at the same time, except Erin- who graduated the day before with a masters degree in social work. It made graduation more fun, especially since the three of us in black gowns graduated in the same school.

I killed a bug with my eyelid!!!!!

So quick funny story- Ben and I were walking with some friends tonight when all of the sudden I see/feel a bug fly into my eye (There must of been a hatching this week because they are all over the place). At first I didn't panic, I just blinked my eye once or twice and thought it had maybe flew out. But in the process of blinking I killed it!!! And it was stuck in my eyeball. All the sudden I screamed, "BEN I KILLED A BUG WITH MY EYELID!". Luckily, being the doctor he is, he was able to get it out. Yay for Ben!

Ben has had a busy week studying for his test on Monday, which also meant he was using his computer more- which has all the photos. So tonight I actually had a chance to download some. After Ben's test we were able to hangout Monday and Tuesday, before classes started getting busy again. So the pictures below are of our recent adventures!

Tuesday Activity.

Ben had class in the morning, but afterward we decided to hike up one of the rivers that is a three minute walk from our house. Supposedly Dominica has 365 rivers, one for each day of the year. These rivers are also the local laundry and bathing location for many Dominicans. There is always a surprise when you look at the river from the bridge. However, the river was amazing and it's crazy to think that the jungle starts about 5 minutes from our house. We walked two hours up river, jumping over huge boulders. Of course it was Indian Man and Crazy Cat again. Ben's is extremely good at hiking up anything. I bumped my shin on a rock and ended up getting a golf ball size bruise. Then when we were done we decided to take the trail that follows the river back into town. We decided to create a shortcut back to the trail and when I finally got on flat ground I immediately slipped and fell forwards onto all fours. I ended up getting another huge golf ball bruise on my knee! It was ridiculous, but a lot of fun.

Above is a huge grandfather crab that is an awesome blue. He was tucked away in the roots of a tree that are behind us in the picture below. Ben was a good sport to take a picture of it for me. It is probably 12 inches wide!

Along the river we came across two pools that we were able to swim in.

Another crab that I found! There are so many different crabs- you have to take a picture.


US! So cute!
A very cool tree along the river. Ben had me go climb the roots to take a picture. But I thought it looked great without me.

Ben with another crab that he found. It has a red/Rosy pink top and at first Ben thought it was one of the many big red flowers that had fallen into the river.

Another lizard that fans it's neck out. It stopped once it realized we were there.

Me at the start of the river.


Monday Adventure.

After Ben's exam on Monday we decided to go to the beach on campus. Not only did we decided to go to the beach, but we rented a Hobie Cat. It's like a catamaran. It's a ton of fun, and we were able to go a ton faster than last time. Although the wind was fidgety and at one point we got stuck, until suddenly the owner of the boats flew towards us on his Hobie Cat. He gave us a few tips and then we were able to fly back to shore. And he followed us back for the next hour. Lame. It was a lot of fun and we went super far out to sea. The owner is really good and is able to tilt his boat up on one side. I told Ben that I wanted to do that- so maybe I'll take lessons. Later that night we were able to get dinner with some friends. It was a super fun day.
This is us at the restaurant. Well actually it's me- with two of the girls that I teach nursery to at church.
View of shore from our Hobie Cat. The white specks on shore is Portsmouth.

Ben steering us out to sea!

Super Cute! Us together.

One reason why I want to save Detroit.

I know most of you are interested in seeing pictures and hearing news about our life in Dominica. However, overtime I have become blogging obsessed (sad to admit). It is through the many hours (so disappointing) of reading articles and looking at pictures that I have come to enjoy blogs that inspire, provoke questions ,and thoughts. Which is what I assume is the purpose of most blogs. What blogs inspire me? They are the ones that state current political issues, educational topics, recipes and areas of design: buildings, clothes, photography, etc. And while I interact with these things I think of what I want to become, how am I going to get there, what's the best path to take, how an item would look in my future house, and how I want my lifestyle from here on out to be viewed and enjoyed. It was through my escapade of perusing blogs I came across a website that I really enjoy, its called http://www.100abandonedhouses.com/. To most, it is obvious that my dream for the past few years has been to "save Detroit" (someone needs to do it). And I think these photos portray exactly what I want to do and why. I think these buildings are wonderful and have the potential to become communities, libraries, office spaces and homes. This link displays photos that sparks imagination, thought, wishes and desires about what I want to do in the future. I love buildings!! Old ones that can be rugged, weathered, dirty, and historical. Automatically I ask myself- who lived here, what were they like, and why are they gone. There is a history of curiosity. So who knows why I'm telling everyone this, maybe it's because it gives me something to do, but here is a little more knowledge about what goes on in the mind of Liz. And hopefully one day soon I will stop blogging and start doing.