Trolleys Cars. Cable Cars and...The Fray??

Intermixed with wedding festivities, Nick, Allie and I were able to see some beautiful SF sights and of course have so much fun while doing so. 

After getting my new outfit we made our way to Goff's for burgers per Nick's request. 

Anything to make our Bardi happy. 

Other Saturday sights included...

The Bay Bridge. Pink Ladies. Golden Gate Bridge. 

{I feel like Nick is about to propose to me in this one...}

Nick sadly left pretty early on Sunday morning. He made the rest of us feel like sinners by making his way back to SD to go to church. Allie and I immediately felt like our dad had just left us. We weren't totally sure what to do without him!

We did figure out how to make our way to Fisherman's Wharf via the trolley car. Unfortunately, half way through our car broke down forcing us to walk the rest of the way. Fortunately, this allowed for ample time to have a mini photo shoot with as many trolley cars as we could imagine in the middle of the city.

{Trolley Car photo shoooot!!!}

We walked the Pier and then met Trent and Drew for lunch at Boudin.

{Bread bowls and chowder!} 

Allie was the next to take off for her flight back home. Leaving me friendless in the city! 

I took the plunge and went solo to Alcatraz. 

{Yes. I had to ask someone to take a photo of me by myself}

{view of the city from the island}

{before the island was used as a high security prison it was used as a Army base and used to house army prisoners. Those prisoners literally reformed the island to what it looks like today, making it more rocky than it was; for instance--the hill pictured above was recreated by prisoners. The prisoners also built all the barracks that they would live in and many other prisons that came to the island later}

{view of the Golden Gate Bridge}

Honestly, I felt a little lame going by myself, but it was still really fun and I am glad I was able to still take advantage of my little vaca and enjoy the warm sun that Ive been lacking in SLC. 

It was a really fun trip. And of course went by way too fast. I loved spending a weekend trip with Allie and Nick. We had such a great time. I love that we can still get together and have so much fun after leaving the Lanai so many years ago. So grateful for my amazing friends. 

Now just cant wait till we go to Seattle! or...a cruise!?  

#jaemywedding

Two weekends ago I was able to go out to San Francisco for Amy Wiseman's wedding--one of my best and most favorite friends. It also served as a great weekend getaway with some of my Lanai friends. 

It was such a great weekend, however; there always has to be some hiccup to a great weekend, right?

The Friday that I had left had been one of my most stressful days. I was missing a really important work event. You know...the 9th grade Winter Dance. Sounds important right? Well when your No. 1 job description is to plan, implement and oversee every school activity...it is kind of a big deal when you aren't going to the activity. So I was stressed out of my mind with approving my students less than modest dance attire, counting and recounting our hundreds of dollars in fundraising for the dinner and making sure everything was going as planned even though I wouldn't be there. 

Then to top that off, Utah was enduring one of the worst snow storms ever. I was fretting all morning about my flight with the awful snow. Getting to the airport not only on time but even if it was possible to drive there! 

My flight was running time, but even will sitting under the de-icer for 30 mins, I thought they might cancel our flight. 

So I survived all that and then some. And landed in Oakland thinking I was stressing over for no reason at all. 

Well I thought this as I waited and waited....and waited for my suitcase to come off the conveyor. Which it didnt. 

I finally brought myself to the Luggage Office, close to tears {I had to fight them back!} and reported that my bag had been lost. 

I guess my luck from everything mentioned above had run out!!

I got myself on the BART and made my way to Union Square. Nick met me right outside the station so I wouldn't have to walk alone and did point out that sans bag made for easier travel on the BART and the long walk to our hotel. Guess that counts for something. 

Next morning this happened. 

It was rough. Putting the same clothes back on to march myself down Powell St. to go buy me a new outfit for the wedding. 

{Bards didnt want my new dress getting all wrinkled. Such a gent}

Ok enough about my dramatics. More importantly....

Amy and Jae got married in the Oakland Temple.

 I've never been there before and its such a beautiful temple with an amazing view of San Francisco and Oakland. 

{They happy couple!}

Jae and Amy were beaming coming out of the temple. 

I had never met Jae before but I liked him immediately just by the huge grin on both him and Amy's faces coming out as a newly wed couple. I loved seeing how happy they were. And of course I am going to love any man that makes one of my best friends happy. 

Our time at the temple was full of taking lots of photos, catching up with Lanai friends and a toddler with glasses. 

Amy's reception was in her hometown of Santa Rosa. 

It was in a large yurt, and....

beautiful, simple and classy. 

Just like Ames!! So it was perfect. 

{Unofficial photographer}

We stuffed bags of donuts, ate great food, danced and loooooved spending time with my old crew. 

I absolutely love Amy. 

{'08 gem}

When I was a youngin' at Lanai {pictured}, I admired and looked up to her so much! She's absolutely hilarious, caring, kind, {and every other GREAT quality}, and has great hair. She always such a genuine and loving interest in me and my life.  I am so glad I have been able to become such great friends with her. A friendship that has even become stronger post Provo living! Which I absolutely love! I am so glad I was able to be there for such an important day. 

Love you A Wise {Clarke} ! 

San Fran tourist post coming soon!

Back in the District.

Lets rewind for a sec, 

back to my unemployed days and before I made the plunge to SLC, 

 back to September when I was finally able to go on my long awaited, previously blogged about trip. 

Going back to the District. Seeing some of my favorite friends. Running Ragnar. Visiting Charlotte. 

So here is Part One of my East Coast adventure.

Washington D.C. 

It was my first time going back since my short stint as a student teacher and I can easily say that DC is my favorite city and place to be. 

I took off on my first red eye. I bought my little neck pillow and was all set and ready and before I knew it, I was flying over Mount Vernon.

And boy, was I excited to be there. 

It didnt matter that I maybe got 3 hours of sleep, I was so giddy and it felt oh so good to be back to my stomping grounds. 

First stop: White House 

Which was always one of my favorite stops. 

I felt a little rusty on my navigating skills in the District {made some rookie mistakes, as Allie liked to remind me} but also loved that I felt confident in tackling the city all by myself. 

I met up Heather Fay and her great family for a tour of the White House.
It was so good to see Heather! We havent seen each other in over two years, and I loved our little run to each other for a hug. And i love love love that baby of hers!
 Our tour was a little bit of a let down, {self guided tour?? really, can't we do a little bit better for the historic home of the President??}

We hit up Ford's Theater.

Unfortunately we couldnt go into the theater, but were able to go to the museum to read all about President Lincoln's life and the details of the assassination. 

{which at this point is when some sleep deprivation set in} 

{John Wilkes Booth's gun}

I learned Abraham Lincoln is the most written about president, as proven by this massive stack of every book printed about him.

And this was barely even a full photo of this stack.
We also wandered to the home in which Lincoln was taken to after he was shot.

We wandered to the National Mall. 

{ahhh so beautiful}

Walked the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and war memorials. 

It just made me so happy to be back walking along my favorite places. I just really, really love it.

The Shumways were off back to their hotel and so I took to the metro to go back to my real stomping ground. 

Wilson High.

This place will always have such a special place in my heart. Those first times teaching, the students and all of the wonderful memories that happened there. Again, I was giddy to go back. 

But its a different Wilson High that I left behind.

My ghetto and old school has been completely remodeled to a brand stinking new school. This partly made me really sad. The hallways were different, I couldnt remember how to get around and that ghetto vibe was gone. But its awesome for the school.

I wandered down my old hallway and missed it so much. Missed my students and all the fun we had. Missed having that room be my room. I missed the charm of the old and worn door and my students work posted along the hall.

{my old door. new door}

However I didnt miss the students giving me cat calls outside the front doors of the school. Cause yes, that did happen again. I guess some things never change at Wilson.

I walked away trying to not have regrets that I had left that school and my city and rather filled my mind that I was off to go to another favorite place of mine.

A baseball game. And not just any Nats game. A Nats vs. Dodgers game.

My boys in blue knew just how to make my DC trip just a little bit better.

It was a little rough to face the Natitude from Allie and her friends, and I will give them the benefit that the Nats ended up winning their division but it was tough to have a 6-0 lead dwindle to a 6-6 tie and face those reprecussions. But Kemp delivered and I walked out with a W.

And feeling like I fit in more with the east coasters as I finally enjoyed some Shake Shack. Allie and I did have to wait in a 30+ minute line to get it...but it was worth the experience.

And great to be at the game with Allie!!

Love spending time with her. She graciously let me stay at her house and then gave us the best tour of the Capitol the next day.

Allie is doing an internship for Senator Hatch and is full of knowledge of the Capitol and gives great tours!

{This spot marks the exact middle of the District of Columbia and is suppose to be good luck. My vans wanted in on that action!}

And we saw Brother Brigham!

Basically I was jealous the entire time of Allie's job and I really want her life. 

My favorite spot in the Capitol:

The place where John Quincy Adams could hear the echo from the other side of the room. 

It really works! and is so cool. 

We finished our stint at the Library of Congress.

Its so pretty inside and we all enjoyed watching little Brookie climb the steps.

We then had to hit the road and leave DC. We had Ragnar to conquer and 200 miles to run before I could see my beloved DC again.