Favorite Mountain

My favorite mountain of all time is located in Utah.  It is Mount Timpanogos.  At first glance, it may seem like an ordinary mountain, but it really is different.  First, there is a dead Indian Princess across the top (see diagram below).  I grew up hearing two different legends both ending in her death.  One was that she sacrificed herself to save her tribe. The other one had to do with being so sad that the love of her life was killed.  It is a fun story and makes the mountain easy to identify, but that isn't the only great thing about the mountain. 

The second thing I love is the Cave, which is a national park.  The formations throughout the cave are so interesting and the hike to it is great for all ages.  Seeing the mountain again has definitely been one of the highlights of this trip.  Perhaps, I'll have to come back in the summer so I can take the kids on the hike. 

Stuck in Utah

Friday night, I was driving back from a friend's house (who lives about 2 hours north) to the place where I am staying here in Utah when my car suddenly started beeping and warning me that it was overheating and that I should shut the engine off.  I managed to pull over to a gas station and pop open the hood.  There was definitely smoke or steam coming out of the engine and the plastic tank where the coolant/anti-freeze goes was empty.  Fortunately, I had lots of offers for help (one good thing about Utah).  I dragged the kids into the gas station and bought anti-freeze.  A few guys helped pour it in and one told me that I should be good to go. 

I set off again and didn't get very far before it happened again.  I pulled off to the side of the freeway to let it cool off and started making calls for help/advice.  Fortunately, a friend offered to come help even though I was about an hour south and it was freezing cold.  He found me on the side of the freeway.  He looked under the hood and the tank was empty again!   He filled it up and helped me get to the next gas station with multiple stops because of more overheating warnings.  Once there, he opened up the radiator and saw that it was completely dry.  He put anti-freeze directly into it.  He told me that it should take care of it.  Then, he said goodbye and to call him if I have ANY more problems.  I was able to drive all the way back to where we are staying without more overheating warnings thanks to him.  One good thing about Utah is the nice people.   I am sure he had better things to do on a Friday night than freeze his butt off with me.  

Anyway, the check engine light is still on so I do not want to head back to California until whatever else is going on with the vehicle is fixed.  Can you imagine being stuck in Death Valley with two little kids?  My car is being towed up to the Saturn Dealer in Salt Lake today.  Who knows when I'll get to go home?  Once again, I am very thankful my friend and her family here that have made me feel so welcome without any signs of being sick of our LONG vacation.  I was sure they'd want to kick us out by now.          

Haircut

When I first saw my friend that I am staying with in Utah, I loved her hair.  The more I was around her, the more I liked it.  She offered to cut my hair like it.  I know I am a little old to be letting a friend cut my hair, but she has always been great at hair.  Plus, her mom is/was a beautician.  So...now my hair has layers and a bit of life in it.

Freeeeeezing

We're in Utah and it is COLD!  (...For us anyway)  The highs are in the mid 30s and the lows in the 20s.  I think over a decade in warm climates has comletely ruined me for cold weather.  Plus, I have learned that winter gear and carseats don't mix at all.  Last night, I was thinking about how nice it will be to get back to California.  On the other hand, we are having a lot of fun and there is so much more that I want to do.  I haven't even started seeing all the people I wanted to catch up with.  I need to start packing our schedule.  That or stay a few more weeks...  nope just too cold.   

Cold Blast

Tomorrow, I am taking the kids on a road trip. They have been asking to see snow for a while. There are a few places around here where it snows occasionally, but I decided to take them to a place where there is lots of snow …Utah.

I haven’t been there since 1998.  That was just for a weekend wedding. Actually, I haven’t spent any time there since I graduated in 1996. I still have quite a few friends and family members there.  Lastely, I have been chatting with a few of them on facebook and one asked me to come.  The offer was extra tempting since I am only about a 10 hour drive now.

It is going to be weird to see how much it has changed and how much all of my old friends have changed.  I think one of the strangest things will be seeing that most of my friends are parents to teenagers.  A lot of them got married young and had kids right away. 

Well, we are setting off to have fun in the cold.  I realized this past weekend that Southern California is NOT the place to buy winter gear.  We went to several places and felt lucky to get the kids coats and mittens.  I will have to shop for boots up there.  It should be interesting.