Leaves, Pioneers, and Zoobies

So not only is this my first experience ever with the blessed season called *Fall*, which is apparently a Utah favorite...and a new found favorite of mine, but I have also been exposed to some amazing phrases indigenous to the state as well.
First of all, I met a guy tonight...we were having a delightful conversation...then somehow the conversation took an ugly turn. Suddenly, without realizing it, we were talking about 'Pioneer Stock'. I laughed at first...because I've never heard the phrase, and could only assume it was a joke. Come to find out, Pioneer Stock is an official phrase in Utah, and some people won't date you based on the fact that you AREN'T from this so-called 'Pioneer Stock'. eeewwww. I was disturbed, to say the least....but am thinking I may need to invest in this stock, if I want a future with a good solid Gomer Pile mormon man. That's a man's man, I'd say.

Are these your ancestors? If not, you are of no worth dating-wise.


Here's another favorite. Zoobie. What, you may ask, is a Zoobie? I asked the same, and was answered with a sort-of dance routine with goofy voices and ridiculous phrases as an explanation. Apparently this species of person thrives in Provo. I can't wait to see one in real life.

URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION:

1.	zoobie	172 up, 29 down
	A term used in Utah, mainly Utah Valley, to describe the excited bunch of mormons that go to BYU and engage in excessive social activities. It's a very common usage here. I was awoken late at night with chanting by who could only be the Zoobies, exclaiming in chorus that they were to, "Paint the Y! Let's Paint the Y!"

You know that, obviously, the thumbs down on the rating scale are coming from said Zoobies.

And once again, I love Utah.
Surprises me daily. And this smile has not yet left my face, whether of the sheer beauty, or the sheer abnormal hilarity of the place.
And my brother just said, "Come again?" He's been here too long.

Gypsy Endeavor #36--take 2---

I've started using the phrase 'Good Heavens' and I'm working on picking up 'Gads' and 'fer cute' also. For now, here are some more photos.

Look closely at the vehicle being filled with gas outside the car door. Yes my friends, that's a tractor. That made me so happy. Utah is a video scavenger hunt of goodness.

Like this next photo, for example:


You know what I say to this? Oh Good Heavens.

This next one is me trying to touch a cow....that I was kind of afraid of....Fer cute, right? :)
SO then, on to my next matter of business....General Conference is this weekend....WHO'S IN FOR BINGO???

Gypsy Endeavor #36

Departing from: Huntington Beach, CA

Destination: Salt Lake City, UT

Departure time: 5am

ETA: 3pm

ATA (actual TA): 3ish pm

Total drive time: Roughly 10 hours…including brief stop at Del Taco, two petrol fill-ups, 5 pee-stops, and one arbitrary running amuck in a golf-course.

The Plan: Earning my keep as a guitar and voice instructor for Sounds of Music studios. Finishing my thesis. Visiting my sister in Twin Falls often. Training myself to do the splits.

Already Weird: There is an LDS church on every corner, and I swear I drove by an area that had three in a row, with maybe two or three houses in between each. Supposedly it’s ‘necessary’, but it kinda freaked me out.

Day 1: Rained all day. I live in a basement. My brother has my car. Stranded.

Day 2: I’ve come to realize that “basement” is a modern word for dungeon. But at least it’s a nice dungeon…not to mention FREE, and comes with a cool roommate…namely cousin Brittany.

In other news, I feel like a foreigner. People give me directions using strange numbers and code words (point of the mountain? near the canyon? I’m sorry, but there are 15 mountains in my immediate view, and at least 10 canyons. Please specify for the out-of-towner).

I couldn't help myself on this one.
Man taking a nap in his car in a public parking lot. It's normal. And yes, I took a picture of him...which is also normal.

Priceless. Probably my relatives.
Random tractor...next to a very random golf course...next to the highway.
Oh Utah, I'm so fond of thee already.

500 Days of Zooey

It hasn't quite been that long, but I blogged about Zooey Deschanel on March 1, 2008...so almost 500 days...kind of. Anyway, with her recent rise in popularity, I thought it appropriate for that old blog to be revisited. Here you are:

http://indigenousvagabond.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-love-zooey-deschanel.html

Take a gander...it won't disappoint.

And if you haven't seen 500 Days of Summer, go see it. I exhort you. It's sooo good.
Here's a trailer for it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM

Ridin' through the city on my bike all day 'cuz the filth took away my license...

I bought a bike. She's so pretty. Ordered it online, and it came in a ginormous box yesterday. I was a bit overzealous and pulled everything out of the box, then didn't know what to do with myself after that. Of course, I coaxed a boy into putting it together for brownies. I have to give total assembly credit to Jayson. The bike was kind of a terror to put together, and he put a lot of time into it to make sure it came out smokin' hot. Thanks J.
Baby pictures. In bits and pieces.


Slowly coming together. Isn't she a dream?

I love this picture. Not only does it show brotherly love, but check out the shine on those handlebars!

As these boys so obviously show, this bike was made for me. They look so awkward on it, while I look just right. Question is, why didn't I get one years ago?

"Keep Oregon Weird"-real OR mantra

Last weekend I went to Portland, OR to visit my friend Jesyca Tang. This is what I saw:


We ate at this little place that was working on their women's bathroom, hence the urinal. Notice the picture above the urinal....a half-naked woman. Nice to know what men are looking at while they pee.


Pittock Mansion. Crazy huge mansion on a hill overlooking Portland. I loved these stairs.


The temple was sooo pretty....all tucked away in the woods, peeking out all holy-like.

The sacred grove. Just kidding. This is what most of the streets looked like. Jesyca's house was on a road similar to this. Everyone just lives in the woods and it's totally normal. I loved it.



We stopped at this place called the Kennedy School...a school from the 20's and 30's that was bought out and turned into a hotel/meeting house/reception hall/weird theater. They kept a lot of the artwork from the kids back in the day. Click on both pics to see up close. You won't be disappointed. The place was cool and old and creepy. I swear it was haunted.

Jes and me. These stairs were cool too. This was a hike we did to Pretty Waterfall (aka I can't remember the name of the falls).



Green Green and more Green.


Here's Lake Oswego, where I stayed (where Jes lives).



Ya, so I like stairs. Portland has so many cute old houses-turned boutiques.

And one very appropriate sign....minus the Mt, of course.

You're the best

I love this.