Day 9: Bus to DC /  by Jessica Peterson


This morning Claire and I took a bus from New York to DC.  It was a really nice ride and I got a lot done (if a lot done is drawing and writing in my book).  This is the first time I have ever been to DC, I like it, I am enjoying the history and depth that the city holds.

Also, Claire and I have been practicing the "Secret", putting good vibes out into the Universe to let it know we are ready for good things to happen and luck to be on our side, and good news, it has been working! How and why you ask?  Here are a few examples of the beautiful things that have come our way...
-we were technically late for our bus this morning but made it seconds before it left!
-at the metro station we were in line to buy new passes and this man walks up to us and gives us 2 passes for free!!!
-we drank free hot cocoa tonight after being stuck outside in the cold
-we had pizza twice today (okay, maybe that doesn't seem like... but hey, I like it!)
okay, i guess that doesn't seem like much but these little things have been such a blessing.

Pictures of us on the bus...



In DC we met up with Claire's good friend Naomi, she introduced us to this great pizza place called 2 Amy, which was fantastic! (thank you Naomi)  

Claire and Naomi being extremely gorgeous 

And then we do something I absolutely love, eat treats.  Across the street from the pizza place was this adorable bakery called Something Sweet (I recommend it if you are in DC), the people were so nice and the cupcakes were so yummy.  

Lemon cake! My favorite!








I fell in love with this little car, my favorite color!

Later on we met up with my friend Victor.  I have known Vic for over 10 years, he is the greatest, we have a special bond because evert one of our friends from the old days have all grown up and graduated to married-hood.  Oh Vic, you are the dearest!



I was so excited to see the sights, seeing them in the night atmosphere was so romantic.



Beautiful day, beautiful people, beautiful sights. 

The Doll /  by Jessica Peterson


Does anyone remember this thing?
I don't know why but every time I see it, it screams at me to take a picture of it. It still creeps me out a bit,  I guess if something scares you, explore it until it doesn't anymore.




Day 8: loved ones /  by Jessica Peterson


Today was an exceptionally great day! 

Diana and Jon are visiting New York from San Francisco and we met up with them for lunch and a show. 


The table


 At lunch.
I had a chicken bone and cartilage enchilada (no joke, no good)
and then... we saw the taping of The Daily Show!  It was really great, especially because Matt Damon was the guest (did anyone see it?)


D, I love you! It was so great seeing you!

Later in the evening we head south to eat and play at Fat Cat (no, not the cheesy bowling place in Provo).  We had such a great dinner, we ate at this little American dive called Westville (Yummy) we shared mac and cheese for an app and I had a chicken salad sandwich that tasted like heaven.
This is Claire's first taxi ride.

At Fat Cat
we were posing as anime character, can't you tell.
Travis and I, we kinda look alike right?

I win sometimes.


Like I said it was a really great day.  
We are hoppin' on a bus tomorrow morning and heading to DC! 
I love long bus rides, it's a nice excuse to just think, stuck, quiet and the earth around you keeps moving. It should be great.

I just realized I wrote the word 'great' like 15 times, tomorrow I will find a new word, I promise.

Day 7: Eat, Sleep and walk /  by Jessica Peterson

Recappin'

-Red-eye flight, no good.  I couldn't sleep due to a mixture of the man in front of me  making snores like the flapping lips of a woopie cushion and the men on each of my sides claiming the arm rests. Wanted to pull my hair out. 
-Claire was at the airport in NY to greet me.  Lovely.
-Slept the morning away on T's futon, catching up on lost sleep so not to be grumpy for the rest of the day.
-Shake Shack burger for this evenings meal, worth the hour long line (better than DisneyLand... maybe)
-Carrie comes to say hello, having friends in all of these places has been so much fun, it's like finding 2o dollar bills in couch cushions and old jeans, they are tucked away for a while but when found they are oh so great.
-walked and walked and sometimes we ate things.



before the greatest nap ever napped.

Me, Claire and Carrie.

Day 6: Already /  by Jessica Peterson

I am sitting in the airport in Phoenix.  I have 3 hours to kill before I take off to New York... Yay for Red-eye flights! 


In in Out.  Yum.
Little Jimmy asleep in the back... so cute with his little monkeys.  I will miss him so much.


Trains... I am really bummed my camera batteries died and I wasn't able to take many more photos while driving from Tucson to Phoenix.  

We spent the afternoon driving and driving in circles and loops, all going bonkers in the car looking for something to do or a park to play in.  We took a tour through Scottsdale and I will have to say it was a great little city... a little like LA or at least the people resembled LA (fake boobs and lips and all).  I liked it and will have to go back one day with more time.

I am looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning!

Day 5: The Jimmy /  by Jessica Peterson

Has anyone seen the Seinfeld episode "The Jimmy"?  Well, in the episode one of the characters named Jimmy always refers to himself in the 3rd person.  So I can't help but laugh every time my nephew does the same. 





This is my favorite shot. 

It has been a pretty mellow day.  My sister-in-law and I watched two movies back to back of "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset".   I don't know why I was so sucked into the shows, they are both barf worthy romantic films full of nothing but sappy dialogue... maybe I am a cynic... but I did watch them so maybe not.


Day 4: Ink /  by Jessica Peterson


Spent most of the day at Jim's tattoo shop, Rogue.  I took promo photos for them (i posted some of em' below). 
I don't know about this place, I swear I came close to passing out a few times from the heat and everyone just made fun of me because apparently 95 degrees is "cool" here... hum?


This made me laugh, I was very tempted to throw down a dollar to see if I would get a hairy mole or sideburns but I just took a photo instead.

Rogue.

Marcus, Jim, and Chris from Rogue

Bizarrely beautiful?
Marcus


Jim

Chris




For some reason we started taking pictures in front of their cars.



Later in the evening we had to get "shockiat" (chocolate) ice-cream.  It was delightful.
Me and little Jimmy.

Day 3: "from the snow?" to AZ /  by Jessica Peterson

I flew to Tucson AZ this afternoon to visit my brother Jimmy and his family and my good friend Kat.  
My brother told me that when he explained to my nephew Jimmy who hasn't seen me since last winter was coming for a visit he said, "Jessica from the snow?"  


From the plane.  
Shadows from the clouds.


Kat picked me up from the airport.  Kat is one of those friends who I can go for months and months without talking to and the minute we do it's as if we had seen each other the day before. I love Kat, we have known each other since the 5th grade and have been through all stages of life.  We seem to always make fun of our teenage selves and the ridiculous things we did as 15 years and the people we know who still act like they are 15. 
I admire her, she is a fantastic mom to her two kids and whenever I see her she feeds me like an Italian mamma.  Thank you Kat! 

This is Jack, Kat's little dude (her little girl was asleep or there would be pictures of her here too). 







Today:

-Paid 16 dollars for a crap salad and diet coke at the Burbank airport
-Ipod froze the second I turned it on and never recovered, forced to listen to the disturbingly gross couple behind me on the plane
-Ate homemade cookies and milk
-Pathetically teared up while reading the bedtime story "I will love you forever" to my nephew before putting him to sleep.


Day 2: I flew 700 miles to babysit /  by Jessica Peterson



And I don't mind at all.  










Today:

awaken by two kids screaming my name and small toys being thrown at my head
drank Diet Coke for breakfast 
Made a hundred emails and I'm sure they all went straight to a junk mail folder
H&M, bought a red skirt
Watched Abby and Oliver become photographers
mopped up spilt apple juice
bargained with cookies  
decided I don't think I want any children of my own
made up at least 20 stories that started with "Once upon a time" 
read story books before bedtime
Oliver asks me not to go tomorrow because he loves me "so much"
decided kids aren't that scary


Day 1: Escape From Utah /  by Jessica Peterson

Today is the first day of my month of travels and it's been a long one.  I woke up at 5am to catch a 7 am flight to LA.  I had only slept about 2 hours (if you could call it sleep, I was squished in my bed with Claire and Max and because I was the last in I was only left a 12'').  I packed last night in a cloud of sleep deprivation and am now regretting doing so as I realize I had only packed 4 non-matching socks and 3 tops and some other random items to last me .  

I am excited for this month, I have promised myself to take a lot of photograph and try to figure things out again ( I seem to find myself in the process a lot).


These are from the drive to the airport.  Thanks Claire for driving me.

I was given the book Eat Pray Love by Rachel for the trip, I read the first 20 pages or so while on the plane, not sure what it will do for me at this point, I hope it gets better. (Sorry Rach.)

Kelly picked my up from the airport (thank you thank you thank you) I know traffic blows, you are a great friend.

I am staying at my brothers while I am here which I love because I am able to spend time with Oliver and Abby.  They are amazing and wonderful. I can't even begin to tell you all the adorable things they say, I wish we could all love as openly and honestly as they do.










My mom had sent these with me to give to them.  I'm not going to lie, I was just as entertained by them and they were.


And we drew.  That's me on the right.

Me, Oliver, Abby, Nick and Hillary.  I am the big one with giant ears.  He was very adamant that each foot and had had 5 fingers or toes.

Dinner at Roscoes...

For those of you who are not familiar with Roscoes I will just say this... Yum.
Chicken and waffles, they go together like PB&J, I swear it!  

Me and the Lizard. 
I do feel sick still but it was worth it.
Dave shows up and finishes our table scraps.   

I really am exhausted. 

Great Documentary to see. /  by Jessica Peterson






I have been wanting to see this documentary for a while and finally broke down and rented it.  I liked it so much I watched it twice, the second time with the commentary. 
I recommend it.  I would give my opinion on whether or not the little girl really does paint these painting but I don't want to ruin anything for you.  

PS I love a good documentary, if you have any suggestions let me know!

Gigantic /  by Jessica Peterson

I watched the movie Gigantic last night.  I liked it but I am confused... If anyone has seen it and understands Zach Galifianakis' role (the homeless dude), please email me your thoughts.

I still recommend it.

I'm gonna ride... /  by Jessica Peterson

I have already reserved 3 flights so far with my All-You-Can-Jet-Pass with JetBlue.  
My first destination will be LA for a few days, I will be visiting Oli and Abs (the cutest nephew and niece sibling team on the planet).  I think we will be going on a treasure hunt while I am there.  Next I will hop on a plane in Burbank and land in Tucson AZ.  There I will hug little Jimmy (maybe the longest hug that will ever exist), see Kat's new babelet and run naked through the desert.  After a few days in the AZ heat I will be headed to NY.  Oh how I love New York!  New York will hold endless adventures and photo making extravaganzas... (Oh dear, my heart is beating through my chest and out into the open air). 
I plan on bouncing around the East for a bit... If you want me to come visit let me know and I will be there.