Día Dos

I woke up with very little energy. Plus I had to do a bit more work today. Yes I worked every day while in Mexico.

My work station in Mexico

Because of those two factors, we decided to do a bus tour of the city in hopes that I would have more energy for the pyramids the next day. To get to the metro, we had to take this micro bus that probably cost $0.10 per person. We'd hop on and off at no point in particular, just when we needed to. A few times home the bus was so crowded that I stood on the stairs with the bus doors wide open as we revved along the streets of Mexico. Then we took the metro which was about $0.50/person. Needless to say, everything was at a much lower price point in Mexico.

I enjoyed the bus tour as I got to see some cool things about the city, including a free art museum, and had a chance to rest. This city fascinated me. At times it was so stereotypical Mexican and at other times the pre-Aztec/Aztec/European influence dominated the landscape. Just fascinating. 

Ruins found in the middle of the metro

Very European

Very Mexican

Art Museum

Rodin Impersonation

Just made me laugh (history nerd humor)

Día Uno

Today we visited Chapultepec Castle (very European like), walked through the anthropology museum (artifacts from the many Mexican civilizations), and encountered a protest in the Zocalo (the city center). First impressions of the city: what a mix of European, ancient civilizations, and Tijuana. Not quite what I expected yet somehow exactly what I expected. Also, I love the view from parents' apartment.

Hiking up to Chapultepec Castle

Courtyards at Chapultepec

Just a bit of silliness

Resting while dad took missionary phone calls

Aztec Calendar at the anthropology museum

Protest at the city center

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Palacio de Bellas Artes

View from the parents' apartment

South of the Border

When my parents were called to serve an LDS mission in the Mexico City area, everyone asked me if I was going to visit them during Thanksgiving or Christmas or some other holiday. I politely responded, "I'm going to go visit them at no time in particular." That time ended up being the first of February when it was bitter cold in Utah. So off to Mexico City I went.

The flight was actually pretty hard for me. I had been suffering from a head cold and the changes in air pressure just exacerbated the situation. More on that later.

When I finally got off the airplane and through customs, I was exhausted. And then I saw my mom...

A New Beginning

2013 started off really, really well. I had a job interview in the Bay Area so I made a weekend trip out it. The people I interviewed with were great, but it was such a new, new, new startup and my current job was sucking the life out of me that I didn't want to take the job.

Two interesting lessons I learned through that job process were 1) I was worth more than I had thought and 2) I need to act when I know an answer. The first insight sounds obvious. But it wasn't to me. I had degraded my own worth because of failed relationships and lack of immediate success in a job transition that I had begun to doubt me. Where my current boss continued to stall requests for a raise or promotion or both, this company courted me. Offered me my asking price. Wanted me. I hadn't experienced that feeling in such a long time that it was a startling wake-up call to my current reality.

The second lesson reminded me that I often do know the right answer but it was all about having the courage to act. I kept debating if I should take the job or not, and I was studying conference talks that morning the words that kept jumping at me were courage and act. So I left my room and declined the job. I knew my answer. I had just lacked the courage to say no.

This month also captures two of my favorite events: the engagement of two of my new friends and the marriage of another dear friend. I was glad to be in California to celebrate the former and in Utah to celebrate the latter. At the end of the month, I needed an escape from the snowy, cold winter and headed to Mexico to visit my parents.

Dave and Kambria

Sherstin and Jay

Time for a warmer climate

My Favorite Time of Year

December has always captured my attention and imagination. My mind and heart get caught up in the ambiance of the Christmas season, and it doesn't help that in my family we have five birthdays in one week. With my parents gone, I wasn't sure if this December would live up to the hype my mind places on the month, but my aunt, friends, and family maintained the joy that comes from Christmas.

First, my dear friend Erin married the man of her dreams. They had a traditional Indian/Mormon wedding (is there such a thing?) and it was so fun to see my normally strong-willed friend tear up during the ceremony. But she looks incredibly happy and I felt honored to spend the day celebrating the nuptials.

Next, my aunt offered to host a birthday celebration. Neither of my two sisters and their families could make it that night, so it turned out to be an extended family celebration. My aunt makes the most delicious food and has stepped in as a mom figure for me while my mom served in Mexico. I'm glad I got to spend my birthday with family. After Erin's wedding, my aunt and I also put up her Christmas tree. I thought that was one traditional I wouldn't get do this year, and I ended up decorating three trees: two while in California and then my aunt's tree. 

A few days later I had a second birthday celebration with my family. I love all my nieces and nephews. They definitely are my kids too!

Christmas Day was wonderful. Family. Food. Hangouts. Silliness. Pictures do speak a thousand words.

Bon Jovi tickets

My little buddy

Setting up their new computers

Hanging Out

My friend Jon came to town that week and I spent a lot of time with him. On New Year's Eve we joined my sister and her family on a Park City ski trip. I didn't realize how tiny Brighton was until I skied Park City. Wow! All in all, December lived up to my memories of being the best time of year.

New Tradition

November was such a fun month. I went to the Bay Area twice that month with only paying for one ticket. How does that work? I had to be in Orlando for work the first week and had a brilliant idea before I bought my ticket. What was the cost difference for flying from SLC > Bay Area > Orlando and back home again. Answer: $5. So off I went. I flew to Oakland and spent the weekend playing with friends, headed to Orlando for work, and then went home again for the total cost of $5 and a weekend rental car. Not too shabby. Oh, and I colored my hair a shade darker than my natural color. Much better. More like me.

All I could hear when I saw this sign was don't go to Oakland

Hotel in Orlando

Once home, I spent some time enjoying the snow, playing with work friends, and listening to Jeff Bezos and my CEO Josh James speaking at the UTC Hall of Fame dinner.

No longer a blonde. My "true" color.

With my parents being gone, I needed to figure out what to do for Thanksgiving and decided to head to California again. I met up with friends the Saturday before the holidays to watch BYU play San Jose State. Awful game. Yes, a year later I still remember that we played horribly. On the bright side, I joined up with my sister and her family in Monterey for a few days before heading to the Sacramento area for Thanksgiving. I had a great time playing cards, being with family, and participating in the family Turkey Trot. My aunt Ann also joined us and I'm glad we got to spend some time with her. I think I need to continue swapping time with siblings for the holidays.

BYU vs. San Jose State

17-mile Drive

17-mile Drive

18th hole at Pebble Beach

Roasting marshmellows at Carmel

Carmel

Took some time but I finally won her over (with my electronics)

Family 5K Turkey Trot