Saturday, May 30, 2009

Seriously So Grateful I Grew Up in the Hood

So this week my buddy Bonnie came over. We played some volleyball in the Riv (and beat the crap out of these kids who asked if they could play with us.) Around 7, we stop playing and Bonnie moved her car to a lot behind my building where you can park after 7. We're having a good time watching the Cavalier's game- don't act so surprised- when Bonnie says "Why is that guy towing my car?!" 
A select few have witnessed the Phillips when something is, for lack of a better term, going down. This includes vandalism, or anything involving our cars parked outside my parents', including vandalism. We take it very seriously. We run. We raise our voices if neccessary... and when it's not neccessary. Because it's habit. So I run through the parking lot while my friends are still trying to figure out what is happening. I yelled and told the punk to stop, which he heard thankfully. I told him the car was parked there after 7. He was definitely surprised I knew this rule (because it's sort of secret, I found out one night after my car booted and I was finally nice to a University Parking employee) At this point Bonnie caught up and started saying everything she could think of to get this guy to give her car back. I think I could have had more fun with the guy if she hadn't said anything at all, but don't worry I still had something to bring this conversation. He keeps shaking his head and acting like we don't have a leg to stand on. He claims there was an event going on all day across the street, and her car was there all day. So I told him "Hey if you don't want to get if off the truck, we'll call the cops" He got out of that car so quick. No, no, we don't need the cops, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Yeah you will pal. He checks out the note he posted on the car when he put a boot on it before towing it. 7:10. Yeah that's not gonna fly. If you don't boot after 7, you don't boot after 7. He quickly realized that "I thought that car was there all day" wouldn't hold up well either. 
My roommate Brittany (so cute) said "but would you really have called the cops?" (frownsmile.) The answer is yes. I've seen my brothers handle many a situation involving less intelligent employees/servants of the law/thugs. You know, life was rough growing up in Taylorvsille, but once again, Heavenly Father knows how he can use our experiences. He knows he can use me to punk University Parking if worse comes to worse.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I live my life, with this simple phrase present in the back of my mind

We left Nauvoo on Monday morning, and went to Chicago. We hung out at Navy Pier until everyone arrived, and we took a boat tour up the Chicago River. The second day in Chicago, we split up into two groups. One group took it a little easier, while the rest of us tired ourselves out seeing Chicago. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry (the coolest part was going into the replica mineshaft and seeing old working mining equipment,) the Shedd aquarium, dinner at Maggiano's, the Hancock tower, a swing by Nordstrom, then back to Milwaukee. We were beat!

Navy Pier...


Boat tour...
Keeping Garrett entertained by taking a stroll on Michigan Ave while we waited for dinner
SO hungry
Museum of Science and Industry...


Kinda crappy, but cute theoretically...
I wanted to be the Engineer, but Matt refused since he is taller
Sorry Mike about the blinking, again too cute not to show
Nerd paradise (mirror maze covered in hydrocarbons) I'm just indulging the stereotype I swear
That's the Field Museum, we didn't go in, this is just on the way to the Shedd Aquarium

Nat told me "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find prince charming."
Mike kisses lizards...

So cute!
Photos by Deb. Seriously such a good photographer. No training at all!


Saturday, May 16, 2009

Too much for one title

I have been snapping pictures the last few days in a higher volume than I normally do.  The reason being that I actually have subject worthy of the energy from the rechargeable Duracell batteries.

I am in Nauvoo, Illinois (Illinoise as Cathy likes to say) with all of my immediate family.  Mike graduated from medical school on Friday, and we all flew to Milwaukee to attend his graduation ceremony and celebrate a huge accomplishment. Sometimes as I sit and mope to myself about how hard my life is and why I chose this male slash idiot dominated major, and I don’t have time to play all day, every day,  I am reminded of Mike and how he has actually done something with his life which has required even more work and sacrifice than my thermo class. Then I cry more because moping always seems like it will make me feel better. ANYWAYS…

Getting on the plane was quite “delightful” 9 adults and two babies trying to get to the airport, through security, and in seats on the plane was something special in and of itself. Just being with my family stresses me out. Because what if they get stressed out and start yelling (and they will) and what if something goes wrong (and it won't, but it will SEEM like it.)

 Random, but my favorite part about the whole experience was watching Greg. First, Greg, Matt, Eric, and I stayed up until 2 am the night before watching Zoolander, and when that was over Greg wanted to watch Shanghai Noon, I just walked away without saying a thing. Second, while watching the movie he made a paper chain, to count the days until he was back in Utah. And third, I was sitting about 4 rows behind him when we left Salt Lake for Minneanapolis. I watched Greg rest his forehead above the window and stare at the mountains and the country side we flew over. This lasted for about 15 maybe 20 minutes. Not sure why, I just loved watching my big brother enjoy something.

In the rental car leaving the Milwaukee airport.

We went to the Brewers game at Miller Park as a family on Thursday (photo op!)

Mike graduated on Friday. While the names were read for the Doctors of Philosophy, Masters of Science, and something else, I took a good nap. It took talent to get into a position where I could sleep, but my years of training 1 hour, every Sunday, for my entire life, have paid off. They read his name, “Doctor Michael R. Phillips,” he walked across the stage, got his diploma, tripped on the way down the stairs, and now he’s a doctor. He will no longer respond to any name unless it is prefaced by Doctor, so you’ve been warned. (just joking obviously.)  Afterwards we ate dinner at a charming restaurant called Osteria in downtown Milwaukee. 
I absolutely love this one of Greg and Mike
And  Mike's smile is so cute in this one
Today we got in a caravan to come to Nauvoo. I was with Brian and Cathy and we had a lot of fun. The roadtrip from Milwaukee to Nauvoo started out so exciting, then after about 4 hours our heads were pounding and we were all sick of the car. (I’m projecting my feelings, but this is a good estimate I think)

We had a wild night tonight. I think the main reason being that we are all in one hotel room. It’s actually a suite with two queen beds, and three sets of bunkbeds. Basically we are all crammed in here and it only makes every joke funnier. Garrett wiggling through everyone’s legs is also very entertaining. It is currently 11:15 PM and Nat and I are on a top bunk snuggled up with our laptops, because we both know our fans and blogs cannot wait. Some of the excitement as follows:

Sunday, May 10, 2009

My Three Moms

Jan Riddle Phillips


Natalie Peterson Phillips


Joanne Bearman Jeffs

Monday, May 4, 2009

My New Crush

Sunday school teacher: If you had a garden, what seeds would you plant in it?
...awkward silence for about 45 seconds....
Me: zucchini
SST: Ok, cool. What else
Mr. Clean: I would plant all fruits and vegetables because there are 20 essential amino acids that your body needs and you can't get them all from one, or even a few places. You can get some of them from supplements, but the best place to get them is from eating a varied diet.
SST: uh huh
Me: (to Jay) I want to date that kid
Jay: We're not friends anymore