A date...

Saturday was a long day... I had to work in the morning. It was good because it gave me a chance to put my State Fair story schedule in order and get background checks done (note: mainstream politicians are BORING! Only the third party politicians had interesting backgrounds).

I went straight from work to T's house. His family was putting together campaign stuff for the upcoming elections. They are braver than I would be, wow! Anyhow, I got to meet some of the family which was fun.

To start the night off, I had no clue what we were going to be doing. He asked earlier if I wanted to know or if I wanted it to be a surprise... I told him surprise, those are the funnest.

Before we left, we went shopping for food. What a disaster of decisions we were! It was funny as we wandered through the meat, chips and goodies. "What do you want?" "This is your date, you decide..." "Help me out here..." "You decide." Oh, such fun! Eventually we settled on these stake things, chips, orange juice (YUM!) and Twizzlers.

After picking up a few more things at his house and his sister's house, we headed north. VROOM! As we were driving he asked if I knew where Willard Peak was. Honestly, I had NO clue, but now I do... Look for Ben Lomond Peak, travel about three peaks to the west and we were going to the top! Holy cow!

I honestly wondered how we were going to get to the top. We got off at the first Matua exit and headed past the initial campgrounds, through town (if you blink, you will miss it) and off to another trail. Then it got bumppy...

Before heading further we stopped to let air out of the tires, and I later found out why. The trail that heads to the top is a Jeep/four-wheeler trail. If you try to do it in anything else, you are screwed. At times I felt like Ace Ventura when he is going down the road and his head and body are gyrating all over the place. The only dissimilarity... We were actually on a road that was throwing you everywhere :D

The roads reminded me of when my dad and I went to put a car out of a wash above Bloomington Hills in southern Utah. There were times I wasn't sure we were going to make it, but my dad just knocked it into low and over the rocks we went.

As we got to the top you could see the surrounding valleys. The sun had set and the city lights were beginning to illuminate. To the north you could see Logan; to the southeast was Eden/Huntsville; and to the south west was Ogden/Salt Lake. It was amazing! I could stand on top of the peak, turn around and see everything down below. I took in a deep breath of cold fresh air and enjoyed the moment I was up there with T.

Then came the time to do a bit of work. We put the grill together (oh, what an experience) and put our food on. It was such a nice night, with the exception of the ocassional wind gust (but that is what you get on top of a peak). It was nice to be with T and just enjoy his company.

As we were on our way home, we got a flat tire... It was the strangest thing because we're not even sure how it happened - but there was a nice gash in the sidewall. Maybe it happened for a reason, I don't know, so we could talk. For two hours we were there waiting for his brother-in-law to bring a spare tire.

Honestly, I was scared out of my mind. Talking with boys is not really my forte, unless it is about something other that relationship stuff. I thought of a million different ways I could ask and in the end, the only real way was to be straight forward.

On top of all that, I struggle with words and expressing my self verbally. Even though I may be talking about something, what I really want to say never comes out. It is even apparent at work. When an editor asks me about a story, I know it is a good story, but I have a hard time expressing that to them.

I can write a novel about what I feel, think and want. Words of script are a strength for me. If I could get by only having to write, I think things would be easier. Maybe what makes this seem easier is that it allows me to peak over the wall and not actually have to be on the other side exposed. I don't have to answer to anything right away and I don't have to see the person's reaction (especially if it is adverse).

When I was a little girl, my sister and I would fight (breaking news!). My way of apologizing was writing on stickie-notes and putting them on our door where she would see them. Maybe at that point, apologizing was more a matter of pride. On the same side, I never 'communicated' much members of my family. We were always running so many different ways and I am not sure we 'really' know one another.

Anyhow, it was a good chuckle when T's brother-in-law showed up. He dug two brown bags and waters out of the passenger seat. One bag said T and the other "T's poor date." It was a good laugh! They got the tire changed in no time and we were soon bouncing down the road again.

I would have to say that was one of the funnest dates I have been on. Things were totally chill and we just did whatever. Nothing was a crisis and we enjoyed each other's company. It was great to be with him, talk to him and learn.