Monthly Archives: July 2012

Hilton Head: Day 2

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1) Crabbing trip, Take 2. 2) I grew up on Hilton Head. Boating is what my family does and I’ve been on hundreds of cruises. But it never fails–when I see a dolphin in the wild, I get goosebumps. 3) Catching crabs! I was determined to beat the 4-year-old next to me. 4) Final count? Me: 9. The 4-year-old next to me: 14. I got stomped.

5) After the crabbing cruise, I went to lunch with my sister at Giuseppi’s … I mean, it’s practically an Island institution. And the calzone was good. But I’m always mad that I didn’t just get a slice of cheese and a salad. You can’t go wrong with a slice and a salad, and yet every time I venture too far on the menu. I gotta remember–pizza, Krista. Pizza. 6/7) Then it was beach time with the niecey-poo, sister, and mom. 8) Can you handle the cute?!

9) As soon as she found the hole, she wanted to get in the hole. And as soon as she got in the hole, she wanted out of the hole. 10) Dinner at Crazy Crab. Meal choice: crab stuffed flounder. 11) Our marshy view from the dinner table. 12) That, my friends, is a hush puppie. Also known as, manna from heaven.

I went home in a slap-happy food-coma and fell right to sleep with sand still between my toed and a slightly pink nose.

(I did not mean for that to rhyme.)

Stay tuned for Day 3.

Day 1 here.

Hilton Head: Day 1

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It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since I was home on Hilton Head. How is that even possible?

I was there this last weekend for a little vacation (i.e. a breather from the barren Utah desert), and it turned out to be the perfect summer getaway.

Here’s day one (plus a couple from my first night):

1) The best thing about southern airports are the rocking chairs along the concourses. 2) Zaxby’s for dinner on the way home from the airport. 3/4) Sunrise on the beach.

5) Catching fiddler crabs on the beach. 6) Lunch with a friend from high school, whom I haven’t seen in more than 15 years. The meal consisted of crab cakes, collard greens, mac n’ cheese, cornbread, banana pudding for dessert, and two hours of great conversation. (Meghan, it was SO fun to see you!) 7) The “fanny” of my dad’s dolphin watch boat, the Holiday, taken from the port side of his crabbing boat, the Crabber J, which was captained by my sister Karly. 8) We no sooner left the harbour when the slight drizzle we were sailing through turned into a full-fledged thunderstorm. Needless to say, my crabbing adventure was canceled for that day. Boo.

Stay tuned for Day 2.

4 July 2012

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This is what my 4th of July looked like:

Highlights included:

1) Kaysville City parade, complete with small town beauty queens, horses, marching bands, and numerous dance troupes. There was much taffy tossed our way and the Armed Forces Veteran’s float was my favorite. I cry every year when it goes past. One of the officers even saluted me … which only made me cry harder. I am so grateful.

2) A fantastic pot-luck picnic hosted by Frit’s sister-in-law. There was so much delicious food. We honestly ate. all. day. long. Frit’s contribution was this amazing black bean and corn salsa, while mine was rice krispie treats on a stick, dipped in caramel and then chocolate. Her brother-in-law also procured a swamp cooler (that was almost as big as the house), which was positioned outside next to the picnic tables. This might have single-handedly been the best idea of the day.

3) Taking turns on the bicycle-built-for-two. That was a hoot.

4) Fireworks. Fireworks. Fireworks. With Neal Diamond and Lee Greenwood streaming from the high school football stadium loud speakers. There really is nothing like laying on blankets in a big field with thousands of other people while lights explode directly above you. They seemed bigger this year, those fireworks. And somehow reachable, like I could just lift my hand and touch them.

I suppose that’s really what this country is about. The hope. The possibility. The opportunity. Of reaching up. Of catching hold of something big and beautiful. Of lighting up the world with the fireworks in your hand.