A Beautiful Day

The day of my Grandmother’s funeral was a beautiful day in so many ways. Upon entering the chapel, where the funeral was being held, guests where greeted by a table displaying prominent symbols of my Grandma’s life. Beautiful portraits of both my Grandfather and Grandmother in their 20s with their 1930s hairstyles were sprinkled amongst guest books she kept of each visitor that came to her house, homemade raspberry jam she picked and canned herself, church trinkets representing her life of total religious devotion, a book of poems she wrote throughout her life, and pictures of her family that she was able to reunite with on the other side.

Prior to this day I had never seen a deceased person; however, my curiosity coupled with the assignment to take a picture of my grandma compelled me to take the step and enter the viewing room. My grandma’s casket was a beautiful copper color with a tint of pink with fine detailing of roses, both my grandma’s favorite color and flower.

When I approached the casket, I have to admit I was a bit startled by the way my grandma looked. She looked great; however, it did not look like my dear grandma. I contribute this to the fact that my grandma had such a lively spirit that without it she didn’t resemble herself. This just confirmed even further that I knew that my grandma’s spirit was in a better place and thankful that her body was no longer a burden to her.

The service could not have gone more perfectly. The speakers were so eloquent in illustrating the life my grandma led, the purpose of life and grandiosity of the life after this life that my grandma so fervently believed in and is embarking on now. I always knew that my grandma was an amazing person, however, hearing all her accomplishments in one single sitting was humbling and motivating.

When we laid my grandmother to rest in the same burial site my grandfather was laid in 9 years previous, it was a relief to know they were together once again but this time nothing would separate them for the rest of eternity.

Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Larry, and my Momma

 

 

Cousin Kristy, Aunt Cheryl, Cousin Kelly

All my cousins

Grandma's ancestry and posterity

Kim says that if you lean forward it makes you look thinner. I am not sure if that is true, but Jodi's face kills me!!!

My grandma's homemade jam made in 1996

You better believe I had some. It's just like fine wine, it only gets better with age.

After the service my family was humbled as the Relief Society, prepared a stunning and delicious meal for my whole family. We were humbled by the charity and sacrifice of so many in our behalf and the love they must have had for my grandma.

In Memory of Grandma

Growing up, I was lucky enough to live 15 minutes away from my Grandparents house, a three story yellow house set in the Oakland Hills with a breath taking view of San Francisco. Going to their home was always an adventure. From their laundry shoot, where we would throw stuffed animals down a hole in the wall and magically they would appear two stories below to their lemon trees where we would test our self-torturing skills by trying to eat a lemon whole.

Another magical element of visiting Grandma and Grandpa Smith was their Game Cabinet. As child it was as if I entered a time machine and went back in time and was able to experience all the games my mother played with as a child. Wooden puzzles of dogs and ducks, cards, and our favorite game of Raco among many other games and activities lined the shelves.

Christmas Eve was a big event in my family and the one day where traditions ran amuck. Some of these traditions included a Christmas Eve ham, red Jello, homemade raspberry jam, and a kids table, where being the youngest grandchild, I was forever destined to sit at. Proceeding dinner a “well rehearsed” play of the Nativity was reenacted with my sister Kim as the Angel, my brother Justin as Joseph, I as Mary, and a 1950’s doll as baby Jesus. Between the activities of the night at some point someone would bring out the game Raco, a game that could be played and enjoyed by all ages.

So in memory of Grandma Smith some of her grandkids got together and enjoyed a few rounds of good ole Raco outside in perfectly warm California weather.  I emphasize the word “enjoyed” because we played 5 games and Jodi won all but one. I attribute that to all the extra years of practice she had playing at Grandma.

Imposter

Last night I had a dinner with a few employees from my work. It was just five of us, who were recently hired within the last year, invited to eat with the owner of the Hedge Fund. Of course it was at a fancy restaurant where I would normally never even feel comfortable loitering outside of for too long, let alone actually eat a meal.

I have never seen anything like it. The waiters and waitresses all stood in a line like Buckingham Palace soldiers, minus the red jackets and big puffy hats, surveying the room with very little eye motion. With every course a new set of silverware was placed before me as if I knew what I was supposed to do with all the strange shaped spoons and different sized forks. When someone left the table, within seconds a waiter would appear out of nowhere to refold their napkin to the appropriate triangular sculpture.

During the course of the meal, feeling like I was a little girl at a grown up party, I surveyed the room to see if anyone noticed the fraud that I was. Did they noticed me inspecting my coworkers with my peripheral vision seeing which fork I am supposed to use? Did they see me squirm to find a comfortable position which does not included my elbows being on the table? Did my $20 haircut and TJMaxx shirt scream "faker!" amongst the sea of tailor-made suits and designer dresses?

When the dinner party came to end I exited the restaurant finding a black Lincoln Town Car waiting for me with the sign "Koelling" hanging in the window. I made special mental note of this scene as I knew I may never see it again. We drove back to my apartment in silence with only the lights from the stores of Madison Avenue keeping me company as they danced along the black leather on the back seat.

As we pulled up to my walk up building with a laundromat as its foundation, I felt as though my drivers suspicious were confirmed: "Imposter." But it is just as well, for when I entered my tiny outdated apartment I was home and very happy.

That's what I'm talkin' about

Packing my bag for my trip to California tomorrow. Checked the weather to see what I should bring. 

Can someone please remind me why I don't live there?

Let's just take a look at what New York City has to offer for weather this week.

Enough said.

Earthquake in Manhattan

I just felt an earthquake here in NYC and it freaked me out. I thought I left those nasty earthquakes back in California. Since the 1989 Earthquake in California traumatized me as a kid, earthquakes (or anything resembling the sound or motion of earthquakes) have always put me on edge and changed my physical state. My heart starts beating really fast, I start sweating, and my adrenaline pumps through my body at high speed.

We just got a small aftershock of an 5.8 earthquake that was felt in Richmond V.A., but it lasted a good 30 seconds, enough time for me to mentally depict what NYC would look like if a big earthquake it--mass hysteria. Just with this little guy my whole office was freaking out looking out the window and building management set off the fire alarms and notifying the building tenants over loud speaker "that we are not in danger." Apparently, the sidewalks are full of people who evacuated their buildings and calling family. I guess people NYC are a little on edge about shaking buildings, and for good reason.

Aerial shots above New York City shortly after the earthquake hit.

What I thought was most crazy about this is how before the news even covered the earthquake twitter was popping up with tweets, telling me that it wasn't just felt here in Manhattan, but all the way in Boston as well. Pretty remarkable.

Brooklyn Flea

 

On Saturday we went to the Brooklyn Flea Market(s) with our good friends Nate and Ashley. I know I rave about these good friends all the time, but there is just not enough good things to say about them. They are always up for an adventure and we always have a great time with them no matter if we are going to NJ to buy their brand new 42" TV or going to the wrong flea market in Brooklyn and then forgetting where we parked the car.

Let me explain the latter.

There are two Brookyln Flea Markets, one in Greenpoint and the other in Williamsburg. The one in Greenpoint has a bunch of cool vintage items that I could just go berserk buying everything insight. The other one, in Williamsburg, has a schmorgesborg of food. Ashley had her heart set on the the schmorgesborg so when we arrived at the Williamsburg vintage flea market she was devastated and HUNGRY. 

Since they have a car it was no big deal, all we had to do was hop in and drive to the different location. Easier said than done. When we started heading back to the car we realized that no one remembered where we parked! Whoops. This situation has never happened to me before. In the past, when I had a car, the only times I lost it was when I parked in a parking garage, and even then you knew you would find it because there are only so many levels and only one parking garage. In this situations we didn't know east or west, or north or south. We had no idea! hahaha We had fun as we split up and did our detective work to find the car. Secretly I was having a competition and wanted to find the car first, but Nate and Ashley won. Hisssssss. 

Once we arrived at the Williamsburg Flee Market, Ashley was happy when she filled her belly with a delicious doughnut and chocolate covered frozen banana. I was happy as I filled my tummy with tacos and grilled corn on the cob with peach butter. Pat was happy as he filled his mouth with a meaty brisket. And Nate was happy as he munch on his grass fed miniature hamburger.

We then enjoyed sitting in the shade, listening to a live band play Spanish nursey rhymes, eating coco helado and trying to figure out what movies a "famous" actor, who was standing close by, was in. Still can't figure it out and it's driving me nuts!

 

 Was it a good day? Most definitely.

Utah Highlights

Our trip to Utah was greatly anticipated and needed. We had SO much fun, more than we could have ever expected. Every day was jam packed with activities so many of which I didn't even get to take pictures of because I simply forgot.


Some of the undocumented highlights of the trip were:
-Pat and I eating out almost every meal at restaurants we don't have in NYC (The restaurants included: Cafe Rio, Costa Vida, Bajio, Rubios, J-Dawgs, Chick Fil-A, and Zupas). You better believe that we came back to NYC 10 lbs heavier.
-Me going to a water park. There were some very surprising waterslides that caught me off guard--I LOVE waterslides. Unfortunately, the major UN-highlight of the trip was Pat having to stay home that day and work. Have I mentioned how much I hate the advertising profession?
-Hanging out with my nieces and nephews, this is by far the hardest part about living away from family.
-DRY HEAT! Apparently it was really hot while we were in Utah, but Pat and I couldn't get over how great the weather was. We could actually be outside and enjoy ourselves and not get sopping wet the second we stepped outside. 
-Running into my long lost BYU friend, Todd, and his family at the airport.We would have been on the same flight if it wasn't cancelled, but it was a good thing they were there because Todd took care of us and got our flight rebooked, definitely a good guy to have around! It was SO great to catch up with them and find out that they live in NJ, close enough for a little weekend getaway.
-Having all the Storm girls together. Regardless of all our differences (wink, wink) it was still nice to be together.
-Having lunch with Pat's good friends, Danny Debiekes and future-married-to-be-man Jared.
-Having fun in the sun. Even though my back is going to be itching for weeks from the sunburn I got, it was so nice to actually be outside!
-Eating Jordan's AMAZING homecooked Italian meal
-Snowcones with the Rowells. All I have to say is: Pina colada, Coconut, and Strawberry with ice cream. Yum!
-Pat buying a toy helicopter for the nephews to play with, surprisingly it didn't break...yet.
-I-HOP with the Rowells. I gotta learn how to make balloon animals. The lady there must have made a killing.
-Riding in a car and doing laundry in house. I am easy to please.
-Hearing about my nephew, Mason's, "America's got talent" skit that he want to perform with two boys doing flips, a girl with a flower in her hair, and Mason wearing tie shoes, a DC hat, and a sweat shirt scratching everyone's back. Apparently he thinks he is pretty good at scratching backs. 
-Playing on the teeter totter with my sister Kim, and getting motion sick.
-Cuddling with those nieces or nephews that would allow me to

There is Always a Silver Lining

On Saturday, Pat and I headed to the airport to fly back home to New York. My sister, Jodi, who was dropping us off, asked if we called ahead to see if our flight was on time. We hadn't because the weather was perfect, what could go wrong? After checking in our bag, we headed to our gate. It was time to board and we got in line right on time. As about half the plane was boarded we heard over the loud speaker that our plane was going to be delayed an hour because of a broken part. An hour passed and still no sign of a working plane. The loud speaker came on again and said that the flight was being delayed 7 hours because they couldn't find the part domestically. Well, this 7 hour delay wouldn't work since we had a layover in Dallas, so basically we had to reschedule our flight, along with all the other passengers.

We rescheduled our flight with a completely different airline and decided to take the Red Eye, so we could get home sooner. Later that night we got on the Red Eye at 11:45pm. The flight was normal for an overnight flight, with me not being able to sleep but listening to the snoring of others and wanting to hit them in the face because they are able to actually get some rest. Twenty minutes before landing, we were actually 10 minutes early, the flight attendants came around performing their landing duties.

But...FAKE OUT!! As we approached JFK the pilot informed us that the airport was temporarily closed because of thunderstorms. We circled JFK for an hour hoping the storms would pass, but no luck. We then had to fly to Albany, NY to refuel our plane and to wait out the storm. After 2 hours of waiting, and me going INSANE, we finally made our way back to JFK. Once arriving at the JFK airport, it seemed to take forever for us to get our luggage and get home in our taxi. Once arriving home we were greeted by our kitty who had pooped all over the bathroom floor, twice, and peed on the rug three times. So yes, the toilet training of our cat has been put on a definite hold. We spent the next few hours cleaning our apartment and ended up throwing out our rug. Oh the joys of being a pet owner. By this time it was 1pm and both Pat and I were delirious. We both crashed and slept into the evening, missing a friends birthday party. To top it all off, Pat came down with some type of flu Monday and Tuesday. I found him laying on the floor Tuesday morning and was late to work because he was throwing up...Pat never throws up.

I take all this as a sign that we were NEVER supposed to leave Utah.

But there is a silver lining to the story, because our first flight was canceled my sister was able to pick us up and take us to my nephew, Dylan's, first football game. I was really happy I could see that. It was so fun to cheer him on and see him in his football uniform.

Pat Congratulating Dylan on a Good Game

Tough Guy Dylan

One perk of living in Utah....GUNS, GUNS AND MORE GUNS!!!!

Jordan, our brother-in-law, is really into guns. It's kind of his thing. Whenever he has extra cash or if you need to give him a gift, anything gun reality is what he buys or what you should buy him to make him super happy.

Being a major advocate of the United States Constitution's 2nd Amendment, the right of the people to keep and bare arms, this is, what I think, a major advantage of living in Utah. Here in NYC it is illegal to own a gun, so apparently as New Yorkers we give up this right....and the fun that is had by going and shooting guns!

On Friday, we ended our vacation with a BANG by going and shooting all of Jordan's guns, and boy does he have a lot! When that zombie apocalypse hits, I want to be at his house.

We had a lot of fun shooting paper targets and pop cans and listening to the stories that an old man told who worked at the shooting range. As we were shooting guns and relishing in our accuracy and eardrum popping sounds, I couldn't be more proud to be an American.