Our Summer Adventures

So what have the Clarke's been up to? 

I know it's been a while since I've updated the blog, but Derek and I have been thoroughly enjoying our summer! The biggest adventure, you could say, would be our trip to Asia with my family, which will get it's own blog post (I promise it is coming, it's taking a while to compile pictures and organize it). However, we have done a lot of fun stuff this summer, whether it be some planned trip, or getting together with friends for dinner and games. But here are some highlights of our Summer(: 

JUNE

We were gone most of June, but Derek's birthday is June 8th, and we were in Asia for it, so we celebrated it with some friends once we got back to the states. 23 looks good on him(;

JULY

Red, white, and blue(:

A very poor picture of the fire waterfall that is a part of Saint George's firework show.

We then went to Saint George for the 4th of July and spent some time with his family and enjoyed the fireworks. I love fireworks, and Provo doesn't really do a good show, so it was nice to see a nice show for the first time in a couple years. 

We also celebrated my sister's 24th birthday, and since it's the day after independence day, her birthday pie was very patriotic (featuring my cute momma).

Our next relatively large adventure was spent over Pioneer Day weekend, where we went with Derek's brothers and friend Danny on a backpacking trip up to King's Peak (the highest peak in Utah). It was a really fun, although strenuous, hike. The mountains were beautiful, and we set up camp right by this small lake away from anyone else, which was really nice because the trail was packed with it being a holiday and all.

This is our before picture.

This was some cool rock-chuck or something that we saw. It was cute(:

So we didn't quite make it to the top, because it got super steep and Derek's knee started really bothering him, and I got a headache (maybe altitude sickness). So we headed back down and waited for the others by this cute stream. The cool water was very nice(:

This was us heading back at the end of our adventure, very sunburned, and very sore. But it was a fun experience. I decided that it was probably too hard of a hike for my first experience backpacking, but I'd do it again(:

AUGUST

We went and saw Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" done by a local play group with our married friends club. It's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, and it was a fun outdoor showing in a really cool outdoor amphitheater that is designed like a castle. It was a fun evening. We had a picnic dinner and played card games before the show.

 O.C. Tanner

So I started my new job at the beginning of the summer, and it has been a fantastic experience so far. O.C. Tanner is a great company (I've talked about the company and the job in a previous post). I just finished my final presentation for my training program, and am now moving forward with a permanent assignment within the company. 

I've made some great friends so far within the company and I'm excited to keep moving forward and learning with such a great group of people. And yes, my boss has a selfie stick(;

So this is kind of a summary of our summer(: It doesn't cover everything, but it's a good summation of some of our fun. However, summer is not over yet. And we plan on living up the next 2 weeks until schools starts. First with our Anniversary this weekend, and then with a trip to Saint George right the final weekend.

Hope you've enjoyed this little update on what we've been up to. It's been a great couple of months, and I'll hopefully post our Asia trip soon! 

The 6 Drivers You'll Encounter While Commuting to Work

Since beginning my job at OC Tanner at the end of April, I've driven between Salt Lake and Provo roughly 60 times. And while that doesn't make my time as a commuter near as long as others, I believe it still gives me plenty of time to understand the grief of commuting to and from work everyday. So, without further ado, I give to you the 6 drivers you encounter while commuting to work.

1. The Clueless Trailer
It doesn't matter if it is a semi, a motor-home, camping trailer, or any other kind, the Clueless Trailer is where it shouldn't be--the fast lane. Little do they know, regardless of the signs lining the freeway saying "no vehicle pulling a trailer in the left two lanes", it is against the law for them to be in that lane. They don't care though, because they're going 65 mph! A miracle for vehicles of this size and weight. Unfortunately for the Clueless Trailer, and for all of us stuck behind them, the speed limit is 70, and even then, in the fast lane it's more like 75. So we poor commuters who have just worked a 9 hour day on 5 hours of sleep are stuck going much slower than we'd like, when all we want to do is be home watching Netflix already. Please, take you and your miracle trailer that can go 65 mph into another lane.

2. The Racecar Driver
Maybe the exact opposite of the Clueless Trailer, the fast lane is the Racecar Driver's domain. They own it, or at least they think they do. So regardless if you are stuck behind a bunch of other cars and you can't do anything about it, they'll practically be kissing your bumper and revving their engine for miles on end, because apparently the freeway is a racetrack where everyone should be going at least 90 or not be driving at all. Sometimes, if you're lucky, they'll even start honking at you. In traffic that is completely backed up. Where no one can move, but they expect you to for some odd reason. Racecar drivers, I am not a traffic wizard, please calm down.

3. The Soccer Mom
Mini-van going 90+ mph in any lane. Stay out of their way.

4. Mr. Zippy
Mr. Zippy is an interesting driver to encounter. Their tactic for getting where they want to quicker is to zip in-between cars almost constantly, though they typically end up staying where they were as traffic consistently changes around them. Take my poorly drawn example as reference.

Now clearly, my artist skills on Microsoft Paint are indeed lacking, but I think you can understand the odd pattern of driving that Mr. Zippy chooses to employ. Often with no blinkers, often almost hitting you, and almost never actually getting anywhere.

5. The Timid Tom
Now, Timid Tom is usually an old guy, but not always. Timid Tom will be in any of the 4-5 lanes of traffic except for the far right lane, where they probably should be. They also never have their flashers on. But they are always going at least 15-20 miles under the speed limit. Going 50 in a 70, with no flashers for warning, making you suddenly change lanes and hope there is space for you so you don't have to slam on your brakes. Cause that can't be good for your car, and it's kind of scary, and no one wants to do that. Honking at these guys will do nothing, and if they are indeed old, I don't like honking anyway because I'm afraid to startle them. However, if this is you, or someone you know, please, keep right.

6. The Commuter
Last but not least, we find the Commuter. The Commuter is usually impatient, but often too tired as well to really do anything. They go the speed limit, or just above the speed limit, clearly trying to make it home in good time, but also do the drive often enough that they're kind of on auto-pilot. You'll usually see them slouched on one arm in traffic, or talking on their cell-phone. Pretty decent drivers to be around, and easy to bond with over the frustrations of the other 5 types of drivers.

Now, of course I'm not being serious here (well, mostly), but driving for an hour and a half to two hours every day can be frustrating, and everything mentioned above has come from common things I have actually seen daily. Though most of this post was all in good fun, I hope this is relatable to others who drive a lot, and I'd be very entertained to read what drivers you encounter that I didn't mention.
On another note, one day soon I'll begin posting about our trip to Asia, so if you're interested in seeing the #clarkesinasia, look for that(:

Adult Style Living

So, like mentioned in my last post, I graduated from BYU on April 24. A couple days later, on April 27, I started my first "adult" job at OC Tanner. I've now been at it for a couple weeks, and thought I'd give an update on my experience so far. 

OC Tanner is located in South Salt Lake City and is a campus of 3 to 4 buildings. It is still hard for me to describe exactly what they do, because they do a lot. At OC Tanner we are in the business of appreciating people, specifically employees. We design and create awards for employees of other companies for years of service, outstanding service, etc, with the belief that if the employees of a company feel appreciated, they will work harder, and the company will thrive. And that philosophy works. There is a lot that goes into it, but that's the best description I can give as of now.  OC Tanner was number 40 on the list of Fortune 100 best companies to work for in 2014. Pretty cool(:

I was hired as an Operations Group Leader, which is basically the equivalent of a manager. I am in the training program right now, which lasts 90 days, but once I'm through with that, I'll be placed in a department and given teams. It goes team member--> team leader-->group leader. I then answer to upper management department heads. So far I've totally loved working here (not surprised at all they made the top 100 best places to work in the country). Everyone is extremely friendly, helpful, and understanding. I've only been there a couple weeks, and already feel at home in the company, and have friends all around me. I have an amazing boss, and I don't feel intimidated or pressured to do things a certain way. They welcome and encourage individuality, and ideas and improvements coming from everyone, regardless of title. I've been given a project to complete for my 90 training, and I have the freedom to take it wherever I want, and really show what I am capable of and prove that it was a good decision to hire me. I'm really excited to continue moving forward with it, and move through this next adventure in my life of post-school.

Also, Derek and I moved! (Still in Provo though). It's just a newer, nicer place so that Derek has a separate place to study come school again, and I have a kitchen that actually functions so I can cook and bake as I please(: Once we are more settled, maybe I'll do a post on our new place, simply because I am really excited about some projects I want to do. For the summer Derek is just working, not taking classes, but it'll help us save up a lot of money. Plus, taking Spring/Summer classes didn't mesh with our vacation plans. We leave in just under 3 weeks for Asia!(: I'll do more on that later as well. But that's a little update on me and us for now.

A New Chapter in Life

So ends my days as a student. I graduated yesterday (April 24) from BYU. It's weird to think that it wasn't even a full three years ago that I graduated from high school. And on Monday I'll be starting my first full-time, "adult" job (more on that later). Hard work truly pays off(: I've been extremely blessed with a very supportive family. My parents have always pushed me to do my best and to succeed, my grandparents went to every concert, sporting event, or award ceremony that they could, and my husband has been one of my best friends for the past 6 years, and this past year he has helped me stay focused and work towards my goals. It was awesome to have the support of my family, in-laws, grandparents, and husband at my graduation ceremony. I felt their love, and it made the accomplishment that much better.

It's weird knowing that I'm no longer a student. Of course I'll continue to read, learn, and grow as much as I can, but it will no longer be in the classroom. It's a stark change from the last 21 years of my life, where school has been my first priority. I was blessed with fantastic teachers as early as elementary school that helped me figure out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. My professors at BYU just solidified the feeling that I was supposed to study English, and that reading and writing will always be my passion. While I move on to new adventures and take on new titles such as Operations Group Leader (at work), wife (at home), and mother (though not yet), I'll never let go of those passions and the things I have learned. I'll use them to enhance my work and home life. Getting a college education was the best decision I could've made, and the experiences and friends I have made will always hold a part of my heart. Thanks for everything BYU, here I come OC Tanner, and all the other adventures to come.