No, no, no, thank YOU CPK!

I have been eating free or 50% California Pizza Kitchen for the past two months. Let me tell you how! 

So after finals all the roomies and I decided to go out to eat to celebrate! I had a gift certificate to CPK (thanks mom!) so we decided to go there. We had a yummy meal and then at the end the waitress brings these little cards over. She said they were thank you cards from CPK. The deal is that you have to come back in to open them up and reveal your prize. Just a ploy to get you to come back the restaurant? Perhaps, but this one worked out in my favor! Trish my little love was super nice and gave me hers because she was leaving to Romania in the next few days. 

Well, Ty took me out to dinner the night before I left for Ecuador. We opened two cards up and won two free dinners for two (worth $40 each)! We used one that night and got to order drinks and dessert too! Hello bbq chicken pizza and penne pesto pasta! 

Every time we'd go in they'd give us a new stack of cards too! I think I went to CPK three times in a row without paying a dime. We also won 50% off a whole meal for up to 12 people. The roomies, Ty, and I spread the word and soon we had 12 people heading up to CPK. It was wonderful. If there's anything I love more than food it's getting it for free/cheap.

I was going to post about this a while ago so you could all run in there and get some of these "thank you" card prizes but unfortunately they have stopped distributing them. Sorry! So I guess the purpose of this post was just to brag about all the yummy food I got. Kinda rude but oh well. I still have a few more 50% off coupons so if you're in Utah let's go! 

State Track Meet with the Bear

Here's the follow-up from that last post. So I went home for the weekend to see friends and the fam but mostly to watch Brooke "The Bear" run in the California state track meet! I was super nervous going because I seemed to have some sort of jinx on Brooke the last few times I've seen her run. We all loaded up in the car and drove down to Fresno! The meet was so fun to watch because the athletes were incredible. We watched two other Granite Bay athletes- a long jumper and a pole vaulter. Finally, it was time for Brooke's race. It was terrible sitting there worried while she ran eight laps of the track. She stuck with a pack of girls the whole time and ended up getting a 17 second PR! She ran the 3200 (basically 2 miles) in 10:48. Crazy. 

She was so excited she turned and cheered after the finish line. We all hurried over to see her and she was doing a combination of laughing and crying she was so happy. She got 17th place in the whole state of California! She is amazing. This is especially impressive considering how huge California is. In a ton of other states she would have won the whole state meet with her time! I was so happy for her especially after all the training she had done. She is one of the most disciplined people I know. It was fun to finally be there at a "happy" race! Afterwards we took photos and went to In-N-Out. I love California...

It was so fun to be home and see everyone. I got to catch up with a bunch of my sweet friends- Sister Barton, Anise, and Alyssa. Dad also took the fam out to the lake on Monday night- my favorite FHE. I flew back to Utah on Tuesday. For the next two weeks until summer term starts I'm just working on my nursing research projects and living the dream in P-town! 

Here's some pics from the race! 

So i'm trying this twitter-like update thing from my phone. Gosh i'm getting so tech savvy! :) I am currently driving down to fresno with the family for the California state track meet! Brooke qualified for the two mile race and we are so proud. She's crazy fast and so disciplined in her workouts. Go bear!!! Ty and i have been banned to the back seat but we're being pals sharing my ipod. We have already watched emperors new groove and eaten a whole box of hot tamales. Love road trips with the fam!

back in the USA

Well I finally made it home! I stayed that extra day (photos and info to follow) and it was actually super fun. I got home on Saturday afternoon. It's been so fun to see my roommates and friends in the ward. I'll just be working in Provo until summer classes start. I'm going to go back and finish those few days I missed because I'm actually printing this out in a little photobook. I think I might just keep this blog because it's gotten me in contact with so many people. Thanks for reading and sharing my experience! I'll post the rest of the days soon.... 

Love, Allie

bittersweet $400

So I'm a little behind on the blog but here's an up-to-date post. 

Tonight I arrived at the Quito airport for my flight for the U.S. of A. and was pretty stoked right? Well, I walked up to a desk right after my friend, Katie. While the lady is typing and clicking away checking me in, Katie (my roomie) turns to me and says, "Wait, Allie, want to stay 24 hours more for $400?" My first instinct was to turn down the offer. The airline agent started rattling off something about a five star hotel, food vouchers, transportation, and $400 towards any Delta flight. The whole time I was thinking of my dear bffs and bro at home! We had so many plans for Friday and Saturday- the most distressing being a welcome home party on Friday night! 

I broke out the computer, jumped on Skype, and made some phone calls. Mother said it was probably a good idea because $400 is quite a bit of dinero and I'm not exactly rollin in the dough with my little research jobs. It kinda seemed meant to be especially because I have been really wanting to come home in June. Ty seemed a little less enthralled with the idea but agreed. I was still beside myself about my sweet friends who had made so many plans for the weekend but decided I wasn't in a place to pass up $400 in Delta vouchers. I made my decision but waited to hear from my friends that everything was okay.

Katie convinced our friend, Sonya, to join us too and then it was official! Three other girls later in line decided to stay the extra day also. Two of the boys called their wives but when they heard the sadness of their wives about the 24-hour delay it was a no go. Oh the joys of being single and unattached!

For the first few hours I could hardly enjoy myself, still worried sick about my besties (Ty, Lisa, Katie, Bree, Benson, Jenna, Kalli, etc.). Luckily, I have the sweetest friends ever and they all were really understanding. Hopefully we can reschedule the party for sometime soon! Thanks guys for even thinking to plan a welcome home party and for being so nice when it didn't work out. I can't wait to see everyone! 

In the meantime, we are living the dream in Ecuador! We decided if we're going to have to stay 24 hours more we might as well make the most of it. It's not too hard to enjoy yourself here. Delta has put us up in one of the nicest hotels in Quito- the Dann Carlton. We even have a swimming pool and spa! 

As soon as we got to our rooms we all put on our little slippers. 

Now I'll be arriving Saturday morning at 10:25 am! I'm so super excited to see all my friends and catch up, especially after the delay. See you then!

Ecuador=Equator

So today we finally found out why Ecuador has its name! Okay maybe we already knew but we actually got to go to the Equator today. I was wondering how cool a line on a map could be but I was presently surprised. 

We arrived at Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth) and I immediately sensed a tourist trap. From the outside I saw a sign that bragged about being the actual location of the Equator found by GPS. We started on a little tour showing traditional dress of the people there (don't worry the men's only item of clothing is a single string around the waist) and how they shrink heads the heads of killed enemies or leaders. Basically, we all got grossed out for the first few exhibits. 

Then, we followed our tour guide over to a line showing the actual Equator. He did a few Bill Nye type experiments and it was so cool! 

The first was probably something you've heard of- the changing water direction with hemispheres. First, he filled the bucket and showed that on the Equator the water flowed straight down. Then he moved five feet over to the north and the water flowed out counterclockwise! It was nuts! Next, you guessed it, he pulled it over five feet to the south and it flowed out clockwise. Crazy. 

Next he talked about how on the Equator because there is no Coriolis Effect it is really easy to balance. He told us if we could balance an egg on a nail we would get a little certificate at the end. Being nursing students and highly motivated, we all tried again and again to balance that darn egg. Finally, I did it! Here's a picture for the fridge! 

The last one was showing how the Equator affects us. He had us try to pull each other's arms down away from the Equator and then on it. It was way easier to do on the Equator. I guess without the pull we all weigh less on it so we're weaker. Haha okay so the explanation wasn't every detailed but it really worked. Here's all the proud nursing students with their certificates. 

Next we went to the place where they have thought the Equator was forever before GPS. They have a pretty monument there and shops/restaurants. 

We then went on a little tour of Quito. We saw a beautiful cathedral and toured the President's Palace. Ecuador has been pretty crazy with dictators and coup d'etats. It was fun to hear a little bit about the political history. 

We also saw a pretty statue of Maria on a hill...

After this we were pretty tuckered out! We ran home to change and shower before heading off to a fancy dinner at the Hotel Quito. It was pretty yummy! I even ate shrimp Dad!

 After a long day of sightseeing we were ready to sleep!