I was just kidding....

Happy Places

only exist

in your 

dreams. 

Nothing is more cruel than waking up to reality. 

It probably hurts more than anything. 

Happy Place - Breath-taking...

You know those days where you just struggle to make it through and be kind to those around you? So you work really hard to get a smile out - and to people on the outside it looks like you are a happy, smiling individual. But really on the inside, you are a flesh eating zombie monster and all you want to do is tear heads off and scream into the night.
Yes - in case you are wondering - that was me. Today.
It was not a good scene. I feel bad for those I interacting with and I would like to make a public [by that I mean a public via blog - which doesn't reach very many people, but I do not care] apology.

I'm Sorry. 

Alright, now that that is over I can tell you that I got over it and I am doing much better. You could indeed say that I am rehabilitating from 'monster-zombie' mode. What is my solution? My medicine? My cure, you may ask?

DANCE.

There is nothing like it people. It calms my soul. I am free. Not a care in the world do I have when I dance. It requires no thought process - my body just moves to the music. It feels the beat and responds. And it's glorious. I love dance. Not the choreographed jazz, or ballet, or contemporary or any of the funky business. Nope, full on free-style, improv, make-it-up on the spot kind of stuff. To the music with the beat and the bass that just makes you lose your mind. And the music is so loud you can't hear others talk, and you can rarely hear yourself think, and your hears ring for days afterwards. 

That my friends, is my kryptonite. And I am not afraid that you know it. Because it does nothing but good for me. 

The movement of bodies to music on a hot and sweaty dance floor - is my happy place. 

Also, a great repercussion of the evening we spent at the "Revenge of the Nerds" dance party was this conversation:

(Guy walks by me a couple times over the course of a few minutes - finally comes over and whispers, WHISPERS [mind you, we are in a LOUD clubbing institution] in my ear...)

Guy: "You have a breath-taking heinie."

It took all I had to just smile and say a quiet and simple thank you. 

But what I really wanted to say to this random guy from 

Club Infinity in 

Salt Lake CIty, UT - 

"THANK YOU FOR THAT SERIOUSLY

WONDERFUL

choice of words

for a

compliment."

Wanna have a race?

So this year (I guess by this year, I mean the year 2011) was a bit untraditional for my family and I. Normally, school lets out for Christmas break and floods of students rush home to their houses wherever they are to spend 2 glorious weeks of break with their families and friends. Christmas candies, beautifully decorated trees with presents underneath, and surprising visits from St. Nick himself. 'Tis a wonderful season full of lights, carols, and weight gain.
However, that was not the case for the Ure family.
Us 5 individuals for the first time celebrated... (drum roll please)

Christmas in the Carribean

The Ure's 'make-shift-at-sea' Christmas Tree

Yup. We sure did. And now I am going to rub it in your face so your jealousy makes you explode. 

<--So this was our cruise
ship. Yea, i didn't mention that earlier. We went on a Chirstmas Caribbean Cruise (<-- check out that alliteration). Anyway, the ship was bomb. Almost all the workers were from the Philippines of Indonesia. For example this guy who dressed up like a tin solider. 

Alright, so our ship made 4 island stops ( 3 of which were the ABC islands - previously known as the Dutch Isles - leaving room to assume that they were owned by the Dutch). Which, believe me, were well wanted and needed breaks from life on the sea. We unfortunately got caught in the tail end of a storm on the water. So inevitably, our ship was rockin' like the hips of Shakira. And if you know Shakira, then you know that that is no mediocre rocking. I swear, for the first couple of days we lived off of motion sickness pills. They were life-savers. Needless to say, the days we got off the ship, I felt the urge to kiss the ground. 

Island Stop 1 - Half Moon Cay

This is the private island of the cruise line, so we were the only people on the island (plus the other 2,000 cruisers...) but it was still peaceful and secluded none-the-less. 

The sign says -
"I WISH I COULD STAY HERE FOREVER"
Which really was true. 

Island Stop 2 - Aruba

It was cloudy. Which was a bummer. However, we had reservations to go snorkeling - in my case scuba diving. And I wasn't about to let that opportunity disappear just due to a no appearance of the sun. **stupid sun** Anyway, I got to scuba dive this awesome ship wreck. It's called the Antilla in case you are interested. 

Island Stop 3 - Bonaire

We took a Water Taxi to an island off the coast of Bonaire that is known for its Snorkeling. It was great. They had this little fish that was black and little with little iridescent blue dots. A polka dot fish. God made it for me. I'm convinced. 

 

My brothers and I are pretty bro. 

Island Stop 4 - Curaçao

Once again, it was rainy this day, so we did very little beach and ocean stuff. 

Bummer. 

However, we did find things to do and entertain ourselves. Like we went to the islands Aquarium they had and got to see sea-life native to the Caribbean. 


This poor turtle had no front fins. Hence the towel on his back. Bless his heart swimming through the pond. And then this is a Giant Spiny-Backed Lobster. Imagine eating that guy...

This seal performed for us. I can't remember her name for the life of me. BUT she did a great job. And the flamingos were so cool too. I almost got to touch one.

So then our ship made a secret stop and we had the wonderful opportunity to attend Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. 

Ok psych, it was the Magical World of Harry Potter in Universal Studies in Orlando, FL. There is really only one word I can think of to describe this adventure. 
MAGICAL

Gosh. I was the happiest person alive that day. It couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was over-cast so it really felt like I was supposed to be in Hogsmeade. They had everything - from HoneyDukes to Ollivanders, and Zonko's Joke Shop to the Three Broomsticks, and Mandrakes to Butter Beer. Not to mention The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter ride. I will not exploit his adventures here on this unstable website, so if you care to know more about Harry Potter and his journeys that are very much forbidden - ask me - in other contexts though. I will however inform you that you do get the chance to walk through the castle and see the moving photographs and staircases,  and Dumbledore's office with all his trinkets and even the Pensive is present. I was drooling. I wanted to stay. Permantently move in. I even told the Ravenclaw student I met that I was so unbelieveabley jealous of his job. And do you know what his reply was? 

"Job? I'm just here going to school."

Like really? Would anything be more perfect than being in Hogwarts 24/7? Yea, nope. Nothing would be more perfect. GO. EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. My words do not do this extraordinary life-like theme park. 

And then to sum up my wonderful excursion to Paradise, I will leave you with this beautiful parting story.

**Disclaimer: I myself was a witness to this.

We were in the airport about to catch our flight back to Salt Lake City. I was standing off to the side by myself while my brothers and mom bought Starbucks. (P.S. If you haven't tried White Hot Chocolate from Starbucks.... you are missing out on a glorious experience for your mouth)
There I was, standing at the top of the hallway ( I should mention that where I was standing did have a slight incline ) when here comes an airport attendant pulling two elderly people in their wheelchairs.
Try to imagine this with me. The attendant is the the middle grabbing both inner arm rests, pulling them up the ramp behind him.
With further investigation of this odd scene, I realize that they are a couple. Husband and Wife. Their story, I do not know. Where they were traveling to, I also do not know. But a couple in the airport being pulled by an attendant they were.
And then, I had the pleasure of hearing this:

Old man to his wife: "Hey, do you wanna have race?"

Take what you want from that - but all I know if they're doing something right.

Hope your Christmas break was 1/8th of what mine was. :D

More to come about New Years. :D