Where to start... The past few weeks were full of first-times for me. All of which involved not being at home! First thanksgiving and first birthday away from my home, my family, and my friends! It's not like I was worried or too terribly sad about it, because I knew I was spending the holiday and my birthday with some amazing people I am lucky enough to call friends. First off, Thanksgiving dinner was mostly prepared for us by the local Coffee Shop. It was a potluck dinner, where we brought mashed potatoes and two pies. There were probably 50 people from the community attending the dinner. The food was amazing and the comoradorie between everyone was equally amazing. People from different backgrounds and cultures getting together over dinner, and talking as if we were all family, it was truly something I was thankful for!
After dinner, Kate, Lara, and myself took a 1984 Toyota Tercel (with 274,000 miles on it, a backseat made of plywood type material, sticky doors, and a drivers door that doesn't unlock {as we soon found out}) to LAS VEGAS, NV. We were hoping to get out of the cold and windy weather of Green River UT, and head to the warmth of Las Vegas. hmm... well, it was cold and windy there too! But it sure was fun! I met up with my friend from CT who moved to Vegas 5 months ago, and we had some fun on the Strip! I can proudly say I did not gamble tho!!! I'll post the picture album from facebook as a link below, but between the red rocks hike, the nights out on the strip, and the hanging out with some good friends, my best memory will be the ride home! What was supposed to be a 6 hour ride, took 9.5 hours! Apparently people from UT and NV do NOT know how to drive in the snow! It was only a few inches, but the wind was blowing hard and it was COLD COLD COLD out! Travelling as slow as 5 mph at times, "Phyllis" was a champ. We powered through blizzard passing newer cars and SUVs with ease! Maybe it was my superb New England driving coming out, or maybe it was "Phyllis" and a lil luck... we will never know the truth! All's that matters is that we made it out, safe and sound, and with some pretty hilarious stories!!!
My birthday was truly amazing as well! Like I said before, it is my first one I have spent away from home. I really wasn't expecting much of anything, but what I got was shocking! Working at the EpiCenter in the morning, Adam and I left to go to the Medical Center to help out for a few hours. After 5 hours of tediously boring filing medical records, we left to go back to the EpiCenter. On my arrival was a surprise birthday party, with cupcakes that had trick candles on them, balloons, streamers, and noise/streamer poppers (which taste like gunpowder by the way)!!! It was more than I ever anticipated, especially from people I literally met 3 weeks before! The party continued back to the house where later that night I was surprised again with two apple pies (my favorite!), and more wonderful singing... it had to be the 3rd or 4th time I was sang to that day! I loved it!!! Finally, my birthday ended with a trip to Ray's Tavern (the only watering hole in Green River). Ray's serves food, and only beer.. and it's Utah beer (which has to be under 3.2% alc by vol.)... damn Utah laws. Nonetheless, we had fun! (as we always do). We closed down Ray's (at 8:30 or 9:00 - yea, everything closes really early around here), but the party continued at Jack's house (an EpiCenter employee), probably until 2:00am. I will truly never forget this birthday, and am greatful for all those who made it amazing!!
Oh and one more thing, by far the best present I received... I'm going to be an uncle to Sara and Eric's lil' baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of love,
Matt
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