Ode to Tucson

I know I haven't been very kind to Tucson since I moved here. It's just never quite felt like home to me and I know we're not here permanently. I think it's time for me to appreciate Tucson for the city it is. So here are a few things I like about Tucson...

1. Weather- When I told people I was moving here, the first thing I heard was "it's so hot down there." (Orem, Utah was the same temp as Tucson was last week). Here's the deal. Yes, it is hot. I have felt the heat. I won't deny that it's hot. But 8 months out of the year, it's perfect. If you can handle a few months of "hotness," it's worth those 8 months of bliss. I also have to say that once it gets to 100 degrees-it's hot. I'm sorry to say that I can't tell the difference between 100 and 110. It's just all around hot.

We also can't forget the fact that it is almost always sunny. We see blue skies about 95% of the year. Just think how fun it is to wake up to blue skies and knowing it's going to be a nice sun shiny day. Imagine that happening almost every single day. It's very uplifting. As an added bonus, we get to experience Monsoon Season. It comes in July/August and really cools down the summer heat. We get amazing thunderstorms at night that are accompanied by an enormous downpour. This makes it a little more humid, but not unbearable.

2. Wildlife- This category is a little surprising coming from me, seeing as how I don't love animals. However, we have some super fun wildlife down here. Ryan and I love to go for walks and see all the little creatures running around. We do have a lot of birds-not something I enjoy. We often see quail-which I had never seen before moving here. They sound like Tickle Me Elmo. It's too weird. I do love to see the lizards though. There are always a ton scurrying around and running away from you. When they get mad and they try to be intimidating, they do little push-ups. The other day, one poor lizard fell into the pool. I didn't know what to do and I tried to put my towel in the water for him to grab onto, but he wasn't having it. He got sucked into the drain on the side-I still feel bad about it. We just discovered a new little Gecko running around at night. They blend in so well with their surroundings that they look see-through. We also have a million cottontail rabbits running around. They are everywhere. The two coolest animals that we've seen around the apartment are roadrunners and coyotes. I haven't seen a roadrunner for a while, but they are cool looking birds. They might be on the birds I like list-which consists only of Penguins. Coyotes are even cooler. Whenever I drive home at night I search to see if I can spot one. One night we were driving down the street and one ran in front of the car with some sort of animal in it's mouth. I've seen a small pack run across the street in the morning on my way to work. It's so fun to experience.

3. Pools- The pools are open year round. They're heated in the winter and they're refreshing in the summer. It's so fun that the option to go swimming is always there. I especially love the spring time when it's the perfect temp and laying out isn't so unbearable. I also love going for a run, changing into my swimsuit and cooling off in the pool. It's so relaxing.

The one last thing I love about Tucson, is that we don't have to experience this...

This is Ryan and my brother Jeff cleaning up my parents' flooding bathroom at 2 AM.

Wanna See Where I'm From?

This last week we were in Cedar Rapids, Iowa visiting my family! It was a blast, but if you've been watching the news-it hasn't been too safe. It was declared a disaster area due to flooding. We were amazed by how high the waters were and the damage that it is causing. Luckily, the water is receding right now, but it is still such a tragedy. We took some pictures of downtown Cedar Rapids. We drove through it more than we should have while we were there, but we were able to get many pictures. Try to click on them to get a closer view.

This is downtown Cedar Rapids where

the Cedar River is

I've eaten at this DQ many a time-not so much anymore, do you notice the dumpster floating next to it?

If you look closely, you can see the DQ sign...that's how high the water was.

This is a random street we came across while trying to avoid the traffic on the partially closed freeway-this was a dead end too... If you look very very closely, you might be able to see a little stop sign on the right to judge how high the water was.

Luckily, my parents don't live close to the flooding and have been safe from it all. Thank you Heather for your concern. They've been getting millions of phone calls from friends and family to see if they are ok. They are just experiencing some inconveniences. They've been asked to conserve water and to limit shower usage, flushing and anything else requiring water.

Nauvoo Fun!

My brother and his wife recently adopted two children from Haiti. This past week, they were sealed to them in the Nauvoo temple. Ryan and I were able to go back to be a part of the sealing and to spend time with family. It was a great trip and it was so much fun to finally meet our new nephew Teancum Wilson Schofield. We had already met his sister Tabitha Rose a year earlier. Teancum is 5 or 6 years old and Tabi is 3. They are cute kids. Teancum has only been in the states for 6 months, but his English is great. He can understand and communicate very well. We fell in love with his instantly. Tabi had an unfortunate incident in the Haitian hospital when she was about 18 months. A room full of babies were give an adult dose of a tuberculosis drug. Tabitha was the only one to survive. She isn't at the developmental stage of a 3 year old, but she's a great addition to the family. Ryan and I were able to spend time with the family after the sealing. We went and toured parts of Nauvoo and got to know our nieces and nephews better.

It was such a great experience to be part of something so special. We're excited to have Teancum and Tabitha in the family and can't wait to spend time with the Boise Schofields again!

Steve's Tucson Adventure

This past weekend we were pleased to have a super fun visitor. After 2 long years, we finally got to see Steven Tuitupou again. It was a blast to have him come stay with us and to reminisce about the olden days. We tried to entertain him and show him around the hot spots of Tucson- we weren't very successful, but we did have a good time!

On Friday, we all took him down to Nogales, Mexico. We thought we should show him how close we live to the border and let him use his Spanish a little bit! It seems like Ryan had more fun than the rest of us.

Ryan decided to get his hair cut while we were there... we were all nervous, but she did a great job! And it was cheaper than the US.

Ryan also decided he wanted to pose with a donkey. They have a lot of little tourist money makers down there and Ryan gave into to the pressure. Of course we got ripped off. I guess we learned our lesson. I think it was worth the pictures.

After walking around Nogales for a little bit, we went to eat at a restaurant called La Roca. It's located right on the side of the mountain. It's pretty cool to go to. We took pictures in a little courtyard you have to walk through to get to the restaurant.

The next night we went to a Sidewinders baseball game. They're the minor league team for the Diamondbacks up in Phoenix. It was way too cold that night for a baseball game...

We also had to introduce Steve to Guitar Hero...

We had a great weekend! We miss Steve already. You better come back and visist us soon Steve!

Cinco de Mayo

It's decided that Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays. To celebrate, we had a small gathering at our house. After eating a Mexican feast of taquitos, chips, homemade guac and salsa, we had to partcipate in a classic Mexican tradition.... the PINATA!!!

Richie taking his turn(his pic didn't turn out well)

Here Richie is picking up his prizes

Me taking my swing-not sure what I'm afraid of
Ryan just going at it.

Angie taking her shots-after this, the pinata came off the hook that hangs it...
Fake shot of Wendy (her photos didn't turn out at all... sorry Wendy)
Since the pinata couldn't hang, the boys decided to drop kick it.
Richie enjoying his rewards.

Please notice that the pinata never broke.

My Turn!

I know everyone has now done this list. I feel like a huge copy cat, but I have had some requests for it. So here you go... 100 Things about Me- The Schuyler Edition...

1. I am the youngest of five kids, I have four older brothers.
2. I always say I'm from Iowa, but collectively I've lived in Utah longer.
3. I get yelled at or talked down to by strangers almost daily.
4. I am a super picky eater. I tried pineapple for the first time two years ago.
5. I can get addicted to a reality TV show in about 2.2 seconds.
6. I am terrified of birds-there's no story.
7. I love watching TV shows that bring me back to my childhood.
8. I didn't eat chocolate for 3 years.
9. I have a hard time breathing through my nose and almost always breathe through my mouth.
8. When I was in Jr. High I wanted crutches so bad that my friend and I would trip each other while rollerblading. It sure did give me some scars on my elbows.
9. I always have to have chap stick on me and I lose it constantly.
10. I love getting sunburned.
11. I genuinely think everyone hates me. I mean everyone.
12. Since I was a little kid, I have been worried that a murderer was in my house/apartment. I even make Ryan check our place when I'm suspicious. (It's a one bedroom apartment)
13. I blame my fear of murderers on my brothers-they would watch those horror movies and I would "try" to watch them too.
14. I used to tell people that Freddy Krueger was my favorite serial killer.
15. I can't stand Proactive commercials.
16. I've run in a 25K (15.5 miles) and a half-marathon.
17. When I run, everything has to be perfect... my hair can't be on my face, my clothes have to fit just right and the treadmill has to feel good. Otherwise, I can't run.
18. I do prefer to run on a treadmill as opposed to outside. It helps me keep a good pace.
19. The episode of Saved by the Bell when Zack and Kelly break up still makes me tear up.
20. I love to know celebrity gossip.
21. I own 23 *N Sync CDs.
22. My mother recently offended me by telling me that she doesn't think Justin Timberlake is cute or that he's a good singer and has felt that way for awhile. And she supported me all those years.
23. I have a weird rib cage, one side is flat (normal) and the other side pokes out.
24. I love watching the Today show in the morning.
25. I own over 50 shares of Wal-Mart stock.
26. When I was born, the doctor said I had the tiniest nasal passages he'd ever seen.
27. I am very sensitive about my name.
28. One time someone asked me if my name was Shalair... how do you get that?
29. I absolutely love organizing.
30. I am terrified to have children.
31. I am also terrified that I will have ugly children.
32. I like to watch 20/20 or Dateline when they talk about murder/kidnapping cases, but they often give me nightmares.
33. I can't stand talking on the phone (except to family) and I have a hard time returning phone calls.
34. I feel like I come across as ditzy at work.
35. I wish that I had hobbies. I hate when people ask me what I like to do- I can never think of anything.
36. I love to deep clean my house every day I have off.
37. I am addicted to sugar.
38. My favorite candy are candy necklaces.
39. My favorite color is pink.
40. I'm pretty sure I have the same exact tastes as a little kid. I feel like a little kid sometimes.
41. I can't stand when people are completely thoughtless and inconsiderate.
42. I feel like people always second guess me.
43. I love to make "to do" lists.
44. I think I say "I'm sorry" way too much in conversations.
45. I hate putting people out or stepping on people's toes.
46. I don't have strong opinions on anything. Chances are, if you tell me your opinion, I'll agree.
47. I feel like I've gotten shyer with age, but with a little more sass.
48. I wish everyone could work in retail just once to see what it's like.
49. I climbed to the top of Mount Timpanogos, but it conquered me.
50. I have been to the Billboard Music Awards twice.
51. I really enjoy cooking and trying new recipes.
52. I can't stand getting ready for bed. For some reason, it's so hard.
53. I sometimes talk in my sleep. I once told Ryan that I was "no mad duck."
54. When I first got contacts, I only needed one for my right eye.
55. I feel connected to people once they laugh at me.
56. I love to have something to look forward to... trips, people visiting, holidays. It's always depressing after trips are over if you don't have something else coming up.
57. I don't look forward to the holidays as much as I used to. Working retail kills that spirit.
58. My hair is naturally curly. I never appreciated it until a few years ago.
59. I don't like animals.
60. I do tell Ryan everyday that I want a dog-a Mini Yorkie-it's not gonna happen.
61.I love the day before I have a day off. There's something about the anticipation of having a free day.
62. I love when Ryan tells me what he learns in Newsweek. I'm not smart enough to read the magazine, but he explains it all to me so well.
63. I've been to two *N Sync concerts.
64. I like to write, but I'm really self-conscious about it.
65. I used to love to buy DVDs.
66. My brothers had to shave my first baby doll's head because I was afraid of the hair.
67. I secretly get urges to color.
68. My favorite clothing store is American Eagle. It's the only store Ryan will buy me clothes from because I know their sizes perfectly.
69. I like to scrapbook, but I'm never motivated to do it.
70. I can't stand text message talk- lol, btw, etc.
71. In fourth grade my teacher called me the punctuation princess.
72. I don't like having to make new friends. I'm not as social as I used to be.
73. I was best friends with Ryan's brother Richie first.
74. I don't like playing get to know you games. I can never think of anything interesting about me or my life.
75. I have a guitar, but can only play one song.
76. I can't stand it when people don't use punctuation.
77. I'm looking forward to moving away from Tucson.
78. I like playing games, but I get super competitive. I haven't beaten Ryan in Skip-Bo since before we were married.
79. I want to travel all over the world someday with my husband.
80. I have to be with Ryan any chance I get. I don't like doing anything without him.
81. Shopping almost always puts me in a bad mood.
82. I can be pretty stubborn.
83. I feel like I get annoyed easily.
84. I'm very sensitive about saying and spelling people's names right.
85. I have only snow skied once, but I loved it.
86. I travelled a ton with my mom when I was younger- I've been to at least 35 states-that I can remember.
87. I broke my friends trampoline in high school. A few of us were jumping on it and I went to do a bum sit and landed on the ground. Springs hit my head and everything. It was hilarious.
88. I think about weight constantly.
89. I'm the complete opposite of high maintenance. Except I love cute clothes.
90. I bleach my teeth, just the top. No one sees the bottom.
91. I've had 25 roommates. One of those I lived with a total of 3 years.
92. My favorite state is Connecticut. (not sure why)
93. I think about quitting my job every single day-and how I would do it.
94. I think I would like my job if I had a set schedule.
95. The other day I told Ryan I was turning Democrat, but when I told him my views-he told me I was mostly Republican.
96. I'm kinda over blogging, but hopefully this will help.
97. I wish I kept in better contact with old friends and roommates.
98. I feel like I recognize people a lot more often than they recognize me.
99. I have a ton of home videos of me and friends/roommates, I loved that camera.
100. Deep down I knew Ryan and I were going to get married way before we started dating.

Things I Got (and didn't want)

Well, it's Ryan here again. Ever since I posted last, Schuyler has had a bad attitude about the blog. But the blog is badly in need of an update so here we go...

Lately I've received two things in the mail that I didn't want:

1) Bender Ball with VHS video tapes

2) GQ Magazine

Let me begin with item #1. The Bender Ball with VHS video tapes. Now in truth, I actually half wanted this item. Or more precisely, Schuyler half wanted this item. She ordered it by phone and did her best to navigate their confusing system in hopes of getting the Bender Ball with instructional DVDs. Well, it came in the mail about a month later with VHS tapes. I was assigned the job of calling Bender Ball to complain. I spoke with a girl who through broken English repeatedly called me "ma'am" and told me there was nothing she could do. After calling me "ma'am" for like the fifth time, I told her that I was not a woman and that she was just making the situation worse. I eventually ended my conversation with her without success. I made Schuyler call them back another day and she was able to fix the problem (we think). Our new Bender Ball with DVDs is supposedly in the mail. I can't wait to use the Bender method of core training to sculpt my abs.

Now onto item #2. GQ Magazine. A few months ago Schuyler and I answered our front door to find a couple of high school hoodlums selling magazines. After a weak attempt at getting them to go away, I made the fatal mistake of telling them that Schuyler's People Magazine subscription had expired. They took advantage of their opening and soon we were handing them cash in exchange for a People subscription. Months and months then went by and Schuyler and I would always joke about how those hoodlums probably just pocketed our cash. But recently, out of the blue, we began receiving GQ Magazine. GQ!? Seriously? Who reads GQ anyway? Judging from their articles, its audience is primarily rich, metrosexual republican men. I made fun of it and then within a week Schuyler caught me reading it. I now know all about the latest male fashions. I guess getting GQ wasn't THAT bad after all.