An Unimaginably Good Time

Perhaps the terrible semester I had makes it seem so much better.
Perhaps we had the perfect group of friends going.
Perhaps it was simply awesome by itself.

Either way I can't remember ever being this happy!

On Saturday, May 7th, I graduated from Utah State University.  I wasn't really looking forward to it; it just seemed like a formality. However, it was great to see so many friends again and celebrate our accomplishments together. Plus, I had friends and family that came to support me! And we went to Twizlberry (where Brian left the sherbet on and created a nice pile of pomegranate)! What great people!

Jaron, me, and Brian

The fam.

Angie graduated, too!

Then the real adventure began.

Sunday we drove from 11:30am Utah time to 10:30pm California time. We saw some beautiful scenery, license plates from several different states, and the world's largest thermometer. We talked and laughed and no one slept the whole time! We stayed in a dumpy motel ten minutes away from the pier, watched AFV, and realized we miss Bob Saget. 

We got on Carnival Paradise Monday afternoon and explored a lot. We got kicked out of the "adult area" and met the busty lass. We saw dolphins jumping into the sunset, met Jerry in the piano bar, saw ten minutes of a "fun" show, and listened to some interesting Karaoke talent. Also, Jen flirted with Kyle, drunken ladies danced, constantly-drunk Mike clapped for us, Jaron got scarred by Rex, and I tried sushi for the first time. All in all, an amazing first day.

Jaron - Anna - Queen Mary

Waiting for launch.

Goodbye, LA!

Pictures and Pirates

Sing us a song, piano man

One of many towel animals

Karaoke!

Drunken Lady dancing 

 Day 2 dawned bright and clear, or at least I think it did, our room didn't have a window. We were docked at Catalina Island, in the beautiful city of Avalon.  We got off the boat and wandered around for a bit, then we rented tandem bikes to check out the entire city. So great. After lunch, we snorkeled on the cold, rocky shore at Lover's Cove, soaked up the sun next to some girls reading the Ensign, and stayed in a hot tub to avoid the wind. That night was "Elegant Night" so we dressed up all fancy, took lots of cheesy and awkward pictures, ate dinner, listened to Big Trouble (everyone's favorite cruise cover band), and danced.

 

 
 

Tuesday was my favorite day.

Wednesday was spent in Ensenada, Mexico! My first time out of the country! It looked pretty much like Southern California except there was more Spanish and a few more Mexicans.  We drove around the bay to a beautiful private cove. After a bumpy ride up the mountain, we reached our destination to go snorkeling with Sal and Sermando. It was unbelievably gorgeous. We saw and held lots of sea creatures.

Before heading back to the boat, we got fish tacos, wandered around Mexican tourist shops, watched Jaron get suckered into several purchases, and ate Mexican Churros.  I got a Mexican blanket, tried Mexican coke, and Lobster at dinner. We also got a call at dinner time telling us that we brought live animals in the boat and that was bad. Jaron got escorted down to his room to dispose of them! That is why we no longer have a starfish to bring home from Mexico! We spent the evening with Big Trouble, karaoke again (this time with a cute little girl singing "I got a feeling"), and sitting on the front of the boat.

Beautiful private cove in which we snorkeled

Sun fish - sticks to your hands

View of a Mexican city on our return from snorkeling

Jaron and Ian getting their fish tacos

Classic Mexican Restaurant

I love churros!

Wednesday also included the best dinner show of the cruise.

Thursday was a Fun day at sea.  We played mini-golf, sat and talked in the sun, joined a battle-of-the-sexes, enjoyed the chocolate bar, enjoyed the sushi bar, enjoyed the free drinks, enjoyed the live band and dancing, and saw the stars.

On Board Mini-Golf

Friday we ate one last free buffet breakfast, left Paradise, and drove to Huntington Beach. It was the best beach yet.  Ian swam, Jen collected shells, Zack ate a mussel, everyone jumped, and we sat on the sandy beach in the sun. Perfect.  Eventually we drove back to Utah. We stopped at In-and-Out in Barstow, heard the sunset (as described by Ian), ate almost an entire package of Chewy Chips Ahoy, saw an epic double rainbow all the way across the sky (so intense), and maybe slept a little. We almost caught up to Jaron and Zack, too. We got home between 1 and 2 am full of unrestrained happiness.

The whole gang

Very excited jumping

Huntington Beach!

Best way to start a summer ever.