Jessica's Escapade

The birds are back! And they're not just the crows - they're songbirds. Walking out to the shuttle this morning was a lovely experience indeed. :)

I was walking home this afternoon, and was so enjoying the sunshine, despite how bitter it was. And I realized that I didn't have to be anywhere at any specific time today...and this brilliant idea slammed into my head!

I reached my apartment and walked right past the front doors and headed straight to the parking lot. I threw my backpack in the back of my car and placed the key in the ignition.

I was going for a drive. I love listening to music and thinking to myself. I didn't feel like I particularly "needed" a drive today, but I was feeling super good. :) Since there was still so much daylight, and their wasn't any wretched inversion in the air, I felt motivated to seek out "The Snowman."

My dad's cousin Paul, my uncle Chad, and other "various relations," built this GIANORMOUS snowman up Logan Canyon. My dad had showed me pictures of it on Paul's Facebook, and he told me that I needed to go check it out when I got back home to Logan. I was told that it's hard to miss as you drive along the road...it even made the front page of the paper. :) It's a couple of weeks old, but it easily stood 12 feet high...I figured that at least a mound and reminant had to still be in place. So I figured why not? :)

It was so fun driving the canyon. It wasn't busy and no one was riding my tail. I was on the look out on all sides for "The Snowman" and feeling like I was on a treasure hunt. After about 20 minutes of driving and wondering if I had passed it, lo and behold, there it was! Right where Pops said it would be- straight across from Rick's Spring. Oh my heart!

IT'S HUGE!

He was definitely still there - it hasn't been warm enough for him to even consider melting. I pulled off to the side and hopped out of my car to take pictures. There was a river stopping me from reaching where the happy smiling snowman stood. I took pictures from the river's edge, but it wasn't nearly as impressive. I had to get closer.

I looked up the river and saw a spot where the river was less wide. I trucked over there and followed other people's footprints. The snow came up to my knees in some places, but I wasn't bothered by that at all. It was intense! Turns out there's a snowbank connecting both sides of the river, so there was no jumping required. *Whew. But I made it up to the hill where "The Snowman" resides. I stood next to it and had to tilt my head straight back to see his face. He has branches for arms and sticks for porcupine-hair. He just made me happy to look at him. Gracias relations for building him. :)

After taking some pictures, I found my way back to my car and headed back down the canyon. My all time favorite song, "Get What You Give" by New Radicals came on. Pumped as I was, I rolled down my window and cranked up the volume...and I threw on my sunglasses for good measure. One of my favorite things to do. The mountain air smelled wonderful! It's been decided that I cannot wait until Spring!

I emerged from the canyon and pulled back into the parking lot. I walked up to my room...it seemed as if none of that had happened. It seemed like I was just getting back from school. Huh...

But nonetheless, I decided that it's a good day to be alive. Super good day. :)