from Atlantic to Pacific gee there's no traffic

Experiencing every season this week. I wore sandals on Monday, for reference.

My amazing Airbnb "country haven" - view of the "neighborhood" from the main road, the house, view from my porch, part of the studio apartment. Imma miss it but SO psyched to move into my own place this weekend.

This was leftover in my photo gallery from my road trip. I think I was planning on sending it to everyone who might know what vehicle these tires are for.

It’s so nice outside during the day here, but the difference between the high and low temps is absurd and I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DRESS!

Also, my dad texted me today that my town is over 4,000 feet above sea level, as opposed to my hometown, which is 3. My lips have been so chapped, and I’ve been extra dehydrated, and I literally had zero idea I was living in mountains. Nature? Who’s that?

all my new coworkers were just standing out in the hallway chatting and laughing when i walked in like teachers used to do in elementary school while waiting for the kids to come, and it’s just such a happy-looking place, i’m so excited

In other news, I start work tomorrow. I’ve got those first-day-of-school feels.

Yawn.

I almost ran out of gas because I live on the edge and also it didn't occur to me that there would not be pumps 7000 feet in the air. By the time I found a place to fill up, I had crossed the border and could no longer legally touch the pump! And it's cold, so thank you Oregon. 2 hours to go.

Add "Report shooting from highway."

The most unique road signs I saw yesterday on my drive from Wyoming through Utah and into Nevada: Prison Area No Hitchhiking (how about you spend money improving prison security instead of on signs?), Dust Hazard Area, and Dense Fog Possible. I propose that community service organizations (coughAPO) consider calling people who are on long road trips as a service project. Time goes SO much faster when people are calling just to say hi and I'm not talking to just my car anymore (we've seriously bonded, though, he knows all my secrets, including that I floss my teeth while going 80 mph and that I'm concerned my new cold sores may be a fungal infection). In Nevada I started seeing what I thought was snow. It was white and sparkled when I drove past, but then I saw the mountains reflecting in it and it looked like part of it might be water. And then I saw a lot of cars parked on the side of the interstate and people in heavy winter coats in the middle of it taking pictures of each other, one of them in a wedding dress! Gorgeous shots, I'm sure, but my god that's a lot of trouble to go through. This was in one of those "no exits for an unbearable amount of time" stretches. In other news, I am still getting asked if I'm Indian at gas stations. Back east, people would at least look at me funny and make small talk for a little before asking. Here a cashier just straight up said "You Indian?" And when I said no she said "Mexican?" And I said I'm Italian and she said "Oh, that's okay." I KNOW IT'S OKAY. My ambiguous ethnicity is one of my favorite things about my appearance, so go away. Today I'm in mourning because I think all the Dunkins on my route are behind me and I didn't even know it when I had my last sip of pumpkin with almond milk and veggie egg white wrap. I didn't get to say goodbye. 💔💔💔

What is this Nevada billboard advertising???

I'm officially in the land of get gas at literally every gas station cause there might not be another one for a couple hundred miles 👍🏽 but it's pretty so I'll take it.

Single digit hours!!!!!!!

Deena and I first visited this treasure trove of historical documents last year when we were looking for things to do besides explore Mormon history (which is also very interesting, and we did get to see Temple Square). The LDS church funds this project that is actually open to the public for free to research and find their ancestors. Last year, I barely had anyone’s names, so there wasn’t much to go off of, but after completing my genogram project in grad school and talking to lots of relatives, I am determined to find marriage and death certificates and hopefully some photos!! I’m so psyched. I only have 2 hours to spare, though, because my ultimate destination today is Battle Mountain, NV. Salt Lake City is 3 hours from me now, and then I’ll have another 4 hours after that. It’s going to be a long, hopefully fruitful day (let me explain the pun: Gabby and Deena and I ate some delicious fruit from Mormon orchards last month).