You know it's been a good day of skating when you fall asleep getting undressed...

I've been skating for a while now. If you start from the very first day I went to a skatepark with a skateboard til now, it's been a little over seven years. If you don't count the past three years where I've been injured and haven't really been able to skate, it's more like five. Still a long time. Since the beginning, one of my favorite people to watch on a skateboard has been Ryan Reyes. For a long time all I watched skateboarding-wise was his skate movie part. Before skating, after skating, whenever I was bored...Maybe it was his unkempt hair or his perfectly sculpted glutes or the skating itself. I might have had a huge crush on the guy. There I said it! No shame. Anyway, his skating is super rad. I just watched this new-ish part and I am once again hooked.

I haven't updated in a while, but here's a quick update:

• I live in Arizona now and I love it
• I switched my major to nutrition, school is a little tough but I love it
• I skate and ride my bike a bunch now and I love it
• My knee is doing great...and you guessed it! I love it. 

Now for a phone dump..

 Nat and Chase just making out. Just kidding! None of that!

 These two love each other. It's so cool to be able to witness love happening. 

 I also wear dresses now. Weird. And fall when I try to pose for pictures...

 Ice bucket challenge. Nice helmet, bro. 

 Hanging out on the roof makes you feel like a giant. 

 I went to Chuck Box the other day with Big Raf, mini Raf and Chrissie. This was my second time ever and I am definitely still a fan. They cook their burgers on an open fire and they taste amazing!

 Chrissie used to work at the double tree. This shirt was meant just for her!

Chrissie's first day of school pictures! I felt obligated to take these for Chrissie. Memories, ya know! She'll look back years from now and be super stoked on them.

 Classic butt shot.

 Classic in front of the house shot.

 Classic getting into the car picture

 Tempe park in the hot, hot afternoon. Empty!

 Popeye took a selfie

 Such a patient pup!

 Uh-oh! I'm glad she made it to the throne!

 The horses at the mall are way too fast! Hence the blurriness..

 Up, up, and away!

 Like I said, I like the roof

 So do Bodhi and Chase

 Cacti are some of my favorite things about Arizona

 True love. From mama bird to doggy bird's bowl! Presh!

 What a beautiful city

 The next couple pictures are from when we went up to Payson for Labor day. It was such a rad day of hiking, blasting music, almost dying going up hills in my car (apparently now named Butch), and cliff jumping. 

 Bigfoot! Wait..false alarm. Just Chase

 Yeah, we hike!

 We had a pretty big group

 Jon and Erin hanging out on big rocks

 Gorgeous views here in good ol' Arizona

And last but not least..hard styling whenever we see a familiar car. Hey Josh.

Alright, now for story time..

The first time I ever came to Arizona was in January 2011, after having worked my first summer at camp. Before camp and meeting some of the people that I did, I never saw myself coming out here. I knew nothing about Arizona, didn't know anyone in Arizona, Arizona never crossed my mind. After camp, it was a different story. I'd met a couple people that lived out here and they made it seem great. Think: all the benefits of California minus the ocean and no ridiculously high rent. I was sold.

I was 20 years old, had recently moved to Florida, was working at an ice cream shop but hated it and wasn't the biggest fan of Florida. I had saved up enough money and after that summer, I had reasons for wanting to come to Arizona and had people out here that wanted me to come and everything was fine and dandy. I kind of just thought, "if not now then when?" I went ahead, bought my ticket and assumed that the plans I had made last summer still stood. (You know what they say about assuming?) The funny thing in life is that sometimes you make plans way in advance with someone and everyone's really excited and time goes on and real life happens and then when the time comes, they end up changing their minds. Well that's what happened. If I ever say I'm going to do something, you better believe it's going to happen! It doesn't matter how long it takes, how hard I have to work to get what I want or to do something I want to do. If I want to do something I'll do it. Anyway, I had a ticket and now I didn't know if I would have anywhere to stay once I got out here. I thought about canceling it but at the same time I thought, "who cares?!" I figured I knew how to read a map, I could use a telephone, I had money for cabs and buses and I would just make a cool solo trip to Arizona, spend time at a bunch of skateparks, walk around a lot and spend as little money as possible on food since I'd have to pay for a hotel.

Word got out that I was for sure making the trip and already had my ticket and I was offered a place to stay. I reluctantly accepted seeing as how I would be staying with the same person that told me that  visiting wouldn't be a good idea. But hey, I'd save money. That week I ate almost solely pizza, skated almost everyday, went to a party, and hiked twice. I spent six days here, fell in love with the area and knew from that point on that I would someday live here. (My host ended up being a good one.) I didn't have a timeframe or anything but I knew that this was where I wanted to end up. Almost every time I longed for a place, I longed for Arizona. I had the opportunity, during the years leading up to now, to have friends I could visit a few times and fell in love a little more every time. Now I live here. It's crazy to think that I made it out here this soon. Sure, four and a half years is a long time but I was thinking it would take me longer. Boy am I glad I didn't cancel that ticket! And that I've had people help me out along the way with food, couches, rides, and just good ol' fashioned friendship. Thanks duders!

One of the first things I did when I got to Arizona was buy a disposable camera

 This was my first bed in Arizona. 

I loved this tree. I've yet to drive by that area to see if it's still there. I'm sure it still is.