Stop and smell the Lilacs!

Today was WONDERFUL!! Cari and I got up at 10:30, got ready, and went to the institute to help teach a lesson with the elders to a girl who is in my string quartet. After that, we met up with Austin, Tara, Drew, and Matt at the PUB to eat lunch. Then, Cari and I changed into our swimsuits and went to go lay in the sun! After this Longggggggggg winter, we are all very excited to be warm!! It was lovely to be outside and not wearing 8 layers to keep warm!! It was about 80 today with a slight breeze! BEAUTIFUL!!! After that, Cari went back to study chem, and I went ice skating with Austin and Tara. The REC center opened on the 8th. It has two floors for cardio and weight training, and then an ice skating rink. It also has a rock wall, and a restaurant. It has been a lot of fun to put my old skates back on! Then we headed back and I did some Calc studying, I have a test on Tues!

(CL)^2

So after the events at Cheney today, we headed to the Lilac Festival in Downtown Spokane. It isn't really a festival, just a parade. A lot of local high school marching bands and city groups perform or make a float that goes throughout downtown. Austin, Drew, Cari, Chanel (Cari's cousin), and I took the good old STA bus into town so we wouldn't have to fight traffic or pay for parking, cause we are POOR! The bus ride was uneventful, but very enjoyable here are some pics of us being bored!!

Austin being his beautiful self!

Super BORED!

Austin's girlfriend, Tara, was in the Central Valley High School Marching Band which just happened to be group 203 out of 215 groups. So we stayed the whole time! : ) I am glad we did, cause it was really fun! The weather was beautiful and there were some awesome floats!!

MotorCops!! (I have no idea where that kid's parents were,
but a volunteer had to get him out of the street!!)

A crazy float for some resort near by! It even had tango dancers on it!!
(Click on to make bigger!)


U.S. Armed Forces (Spokane)


Pretty CAR!


U.S. Navy Float (sorry it's blurry, it wasss moving!) ;)


U.S. Air Force Float!


One of the first marching bands!

One of the high school floats (Safari theme)

You can't have an official parade without more than 6 Delorianes!

Okay so this was HILARIOUS!! There is a non-profit organization from Cour d' Alene called Red Hot Mama's!! They are these wacky women that preform dance numbers and fundraise for various things. They had a whole dance number with shopping carts and walkers!!! Not to mention flamingo and cereal box hats!

Their elaborate opening! You must enlarge to receive the full extent of their eccentricity!

Part of their dance number!

The women on the end danced with walkers!

My favorite part of the night by far was the celebrity sighting that occured!! Just imagine: I was minding my own buisness talking with Cari and I turn around and see an older man in uniform. He catches my eye, he looks fimiliar! Oh MY GOSH! I think its the weather guy on KNDU at home!!! I whisper to Cari with wide eyes. She tells me to get a picture! "Alright" i say!! So I go over! "Excuse me, are you the weather guy from the Tri-Cities?!" "I sure am!" he says with a smile! We go on and talk about why I am in Spokane, and why he is there. He used to do the weather there, and came up to be in the parade. He was sooooo nice, he even let me take a picture with him! When I went to leave he told me "I made his night!" LOL I was so excited!!

The WEATHER GUY! (Tom)

The parade was wonderful! It was great to get out of the dorms and be crazy for awhile! The bus ride home was not as enjoyable!! We sat on the bus in downtown for over 40 mins!! It took for ever to leave, but Austin entertained us!

It was a great night!! GO LILACS!! GO SUMMER~!

17 school days left!

I can't wait to be home!!

Love,
Chels