I’m not going to lie; it’s a hard life for me here in Cedar City.
After falling asleep in the witching hours of the night, I’ll wake up long after the sun has risen over the burnished mountains to stretch like a languid cat, pondering whether it feels like an iced-coffee-on-campus or a hot-coffee-at-The-Grind morning.
Lately, the lure of salted caramel soy lattes and pillowy-buttered toasted Asiago bagels at The Grind has proven too strong. If you live in Cedar City, you’ve likely seen me curled up in a comfy couch by the wall, headphones in so I can hum along to Pandora’s Disney station while trying (and failing) to catch up on emails.
Sometimes, I might sneakily nibble on a bar of chocolate while editing photos, finding myself pleasantly surprised by the rich silky toffee cream fudge brownie flavours of something like Amberlyn sugar free dark chocolate with cocoa nibs.
Or perhaps I’ll choose to sit on a bench in the brightness near the Adams Theatre, soaking up sunshine like a lizard while listening to podcasts, completely unaware that my left leg is getting sunburnt in stripes while the right remains completely untouched.
If Sam’s busy working for hours, then I’ll wander over for a chat with William Shakespeare. It’s only polite to thank him for his contribution to my happiness, after all, as I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t put pen to paper oh-so-many years ago.
(Yes, that is my hand quite high on his thigh right there. What can I say? Wills and I have a love that is timeless.)
If I’m running low on vegetables, I might poke and prod Sam until I convince him to ride with me to the grocery store. At the grocery store, I’ll make a point of choking with laughter over America’s ability to turn its most sugary of cereals into even more sugary baked goods.
Or even even even more sugary muesli bar-esque treats. (Seriously, who decided that it would be a good idea to take the sweetest cereal known to man and glue it together with more syrup?)
To get in the spirit for one of the Festival’s breathtaking shows (say, for example, Titus Andronicus, which took my breath away with its heady-thrilling, stylised-terrifying, emotive-dramatic-sweeping everything-everything [watch the video at that link, if you can]), I’ll consider settling down to watch The Greenshow. One night this may feature Romanian folktales, and another night Scottish sheepthrowing:
But what The Greenshow never fails to feature are the talented actors, dancers, and singers whom I’ve been honoured to chat, laugh, hug, and drink with over this past fortnight. And speaking of drinking…
To unwind after such stressful and taxing days as I’ve just described, I might skip along (once the night shows have finished) to a local bar, where free pool on Wednesdays entices musicians, performers, dressers and techies to congregate alike (though we all know to never, ever, ever touch the stripper’s pole in the centre of the dancefloor).
Utah’s drinking laws may mean that the beer is specially made to be no stronger than 3.2% alcohol, and the cocktails contain no more than one shot each, but you know what? For this lightweight, a one shot Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is just about perfect, particularly when your new friend Matt buys it for you.
It turns out that drinkable cake is delicious in all the ways.
What a fabulously relaxing time. I wonder how much sugar America consumes compared with the rest of the world. What they can buy for ‘breakfast’ is quite disturbing. I know you’re going to think I’m nosy but is Sam a ‘friend’ or a ‘special friend’ like Arabella’s ‘special friend’ Fred (who’s no longer a ‘special friend’). And you don’t have to answer this question if you don’t want to it’s just, he does look rather nice! I can’t believe the drinking laws in Utah. That wouldn’t wash well in Sydney xx
The drinking laws are hilarious. It still blows my mind that companies actually make a different formula of their beer specifically to be sold here! Though I also remember seeing signs in Savannah that beer wouldn’t be sold on Sundays, so it’s not just Utah!
When I was at UVA, I’d buy Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Reese’s Puffs, but they were only ever dessert. Couldn’t handle them for breakfast, but so many kids did!
P.S. That’s actually another friend, Matt, in the photo there
I know what you mean about those sugary cereals- they sure know how to knock back sugar there! Although I hear us Canadians are the worst for salt so I suppose I can’t really talk…
Once again, what an amazing time
I am a lightweight too, so Utah’s laws would totally work for me!
I struggle to think any country could do excess better than America.
Wow sugary cereals for breakfast then at school in muesli bars? Boy oh boy I thought Frootloops was a bad one
You sound so relaxed casually gossiping with Shakespeare and sitting in that totally huge armchair!
Oh speaking of Shakespeare, any chance you can ask him about Othello? My essay is rather hard and I reckon maybe he could help
And I’m glad you’re going out and having fun with new people my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Shakespeare says that Othello is brilliant and definitely essay-worthy, but maybe you could try watching the movie O with Julia Stiles to start getting your head around it?
(Disclaimer: I’ve never actually seen that movie!)
Glad you finally met Skakespeare after all these years. Did you discuss the merits of the various Romeo and Juliet adaptations with him?
The Grind looks great – just the sort of place I would love to curl up in to. But, do they make a good long black. As for all that sugar … You know what I think about sugary cereals!
He thinks our Baz’s version is the best. Apparently The Bard loves Aussies.
Long blacks don’t exist here… and your squirt the coffee out of large heated canisters yourself. There’s a decaf canister, a flavoured canister, and then two different types of beans/roasts, then a bar nearby with sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, half and half, soy milk…. plus all the syrups behind the counter when you order.
I was initially horrified. Now I find it hilarious and fun.
Oh yes, a hard life indeed. Keep on soaking up the atmosphere and sunshine darling
Well, if that’s an order…
You make me want to read more Shakespeare but I think I’ll have to buy a larger print volume than the one I have I am glad you are seeing him on stage as well as in bronze – plays, especially Will’s, are meant to be heard and seen rather than just read. Are they doing them in Elizabethan dress or modern?
Wonderful to hear you are having such a great time and sharing it so beautifully with us. Love you.
The Shakespeare plays are generally being done in Elizabethan dress, but the Festival itself also has Scapin, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mary Stuart, and Les Mis, so there are costumes of all kinds going on here!
It makes my heart happy to know you are reading, grandma! Love you xo
Oh Angle Babe it does look like you’re having some fun despite the ups and downs
And such a lightweight… 
Just you wait, I may come back from this trip capable of knocking back an entire bottle of Jack Daniels.
Beer with an alcohol content of 3.2%?!?! Wahhhh….. NO.
That buttery bagel looks OMGSOGOOD
It was like biting into a pillow of heaven.
I want to have a comfy chair like that which I can retreat to! But the americans can keep those sugary snacks, except for the pineapple upside down cake cocktail – sounds v interesting
I think it was just pineapple juice and a berry liqueur, so quite nice indeed!
I love the soulful way you look at Sir Wills. And those sweet treats are seriously ridiculous. Though it appears Utah is a good place for me to knock down a drink or two, as I’m a lightweight as well!
Sir Wills and I were having A Moment.
Sugary breakfasts are one of the worst culprits here. Not just cereals, but most of the baked goods are sugary too. Like cinnamon rolls, waffles with syrup, poptarts, etc. I have to really control my intake of sugar because of a heart condition so breakfasts here can be a bit difficult for me. At home, it’s easy peasy, but it can be hard when I’m eating breakfast at someone else’s house. Anyway, ramble over, just sharing, haha!
Rambles always welcome! I can definitely see how that would be tricky. Dessert for breakfast is awesome every now and again, but sometimes it’s a far better decision to start the day with a jar of peanut butter and a spoon.
Ugh – it’s sort of embarrassing to see America’s grocery offering through the eyes of someone else. Although in Chile I did see Burger King branded french toast sticks and thought that was pretty over the top nasty.
But you have prepackaged frozen French Toast sticks in your freezer aisles…
I guess I’ve become completely desensitized to the outrageous sugary crap found in the grocery stores these days. I can’t remember the last time I was surprised by something I saw on the shelves. I had not yet encountered those cereal muffins you photographed though, and they did make my eyes bulge out a bit, so congratulations.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying a leisurely pace and filling up your days with things that make you gleam!
My goal in life is to make your eyes bulge, Alayna, so thank heavens for today!
Hehe well for a lightweight like me, I think the drinks might be right up my alley lol. And you know that picture of the Amber Lynn chocolate bar looked gigantic to me. I thought it was another giant sized American snack!
It was delicious enough that I wish it had been giant-sized…
It’s true, we really do beat all when it comes to making prepackaged “food” abominations. Those sugar cereal-muffins are far from the worst of it though… Don’t even get me started about those frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that have the crusts removed… Sigh.
Uncrustables, right? Still not as bad as Kid Cuisine, which makes me physically shudder!!
SUNSHINE?!
If you weren’t my friend, I would totally hate you right now.
In just a few months, I’ll be sobbing from underneath fourteen doonas in Canada while you bask in sunshining Australian summer, so it all evens out in the end.
Cinnamon toast crunch?! I miss you! And also you. Yes, you, Hannah. Sounds like you are having the most amazeballs time – or is that the Pineapple Upside Down Cake talking? heh.
Oh Helen! I miss your face too! HUGGLES!
I’ve been very strict with myself when it comes to not blogging while under the influence of Pineapple Upside Down Cakes or Vodka Cranberries.
I don’t get cereal bars. Or sugary cereals! I’m a bit of a stickler for not buying stuff like that, even though it drives my husband crazy.
Love the pictures! I want to visit Utah one day…
I’ve never been into the sugary cereals, but oooooh! They may have finally hooked me with these delightful sugary muffies.
Probably not though. But I am interested…
EEEEEEEEW stripper pole. Funny how they’re all into the Mormonism and puny alcoholic beverages, but they also welcome strippers. Mixed messages, Utah.
We both know you could make versions of those muffins from scratch and have them be far more delicious. Probably because you’d add something like fern leaves or house-smoked fish jerky to them.
The stripper pole is for the regular clientele to pretend to be strippers on. It’s probably actually called a “dance pole”, but from the way some locals were behaving on it…
Gosh Hannah… SO MUCH FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE US!! I so so so wish I get to travel like you now. And I like how you’ve been having so much fun from just different local experiences one after another and not necessarily from all the main “tourist attractions”. And LOL I totally think I’d get a kick out of the supermarkets in the US too haha!
Well, you have to remember that I’ve travelled around the US a lot before, during my exchange year in 2007-8 and again for a few months after graduating in 2009, so I’ve definitely ticked off a lot of the main tourist attractions previously.
And Winston, you can travel like this. After graduation, maybe? Just make it happen. I have faith in you.
Yup… looks like you’re living the hard life. You poor thing
While I have to admit that those Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal bars sound reallllllly good to me, I have to agree that they are sugar on sugar on sugar. If anything they should be marketed as dessert bars because I know they wouldn’t satiate me as a breakfast or snack.
Hope all is well with you, Hannah! Looks like Cedar City is a lot of fun!
But maybe if we put peanut butter on the “cereal” bars, then they’d be more satiating?
oooooo la LA you saucy minx…. enticing US boys to buy you tasty drinks? You go girly!
If by “entice” you mean “they keep trying to buy me drinks and after saying no four times I give in and take a shot”, then yes.
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So much happiness here. Happiness and sugary shock. The muffin mixes? That’s insane, so much variety, so much sugar. That pillowy bagel? amazing. & the pineapple upside-down cake shot? stop it, too much. Love to see your smile, lady
Heidi xo
I think I’ve smiled more in the past three weeks than in the previous seven months combined. Heartchoo. xo
3.2% beer! That’s almost in the why bother category. Drinkable cake sounds good conceptually though.
There was a beer called, I think, Miller 64, and it tasted like bland water. I almost cried, and then was thankful I hadn’t ordered it myself.
I would love to have that kind of Cedar City life!