200 Haves and Have-nots.

I saw this on Andrea and Mark's blog and thought it was fun. It's a list of Haves and Have-nots. All the bolded in RED items are things I have done. So here you go... more about me. :)

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover (The New Testament)
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one (if miniature golf counts)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Did any of these surprise you?

The veggies are growing. The veggies are growing.

As you may recall, this is what my vegetable garden started out like. This is what it looked like today, just one month later before I picked some herbs. It's coming along quite nicely. You probably can't see from the picture, but the two tomato plants, though not huge in size, have at least three or four tomatoes apiece already. Yum!

I'll keep you posted on their progress.

I'm Proud to Be An American...

How many of you can honestly say you did not sing a single phrase from this classic '80s patriotic song yesterday?!? One can't go a 4th of July without at least hearing the song! If you didn't take this Independence Day as an opportunity to whip out your hairbrush microphone (or your thumb or a spoon, or whatever you fancy), I strongly encourage you to let loose and be proud to be an American. It's freeing just singing the words. :) Lee Greenwood would be proud. I think the song is actually titled "God Bless the U.S.A.", but I like singing the rousing chorus best:

And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.

Every time I hear this song I think of summers at the Cannons and watching the Summer Olympics in 1984. (You know you're getting old when you can refer back, with clarity, to events that happened more than twenty years ago.) Yesterday, Lindsay and I resolutely (alright, somewhat in jest) stood and sang our hearts out. We tried to sing the verses, but really the chorus is what it's all about! :) Also, Agne and I learned all four verses to The Star-Spangled Banner, its history and sang it for my mom, KDJ, Linds, and Stephen. Then we also sang the Lithuanian national anthem. Fun times.

Having spent four out of the last six 4ths of July out of the country, I have a greater appreciation for the holiday and have realized how truly patriotic I am. I really am "proud to be an American" and recognize the myriad blessings I have experienced due to my citizenship of this great nation. Plus, ... who wouldn't love the 4th of July when spectacular fireworks shows, homemade ice cream, barbecued hamburgers, a day off work, and the colors red and blue (my favorites) are involved?!?! :) It's a no brainer, I tell you.

I hope all had a joyous 4th and that you, too, feel a deeper sense of gratitude for the privileges we enjoy.

Wearing a dress sure gets you more attention...

So this last weekend was the 2nd Annual Girls' Weekend to Vegas. This year we stayed on the Strip at the Monte Carlo and it was totally worth it. With the number of friends and family I have in Las Vegas, I've only ever stayed on the Strip once in my life. So this was a treat. We had a lot of plans for our short weekend there - two shows, relaxation time by the pool, the Bellagio fountains, shopping at the outlets, a compulsory run to Trader Joe's, and of course... winning it big! All was accomplished except the Trader Joe's run. We were just too tired and hot by the time it came to go, so we passed. Plus, do I REALLY need dark chocolate covered soy nuts?!

So Friday, we left at about 2pm and headed down south through some beautiful green country. I love the mountains and their color in late spring/early summer. At times, I just feel like I live in the middle of the Alps. Only, if I were in the Alps, I'd be on vacation and most of the time I'm not on vacation... but this time I was! Wahoo! After a wonderfully entertaining car ride replete with gales of laughter, divulging of secrets, catching up on love lives, and singing to our hearts' content, we arrived in Vegas. We checked into the Monte Carlo with enough time to get situated and change our clothes before we headed off down Las Vegas Boulevard to the Wynn where we were scheduled to meet my friend Brooke.

The lovely little Brooke-let works at the Wynn and was able to get us tickets to Le Rêve. She's tokia nuostabi drauge. Might I just say I experienced an extraordinary amount of sensory overload that night?! Le Rêve, a gymnastics/synchronized swimming/ballet/musical/circus on steroids, was simply incredible to watch. This Cirque de Soleil type show is set in 1 million gallons of water on a stage that has many platforms, which are periodcally raised and lowered. Though never far from the action, since the show is set in a theatre in the round, I spent most of the show on the edge of my seat. Okay, so not literally, but most definitely figuratively. The athleticism and grace, which these performers possessed was second to none. I wish I could have an ounce of their strength. Dangling hundreds of feet in the air, hanging on to your partner by a slippery ankle and then gracefully falling into a stage of water, though a repetitive feat, was stunning to watch. I read somewhere that each member of the cast must become scuba certified before performing in the theater. I can definitely see why when half the dancers spent a good portion of the show with their upper bodies under water like synchronized swimmers. Simply phenomenal. True to its name (Le Rêve means The Dream en Français), Le Rêve invaded my dreams that night. Who wouldn't want to dream about having such a physique and the stamina to go along with it. Hats off to the performers!

Saturday morning we slept in, then spent some good quality time relaxing by the pool. Okay, so it was relaxing, but the temperature was sweat-inducing and nearly heat-stroke worthy. But I'm still alive. Phew. I spent most of the time fully submerged in the Lazy River. That afternoon we took an hour and speed-shopped through the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, where we picked up a few necessities. Yes, these items were necessary. That night Tony n' Tina's Wedding at The Rio was on our agenda. As Beth aptly stated, The Rio was like a brothel in disguise and actually made me understand Las Vegas's nickname "Sin City". We had fun at Tony n' Tina's Wedding, where we were among their wedding guests. After the show we headed back to the Monte Carlo, happy to be out of the trashy Rio, to spend some time in the casino. We ended the night with more gales of laughter after closely examining our pictures from the wedding. Good times.

Sunday we got up and headed home. I had such a fun time and I've decided we need to make our annual girls trip a semi-annual deal. I'm thinking we keep the Vegas tradition for the spring and in the fall it should be another new destination. Jackson Hole maybe? I've never been there. I just love these girls, so it doesn't matter the destination as long as we get to spend a good weekend together. And one of the best things about these girls? They love me in spite of:

1) the fact that everything I touch turns to gold (apparently)

2) my repetitively singing "Her name is Rio"

3) my huffiness while asking if they can move over, please

4) my incessant bed-sheet dancing escapdes

Good friends. Good times.

Anagrams.

Katie forwarded a bunch of clever anagrams to me in an email awhile back. They were so funny that I googled to find more. Someone out there had a lot of time on their hands to come up with all these, but they're cool.

Dormitory: Dirty room
Presbyterian: Best in prayer
Astronomer: Moon starer
Desperation: A rope ends it
The Eyes: They see
George Bush: He bugs Gore
The Morse Code: Here come dots
Slot machines: Cash lost in 'em
Animosity: Is no amity
Election results: Lies! Let's recount.
Snooze alarms: Alas! No more Z's.
A decimal point: I'm a dot in a place
Eleven plus two: Twelve plus one
Mother-in-law: Woman Hitler
Barbie Doll: I'll Bare Bod
Conversation = Voices rant on
Delta Airlines = I Land Earliest
Greyhound: Hey, dog. Run!
Listen: Silent
Merriam Webster Dictionary: May Cite Brainier Word Terms
Pittance: A Cent Tip
Ronald Reagan: A darn long era
Statue Of Liberty: Built to stay free
The United States Postal Service: It dispatches letters to avenues
Tom Cruise: So... I'm cuter
Western Union: No wire unsent
Year Two Thousand: A year to shut down

Vegetables in the City.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to teach the lesson in Relief Society. Given the chance to choose my own topic, I decided to plan a discussion on Self-Reliance. Why you might ask? Well, with the rising cost of fuel, the rising cost of grain, the increase in natural disasters both internationally and right here at home, I've been thinking a lot about whether or not I am prepared for "rainy days" that may be in store. And, “the Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliant and independent... As people become self-reliant, they are better prepared to endure adversities [and are] better able to care for others in need” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 257).

"We teach self-reliance as a principle of life, that we ought to provide for ourselves and take care of our own needs. And so we encourage our people to have something, to plan ahead, keep a little food on hand, to establish a savings account, if possible, against a rainy day. Catastrophes come to people sometimes when least expected—unemployment, sickness, things of that kind. The individual, as we teach, ought to do for himself all that he can do for himself" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 586).

In my study, I learned that when we think about self-reliance, there are six distinct areas to focus on:

1. Education and Literacy
2. Physical health
3. Employment
4. Home storage
5. Resource management (finances, etc.)
6. Spiritual, emotional, and social strength

Interestingly, my new year's resolutions and goals both last year and this year, all fell under these six major headings. I guess I unknowningly was trying to be more self-reliant, so this lesson just helped to solidify and refocus some of my current life goals.

After mulling throughout this last week on ways I can become more self-reliant, I identifed several things I'm going to make a concentrated effort to focus on, one of them being to plant a vegetable garden. I love vegetables and have been rather frustrated with the high prices of produce available lately. Although my mom had a vegetable garden a few times when I was a child, I've never really planted and maintained one myself. I decided on Friday at about noon that I was going to plant one; after trips to Home Depot and local nursery, by Saturday at 5pm it was done!

Here's what it looked like when I started:

“To become self-reliant, a person must work. Work is physical, mental, or spiritual effort. It is a basic source of happiness, self-worth, and prosperity. Through work, people accomplish many good things in their lives" (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 257).

Hard at work:

As you can probably see, our vegetable garden is a container garden. Since we live in close quarters with our neighbors and don't have any "land" to speak of, I knew the container gardening was the way I'd have to go. What I didn't realize was that the containers would fit so perfectly on the window well grate! Whoever said you couldn't have a garden in the city. :) I guess that was I, but I was wrong. Doesn't it look great?!

Let me introduce you to our summer friends, from left to right:
Top Row: Patio Tomato, Early Girl Tomato, Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck Squash, Beets (seeds), Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Peas (seeds).
Middle Row: Lettuce (seeds), Basil (2), Oregano, Rosemary.
Bottom Row: Dill, Mint, Sage (2), Rosemary, Chives (seeds), Radishes (seeds).

So, now I've decided I want to become a horticulturist. :) After I was checking up on our friends twice after I planted them yesterday, Katie had to kindly remind me that, "a watched tomato never grows." :) Good thing I have a busy summer ahead, so I won't be watching them too much. I'll just be happy when I can reap the rewards at the end of the summer.

No Life Without Wife.

Okay, so last night Katie and I wanted to watch a movie. Since we're quite keen on saving money lately, we decided to stay home and watch one of the movies that she had downloaded on her computer. She gave me a long list of choices, noting that she was saving the one she really wanted for last. And what was the one she really wanted to watch, you ask? Bride and Prejudice. A Bollywood-style version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, it's a musical that puts a new spin on the classic. It's not just retold; it's reinvented. And it's fantastic! The clip below is one of my favorite songs. I seriously laughed for a good portion of the movie. Hope you enjoy!

So just rent it. I guarantee you'll be entertained! :)

Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It...

So I can't remember how I happened upon this, but I have to admit (regrettedly) that I did not write it, but rather found it on craigslist. I found it funny and thought it was worthy of posting. So here you go:

Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth It...

In the wide world of dating, there are many options. Do you go for the flashy guy with the smooth smile, or the dude in the corner typing away on his laptop? The following are reasons why I think my fellow females should pay more attention to the quiet geeks and nerds, and less attention to the flashy boys.

1.) While geeks and nerds may be awkward, they’re well-meaning 9 out of 10 times. That smooth dude with the sly grin and the spider hands? Wonder what HIS intentions are... plus, I’ve never had a geek guy not call me when he said he would. Score major points THERE.

2.) They’re useful. In this tech-savvy world, it’s great to have a b/f who can make your laptop, desktop, and just about anything else that plugs into a wall behave itself.

3.) They’re more romantic than they’re given credit for. Ok true, their idea of romance might be to make up a spiffy web-page with all the reasons why they love you, with links to pics of you and sonnets and such... but hey. It lasts longer than flowers, plus you can show your friends.

4.) Due to their neglected status, there are plenty to choose from. You like ‘em tall and slender? There are plenty of geeks/nerds who are. You like ‘em smaller with more meat on their bones? Got that too.

5.) They’ve got brains. Come on now, how can intelligence be a bad thing?

6.) Most are quite good at remembering dates. Like birthdates and such, especially if they know it’ll make you happy. Due again to their neglected status, they’re more attentive than guys who “have more options”. Plus, with all that down time without a steady girlfriend, they’ll likely have mental lists of all the things they’d love to do once they GOT a girlfriend.

7.) Sex. Yep. Sex. I’m not really familiar with this myself, but I’ve friends who’ve been intimate with geek guys and it’s raves all around. They say a virgin wrote the Kama Sutra... all that time thinking about sex, imagining sex, dreaming about sex, (they are male after all) coupled with a desire to make you happy? Use your imagination.

8.) They’re relatively low-maintenance. Most can be fueled on pizza, Twinkies and Mt Dew. No complicated dinners needed here, so if you’re not the best cook, eh. Can you order a pizza?

9.) Most of them frequent bars as often as slugs frequent salt mines. You won’t have to worry much about your geek guy getting his “groove” on with club hotties because, frankly, he’ll be too busy rooting around under his computer wondering where that spare cable went. You won’t have to worry about him flirting with other women because, 9 out of 10 times, he’ll zip right by them in a perfect b-line towards the nearest electronics store. I’ve seen this happen.
Me: “Eww. Victoria Secret Models... They’re so skinny. How is that feminine? You can see her ribs!”
Geek Guy: “ooooooo...”
Me: “Hey!” *notices he is staring lustfully towards the computer store*
Geek Guy: “What?”
Me: “Never mind...”

10.) Although he may not want to go to every outing with you, you can arrange swaps, as in, you’ll go to his Gamer Con dressed as an elf princess if he’ll take you to the ballet. Plus, if he doesn’t want to go someplace with you, you won’t have to worry much about what he’s up to. You’ll probably come home to find him asleep on his keyboard in a sea of Mt. Dew cans with code blinking from the screen. It’s ok. He’s used to this. Just toss a blanket over him and turn out the light.

11.) His friends aren’t jerks. I can’t stress this enough. You’ll more likely get “Omg! A GIRL!! Can I see?!” than “Hey hot stuff back that sweet a** up here and let me get some grub on...” They’re awkward geeks too and will, 9 times out of 10, treat you with the utmost respect and, more than likely, a note of awe. A cute girl picked one of their clan to date? It could happen to them! Hope! Drag some of your single girlfriends over, open up a pack of Mt. Dew, crack open the DnD set and get working. Nothing impresses geek guys more than a girl who can hack-n-slash (well ok maybe if she can code... a geek can dream).

12.) They’re rarely if ever possessive. They trust you, so you can be yourself around them. You like to walk around the house in a ratty t-shirt for comfort? He won’t care. He does too! They won’t get fussy if you don’t wear make-up or don’t want to bother primping your hair. If you gain a few pounds, they won’t try their best to make you feel terrible about it.

13.) They’re usually very well educated. Physics majors and the like. See #5. You won’t have to listen to him blathering on about his car (ok maybe a little); he’ll have loads of other interesting things to talk about. Politics, world events, how much the chicken burgers down at the local place rock, so long as you douse them in hot sauce...

14.) You’ll almost never have to hear, “Yaw dawg whazzap!!” plop out of their mouths. Unless it’s in jest. They spell properly, use correct punctuation, and are able to tell the difference between the toilet and the floor. They almost never get “wasted”, so you won’t have to worry about coming home to find him and his friends passed out on the floor amidst a pile of beer bottles. Mt. Dew cans, perhaps...

15.) And the final reason why geeks and nerds make great boyfriends: They actually give a damn about you. Not how you look (though that’s a plus), not how skinny you are, not how much make-up you primp yourself up with, but they like you for you. That kind of thing lasts longer than “DaMN baby you got a fine a**!!!” Believe me.

Break-up Songs.

What's the best therapy for dealing with a nasty break-up? Well, it could be a date with Haagen Daaz, but if you're anything like I am, nothing sits too well in my stomach at first. So if you're in need of a good wallow session, I suggest you turn to the good old break-up song. Sometimes you need to just indulge your need to feel sad. Alright, it may not be healthy for too long, but a good pity-party never hurt anyone. There are plenty of "sappy unrequited love songs" out there for your initial phase of grieving. But today, I was thinking about the empowering feeling that accompanies a really good "I'm moving on" break-up song. You know what I'm talking about. Those times when the initial pain of the break-up has subsided and we turn the stereo up to full volume to release all those pent up emotions. Feelings that just make you go, "You hurt me, but I am SO okay." or "What we had was good, but it's over and that's SO okay because you don't deserve me anyway." I love those songs. Luckily, I'm not in need of them right now... but they still feel good to sing at the top of my lungs. :)

A few of my favorites...

• You’re So Vain—Carly Simon
• Since You've Been Gone—Kelly Clarkson
• Because of You—Kelly Clarkson
• Believe—Cher (gotta love Cher)
• How Do You Like Me Now?!—Toby Keith
• Beautiful—Carole King (okay, she's my favorite)
• Lesson in Leavin'—JoDee Messina (I'm really not that big of a country fan, but they've got some good songs... they always tell a story)
• I Will Survive—Gloria Gaynor
• I Will Remember You—Sarah MacLachlan

There are plenty more. Do you have any favorites?

Itchy Nose.

Saturday my nose started tickling inside so uncontrollably. I couldn't focus on anything else there for awhile because I was so consumed with treating my poor itchy nose. A superstitious person, I am not. (Speak like Yoda, I do.) However, I've always thought that an itchy nose meant someone was thinking of you. (But come to think of it, I believe I attached that meaning to just about every odd thing. If your ears are ringing, someone is talking/thinking about you. If you attempt to tie your straw wrapper in a knot and it rips apart without actually tying a knot, then "he" is thinking about you and likes you. A bout of the hiccups surely signifies that someone is thinking about you. You get the idea.) But I've learned, after googling "itchy nose superstition", apparently an itchy nose has several other meanings: a quarrel is in the near future, or a visitor is coming. I'm okay with the visitor coming, but a quarrel? I liked the "someone's thinking about you" idea best. I'm going to stick with that.

Economic Stimulus.

So I was pretty excited about the idea of getting my economic stimulus check from the government. They kept saying it would be anywhere from $300-$600. I told myself to only expect $300. That way if I got more, I'd be pleasantly surprised.

After filing my taxes, I waited anxiously to see my tax return direct deposited, followed by my economic stimulus check. I kept waiting and waiting. Finally my return arrived and I was VERY pleased. This year's tax return allowed me to get fully out of debt one month earlier than I had planned. Upon celebrating my new debt-free status, I promptly forgot about my stimulus check. So about two weeks ago, one night while checking my online banking, I was rather confused. A deposit of $600 even had come in from the US Treasury. "That couldn't be my state tax return." Out loud, I even said, "What IS that??" Even though I'd so been so excited at the prospect of receiving "free money" from the government, it took me a full two minutes or so to figure out what it was, once it came. Slow eclaires. I suppose I had tried so hard not to think about the free money very much (in case for some reason I didn't qualify) that I actually talked myself out of thinking I'd get anything at all.

Well, I certainly was pleasantly surprised. Free money! Who wouldn't be happy?! :) I hope you all are enjoying your stimulus checks also.

8 things.

A few days ago, (okay so it was over a week ago) Sharona tagged me (she seems to do that a lot) to complete my lists of 8. So here you are...

8 things I am passionate about:
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Being loyal to the people I love
3. Doing things the right way
4. Understanding why people do the things they do
5. Traveling
6. Learning
7. Clean underwear
8. My rice sticking together

8 books I have read recently (umm, and enjoyed):
1. Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody
4. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
5. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
6. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
7. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
8. Alicia by Alicia Appleman-Jurman

8 things I often say:
1. Perfect.
2. "I don't know nothin' 'bout birth and babies. (Think Mamie in Gone With the Wind)
3. That's funny.
4. "We know, don't we Mr. Merg? Indeed, we do." (Think Pollyanna)
5. Good-ness.
6. Let's play Facebook.
7. Are you driving or am I?
8. Terrible.

8 things I want to do before I die:
1. Travel more
2. Decorate my own home (that means I have to buy my own home, first)
3. Get married
4. Have babies and live to see them have their own babies
5. Go on another mission
6. Remain debt-free
7. Become fluent in a third language
8. Save the world

8 things I have learned this past year:
1. I've learned... that I am tougher than I thought.
2. I've learned... to enjoy working out.
3. I've learned... that eighteen hour bras come in handy when you're in for a long day.
4. I've learned... that men don't notice what we wear. (The entire women's group at Church wore something pink one Sunday in October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I mean every last woman... and not one man noticed. Even when prompted, it took several minutes for the two most perceptive of the bunch to come up with the observation.)
5. I've learned... that sometimes my brain gets full and begins to short circuit.
6. I've learned... that Miraclesuits really are miraculous!
7. I've learned... that Blackjack is just about as fun as making out.
8. I've learned... to like pineapple.

8 people I want to do the 8 things:
1. Kim
2. Sherine
3. Jared
4. Amiee
5. Becky
6. Andrea (and Mark)
7. Suzy (she likes being tagged, even though she never wants to post it on her blog)
8. Mikol (and Gerrit)

Like a computer... :)

You Are Incredibly Logical

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic You think rationally, clearly, and quickly. A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!

How Logical Are You?

"Isn't it nice not to have to talk to people..."

So, I've sort of been craving pizza this last week, which is a rather rare occurrence for me. I just don't eat pizza very often and, truthfully, I don't think I've ordered a pizza for delivery in over a year. But on Monday night, while Katie and I were having our family home evening time, I kept getting hungrier and hungrier and nothing I have in my cupboards sounded good to me. I finally realized that I was craving pizza. So I announced, "I'm ordering a pizza." I wasn't really convinced, but when lactose-intolerant-Katie said, "Can you get half of it without cheese?", it was all go for launch. Since we order pizza maybe once a year, I had no idea where to order from. Domino's? So I, sitting with my computer in my lap, decided to order online. Can you believe we can do that? Katie was excited, "I love that. Isn't it nice not to have to talk to people??" Hmmm, what does this say about us? Does it scream anti-social behavior to you? Maybe that's why we're not married. But seriously, it really made me laugh... Isn't it nice not to have to talk to people? Hmph.


By the way, the pizza hit the spot.

Have we forgotten God?

I ran across this quote from Honest Abe, and couldn't help but wonder if he spoke these words nearly 150 years ago, how much more do they ring true today? Let's not allow them to be a commentary on our lives. On an individual basis, we can change.

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in number, wealth, and power as no other Nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

Abraham Lincoln, in an 1863 resolution

(John Wesley Hill, Abraham Lincoln, Man of God, 4th ed., New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, p.391.)

The Nile: The Life-Blood of Egypt.

One year ago, Katie was teaching a unit to her 6th graders about ancient Egypt. She enlisted me to help grade their end-of-unit tests. So late one night, we sat on the couch, reading the answers aloud to keep from falling asleep. The whole experience was quite entertaining for us and has proven to be a source of many laughs since.

The test question that yielded the most amusing responses was: "In at least one paragraph, explain why the Nile river is often called the "life-blood of Egypt."

The answers below are real answers from 6th graders, grammar errors and all. Enjoy!

• It could be because it meant every thing to them. It would give them water. I gave them water for there plants. It gave them the ability to travel faster and cary hever things that they would trade. It expeshally helped them for wars and other things like that.
• They used it to live, for irrigation, and for their cows. They drank the water, grew crops. And fed their cows who gave milk. Which left them with strong bones to get more water from the Nile.
• The Nile river is called the life-blood of Egypt because it provides water. A nother reason why is it grows plants like the reed plant other nowen as papyrus. And it helps grows food. the farmers use it to grow there crops. It helps ceep animals and the Egyptians alive and usually fish live in water.
• The Nile was how the Egyptians survived, it was used for irrigation, building, water, the animals needwater so the Egyptians could have bacon ect.

In my 30 years, I've learned...

Today is my birthday! For those of you who know me well, I love my birthday. I openly admit that I am much like a seven year old with regard to the level of anticipation and excitement I feel about my birthday. I may not manifest that excitement the way a seven year old would, but I love my day nonetheless! My birthday always gives me the chance to look back at where I've been and look forward to what may lie ahead. This birthday, I've thought quite a bit about what I've learned and about significant experiences which have affected the course of my life. Here are a few quick thoughts.

1. I've learned... that life is better without television.
2. I've learned... that when you're in love, it shows.
3. I've learned... that just one person saying hi to me makes my day.
4. I've learned... that having a child fall asleep in my arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
5. I've learned... that being honest is always the best choice.
6. I've learned... that forgiveness (both giving and receiving) is a sweet feeling.
7. I've learned... that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
8. I've learned... that no matter how serious life requires me to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
9. I've learned... that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
10. I've learned... that simple walks with my mother when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
11. I've learned... that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
12. I've learned... that money doesn't buy class.
13. I've learned... that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
14. I've learned... that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
15. I've learned... that we all express and recognize love differently and that I should strive to love others in ways they recognize as love.
16. I've learned... that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
17. I've learned... that being debt-free is almost as liberating as skinny-dipping.
18. I've learned... that life isn't always about me. In fact when it's not, it's more enjoyable.
19. I've learned... that God really loves me.
20. I've learned... that everyone I meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
21. I've learned... that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
22. I've learned... that life is tough, but I'm tougher.
23. I've learned... that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones I miss.
24. I've learned... that when I harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
25. I've learned... that some things are really better left unsaid.
26. I've learned... that one should truly treat others as he wishes to be treated.
27. I've learned... that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
28. I've learned... that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.
29. I've learned... that the hardest things in life are ultimately the most rewarding.
30. I've learned... that learning is a lifelong endeavor and I've only just begun.

My Life.

So I believe that the last year or so of my life can be related closely to these quotes:

1. "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt
2. "Keep in mind: whatever is not within your reach today will certainly be sometime in the future. Just be patient." ~ a wise man
3. "Plead with the Lord for peace." ~ Scott Anderson
4. "It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." ~ Walt Disney
5. "The opportunity of a lifetime must be taken within the lifetime of the opportunity." ~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell
6. "The Lord's plan is a plan of happiness." ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Hi! My name is Friend.

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

EuroEnglish.

The European Union commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty's Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five-year phased plan for what will be known as EuroEnglish (Euro for short).

In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c". Sertainly, sivil servants will resieve this news with joy. Also, the hard "c" will be replaced with "k." Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced by "f". This will make words like "fotograf" 20 per sent shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "e"s in the languag is disgrasful, and they would go.

By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" by "z" and "w" by "v".

During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou", and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.

After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil b no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer. Ze drem vil finali kum tru.

Video Conference.

My co-worker sent this to me via email on Friday and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. :)

I am not bald. Phew!

So yesterday morning, I was hurrying to get ready for work; I had a conference call at 8:30 am, that I had to take and I was running late. As I was blow-drying my hair, I smelled a burning smell. Yuck. But it was fleeting and my hair-dryer acts up sometimes, so I thought it was nothing. Post blow-dry, I ran some Manipulator through my hair, which is kind of sticky and helps to piece out your hair and control fly-aways. So suddenly, I notice that my right hand, aided by the Manipulator as adhesive, was covered in hair ... hair that was no longer attached to my head! Now, I'm not talking one or two strands, which is to be expected. I'm talking a chunk of hair. Nasty! So I ran my fingers through my hair again, and AGAIN more chunks of hair were stuck to my hand. By this point I seriously have chills running through my body. If you know me well, you know that I cannot stand hair which is not attached to a body. With each repeated motion I pulled more and more hair out. It just kept coming. Very easily. I mean there was no feeling like I was yanking anything out. I began thinking that I must have some disease or something that makes your hair fall out. It just kept getting creepier and creepier. Then I suddenly remembered the burning smell and realized that maybe it had something to do with sudden lost of hair. I ran my fingers through the left side of my head... nothing. Phew! So I totally burned off chunks of my hair! Gross! :) The strange part was that the burning smell had only lasted for no more than two or three seconds. And the hair didn't smell at all. Yuck. I hate even writing about this. Are you thoroughly grossed out by now? I am. So, despite pulling out what appeared to be chunks of hair, I am not bald on the right side. Thank goodness! :)

Fiercely Fast Fingers.

In my line of work, we test and screen candidates for various jobs. One of the first tests we administer is a typing test. Generally we see scores anywhere from 20-40 wpm with the occasional 12 wpm. We're really excited when we see scores in the 50s and 60s. However, about two years ago we had a candidate come in and blow us away with 123 wpm and his alphanumeric and 10-key numeric scores were nearing 18000 ksph. I mean, seriously... who types that fast?!?!?

I'm satisfied with my score on this test. I generally advertise (on my resume only) that I type 70 wpm, so this made me feel pretty good today. :)

Hope you have fun with the test.

89 words

Turn Off The Lights!

Earth Hour 2007 occurred in Sydney, Australia.
Earth Hour 2008 is a global event.



If every American Household turned off the lights for one hour at 8 p.m. local time on March 29th during the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour 2008, they would prevent more than 16,610 tons of carbon dioxide from being released - enough to fill every hot-air balloon at the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta seven times.

Please use my link to sign up now and join the world in the dark for Earth Hour - 8 p.m. on 29 March 2008 (your local time). It's just one hour!

Sign up here

Going Green for St. Patrick's Day!

For some, the thought of "going green" may bring to mind thoughts of skipping daily showers to conserve water, composting your waste, or wearing itchy, yet natural and organically grown hemp clothing. All of these things seem to just turn many off of being a responsible, eco-friendly member of society. However, Kermit was wrong: it is, in fact, easy to be green.

A California girl at heart, recycling and conservation seem to run in my blood. Okay, okay. Well, at least they run through my mind! I remember water conservation and recycling were things I never thought twice about. Reduce, reuse, recycle, right? We always had a bucket in the shower to catch all the cold water before it turned hot enough to shower. We then used that water to flush our toilet. (Yes, you can actually just pour water into your toilet bowl and it will automatically flush when the water level rises.) Sound funny? T'was totally normal for me. I didn't know any different. I may have complained about how I got cold in the shower when I turned the water off while I was lathering my body and washing my hair, but did I think twice about keeping the water on the whole time? No way. That was the way it was. We had a shower head with a little switch to turn the water off for short spurts mid-shower.

So this year, even though SLC makes it a little hard to recycle, I've decided to make a more concentrated effort to go green. Go more green. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day! My current green goals include:

1. Reusing plastic grocery bags as garbage bags. (I already do this.) REUSE
2. Using cloth bags at the grocery store. REDUCE
3. Skipping the produce plastic bags. REDUCE
4. Separating and actually recycling my paper, plastic, metal and glass waste. (We already started doing this.) RECYCLE
5. Reusing plastic ziploc bags when possible. (Already started this, too.) REUSE
6. Buying a bucket and putting it in my shower, then using that water to water plants and flush my toilet. CONSERVE WATER
7. Turning off water while brushing my teeth and lathering my hands in soap. CONSERVE WATER
8. Turning off lights when I leave a room for more than a few minutes. CONSERVE ENERGY
9. Planning my errand-running so that using less gasoline and emitting lower emissions. CONSERVE

Two things I'm hesitant to commit to working on right now are my paper towel usage and the length of my showers. I love paper towels. I hate using dish towels, probably because I'm paranoid of the germs they undoubtedly hold. And I love my showers. I don't take extremely long showers, but they're usually ten minutes. :) Those two opportunities to reduce are for another time. Baby steps, right?

So, I'll keep you updated on my new green goals and share with you websites, tips, and thoughts as I have them! Please feel free to share with me your green tips and anything you find out, too.

So don't forget, Kermit... it's so easy being green. :)

He Has Opportunities Prepared for Me.

At times when I just wish I could know how my life will pan out or what will happen next, I remember something Elder Eyring put well:

"Your life is carefully watched over, as was mine. The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all-knowing. So you can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give. You will not recognize those opportunities perfectly, as I did not. But when you put the spiritual things first in your life, you will be blessed to feel directed toward certain learning, and you will be motivated to work harder. You will recognize later that your power to serve was increased, and you will be grateful."
(Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," Ensign, Oct. 2002, 18-19)

I am encouraged by the knowledge that Heavenly Father loves me and wants what is best for me. The people He has placed in my life and the experiences I have had always seem to have prepared me for something else in my life, not to mention, have truly enriched my life. Trusting in Him that He will guide my life in such a way that is most beneficial for me keeps me optimistic and positive. Life is good! :)

I just can't get enough butternut squash!

My friend Amiee recently posted a recipe on her blog for Butternut Squash Fries, which I decided I just had to try! Delicious! Even though the butternut squash peak season is on its way out, here is the recipe along with one of my favorites for butternut squash and apple soup. Yum!

Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries! aka Squash Snacks
1 butternut squash
kosher salt
Pam or olive oil (optional)

Yields enough fries for 2 people to snack on.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Peel and de-seed your butternut squash. If you're unfamiliar with handling these large items, you may have a little trouble at first. They're fairly easy to peel, but you'll need a sharp knife to cut them. Once your orange friend is peeled and sans seeds, slice it in half. Then cut it up into french fry shapes. Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Cover lightly with kosher salt (regular salt works, too) and spray with a bit of Pam or lightly brush with a tasty olive oil. Place tray in your pre-heated oven and bake for 40 minutes or so, flipping halfway through baking process. Fries are done when they are starting to brown on the edges and get crispy. Serve with ketchup, or however else you enjoy fries or sweet potato fries!

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons good olive oil
4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large)
2 tablespoons mild curry powder
5 pounds butternut squash (2 large)
1 1/2 pounds sweet apples, such as McIntosh (4 apples)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups water (I usually prefer to use vegetable broth)
2 cups good apple cider or juice

Warm the butter, olive oil, onions, and curry powder in a large stockpot uncovered over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions are tender. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot.

Peel the squash, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into chunks. Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Cut into chunks.

Add the squash, apples, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash and apples are very soft. Process the soup through a food mill fitted with a large blade, or puree it coarsely in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. If you don't have either, just use a potato masher and do your best to mash the apples and squash to a smooth, but still chunky consistency.

Pour the soup back into the pot. Add the apple cider or juice and enough water (or vegetable broth) to bring the soup to the consistency you like; it should be slightly sweet and quite thick. Check the salt and pepper and serve hot.

Free Rice!

Want to sharpen your vocbaulary skills and feed the hungry at the same time? Awhile back, my friend Andrea introduced me to www.freerice.com, and now I'm hooked. I listed it on my side bar of "Likable Links", but decided that it needed its very own post. Here's how it works: For every word you can correctly define, FreeRice will donate 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to help end hunger. Nice! In early October 2007, FreeRice went live and they've already donated more than 21 billion grains of rice! Check it out!

Treadmill Dance.

I thought this was hilarious when my cousin sent it to me a year ago. Watching it again today, I still found myself laughing. Enjoy!

Let's be real here!

Yesterday afternoon, I went to a work meeting. A lot of people new to the company were in attendance, so we were asked to take turns introducing ourselves, telling how long we've been with the company, and answer the question: If you could meet someone famous, who would it be? I have to admit, I tend to dislike these types of questions, especially when you only have thirty seconds to think about your answer. Maybe I take it too seriously, but somehow I just feel that my answer will stick with me and say something about my character. I wished I had more time to think! As everyone started answering, celebrities such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, and the occasional sports figure such as Tiger Woods quickly took their places among the most popular answers. Getting more and more bothered by the answers and how ridiculous people were, I started panicking because my turn was coming up so quickly. I don't really care about meeting celebrities or movie stars! I sat there trying to think with whom I could have an englightening or inspiring conversation. I turned to my colleague, Kendra and said, "Who should I say?" She replied, "Well, someone scholarly..." I smiled. Kendra knows me well.

When my turn came, I stood up, introduced myself, and named Elie Wiesel as the famous person, whom I would like to meet. As I explained that he is a WWII Holocaust survivor and accomplished author, I successfully silenced the group. So I continued and explained further that I'm not really interested in meeting any celebrities, so I tried to think of someone with whom I could have a really great conversation. One of my colleagues laughed and loudly proclaimed, "I chose Matthew McConaughey not because I want to talk to him, but because I want to see him with his shirt off!" Please! This is just ridiculous to me. Let's be real here.

A friend once told me that if she had to describe me in one word, the word would be real. It's true. I don't like to live in fantasy-land. Disneyland was fun, but only because it was fifteen minutes away from my grandparents' house and there were some fun rides. I never once wanted to be a Disney princess for Halloween. And Halloween, for that matter... I still have to force myself to dress up if I go to a Halloween party. Why do we all want to spend an evening surrounded by ghost, goblins, and witches? :) Saturday morning cartoons weren't really even my thing. I watched a few, but really they just didn't interest me a whole lot. Apparently, I didn't even really like Sesame Street all that much. I mean what kid doesn't like Sesame Street?! My mom has frequently marveled at how she would turn on the television in the morning for me to watch "every kid's favorite TV show" while she tried to get things done around the house. But instead of watching the whole episode, I would generally get up and turn it off after about fifteen minutes. She claims that I rarely watched an entire episode. I vaguely remember this. I do remember thinking that Cookie Monster was kind of stupid. I liked Count Dracula, but that's only because he seemed smart and he could count.

So after I announced to the crowd that I'm different, I sat back down in my seat. Satisfied. I might have had a different type of answer to that question than most everyone in the room, but I'm happy with that. I'd like to meet Elie Wiesel over Matthew McConaughey any day. I mean really. Let's be real here. :) What are you going to do if you meet Matthew McConaughey? Just stare at him? We can do that online or in a movie any time. Nothing can take the place of a good conversation!

Recipe for a Great Sunset: Clouds.

"Clouds came floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

~Rabindranath Tagore

Is this not the truth?! I love clouds. This picture is the first sunset of my wonderfully relaxing vacation to the tropical paradise of San Juan del Sur. Absolutely beautiful!

Sunset in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
January 2008

Potassium Blues.

So my Grandpa started kidney dialysis recently and in trying to learn more about kidney failure and hemodialysis, I ran across this cartoon. When on dialysis, doctors pay close attention to your potassium levels in your blood (along with many other things) so, I laughed out loud and had to share. I emailed him the cartoon because I was sure he'd get a kick out of it.

Dale Chihuly.

May I just say that Dale Chihuly is amazing? I know that not everyone connects with his work, but one cannot deny that the man is skilled and talented beyond words. Although broken glass ravaging his face during a terrible automobile accident left him blind in his left eye (hence the eyepatch he dons) and a shoulder injury left him unable to actually blow glass since 1979, he certainly has a vision which has transformed him into the entrepreneurial impresario upon whom a fortune, and the entire contemporary-glass-art market, has been built.

Abravanel Hall is home to the only permanent Chihuly sculpture in Utah. The Olympic Tower was commissioned for, yes, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Gazing through the glass windows as I walked up to Abravanel Hall on Friday evening, I just found it amazing. It's certainly not a piece of work I'd want in my front living room, but it's breath-taking, I think.

But how do they dust it? No, seriously... how do you think they keep it clean?

Oh, the joy of apostrophes!

Since most of you know me well, I'm sure you know that I strive to speak, as well as write with proper grammar. (Thanks, Mom!) Though English grammar rules can confound even the best of writers, inappropriate apostrophe usage sticks out like a sore thumb to me. This cartoon just made me laugh since it just really hit home with regard to grammar and work. Aaaaah!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a fun day for me. For one thing, I love the color red. I like hearts, but never heart jewelry or hearts on clothing or hearts in the hands of a stuffed animal. Blech. And, I love love. I love the love of my mom. I love the love of my dad. I love the love of my roommate. I love the love of my friends. I love the love of my family. I love the love of little children. I love the love of God. I just love love!

I rarely have a "Valentine" on Valentine's Day, but I do remember in 4th grade when Christian was "in love" with me. Unfortunately, I had pneumonia so I couldn't attend our class's Valentine's Day party. My mom kindly took my Valentine cards and my assigned treat to the school for me. My teacher had collected all of my cards from my classmates and presented them to my mom to deliver to me at home in bed. As my mom was about to leave, Christian stood up across the room and said, "You're Emery's mom, right?" Yes. As he produced a box of chocolates and a card from inside his desk, he said, "Can you give these to her?" With cheers, jeers, and whistles from the class abounding, he confidently retorted, "At least I had the guts to do it!"

If only we would all "have the guts to do it!"

Yes, to some it's Single Awareness Day,



but it's just Love Day to me!


Here's hoping that you have a marvelous day and remember how very much you are loved!

Don't diet!

I've recently had success in getting more healthy and losing weight by not thinking about dieting at all. Working out and being more active cause me to crave healthier food, so it seems to work for me. However, since the holidays and a week-long vacation in Nicaragua, I have put on some pounds. I'm not too happy with that, so I've been trying to focus on eating more healthily. Bad idea. When I actually focus on it, I get weird and start craving all the foods I shouldn't be eating. It's weird. I love candy, but I rarely ever eat it. Dessert always sounds good, but I never have it unless I go out to eat (rarely, these days) or I'm on vacation. White bread is yummy, but seriously who buys white bread anymore? I hardly buy bread at all. But somehow, when I tell myself I'm on a diet, that's all I want. Desserts, candy, white bread, chocolate and toffee covered almonds. I am pulled to the fridge like a magnet. I'm not even hungry, but I start searching for food, like my body just knows that my diet is going to make me wither away and die or something. I found this cartoon on the internet today and it pretty much sums up how I feel about dieting. So my vote is don't ever go on a diet. Just seek to feel happy, healthy, and fit... it will lead to the end result you have in mind.

The words we speak...

Can you read these right the first time? Have fun!

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a strange language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, two geese. So one moose, two meese? One index, two indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"?

Sharona tagged me...

The lovely Sharona has tagged me. I always loved playing tag because I could outrun just about everyone else since I was taller than most everyone my age until I was a freshman in high school. But this kind of tagging is different. It takes time and thought, not just mere physical strength and stamina. So here goes.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the game the player tags 5 people, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Where were you 10 years ago: Let’s see February 1998? I was living in Provo, Utah, probably freezing cold. I remember leaving for school one morning with slightly wet hair. After standing at the bus stop for a few minutes, I reached up to brush my hair out of my face and realized it was frozen!

Five things on my to-do list today: 1) Blog 2) Finish Year-end PMPs (Performance Management Plans) for my direct reports 3) Go to the gym 4) Get ready to go to Grandpa's on Thursday 5) Take some vitamin C to hopefully ward off this sore-throat I have.

Five snacks I enjoy: 1) Dry-roasted almonds 2) cheese 3) Clementines or Cuties(tangerines) 4) Starburst (see blog entry below) 5) Vanilla Häagen-Dazs ice cream - this one is a real treat!

What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire: I would pay off my debt, buy a new car, put a down-payment down on house, furnish that house, invest, take a vacation to Bali, pay off my family members' debt, and then sit there and wonder how I got so much money.

Four of my bad habits: 1) I allow my alarm to go off at least four times before I even consider waking up 2) I sleep in my contacts more than I should 3) I frequently put on my makeup while driving -- except it was one of my New Year's resolution to stop that practice and I've been very good. 4) While driving, when coming to a stop, I rarely engage my clutch as I shift out of gear.

Five jobs that I have had: 1) Mother’s Helper 2) Laundry Lady 3) Public Relations Media Assistant 4) Retail Assistant Manager 5) Partnered Staffing Manager

Five things people don't know about me: Hmmm. 1) I love even numbers and odd numbers divisible by five. I eat candy in twos. 2) I smell everything. 3) I still own and sleep with the blanket I had as a child. I’ll never give my kiki up. 4) I have 39 stamps in my passport and one resident visa. 5) As a child, I was an avid collector of business cards. I know. Sounds sooooo interesting. :)

Thanks, Sharona! This was fun.

Five people I tag are: Suzy, Kate, Amiee, Becky, and Sherine.

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz.

As many of you may have noticed, I tend to avoid discussing politics because I fear too many people don't know how to have a real civilized discussion as opposed to an all-out debate (read: fight) where one or more parties leave offended, think less of you, or simply aren't equally matched with regard to their knowledge of current events and politics. However, a colleague sent me the link to this quiz to find out with which of the 2008 Presidential candidates my political views most closely coincide.

"GoToQuiz.com encourages you to get politically aware and follow the 2008 presidential election. With primary season heating up, make sure you are voting for the candidate who best matches your political opinions. Above all, don't let the media tell you who to vote for!"

Is not the internet a form of media? :) Oh well. I figured it was worth taking, just to see what it said, right? It's just an internet quiz, so who's to say, but... it did fairly accurately conjecture that I'm a pro-Romney Democrat.

66% Barack Obama
65% Hillary Clinton
64% Mitt Romney
63% John Edwards
62% Joe Biden
61% Bill Richardson
60% John McCain
59% Chris Dodd
58% Rudy Giuliani
54% Tom Tancredo
53% Fred Thompson
44% Mike Huckabee
41% Mike Gravel
41% Dennis Kucinich
30% Ron Paul

And there you have it.

I could use a change... I think.

I am not known for my quick adaptability when it comes to change, especially sudden change; spontaneity has never really been one of my strong suits. So when I anticipated a change to occur yesterday, I mentally prepared myself for it, spending time weighing all the pros and cons, asking lots of thought-provoking questions to help me understand what adjustments would be needed to accept this change, and emotionally gearing myself up. After much thought, I was ready and knew what to expect from myself when this change transpired. In fact, I had thought so much about it, in a sense I was actually looking forward to it!

Then, the moment came … and went. The change I had planned for never took place! All of my emotional and mental preparation had not prepared me for the change NOT to happen. Talk about let-down! Talk about trying to hastily kick my weak spontaneity gene into gear. Why am I not good at this? Life is full of change, even changes to change; you’d think I would have gotten used to it by now! Why had I not prepared myself for everything to remain the same? There are always two sides of a coin. Why hadn’t I truly considered that? Why am I forced to remain in this stagnant situation? I wanted this change. I wanted it badly. At least, I think I did. I wanted it to mean something. I wanted it to catapult me forward. I would have even settled to be on a slow-moving conveyor belt, as long as it meant life was moving in a forward motion.

Alas, back to the drawing board I am, asking questions to help me understand what adjustments are needed to accept this stagnancy. No matter how hard I try, I cannot plan for change of any kind. Change will come to pass when it’s darn good and ready. And change is emotional; it’s hard. But the lack of it can be even harder.

The final waving of his cane.

Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008

He'll be greatly missed here, but what a reception he must have had there!

Am I intimidating?

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Black

Your color is black. The color of night. Serene and mysterious, black conjures up images of elegant evening gowns, dashing tuxedos, and gleaming limousines. Traditionally a symbol of success, black also represents power and an uncompromising demand for perfection. Not surprisingly, you tend to set challenging goals for yourself and do whatever it takes to achieve them — your strength of character is second to none. This unfaltering determination, along with your natural elegance, impresses people. But keep in mind that your personality might be intimidating to some. Try to temper your demanding side with a little softness — trust us, it won't kill you. Overall, though, black is the color of professionalism and achievement, which means it's clearly the color for you.

Take this test >

I am...Elinor Dashwood!

'You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.' ... I'd say that's pretty true.

Take the Quiz here!

Power.

Starburst fruit chews are my favorite candy! Each one is a delightful burst of fruit juice that just melts in your mouth. How can you not love them? When I was in high school, I began calling them "power." Yes, yes, I know. Weird. But seriously, I would have a pack and offer some to my friend saying, "Do you want some power?" :) I can't deny it. I'm just a chewy-fruity kind of girl!

Anxiety comes from stress... or is it the other way around?

anx·i·e·ty /æŋˈzaɪɪti/ [ang-zahy-i-tee] n.
1. distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety about the possible loss of his job.
2. Psychiatry. a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.

stress (strěs) n.
1. A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.


So, ... I have a mental disorder affecting my physical health. Thanks, Corporate America!

The Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge, a recognizable structure to, I'd say, 95% of the world's population, is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world for both its structural design and its aesthetic appeal. Bringing flocks of tourists from all over the world to bask in its beauty, it's easily the most photographed bridge in the world. It was declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Construction of this internationally-famous bridge began 75 years ago today.

Painting the Bridge is an ongoing task. Despite its red appearance, the color selected for the Bridge is actually called International Orange. Can you imagine what it would have been like if one of the other two suggested colors was chosen? Steel Gray or Carbon Black. Phew. Someone made a good decision!

Its fog horns, which put me to sleep at night my entire childhood, operate, on average, two and a half hours a day. During March, you'll hear them for less than half an hour a day. However, during the Bay Area's foggy season, which is July through October, they sound over five hours a day.

To some, the Bridge is the most amazing structure ever built. To others, it is a freeway to get to San Francisco from Marin County. To me, it is a little piece of home.

Dentyne-isms.

Have you ever noticed that packs of Dentyne gum have a "Dentyne-ism" list on the back? Here are some funny ones I've seen:

• Dentyne-ism #4 -Why don’t aliens ever kidnap normal people?
• Dentyne-ism #26 - Love is blind, but lingerie is still a good thing.
• Dentyne-ism #92 - Why do people call their advice “two cents” when it’s usually worthless?

Happy New Year!

We were at a New Year's Eve party for mid-singles tonight. Downstairs in the karaoke room, we were waiting for our turn to get up and sing when a guy walked by me, did a double take and turned back to say, "Wow, you've got kicka$$ eyes!" :) I have to say I was pretty happy. That easily beat out a midnight kiss for the best way to start out the new year!