Pageant and Sweet Potato Corn Tortilla Chips with chocolate and home taught!!! and online traffic school

:)

Yeah, that's the costume I will be wearing. And a lot of the people in this picture are in the pageant again this year. I do believe this is last years crew.

The 2008 Mesa Easter Pageant will be held on the following dates:

Spanish: March 14th and 15th
ASL: March 14th and 15th
English: March 12th, 13th, and the 18th through the 22nd (the 23rd is Easter and my Daddy's birthday, and he will be here in town...PARTY at my pad!!!...maybe...I need to consult the Aunts and more especially Mommy)

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Yes, sweet potato corn tortilla chips with a bit of spice and lime twisted into them...and chocolate chips. It's a very interesting montage of flavors I have in my mouth at the moment. I like it actually. :) I bought the chips at whole foods today. They looked good. I just wish I had a lime sauce to dip them in.

I had a bowl of chocolate chips sitting out, and I threw some in right after throwing a chip or two it. I stopped and considered it for a moment and decided I liked it.

Yes, I am weird.

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I was home taught tonight. One of them I know, the other one is a complete stranger but for some reason his voice is incredibly familiar. I didn't recognize him, but he had a beard he was working on.

Anyways, the lesson was on eternal marriage and families. :)

It actually was a good lesson. They both contributed to the lesson, the Spirit was definitely there, and I am getting my back lawn mowed Saturday! Woot!!

I heartily believe in always giving my home teachers and visiting teachers something they can do to serve. They ask, they want to serve, so I give them something. Mowing the lawn will take maybe 20 minutes, but they will truly be saving my life! I insist on doing something for my teachees...hmm...thankful I have an extra day this month!

Visiting teachers are harder to give things to do on the spot. But since I am living here in this house...hmm...I am sure they could help me with some small project. I shall have to consider over this for a bit.

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$120 and 5 hours to clean my record. And I can do all but 15-30 minutes of it from the comfort of my own home! Yeah, yeah!

I have to take the final exam (What do you do when the light turns yellow...A) ignore it B) step on the gas C) panic or D) slam on your brakes so the person behind you will run into you and you can get a new car and $2000 for pain and suffering to boot!) at a Kinko's so they can notarize the page proving that I actually took the class and the test. Yeah for 24 hour Kinko's! I don't have to take any time off work.

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For those of you who know Sarah, my roomie, her grandmother died today. She could use a few prayers. She is at this very moment driving to California (yeah, in the middle of the night...I should've made her wait til morning...not that I could've stopped her, being that she is a weight lifter and a heavy object thrower (shot put, discus, hammer throw) ) to be with her Mom. I guess she is taking it really hard. Sarah is such a trooper, but this can't be easy for her.

Thanks...and getting kicked out

Thanks Ashley. I think you are right. It's gone.

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So we had stake conference this weekend. I am officially getting kicked out of my ward and stake come August. To continue on in my stake I would have to be a full-time ASU student. Nope, not happening. :)

Any YSA in the three Tempe Stake boundaries can stay in the YSA stake. (YSA means single and between the ages of 18-31 (they are aging out the 32 and 33 year olds)). If you live outside of those boundaries, you have to be a full time student at ASU to attend. Dang it.

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I have decided that I am in love with an angel. :) Okay, not in love, but there is definitely attraction on my part. He's 6'31/2" (according to him). We stand next to each other pretty much the whole time. HE IS SO CUTE! And he is a little shy. I love it.

COME TO THE EASTER PAGEANT!!!! EVERYONE!!!!

Testing using Pachelbel's Canon in D

Testing my blogging abilities...but I LOVE this video, and it is SO true. Warning, there are one or two words worth beeping, so if you don't want to hear a cuss word or two, don't watch it!

By the way, this isn't a classical performance. This is a comedy routine. Believe me, it is worth watching.

Update

Question 1: What happened?

Guy in front of the guy in front of me suddenly decides to turn right and does NOT turn on his blinker.
Guy in front of me slams on his brakes.
I slam on my brakes and hit guy in front of me.
Guy behind me is Phoenix PD.
No citation given. (We were in Mesa, not in Phoenix, so he couldn't, but he wouldn't have given me on anyways).

Question 2: Seriously?

Yes, unfortunately.

Question 3: Are you okay???

Yes and no. Thankfully, as far as we can tell, the insurance is going to cover it. Two people said yes, I need three out of three. I find out tomorrow. Pray for me. I hurt. A lot. Thankfully, I still have drugs from the last one.

Again, yes, it really did happen. No, I can't believe it either.


SO...to make things better...

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New blog background. I am probably going to change it. The colors don't quite match yet. We shall see. I am leaning more towards brown instead of purple.

When it rains, it pours

I got in another car accident. My new, beautiful, red Caliber.

I don't know what else to say.

Sleep and Talk and free massage!

I slept in! Kinda...I slept until 9:00am. Truly sleeping in would have looked more like 1:00pm.

Thank goodness I am in a singles ward that meets at 12:30 or I would NEVER get to sleep in. I tell you what, I am exhausted and sore. That rehearsal yesterday was a GREAT workout. My legs are absolutely screaming!

Man, I have the weirdest dreams when I sleep in.

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The talk went well. I thought all three talks given today were really well done actually. The first one was on the principle of obedience, the second (mine) was on the principle of sacrifice, and the last was on following the prophet. Got lots of compliments on my talk, but only two people actually came up and talked to me about the law of sacrifice.

I was asked to introduce myself before it started, and it went a little something like this:

"Alright, intro. I am Elizabeth ______, I used to be in this ward but was in Alabama attending the University of Alabama for three years, Roll Tide! I am 25, come from a good family, been a member all my life, lots of pioneer heritage, 7 generations in the church behind me...um...

"I am six feet tall... (some chuckles)

"I am free Friday night!"
:) (lots of laughter)

Hmm...maybe I should be a comedian?

Nah! I would get up there and freeze. And I don't like rotten tomatoes at all!

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K, so after giving the talk I go to Sunday School and this really sweet girl sits next to me. She has been in the ward since forever ago. She has a mental disability of some sort, no idea what to call it other than she is just a bit slow. She can read, write, think just fine, just on a slower scale.

I leaned forward at one point during the lesson and she started giving me one of the best massages I have ever had in my entire life. I wanted to cry, not out of pain, but out of gratitude. She seriously kept doing it for around 15 minutes. It was heaven.

Know, I want you to understand, I already loved this girl SO much. She is SO sweet and full of all kinds of love. I make it a point to spend at least five minutes if not more with her every time I see her at a Church function. Not out of obligation at all, but because I really love her.

I never expected her to have such strong hands and arms. Seriously, this was an amazing massage. I hope I have an opportunity to repay her at some point. I needed that massage SO much.

Pageant Rehearsal and drama at the temple

Today was my first pageant rehearsal! It was fun. We actually got up on the angel stage and practiced a couple of the scenes. The angel stage is REALLY high up there. I will take a picture that will give you the feel for it one of these days...

There is this really cute guy there. See, I told you, I would move on soon enough out of my dwelling-over-what-happened-last-year stage. This guy, he is 6'3", cute!!!, GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!!! and is only 23! He and I are the tallest guy and girl, so of COURSE we are standing next to each other pretty much the whole time. We will probably be at least pretty good buds by the end of this. I am technically a missionary until the end of the last performance March 22nd, so...and they threatened us today too about that. No comfy, touchy feely stuff! They actually have kicked people off of the pageant because they were just too close. Crazy! They DO want us to marry each other and invite them to the wedding and such, but not during pageant. :)

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So, it's Saturday, we are on the temple grounds (fyi, the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant is held on the front lawn which is HUGE on the temple lot, right next to the visitors center. Pageant is being held DURING Spring Break people! Come see me, come see me!), and I see a bunch of people just hanging out around the front not looking too happy. Get over to the angel stage, turns out the couple that were supposed to get married today FORGOT to get their marriage license. The office is only open from Monday through Friday...Monday is a holiday...AND his family flew in from Detroit AND they aren't even members of the Church.

Oh boy, from what I understand the bride was just absolutely crying her head off. I couldn't even imagine...

The temple cannot marry them without a marriage license. They can get in huge trouble if they do perform one. CRAZY!

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What do I think of the new car? It finally stopped raining so I took it in for a bath finally. It is so shiny now, and it smells like lemon! Yay!

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I am speaking in Church tomorrow. Pray for me! I think I am getting sick. Of course, it's a sore throat.

A year ago today...and that's all

Okay, I just have to do this. A year ago today, I was proposed to. And I said yes. And I was happy. I really was.

I miss him today. Don't worry, I will recover at some point. I always do when I relapse. It will take a little time. I am incredibly busy, so hopefully it will be very short lived.

This is a slide show that I made about a year ago of the two of us...it's supposed to have Ordinary Miracle from the Charlotte's Web soundtrack playing against it...but I somehow deleted the track from my computer...hmm...so, sorry, no sound. I think some of the pictures are entertaining enough...I look TERRIBLE in nearly every one. Terrible, but happy...

That's all.

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What do I think of the new ride today: I discovered that if I push the button on the dash (for recording 'trips' which I use to keep track of gas mileage) a couple of times it shows the temperature outside! I have a cool car!!! You would think I would've figured this out before I bought it, right?

V Day............... and job hunting

I will love this day when I have someone to share it with.

I really will. This is the kind of thing that I LOVE.

Just not today.

It was okay. I got a card from someone I don't know at work and a chocolate in the shape of puckered lips...and a cookie in the shape of a heart.

Both of my roommates taped Valentine's onto my door. That was pretty cool, wasn't expecting that. :)

Actually, the best thing about today was talking with my manager. I have one of the best averages for quality on the team. WELL above average. It's still not as high as he wants it to be for everyone, but I think that that says a lot! AND I have THE highest record for doing provider updates by a landslide. He wants me to move up, but the next opportunity to would be in September.

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So being that I am doing far and above everyone else at work...I think it's time for me to move on. I wouldn't be able to here until July if I were to go outside of my department, September within my department...

I need a better job.

I hate job hunting. Seriously, I have talent, I know it, I have experience, I have FABULOUS references, I can do much more than what I am, but...I don't know how to present myself. I am bad at networking. I get SO stressed. I wish I could have someone walk me through this and find me a wonderful job. Is there such a person where that is what they do?

AND do you know how difficult it is to get any sort of job in the music industry? Okay, yeah, I could work at the local music store and make $5.nothing/hour. A REAL job?!?! Now, multiply that by the fact that I live in Arizona. There is ASU music school, there is the Phoenix Symphony. And that pretty much summarizes the job market for music here. Oh, and the schools. Um, yeah, not happening. Not today at least.

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What do I think of the car today? It needs a bath. Will the paper inside the plastic that is acting as my license plate until the real thing comes in the mail make it through a car wash?? Hmm...

Just wanted to point out..., and my Sabbath day

...that this is post number 111! :) What a fabulous looking number, don't you think??

yes, I am weird

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Here is the layout of my Sabbath day:

• went to Mesa 20th to perform a special musical number for their Sacrament Meeting at the request of a friend of mine...the talks were on personal revelation and it was exactly what I needed to hear
  
• started back home and my car made a U-turn and took me to the temple where I walked around in the beautiful 70 degree weather, clear sky, tiny bit of a breeze...it was HEAVENLY! Read scriptures, admired the Pageant stage, noted that the stairs that I will be climbing looked VERY sturdy and easy to climb...:) , meditated, watched this really cute family walk around the gardens...grabbed a bunch of Pageant fliers to pass out to all my coworkers
• went home, dropped off cello
• went to Church, discovered that it was Ward Conference...yeah, missed that announcement, glad I was early! The talks were on the Creation, the Fall and the Atonement. And they were AMAZING! For a farmer, my Bishop could give my former Bishop in Alabama who also was my institute teacher a run for his money. He knows his stuff! I don't know where he has found the time to learn it and study it either. He continually amazes me. Sunday School was on the Atonement, Relief Society was on Relief Society (yes, it was on Relief Society)
  
• came home full of the intent to take a nap...ate food, roomie came home, and before I knew it it was time for me to go to the...
• went to the rebroadcast my stake did for the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting that was originally broadcasted yesterday morning. For those of you who missed it, President Monson gave his first Church-wide talk as Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! And it was about family, getting married, having kids, getting married, the proclamation, getting married...did I say it was about marriage? Oh, and rearing up a righteous generation. Elder Oaks was HILARIOUS! He would lean over, make a joke, really work it up, and sit back and laugh like he was the funniest guy ever. It was precious! My goodness there were some good moments. They really did touch on some beautiful subjects. One thing I got was that the decisions I make now independently need to be ones with my family in mind. I am responsible for making sure I have a family where they are brought up in the Gospel. Which means when I marry, I need to marry a man I can be absolutely sure will preside over the family and that I will be there to make sure that he can preside over it. I need to make sure he and I are on the same page when it comes to a family. Warren and I weren't. Gosh, there were so many moments during that broadcast where I was like...wow, yeah, we were off on that. I can honestly say I am very happy I didn't marry him. We were not on the same page at all. Not that he is on the wrong page, I am not saying that at all, but he and I were just different. Anyways...

So there you have it. The Church is true!

Opinions: I am playing for the Saturday night session of my YSA Stake's Conference. The topics for that night are : 'faith and adversity' and 'the Prophet Joseph Smith'. Any suggestions on hymns? I was kinda thinking Be Still My Soul, but this is cello solo. I could make it work, but that hymn really needs accompaniment and I simply don't have the time or the piano to write out a piano part...

Been tagged, so here ya go!

Rules: Answer each question about yourself, then tag 5 people by posting their names and leaving them a comment on their blog.

10 Years Ago: I was living in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, sophomore at the brand new Rio Rancho High School (first year it was open). I was in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, taking cello lessons, preparing for the Rio Rancho High School orchestra's Spring trip to San Antonio for our competition...where we took top orchestra, top group at that festival in general...and finally, by the end of that semester we won nationals. Yep, the first year the high school had opened, without any seniors in the orchestra (freshmen through juniors), our orchestra teacher rallied us together and we were the best group in the country. The horrible thing is that the high school admin was SO horrible and such that she left the high school and took up the orchestra position at a high school in Las Cruces where she still teaches today I believe. She is the reason why I continued with music.

Things On My To Do List Tomorrow: Play in friend's ward for their special musical number, attend my ward, go to the broadcast of the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting which I intended on attending this morning but my body wouldn't let me wake up...I finally was able to sleep in. Other than those things I intend on taking a nice nap and eating some good food and reading some good books and calling some good people.

Snacks I enjoy: Dark chocolate, strawberries, chocolate strawberries, graham crackers dipped in milk, peaches, fresh fruit really of any kind, fresh veggies too.

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire? Get an attorney. A good one.

3 Of My Bad Habits:

1. Can't keep my room clean worth anything. I can keep the rest of the house clean, but not my room.
2. I laugh REALLY loud. It can be annoying I think.
3. I stay up too late and have to wake up early. By the weekend I am dieing, and more often than not I have to wake up early over the weekend.

5 places I have lived: Tempe and Chandler, Arizona; San Antonio, Texas; Chubbuck, Idaho; Lompoc and Goleta, California; Northport, AL; Rio Rancho, New Mexico. (YES, I know that is more than five...I thought I would finish it off :) )

Jobs that I have had: Pizza delivery driver, Rehabilitation Therapist for Autistic children, Speed-Reading teacher, Cutco salesperson (worst job EVER), gigger, musician, customer sales rep at Lerner New York (now New York and Company), music theory lab teacher, grader, file clerk, receptionist...um...I could go on if you like :)

Things most people don’t know about me: I can crack all of my toes by curling them under. No, not with my hands, not by hitting them on the floor, but by using the muscles in my toes.
My favorite color is white. Seriously, it is white. Has been since high school I think. Yes, I know, I am weird. Next favorite is green.
I am afraid of semi's and cement trucks. Cement trucks scare me to death.
Everyone that has seen me knows that I have crooked fingers, but for those of you who don't know me, I have crooked fingers. Born that way. No, doesn't help with playing the cello, I have had to build the muscles and make them more flexible. I think that is part of the reason why I have never been able to improve at the piano.
I am allergic to dandelions. My eyes swell shut.

I am going to break the last rule. If you feel so inclined you may continue this on if you would like! :) Let me know if you do.

When's that....BABY due?

Congrats to Julie, Dustin and big sister Alana!!



He's HERE!!


7 lbs, 15 oz


21 inches


Brigham Reed __________ (no last names here)


He's working on a smile. Believe me. He likes to stay in one position looking this. :)

And yet again, here is a video for your listening pleasure!!!
*******ummm...it was a little loud when I watched it, so you MAY want to turn down the volume before you watch it.

I would like to announce...

• that no, not one guy hit on me at Church on Sunday (see end of last post if this seems to be a rather random statement).
  
• that I am an AUNT again!!! My best friend Julie had her baby not an hour ago. I will have LOTS and LOADS of pictures tomorrow when I go to visit. She is sleeping (which she hasn't been able to do for weeks) and I am NOT going to bother her right now. I can't WAIT to meet little Brigham.
• that the new First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been announced. President Thomas S. Monson as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Henry B. Eyring as First Counselor, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf as Second Counselor.

More more information on the last tidbit above, please go to www.lds.org....there are links and news articles galore for your entertaining pleasure and curiosities satisfaction. :)

Pictures tomorrow for you to gawk at. I LOVE newborns. I had the privilege of getting to hold Heidi (Jill and Stephen's second daughter, they are now expecting their third!!!) for an hour during the first 24 hours of her life. It was one of the most precious hours I have ever known. That sweet little girl is just too precious for words.

Saturday is a special day, it's the day that we...

1. wake up early to go to work to get 4 1/2 hours overtime

AND

2. cry through ALL of President Hinckley's funeral (literally...I went through three whole tissues and still needed more...)

AND

3. go to downtown Phoenix to get Arizona driver's license (only place that was open today besides the one in East Mesa...interesting place, the MVD, but that is worthy of another blog entry at some other time...)

AND

4. go to In-N-Out cause I can't remember the last time I went there and have a burger, no tomato with onions, fries and a strawberry shake.

AND

5. watched Ground Hog day of course...out of respect for the most ridiculous holidays ever known to man. I mean that in the best way, of course. :)

AND

6. went to a Superbowl Party. Yes, non-Church sponsered, all out NFL Superbowl party. It was free. The COUNTING CROWS performed. It was FREE. Do any of you understand how cool that is??? I LOVE THE COUNTING CROWS!!!







And for your listening pleasure, here is just a snippet of what I was able to enjoy. Now, I want you to notice, the guy playing bass guitar...he looks over toward me at the end and starts making this really funny face. K, you can't really tell really well since the video is a bit small, but anyways, I was pretty close to the stage, and I tell you he kept looking over at me and making these funny faces ALL THE TIME. I daresay he was trying to flirt with me. That with the guy that I saw relieving himself in a not so secluded place (no, didn't see anything indecent, just a nice steady stream...blech!) and then telling me that he wasn't sure if he should catch up to his group of friends or if he should introduce himself, I was hit on twice tonight. Too bad one is in an incredible band and the other is, well, indecent, incompetent, and was drunk. Oh well. Perhaps a decent guy will hit on me at Church tomorrow. Perhaps.