I walk into Relief Society here in Rio Rancho, and turns out my Young Women President from way back when is now the Relief Society President. She was conducting the meeting today, and after introducing all the visitors she mentioned how two of the girls were 'her young women'. We loved it.
She will forever and always be my Young Women President...I can't imagine a better president than she was for us. I went through Beehive through Laurel with her, and when it came for the Bishop to present my Young Womanhood Recognition Award, she had just been released, so the new Young Women President was up there presenting it to me. I was rather disappointed that 'my' Young Women President wasn't also invited up there. I of course understood that she was released, but she was the one that worked with me and helped almost the entire way through that Personal Progress book. I was the Laurel President for a year, and we just had a wonderful time and were very close...she made each of us promise that she would get an invitation for when we were going through the temple, going on missions, getting married, etc...and she still keeps in touch with all of us.
When I have had the opportunity through my current calling, I have told new Young Women presidents about how important my Young Women leaders were to me and what a huge influence they were and still are on me...it really is an important calling, I think. And a fun one.
I mentioned that I might be living in NM for a bit, and she kinda perked up and said 'well then, it will be just like old times'. Loved it!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Skype...
I am officially a fan of Skype. I signed up just this last week, and have already talked with a bunch of family...
If you don't know what it is, Skype is phone service that is free...except, instead of a phone, you use your computer...AND you have video along with the sound.
AND...it's free...
If you have a Web Camera and a microphone built into your laptop/computer, I would give this baby a whirl.
The only annoying thing is with the sound...if your internet is slow, so is Skype, AND there is a pause between what you say and what they say...AND if there is more than one person talking, sometimes it's hard to understand what is being said. I suppose that last thing is fairly normal though.
Do you Skype?
If you don't know what it is, Skype is phone service that is free...except, instead of a phone, you use your computer...AND you have video along with the sound.
AND...it's free...
If you have a Web Camera and a microphone built into your laptop/computer, I would give this baby a whirl.
The only annoying thing is with the sound...if your internet is slow, so is Skype, AND there is a pause between what you say and what they say...AND if there is more than one person talking, sometimes it's hard to understand what is being said. I suppose that last thing is fairly normal though.
Do you Skype?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Santa Tracker...
If you have a sleepless child who wants to know where Santa is right now, check this out:
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html
NORAD stands for North America Aerospace Defense Command. They track Santa every year. There is even video of him...
For instance, right now he is in Calgary Alberta. Pretty dang cool...
Merry Christmas...
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html
NORAD stands for North America Aerospace Defense Command. They track Santa every year. There is even video of him...
For instance, right now he is in Calgary Alberta. Pretty dang cool...
Merry Christmas...
A Proper 'Merry Christmas'...
I am at home with the parents. Just me this year. This hasn't happened since my sister was born. This is the 'off' year...I guess that is what people call it, so she is with her in-laws in Washington.
Good points: I get to be spoiled rotten.
Bad points: well, it's just me and my parents. I am sure there will be a point when I will really wish that Emily was here. Like tomorrow morning...or right now...yep, missing baby sister...
Starting about the time Emily grasped the concept of Santa Claus, we would sneak out early Christmas morning to see what we got...like 3AM early...we were told we couldn't come out of our rooms until 6AM, but we figured out that the gifts didn't disappear, and so we were just extremely quiet and then did an amazing job acting like we were surprised for our parents. :) We have since admitted to our transgressions...of which we are admittedly unrepentent...
Tonight we drove down to oldtown Albuquerque to see the luminaria displays and get some hot chocolate, see the big tree all decorated, and get our Christmas tamales (seriously, SO good...they have a stand outside with them...). We used to go driving around to see the Christmas lights, go by the temple, and all that, but we kept it simple this year and come straight home.
In the morning, presents, AND as a special treat, Belgian waffles! I guess my parents just got a real Belgian waffle maker, so we are cookin' some up in the morning. Yay!
I hope each of you are having a wonderful time with your families...Merry Merry Christmas!!!
Good points: I get to be spoiled rotten.
Bad points: well, it's just me and my parents. I am sure there will be a point when I will really wish that Emily was here. Like tomorrow morning...or right now...yep, missing baby sister...
Starting about the time Emily grasped the concept of Santa Claus, we would sneak out early Christmas morning to see what we got...like 3AM early...we were told we couldn't come out of our rooms until 6AM, but we figured out that the gifts didn't disappear, and so we were just extremely quiet and then did an amazing job acting like we were surprised for our parents. :) We have since admitted to our transgressions...of which we are admittedly unrepentent...
Tonight we drove down to oldtown Albuquerque to see the luminaria displays and get some hot chocolate, see the big tree all decorated, and get our Christmas tamales (seriously, SO good...they have a stand outside with them...). We used to go driving around to see the Christmas lights, go by the temple, and all that, but we kept it simple this year and come straight home.
In the morning, presents, AND as a special treat, Belgian waffles! I guess my parents just got a real Belgian waffle maker, so we are cookin' some up in the morning. Yay!
I hope each of you are having a wonderful time with your families...Merry Merry Christmas!!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Hope your days are merry and bright!
Hoping for a White Christmas...
Landed in NM without too much hassle...plane was delayed 15 minutes, better than the flight before us that caused us to be delayed...they had been waiting for something like 1 1/2 hours or something like that...
BUT I sat next to a Patrick Dempsey look-a-like...seriously, he looked JUST LIKE HIM...yes, he was very attractive and very good looking...
Anyways, back on topic...Merry Christmas! I am getting me some Christmas Tamales!!! YAY!!! Yummy!!!
Much love!
Hoping for a White Christmas...
Landed in NM without too much hassle...plane was delayed 15 minutes, better than the flight before us that caused us to be delayed...they had been waiting for something like 1 1/2 hours or something like that...
BUT I sat next to a Patrick Dempsey look-a-like...seriously, he looked JUST LIKE HIM...yes, he was very attractive and very good looking...
Anyways, back on topic...Merry Christmas! I am getting me some Christmas Tamales!!! YAY!!! Yummy!!!
Much love!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
In the kitchen...
I witnessed the following conversation...it was HILARIOUS...names have been changed because I feel like it...this is a 'documenting so I remember it' post...
Lily: Hey James, come into the kitchen.
James (watching very important football game in living room): Why?
Lily: I miss you.
Me: (giggling as silently as I can)
James (with the most precious look on his face comes into the kitchen): (after a moment of silence) What would you like to talk about?
Lily: Let's talk about your day.
James: I worked.
****after a slight pause, there is a very short discussion about where he works between him and I and an even shorter and slightly awkward conversation about one of his coworkers****
At this point, there is about a minute of silence...in which I am smiling my head off and trying to concentrate on eating my dinner and not laugh hysterically while at the same time trying to avoid eye contact with either one of them...but I don't get a quick look at Lily, and she went between looking at James and then looking at me with a slightly awkward smile on her face.
(after a slightly longer moment of silence after catching Lily's eye) James: That was great. (and he turns around and walks back into living room to continue watching very important football game)
Me: (laughing hysterically)
Lily: (quietly) ah, wait... (resigned and slightly...well, I don't think embarrassed works, but also very precious look on)
And this...is a moment in time with Elizabeth...
Lily: Hey James, come into the kitchen.
James (watching very important football game in living room): Why?
Lily: I miss you.
Me: (giggling as silently as I can)
James (with the most precious look on his face comes into the kitchen): (after a moment of silence) What would you like to talk about?
Lily: Let's talk about your day.
James: I worked.
****after a slight pause, there is a very short discussion about where he works between him and I and an even shorter and slightly awkward conversation about one of his coworkers****
At this point, there is about a minute of silence...in which I am smiling my head off and trying to concentrate on eating my dinner and not laugh hysterically while at the same time trying to avoid eye contact with either one of them...but I don't get a quick look at Lily, and she went between looking at James and then looking at me with a slightly awkward smile on her face.
(after a slightly longer moment of silence after catching Lily's eye) James: That was great. (and he turns around and walks back into living room to continue watching very important football game)
Me: (laughing hysterically)
Lily: (quietly) ah, wait... (resigned and slightly...well, I don't think embarrassed works, but also very precious look on)
And this...is a moment in time with Elizabeth...
Moving
I hate moving. And yet, I do it SO MUCH.
Dagnabit, I need some ROOTS.
The thing is, I have at least 2 more moves in my future. Moving in with the parents, and then moving out again...love my parents SO much, but I am not going to live there...that's a temporary move until I find some good employment.
Right now, I am moving up to Birmingham with some wonderful people who offered to let me stay there for a couple of months while I finish up here. Then off to NM and hopefully soon afterwards AZ.
Dagnabit, I need some ROOTS.
The thing is, I have at least 2 more moves in my future. Moving in with the parents, and then moving out again...love my parents SO much, but I am not going to live there...that's a temporary move until I find some good employment.
Right now, I am moving up to Birmingham with some wonderful people who offered to let me stay there for a couple of months while I finish up here. Then off to NM and hopefully soon afterwards AZ.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Avatar...
Wow...I don't think any movie will ever live up to it...I cannot find the right word!!!
Seriously, dig around underneath your couch cushions, beneath the seats in your car for the extra $2.75 it costs for the 3D version.
Mind-blowing...
Just beautiful. The amazing attention to detail, the incredible computer graphics, the story, the character development...I mean, there is a point where the main character is underwater. You feel like you are underwater with him, swirling around. I really felt like I was underwater. I don't know how they did that. The skin looks like skin. Rocks like rocks, plants like plants. VERY realistic...usually that's what bothers me about these kind of movies. I mean, if it doesn't look real, do the Mary Poppins thing where it's obvious that it's animated.
This is no Mary Poppins. It is just wonderfully amazing. Marvelous, stupendous, fantastic, brilliant.
Yes, I liked it.
A movie 14 years in the making, and with $500 million invested in it. Absolutely incredible. This will take every single emmy and any other award there is available. It will take Titanic down. Simply amazing.
Go see it.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sleepless in Alabama...
Sleepless night...I usually really hate these nights, but I kept myself entertained for the most part...including sending a slightly nasty note to AOL about why they decided to erase my Contacts list...thankfully, the bug was fixed soon after I sent in my complaint. :) I actually love what AOL has done with their email since they yet again have gone solo. Yay for less annoying advertisements and much easier to use email! Not that it was all that difficult before, but it sure took time for page elements to load. Not so much now.
I am reading 'My Life in France' by Julia Child...I loved the movie so much that I bought the other book that that movie is about, and it was full with so much horribleness that I stopped reading it...I don't do that often, but I did for that one...very disappointing...but 'My Life in France' is absolutely delicious to read. And I mean delicious. I can taste every lovely meal that she eats and cooks and smells. Butter and garlic are wafting in the air as I read this book. Even snails sound like something wonderful to eat, and if you know me well you KNOW I would never eat snails.
It really is quite the breath of fresh air, and is just fascinating to read. I am now planning a future trip to France so I can have the 'Julia Child' experience. Well, not entirely, I won't enroll in Le Cordon Bleu, nor will live there (at least, I don't plan to, but you never know), but I definitely want to go now. I am only 60 pages into the book...nice slow read for me. I really love the relationship that she and her husband have...they just reek of love and admiration and support for each other...and I swear, this isn't about their love life at all, this is just about their experiences in France, but you can just tell how wonderful they were with each other. Love it.
Good morning, all...
I am reading 'My Life in France' by Julia Child...I loved the movie so much that I bought the other book that that movie is about, and it was full with so much horribleness that I stopped reading it...I don't do that often, but I did for that one...very disappointing...but 'My Life in France' is absolutely delicious to read. And I mean delicious. I can taste every lovely meal that she eats and cooks and smells. Butter and garlic are wafting in the air as I read this book. Even snails sound like something wonderful to eat, and if you know me well you KNOW I would never eat snails.
It really is quite the breath of fresh air, and is just fascinating to read. I am now planning a future trip to France so I can have the 'Julia Child' experience. Well, not entirely, I won't enroll in Le Cordon Bleu, nor will live there (at least, I don't plan to, but you never know), but I definitely want to go now. I am only 60 pages into the book...nice slow read for me. I really love the relationship that she and her husband have...they just reek of love and admiration and support for each other...and I swear, this isn't about their love life at all, this is just about their experiences in France, but you can just tell how wonderful they were with each other. Love it.
Good morning, all...
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Evidently...
First of all, congrats to Mark Ingram for bringing Alabama its first Heisman trophy...he totally earned it...
(I can't help it...you try living in Tuscaloosa and not become a college football fan...it sucks you in eventually...)
Now for the real reason for the post:
...evidently flour is an important ingredient in hashbrowns.
I made the recipe exactly to order (or so I thought) with the modification of use pre-shredded potatos, pre-rubbed instead of freshly chopped sage, and microwaved bacon (I have never cooked bacon in the microwave...I might have to do this from now on, cause skillets hate me in the bacon department)...
I start frying them (the hashbrowns)...and they fall completely apart. There were little bits of potato, onions, bacon and garlic floating around in the oil...I got on the phone with my sister halfway through saying I was just baffled at why they weren't sticking together...I put the eggs in for crying out loud...
...I get off the phone and suddenly it dawned on me...the flour never made it into the bowl...
...it was MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH easier going after that. I felt like kicking myself...I didn't, but I sure felt like it...
Nevertheless, very yummy. Will have to make them again. Potatoes, red onions (a MUST), sage, garlic, egg, FLOUR (an absolute must), salt and pepper...
(I can't help it...you try living in Tuscaloosa and not become a college football fan...it sucks you in eventually...)
Now for the real reason for the post:
...evidently flour is an important ingredient in hashbrowns.
I made the recipe exactly to order (or so I thought) with the modification of use pre-shredded potatos, pre-rubbed instead of freshly chopped sage, and microwaved bacon (I have never cooked bacon in the microwave...I might have to do this from now on, cause skillets hate me in the bacon department)...
I start frying them (the hashbrowns)...and they fall completely apart. There were little bits of potato, onions, bacon and garlic floating around in the oil...I got on the phone with my sister halfway through saying I was just baffled at why they weren't sticking together...I put the eggs in for crying out loud...
...I get off the phone and suddenly it dawned on me...the flour never made it into the bowl...
...it was MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH easier going after that. I felt like kicking myself...I didn't, but I sure felt like it...
Nevertheless, very yummy. Will have to make them again. Potatoes, red onions (a MUST), sage, garlic, egg, FLOUR (an absolute must), salt and pepper...
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Dagnabit!!!
So...it totally didn't snow...and I am so bummed about it...
But in much happier news, today is my brother-in-law's and one of my BFF's birthday!
AND Alabama won the SEC Championship...AND they are playing in the National Championship...it's about time...
Roll Tide!!!
But in much happier news, today is my brother-in-law's and one of my BFF's birthday!
AND Alabama won the SEC Championship...AND they are playing in the National Championship...it's about time...
Roll Tide!!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Home Alone...
I am watching Home Alone...while I am home alone...eating popcorn...
The exciting life of a single, 27 year old maid...
I really need to buy the soundtrack to this movie...it is most excellent...
In more exciting news...it's gonna snow in the deep south tonight...I am making a snowman tomorrow morning...a little more excited about this prospect than I probably should be, but I am a quirky girl...
Still trying to figure out what to give my brother-in-law for Christmas...everyone else is taken care of...
Oh, tried out that frozen yogurt place in Tuscaloosa...called Yogurt Mountain...you grab a cup, put as much frozen yogurt and as many toppings as you would like into it, then they weigh it and you pay for it...
LOVED it...I put as much broken up Kit-Kat pieces as I felt like I could handle...plus mini M&M's and chocolate chips...with chocolate AND cookies and cream frozen yogurt...oh, and oreo pieces...yeah, I went to town...
The exciting life of a single, 27 year old maid...
I really need to buy the soundtrack to this movie...it is most excellent...
In more exciting news...it's gonna snow in the deep south tonight...I am making a snowman tomorrow morning...a little more excited about this prospect than I probably should be, but I am a quirky girl...
Still trying to figure out what to give my brother-in-law for Christmas...everyone else is taken care of...
Oh, tried out that frozen yogurt place in Tuscaloosa...called Yogurt Mountain...you grab a cup, put as much frozen yogurt and as many toppings as you would like into it, then they weigh it and you pay for it...
LOVED it...I put as much broken up Kit-Kat pieces as I felt like I could handle...plus mini M&M's and chocolate chips...with chocolate AND cookies and cream frozen yogurt...oh, and oreo pieces...yeah, I went to town...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Worth Recalling...
A few weeks ago I gave a talk at the Saturday night session of stake conference. My topic was Receiving and Recognizing Revelation and Inspiration in our Callings...not a light-weight topic, for sure.
To start out my talk, however, I decided to fall back on my public speaking know-how and began with a funny story...and it went as follows:
"A few days after President Archibald asked me to speak for conference, before institute started, he, me and Sister Cole were talking and he mentioned that he had ruined my night by asking me to speak...and then informed Sister Cole that my topic was 'Why I am not Married Yet'...(a bit of laughter)...and that I had 2 to 3 minutes to explain...(large round of laughter)...
"However fascinating that topic might be, I am afraid it wouldn't be very spiritually enlightening, (some laughter) so I am going to stick with the topic he really gave me."
I then gave my talk...it was a good talk, I think...to the point, somewhat interesting...but afterwards I am afraid that I did not accomplish what really needed to be accomplished, which was to deliver my topic so that those listening would remember what my real topic was in the first place. The reason why I say that is because of what occurred afterwards.
I had a number of people come up and say something to the effect of 'good talk, great job, etc.' Only one person came up to me who I knew really heard my talk.
But I had 4 people come up to me and inform me that they all had sons...about my age, returned missionaries, etc., etc...
AND I had one lady give me a four point plan as to how to get an eternal companion...I kid you not. It was all I could do to contain myself...
Now, just in case this wonderful sister actually has found my blog and reads it, I really do appreciate your advice, and I am so glad it worked for you and that it seems to have worked for others. I just enjoy finding humor in many things, and I definitely found it in this...you aren't the first to give me advice in such a format, and I firmly believe that if I continue to do what is good and right that hopefully one day I will find someone else who is doing that too and would like to hang out with me for eternity...and that it doesn't just take a 4 point plan.
Thankfully, that weekend was the extent of the 'I have a son' phase...but I really need to rethink how to start out my talks so that if I tell a joke or a funny story, it really has something to do with the topic of the talk...
To start out my talk, however, I decided to fall back on my public speaking know-how and began with a funny story...and it went as follows:
"A few days after President Archibald asked me to speak for conference, before institute started, he, me and Sister Cole were talking and he mentioned that he had ruined my night by asking me to speak...and then informed Sister Cole that my topic was 'Why I am not Married Yet'...(a bit of laughter)...and that I had 2 to 3 minutes to explain...(large round of laughter)...
"However fascinating that topic might be, I am afraid it wouldn't be very spiritually enlightening, (some laughter) so I am going to stick with the topic he really gave me."
I then gave my talk...it was a good talk, I think...to the point, somewhat interesting...but afterwards I am afraid that I did not accomplish what really needed to be accomplished, which was to deliver my topic so that those listening would remember what my real topic was in the first place. The reason why I say that is because of what occurred afterwards.
I had a number of people come up and say something to the effect of 'good talk, great job, etc.' Only one person came up to me who I knew really heard my talk.
But I had 4 people come up to me and inform me that they all had sons...about my age, returned missionaries, etc., etc...
AND I had one lady give me a four point plan as to how to get an eternal companion...I kid you not. It was all I could do to contain myself...
Now, just in case this wonderful sister actually has found my blog and reads it, I really do appreciate your advice, and I am so glad it worked for you and that it seems to have worked for others. I just enjoy finding humor in many things, and I definitely found it in this...you aren't the first to give me advice in such a format, and I firmly believe that if I continue to do what is good and right that hopefully one day I will find someone else who is doing that too and would like to hang out with me for eternity...and that it doesn't just take a 4 point plan.
Thankfully, that weekend was the extent of the 'I have a son' phase...but I really need to rethink how to start out my talks so that if I tell a joke or a funny story, it really has something to do with the topic of the talk...
Lingering longer...
I needed a bulldozer to get me out of bed this morning...
...why do we have to come into work at a specified time? I am not such a fan of 'time'...can't we just skip to the 5th dimension where time doesn't have any effect?
Blah...
...why do we have to come into work at a specified time? I am not such a fan of 'time'...can't we just skip to the 5th dimension where time doesn't have any effect?
Blah...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
An Update...
Sorry folks for not updating regularly...no good excuse for not updating more recently, although I am trying to lay off updating so much just because I again realized how much time it takes for me to write, edit, delete, rewrite, edit, etc. a post...
I stayed in Alabama for Thanksgiving, spent Thursday and Friday with the Willis's up in the Pelham area...had some great Turkey, dressing, and all the other lovely necessities that come with Thanksgiving, and then woke up well before the sun peeked his head and joined the masses at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, the Mall, etc...half my Christmas shopping is done. :)
Came back down Friday evening after Alabama played a nail-biting game against Auburn...makes me wonder if Auburn was just playing that good or if we were trying to give Florida the idea that they are going to win the SEC Championship game fairly easily...but it was fun...that is a house divided for sure, so it made watching the game that much more interesting...
Had a few YSA over last night and watched Elf. Half of us were falling asleep during the movie, including me...not because the movie wasn't good, but we were all exhausted from being up so early that morning. Slept in today. Only did a couple truly productive things...filled the car with gas, got a couple items at Sam's, and went to the bank. Evidently everyone at the bank knows me by name...I walked in and one of the girls called out my name and was upset because she found out from someone else that I was leaving...I think they know me because I'm the girl with the AZ license which doesn't expire until 2047...they all were amazed by that and still are every time I go there...I love that everyone knows me there, and I am definitely going to miss having places like that when I leave...I never had a place like that in NM or AZ...besides Church and work, that is...
That's all for now...hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for all of you, and I hope that you all had wonderful people to share your long weekend with...
I stayed in Alabama for Thanksgiving, spent Thursday and Friday with the Willis's up in the Pelham area...had some great Turkey, dressing, and all the other lovely necessities that come with Thanksgiving, and then woke up well before the sun peeked his head and joined the masses at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, the Mall, etc...half my Christmas shopping is done. :)
Came back down Friday evening after Alabama played a nail-biting game against Auburn...makes me wonder if Auburn was just playing that good or if we were trying to give Florida the idea that they are going to win the SEC Championship game fairly easily...but it was fun...that is a house divided for sure, so it made watching the game that much more interesting...
Had a few YSA over last night and watched Elf. Half of us were falling asleep during the movie, including me...not because the movie wasn't good, but we were all exhausted from being up so early that morning. Slept in today. Only did a couple truly productive things...filled the car with gas, got a couple items at Sam's, and went to the bank. Evidently everyone at the bank knows me by name...I walked in and one of the girls called out my name and was upset because she found out from someone else that I was leaving...I think they know me because I'm the girl with the AZ license which doesn't expire until 2047...they all were amazed by that and still are every time I go there...I love that everyone knows me there, and I am definitely going to miss having places like that when I leave...I never had a place like that in NM or AZ...besides Church and work, that is...
That's all for now...hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for all of you, and I hope that you all had wonderful people to share your long weekend with...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
And the winner is......(drumroll...........)
I have tonsilitis. I can't remember the last time that I had it...
I have been SOOOOOOOOO sore...but no fever, it hit me hard in less than 24 hours, it feels like I have 2 softballs (bigger than baseballs) in the back of my throat, swallowing is serious work unless I am swallowing lukewarm chicken n rice soup (not a fan of noodles), AND I am home from work...
So...maybe I will finally post Halloween pictures...
Or maybe I will stick with the plan of a movie marathon...
Eh...we'll see. Catching up on House and Office episodes is entertaining me right now. I am drinking TONS of OJ, Sprite (per Mommy), and soft foods like rolls, sweet potatoes, ice cream, soup, etc.
I will survive...just need to kick my feet up for a couple of days...I really hope to be better by Saturday...but we will see...
I have been SOOOOOOOOO sore...but no fever, it hit me hard in less than 24 hours, it feels like I have 2 softballs (bigger than baseballs) in the back of my throat, swallowing is serious work unless I am swallowing lukewarm chicken n rice soup (not a fan of noodles), AND I am home from work...
So...maybe I will finally post Halloween pictures...
Or maybe I will stick with the plan of a movie marathon...
Eh...we'll see. Catching up on House and Office episodes is entertaining me right now. I am drinking TONS of OJ, Sprite (per Mommy), and soft foods like rolls, sweet potatoes, ice cream, soup, etc.
I will survive...just need to kick my feet up for a couple of days...I really hope to be better by Saturday...but we will see...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Swine Flu Shot
Got the swine flu shot yesterday.
Arm feels fine. I feel sick. Blah...
There's your tweet for the day...
Arm feels fine. I feel sick. Blah...
There's your tweet for the day...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
To Our Veterans
Thank you for the service you have and continue to give. When you signed up to protect our country, you were willing to give your life for it. Many have. This isn't a light matter to me. My Grandpa Madsen served many years during WWII and beyond, and nearly did give his life. My brother-in-law is in the Air Force. I have other family members and friends who are serving in the military in one way or another.
Today is the anniversary of the Armistice of WWI, which ended that first world war 91 years ago. Hostilities ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour when the Germans signed the Armistice. Years later, Congress asked the President to officially recognize November 11th as Armistice Day, and an Act was passed making this an official holiday: "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."
In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed in the United States to Veterans Day (no apostraphe), so as to include all veterans of any war. In many other countries, the name of 'Armistice Day' was changed to 'Remembrance Day'.
Armistice Day was supposed to recognize the end of "the war to end all wars." Unfortunately, there have been many more wars. Fortunately, we still have those who are willing to give their life for their country and for the freedoms we enjoy.
Today is the anniversary of the Armistice of WWI, which ended that first world war 91 years ago. Hostilities ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour when the Germans signed the Armistice. Years later, Congress asked the President to officially recognize November 11th as Armistice Day, and an Act was passed making this an official holiday: "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."
In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed in the United States to Veterans Day (no apostraphe), so as to include all veterans of any war. In many other countries, the name of 'Armistice Day' was changed to 'Remembrance Day'.
Armistice Day was supposed to recognize the end of "the war to end all wars." Unfortunately, there have been many more wars. Fortunately, we still have those who are willing to give their life for their country and for the freedoms we enjoy.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!!!
If you haven't gotten onto Google lately, you are missing a small treat. The Google Doodle's (at least, for American Google) have been tributes to Sesame Street...they are marking their 40th this year. I grew up on Sesame Street, and loved it...
Here's to the letter F...for forty years...:)
Sunny day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
Here's to the letter F...for forty years...:)
Sunny day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
Friday, October 30, 2009
Trunk or Treat...
I know, I am a single girl...on a Friday night you would think I would have something better to do...but yes, I went to the Tuscaloosa/Northport Wards Trunk or Treat. Why? Cause I felt like it and I wanted to show off my costume...which all you internets (yes, I am stealing that word from you Reva) get to see hopefully tomorrow...it's awesome...
You know when you are in Alabama and the ghosts and goblins coming to your doorstep instead of the usual 'trick or treat' say 'Roll Tide!'. Yes, it happened, and it was an awesome moment...his Dad happened to overhear him too, which made it even better...
But my costume...let me tell you...it took Bishop Martin a good while to figure out who I was...Sister Richetto, after talking with me, still couldn't figure out who I was...I mean, it was awesome...
Don't worry, you will get a picture or two...PROMISE!!! I'll have you know, it took about 7 times washing my face and arms to get all the makeup off...:)
You know when you are in Alabama and the ghosts and goblins coming to your doorstep instead of the usual 'trick or treat' say 'Roll Tide!'. Yes, it happened, and it was an awesome moment...his Dad happened to overhear him too, which made it even better...
But my costume...let me tell you...it took Bishop Martin a good while to figure out who I was...Sister Richetto, after talking with me, still couldn't figure out who I was...I mean, it was awesome...
Don't worry, you will get a picture or two...PROMISE!!! I'll have you know, it took about 7 times washing my face and arms to get all the makeup off...:)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Halloween Flashlight Recall
If you bought flashlights at Target for your kids for trick or treating, check out this recall:
They were pulling a wicked witch act...smoking, catching on fire, and melting...yes, I am serious, just take a look just in case you or a friend of yours bought them...
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Breaking the News...
I am moving back home sometime in the next couple of months...probably around Christmas time, but things may change. I don't have a set date yet.
Q & A
Q: Why?
A: For a lot of reasons, including I need to be closer to family, there is no good reason for me to stay (however much I do love Alabama), and a bunch of others...
Q: Where?
A: First New Mexico, but that is expected to be a very short stay. As much as I love my parents and sister, I do not have fond memories from any time I have lived there...yes that can change, but...last time I thought it would be different, it certainly was and in a very bad way.
After New Mexico, I hope to go to AZ, BUT I need a good job. I will only take one in the West unless some incredible, cannot pass up this opportunity comes along.
Q: When?
A: Date not set in stone, but probably sometime around the holidays...that can change however. I have my Dad's schedule, my own schedule, and my current job to think about. I don't want to leave the people I work for high and dry...I actually like the people I work with, and last time I left in such a hurry...I was just beyond happy when Jason hired me back. I try not to burn bridges...
Q: How?
A: Well, I will probably take a good bit of stuff back out there over Thanksgiving...and then will pack up my car...anything leftover I will give away, throw away, or mail home. I will be driving my car back, and probably have someone else with me...probably my Dad.
Q: What?
A: Um...not sure what to put here...I am moving...there!
I broke the news at a stake meeting recently, and the stake president asked me if I was happy about this move. My answer was yes and no.
I really do like living here...it's refreshing to be around so many God-fearing people. It is quite common to see people outside reading their Bible, or at work, on the plane, etc. As stressful as this calling has been, I love it, and I love working with the president and counselors in the stake YW and the other auxiliaries, along with all the ward leaders and of course the girls. I love my coworkers...I feel really lucky to have had a job here where I have such good coworkers.
BUT I am so far away from my family, and the last thing I want is for my sister to start having kids and me be far away...and being so far away from cousins, aunts, uncles, and most especially my parents.
I told those in my presidency that the only thing that would keep me here is if I found someone to marry and live with here...being single and in Alabama sucks. It really does for me at least. Would I move back here? Of course! But the dating pool...ha!
Oh!
Q: Have I finished my degree?
A: No, but I have hopes to finish it.
There...that is done.
Q & A
Q: Why?
A: For a lot of reasons, including I need to be closer to family, there is no good reason for me to stay (however much I do love Alabama), and a bunch of others...
Q: Where?
A: First New Mexico, but that is expected to be a very short stay. As much as I love my parents and sister, I do not have fond memories from any time I have lived there...yes that can change, but...last time I thought it would be different, it certainly was and in a very bad way.
After New Mexico, I hope to go to AZ, BUT I need a good job. I will only take one in the West unless some incredible, cannot pass up this opportunity comes along.
Q: When?
A: Date not set in stone, but probably sometime around the holidays...that can change however. I have my Dad's schedule, my own schedule, and my current job to think about. I don't want to leave the people I work for high and dry...I actually like the people I work with, and last time I left in such a hurry...I was just beyond happy when Jason hired me back. I try not to burn bridges...
Q: How?
A: Well, I will probably take a good bit of stuff back out there over Thanksgiving...and then will pack up my car...anything leftover I will give away, throw away, or mail home. I will be driving my car back, and probably have someone else with me...probably my Dad.
Q: What?
A: Um...not sure what to put here...I am moving...there!
I broke the news at a stake meeting recently, and the stake president asked me if I was happy about this move. My answer was yes and no.
I really do like living here...it's refreshing to be around so many God-fearing people. It is quite common to see people outside reading their Bible, or at work, on the plane, etc. As stressful as this calling has been, I love it, and I love working with the president and counselors in the stake YW and the other auxiliaries, along with all the ward leaders and of course the girls. I love my coworkers...I feel really lucky to have had a job here where I have such good coworkers.
BUT I am so far away from my family, and the last thing I want is for my sister to start having kids and me be far away...and being so far away from cousins, aunts, uncles, and most especially my parents.
I told those in my presidency that the only thing that would keep me here is if I found someone to marry and live with here...being single and in Alabama sucks. It really does for me at least. Would I move back here? Of course! But the dating pool...ha!
Oh!
Q: Have I finished my degree?
A: No, but I have hopes to finish it.
There...that is done.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Update...
...there is nothing to update...just relishing in the fact that I don't have to travel this weekend for once...in fact, I get to be in my own ward for two whole weekends in a row...yay!
That's all, unless you want to hear about my totally exciting evening that consisted of going to Target with the roommate and then going over to Nichee's to watch the Nightmare Before Christmas (EXCELLENT movie...)...yeah, I didn't think so...
Perhaps tomorrow will bring something interesting with it...
That's all, unless you want to hear about my totally exciting evening that consisted of going to Target with the roommate and then going over to Nichee's to watch the Nightmare Before Christmas (EXCELLENT movie...)...yeah, I didn't think so...
Perhaps tomorrow will bring something interesting with it...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Long Sabbath...
Began with Ensley Ward Conference (last surviving inner-city Birmingham Ward...)...which then turned into an unexpected 1:30 Stake Welfare and Correlation Meeting...
...unexpected because my president who is supposed to attend that meeting was sick, and the counselor already had plans...so I got to make the calls on the 2010 calendar and report why our budget looks so screwy and make the calls on the 2010 budget...and you know, being in Young Women, the other auxiliaries took about five minutes, where we took about an hour...fun times...great learning experience actually...
...the best part is I won't be here in 2010...I am made all these calls for events I won't be here to attend...very odd...(the president and I met last week and went over budget and calendar, so I knew where she tood, but still...)
Got home at 5:30pm. I won't complain too much, the stake presidency and high council had more meetings after that...
...unexpected because my president who is supposed to attend that meeting was sick, and the counselor already had plans...so I got to make the calls on the 2010 calendar and report why our budget looks so screwy and make the calls on the 2010 budget...and you know, being in Young Women, the other auxiliaries took about five minutes, where we took about an hour...fun times...great learning experience actually...
...the best part is I won't be here in 2010...I am made all these calls for events I won't be here to attend...very odd...(the president and I met last week and went over budget and calendar, so I knew where she tood, but still...)
Got home at 5:30pm. I won't complain too much, the stake presidency and high council had more meetings after that...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sister in town part two...(lots of pictures...)
Per the request of my sister, and just because I feel like it, this is part two of all the fun things we did while she was here for a few wonderful days...
Traveled to Huntsville...
To see this place
And I am still giddy about the fact that we got in for free...I need to take my sister more places...I said this many times on the trip, but I will say it again, she married VERY well...for many reasons, this is just one of the perks! It costs $25.00 normally for the museum...which includes a G-force ride, rocket launch ride, mars experience and a rock wall.
This is what we will be going to the moon in...did you know we are going back to the moon?
My sister, the astronaut...
We took this and the below for Nichee's benefit, but seriously, this is going to be totally cool...might just have to fly out to see it...
Me...going over to the dark side...
This was a machine that told you how many of 'you' it would take to get a rocket out of the earth's atmosphere...it would take a lot of us...I wish the picture would've shown the number...cute picture, nonetheless...
Emily...don't play underneath the rocket...
Big engine-rocket-boost-thingy...
Ha...so, it was raining by the time we left, and when we got to the car Emily insisted on my not fixing my hair and taking a picture of the two of us...I think this just became my favorite sister picture...
Emily taking my profile...
The temple...
So, I am the stake YW Secretary, which means I need to go to stake youth dances, which there was one Saturday night. My sister was so excited about going (seriously, she was...she even asked if I thought she and her hubby should volunteer to chaperon at their stake youth dances...)...we made root beer (w/ dry ice) and then rocked out...
Us at the dance...yes I am wearing an MJ hat...
Good good times...:)
Traveled to Huntsville...
To see this place
And I am still giddy about the fact that we got in for free...I need to take my sister more places...I said this many times on the trip, but I will say it again, she married VERY well...for many reasons, this is just one of the perks! It costs $25.00 normally for the museum...which includes a G-force ride, rocket launch ride, mars experience and a rock wall.
This is what we will be going to the moon in...did you know we are going back to the moon?
My sister, the astronaut...
We took this and the below for Nichee's benefit, but seriously, this is going to be totally cool...might just have to fly out to see it...
Me...going over to the dark side...
This was a machine that told you how many of 'you' it would take to get a rocket out of the earth's atmosphere...it would take a lot of us...I wish the picture would've shown the number...cute picture, nonetheless...
Emily...don't play underneath the rocket...
Big engine-rocket-boost-thingy...
Ha...so, it was raining by the time we left, and when we got to the car Emily insisted on my not fixing my hair and taking a picture of the two of us...I think this just became my favorite sister picture...
Emily taking my profile...
The temple...
So, I am the stake YW Secretary, which means I need to go to stake youth dances, which there was one Saturday night. My sister was so excited about going (seriously, she was...she even asked if I thought she and her hubby should volunteer to chaperon at their stake youth dances...)...we made root beer (w/ dry ice) and then rocked out...
Us at the dance...yes I am wearing an MJ hat...Good good times...:)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Columbus Day Soapbox...
I am getting old...
The day has come when Christopher Columbus has become a bad guy.
Seriously...it is his fault that thousands of people died because he brought smallpox over on purpose...which led to more people coming over bringing more disease and killing off more thousands on purpose. And then they took over land that wasn't theirs, stole their gold, and he single-handedly caused the slave trade.
Forget the fact that he was going on uncharted (seriously, he didn't have a map...yes others had sailed it before, but there was no map for him to go by, so I call that gutsy) waters to try and find a way to China and India so that it would be easier to trade with them. Forget the fact that it would've been quite a while longer before another would've made that trip and started the European movement...it was going to happen at some point...
People have done all of this during the ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE EARTH. God even commanded people to do that, for those of us God-fearing peoples...
My word...
The day has come when Christopher Columbus has become a bad guy.
Seriously...it is his fault that thousands of people died because he brought smallpox over on purpose...which led to more people coming over bringing more disease and killing off more thousands on purpose. And then they took over land that wasn't theirs, stole their gold, and he single-handedly caused the slave trade.
Forget the fact that he was going on uncharted (seriously, he didn't have a map...yes others had sailed it before, but there was no map for him to go by, so I call that gutsy) waters to try and find a way to China and India so that it would be easier to trade with them. Forget the fact that it would've been quite a while longer before another would've made that trip and started the European movement...it was going to happen at some point...
People have done all of this during the ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE EARTH. God even commanded people to do that, for those of us God-fearing peoples...
My word...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tender Mercy...
So about a month or so ago my sister calls me with some rather lovely news. Evidently she and her hubby had a free ticket voucher that was going to expire...and Emily had a 2 week break coming up...and well...she said they were thinking about having her come out to see me! :)
The look of joy...
She just got a new haircut...isn't it absolutely fantastic!!
So what did we do the first morning of her long weekend here? Being from New Mexico we thought that it would be cool to go to the Native American Festival going on in Moundville...
After walking around for about 20 or so minutes we realized that we had yet to see any Native Americans...the crafts for sale were either made in India (with the sticker on them) or being sold by people who were definitely not Native American...the dance lesson was being taught by a guy paler than me (hard to do) with a fairly strong southern accent, food being cooked by non-native looking people...we finally saw two as we were on our way out...there were mostly kids from all the elementary schools in the area with annoyed-looking parents (half the kids had these $1 whistles and recorders from the 'craft' stands that were also made in India)...
My poor sister...I get out of the car in Moundville and say 'wow, this is a nice day'...she walks out and thinks 'This is a nice day???'. Comparatively, it really was!
The humidity was getting to her...
(staged in front of the ambulence...'Emily, do that face again...')
I had to get a picture of a mound...and I found this sign too funny to pass up...yes, Moundville is named for all the mounds that the Native Americans built in this area...some are rather pyramid shaped, but I think they were built to keep the people out of the flood plane...
Only 3 mosquito bites for me, and none for her...my blood is sweeter than hers evidently...which I find very hard to believe. :)
I am so glad that they (Emily and Ison) thought of having her come here to see me, and am so grateful that Ison was willing to let her come to see me. It is so lovely having someone here 24 hours a day for a few days!!! And even better that it is my sister!!! :)
I am just happy beyond words...
The look of joy...
She just got a new haircut...isn't it absolutely fantastic!!
So what did we do the first morning of her long weekend here? Being from New Mexico we thought that it would be cool to go to the Native American Festival going on in Moundville...
After walking around for about 20 or so minutes we realized that we had yet to see any Native Americans...the crafts for sale were either made in India (with the sticker on them) or being sold by people who were definitely not Native American...the dance lesson was being taught by a guy paler than me (hard to do) with a fairly strong southern accent, food being cooked by non-native looking people...we finally saw two as we were on our way out...there were mostly kids from all the elementary schools in the area with annoyed-looking parents (half the kids had these $1 whistles and recorders from the 'craft' stands that were also made in India)...
My poor sister...I get out of the car in Moundville and say 'wow, this is a nice day'...she walks out and thinks 'This is a nice day???'. Comparatively, it really was!
The humidity was getting to her...
(staged in front of the ambulence...'Emily, do that face again...')
I had to get a picture of a mound...and I found this sign too funny to pass up...yes, Moundville is named for all the mounds that the Native Americans built in this area...some are rather pyramid shaped, but I think they were built to keep the people out of the flood plane...Only 3 mosquito bites for me, and none for her...my blood is sweeter than hers evidently...which I find very hard to believe. :)
I am so glad that they (Emily and Ison) thought of having her come here to see me, and am so grateful that Ison was willing to let her come to see me. It is so lovely having someone here 24 hours a day for a few days!!! And even better that it is my sister!!! :)
I am just happy beyond words...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Now hear this!
An ear infection...I can't tell you when the last time was that I had an honest to goodness ear infection. I really think the last time I had one was when I was a kid...
An ear infection...in both ears...that takes talent...
And in all likelihood, I have had it for a couple of weeks...I was just trying to not be a hypochondriac about every little detail, so the ear pressure was being ignored until this morning when the right ear began throbbing...at least it wasn't an aggressive infection.
Fun times, fun times...
An ear infection...in both ears...that takes talent...
And in all likelihood, I have had it for a couple of weeks...I was just trying to not be a hypochondriac about every little detail, so the ear pressure was being ignored until this morning when the right ear began throbbing...at least it wasn't an aggressive infection.
Fun times, fun times...
Sunday, October 4, 2009
GC...and VISITOR!!!!
Boy, I thought the chandeliers were going to come crashing down during Elder Holland's talk...my word, can he give a moving talk...he is on a roll...
I am going to be a better person for the next 6 months...that is my goal...and then next conference I hope to be moved again to be a better person for the next 6 months after that...
I am also going to restart posting pictures...I am going through the last month and seriously, so few pictures...I will have PLENTY of pictures starting WEDNESDAY and I am so way beyond excited!!!
Elizabeth is getting a visitor...and I get her to myself for an entire weekend...baby sister is coming to visit ME!!! I mean, I am so happy, I can't even tell you...
Like...I have NEVER gotten a visitor who came just to visit me like this before. Scott and Penny came one weekend for a day when they were still dating, but this is like way different...I have always wanted a visitor who came just to be with me...and we are just going to hang out, and we have a billion options of things to do...museums, parks, botanical gardens, zoos, the Moundville festival is that weekend, etc. etc...which is great, because I haven't been to many of these places either! :)
so.totally.completely.freaking.excited!!!!
I am going to be a better person for the next 6 months...that is my goal...and then next conference I hope to be moved again to be a better person for the next 6 months after that...
////////////////////////////////////////
I am also going to restart posting pictures...I am going through the last month and seriously, so few pictures...I will have PLENTY of pictures starting WEDNESDAY and I am so way beyond excited!!!
Elizabeth is getting a visitor...and I get her to myself for an entire weekend...baby sister is coming to visit ME!!! I mean, I am so happy, I can't even tell you...
Like...I have NEVER gotten a visitor who came just to visit me like this before. Scott and Penny came one weekend for a day when they were still dating, but this is like way different...I have always wanted a visitor who came just to be with me...and we are just going to hang out, and we have a billion options of things to do...museums, parks, botanical gardens, zoos, the Moundville festival is that weekend, etc. etc...which is great, because I haven't been to many of these places either! :)
so.totally.completely.freaking.excited!!!!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Oktsoberfest
Nope, I didn't spell it incorrectly. That is what we had tonight...Okt-sober-fest...complete with homemade root beer, homemade ice cream, non-homemade pies, pumkin muffins from Sam's Club which were amazingly good, and BRATS (pronounced brawts, not brats like a snoody kid) complete with sauerkraut, brown mustard, etc...
Big hit, I think people had a good time, more than half of the brats were eaten...we watched A Knight's Tale after no one wanted to dance the Chicken Dance...and I forgot all the beer songs I learned when I was in German class in high school (yes, we learned them in public school...it was okay because it is a major part of German culture, and we had to volunteer at the Oktoberfest in town which included singing...).
I love throwing parties in October. It's the best month to throw parties, in my mind...
Big hit, I think people had a good time, more than half of the brats were eaten...we watched A Knight's Tale after no one wanted to dance the Chicken Dance...and I forgot all the beer songs I learned when I was in German class in high school (yes, we learned them in public school...it was okay because it is a major part of German culture, and we had to volunteer at the Oktoberfest in town which included singing...).
I love throwing parties in October. It's the best month to throw parties, in my mind...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ah Isaiah...
Setting: Institute
Class: Book of Mormon
Scripture: 2 Nephi 19:6 (aka, Isa 9:6)...go ahead, open it up...
President Archibald asks one of the guys to read it...and he does...while I am bouncing around in my chair, mouthing the words in a unique way...
...then President Archibald stops him and says 'now, this is the way this should be read' and points to me...and so I begin singing:
Class: Book of Mormon
Scripture: 2 Nephi 19:6 (aka, Isa 9:6)...go ahead, open it up...
President Archibald asks one of the guys to read it...and he does...while I am bouncing around in my chair, mouthing the words in a unique way...
...then President Archibald stops him and says 'now, this is the way this should be read' and points to me...and so I begin singing:
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
I wake up...
...25 minutes before I am supposed to be at work. AND I have to iron my clothes, unload and reload dishwasher because I was too lazy to do it last night, clean up the counter a bit (again, lazy)...wash face is a must today, and brushing teeth is always an imperative...funny enough, we talked about our morning routines and essential role brushing the teeth in the morning has on that morning routine last night...
Instead of ironing, I sprinkle the scrubs with a bit of water and throw them into the dryer...giving me the ability for 5 minutes to take care of the kitchen.
The kitchen put away and cleaned 4 minutes later (a new world record, I am sure of it), I put on the hot scrubs which are perfectly pressed (I need to incorporate this technique more often...) and suddenly realize how cool the house is...I turn the AC to 80 for the day, and notice that the house was at a lovely 71 this morning (I turn it down to 75-74 at night)...
Splash water on face, brush teeth (A MUST!!!)
Socks...where are my socks?!?! Oh, there they are...k, am I forgetting anything?
Ha, only the most important thing...knees hit the ground for about 3 1/2 minutes I am guessing in severe gratitude that I woke up despite forgetting to turn the volume up on my phone which doubles as my alarm, then grab the culprit phone, bananas, purse, earrings, mascara, lotion...oh yeah, and the thing that I stayed up until 3am this morning to find that I really needed to mail forever ago...
Car is COVERED with dew/moisture...it was in the 50's last night evidently...my car being the evidence...longest line EVER to turn onto not even the main road...not quite longest line to turn on an even mainer road (is mainer a word??) but a very smart person in front of me reminded me of a shortcut and I followed...this entire time rolling my windows up and down to try and see through the blinding morning sun and the oh so reflective wetness that is attacking my car...
Amazingly, I arrived 25 minutes after waking up...
Now, to finish waking up...:/
Instead of ironing, I sprinkle the scrubs with a bit of water and throw them into the dryer...giving me the ability for 5 minutes to take care of the kitchen.
The kitchen put away and cleaned 4 minutes later (a new world record, I am sure of it), I put on the hot scrubs which are perfectly pressed (I need to incorporate this technique more often...) and suddenly realize how cool the house is...I turn the AC to 80 for the day, and notice that the house was at a lovely 71 this morning (I turn it down to 75-74 at night)...
Splash water on face, brush teeth (A MUST!!!)
Socks...where are my socks?!?! Oh, there they are...k, am I forgetting anything?
Ha, only the most important thing...knees hit the ground for about 3 1/2 minutes I am guessing in severe gratitude that I woke up despite forgetting to turn the volume up on my phone which doubles as my alarm, then grab the culprit phone, bananas, purse, earrings, mascara, lotion...oh yeah, and the thing that I stayed up until 3am this morning to find that I really needed to mail forever ago...
Car is COVERED with dew/moisture...it was in the 50's last night evidently...my car being the evidence...longest line EVER to turn onto not even the main road...not quite longest line to turn on an even mainer road (is mainer a word??) but a very smart person in front of me reminded me of a shortcut and I followed...this entire time rolling my windows up and down to try and see through the blinding morning sun and the oh so reflective wetness that is attacking my car...
Amazingly, I arrived 25 minutes after waking up...
Now, to finish waking up...:/
Monday, September 28, 2009
Anniversary...
Happy Anniversary Emily and Ison (minus one day...I never hit POST!)
I am so glad Emily found you...or you found Emily...that you found each other, and that you are a part of our family!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Relief Society...
Alright, I know I am going to sound like a broken record, but Sister Beck is seriously AWESOME...
I mean...changing the name of 'Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meeting' or whatever the official name of 'Enrichment' was...to 'Relief Society Meeting'...:) LOVE IT!!!
If you happened to miss the General Relief Society Meeting last night (as I did because I was babysitting for one of the doctors I work for), you can now watch it online. I love that we can now get these videos pretty much immediately after they occur...I am listening to it right now...
And 'Enrichment' night, as most Relief Society's referred to that meeting, is now called 'Relief Society _____ Meeting'...you just fill in the blank depending on what is going to occur during the meeting. :) Brilliant!!!
Oh, and where did she get that coat???...it looks soooo good...
I mean...changing the name of 'Home, Family and Personal Enrichment Meeting' or whatever the official name of 'Enrichment' was...to 'Relief Society Meeting'...:) LOVE IT!!!
If you happened to miss the General Relief Society Meeting last night (as I did because I was babysitting for one of the doctors I work for), you can now watch it online. I love that we can now get these videos pretty much immediately after they occur...I am listening to it right now...
And 'Enrichment' night, as most Relief Society's referred to that meeting, is now called 'Relief Society _____ Meeting'...you just fill in the blank depending on what is going to occur during the meeting. :) Brilliant!!!
Oh, and where did she get that coat???...it looks soooo good...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Children's and Infants' Tylenol Recall...
Thought you should know...many of you have little kids and probably have bought Children's Tylenol in the last year...the products being recalled were made between April 2008 and June 2008...but who knows when they were on the shelves...there aren't any reports of injuries/sicknesses due to the problem found, but it could cause problems...
Article HERE
Article HERE
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hot Chocolate Heaven...
About 4 years ago I traveled to NYC for a music theory conference. Since it was over Spring Break, I decided to be a tourist for the other half of the week I was there. I met up with some high school pals at this lovely little restaurant called 'Serendipity'. A movie was made by that very title, and you see the actors eat there a couple of times...
Everything I ate there was surprisingly fantastic...as it should be, with a place titled 'serendipity'...
But the best thing I consumed at that restaurant by far was their Frozen Hot Chocolate. It was better than I thought it would be...
I was thinking about how nice it would be if I could figure out the recipe for it...and lo and behold I found it!!!
It is VERY easy to make, it looks like. As long as you have a double boiler and a blender you too can enjoy the serendipitous pleasure of partaking of this delectible treat...
(Man, do I sound like an advertisement or what?)
Everything I ate there was surprisingly fantastic...as it should be, with a place titled 'serendipity'...
But the best thing I consumed at that restaurant by far was their Frozen Hot Chocolate. It was better than I thought it would be...
I was thinking about how nice it would be if I could figure out the recipe for it...and lo and behold I found it!!!
It is VERY easy to make, it looks like. As long as you have a double boiler and a blender you too can enjoy the serendipitous pleasure of partaking of this delectible treat...
(Man, do I sound like an advertisement or what?)
Monday, September 21, 2009
On Stravinsky...
I have always known that Stravinsky was an interesting fellow. Why? There is a pattern amongst composers who make it somewhat supernaturally big in their lifetime: they are a bit crazy. And I mean crazy with as much admiration as one can muster in the definition of that word.
Beethoven...Mozart...Brahms...Tschaikovsky...all a bit crazy. For example, Brahms (known for such masterpieces as Brahms Lullaby...) He threw away pretty much all of his sketches. All of them. (for the non-music nerd types, that is unusual to do) Thus making it difficult to figure out exactly how Brahms created his masterworks. He only allowed his final masterpieces to survive. Sure, we can guess and pretty much figure out how he made them...but sketches make the work MUCH easier.
I spent last Friday reading through a number of letters Stravinsky wrote to various colleagues. I also spent a good bit of that time reading aloud excerpts of those letters to a colleague of mine...he (Stravinsky) was so dry...much more so than I originally realized. I have read bits and pieces of Stravinsky's words before, of course, but this was my first really in depth study...it felt more like entertainment than studying...
His travel schedule...I mean, he was in New York for 2 days, Boston for a week, Berlin for a night, Paris, Los Angeles, South Africa, Santa Fe, the list goes on and on...and his wife went with him all those years.
You have to be a little bit crazy to keep up with a schedule like that on a constant basis...
Beethoven...Mozart...Brahms...Tschaikovsky...all a bit crazy. For example, Brahms (known for such masterpieces as Brahms Lullaby...) He threw away pretty much all of his sketches. All of them. (for the non-music nerd types, that is unusual to do) Thus making it difficult to figure out exactly how Brahms created his masterworks. He only allowed his final masterpieces to survive. Sure, we can guess and pretty much figure out how he made them...but sketches make the work MUCH easier.
I spent last Friday reading through a number of letters Stravinsky wrote to various colleagues. I also spent a good bit of that time reading aloud excerpts of those letters to a colleague of mine...he (Stravinsky) was so dry...much more so than I originally realized. I have read bits and pieces of Stravinsky's words before, of course, but this was my first really in depth study...it felt more like entertainment than studying...
His travel schedule...I mean, he was in New York for 2 days, Boston for a week, Berlin for a night, Paris, Los Angeles, South Africa, Santa Fe, the list goes on and on...and his wife went with him all those years.
You have to be a little bit crazy to keep up with a schedule like that on a constant basis...
On a dark and stormy night...
a long long time ago...
Wait a minute...that was LAST night! I slept VERY poorly last night...the timpanist was practicing on and off all night long. I am thinking about submitting a complaint...
RAIN! GO AWAY!!!! My sister is coming in town in a couple of weeks, and I will NOT be pleased if it is still raining when she gets here...get me???
Wait a minute...that was LAST night! I slept VERY poorly last night...the timpanist was practicing on and off all night long. I am thinking about submitting a complaint...
RAIN! GO AWAY!!!! My sister is coming in town in a couple of weeks, and I will NOT be pleased if it is still raining when she gets here...get me???
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Manners/Etiquette 101
1. Don't yell at the President of the United States during the middle of an address to Congress. Whether you agree with him or not, he is still the President of the United States...a position that deserves respect.
2. Don't yell at a linesman in the middle of your match...and then say something that when taken literally is a threat on their life...you will lose the match...and get thrown out of the match.
3. DON'T jump onstage during the middle of an awards show when not invited. Whether you don't agree with who won, or you feel moved by the performance, you are still not invited. You will look like an idiot, and in this era of youtube, twitter, facebook, myspace, blogs, etc., that moment will permanently be a part of your history, whether you want it to be there or not.
4. DON'T EVER make a sweet 17 year old girl cry. EVER. Unless it's a happy cry.
5. If you do any of the above, start learning the true art of apologizing...which includes sincerity and follow-through...not just a bunch of words. And turn your Caps Lock OFF!
My word, people. Come ON!!! I mean, when your mom taught you 'mind your manners', there was a reason! Etiquette, people, etiquette. We need a modern day Emily Post!
I may continue to add to this post...we'll see what the rest of the day has to bring...
2. Don't yell at a linesman in the middle of your match...and then say something that when taken literally is a threat on their life...you will lose the match...and get thrown out of the match.
3. DON'T jump onstage during the middle of an awards show when not invited. Whether you don't agree with who won, or you feel moved by the performance, you are still not invited. You will look like an idiot, and in this era of youtube, twitter, facebook, myspace, blogs, etc., that moment will permanently be a part of your history, whether you want it to be there or not.
4. DON'T EVER make a sweet 17 year old girl cry. EVER. Unless it's a happy cry.
5. If you do any of the above, start learning the true art of apologizing...which includes sincerity and follow-through...not just a bunch of words. And turn your Caps Lock OFF!
My word, people. Come ON!!! I mean, when your mom taught you 'mind your manners', there was a reason! Etiquette, people, etiquette. We need a modern day Emily Post!
I may continue to add to this post...we'll see what the rest of the day has to bring...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Inspirational...
I have to say, the women that are in the General Auxiliary Presidencies are incredible. Every single one of them. Every time I hear them talk, I am baffled at their intelligence, their speaking ability, and how in tune they are with the Spirit. President Archibald (1st counselor stake presidency here and my institute teacher) said his vote for the new apostle (before Elder Anderson was put in) was for the General Relief Society President, Sister Julie B. Beck. Obviously she can't, but his point was that she was an incredibly sharp, intelligent, in tune daughter of God, which I totally agree with...and I have to say the same goes for Sister Elaine S. Dalton...
If you didn't watch Sister Dalton's CES Broadcast tonight, PLEASE take an hour of your time and watch/listen/read it. She is incredibly well read and there are quotes that she gave that I am making into posters and posting onto my mirror so I read them every day before I leave the house. And I don't do that ever. There is one up on my mirror at the moment, which also was inspired by her...and I promise you, I have never done that before. My sister and former and current roommate(s) can vouch for this. She is INCREDIBLY well read...she was quoting not only a number of scriptures, but Alexander Pope, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, etc...the Roosevelt quote was AWESOME...
And the music was actually great this time...no train wreck! The fermatas during the first piece the choir did were too much...dramatic effect dims when you do too much...BUT the choir was good, the soloists were fairly good (girl was awesome, guy was slightly pitchy but not enough for me to cringe). Second piece was very good. :) So your ears won't be assaulted...
If you didn't watch Sister Dalton's CES Broadcast tonight, PLEASE take an hour of your time and watch/listen/read it. She is incredibly well read and there are quotes that she gave that I am making into posters and posting onto my mirror so I read them every day before I leave the house. And I don't do that ever. There is one up on my mirror at the moment, which also was inspired by her...and I promise you, I have never done that before. My sister and former and current roommate(s) can vouch for this. She is INCREDIBLY well read...she was quoting not only a number of scriptures, but Alexander Pope, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, etc...the Roosevelt quote was AWESOME...
And the music was actually great this time...no train wreck! The fermatas during the first piece the choir did were too much...dramatic effect dims when you do too much...BUT the choir was good, the soloists were fairly good (girl was awesome, guy was slightly pitchy but not enough for me to cringe). Second piece was very good. :) So your ears won't be assaulted...
Friday, September 11, 2009
My Story...
Last Sunday one of the ladies stood up to bear her testimony...it wasn't really a testimony, but in a way it kinda was...of everything that was said, I think it was the one thing that everyone might just remember.
She was born and raised in Hawaii. She must be about 70 years old I suppose...that would make sense with her story. She was a little girl, was at Church with her family one Sunday morning. They didn't realize anything was wrong until they got out of Church and people were running around. The Japanese were attacking Pearl Harbor.
She was actually there...she was even shot by one of the planes flying overhead. Hit her shoulder I believe. That was a first for me...I've known plenty of people who served in the War, and my own grandfather was in Hell's Angels and was in a German Camp for 23 months...the same one that the Great Escape occurred at (if you haven't seen that movie, put it on your Netflix immediately)...but never had I met someone who had been at the event that caused America to officially become a part of WW2.
I am not sure why she shared that experience with us...perhaps she was thinking about the significance of today's date.
I was driving to school between Chandler and Tempe. It's funny, I had had my radio off for a long time...I would go through phases of listening and not listening to the radio...and even then, I would listen to just one station for a period...country, pop, classic rock, oldies, and classical, the last being what I turned to that day. It was early, just after 6am...I had to get a parking spot at the institute, and if you wanted one, you had to get there before 6:30am OR wait in line for forever...
NPR came on, and one of the pieces of news was that one of the buildings in New York had been hit by a plane. They moved on to the next item, so I didn't think much of it beyond thinking it was some little plane that had somehow lost control...
I walk into the institute and they had the TV on. They NEVER have the TV on. Instead of doing my usual of going directly into the gym, I went to the foyer where the TV was to see what was up. The institute director was watching it, along with a bunch of the staff. They are NEVER out of their offices all at the same time in the same place unless it's a meeting of some sorts.
I look at the TV...and just after I start watching it, the second tower was hit. I watched it...on LIVE television...I don't think I breathed for a very long time...
I immediately called my two friends in NY and of course got their voicemails and asked (begged) for them to call me back and let me know they didn't on a whim decide to go visit the financial district of NY for the heck of it...(they are fine, btw).
I tried to get those in the gym...which really was the eating/gathering/playing/talking area of the institute...to come watch the TV...but they were all 'studying' and gave me an annoyed look. I looked at them in shock...I remember thinking, but not sure if I said aloud, that this was going to be the 'Pearl Harbor Day' of our generation...
I watched it all...the towers falling...the reports of seven flights being hijacked, went up to 12 I think, down to 2 others, the Pentagon being hit, White House and Capitol being evacuated, the plane in the Pennsylvania field, President Bush...
Classes were cancelled for the entire day. One teacher decided to hold class (my music therapy class) so that we could talk if we needed to. One of the girls in the class...she lost someone in one of the towers that day.
And it was eerily silent. ASU is usually buzzing with activity, even during the summer, but especially on a Tuesday during the fall semester. And with ASU being so close in proximity to Sky Harbor...it was just weird to not constantly hear the Southwest, Delta, American, FedEx United Airlines flights coming and going and coming and going and see them line up to land...
A day to remember. Many heroes and cowards were brought to light that day.
She was born and raised in Hawaii. She must be about 70 years old I suppose...that would make sense with her story. She was a little girl, was at Church with her family one Sunday morning. They didn't realize anything was wrong until they got out of Church and people were running around. The Japanese were attacking Pearl Harbor.
She was actually there...she was even shot by one of the planes flying overhead. Hit her shoulder I believe. That was a first for me...I've known plenty of people who served in the War, and my own grandfather was in Hell's Angels and was in a German Camp for 23 months...the same one that the Great Escape occurred at (if you haven't seen that movie, put it on your Netflix immediately)...but never had I met someone who had been at the event that caused America to officially become a part of WW2.
I am not sure why she shared that experience with us...perhaps she was thinking about the significance of today's date.
I was driving to school between Chandler and Tempe. It's funny, I had had my radio off for a long time...I would go through phases of listening and not listening to the radio...and even then, I would listen to just one station for a period...country, pop, classic rock, oldies, and classical, the last being what I turned to that day. It was early, just after 6am...I had to get a parking spot at the institute, and if you wanted one, you had to get there before 6:30am OR wait in line for forever...
NPR came on, and one of the pieces of news was that one of the buildings in New York had been hit by a plane. They moved on to the next item, so I didn't think much of it beyond thinking it was some little plane that had somehow lost control...
I walk into the institute and they had the TV on. They NEVER have the TV on. Instead of doing my usual of going directly into the gym, I went to the foyer where the TV was to see what was up. The institute director was watching it, along with a bunch of the staff. They are NEVER out of their offices all at the same time in the same place unless it's a meeting of some sorts.
I look at the TV...and just after I start watching it, the second tower was hit. I watched it...on LIVE television...I don't think I breathed for a very long time...
I immediately called my two friends in NY and of course got their voicemails and asked (begged) for them to call me back and let me know they didn't on a whim decide to go visit the financial district of NY for the heck of it...(they are fine, btw).
I tried to get those in the gym...which really was the eating/gathering/playing/talking area of the institute...to come watch the TV...but they were all 'studying' and gave me an annoyed look. I looked at them in shock...I remember thinking, but not sure if I said aloud, that this was going to be the 'Pearl Harbor Day' of our generation...
I watched it all...the towers falling...the reports of seven flights being hijacked, went up to 12 I think, down to 2 others, the Pentagon being hit, White House and Capitol being evacuated, the plane in the Pennsylvania field, President Bush...
Classes were cancelled for the entire day. One teacher decided to hold class (my music therapy class) so that we could talk if we needed to. One of the girls in the class...she lost someone in one of the towers that day.
And it was eerily silent. ASU is usually buzzing with activity, even during the summer, but especially on a Tuesday during the fall semester. And with ASU being so close in proximity to Sky Harbor...it was just weird to not constantly hear the Southwest, Delta, American, FedEx United Airlines flights coming and going and coming and going and see them line up to land...
A day to remember. Many heroes and cowards were brought to light that day.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Splitting up...
Hair cut and color tomorrow at 11:00am sharp. My hair is SOOO long...longer than it's been since my senior year of high school when I first got a bob...anyways, it is far overdue for a cut. Just a trim.
I have a plan for my hair: get my hair luxuriously long for the winter so that if I cannot afford a lovely looking scarf the neck will be taken care of...
...and then in the Spring, chop it all of and go back to a bob. Or something short...I think...
I keep telling myself that I should just keep it short, but there is SOOOO much upkeep. Having it long has one very nice advantage: I can go more than 3-4 weeks without a trim. Short hair, not a CHANCE...
I do have to admit something though...I have been keeping my hair longer for a very specific purpose. The reason being...and this is absolutely ridiculous because a) there is no one and b) there won't be a 'one' for a while...my hair grows so stinking slow...and I want it on the long side just in case I meet a 'one'...cause dang it, on my wedding day I want long, curly, flowy, fabulous, incredible, beautiful hair!!! Not a teeny tiny short bob. That is good for other people, but as for me and my hair, I wants it long long long.
ANYways...I am not getting bangs. I will regret it the moment they are cut. When I have short hair, then I will do bangs.
I asked my coworkers if I should go darker with my hair...if I could pull it off...I never got a straight answer...when I mentioned red, they all turned on me. However much I hate it, I know that I couldn't do it...so, blonde it stays...
I will probably do my usual high-lights and low-lights...although, Halloween is coming up...I have always wanted black for just a day...:) My inner goth side...jk...abot the goth, not the black.
Good-bye split ends!
I have a plan for my hair: get my hair luxuriously long for the winter so that if I cannot afford a lovely looking scarf the neck will be taken care of...
...and then in the Spring, chop it all of and go back to a bob. Or something short...I think...
I keep telling myself that I should just keep it short, but there is SOOOO much upkeep. Having it long has one very nice advantage: I can go more than 3-4 weeks without a trim. Short hair, not a CHANCE...
I do have to admit something though...I have been keeping my hair longer for a very specific purpose. The reason being...and this is absolutely ridiculous because a) there is no one and b) there won't be a 'one' for a while...my hair grows so stinking slow...and I want it on the long side just in case I meet a 'one'...cause dang it, on my wedding day I want long, curly, flowy, fabulous, incredible, beautiful hair!!! Not a teeny tiny short bob. That is good for other people, but as for me and my hair, I wants it long long long.
ANYways...I am not getting bangs. I will regret it the moment they are cut. When I have short hair, then I will do bangs.
I asked my coworkers if I should go darker with my hair...if I could pull it off...I never got a straight answer...when I mentioned red, they all turned on me. However much I hate it, I know that I couldn't do it...so, blonde it stays...
I will probably do my usual high-lights and low-lights...although, Halloween is coming up...I have always wanted black for just a day...:) My inner goth side...jk...abot the goth, not the black.
Good-bye split ends!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
The best time to fall in love...
...is the fall. Really, it is. You first meet at the end of a long hot summer (hopefully looking your best) and start dating when you can still do mostly outdoorsy dates...
Then the weather starts to cool. More of an excuse to hold hands, steal the others jacket, sit by a crackling fire, make your way through a corn maze together...gets even colder, more cuddling, go snow tubing, skiing, ice skating, snow ball fights. :)
Second best time is winter...but fall is best.
Fall is my favorite time of year. October is my favorite month. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I suppose those are all contributing factors to why I believe fall is the best time to fall for a guy...
Spring and summer are the worst times to first fall in love. You are hot, sweaty, did I mention hot???...as much as you may like the guy, you just don't want to be hotter than hot, and the human body is at a already quite warm 98 degrees already...and I am a creature who likes to hold hands and cuddle!
Starting about mid-spring, for some reason I stop having the constant 'hope' of meeting someone...it comes and goes, but it isn't at all prevalent...but sure enough, when the weather slightly starts being fall-ish, it comes right back. Sounds ridiculous, right?
I hope the next time it happens for me, it starts in the fall.
Then the weather starts to cool. More of an excuse to hold hands, steal the others jacket, sit by a crackling fire, make your way through a corn maze together...gets even colder, more cuddling, go snow tubing, skiing, ice skating, snow ball fights. :)
Second best time is winter...but fall is best.
Fall is my favorite time of year. October is my favorite month. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I suppose those are all contributing factors to why I believe fall is the best time to fall for a guy...
Spring and summer are the worst times to first fall in love. You are hot, sweaty, did I mention hot???...as much as you may like the guy, you just don't want to be hotter than hot, and the human body is at a already quite warm 98 degrees already...and I am a creature who likes to hold hands and cuddle!
Starting about mid-spring, for some reason I stop having the constant 'hope' of meeting someone...it comes and goes, but it isn't at all prevalent...but sure enough, when the weather slightly starts being fall-ish, it comes right back. Sounds ridiculous, right?
I hope the next time it happens for me, it starts in the fall.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Roll Tide!!! AND Go Devils!!!
Hooray...both my teams are going to win tonight. One already did, and unless Idaho St. comes up with some freaking amazing comeback in the 4th quarter, my Alma Mater will gain their first win of the season...and with both Louisiana Monroe AND Georgia losing this week, the first part of their season looks amazingly awesome right now...
Anybody have Georgia vs ASU tickets they don't care to use? I will definitely consider taking them off your hands...:) I haven't been to an ASU game since I went there, so that would be so awesome to go...especially since they will be so close to me. :) I have my ASU hat all ready to go...I need a new shirt though, I wore those suckers out when I went there...
...ah, memories...I think I might just have to bring some tortillas along with me if I go...they won't know what hit them. :)
Anybody have Georgia vs ASU tickets they don't care to use? I will definitely consider taking them off your hands...:) I haven't been to an ASU game since I went there, so that would be so awesome to go...especially since they will be so close to me. :) I have my ASU hat all ready to go...I need a new shirt though, I wore those suckers out when I went there...
...ah, memories...I think I might just have to bring some tortillas along with me if I go...they won't know what hit them. :)
Friday, September 4, 2009
I guess I am totally lame...
It is Labor Day weekend...I have a FOUR day weekend...I don't work on Friday's AND nobody is working on Monday.
Why am I lame?
Roommate is at the beach with her family. Other friend in town is on her merry way to Wisconsin (yeah Rocketgirl, found this out a LITTLE late...she has family there...). The game is in Atlanta, Georgia and unfortunately I have NOBODY to stay with there anymore...they both moved this summer. :( Because the game is away, more than a few people in town left. Seriously, I saw them getting onto the freeway today...about a 2 mile long line at NOON. Institute today was cancelled, and I didn't know about it. Cody is helping out the Hutchison's.
Yep. Lame, lame, lame. Evidently everyone was planning well in advance for this weekend except for me.
Hmmm...what to do??? Star Wars marathon? Recently did the Pride and Prejudice marathon with roommate, so...
I am already sick of watching the tv...not. good. for. me. anyways.
Attempting making chocolates...out of whipping cream and baker's chocolate...I saw a show about it on food network and I attempting the impossible from memory...HA!!!
Yeah, seriously, ideas??
Why am I lame?
Roommate is at the beach with her family. Other friend in town is on her merry way to Wisconsin (yeah Rocketgirl, found this out a LITTLE late...she has family there...). The game is in Atlanta, Georgia and unfortunately I have NOBODY to stay with there anymore...they both moved this summer. :( Because the game is away, more than a few people in town left. Seriously, I saw them getting onto the freeway today...about a 2 mile long line at NOON. Institute today was cancelled, and I didn't know about it. Cody is helping out the Hutchison's.
Yep. Lame, lame, lame. Evidently everyone was planning well in advance for this weekend except for me.
Hmmm...what to do??? Star Wars marathon? Recently did the Pride and Prejudice marathon with roommate, so...
I am already sick of watching the tv...not. good. for. me. anyways.
Attempting making chocolates...out of whipping cream and baker's chocolate...I saw a show about it on food network and I attempting the impossible from memory...HA!!!
Yeah, seriously, ideas??
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Considering the re-establishment of an old bad habit...
About a week ago, I pulled out my nail clippers and went to work on my finger nails...
I got distracted, and only completed the task at hand...just the left hand, that is...
Since then, I have been unable to find either one of my nail clippers...this is becoming quite annoying...try it sometime, clip one hand and leave the other one...if you aren't going batty after just an hour of this, you are one amazingly laid back person.
I used to bite my nails (and I KNOW this is sooooo totally disgusting, but I also used to chew off my toenails too...I know, I have come a LOOOOOOOOONG way...it's amazing I didn't die from horribly crippling disease due to that), but killed that habit when I started college. I just decided one day to stop, and I haven't ever since...
I am NOT buying another pair of clippers. But if I don't find them by tomorrow morning, my right hand will be scrubbed, rinsed, bleached, etc. and I will go to town on those buggers...I don't have strong nails, and they are worn and...I mean, it's amazing I have lasted this long.
I got distracted, and only completed the task at hand...just the left hand, that is...
Since then, I have been unable to find either one of my nail clippers...this is becoming quite annoying...try it sometime, clip one hand and leave the other one...if you aren't going batty after just an hour of this, you are one amazingly laid back person.
I used to bite my nails (and I KNOW this is sooooo totally disgusting, but I also used to chew off my toenails too...I know, I have come a LOOOOOOOOONG way...it's amazing I didn't die from horribly crippling disease due to that), but killed that habit when I started college. I just decided one day to stop, and I haven't ever since...
I am NOT buying another pair of clippers. But if I don't find them by tomorrow morning, my right hand will be scrubbed, rinsed, bleached, etc. and I will go to town on those buggers...I don't have strong nails, and they are worn and...I mean, it's amazing I have lasted this long.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Battle of the Sniffles...
I am determined to win!
I developed the sniffles Sunday night, and they haven't gone away yet. And other than at the end of the work day feeling completely drained and my ears popping in and out, it hasn't gotten any worse...and I would like to keep it that way, or better yet, for it to flip a U'ee and go back to where ever it came from...
My poor hands. Between the hand sanitizer and the gazillion times a day I wash my hands, they are getting quite dry...
Be gone, oh sniffles, and leave me be!!!
I developed the sniffles Sunday night, and they haven't gone away yet. And other than at the end of the work day feeling completely drained and my ears popping in and out, it hasn't gotten any worse...and I would like to keep it that way, or better yet, for it to flip a U'ee and go back to where ever it came from...
My poor hands. Between the hand sanitizer and the gazillion times a day I wash my hands, they are getting quite dry...
Be gone, oh sniffles, and leave me be!!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Alabama 33 Virginia Tech 21
Last year one of the doctors asked if I babysit. Of course I babysit! I love kids!!! So I babysat for her.
We talked again a few weeks ago, and after she consulted with her husband they decided that they wanted to use me again this year. Woot!
Tonight at FHE the YSA were trying to figure out where they could gather to watch the game, and our house came up...the roommate is going to the beach with her family, so everyone took a good look at me...I considered it for a moment, and then luckily remembered before they ran with the idea that I was babysitting Saturday.
There were protests: how could you babysit during a game?
Very easily: my life does not revolve around Alabama football. Nor does it around any other sport for that matter.
They were still amazed.
I actually enjoy being around kids wholeheartedly, so it's not really work to watch them. I'm not missing anything Saturday that I feel I am going to miss out on except associating with my friends here in town...but my closest friend I believe has to go to the game to work, the roomie will be at the beach, so...why not?
People here take their college football seriously...and even their high school football. They could really care less for the NFL...going to the scrimmages before the season starts is a highlight for all football fans here...you would think an actual game was going on...the minute details people mull over here is just incredible to me...everyone is an expert on football here...our 'ice-breaker' at FHE tonight was 'what will the score be for the game Saturday?' Everyone told their guess, which was recorded, and the closest to the actual score wins something...not sure what yet. EVERYONE guessed an Alabama victory...I strongly thought about going the other way, but I think that might have pushed some peoples strings too far...
It irks some people to no end that I root for ASU...:) It's my Alma Mater, and I wouldn't trade any moment of my 4 years there for anything...even the bad experiences. They were good for me. GO DEVILS!!!
But after ASU, I do have to say, 'ROLL TIDE ROLL'!!!
We talked again a few weeks ago, and after she consulted with her husband they decided that they wanted to use me again this year. Woot!
Tonight at FHE the YSA were trying to figure out where they could gather to watch the game, and our house came up...the roommate is going to the beach with her family, so everyone took a good look at me...I considered it for a moment, and then luckily remembered before they ran with the idea that I was babysitting Saturday.
There were protests: how could you babysit during a game?
Very easily: my life does not revolve around Alabama football. Nor does it around any other sport for that matter.
They were still amazed.
I actually enjoy being around kids wholeheartedly, so it's not really work to watch them. I'm not missing anything Saturday that I feel I am going to miss out on except associating with my friends here in town...but my closest friend I believe has to go to the game to work, the roomie will be at the beach, so...why not?
People here take their college football seriously...and even their high school football. They could really care less for the NFL...going to the scrimmages before the season starts is a highlight for all football fans here...you would think an actual game was going on...the minute details people mull over here is just incredible to me...everyone is an expert on football here...our 'ice-breaker' at FHE tonight was 'what will the score be for the game Saturday?' Everyone told their guess, which was recorded, and the closest to the actual score wins something...not sure what yet. EVERYONE guessed an Alabama victory...I strongly thought about going the other way, but I think that might have pushed some peoples strings too far...
It irks some people to no end that I root for ASU...:) It's my Alma Mater, and I wouldn't trade any moment of my 4 years there for anything...even the bad experiences. They were good for me. GO DEVILS!!!
But after ASU, I do have to say, 'ROLL TIDE ROLL'!!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
So I had some chewing gum...
We had a YSA (young single adult) dinner and fireside tonight with the entire stake presidency and their wifes. We had an AMAZING turnout, considering it was just our stake...
Dinner: lasagna, salad, rolls and cheesecake.
Finish dinner, and Cody starts passing out his stash of mint flavored gum...
Get into the chapel, and the pianist signals to me that I am going to lead the music. I seriously need to have an attitude change, because I really didn't want to and haven't wanted to lead the music at church for a while...but especially tonight...
I am sitting up there, it's about to start and I realize: I still have the minty rubbery substance in my mouth...
Do I run to a trash can? No, the opening hymn will need to start in about 2 seconds...purse is down in the pew, so that option is out...I don't have a special place in my mouth that I can stash it and be sure that it will stay there for the entire hymn...
Yeah...I swallowed it.
Dinner: lasagna, salad, rolls and cheesecake.
Finish dinner, and Cody starts passing out his stash of mint flavored gum...
Get into the chapel, and the pianist signals to me that I am going to lead the music. I seriously need to have an attitude change, because I really didn't want to and haven't wanted to lead the music at church for a while...but especially tonight...
I am sitting up there, it's about to start and I realize: I still have the minty rubbery substance in my mouth...
Do I run to a trash can? No, the opening hymn will need to start in about 2 seconds...purse is down in the pew, so that option is out...I don't have a special place in my mouth that I can stash it and be sure that it will stay there for the entire hymn...
Yeah...I swallowed it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Foul fowl...
Yesterday a funky smell was coming from the general direction of the kitchen...
I searched in all the 'usual' places for malodorous sources...without much luck...except that it was definitely coming from the fridge...but we were finally successful in finding the culprit:
Putrid Poultry
I searched in all the 'usual' places for malodorous sources...without much luck...except that it was definitely coming from the fridge...but we were finally successful in finding the culprit:
Putrid Poultry
Butter...
Last night I found THIS New York Times article about the effect the movie Julie & Julia is having on the book business. My favorite part of the article was the ending.
I already bought the book Julie & Julia before seeing the movie, but didn't start reading it until after seeing the film. In the movie, Amy Adams character Julie Powell asks her husband 'do you think she (meaning Julia) doesn't like it (her blog) because I use the F-word sometimes?'. I admit, I chuckled...terrible, yeah, I know. Well, then I started reading the book. That sucker had more language and blech in it in the first 100 pages or so than any 100 books that I have ever read combined. She has every right to do that, but that is just not for me...I kept hoping it was going to clear up because beyond all that it was an interesting read, but it kept getting worse, so I skipped to the parts about Julia Child's life that were strewn in the midst of the book and then I threw it into a plastic bag and have yet to decide if I should give it to the library or what...I was SOOOOOOO disappointed, the movie was lovely in many ways...
In the Times article they quote Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally) who is the director, writer and producer of this film. The quote is at the end of the article with her saying that she secretly hoped that moviegoers would go from the theaters to the bookstores and that books would go flying off the shelves...but they may find that another product may be flying off the shelves much more than those books mentioned in the film...
...because as for me, I bought butter. :)
I already bought the book Julie & Julia before seeing the movie, but didn't start reading it until after seeing the film. In the movie, Amy Adams character Julie Powell asks her husband 'do you think she (meaning Julia) doesn't like it (her blog) because I use the F-word sometimes?'. I admit, I chuckled...terrible, yeah, I know. Well, then I started reading the book. That sucker had more language and blech in it in the first 100 pages or so than any 100 books that I have ever read combined. She has every right to do that, but that is just not for me...I kept hoping it was going to clear up because beyond all that it was an interesting read, but it kept getting worse, so I skipped to the parts about Julia Child's life that were strewn in the midst of the book and then I threw it into a plastic bag and have yet to decide if I should give it to the library or what...I was SOOOOOOO disappointed, the movie was lovely in many ways...
In the Times article they quote Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally) who is the director, writer and producer of this film. The quote is at the end of the article with her saying that she secretly hoped that moviegoers would go from the theaters to the bookstores and that books would go flying off the shelves...but they may find that another product may be flying off the shelves much more than those books mentioned in the film...
...because as for me, I bought butter. :)
Monday, August 24, 2009
And this little piggy went...
First Swine flu scare at work today...
...luckily it wasn't the H1N1 strand of flu, it was just regular flu...phew...
I found it kinda funny that after we got the results back from the lab and the word was spread, we relaxed back into regular mode...and then the paranoia hit that flu season is around the corner and this will be the first of many scares...
...I believe the lobby is now littered with:
...signs that have a stop sign on them. Unfortunately, they are black and white...so their effectiveness may not be very good.
I suggested the brilliant idea of a sign with flashing lights, but the others argued that we would get complaints that it was causing headaches. There already is a TV out there...in my book, if they can handle one of those all day every day in their own homes, they can handle a flashing 'stop' sign in the lobby...;)
...luckily it wasn't the H1N1 strand of flu, it was just regular flu...phew...
I found it kinda funny that after we got the results back from the lab and the word was spread, we relaxed back into regular mode...and then the paranoia hit that flu season is around the corner and this will be the first of many scares...
...I believe the lobby is now littered with:
'if you are sick, tell the receptionist so we can hand you a mask so you can scare all the other patients and give them someone to gawk at and insist on you using the hand sanitizer we leave available for the patients to ignore or refill their own hand sanitizer bottles (yes, that really happened...the nerve)'
...signs that have a stop sign on them. Unfortunately, they are black and white...so their effectiveness may not be very good.
I suggested the brilliant idea of a sign with flashing lights, but the others argued that we would get complaints that it was causing headaches. There already is a TV out there...in my book, if they can handle one of those all day every day in their own homes, they can handle a flashing 'stop' sign in the lobby...;)
A Profound Statement...
If you think about it, this really is a profound statement no matter what your situation in life is:
-by none other than our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson
“My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not.
Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”
-by none other than our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson
Sunday, August 23, 2009
It Has Happened...
I've waited for this day for a while...
You know when you have a Gospel question? And you sometimes have to wait to find the answer? And when you get the answer, it's just an amazingly lovely experience?
Usually these come in the form of a Sunday Talk, a Conference Talk, some random comment made by someone that doesn't even have to be a member of the Church, a book I am reading, etc...
Sometimes they come from the Scriptures. But there is one book that I have never really gotten this kind of experience from in the scriptures.
This time I did. The Book was Isaiah...:)
Yes, I am doing the happy dance...and I wasn't even looking up the topic, I was on a different route...
Usually I refer to it as 'the dreaded but evidently really important Book of Isaiah'.
I like to think of myself as something of a scriptorian...ha, the word is actually 'scripturist'...yes I bothered looking up the correct word...
Anyways, Isaiah definitely caused a bit of a challenge that improved little with time, experience, knowledge, etc...
I should do a re-read-through of Isaiah for kicks and see how I do...:)
You know when you have a Gospel question? And you sometimes have to wait to find the answer? And when you get the answer, it's just an amazingly lovely experience?
Usually these come in the form of a Sunday Talk, a Conference Talk, some random comment made by someone that doesn't even have to be a member of the Church, a book I am reading, etc...
Sometimes they come from the Scriptures. But there is one book that I have never really gotten this kind of experience from in the scriptures.
This time I did. The Book was Isaiah...:)
Yes, I am doing the happy dance...and I wasn't even looking up the topic, I was on a different route...
Usually I refer to it as 'the dreaded but evidently really important Book of Isaiah'.
I like to think of myself as something of a scriptorian...ha, the word is actually 'scripturist'...yes I bothered looking up the correct word...
Scripturist: one who is strongly attached to, or versed in, the Scriptures, or who endeavors to regulate his life by them
Anyways, Isaiah definitely caused a bit of a challenge that improved little with time, experience, knowledge, etc...
I should do a re-read-through of Isaiah for kicks and see how I do...:)
Forgive me...
...but...am I completely corny for loving this? Both because it involves a world record (longest successful game of telephone) AND for the ending...:)
Friday, August 21, 2009
If I don't get married...
...then someone seriously needs to hire me as their personal chef and in home babysitter...these are two things that I love to do, and being single and not quite 28 yrs old is really putting me down in both of these lovely areas...
Cooking for one sucks...my money constantly is getting thrown away into the trash with all these darn leftovers that I don't get to before the green and blue fuzzies make their appearance...and baby, I can and love to cook/bake/etc...Southern Living has some awesome recipes...
Babysitting jobs go usually to the young women...pre 22 years of age...
btw...shameless advertising...if anyone needs a babysitter/beginning piano teacher/cello teacher...Elizabeth is in serious need of some funds...in a bad way...
Cooking for one sucks...my money constantly is getting thrown away into the trash with all these darn leftovers that I don't get to before the green and blue fuzzies make their appearance...and baby, I can and love to cook/bake/etc...Southern Living has some awesome recipes...
Babysitting jobs go usually to the young women...pre 22 years of age...
btw...shameless advertising...if anyone needs a babysitter/beginning piano teacher/cello teacher...Elizabeth is in serious need of some funds...in a bad way...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
This was not supposed to happen...
New car. New cars don't break down.
No, they don't!
They are brand new...they have to be at least three years old before they break down.
No, I know about these things. The first thing that breaks down in a new car (understanding that you do your regular oil changes and such) is the battery, which should last you at least three years. My battery is 1 1/2 years old...
Guess what?
Went downstairs at lunch yesterday...and my car wouldn't turn over.
That hasn't happened in 1 1/2 years to me...unless I wasn't in my car...so of course I thought I was hallucinating or traveling back in time or something...I mean, it's a new car...new cars don't not turn over...this isn't right...
...after pinching myself a few times, turning the key a bunch more times, and such, reality set it...my car isn't turning over...
...got it jumped after work, drove it home...(oh, to make matters better, I am running on fumes...I forgot to fill my car up last night)...turned it off and tried to turn it back on for kicks...
...yeah...
...the battery is dead as a doornail...won't keep a charge worth anything...fabulous, right??? At least it's not the alternator...
Well...one and a half years was a pretty good run!
No, they don't!
They are brand new...they have to be at least three years old before they break down.
No, I know about these things. The first thing that breaks down in a new car (understanding that you do your regular oil changes and such) is the battery, which should last you at least three years. My battery is 1 1/2 years old...
Guess what?
Went downstairs at lunch yesterday...and my car wouldn't turn over.
That hasn't happened in 1 1/2 years to me...unless I wasn't in my car...so of course I thought I was hallucinating or traveling back in time or something...I mean, it's a new car...new cars don't not turn over...this isn't right...
...after pinching myself a few times, turning the key a bunch more times, and such, reality set it...my car isn't turning over...
...got it jumped after work, drove it home...(oh, to make matters better, I am running on fumes...I forgot to fill my car up last night)...turned it off and tried to turn it back on for kicks...
...yeah...
...the battery is dead as a doornail...won't keep a charge worth anything...fabulous, right??? At least it's not the alternator...
Well...one and a half years was a pretty good run!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Reading...
Have you ever started reading a book on page 19 at 9:30pm to help you wind down, and then realize that you are on page 80, look at the clock, and it's dangerously close to midnight?
Yeah, that was last night.
The funny thing is that the book I was reading last night (not Jekyll and Hyde) is turning out to not be all that good...but I am still determined to finish it before I throw it away or donate it to the library...and yet I read it for almost 2 1/2 hours...bah...
I was attempting to get to sleep earlier so I could wake up earlier...with school starting back up, traffic is simply horrific...which makes getting to work in 10 minutes impossible...more like 20 if you are lucky...
Yeah, that was last night.
The funny thing is that the book I was reading last night (not Jekyll and Hyde) is turning out to not be all that good...but I am still determined to finish it before I throw it away or donate it to the library...and yet I read it for almost 2 1/2 hours...bah...
I was attempting to get to sleep earlier so I could wake up earlier...with school starting back up, traffic is simply horrific...which makes getting to work in 10 minutes impossible...more like 20 if you are lucky...
Monday, August 17, 2009
TMI...
Never...ever...I mean, NEVER EVER tell anyone that you are in the shower when you are on the phone. ESPECIALLY to a stranger...EVER...I mean, that does real damage to some people...
This statement would've been 'verify the person calling you is a nurse before you presume they are and tell them every single symptom you are experiencing' because that is what the phone call started out as...
...and then the awful truth came out...
...some things are just not meant to be known...
...I just thought we had a bad connection...that happens often enough in the nearly 100 phone calls I make every day...
...sometimes I really wish I could just go back to the pre-eight-years-old days...
..he actually said 'close your eyes, it's not a pretty picture'...I mean, come on...
...on the agenda tonight: watch totally engrossing movie/tv shows, read totally engrossing book...Amber, I really need my Fiddler on the Roof back for real this time...the men are fully clothed from head to toe in that one...
This statement would've been 'verify the person calling you is a nurse before you presume they are and tell them every single symptom you are experiencing' because that is what the phone call started out as...
...and then the awful truth came out...
...some things are just not meant to be known...
...I just thought we had a bad connection...that happens often enough in the nearly 100 phone calls I make every day...
...sometimes I really wish I could just go back to the pre-eight-years-old days...
..he actually said 'close your eyes, it's not a pretty picture'...I mean, come on...
...on the agenda tonight: watch totally engrossing movie/tv shows, read totally engrossing book...Amber, I really need my Fiddler on the Roof back for real this time...the men are fully clothed from head to toe in that one...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
On a Roll...
I am on a Robert Louis Stevenson kick...first the poem, now a book: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I think when I finish with it I will read Treasure Island as well...I can't believe I haven't read either of these books. I hope I am not totally depressed after reading this one though...we shall see. It has a bunch of cool history that goes along with it. I am actually enjoying reading all the introductory stuff in the front of the book.
I think when I finish with it I will read Treasure Island as well...I can't believe I haven't read either of these books. I hope I am not totally depressed after reading this one though...we shall see. It has a bunch of cool history that goes along with it. I am actually enjoying reading all the introductory stuff in the front of the book.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Dream, Dream
The Land of Nod
Robert Louis Stevenson
From Breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do--
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
Robert Louis Stevenson
From Breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.
All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do--
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.
The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.
Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.
I thought I had forgotten how to dream...I used to wake up still in the middle of one. I sometimes remember the entire dream...and if I like it, tuck it in my memory...I have this weird ability to re-dream dreams when I feel like it...
But lately...none...
Until last weekend...I finally found my way back. My word they are vivid too. I don't remember any of my dreams being so colorful...and I mean that literally...bright reds, greens, blues, etc.
But they are rather erratic...not one long story, just a bunch of short scenes that seem to have nothing to do with each other...
I really should keep a dream journal for the heck of it...
Happy dreaming!!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Bogels...
If you have a Panera anywhere near you, and you have any sort of liking for bagels, GO to your nearest Panera and get yourself one of the containers full of 'bogels'. It's like getting donut holes, except it's bagel holes...
May I suggest the Cinnamon Crisp Bogels...
A coworker brought them in today...SOOOOOOOOOO good!!!
May I suggest the Cinnamon Crisp Bogels...
A coworker brought them in today...SOOOOOOOOOO good!!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Some thoughts...
I need to stop making promises to write posts about this, that and whatnot...
I MAY get to posting posts I promised to post...(say that three times fast)...
And I MAY stop promising to write posts on certain topics...maybe...
One day a post was in production...and suddenly it was way past bed time. My whole evening was gone. That makes me so angry, because I need to attempt to get a full nights sleep...
I believe I have mentioned the following before, but oh well, I am repeating myself. Won't be the last time, for sure. I am trying to turn a much needed leaf and be on the internet/computer as little as possible after work. I am on it all day at work. The evenings need to be dedicated to doing something useful...useful only includes the internet IF I am working on a very long paper...
Where did the summer go? It seemed like it would never get here, and now it is very nearly gone. The school buses are back in all their glory. Good to know that the school systems are still able to run despite all the economic turmoil happening...
I am thinking about creating another blog...one that is on a specific topic, unlike this one that consists of random burblings that come to mind...one that will stretch me a bit, and will cause me to do some good research...I have found that I love doing research. I probably should've been a musicologist...but music theory stretches me and and challenges me, which is why I have stuck with it...
I MAY get to posting posts I promised to post...(say that three times fast)...
And I MAY stop promising to write posts on certain topics...maybe...
One day a post was in production...and suddenly it was way past bed time. My whole evening was gone. That makes me so angry, because I need to attempt to get a full nights sleep...
I believe I have mentioned the following before, but oh well, I am repeating myself. Won't be the last time, for sure. I am trying to turn a much needed leaf and be on the internet/computer as little as possible after work. I am on it all day at work. The evenings need to be dedicated to doing something useful...useful only includes the internet IF I am working on a very long paper...
Where did the summer go? It seemed like it would never get here, and now it is very nearly gone. The school buses are back in all their glory. Good to know that the school systems are still able to run despite all the economic turmoil happening...
I am thinking about creating another blog...one that is on a specific topic, unlike this one that consists of random burblings that come to mind...one that will stretch me a bit, and will cause me to do some good research...I have found that I love doing research. I probably should've been a musicologist...but music theory stretches me and and challenges me, which is why I have stuck with it...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Getting to know Elizabeth...
I happened upon this website today:
http://www.thrilltheworld.com/
I actually don't remember how I found it, I was searching for something that had nothing to do with Thriller or Michael Jackson at all...
This website is promoting both a Guinness World Record AND a charity event in one. The idea is to get people all over the world at the same time to dance the Thriller dance. There are various events all over the country, and the next one is coming up in October...but not one in Alabama...
This website is promoting both a Guinness World Record AND a charity event in one. The idea is to get people all over the world at the same time to dance the Thriller dance. There are various events all over the country, and the next one is coming up in October...but not one in Alabama...
Call me crazy...but the thought actually lingered in my head today to start an event here...
I LOVE dancing to Thriller...but only by myself (watching the video and dancing along to it) if I haven't done it in a while...in front of people when I have done the hour long refresher course it would take to get it back down pat...I will do it in front of people when I don't remember it all, but I get embarrassed pretty dang quick...
Yeah...this is definitely something that I would do...but not alone, and I am afraid that I can't think of anyone else around here that would actually like to do this with me...
I LOVE dancing to Thriller...but only by myself (watching the video and dancing along to it) if I haven't done it in a while...in front of people when I have done the hour long refresher course it would take to get it back down pat...I will do it in front of people when I don't remember it all, but I get embarrassed pretty dang quick...
Yeah...this is definitely something that I would do...but not alone, and I am afraid that I can't think of anyone else around here that would actually like to do this with me...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Arizona Part ONE: Birthday, Babies and Blessings...
As soon as my parents invited me to come out to AZ with them in July, I jumped on an opportunity that I was hoping would present itself: plan a surprise birthday party for my Mom! Her birthday isn't until the 29th, BUT all of her sisters were going to be together that weekend anyways, along with all her nieces and nephews that lived in AZ, and I just knew I could talk Emily and Ison into coming out...
We didn't throw her a party last year...so she got a 61st birthday party...
For some reason, most of the family have July birthdays. So we also got a cake with everyone's names with July birthdays!!! (Sorry if we missed you...we kept adding names...:) )
This is right before we started singing...I will do my REAL birthday post on her REAL birthday. I wanted to show off the necklace my Aunt Nancy made for my Mom...isn't it awesome!?!?!? She loved in...in fact, she wore it a couple of the days I was there...:)
On to the babies. We had a thunderstorm that interrupted our pool time...one of the babies (Jones) was on the other side of the yard when the wall of rain arrived...instead of running in he just stood there crying...he had to be rescued...anyways, the rain brought out some fun critters that boys LOVE to inspect, including this little guy...
One of the boys really wanted to touch it...and used one of those play construction trucks to try to touch it...would've killed the guy if not for some quick work on mine and his Mom's side...
I was trying so hard to get Ty to really smile...evidently he doesn't smile much for the camera...he's much too good looking for that, I suppose. :)
This might just be my favorite picture of all the babies...this is Maine...still growing into those lovely, grabbable cheeks...
This is a video of the Aunt's trying to get a picture of ALL the babies, including the 'older' ones that were at the party...not sure where Robert was, but I suppose he isn't a baby anymore, being a teenager...
From left to right: Tyler, holding Barron Jr, Nathan, Ty, Maine, Jace, Daniel, Levi, Jones (on the armrest).
What to look for: Tyler...sitting perfectly still with a smile on his face despite the drama going on beside him...Nathan with a worried look on his face...Ty being traumatized by Maine (may have been mauled by his hand...not quite sure), Maine flipping out because Ty is, Jace watching the drama and deciding he had enough of that, flipping off the couch (he was caught by someone, although he would've been just fine finishing the flip), the twins...hanging out on the pillow, Jones being placed onto the couch by his Penny after the three centerpiece babies disappeared...and the parents of course...)
Sorry it's so dark...but it was HILARIOUS...that isn't just me laughing, all of us were pretty amused to say the least...
Loved this picture of Nathan and the twins...
The three newbies...the were born within 3 weeks of each other...the twins are working hard to catch up! Aren't they CUTE!?!?!
I forced my camera into my sisters hands so I would have ONE picture of me with one of the new little ones...this is Levi...
I love that they are both leaning over the same direction...
I was SOOOO happy to be there last Sunday for the twins blessings! It was pretty neat how they did it...there were SOOO many priesthood holders there...Daniel Raisor had all the priesthood holders from Kent's side of the family, along with both grandpas and of course Dad (Kent, Uncle (Grandpa) Norm, Grandpa Baysinger, Uncle's Kent and Harold (my Dad), and cousins Josh, Nick, Barron, Bradley, Scott, and Ison). Levi Crandall had all the priesthood holders from Belle's side of the family, along with the grandpas and Dad (I would name them, but...I don't know the names of all of them who were there...if someone wants to fill me in, I would be glad to EDIT! :) )
I just LOVE this picture...
More to come...this takes care of the first three days of my vacation...:)
We didn't throw her a party last year...so she got a 61st birthday party...
For some reason, most of the family have July birthdays. So we also got a cake with everyone's names with July birthdays!!! (Sorry if we missed you...we kept adding names...:) )
This is right before we started singing...I will do my REAL birthday post on her REAL birthday. I wanted to show off the necklace my Aunt Nancy made for my Mom...isn't it awesome!?!?!? She loved in...in fact, she wore it a couple of the days I was there...:)
On to the babies. We had a thunderstorm that interrupted our pool time...one of the babies (Jones) was on the other side of the yard when the wall of rain arrived...instead of running in he just stood there crying...he had to be rescued...anyways, the rain brought out some fun critters that boys LOVE to inspect, including this little guy...
One of the boys really wanted to touch it...and used one of those play construction trucks to try to touch it...would've killed the guy if not for some quick work on mine and his Mom's side...
I was trying so hard to get Ty to really smile...evidently he doesn't smile much for the camera...he's much too good looking for that, I suppose. :)
This might just be my favorite picture of all the babies...this is Maine...still growing into those lovely, grabbable cheeks...BEST VIDEO EVER
Let me warn you, this video is LOUD...turn down your volume and the volume on the player...This is a video of the Aunt's trying to get a picture of ALL the babies, including the 'older' ones that were at the party...not sure where Robert was, but I suppose he isn't a baby anymore, being a teenager...
From left to right: Tyler, holding Barron Jr, Nathan, Ty, Maine, Jace, Daniel, Levi, Jones (on the armrest).
What to look for: Tyler...sitting perfectly still with a smile on his face despite the drama going on beside him...Nathan with a worried look on his face...Ty being traumatized by Maine (may have been mauled by his hand...not quite sure), Maine flipping out because Ty is, Jace watching the drama and deciding he had enough of that, flipping off the couch (he was caught by someone, although he would've been just fine finishing the flip), the twins...hanging out on the pillow, Jones being placed onto the couch by his Penny after the three centerpiece babies disappeared...and the parents of course...)
Sorry it's so dark...but it was HILARIOUS...that isn't just me laughing, all of us were pretty amused to say the least...
Loved this picture of Nathan and the twins...
The three newbies...the were born within 3 weeks of each other...the twins are working hard to catch up! Aren't they CUTE!?!?!
I forced my camera into my sisters hands so I would have ONE picture of me with one of the new little ones...this is Levi...
I love that they are both leaning over the same direction...I was SOOOO happy to be there last Sunday for the twins blessings! It was pretty neat how they did it...there were SOOO many priesthood holders there...Daniel Raisor had all the priesthood holders from Kent's side of the family, along with both grandpas and of course Dad (Kent, Uncle (Grandpa) Norm, Grandpa Baysinger, Uncle's Kent and Harold (my Dad), and cousins Josh, Nick, Barron, Bradley, Scott, and Ison). Levi Crandall had all the priesthood holders from Belle's side of the family, along with the grandpas and Dad (I would name them, but...I don't know the names of all of them who were there...if someone wants to fill me in, I would be glad to EDIT! :) )
I just LOVE this picture...More to come...this takes care of the first three days of my vacation...:)
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