Guys vs Girls

Ha...once upon a time, there was this guy that I liked who found out that I liked him and he said he didn't like me that way but he told me he just wanted to be friends. So we were. Road trips, platonic Sonic dates, saving each other from awkward situations.

So...how does that work into the following situation? Did he lie? :) He's married now, but it's interesting to think about...watch the video and then please express your opinion, I would love to know what all you ladies think. (Yes, this is my assumption that only women still read this blog. Cousins, sister, Mom, Aunts, friends)

Done Did It

Well...I did it. That's a first, in however many years I have been blogging. I posted EVERY day for an entire month. Yay for a successful NaBloPoMo.

Now back to our regular programming.

(have to brag...I cooked with leeks for the first time today. Thought they would be a bit more difficult than they were. They look like a cross between an onion and celery. They cook like it too. You have to clean out the layers cause there IS dirt in there. I know, I found it. I made potato leek soup (creamed it) and then whipped up some cream for Strawberries and Cream...it's all good...)

Chuck

Dear NBC:

I would really appreciate it if you would allow me to watch Chuck online again. You did last season. You did this season for the first episodes. All of a sudden I get a 'this video is not available online' message.

This message is really not appreciated.

With Regards,

A Zachary Levi Fan

Mad...

So I went to cancel my Gold's Gym membership today.

Yeah. It didn't get cancelled. The only way to cancel membership with Gold's Gym is to a) show proof that you have moved (utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, etc.) with a 30 day cancellation notice and $100 OR b) sell your contract to someone else and pay $100.

Really.

Like, really really.

I am reading the fine print of my signed contract. I seem to remember being told I had a month to month contract. I mean, I really remember it. And I certainly wasn't told all this crap about cancelling when I asked about their cancellation policy.

I am mad.

Anyways, thinking about sending all my bank statements to my parents house in NM. Lucky me, I have to scrounge up an extra $100 I don't have.

Fooooood...

Apparently I am a foodie. When I talk about places I have been, I usually talk about the food I ate there.

No wonder I am overweight.

Well, the food I ate this last weekend was wonderful. My favorite thing had to be the desserts my brother in law made. He made this blueberry/whipped cream...thing...oh my gosh, it was divine...and I usually don't go for fruity/berry desserts. Yum.

Well, I didn't have any food when I got back. My wonderful roommate let me have a cup of milk and two slices a break so I didn't die last night of hunger and had a peanut butter and honey sandwich.

Anyways...so at lunch and before dinner I made a couple trips to the grocery store to stock up on stuff. Milk, OJ, cheese, bread. I got a bunch of fresh stuff like carrots, apples and such.

Got leeks for the first time. Totally making leek potato soup. Can't wait. Need some heavy cream. And I have great plans for the leftover cream...:)

Bought some cookie inspired ice cream. I also have great plans for that.

For dinner tonight: went simple and vegetarian. Steamed yellow squash, no salt or anything, and baked sweet potato with butter, cinnamon and a tiny bit of sugar. Yum.

Going to eat well this week.

Driving driving driving driving...

(I need to remember to click POST! Gah!)

On the way down we listened to video game soundtracks (that I don't know...cause I don't play video games beyond Mario Brothers and DDR) and watched (they watched, I listened) Alice in Wonderland, the new one.

On the way up we listened to Christmas music and...they read.

NEED to remember to get books on CD.

I didn't get tired at all this trip. There is a lot to be said for driving during normal waking hours.

I am home. Good night.

Babysitting...

So I thought babysitting my nephew was going to be a breeze...

Yeah...

Poor thing had separation anxiety up the wazoo! He KNEW I was not his Mommy. Every time he looked at me he started crying. Screaming more like. Big billowing tears came out of those sweet little eyes...

He ended up falling asleep on me...I distracted him by holding him close with his head up on my shoulder so he couldn't see my face, put a noisy toy and his burp cloth up there...he grabbed and sucked and crackled as he slowly calmed himself down...eventually he relaxed and fell asleep...so sweet and pitiful at the same time.

Wouldn't have traded that for anything. He will slowly get to know me, but it was nice to spend an evening with him. And it was the first time since late in my sisters pregnancy that she and Ison had a chance to do a session at the temple.

Totally worth it. He is getting a good nights sleep now, was very glad to see his Mommy when she got him up for his last feeding of the night. Hope he has a good long sleep.

What did I do today?

Well, it's Black Friday. For the first time in a LOOOONG time, I didn't wake up at some horrible hour and go shopping.

I woke up at 7:30 when my Mom knocked on my door and informed me we were having breakfast at Golden Corral. THEN we went shopping. I got a new pair of red leather shoes (comfy shoes...going to love these...), Dad got a pizza cooker, Mom got a new chair, Mom and I both got new projectors (YAY!).

Dad had the only run in with a crazy person. Lady took a crock pot out of his arms, he took it back and put it in his cart, she shoved him, he shoved her back. Yeah. Crazy lady.

I ate some of my Dad's meatballs. They were divine.

Then Mom, Emily and I went to see the Muppets. So. Good. Go see it. Totally corny. Totally G rated. Loved it.

Thanksgiving

(for those of you actually checking, this WAS written yesterday...apparently I didn't hit the publish button...)

Thanksgiving. Turkey, mashed potatoes (no gravy, they were tasty ones), sweet potatoe casserole, green bean casserole (didn't partake but it was there...not a fan), my Mom's stuffing, rolls, 4 different pies, a blueberry "thing" as my bro-in-law put it, and apple juice.

Mom, Dad, Emily, Ison, Baby Ison, a couple who the lady just had a baby (4 day old baby...so sweet...) and a coworker of Ison's.

It was great.

Followed it up with round 2 of Breaking Dawn. Much better the second time around. :)

:) GOOD day. Full of feel goods.

Made It...

Spending time with Mommy and then hitting the sack. Night y'all.

(Yes, I realize this is more like a Facebook update than a post. Better things tomorrow, promise!)

Making the Trek

Car cleaned out, oil change in the morning, laundry going, some extra cash on hand just in case. Just need the cleaning bug to kick back in to actually clean the room before I leave. And to work for 3 hours in the morning.

I don't know why, but every time I go on vacation I have this unstoppable urge to clean clean clean. Like, stay up all night if I have to and clean. Not good when one is driving 9 hours...although we should get in before 10pm tomorrow.

This 'bug' has only been present for the last year or so. But man, it sure does hit.

I think it's partially due to the fact that I get frustrated that I can't find half the things I think I have that I might want to take with me on my trip. (re-reading that sentence, I kind of get a headache...)

Oh yeah. I need to pack. That is kind of important.

One thing I did extremely well this trip is not buying a bunch of food before I leave. It always goes bad right after I get back from the trip.

I am out of milk, bread, cheese, cereal, rice, no veggies that aren't frozen, one apple takes care of the fruit, almost out of butter. Will probably grab something for breakfast somewhere...hmm...where to eat...bagel!! YES!!

Yeah. Sure.

Yeah. I ran out of money about a week ago. I can wait an extra day for my paycheck.

I mean, you are supposed to have it ready for me on the 20th. I'll give you that day off since it was Sunday.

You had NO patients this morning. NONE. Ok, one. At 11:15.

Yeah, I can survive with the few droplets of gas that are in my car. It will get me to work, to the bank, and THEN to the gas station.

Right.

At least I was able to get a ride to play laser tag tonight. And I have this lovely pass of all passes that I paid for in April. Or March. A while ago. But it lasts an entire year! Unlimited laser tag. Woot. It's 'paid' for itself time after time already. Apparently I get a free lift ticket certain days of the week with this thing. What?! AND a free skiing gear rental. Maybe I will attempt to kill myself on the slopes after all. :D

Primary Program...

Today was a good day!

Why was it a good day?

Because I didn't have to go to my own ward. Yes. I admit it. I enjoyed going to a family ward SO MUCH today.

In fact, I went to their Primary Program. I was playing my cello for a friends program (she's the primary chorister).

Oh how I miss this. Sacrament Meeting was beautiful. It wasn't a drama-fest/who's-that-new-guy/bothered-by-all-these-people-playing-angry-birds-during-sacrament meeting. It was a wholesome, wonderful, happy meeting. Sure it wasn't perfect. But the Spirit was just...sweet.

Favorite part: kids sang the 4th Article of Faith song...afterwards a kid who looks SO much like a friends youngest son said 'that was AWESOME! I could sing that song EVERY DAY!' in a fairly loud and audible whisper.

Had a great Sabbath. Hope you did too.

Ack!

It's almost midnight as I am starting this, so it TOTALLY COUNTS...

I guess I should mention, the reason I am posting every day is because I am doing NaBloPoMo...this fun thing that a friend of mine (well a couple of friends of mine) have done for the past however many years. You post once a day, every day, on your blog for the month of November. There are a few different writing activities like this in November, the most prominent one being you writing a novel in a month. I believe I have a friend who is attempting this feat.

Well, this is a report of my day. Started out not sleeping in but helping a friend with her Primary Program by playing the cello for it. Very fun.

It was all white when I left for it, but by the time I got out from the rehearsal a great deal had melted.

Did nothing for a few hours.

Played Sock Dodge Ball. Same rules as regular dodge ball, except you use balled up socks and those balls that are in those kiddie pits at fast food play areas. AND you have obstacles. GREAT youth activity if you need an idea. Facebook me if you need more of a description.

Window shopped through some books at Barnes and Nobles.

Then came home intending to stay there. BUT April wanted to go to the BYU football game. And right as I opened up my facebook, a friend said she had two tickets available. So I went to my first BYU game that didn't involve ASU. It was fun. But cold!!! Seriously, I've been home about 40 minutes now, and I still can't feel a good chunk of the butt.

Oh, and last night April and I went to see the Christmas lights up at the Riverwoods. SO pretty. AND it started snowing big chunky flakes of snow. So fun! I approve of that kind of snow, especially since it melted almost right away.

And that is my story. What's yours?

Snow...

Well, first real snow fall of the season. It dusted a bit a while ago, but this is a real snow storm.

Thick, chunky, wet, seep into anything that isn't waterproof snow.

Well, it's just for the weekend. NEXT week the weather is perfect for driving down to NM for Thanksgiving! Woot!!

Snow, snow, snow snow, snow!!

Sorry. Quoting one of the songs featured on White Christmas. I am a little slap happy right now. May or may not be due to the fact that I went to a midnight showing for a certain movie last night...

Alright. Gearing up for a party that starts at 11:30PM. Yes, slap happy me is going to a party. Thankfully it's not too far away. :)

Stumbling Over Family History

Today instead of going home at lunch I decided to save the gas and go straight to gig# 2. On my way, I passed the Provo City Cemetary. I have passed it many time and often wondered if I had family buried there. In my recent galavanting across the internet in search of information about my Grandpa Madsen, I landed on ancestry and found a grave site for my Great Grandpa Madsen. It showed not only the cemetary, but the exact block and lot.

As I started passing by today, I took note that I was running early. So I pulled in, studied the map, and tried to remember what ancestry.com had told me. I remembered the Block, but not the lot where he was buried. I walked up and down and decided my memory wasn't spectacular. I was about to head to work when I remembered that I own a smart phone! With internet priviliges! :-)

A quick google search, and I found the correct lot. And there it was! Along with Great Grandma. :-)

After gazing at the marker and talking at it a bit, I looked around to see if I recognized any other names. Right next to them I found my Dad's cousin who passed away a few years ago, twin baby girls who died the day they were born to another of Dad's cousins ( I love that they were buried there, guarded by the great grandparents ), along with a ton of Nuttall's.

I told my Dad my find, and asked him if the Nuttall's found there were any relation to us. Turns out they were my great great and great great great grandparents. :-)

I love family. And cool finds like this.

Happy Thought(s)...

A week from right now, I could potentially be asleep in my bed at the parentals abode. AND will be super super super close to the cutest nephew on the planet!!! Which means a week from TOMORROW I will be stuffing my face with turkey and stuffing and other wonderful things.

This makes me happy.

Taught a great cello lesson today. It's amazing how well they go when the student practices. :)

This definitely makes me happy.

Went a little easier on the song for my recital this time around. Totally rocked it at my class today.

Happy happy.

Chocolate ice cream for lunch.

Well, not healthy, but it made me happy.

And...that's all folks.

Inspiration...Inspiration? Inspiration!!!!

Well...I have no inspiration for this post.

My back hurts.

I'm listening to Schoenberg's string trio, op. 45. Yes, by choice. I have a great appreciation for 12 tone pieces after all those music theory classes I took.

And then wasted...since I didn't finish that blasted degree.

Wish I had the money to do something about getting it finished. I can't finish it easily since I have passed the time period allotted for completing it.

I did finish Great Expectations and hated the ending. It ended all wrong. Well, about halfway right, he just doesn't marry the girl I wanted him to.

And there's your depressing thought for the day. Sorry y'all. Happy thoughts tomorrow. I am starting Peter Pan. So happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts!!

Great Expectations...

I am reading Great Expectations for the first time. Never seen the movie (or movies, I would be surprised if there was only one in existence), know nothing of the story.

First impressions: Poor Pip, really has no one on his side except sweet Joe. This Ms. Havisham character is a crazy person! (for those of you who have seen P.S. I Love You, I NEVER got the reference until now...k, totally watching that tonight)

Second impression:s I hate Pip. He's a thankless nobody who is totally blind and can't see he is totally being used and turning his back on the only ones who truly love him. Boo! Can't really blame Estella, she was brought up to be that way. Go visit Joe and Biddy!!

Third impressions: I like Herbert. Served Pip right for how he treated the ones he loves for his life to be turned upside down like that. (eh, his benefactor is on trial at this point...) Oh, and going a little earlier: You idiot, why did you go into the middle of NOWHERE by yourself...duh, it's a set up!

Fourth impressions: Haven't gotten there yet. Hopes: he goes back to Joe and Biddy, marries Biddy, has cute babies, stays in contact with wonderful, deserving Herbert and takes that clerk position. What's probably going to happen: he's going to continue to be an idiot like a lot of dumb freaking boys! And I will never read this book again. Mr. Dickens, I hope you have my very happy ending ready for me.

Questionables...

Ever been in a situation where you think you are being shunned on purpose? Yeah...

Not sure about it, but I have had a feeling for the last, oh, 2 months that a group of friends I used to hang out with don't like me anymore.

Why? Well, I don't know what/if I did something...I don't think I did...although I do usually speak my mind...

But why do I get this feeling? There have been parties. There have been game nights. Ultimate. Soccer. Movie night. Laser Tagging.

When did I find out about these things? AFTER they happened.

Sucks.

But is it on purpose? Or an oversight?

I don't know!!!!

Tonight, I starting questioning my questionable status with them, because as I was leaving one of them waved goodbye at me. And he doesn't just wave goodbye at peoples.

Yes. I over think things.

Good night.

Par-tay!!

Well, how often does 11/11/11 happen? Only once every 100 years...odds are against me that it will happen again in my lifetime...:)

SO what does one do?

Throw a party!!

It was a small affair. There were six of us. We played Guillotine, The Game of Things, and BANG!...the last one was new to me. I think it will be a far better experience next time around. :D I was the first one dead.

We had pizza (thanks to my roommate!), chips, soda and fresh made brownies that we waited impatiently to cool off. They. were. perfect. Cooked enough to hold together. Not cooked all the way so they were still a bit gooey. I fixed the recipe a little to make sure they were gooey. The trick is a little extra oil. I know, I am going to die of heart failure with my thing for oil and butter. I will die happy though!!

The people who came are people I greatly admire. My roommate, of course, who is redecorating the entire apartment. It's really exciting to watch the transformation. I am contributing by: allowing her to do whatever she wants with little restrictions AND keeping it clean (mostly) once the transformation is complete. Really wish I could contribute more though. Amelia, who was such a great RS President in the last version of this singles ward and is just a kind heart. Jyrl and Kevin, who I love. I hope they stay together. Jason, who is just so much fun and really brings about the life of the party.

We had a moment of silence at 11:11PM. Then we continued with our games.

Veteran's Day

Grateful for the wonderful, amazing, fantastic, braze, self-sacrificing men and women who do so much to protect their country, their families and the freedoms they enjoy.

I am lucky to have such wonderful men in my life who have lived such incredible lives. Both my Grandfathers served in World War II, my Dad was in the Army Reserves, and my Brother in Law is active Air Force. I have many other family members who have served their country. I am so grateful to them and glad that they are a part of my life.

Found a photo of my Grandpa Madsen when he was a navigator for the 303rd Bomb Group in the European action. A few months after this photo was taken, his plane was hit. 1 died with the plane when it crashed, the other 8 parachuted down and were eventually captured. One died not long later in a German POW hospital.

My Grandpa is the one in the front to the left pointing things out on the map. I love this picture so much.

Don't forget our Veteran's. They are so important. They make it so that you and I can do whatever we like in this country. They defend our freedoms, and keep the fight away from our homes.

Yeah. Feeling grateful today.

Experimented...

For the last two weeks I've been trying to decide how to use this bag of lentils I bought. I also have had a hankering for chicken soup. Therefore, I made a chicken lentil soup.

I consulted the collective wisdom (google) for recipes that exist for this type of soup, and then made up something with the stuff that I actually have.

2 cups Chicken Broth
1 cup Water (or another cup of Chicken Broth if you have it in stock)
1/2 tbs Rosemary
1/2 tsp minced Garlic
1 cup Dry Lentils
1/4 packet Onion Soup Mix (that's right people, 1/4 of a packet...:) )

*bring to a boil and simmer until lentils are soft...discovered the cup of water was necessary...the lentils soaked it up...:/

1 Cup diced cooked chicken.

Add chicken to soup, heat through, let cool a bit and serve.

It was good. I didn't have to add any salt, which made me happy.

Made garlic toast to go with it...because it was just too healthy...:)

Feel free to try it.

Long long day...

So grateful that I get to sleep in on Thursdays a little...just got home 20 minutes ago...gah...

It was very cold today. Time to wear snow jacket, gloves and scarf every day.

No more of this tough it out stuff.

I keep thinking that if I wear a light sweater and socks that I can handle it a little longer.

Nope.

I need a better job. Full time, benefits, make more money an hour. Hopefully keep one part time job...the afternoon one preferably since I have a contract there (although I make more an hour at the other one...ugh...).

No more of this just making it by stuff.

And that's all folks. Good night. (sleepy smiley face inserted HERE)

Dream...

Let me preface this with I just caught myself up with the new season of The Office AND saw Cowboys and Aliens last night...

For those of you who haven't seen it, Redbox it or Dollar Theatre it...

In MY dream...it was modern times...the aliens came and were taking people similar to the movie except with something more like rope than the metallic chain thing they were grabbed with in the movie...

We were running...but Dwight Schrute was there. He WANTED to be captured by the aliens. So that he could single handedly destroy them.

So we had to save him. I think Jim might have been there.

:) Yeah, it was a pretty dang vivid dream...and fun. Like a movie. I woke up too soon. Which was good, cause I forgot to set an alarm last night.

Better??

My blog posts have been depressing. Sorry about that y'all.

Am I better today? Well...

To make this post happier, I am just going to post about happy things.

I bought new socks Saturday. They are super nice, under armour, cushy, perfect size for me socks. There are only five pairs. BUT I love them!! They make my feet feel happy. Yes. Happy. Feet.

The guy at the Sporting Goods store where I bought the socks that was the security guy (I guess) who tried to help me move through the line faster was super super nice. Kinda cute too. Super deep bass voice (melt me...). I went back into the store because I needed a validation for the parking lot. He gave me two. :) I need to go shopping there again.

The snow hasn't stayed on the ground without melting before I came out to go to work yet!! It was still on my car one day, but it was just a dusting. This is definitely reason to rejoice!!

Christmas lights are going up on the trees at the outdoor mall I drive by every day.

Michael Bublé's Christmas Album. Need I say more??

Umm...

Watched Cowboys and Aliens. Laughed at parts you aren't supposed to laugh at. People got annoyed I think.

Oh!! So before the movie, this cute tall guy parks himself almost exactly across the aisle from us. I point him out to April without looking at him. She watches him for a bit and says somewhat quietly 'he just picked his nose twice'. I bust out laughing. She then says '...and he heard what I said.' Bwahahahaha...So good.

K, happy thoughts for the night. Sleep well!

Our Stake President...

We have an interesting stake president. You know those stories of that one stake president that shoved eternal marriage down your throat and said that you were wicked if you weren't dating? Yeah, they exist. Cause that is my stake president.

Today at stake conference, he said that we should make little people (have babies) with enthusiasm...of course, after you are married in the right place and with the right person.

Enthusiasm.

Yeah, he's an interesting one. The word 'forsurezies' came out of his mouth.

I can't tell you how many times I looked at April with the 'did that really just come out of his mouth' look on my face.

The best suggestion of the night was that we maybe should be more concerned about our roommates dating life than our own.

Yep.

I don't know how I kept myself from going into a laughing fit right then and there.

Thankfully, he did put some great doctrine into his talk, and he has a great testimony.

Remember, Remember...

...to hire good kickers for your super amazing college football team...

Oh well. Roll Tide.

Even though we lost, I got to hang out with fellow Alabama fans...plus one heckler...it's a miracle he didn't get a shoe in the face...(he's taking the picture below)

It was lovely hanging out with them all. Made the game so much more enjoyable...even though we lost...:(

Well, hopefully Sunday redeems the weekend.

An Off Day

Today started all wrong. It didn't feel like a Friday at all. Not sure why, but it just felt...off...this morning I kept thinking I got off at noon, when Fridays I leave gig #1 at 2.

When 2 finally came around, I ended up having to stay because both the other employees were otherwise occupied and we had a patient that needed to be seen. Finally got home, ate something (can't even remember what at this point) and started dinner in the crock pot. Beef stew, but very simple...just beef, potatoes and seasonings.

Went to gig #2. Now usually Fridays are akin to day of the dead. Super slow. Might have one student there at a time. Apparently all the teachers decided to get together and schedule all their makeup lessons for today. The place was crawling with students. Usually I can leave at 6 or 6:30 because it's so dead. I left at 7:15pm.

Started driving home, and the idiot in front of me doesn't know the meaning of the word 'merge'. He stopped in BUSY traffic ON THE FREEWAY!!! I nearly hit the guy. The guy behind me did. Got off at the very next exit and took the streets the rest of the way home.

Came home thinking the house would smell so nice. It didn't. It smelled bad. Went over to the crock pot about ready to fall to pieces if I ruined my stew. Thankfully it was fine. Just needed a little salt. My roommate decided to paint her dresser today in the living room of our basement apartment. I would've opened some windows, but we are expecting 2-4 inches of the fluffy white stuff tonight.

Thinking about sleeping in my closet tonight. Can't smell the mixture of beef/onion/paint in there. Yet.

Vienna Boys Choir

Went with my friend to see the Vienna Boys Choir tonight. I tell you what, those little boys put out some beautiful sounds. They were soooo cute, and very good.

They sang pieces from 5 centuries...16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. The 20th century songs were modern pop songs, including 'Help' from the Beatles and a selection from ABBA, Queen and Sting.

There were a few boys that were my favorites. One was the smallest of the group...when he was really getting into the music he would nod his head up and down really fast in rhythm to the music. Another was the Japanese kid. He clapped like a robot, he was so stiff, but during the modern pop songs his head wagged around...the rest of his body wouldn't loosen though...

These kids travel 9-11 weeks of the year on tour. That is so hard to believe...I mean, that's a large chunk of the school year. There are 100 boys who are divided into 4 touring groups. We had the Mozartchor.

Most of the boys come out of the younger school program the Vienna Boys Choir has, which is comprised of about 250 students, both boys and girls, who get a full education but focus on music education. Kids from all over the world are in the program.

I am glad we went, it was a beautiful concert.

A Musical Moment

Wednesdays are my long day. Go to work at nine, get home at nine. Makes for an exhausting day.

Today as I was leaving job #2, I was a bit put out that that my Wednesday parking spot was taken...it's much closer to the front door, and so shortens the space I have to cross with my cello (Wednesday is cello teaching day) so I had to walk ALL the way over to my other usual spot with cello in tow in the now bitter cold weather. Not exactly thrilled at that moment.

When all of a sudden, as I approach my car, I hear a muted noise. It gets louder little by little...and I soon realize it was coming from the sky and was heading for me. It's twilight, but it's closer to night than sunset...but I look up and can discern a 'V' of black spots overhead. A gaggle of Canadian geese were flying over, honking merrily away. They pass over me, as I stand mesmerized by the sound and magic of that moment. Then I realize the sound doesn't really fade, but goes in and out between mp  and f. With the growing dark I could no longer see any spots, but there must have been a few more flyovers happening at that moment. A symphony of honks...in surround sound.

Totally made my night.

Halloween...the edited version...

Pictures will be added later. I am a bit lazy at the moment, so if you are facebook friends with me check out my page! :) Lucky me, I have a photographer for a roommate now, so there are all kinds of fun pictures being added of my now!

Most of my real Halloween activities didn't occur on Halloween itself. Friday night before, I got home, spent 1 1/2 hours painting myself green and fixing the costume. I discovered my black boots were no where to be found so I had to wear my black snow boots with white fuzzy trim on top that luckily was somewhat hidden under the skirt.

The roommate and I then went off to a party. She was dressed as a doll in a blue dress. We didn't even think about the fact that she looked a little like Dorothy...especially since I was the Wicked Witch of the West.

We then went to the stake YSA dance. It was actually a lot of fun. Lots of dancing inhibitions fly out the door apparently when one is in costume. Not that I am very inhibited when I go dancing. :) Saw a few amazing costumes, including the best Cousin It I have ever seen. Incredible costume. Got my dance ON that night.

We then went back to the party and watched a scary movie. It had the worst screenplay I have ever had to sit through. I don't particularly like scary movies anyways...just don't enjoy them. Luckily one of the girls at the party was really getting freaked out by it, so we were well entertained throughout by her punching the people beside her and such.

Saturday was my recital. I worked a few hours that morning, and then April and I went out to a pumpkin patch and bought some pumpkins! It was way fun, but also kind of sad since a ton of the pumpkins were rotting...such a waste!! We ran a few errands and then discovered we were running a bit behind.

The costume went mostly well for the recital, except since we were running late so I only had 40 minutes to get ready. I ended up being late getting to the recital location (TERRIBLE, since I had the key to the building...lucky they require us to get there 30 minutes before...I got there 25 minutes before). So I was freaking out a bit by the time the time came to perform.

Yeah, so the solo was not the best. I have done it SO much better. But between being a bit freaked out by being late, not having enough to eat, learning belt/mix 6 weeks before, it was OK. If you are my FB friend, you can watch the video on my wall (yay for April again!).

April and I then left, grabbed burgers at the Malt Shop (me in my greenified glory), ran home to change, and then went to see Captain America at the Dollar Theater...yes, still in my greenified glory. I wore my Wicked Hoodie, so it was fun.

Sunday was Church. And it was a BUSY Sabbath.

Halloween Day: Worked in the morning. Had the green nail polish still on, does that count as dressed up? Worked in the afternoon, wore my green Defying Gravity shirt, my Wicked hoodie and my witch hat to the Music School. Came home and since they cancelled the YSA FHE (why, no idea...apparently adults still trick or treat here) April and I went to the mall and then saw the Three Musketeers. It was alright, but the last version of it was my favorite.

I planned to get some Halloween candy today, but I resisted. :)

Happy Halloween!

Boots...

Once upon a time there was a girl. This girl had big feet. This girl really wanted some cute, comfy, affordable but well made boots. But being that she had big feet, very few places had boots that met these standards.

Cute boots. Not made for snowy conditions, super warm boots. She has those.

CUTE boots.

Stupid stupid stupid.

The End.

(Yes, I know I could order some online, but the chances that they will suit my feet are sorta kinda slim.)

((This is a true story))

And there is my rant for the night. Good night.

The Trip

I've been asked to document my trip to NM for the Balloon Fiesta. The following is a faithful retelling of this major event in my life.

 The above picture is WHY we (Alyssan and I) made a NINE hour drive down to Albuquerque.

But I shall start from the beginning.

We left at 6AM Friday. Almost on the dot. I think it's pretty fantastic we left nearly on time.

It was early. The sun wasn't even up.

We drove. The sun came up and was all kinds of in our face as we were driving. But it was pretty.

Some snow was on the ground. IN EARLY OCTOBER.

We came close to Four Quarters when Alyssan reminded me she had never been. The 40 minute detour turned into 1 1/2 hours. As you might be able to see, it was muddy. Because it was rainy and COLD. 

In EARLY October.

But it was neat to go to the monument. Been a while since I last went. Lots of cool vendors. Bought a Christmas present for my sister there.

I think I am trying to pose. I need to work on that. But I am standing on 4 states at the same time! How neat is that? That's pretty neat!

(The turned up jeans aren't a fashion statement...it was truly VERY MUDDY...the parking lot was a mess of mud...)

Ran into an old friend at Four Corners. That was cool.

Stopped in Bloomfield to see Kaylee (my old roommate!!). That was AWESOME.

Made it to Albuquerque at about 4:30, 5:00ish. It was rainy and cold, so no balloon glow that night. :(

We ate at Gardunos. Ate so much Mexican food I got sick. It was divine.

 The next morning, even with the threat of high winds, the elements came together, planets aligned...okay, Heavenly Father answered my pleading prayers and as soon as the sun came over the mountain, the balloons were off! (That's me and my friend Alyssan)

One of my favorite balloons at the park that day. Spiderpig!! :)

You aren't supposed to touch the balloons...but it doesn't count when you are wearing gloves, right? O:)

We met up with my sister, bro-in-law, and the cutest nephew ever known to exist. 

He takes after his Dad. Notice how both of them have their eyes closed?

My sister and I are obviously related. We came prepared with sunglasses!

Context:

That balloon is a cow. 

That thing in my hands is an udder. 

Everyone was taking all kinds of pictures with it. 

This was the best of them all. 

SO AWESOME.

(If you look closely, the people behind Alyssan are wearing BYU gear. 

Yes, we left UT and UT followed us)

So, with hundreds of hot air balloons taking off at once, and with thousands of bystanders, they HAVE to have some ground crew to assist with take offs and take downs. They have earned the name 'Zebras'. This is because they first started wearing stripes as their uniforms. Some have taken this dress code pretty far. She was my favorite.

Me and my favorite person in the entire world!

Posing again. Painful, I know. But the Balloon is pretty!

Pretty shot with some cool sunburst action!

So, the good times had to eventually come to an end. But Alyssan and I agreed, it was the best $12 we had spent in a long time to get in the park. Alyssan was in balloon heaven. She has a thing for balloons. :)

We went to the house, shed a layer or two, and head to Old Town. 

Sorry, no pictures. 

Walked around, got some tamales. Oh yes, they were delicious! 

I bought a prettiful ring. She bought 3 packs of playing cards. (She has a thing for them)

Then we had Dion's. It was SO good. (I have a thing for Dion's)

(If you don't know what that is, next time you drive through NM, GO THERE, eat, be happy)

Then we met up with my sister and hung out and went to the BX on base (Alyssan also has a thing for the Air Force). We bought hats.

Hung out at their pad, watched a movie, napped.

Met up with friends. Had ice cream. Did a drive by of the temple.

K. Sunday morning, there was an air show happening on the base which Ison (bil) had to be at. We decided to check it out. The Thunderbirds were there, although due to needing to drive back to UT we didn't see them. There were some big planes and helicopters and a lot of hot men.

I had really bad hair, obviously.

Went to Church with my parents. Sadly I spent very little time with them. That's what happens I guess when my only sibling has a baby...sigh...

Got to see some good friends from the ward.

Then we headed back. I was SUPER exhausted, so Alyssan took the wheel for a couple of turns.

Fantastic weekend!

My favorite part? See below. :)

Ursula...

K, so here is the performance for my last recital. Unfortunately (hehe) you can't see the costume very well. Ah well.

Enjoy!

Hmm...

Yeah, I officially suck at blogging right now. Sorry about that everyone. Wonder if I really have followers anymore. :/

Well, still here in Utah. Did not plan on being here for another winter, but hey. Whatev's.

Why AM I staying here?

Well, one, I have a contract to fulfill at one of my part-time jobs, and I'd rather not burn a bridge. I could break it if I found a better opportunity somewhere else, but since I have it ok for now I will be sticking around.

For two, I decided that moving every year sucks big time. Moving 3 times in one year is even worse. So I am sticking around longer because I need to take a break from that.

For three, I started these voice classes that are much more than I could've hoped for. I have learned SO much so quickly, learning things I have wanted to for SO long. And I find that my celloing and musicing is so much better as a side effect. So, I am seeing these classes through at least to the last 'section' (there are 5) and maybe do the belt/mix class and a performance class afterwards...each section is 2 months, I am in the middle of section 3!

For four, I feel like I should stick around a little longer. Some for personal reasons, some because of promptings. (no, not a boy...nothing like that in my life right now unfortunately).

So, there are the main reasons. Hoping this winter is a bit lighter than last years was...although we had our first snow already...hoping hoping hoping hoping.

Conference

Watched Conference at home yesterday on the laptop using the wifi...always love Saturday Conference, for whatever reason I always like it better than I do Sunday. More of the talks seem to be for me.

Sunday was good just because I got to hang out with some of my Madsen cousins! Totally last minute hangout, lots of fun. Pancakes, fruit, family and conference. Two of them came to my place afterwards for dinner, afternoon session and...

the Nightmare Before Christmas??

Yes, we watched it. Bryan picked up the songbook I recently acquired and started ~singing some of the songs...so I offered to put it on. I mean, it IS October. :D Which is the best month of the ENTIRE year.

Spiritually uplifted from conference, and now I have Danny Elfman's amazing score running through my head. It's a good day! :)

Happy Sabbath to you all!

Updating

Well, tomorrow is the first day of the greatest month invented...OCTOBER! Have always been jealous of people with October birthdays. I mean, you can't really get away with a Halloween themed birthday party in April...it just doesn't and shouldn't happen. Been seriously thinking about doing a real celebration of my half birthday. Gotta throw one more in before the big 3-0 arrives.

What is happening with Elizabeth?

I am still doing voice classes. Working on 'Defying Gravity' for the upcoming recital. Had a private lesson on Belt/Mix today. Fun! Far more difficult to figure out than I thought it would be. Gotta work that tongue FLAT!! No curve, flat flat flat!

Still working at both places.

Still single.

Still 6' tall. I think.

Doing tutoring with my baby cousin Janelle...she's not a baby, but she's the youngest of all my 1st cousins. She's going for music as well.

Oh! Got onto Pottermore FINALLY this week. Was sorted into......wait for it......Gryffindor!! Was somewhat excited about that as well as relieved! It's really interested how evenly the houses are split up...Yeah, it's fun, you should join once the invite goes all public and stuff.

Going home the weekend after Conference. Yay Balloon Fiesta!

Last weekend, General Relief Society Conference, was amazing. President Uchtdorf's talk was just perfect. The Spirit was incredibly thick in the room when he went over #5. So good.

K, updated.

Remembering...

I can't help it. For some reason, this year it is hitting me like a ton of bricks. As far as I know, I didn't know anyone who was killed. And yet I have been the biggest baby this week.

And I've been a bit obsessed. Reading articles, watching videos, listening to 911 tapes, etc. It's awful and horrifying. But it's reminding me of the feelings I felt that day, and the weeks and months afterwards. And I am learning plenty from this obsessiveness that I didn't know before. And however dismal, I am sharing some interesting tidbits I have learned in all this focusing.

On Flight 11, the first to take off, get hijacked and to crash, the hijackers thought they had informed the passengers in the back that the plane had been hijacked and to not attack. The wrong button had been pushed however, and they were talking directly to Air Traffic Control. There is a good chance many of the passengers didn't know until they were flying over New York that there was something wrong. Apparently some thought a medical emergency had happened up wrong. The flight attendant in the back of the plane had been on the phone with American Airlines personal for quite a long time, knowing some of what was going on. At the end, she kept saying 'we are much too low'.

On all the planes, either a flight attendant or two or a passenger had been stabbed. It was really easy to enter the cockpit and to take it over.

The South Tower, the second hit and first to fall, was the only tower where first-responders made it to the damaged floors (as far as I could tell). The plane made a direct hit to the 78th floor, which was a lobby where many were standing, looking at the North Tower and being told to go back to their upper level offices. Few on that floor survived.

In the North Tower, as fire-fighters were rising up into the stairwells, they heard and felt a terrible noise...over their radios they heard 'tower down, tower down' and responded 'what tower?' although they knew...they just couldn't believe it. They thought it was their own tower. At that point, they realized the same fate would meet the North Tower. They sent out an all out evacuation order. They did a quick search of every floor. Some made it to the 7th floor when that same sound came again and the tower came down on them. A small pocket of them survived and walked out on their own feet.

Phones in some cases were still working above the crash sites along with electricity. Some people were on the phone with 911 dispatchers up to the point of the towers falling.

One reason why so many in the North Tower died while less died in the South Tower was because when the first plane hit all the stairwells above it became impassible. In fact, the fireball streamed down at least one of the stairwells and made it down to the bottom of the building, more than 80 floors below, and plumed out on certain other lower floors. In the South Tower, only a few of the stairwells were impassible. And by that time many had started exiting the building anyways.

The Air Force had scrambled a few fighter planes to escort and possibly take down the planes...the problem was that either their transponders had been turned off or they were flying so low they could not be seen on radar.

The passengers on Flight 93 are the most amazing heroes and Americans this country has seen in years! And I can't wait until I can go to the memorial in Pennsylvania to pay my respects.

The morning after, when some returned to Ground Zero, there were hundreds of tiny alarms going off. They were locators for firemen. Firemen who were under the rubble and by that time were all dead. What a terrible, awful sound it is to listen to.

When President Bush arrived in New York and visited Ground Zero, he did an impromptu speech. He started to speak when one in the back said 'We can't hear you'...which at that point President Bush said 'I can hear you!'. I never realized it was a response to one of the workers.

The New York Philharmonic was stuck in Germany. They were on one of the first flights back into the city once the air was reopened for travel in the US. They changed much of what was played that season. That first concert, they play Brahm's Requiem. Today, they are playing Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. Truly fitting.

I associate that baseball season with that terrible day. I didn't realize it until today when I watched some of the videos MLB has put out as a memorial to those attacks. Games were stopped until the 17th, partially due to the fact that the teams couldn't fly anywhere, like the rest of the world. Mike Piazza getting that first home run and the crowd at Shea Stadium going nuts. It wasn't even a Diamondbacks game.

President Bush throwing the first pitch at Game 3 of the World Series from the mound and NOT bouncing it. Couldn't BELIEVE he stayed for the entire game! The Yankees winning those 3 games. I was mad and so glad they did at the same time. Mad because our closer stunk it up in ALL THREE GAMES. Glad...because New York City needed that series to be partially in New York at least. Needed something good to rally around. And in the end, Arizona one in such an amazing bottom of the 9th inning...

We had an American astronaut at the International Space Center at that time. He called down later that morning to do a routine medical check-up. That was when he heard that we were not having a good day on Earth. In the next minutes they were over New England and were able to focus in on NYC and watched the North Tower collapse, although he couldn't really tell from where he was. He saw the Pentagon and it's awful scar.

There are some truly incredible, wonderful, amazing, brave heroes who died that day trying to save others and in a lot of cases being successful.

Where Was I?

I was driving to Arizona State on the 101 Northbound from Chandler. There was still construction going on that I thought would never stop. I was thinking about an assignment that was due that day that I was worried about. I was excited for the Diamondbacks, they were doing so well and had a shot at the World Series. I had the classical station on and the music stopped. NPR came on and announced a plane had hit the World Trade Center.

What did I think? Oh my, a small commuter single engine plane must have had some major problems...I thought how terrible, maybe 20 people had been killed.

I got to the Institute building, was lucky enough to get a parking spot...in fact, there were quite a few spots left, which was odd. I walked in...and the TV in the lounge was on. That TV was NEVER on. In fact, there were many times where I wondered why a TV was there in the first place.

I saw the World Trade Center. I could tell from the gaping hole and massive amounts of smoke rising from it that it wasn't some small plane. Minutes later I watched the second plane hit the South Tower. Live. At that moment, the world knew that the United States was under attack.

I tried to get other students in the lunch room/play room/multi-purpose room that were studying for tests that weren't going to happen that day to come watch the TV. 

And then the South Tower fell. And then the Pentagon was shown on TV. The North Tower. A field in Pennsylvania. I watched as thousands of people died that day.

ASU allowed classes to go on, but no one was required to attend classes or was marked down for missing class that day. One of my classmates, who never returned, knew someone who had been killed. I never knew where, how they were related...

As soon as I had access to my email, I emailed my high school friends who were living in NYC asking them to let me know that they hadn't gone on some crazy whim to the WTC that morning. They were both fine and far away.

ASU is just a few miles from Phoenix's major airport, Sky Harbor, so planes coming in low over A Mountain was a normal everyday thing for us, although it unnerved me often enough to see them flying so low. After a few hours, there were no planes in the air. It was eerily quiet on campus the rest of that week. I remember seeing the first plane fly in and watching it with big eyes and a big heart.

Traffic getting home that day was the lightest I had ever seen it at rush hour on that massive construction zone known as the 101 Loop.

I was living with my Grandpa at the time. He and my step-Grandmother were in Canada that day and were supposed to fly home that day or the day after. They ended up finally getting back 2 weeks later, since International flights were at that point, for obvious reasons, under far more scrutiny and under far more restrictions. And because the flights that were reopening had already been booked by other passengers.

I was home alone that night. I cried myself to sleep.

America's Got Talent

Well, all 4 of my favorite acts got through to the finals, thank GOODNESS...

Landau...I would love it if you won...I would go to Vegas to see your show...I love me an amazing crooner!

Poplyfe...well, their show in the semi-finals in my opinion was better...I just wasn't feeling the Jackson medley like everyone in the audience seemed to be, BUT they are an amazing group and should be in the finals.

Silhouettes...just...amazing...the show last night was incredible. MUCH better than the week before.

And then there's Team iLuminate...just...spectacular...can't imagine how they could do that for 1 1/2 hours in a Vegas act, but other people have in the past, so...

And there's my two bits...just needed to get that out there.

(if you haven't been watching...do yourselves a favor and watch next week! Probably the best acts America's Got Talent has ever had...AMAZING!!)

A Talk

Spent at least an hour on the phone with one of my best friends this evening.

That automatically made it a good day.

She has had quite the month (or so)...gave birth after years of frustration and disappointment to her first baby, 3 days later her husband reported to deploy to Iraq, and in the last week experienced her first earthquake (9 miles from the epicenter) and a hurricane for icing on the cake.

And yet she still pushes through.

Her little man is getting chunky and is responding to her playing. She's looking to the future. She's concerned about her friends. And with all that's on her plate, she still thought to ask about how I am.

Grateful she grabbed me that day in college on the stairs of Gammage and asked me to be her friend. She was the answer to years of prayers on my part and to her own prayers at that time. I am very blessed she is in my life. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he insisted I go to ASU. :)

A Little Shopping Therapy

I came SOOOOO close to buying a Coach bag. A real, useful, everyday purse. It was baby blue. And with all the discounts (clearance + 30% off) $55.00 or so...which is about $15 more than what I have paid for a purse in the past. It was roomy, one strap, totally useful.

Could not bring myself to buy it. I couldn't justify it. Not until after I make my next trip home to see my rapidly growing nephew.

I spent the summer barely surviving. Yep. Made just enough to pay the essential-to-pay bills, and left the other ones to wait until a little extra money showed up on my doorstep.

I haven't been to Sonic for a couple of weeks, and before that it had been about 3 weeks. I think I may swear Sonic off all together until after Christmas...well, except for tots...and maybe an occasional Sundae Shake (they are kind of amazing). I spent SO much money there, it's ridiculous.

Anyways. Got my first paycheck since May where I am truly making more money than I need to survive. So I paid a BUNCH of not-so-essential-to-pay bills, paid rent early, and am figuring out the best weekend to head home. Unfortunately not Labor Day Weekend due to a recital and some Church stuff that needs to be taken care of that weekend. So the first or second weekend after that.

Now, with all that, and another paycheck or two that are expected, I will have some money to spare.

SHOPPING!!

Oh, it's been SOOOO long (ok, 3 months) since I really had money to spend on not-so-essential-but-totally-useful-and-nice-to-wear-clothing and other items of similar importance. :)

AND apparently this entire year I have lived here in Utah, a FABULOUS outlet mall has been within an hour drive...I even passed it on a couple of fun occasions.

This Outlet includes a Coach Factory Outlet (if you couldn't guess), Ann Taylor (3 tops, less that $50.00, thank you VERY much), a candy store for adults (forgot the name of it, but we bought goodies...), and other such lovely places.

I really could've bought that bag. The money is in the account.

BUT it is not as essential as new shirts (some bug ate holes through a bunch of my brand spanking new as of the Spring work shirts...I hope I get to reprimand that bug in the hereafter), measuring cups, and some really good chocolate. Moose bites and Belgian Chocolate with Sea Salt and Almonds...d.i.v.i.n.e.

Or as essential as making sure I really can afford a trip home to Mom, Dad, Sister, Bro-in-law, and Icee (I am sticking with that name for now, even though his nickname with everyone else is becoming Ike).

All this was experienced with my friend Melissa from my ward. I have since discovered after our ventures through World Market that she has never been to a Whole Foods, which I about had a heart attack when I saw it as we were pulling away. We are planning another trip to have lunch there and another shopping venture.

Maybe Coach will leave that bag for me...and there will be an even BETTER sale! (understand...this bag was originally $200.00 or some really ridiculous amount...and VERY pretty...)

Change

Nope, this isn't a quip about Obama's 'change' campaign, linking it to the lowering of the US credit rating. (That was a project in the making for the last however many years we've doubled and tripled our national debt and keep printing more paper money to keep the country afloat. Time to actually pay it and lower it. A. LOT. By half and triple. I understand the economics and political aspects of having some debt with other countries, but seriously??)

Nope, this is about me. Just changing a few things in my lifestyle. Little things, but things that make a big difference I think.

Like finding ways to be more productive at home. I am very productive at work. Need to be better about that at home.

I also need to make more time for calling my besties. I've been bad about that. Had a great little talk with Julie tonight. Made me miss hanging out with her and her cute family so bad. I've really missed having regular talks. Definitely needs to be fixed.

Little things. But they make a big deal.

No Good, Very Bad

I get to work.

Very RUDE lady calls minutes later.

Pushy customers.

Thankfully patient patients.

BUSY!

Two patients walk in, phone rings, other employee totally occupied.

All that and more in 3 hours.

Then the afternoon.

Printing, phone calls, sorting, replacing, more printing, teachers, more printing, replacing, running reports, printing, organizing.

Ready for another weekend.

My word, but it was a Monday Monday.

BUT...things are looking a bit cheery for the rest of the week!

I got a Spotify invite FINALLY thanks to my friend Clint! Yay Clint, thanks so much!! They really do have everything on there. INCLUDING a bad recording of the 2000 National High School Honor Orchestra, which I was a member of way back when. The Ravel sounds good, but the Straus and Copland leave much to be desired recording wise...if you look up the CD, listen just to the last track. Not sure how it happened, but it is clearly a terrible recording. We played decent...there are quite a few spots where you cringe it's so out of tune, BUT you can't even appreciate that because the recording itself is just so bad. I find it funny that the recording made it on there, badness and all.

I am going to see the Sound of Music, the musical I tried out for at the beginning of the summer, with a cousin and her friends. Yay!

I also received an invite to attend a masquerade ball. Kind of super excited about this. I have to get a mask. Absolutely required for attendance. :) Yay...good time shall be had by Elizabeth. Need to figure out what to wear, as I really can hardly fit into anything formal I own. We'll see. :) Maybe I'll rent something for the night. I really want something with loads of black lace...I think it would be so much fun!

So despite the Monday of the week, the rest of the week is looking up!

So, for your listening pleasure, and because the rest of this week should be 'some kind of wonderful' please enjoy:

Oh. And the very rude lady? She got a no nonsense talking to by my boss. I was championed! :D Totally made that hour SO much better.

When You Wish...

I wish I might have the means to go to Arizona tomorrow...or even Saturday.

...

K, I guess that's a no? :( (imagine the frowny smiley as a pitiful look with a little lower lip action going)

...

Well, it was worth a shot.

Mini family reunion going on this weekend in Arizona. AND there will be 5 new cute baby boys involved in this reunion. One of which being my nephew.

Might be throwing a pity party up here. My own fault. Need to make more money. And learned too late that eating out at Sonic every other day is a bit of a strain on the bank account...and on the body...and learned that bills suck. big. time.

I Love Institute

I hope I never grow too old for Institute. But I also don't want to be a creepy old person who shows up to Institute and, well, you know, is creepy around the younger people. So I hope they expand the Institute program as I grow older. And I avoid being creepy.

Every Tuesday night I usually go to Institute. But the moment I first get home from work, the thoughts start pouncing on me...'oh, it's so nice to be home...I don't want to leave until morning.' 'You won't miss much by missing a class, just go next week.' 'There is SO much stuff to do that you haven't done and you have no excuse not to do it. Tuesday night is the night to do it.' 'Seriously Elizabeth, you are 29, you are NOT going to meet Prince Charming tonight.' (that one is my FAVORITE)

 VS...

'But it's Institute!'

Yes, that is my battle cry against all the other ones. I just love it. Part of the reason my 4 years at Arizona State were the best of my life was because of that glorious building on campus and the classes I took and the people I met.

The summer class I currently am attending has been team taught; one of the teachers I had during the fall semester last year. Love him, and have come to love the new teacher. Glad I made the decision to attend this summer.

It's amazing when the lesson is just for me. Tonight it was. Made me realize a new perspective on a few things. I am making a turn on a few Gospel related things. It's a great thing.


Just wanted to voice my love for it. Go if you can!!

Allergies??

Well, I took my allergy medication HOURS ago...and this nose thing isn't going away. You know what that means?

Dang it.

I made it SO long without a cold.

Think I am going to take a very hot shower tonight to see if I can't kill it. It will at least make me feel better. And I will take a very large vitamin.

Ah well, all good things must come to an end. Hopefully this is a quickie cold. Hopefully. My immune system hasn't been tested in quite a while, so we shall see.

A Visit

Discovered that a friend of mine was within driving distance from me! She said she hadn't let me know that she was here because she didn't have a car.

Now people, if you really know me, someone not having a car won't keep me from seeing them as long as they are a reasonable distance away and I can afford the trip.

I can TOTALLY handle Salt Lake City right now, any day of the week.

So I drove up, we walked around, saw Churchy things, ate Thai food, and then I drove her back to her peeps place.

I call that a good day.

I must be one of a kind. I know a lot people who won't bother with a trip because it's just too much of a hassle. Time constraints, money constraints, etc.

Me? I will do whatever it takes to see someone I care about...within reason. Sometimes without reason. I love to travel, so that's a plus, and I think seeing a friend and reconnecting is worth more than the gas and time that the trip took out of my life.

Wish there was a job that involved traveling and hanging out with friends all the time. I would have a pretty joyful life experience if there were such a thing.

So There Was This Guy...

I can't tell you how many guys I have said this about in the last few months. There was a guy, small crush ensued, and then he slipped through the cracks.

For example: super hot guy comes in assisting a patient. The patient did not want to get her eyes checked. Super hot guy says, 'here, hold my hand, and I'll help you'. She says 'no'. He replies 'ha, you and every girl in Utah Valley'. It took a lot to not put my hand in his, but since that would have been labelled as super creepy, I held back. And no witty comment from me, just quick giggle and then sent them on their way. Gah!

Or nerdy hot guy (there is a difference between nerdy hot and super hot) who apparently is a member of my ward but no longer attends my ward regularly. We have one amazing conversation and then he pretends I don't exist...this MAY have something to do with a very pretty girl who looks a lot like Idina Menzel but more like another actress who I just can't pinpoint her name who also looks like Idina who he seemed to be acting rather friendly with at institute the last couple of nights.

The winner of the 'So There Was This Guy' awards goes to one particular guy. My latest one in fact. Over 6 feet tall. Red head. Done with school. Year older than me. Witty. Thankfully not gay for the sake of my crush. Charming. Quite handsome. Not too skinny, not too pudgy. NICE arms. AND apparently his name appears on the credits of the last two Harry Potter films. So, successful.

Dadblasted guy lives in LONDON. As in ENGLAND. Great Britain. The Mother Land.

He was only here on vacation. And to torment my daydreams.

Can't. Catch. A. Break.

To make the matters of 'So There Was This Guy' even better, I had this amazingly vivid and somewhat plausible dream about a guy. Who? My ex-fiance. Named Jerkface. Who is very married last I heard. Why couldn't it be the red headed guy?

In other news, I am seriously thinking about going to London for the Olympics next year.

What? I have a friend who is very likely competing in them. Former roommate in fact. Good enough reason to just show up...right?

INTERNET!!

I would just like to announce that Elizabeth now has the internet at home.

For a couple of months.

Expect big things.

:)

Shall I update?

Probably should take the time to update this blog, huh? Being that it's been just over 2 months since I last updated.

Let's see, what has happened in my life since the tornado hit my town in Alabama?

Someone hit my car in a Target parking lot. He left a note with his name and insurance info. It about floored me. It's 'fixed' now, but there is something rattling, so it will go back into the shop Tuesday.

OH!!! I'm an AUNT!!! Little Ison (heretofore to be known as Icee) Clarence Tenney was born at 3:00AM May 21st!!! Yay for Aunthood! Well, official Aunthood. I am Aunt or Auntie Elizabeth to many many children, both related and unrelated to me. But this is bona fide Aunthood. No questioning this.

AND he's such a cutie. AND I'm already his favorite. :)

Um...no dates, no boyfriends, no new or former jobs to report...

I've gained some weight, but who wants to hear about anyone gaining weight? Unless of course you are my baby nephew. Then every ounce is interesting.

It's not winter any more!! The snow is melting, and that just makes my day every day. Been up into the mountains a couple of times on my own. Hoping to drag a person or two along with me this weekend up into the mountains for a leisurely hike.

K, you are now pretty much totally up to date in the life and times of this Elizabeth. Hope to have more interesting things to share in the near future.

How to Help Alabama Tornado Victims

Dear friends, family, and other readers:

Please take a moment to look at, read, follow, and pass along the following blog address to help Alabama tornado victims:

How to Help Alabama Tornado Victims


I created this blog to help people find ways they can help those who are in need in Alabama. Please help them! If you have any suggestions to add on to the current list, feel free to post a comment or contact me directly!

My Other Home

My parents and sister live in New Mexico. They've been there for years now...something like 17 years now I think. That is just crazy to me. I haven't lived anywhere  longer than 5 years straight. So when people ask me where I'm from, or where I claim, I suppose I should choose New Mexico, and though it definitely is home, in some ways it just isn't mine.

After living in Alabama for so many years, although it isn't where I really call home either, it became a home for me. I would love to live out there again someday. The people there are AMAZING. They are more like family than friends. Somewhat like a very large extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents...wonderful amazing people. Add in that beautiful Southern hospitality, and it's just spectacular. I have a huge chunk of my heart set aside just for these Alabamians.

My other home was hit by some incredibly heart wrending devastation Wednesday. I just cannot believe the videos and images coming out of the city that I lived in and came to love! The miraculous survival stories coming out of there are just too much for words. The terrible stories of people I know watching people die, bodies being found, all in one of the most populated areas of Alabama...it's been quite overwhelming at times.

My parents and sister have all told me how glad they are that I am not out there. And I suppose I should really feel the same way. But all I feel right now is how badly I wish I was out there to be with these wonderful people and to get out and work and help and love and work and hug and comfort and work right along with them!!

I found it interesting today...this morning the weather was absolutely beautiful here in Orem. Clear blue skies, nice and warm. This afternoon, some dark gray clouds rolled in. I got really nervous. I scanned them for signs of rotation, how fast they were traveling, etc. Even now as I am typing this, I can hear the wind rolling by and thunder from the little microburst outside and it is making me jumpy. Yes, here in Utah. I even dreamt of tornadoes last night.

Despite this new fear I have developed and hopefully won't run away with, I would still rather be there in Alabama with my friends helping that city pull itself back onto its feet.

By some incredible miracle, none of my friends out there were hurt. By some incredible miracle, they are all alive. At least so far. I hope, I truly hope, it stays that way.

Please pray for the people of Alabama, especially in the Tuscaloosa area...for many of them, this will be their second night without power or clean running water and other essentials. Many are battling for their lives in hospitals all over the state. Many are homeless and have nothing left. Many are still missing loved ones. And I wouldn't be surprised if some are waiting to be found. They can use all the prayers they can get.

To Be and To Do

Loved Conference. I am pretty much a super stickler when it comes to Conference. I watch all four sessions, I read/watch the Priesthood session, I take notes in my new journal that I get every Conference.

Now, who knew I would have to put it into practice so quickly?!

You see, my apartment flooded. Today.

Discovered it after coming home from a friends house after watching both morning and afternoon sessions there. It's a basement apartment, and so it happens. But it still is such a pain to deal with. It only effected my room. Most of the real damage was in my landlady's storage room.

Super lucky I felt such an urge the day before I went to New Mexico to clean my room and closet. A lot more damage would have been done had I not taken the time to clean. I'm talking books, clothes, papers, and so much more.

Pretty much all of my shoes were soaked through except for my tennis shoes, a pair of flip flops and a pair of nice shoes for work. We shall see what the final talley is when I go back tomorrow after things have dried.

Yes, I am staying somewhere else tonight. At a friends grandmothers house nearby my own house. I removed everything from my room to the living room if it was dry, kitchen if it was wet, or another closet if it was on a hanger. The only things not removed were the bed and a piece of luggage which I am fairly certain is ruined anyways.

I packed a few bags and now I am quite cozy for at least the night. We shall see how long it takes for everything to be cleaned/dried/etc. I believe this has given her the excuse to replace the carpet (hooray! It needed it) that she needed.

Yay for trials. Hope something good is coming!

Let's Play a Game

I left both places of employment early today due to me being ill and quite out of sorts (can you tell I am currently reading Jane Austen??). I thought it quite inconvenient that I was ill, being that it was such a lovely day. It was WARM. Dagnabit.

Instead of coming straight home this evening like I should have done, I went to the park in my neighborhood, walked to the center of the green and sprawled. I soaked some rays (so far no sunburn, yay!), smelled the grass, the dirt, the hint of florals, the clean fresh air being lightly swept on the delectable breeze. It was heavenly. I think it did me a world of good.

After a few minutes I focused on a mother who was quite obviously expecting a baby and her two children, a blonde girl about 6 I would guess and a boy about 2 or 3. I am super bad at guessing ages so I am likely off on both accounts. I watched as they made up games and would play them. It mostly involved who could reach Mommy first. Running, hopping, rolling, etc. The girl won every time.

Once they were playing hide and go seek. In broad daylight. In a sparsely treed park. Kind of obvious where both of them were, but they thought they had the best hiding spots. I am fairly certain I was just like that when I was a girl. I used to think I hid pretty well. Then I realized I was no good at it.

It made me really think about when I was young. We would play games, but I had to let Emily win sometimes. I didn't like that. I thought whoever was best should win. Obviously when we were kids she was at a disadvantage being the younger of the two. I find it funny that she grew up to be more competitive than I am. Don't get me wrong, I still like to win, but in my opinion I think she has a stronger will for it, which is not a bad thing in the least.

Back at the park, a baseball game was being played and a couple were throwing a frisbee back and forth. I had so many flashbacks to when I lived in California as a girl. We lived across the street from the middle school, and the fields were always open. I played in a softball league, I rode my bike around the track, sometimes with friends, played handball with myself, and would lay out on the grass and pull it up one pinch of blades at a time. Those were some happy childhood years.

So today, I wanted to play.

Then I came back to myself. I was sick. I couldn't run home, grab my cleats and mitt, call all my local friends and start a baseball game of my own (yes I have cleats AND a mitt), nor could I intrude on the frisbee couple to make a wider game of it. I had to come home, stuff something with chicken broth into me, and rest.

I mean, I COULD try to play, but that would mean I would likely be sick for that much longer.

So I was responsible.

But I still want to play.

A Coffee Break

K, so I don't drink coffee, but I do frequent Starbuck's now and then for one of their non-espresso drink selections. Tonight it was hot dark chocolate. It was wonderful. Great for a sore throat. Hopefully I didn't infect all the other cafe guests tonight.

I have yet to get internet at my house, so I either park in front of a neighbors house and use her wifi or I use Barnes and Noble. I do all the internet things that I need to do, such as download new free stuff from itunes, blogstalk, make payments, update my Disney Movie Rewards, etc. All obviously very important.

It was kind of fun to people watch tonight.

There were two groups of women there who I assume meet there every Thursday. One seemed to be a creative writing group...too old to be a college study group. Kind of fun to eavesdrop. Would love to join that group. The other group was a knitting/sewing/gossip summit. They were going. to. town. I am glad I don't know any of them. I would hate to be a subject for them.

There was one creeper. He was with a girl, but I got one leering look from him as they was leaving. Wanted to throw up. That poor poor girl. Sitting next to me were two girlfriends, probably college students, talking boys, classes, etc. There was a married couple next to them that didn't draw much notice from me except I did notice they both had a laptop. They left and were replaced by what I think was a big brother program or some sort of mentoring meeting...college age aged guy, maybe a little older, and a teenager, talking about future plans for the teenager. Mission, college, job, money, family troubles and how they will play out. Warmed my heart a bit.

A double date of older couples, two tables with a single person, headphones in, laptop concerning their entire existance.

For being 8:30pm, it was pretty busy.

As for me, I did my internetting for most of the 1 1/2 hours I spent there, and 5 minutes before closing time I bought my new semi-annual journal. I get a new one every conference. The goal is to fill it before the next conference. I failed miserably this last time. It will be different for the next 6 months.

A Lovely Long Weekend

I flew to New Mexico Wednesday morning, landed in the early afternoon, and enjoyed my family, friends and the warm Spring weather that was found down there.

My Dad turned 60 Wednesday so we took him to the Elephant Bar, a restaurant he liked in the 90's when we lived in Southern California. It was supposed to be a surprise, but he guessed it once he knew what part of town we were heading to. We went to my sister's home afterwards for cake and ice cream and gifts.

I spent the next few days readying the house for my sister's baby shower I was throwing for her. This was no easy task, since the kitchen was still being renovated. There was dust, tools, and all sorts of things everywhere. We were able to limit the mess that ultimately comes with such a project to the kitchen itself, and the shower went quite well Saturday morning.

Friday night I was able to spend time with some good friends I made in Albuquerque last summer. It reminded me of how good a summer it was! I loved it. We had a good time visiting. I will have to plan for more time to spend with them next time I head down there, although that may be difficult as it will be likely I will have a brand new nephew at that point. :-)

Saturday after the shower I spent time with Mom and Dad before they headed to the temple and then went with Emily to her house where I spent the night. We had some amazing leftover potatoe soup (Emily I still want that recipe!) and watched RED which neither my sister or brother in law had seen. Some great moments in that movie.

I slept on an air matress that night. It had a leak, which I found out when my hip was laying nicely on the ground...it took 30 minutes to convince myself to get up and refill the matress.

Sunday I went to Church with the Tenney's and saw an old couple who had been in my ward in high school. It was nice to see them. My parents came over for dinner after Church and then sent me on my way back to Utah.

After having worn flip flops for a good portion of the weekend, I was welcomed back to Utah by cold rain that night and snow yesterday.

At least I had some very good looking guys on both legs of my flight back. Yay for college baseball players...;-)

My Saturday

I have been blessed...I have a tendency for getting somewhat depressed when I have nothing to do for the entire weekend. Thankfully that was not the case.

Friday night  I didn't have anything, so I got some takeout sushi and watched a movie. The sushi by itself was a bad idea...but the movie was good.

Saturday...I did something I've wanted to do for months. I drove up to SLC and shopped at Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. They are my favorite stores, mostly for tops, and there isn't one of either in the Utah Valley, which makes me somewhat irritated. It was quite refreshing to walk through their doors. It was even better when I walked out of Ann Taylor with $300 of clothes for $20. :-) Woot for sales!

I also visited my friend Kellee from Bama and got my haircut again...btw,  for you non-facebookers, I did Locks for Love and my hair is a jaw length bob. Super cute. It will probably last the summer and I will start growing it out again. It was nice to see her and catch up on things.

I then went to see Persuasion, based on the Jane Austen novel, at BYU. I got there 10 minutes late, but they did a fairly good job of it. And it was rather refreshing at the end when everything ended correctly. :-)

I then joined my click of friends in the ward for the Supermanathon they were doing. I made it for 2-4. We will do Superman Returns at a later point.

A good Saturday, no?