Wednesday, February 11, 2009
calling for pictures
So I mentioned in my new years post that there was a chance I lost hard drive number two but Jon was trying to fix it for me. He was unsuccessful. So the sad truth of my life is that unless I have emailed it to anyone, I have no pictures and no documents from basically the last 8 years. So I'm asking for anyone who has proof that I was ever a brunette or that I ever did anything fun or interesting in the last 8 years to help me out by sending it on over. Meanwhile, I just don't take pictures any more. Which makes for a pretty boring blog.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
lost again
OOPS I FORGOT TO POST THIS LAST WEEK...
So I've only ever had 11 posts, so it seems sad to return to the topic of one already, but LOST is back and it didn't disappoint. So here are my top ten most favorite things about this show (WARNING**SPOILERS**DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE SEASON PREMIERE).
NUMBER ONE: The fact that I get to share it with all my pals and a blender full of pina coladas. Don't judge us for wishing they had real rum in them. But seriously, the party is great fun! We miss Bek for sure though and her yoga moves in the corner and making us stop at crucial parts to go to the bathroom.
NUMBER TWO: Sawyer with his shirt off. I mean, I don't know why he thought he needed a shirt for all that time traveling in the first episode.
NUMBER THREE: The way that this show answers every question you have by creating another question.
NUMBER FOUR: The way you feel like lots of things are happening but really nothing has happened at all.
NUMBER FIVE: There are no one-dimensional characters on this show. Just when you think you've got someone figured out, they show some side of themselves you never expected to see
NUMBER SIX: I love that Carlton Cuse hinted during the recap episode before the premiere that Jin's not dead. I never let him go.
NUMBER SEVEN: All the twists and turns that keep you guessing and googling. Tonight we used imdb.com to determine that the lady at the end of the episode has, in fact, been in a previous episode. She was in the one where Desmond travels through time to meet Daniel at Oxford. There should be some good things coming with all of that.
Well, this is clearly not a blog of someone who is overthinking anything at midnight. Underthinking perhaps. But I'm happy the show is back so I just thought I'd say it.
So I've only ever had 11 posts, so it seems sad to return to the topic of one already, but LOST is back and it didn't disappoint. So here are my top ten most favorite things about this show (WARNING**SPOILERS**DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE SEASON PREMIERE).
NUMBER ONE: The fact that I get to share it with all my pals and a blender full of pina coladas. Don't judge us for wishing they had real rum in them. But seriously, the party is great fun! We miss Bek for sure though and her yoga moves in the corner and making us stop at crucial parts to go to the bathroom.
NUMBER TWO: Sawyer with his shirt off. I mean, I don't know why he thought he needed a shirt for all that time traveling in the first episode.
NUMBER THREE: The way that this show answers every question you have by creating another question.
NUMBER FOUR: The way you feel like lots of things are happening but really nothing has happened at all.
NUMBER FIVE: There are no one-dimensional characters on this show. Just when you think you've got someone figured out, they show some side of themselves you never expected to see
NUMBER SIX: I love that Carlton Cuse hinted during the recap episode before the premiere that Jin's not dead. I never let him go.
NUMBER SEVEN: All the twists and turns that keep you guessing and googling. Tonight we used imdb.com to determine that the lady at the end of the episode has, in fact, been in a previous episode. She was in the one where Desmond travels through time to meet Daniel at Oxford. There should be some good things coming with all of that.
Well, this is clearly not a blog of someone who is overthinking anything at midnight. Underthinking perhaps. But I'm happy the show is back so I just thought I'd say it.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Things I (should have) learned in 2008
Top ten things I've learned in 2008.
Number 10: I have learned that I'm not a very good blogger. Perhaps I'm more self-conscious than I think I am. I'm not sure I have anything all that interesting to say. Plus, my camera is on the fritz and I find the whole process of picture-taking a little sad since I lost so many pictures on my computer this year. I'm scrapbooking (in the least crafty sense of the word) my college days and then all of the pictures from my childhood. That's right. Forget digital photography. I'm sticking with the old-school. Anyway, blogs without pictures are like movies without kissing. But I'm going to try to learn in 2009 how to be a better blogger, mostly for the sake of remembering that it's fun to spout off and say things that are interesting to me, even if they aren't to anybody else.
Number 9: I've learned that being a homeowner is both amazing and expensive. I really love my home. I loved making it my own and I love having people into it. I love taking care of it, although if it weren't so expensive already, I'd probably hire someone to clean it for me, especially the bathrooms. Seriously, what does one person need with 3 bathrooms? And if I don't use them, I don't have to clean them, right? Anyway, it's totally worth it.
Number 8: I've learned that the teenagers I work with have way more interesting dating lives than I do. I guess I already knew this, and I guess it doesn't really take much to have a more interesting dating life than I do, but somehow my ways do NOT rub off on them. At least it allows for some vicarious living.
Number 7: I've learned that a really horrible scraping sound upon trying to stop your vehicle means you need new brakes. And that these are the times when it is particularly advantageous to have a man around. I'd like to thank Jon and my dad for fixing said brakes and Toyota for creating a vehicle that can stand up to the likes of me.
Number 6: Speaking of my car, I've learned that texting while driving is dangerous. This bumper is evidence of sheer stupidity. I mean, if you saw how this happened, you would think my brain shut off momentarily or something. I am pleased to announce, however that this is something that I have LEARNED, not just that I should have learned. So if you text me and I call you back instead of texting, consider it a nod to my safety and that of the motorists and pedestrians around me. I am done texting while driving.
Number 5: I have learned that living alone is mostly wonderful. I choose the temperature at all times (my apologies to all my guests who are generally freezing. at least I have good blankets). I never go to the fridge expecting something to be there only to find it gone. I have full control of the remote. If there's a mess, I made it. I can have people over whenever I want for as long as I want. I can take up the whole garage. Nobody cares if or when I come home. Of course, that's the downfall, too. I do miss the good times with my fabulous roommate of a lot of years, and I wouldn't mind sharing this place with some handsome guy. But for now, this works.
Number 4: I have learned that it's okay to relax. Yeah, this one is still a work in progress, but I'm generally a little less of a workaholic this year than I was last year. I've gotten better at delegating and letting things go. This year, I am going on a real vacation in another country.
Number 3: I have learned that vacationing with small children is difficult. My hat's off to all you bloggers out there who do this. I mean, vacationing with kids is barely vacationing at all. Your whole schedule has to be planned around them. You spend at least half of your time preparing meals and cleaning up. But then they throw their arms around you or say something hilarious or just give you a killer smile and you feel grateful you got to spend some time with them, even if it doesn't really feel like a vacation.
Number 2: I should have learned by now to back up all of my files. Remember the previously-blogged-about incident with my hard drive? Many of the pictures that I didn't lose, I didn't lose because they were backed up on my ancient Dell laptop. Heaven forbid I would have learned to back up THOSE files with some other external device. Yes, that's right, my Dell hard drive has officially bitten the dust as well, taking with it the rest of my pictures and everything I have written for the past 10 years worth keeping. My computer-savvy brother-in-law, Jon is trying to retrieve the data for me using special Jedi mind tricks or something. Fingers crossed.
Number 1: Finally, I have learned, and I probably should have known this sooner, that this is the section of my life that's all about teenagers. With a calling in the Young Women's, my church and work lives have rounded out to being about having these magnificent young people in my life and having some responsibility for their lives and their progress right now. I can only trust that this is what I'm meant to be doing right now. That there are things that I can share with them now that will help them. But mostly I'm convinced that there are things that I can learn right now from these great kids that will help me, too. They teach me about pressing forward. They teach me about love. They teach me about give and take.
2008 was a great year. I'm excited for 2009. (First lesson of 2009--don't ever try to take down your live Christmas tree by yourself. If only there had been someone else there to take pictures of the compromising positions I found myself in. Four hours of vacuuming and picking needles out of my underwear--seriously--and actually the lesson is to buy an artificial tree)
Number 10: I have learned that I'm not a very good blogger. Perhaps I'm more self-conscious than I think I am. I'm not sure I have anything all that interesting to say. Plus, my camera is on the fritz and I find the whole process of picture-taking a little sad since I lost so many pictures on my computer this year. I'm scrapbooking (in the least crafty sense of the word) my college days and then all of the pictures from my childhood. That's right. Forget digital photography. I'm sticking with the old-school. Anyway, blogs without pictures are like movies without kissing. But I'm going to try to learn in 2009 how to be a better blogger, mostly for the sake of remembering that it's fun to spout off and say things that are interesting to me, even if they aren't to anybody else.
Number 9: I've learned that being a homeowner is both amazing and expensive. I really love my home. I loved making it my own and I love having people into it. I love taking care of it, although if it weren't so expensive already, I'd probably hire someone to clean it for me, especially the bathrooms. Seriously, what does one person need with 3 bathrooms? And if I don't use them, I don't have to clean them, right? Anyway, it's totally worth it.
Number 8: I've learned that the teenagers I work with have way more interesting dating lives than I do. I guess I already knew this, and I guess it doesn't really take much to have a more interesting dating life than I do, but somehow my ways do NOT rub off on them. At least it allows for some vicarious living.
Number 7: I've learned that a really horrible scraping sound upon trying to stop your vehicle means you need new brakes. And that these are the times when it is particularly advantageous to have a man around. I'd like to thank Jon and my dad for fixing said brakes and Toyota for creating a vehicle that can stand up to the likes of me.
Number 6: Speaking of my car, I've learned that texting while driving is dangerous. This bumper is evidence of sheer stupidity. I mean, if you saw how this happened, you would think my brain shut off momentarily or something. I am pleased to announce, however that this is something that I have LEARNED, not just that I should have learned. So if you text me and I call you back instead of texting, consider it a nod to my safety and that of the motorists and pedestrians around me. I am done texting while driving.
Number 5: I have learned that living alone is mostly wonderful. I choose the temperature at all times (my apologies to all my guests who are generally freezing. at least I have good blankets). I never go to the fridge expecting something to be there only to find it gone. I have full control of the remote. If there's a mess, I made it. I can have people over whenever I want for as long as I want. I can take up the whole garage. Nobody cares if or when I come home. Of course, that's the downfall, too. I do miss the good times with my fabulous roommate of a lot of years, and I wouldn't mind sharing this place with some handsome guy. But for now, this works.
Number 4: I have learned that it's okay to relax. Yeah, this one is still a work in progress, but I'm generally a little less of a workaholic this year than I was last year. I've gotten better at delegating and letting things go. This year, I am going on a real vacation in another country.
Number 3: I have learned that vacationing with small children is difficult. My hat's off to all you bloggers out there who do this. I mean, vacationing with kids is barely vacationing at all. Your whole schedule has to be planned around them. You spend at least half of your time preparing meals and cleaning up. But then they throw their arms around you or say something hilarious or just give you a killer smile and you feel grateful you got to spend some time with them, even if it doesn't really feel like a vacation.
Number 2: I should have learned by now to back up all of my files. Remember the previously-blogged-about incident with my hard drive? Many of the pictures that I didn't lose, I didn't lose because they were backed up on my ancient Dell laptop. Heaven forbid I would have learned to back up THOSE files with some other external device. Yes, that's right, my Dell hard drive has officially bitten the dust as well, taking with it the rest of my pictures and everything I have written for the past 10 years worth keeping. My computer-savvy brother-in-law, Jon is trying to retrieve the data for me using special Jedi mind tricks or something. Fingers crossed.
Number 1: Finally, I have learned, and I probably should have known this sooner, that this is the section of my life that's all about teenagers. With a calling in the Young Women's, my church and work lives have rounded out to being about having these magnificent young people in my life and having some responsibility for their lives and their progress right now. I can only trust that this is what I'm meant to be doing right now. That there are things that I can share with them now that will help them. But mostly I'm convinced that there are things that I can learn right now from these great kids that will help me, too. They teach me about pressing forward. They teach me about love. They teach me about give and take.
2008 was a great year. I'm excited for 2009. (First lesson of 2009--don't ever try to take down your live Christmas tree by yourself. If only there had been someone else there to take pictures of the compromising positions I found myself in. Four hours of vacuuming and picking needles out of my underwear--seriously--and actually the lesson is to buy an artificial tree)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
ode to my mom
So it's my mom's birthday tomorrow, October 20, and I most definitely couldn't live without her, so here's a little post in her honor. I won't say how old she is this year but I'm 31 so she's at least older than that, and she looks fabulous.
But she's more than just beauty...
She's not afraid to attempt a variety of awesome hairstyles and fashion choices. I know these photos are pretty classic, but the truth is that my mom has always been a great example of figuring out how to make herself and her kids look great even on a really tight budget. She showed us how to be thrifty and still feel good about ourselves. She also always got us awesome presents for birthdays and Christmas (evidence #1: the amazing see through phone in the final hair picture. That was probably my 14th birthday and I had that phone all the way through college)
She loves coming up with really incredible ideas for family Christmas card pictures. But the creativity doesn't end there. When my mom has a great idea, she'll stop at nothing to see it through. Whether it's a year's worth of work to create the perfect girls' camp or youth conference, or an afternoon putting together an exquisite dining experience right in her own home, a thoughtful birthday surprise party or a beautiful bulletin board, gathering fun holiday decorations for her grown children's homes or thinking of a great topic for a family email conversation, my mom's mind is always buzzing with new ways to enhance the lives of everyone around her.
My mom, despite being incredibly organized and somehow managing to have a perfectly cleaned kitchen even when she's just made a 5 course meal, is very FUN! She made sure we all learned how to snowski, waterski, hike, bike, swim, and play as much as possible. If there is a fun family activity out there, my mom has found it and given us all the chance to try it. She and my dad planned incredible vacations and somehow had the gumption to load 5 kids in a car and tool all over everywhere.
Finally (just for the purposes of this blog since there is much much more I could say) my mom is incredibly compassionate. She has always listened to us whenever we had anything we wanted to say. She is the absolute best person to have around when you are sick because she takes such great care of you. She can always just sense when someone needs a phone call or a visit or a special gift and when she has one of those senses, she follows through. She loves her kids more than anything in life and would do anything she could for all of us. And she's the most amazing grandma! This little guy in particular is practically the president of her fan club.
So here's to my beautiful, generous, creative, fun, compassionate mother. I love you! Happy Birthday!
But she's more than just beauty...She's not afraid to attempt a variety of awesome hairstyles and fashion choices. I know these photos are pretty classic, but the truth is that my mom has always been a great example of figuring out how to make herself and her kids look great even on a really tight budget. She showed us how to be thrifty and still feel good about ourselves. She also always got us awesome presents for birthdays and Christmas (evidence #1: the amazing see through phone in the final hair picture. That was probably my 14th birthday and I had that phone all the way through college)
She loves coming up with really incredible ideas for family Christmas card pictures. But the creativity doesn't end there. When my mom has a great idea, she'll stop at nothing to see it through. Whether it's a year's worth of work to create the perfect girls' camp or youth conference, or an afternoon putting together an exquisite dining experience right in her own home, a thoughtful birthday surprise party or a beautiful bulletin board, gathering fun holiday decorations for her grown children's homes or thinking of a great topic for a family email conversation, my mom's mind is always buzzing with new ways to enhance the lives of everyone around her.
My mom, despite being incredibly organized and somehow managing to have a perfectly cleaned kitchen even when she's just made a 5 course meal, is very FUN! She made sure we all learned how to snowski, waterski, hike, bike, swim, and play as much as possible. If there is a fun family activity out there, my mom has found it and given us all the chance to try it. She and my dad planned incredible vacations and somehow had the gumption to load 5 kids in a car and tool all over everywhere.
Finally (just for the purposes of this blog since there is much much more I could say) my mom is incredibly compassionate. She has always listened to us whenever we had anything we wanted to say. She is the absolute best person to have around when you are sick because she takes such great care of you. She can always just sense when someone needs a phone call or a visit or a special gift and when she has one of those senses, she follows through. She loves her kids more than anything in life and would do anything she could for all of us. And she's the most amazing grandma! This little guy in particular is practically the president of her fan club.
So here's to my beautiful, generous, creative, fun, compassionate mother. I love you! Happy Birthday!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
some commercials are really stupid
The truth is that I don't actually watch that many commercials any more, what with the most wonderful invention of DVR. But sometimes it can't be helped, and in those cases, these are a few of the commercials I could definitely live without.
1. Zyrtec time in a bottle ad. It really bothers me when that lady says, "it should say that on the bottle: ingredients: 2 hours you didn't have." Think about it. IF Zyrtec gives you 2 hours you didn't have (and that's a strange concept in itself), then it shouldn't be on the ingredients list, but the effects list. Thanks for trying, Zyrtec.
2. Cash4Gold. Are these people so hard up to find people to promote their product that all they could find was that old woman with the crazy lipstick--"I had no idea my gold jewelry was worth so much!"? And seriously who feels okay about sending their valuables to some random company and expecting a return on it?
3. Enzyte. If anybody likes to watch SVU on USA on weeknights, then you have probably seen this commercial. I hate these commercials almost as much as the corresponding spam I get in my inbox. But what I really don't understand is why Santa is selling it? In September? Seriously.
I do apologize for subjecting all viewers to these commercials. Hoooooorraaay for DVR!!!
1. Zyrtec time in a bottle ad. It really bothers me when that lady says, "it should say that on the bottle: ingredients: 2 hours you didn't have." Think about it. IF Zyrtec gives you 2 hours you didn't have (and that's a strange concept in itself), then it shouldn't be on the ingredients list, but the effects list. Thanks for trying, Zyrtec.
2. Cash4Gold. Are these people so hard up to find people to promote their product that all they could find was that old woman with the crazy lipstick--"I had no idea my gold jewelry was worth so much!"? And seriously who feels okay about sending their valuables to some random company and expecting a return on it?
3. Enzyte. If anybody likes to watch SVU on USA on weeknights, then you have probably seen this commercial. I hate these commercials almost as much as the corresponding spam I get in my inbox. But what I really don't understand is why Santa is selling it? In September? Seriously.
I do apologize for subjecting all viewers to these commercials. Hoooooorraaay for DVR!!!
Monday, August 25, 2008
little blessings
So I know I didn't post for a long time and now twice in one week, but I had to tell this story. A couple of weeks ago, I got a card in the mail from Adam and Karlie for my birthday. There was a check and a note that they hoped it could go to my bike fund.
I am ashamed to say that somehow the card fell out of my car, so I was a little sad that I lost it, but I hadn't really thought about it lately.
So today I got my mail and I found this envelope with a strange non-existent return address.
I opened the envelope, and there, envelope and all, was my card from Karlie and the check intact.
But that wasn't all. There was this adorable little note and $3 cash.
Seriously. I can't believe people like Pat still exist. She didn't even give me her address so I could send her a thank you. I told Rebekah about it tonight and she said that Pat probably thought I was a little kid since most adults don't have bike funds for their birthday. Well, whatever she thought, she did a good deed. Amazing. If any of the seven people who read my blog know Pat from Tooele, tell her I said thanks for making my day and helping me buy a ten-speed. :)
I am ashamed to say that somehow the card fell out of my car, so I was a little sad that I lost it, but I hadn't really thought about it lately.
So today I got my mail and I found this envelope with a strange non-existent return address.
I opened the envelope, and there, envelope and all, was my card from Karlie and the check intact.
But that wasn't all. There was this adorable little note and $3 cash.
Seriously. I can't believe people like Pat still exist. She didn't even give me her address so I could send her a thank you. I told Rebekah about it tonight and she said that Pat probably thought I was a little kid since most adults don't have bike funds for their birthday. Well, whatever she thought, she did a good deed. Amazing. If any of the seven people who read my blog know Pat from Tooele, tell her I said thanks for making my day and helping me buy a ten-speed. :)
Sunday, August 24, 2008
summer concerts
So one thing that I'd really rather not live without is live music. I definitely don't get enough of it in my life, but I did get to go to two great concerts this summer. The first, I am NOT ashamed to admit, was the American Idol concert. If you didn't watch the show this year, you missed out on some incredible talent. This year's concert featured each of the top ten singers doing at least 3 songs. They were all terrific, with the exception of Ramiele, who wasn't that great, but they were all also really adorable. David Archuleta was the fan favorite here in SLC since he's from here, so it was a little ridiculous how everyone reacted to him, but he really is incredible. Chikeze started off the show with a shoutout to all us folks in Salt Lake, or as they like to call it, "Archietown," which got a great reaction, but the moment of the night went to Michael Johns, the awesome Aussie who seriously rocked Queen, who after his first number said he was hot and took off his jacket to reveal an "I voted for David Archuleta" t-shirt. Classic. Personally, my favorite idol was David Cook, who beat Archuleta in the final, but the teenaged girl I went with is a major Archie fan, so we showed our colors and had a blast!
The second concert was Martina McBride, which I went to see with Melanie. Martina is seriously one of the best voices I have ever heard in real life. She is incredible. She sang all of my favorite songs, and we had a fabulous time, singing along, consuming extremely overpriced concessions, and watching the middle-aged couple across the lawn grope each other.
Anyway, good times this summer! I'm watching for the next great concert. If anyone needs someone to go with, let me know!
The second concert was Martina McBride, which I went to see with Melanie. Martina is seriously one of the best voices I have ever heard in real life. She is incredible. She sang all of my favorite songs, and we had a fabulous time, singing along, consuming extremely overpriced concessions, and watching the middle-aged couple across the lawn grope each other.
Anyway, good times this summer! I'm watching for the next great concert. If anyone needs someone to go with, let me know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)