christmas songs

I love Christmas songs. I submit as evidence the following:

1. I have been known (only to myself, of course, since I don't usually let people know) to pull out a Christmas song or two in the midst of the summer time, just cause it makes me feel good.

2. The most common thing to pop past my lips when I start to whistle is "Holly Jolly Christmas." I'm not sure why, it's not a favorite or anything, maybe it's just fun to whistle.

3. I have been intensely desiring, this season, to buy a new ipod for the express purpose of listening to my Christmas music.

So, I thought I would share a Christmas song that I always look forward to hearing on the radio. (Yes, I need to buy it.) It's not traditional or anything, just super duper fun.

who in the world is blitzen?

So, it's December first! There are only three weeks till Christmas and I'm not gonna lie...I am super excited. It snowed for the first time in Provo last night, I just listened to my new Barbra Streisand Christmas Album, I've been wearing my super comfy ugg-like boots, I have most of my gifts taken care of, I got to go to a Christmas concert and sing along with the Hallelujah Chorus, and I only have to teach 6 more lessons of Biology and Earth Science before I get a couple weeks off. Yay! I love Christmas.



Now, with all this Christmas cheer and music on the radio, I've encountered a thought that I'd like to share with you all. Firstly, Rudolph is in fact spelled with a "ph." I don't think I ever consciously realized that before...but, of course, given the fact that I've probably written that word about two whole entire times in my life, I suppose I needn't be totally proficient.

Secondly, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" may be the most ironic Christmas song out there. I mean, think about it..."You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen...but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?" Isn't that a little silly? Of course we remember the most famous reindeer, it's all those pitiful black-nosed sidekicks that all of us would mistake. I mean, who knows anything about Vixen except that her name is the same as a female fox. Whereas, thanks to the brilliant clay-mation animators, I know that Rudolph was somewhat self-conscious about his red nose, and thus tried to hide it for a while under an uncomfortable large black fake nose that made him talk funny while not keeping his nose from still being conspicuous. I mean, it may not have glowed red, but it was HUGE! I have sympathised with Rudolph, shared in his pain, and was thrilled with him when he finally got the chance to let his talents shine. Rudolph is like an old friend who is a miniature sculpture that I've never actually met. We were tight, and no amount of pretending like I remember his counterparts better will change that. So really the song should say, "yeah, you know Rudolph, yeah, you know him, now let's have some pity on those other reindeer and mention them in passing."

Hee hee, Merry Christmas!

why DO i love jane austin so much?

Well, I'm not gonna complain about this one, she is one of my favorites. But I just say that I like Mr. Knightly just a smidgen more than Mr. Darcy.

Take the Quiz here!

Of course, the one problem with this quiz is that if you know all the books and movies, you pretty much know what they are talking about in every question...I tried to be as unbiased as possible, though. :)

let it snow, baby

So, a couple of days ago we finally got what tons of Utahans have been praying for...SNOW. Yippee! I'm so glad! It's so pretty and cold and means that I get to wear my way comfy winter boots and great sweaters with scarves. Plus, if it gets cold enough I'll get to wear my burly suede and faux fur coat that only gets used when it's seriously cold. I've decided that anyone who doesn't really like the cold should have a coat like that...that way, they at least have one thing to look forward to in the winter! Ha!

So yeah, it snowed. The roads were alright and the next day they were fine since the snow melted from them. So now we just have to hope it snows some more before it's all gone. Man, I just want it to snow all the time! Only please keep the roads clear enough that I can make it to and from work and home for Christmas. That'd be perfect.

In fact, I was so delighted that I decided to take and share pictures with all of my loved ones whom I KNOW are just anxious with jealousy since I know they all LOVE the cold and the snow soooo much, but are all stuck in balmy beautiful weather places (at this time of year anyway) like Las Vegas and Phoenix. ;) Love you all!















So, at work I've become sort of the official snowflake-maker and every year I will cut out bunches of them that we hang all over the office. I like to do it, but I would kind of like some help. Every year I teach people how to do the folds and all and I try to impress upon them that I have been making these things since I was big enough to hold scissors...I've make hundreds, so their first is not likely to look like my last. They usually feel a little discouraged when they open it up and it's not as impressive as mine--I'm not boasting, it's just a matter of fact--maybe I'll start making people commit to making at least ten if I'm going to teach them at all. Hm. But anyway, every year has its favorites and these were my favorites for this year. We finally got smart and are laminating them this year. Yes! I can do them just for fun for my own place from now on.

stereotypes

Do you ever meet anyone who makes you think, "Man, YOU are why there is that stereotype!" It's not a frequent occurrence, yet always a surreal one...like this can't really be possible and you've only just wandered into a taping of the latest tween movie or something. I, personally, will sometimes have students who remind me of stereotypes. Often further acquaintance re-sorts them in my mind, but every now and then, in particularly precious circumstances, the stereotypic resemblance holds and, indeed, becomes more and more remarkably accurate. Whether it be the ditsy (or at least pretending to be) bimbo, the handsome out-going jock, the BYU co-ed (I've a friend who told me this existed, that I wasn't one, but then outlined all the particulars and I swear I met that exact girl not two months later...she'd just graduated from BYU-Idaho), or (as most recently) the big dim-witted lug (for you sceptics out there, Crabbe and Goyle really do exist), if you are at all connected to society the likeness can't escape you.

So, as infrequent as these encounters may be, I always find myself musing about stereotypes, why they exist, if it matters that they do exist, and if I should feel bad for so readily categorizing this person whom I've just met.

Ok, so I don't really feel guilty. I figure that obviously enough people have noticed enough similarity in enough of the population to recognise that they might be an almost valid subset of the general populace and so have, cumulatively, labeled a stereotype. And what's amazing is that they are reliable enough that everyone relates, everyone has seen it, and whether or not they admit it, everyone uses those stereotypes on almost a daily basis to relate themselves to the rest of humanity.

Yet, I find myself surprised every time I meet one. I'm always amazed that they really do exist. I suppose I must talk myself out of believing that they could actually be real! that someone could really be that way! that people could really be so seemingly accurately defined by so broad a description as a stereotype! It's fascinating.

Maybe the fact that I AM surprised bodes well for me. Maybe it means that I don't usually use stereotypes and instead they have to sort of be forced on me. At least I hope I don't use them to judge people...even if I most certainly use them to categorize and describe. I do my best.

All of which leads me to wonder...Has anyone ever met me and thought, "OH...she's one of THOSE people..." And if they have, what are THOSE people? Do I want to be one? Do they later re-sort me after they know me better? Should or do I even care?

All I know is, that after the latest stereotype encounter, I'm just really really glad that whatever stereotype I might fit into, I'm pretty sure it'd be a smart one.

getting flowers

So, this Tuesday a boy brought me flowers. Excuse me, I should say a man brought me flowers cause really he is a man; and besides, I've observed that in most cases persons of the male gender would rather be called "men" than "boys," so I'm trying to obtain the habit. But anyway, that's beside the point.

This Tuesday a man brought me flowers. Do you know? this is the first time I've ever received flowers from a guy. Well, ok, once in high school some guys brought me a single rose, but that doesn't count because it was a bunch of guys who brought them to a bunch of girls. Which is sweet, but definitely doesn't count. So when this man showed up at our arranged time with flowers I think I almost didn't know what to do. It was a little surreal. I'll admit that the statement I've told people, "Man, I'm probably gonna marry the first guy who gives me flowers," ran through my head (don't hold me to it, though :). In the end I believe I recovered well enough, thanked him for them then as well as later that night. I mean, I wanted to make sure he knew I appreciated the thought...he even picked them in colors that I'd said I liked the last time we went out. I'm pretty sure it was something of an impromptu purchase. He'd been at a store buying food for us to eat and I'm sure walked by the flowers and thought I might like them. Hm, how cute.

So, it's made me wonder a little. How is it that I've only just now gotten flowers from a guy? Maybe it has something to do with the thought that ran through my head. While I've always said it half in jest, that leaves half of it that is really quite true. What is it about flowers that means a guy is one you might want to marry?...I think it comes down to two things, a truly affectionate nature, and commitment.

First, only a truly, actually, sweetly affectionate guy is cool enough to want to conform to tradition in such a way as to bring flowers to a girl he is liking (I can still call myself a girl, right? I mean, yes, I'm a woman, but I'm in no way affronted if someone happens to call me a girl). Well ok, either that or a guy who is creepy, but shrewd enough to to believe that as the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so the way to a woman's heart is through lavish gifts. However, we are going to bypass this possibility since those are obviously not the kinds of guys I've been attracting since, as noted above, I have never gotten flowers before. So, of course an affectionate guy, and one that's affectionate about me, is exactly the kind of man I'd want to marry.

Second, giving flowers implies a sort of commitment, and so a committing kind of nature. I mean, sure it's not the I-love-you-like-crazy-baby-never-let-me-go kind of commitment, but it is the you-are-really-cool-and-I-am-confident-enough-in-myself-and-how-I-feel-about-you-right-now-to-spend-money-on-something-that-I'm-pretty-sure-displays-that-I've-been-thinking-of-you kind of commitment. And that is pretty cool, cause you see, not only does it show that they guy likes you, it shows confidence and even hints that he can be committal...who wouldn't want that in a spouse?

Now this leads me to think of guys whom I have dated in the past who didn't ever get me flowers and, you know, they were definitely missing one or both of these qualities. They either really were affectionate and liked me a lot, but totally non-committal, or they were the committing type, but deep down knew they didn't have enough affection for me to make the flowers gesture. Hm, interesting.

So, in the end, I think a guy that will give you flowers has a lot going for him. I'm pretty sure my latest guy does. Now don't anyone get too excited or anything, I still barely know him and am seeing where it'll go, but he's definitely ahead of the game at this point. :)

So there you have it, I have only officially received flowers twice ever. Twice? you say? Yeah, that's right, this is not the only time that I've ever gotten flowers...just the first time from a guy. One time I was pretty sick and my cute cute sister was coming to see me and she brought me flowers. You can see a picture of them at the top of this post. That was seriously so sweet of her and I loved it soooooo much, cause not only is it such a kind thought, but I also just really really really like flowers...what's not to like? they are so super duper pretty.

the image you've all been waiting for

It's finally here, sorry it took so long, I've just been busy and only thinking of it here and there. So, what is it? First a short story is in order.

I am not a clumsy person...ok, except for all the oodles of times that I happened to kick over water on the floor no matter how surreptitiously it had been placed which, now that I think about it may have been a subconscious way of getting attention. Looking back on my life I think that I did quite a few things for that. And one may have been a quite consistent stream of minor injuries--nothing really dangerous, but enough to talk about and sympathize over. Well, it happened to be a day when I was realizing this and deciding it was an attitude that it was time to get over.

So I was having these brilliant thoughts on changing my life and becoming injury-free when the urge to relieve myself came upon me and I made my way to the bathroom at work. That bathroom has a heavy door, and one that has never caused me any grief in the past. Well, this day I somehow let my pointer finger linger a little long in the door frame and before I knew it the door had slammed on my finger, and bounced back like from a rubber stopper. I, of course, jumped and looked at my now throbbing finger and was fascinated to see that the bruise had formed immediately. Seriously! I've never seen a bruise appear so fast! Wow!

So I got ice and yada yada yada. The point here is NOT for sympathy (remember? I'm over that kind of attention need :), but how cool my bruise looks. I just think it's interesting. Thus, I decided to share it with you all. And you ought to see it now, it's starting to grow out a little, but it'll still be like two months. In the meantime it still looks pretty awesome, and the other day after washing my hands I noticed that I could see some water swishing around inside it underneath my nail! EW! It was kind of gross, but cool too...the body is so amazing.

My plan is to someday use this picture as a model for a really cool abstract painting that will hang in my house and inspire creativity, good karma, and the belief that sometimes something happens that is merely a stepping stone to something else. :)

i love clouds!!!

So, in case you were wondering, I love clouds. They are just so so cool! And I thought of it again this morning on my way to work. Half the sky was kind of dark from kind of stormy looking stuff over night, and the other half was strewn with these glorious billows of majestic clouds...I'm not sure what it is, whether it's really how they can look that I love, or the way I feel my inner chest swell up pleasantly whenever they are in the sky.

soooo pretty

In case you were wondering, this is so totally my engagement ring. Pretty, huh!?

Now I just need my colors, my caterers, and, oh yeah, a groom! HAHA! :)

motorized funness

Yeah, so I went to Bear Lake this weekend and realized, again, that really I don't care about boating. It really sort of fascinates me how people just loooove it. I mean, don't get me wrong. I do loooove going to a beach and hanging out in the sun all day with cool people. I love playing in the surf, throwing football, lounging on a raft that is gently rocked by the swaying of the water...could do without having to reapply sunscreen every second...but anyway. I love land-meets-water excursions.

However, I simply do not understand the fascination with having a huge possession that takes oodles of time, space, energy, and money to get, maintain, and use. I'm sure there are exceptions, but most boats are, in my book, and absolute waste. I mean, half the time conditions aren't good enough to do anything anyway. I will submit, though, that there is a fabulous alternative.

The seadoo. Oh dear, the seadoo is quite a different matter, for, there is no doubt that while it may still take some time, space, energy, and money, all of those are far less in proportion to the fun they provide. Man, seadoos are so easy to run, you hop right on, turn the throttle and what do you have? Instant fun, I tell you, instant fun. Yes! It's like a motorcycle (and I love motorcycles) only better cause there are none of those pesky lanes or that dangerous asphalt. Sweet! You can go crazy, jet all over, and if you should happen to take a turn too tight? So, you fall off, into billowing water, pop up thanks to your nifty life vest, laugh over the gobs of fun you are having, hop back on and are off again. I love it! Man, heaven grant me a seadoo, that is some motorized funness that is well worth the effort.

mash ups

I LOVE THIS SONG! I mean, alone I love each of these songs, but together the adoration is positively multiplied! And I haven't heard it in forever so was reeeealy excited to find it. So, if you are like me, please partake of this vervarific treat. :)

it's the simple things

I love to tell my students, when they laugh at little things I do that you've got to enjoy the little things since that's what most of life is. I totally think it's true and am determined to always laugh or get excited or be amazed at all the little things that find their way into my life. Here are some of the latest.


juice boxes ~ They are so good! Just the right portion size, easy to purchase and fit in the mini fridge at work, and you can get such yummy flavors in 100% juice! I love it! They totally make my lunches a metaphorical slice of lemon marainge pie.


nail clippers ~ You all know that I always have nail clippers with me and I am as satisfied with this habit as I was when I started it in high school. They are convenient for so many things! Like: getting that nasty hang nail, cutting a loose thread from your shirt, opening a pesky plastic wrapper, and (my favorite) giving you something to occupy your hands when you are sitting somewhere bored. My life wouldn't be the same without them.


words ~ I love using fun words! My favorite is when a word just pops out of my mouth and I think, "Was that right?" And I look it up and I was right. I love that! It's like a roller coaster thrill for my intellect. Fun!


acrylic massagers ~ Let me tell you, these little devils are like a piece of heaven. I got one for like 3 bucks a while ago and it is wonderful. Forget those awkward vibrating ones, just gouge this into the knot in your back and miracles happen. Sometimes I even carry it around in my purse (usually after my shoulder is tied up in knots after 3 awesome hours of volleyball).

Man, isn't life fun? What little things make your life that much more enjoyable?

ever after you

Ok, so I have a latest favorite song that I discovered yesterday. It is sooo cute! And I'm depending on all of you to listen to it. I looked it up on youtube and the only one I could find of it was a video from Harry Potter excerpts. It's called Ever After You and is by The Gabe Dixon Band. I'm hugely curious to see what you think.

Oh, and it's Friday the 13th. Sweet! I love that day. It's just so funny to laugh about and go oooOOOOoo over...and then have nothing out of the ordinary happen. HA! I know, I know...simple pleasures. :)

life as me

Firstly, I want to share with you that today I had a student who started talking about Europe after I mentioned my siblings wanted to go to Uruguay over New Year's. Don't worry, he knew Uruguay wasn't in Europe (thank goodness), the reference to Spanish made him think of his recent trip to Europe...including Spain. Turns out that what he hadn't known prior to that trip (he's like 17) was that they speak Spanish in Spain. HA HA HA! I'm sorry Cord, I love ya, but that's just so funny that I'll probably share it with everyone I know.

Secondly, I often notice and wonder about random things that come along. Today it was a peanut butter cup wrapper. Why are they rippled? They can make such a mess when you try to pull them off. It just seems more intuitive to have a flat wrapping that would remove easily and not make all those chocolate pieces. Hm...think about it before I tell you what I came up with. My coworkers had some creative answers...through thinking?

Ok, I think it's just easier to produce, you see, if you take one of those wrappers off and lay it flat it is made from a single, circular, flat piece of paper. It folds into shape and they fill it with chocolate-peanut buttery goodness. Twere it any other shape (I love using "twere" :) the paper would have to be cut and glued and manipulated in ways that would damage the structural integrity of the paper, and make production more complicated, therefore more expensive. Hm, fascinating. So, there you have it...a moment in life as Me. :D

dainty hands

Yeah, so, I remembered again last night why I don't really like to bowl. First, I've never gotten any good at it, and for some reason I've let that keep me from liking it all that much. Call me crazy, but if I toss a ball down a lane at least 20 times, I'd like to improve.

Secondly, though, and maybe most importantly, I have very dainty hands. I'm not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed of the fact, or if I should try to change or preserve it. All I know is that I played one game and was enjoying myself just enough that I was willing to play another. I through the ball about four more times before I started to feel warm spots on my thumb and pinkie. I couldn't believe it! I was getting blisters from bowling! What's more is that there were plenty of other girls there and none of them seemed to be having any problems. What in the world is that all about! I was mildly annoyed.

Since then I've recalled that I usually don't fall in love with sports that involve holding an apparatus of any kind for an extended period of time...hockey being the notable exception. But maybe hockey was different because you are always wearing gloves and nether the stick nor the puck are very heavy. I'll have to remember this next time.

In the meantime my thumb still hurts enough today that I'll have to hold my pen different and twisting off the cap of my water bottle is a little bit tricky. Ah me (sigh) my dainty, girly hands.

P.S. That cute boy in my new ward? Still very cute ;)

welcome back

Do you ever get a chance to remember how much you used to love something that for some reason you haven't had or done in so long? Oh man, I have had so much fun this week! Last Wednesday I played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time since college. I think I always imagined that with all the running around I'd be way behind everyone else, plus I'm not ultra comfortable with tossing a frisbee, but for whatever reason I tried it last week. Turned out that everyone got way tired so I fit right in, had a lot of fun, and played alright. Cool.

So I went and played again this week. On my way home I had an epiphany...I LOVE PLAYING SPORTS! Oh man! I had so much fun! And was even better this week, I even had some pretty sweet plays. Plus it's a great workout. I love to work out and all, and have always said I prefer team sports to individual ones, but I don't think I realised just how true that was. Then last night I got to go play volleyball with some people who play every week. I loved it! Oh man, I am so excited now to play ultimate and volleyball every week. I have missed it so much! YAY!

But I have to admit, I am quite sore today. Good, I'll just keep going back and that'll go away...awesome. Have you ever found something like that before that you hadn't even realized you'd missed?

i say, burn the 5-year plan

I know, it sounds like heresy to some of you, but this last weekend some of us tried it and I've been thinking about it ever since. You see, it was a bunch of women sitting around talking and one asked another about her 5-year plan. She that was asked automatically took on a serious air and sort of hesitated before starting. The moment struck me with a wonderful idea that I quickly vocalized. Instead of 5-year plans, let's share our 5-year fantasies! That one word change worked a miracle. All of a sudden everyone was eager to share and excited about the future. It released practical restraints and allowed us all to imagine as possible all the things we really want. And it wasn't anything crazy like millions of dollars or a husband who looks like Matthew McConaughey and acts like the Dali Lama, it was normal things, but that we talk ourselves out of when we get to practical. What a shame.

So, here's my challenge. Burn the 5-year plan and start thinking in terms of your %-year fantasy...it is liberating. :)

keep your eyes on the ball

I would like you all to know that you are lucky I am still alive. That is right. I have had a very near death experience. I will tell you all about it.

Saturday I went to my first baseball game in ages. For the record, I like baseball as a spectator sport. It gives you something to occupy your attention and provide conversation without being so demanding that you can't enjoy spending time with the people you came with.

I went with some people from my new ward (including a very cute guy, cross your fingers on that one) and we were having a nice time. It is amazing just how many foul balls go into the stands. I don't think I'd have guessed so many. It certainly adds to the excitement factor here and there. So, I was sitting back, taking in the game along with some burgeoning friendships when a foul ball was hit. No biggy. There it goes, higher and higher. Hm, looks like it's gonna come to our side instead of the other this time. Lower and lower. Wow, that's coming pretty close to where we are sitting. Closer and closer. Hm, is that ball falling right toward me? Could it possibly? ACK! IT'S GONNA HIT ME! And I ducked. Just in time for the ball to whizz passed me into the row behind where it bounced and then rested beneath my seat.

I'm pretty sure that that ball wanted to be mine and willed itself directly to me. It was pretty surreal, though, watching that thing head straight at my face. I'm pretty sure I'd have been clocked between the eyes if I hadn't moved. I remember how the shadowing on the white ball looked as it approached me. As it is, no harm done, I made an impression on some new friends (one girl asked why I didn't catch it, have you ever caught a baseball with your bare hands? ouch) and added a story to my growing collection. Fate is most definitely looking out for me.

i know why i'm not married

So, I said that dreams are funny things. Here is a case and point.
One of my favorite things is when real things that are going on in your life somehow work their way into your dreams. I will start with one such incident. In my dream, I had a bike, I've been thinking I would like to get a bike. It was kind of motorized somehow and I was on my way home. Home, in my dream, was some apartments kind of like where I lived in college. I walked around for a while trying to find a sheltered place to lock up my bike since a storm was coming in (last night I did, in fact spend some time safeguarding some stuff from a storm that was on its way). Then I went into my apartment where my friend, let's call her The Little Runt, had come by to see me. I had really been expecting this particular friend to come by sometime soon.

Now we are getting to the good stuff. We were hanging out talking, I was feeling a little out of sorts for a reason that soon came apparent. At some point The Little Runt said in a somewhat wistful yet perplexed way, "I can't believe you're married."...You may be thinking exactly what I thought...only, not in my dream. In my dream I said, "I know, I can't either, especially cause I can't really remember him anymore." And inside I was thinking, "Is that why I feel so funny." Then, in my dream I sort of seemed to remember snippets of a wedding...me in a white dress, people around, it was right after graduation (now it was some weeks later), and then he (my husband) had had to go somewhere for school or something shortly after and I hadn't seen him since then.

So I was trying hard to remember what he looked like, where he was, what his name was (yeah, I couldn't even remember his name), and why I'd loved him enough to marry him. It was a very odd sensation. Well, The Little Runt and I went to some garden party thing (to which I'd dressed very casual, so that I was almost mortified when Elders Thomas S. Monson and Dallen H. Oaks came in their suits and ties. Seriously, do they ever wear anything else?). As I was standing, listening to others talk and still pondering over my situation, I felt a tap on my shoulder, turned to see who it was, and found myself being hugged by a cute, tall, thin guy who was my husband (you know how it is in dreams, sometimes you just know things). Now I started to remember his name and it finally formed as Daniel Tuttle (isn't that funny I totally got such as specific name in a dream?). In real life I totally erased a Daniel from my phone recently whom I don't remember at all. In my dream I realized that it had been his number and he'd called me the night before, but I didn't answer cause I didn't recognise the number. I said, "Honey, um, did you call me last night?" Sure enough. Oops.

The more I saw him and heard him talk the more I liked him (or remembered liking him). He said how much he'd missed me and I fudged with the absolute truth and told him I'd missed him too. Then, while he was occupied with others I spent the rest of the time til I woke up looking for my journal with the wedding so that I could get some particulars down.

Isn't that so so funny! All of which has led me to this conclusion. I know why I'm not married...I AM married! I just don't remember! Ha! That totally makes sense. So I'd like to ask you all a favor. If you remember any details about the situation I wish you'd tell me. And for goodness sake, if you have his number will you please give it to me because I'd hate to not have my own husband's phone number. Man, that'd just be weird.

check the mirror for heaven's sake

So, I don't want this to be a catalog of all the embarrassing things I do in my life, but they are so great I can't help myself. :)

So, I like to workout, and Saturday I duded up and went to the gym. I did some cardio warm up and then some weights and a little circuit training of my own invention. I distinctly remember, while sitting on a mat with my legs in front of me about to do some ab work, noticing that there seemed to be a lot of loose material in my workout pants at the crotch area. Hm, oh well...one, two, three, breathe, four, five, etc. A few more exercises, some good stretching out and I headed to the locker room to collect my personal effects and go home. On my way to the locker room I even passed and schmoozed briefly with the cute guy who signed me up.

Upon entering the locker room I passed a mirror and, of course, glanced at it. Hm, what's that hanging from under my shirt in back? (Closer inspection) HA! Oh my goodness! I've got my pants on backward and those are the strings hanging down in back! Oh man, can you believe me? I did my whole workout with my strings hanging down on my hinnie. I wonder if anyone noticed. Man, what in the world am I gonna do next? On the up side, I have a nice callipygian figure that was showed off nicely with the consequent tightness at my back side. :P

the only one

Alrighty, I've finally found time to blog about this weekend. I had a FABULOUS weekend. I would highly recommend that anyone (except maybe small children for whom it would be dangerous to raft or fly alone) have a weekend like the one I just had. Besides the thrill of seeing a new place and being carried by strong currents and floating under gorgeous skies, there is something I noticed...I was the only one to do a lot of things on this trip. Let's explore.

I was the only one to arrive in Denver at 7:35.
Everyone else got there at around 10:30. So, that gave me a blissful 3 hours of solitude in the lovely, almost new, Denver airport. What would you do with 3 hours of alone time? I chose to listen to Brian Regan (people don't sleep on their own fold out couches), finish my reading of The Alchemist (a very good recommendation by my fabulous little sister), and that brings me to the next one...

I was the only one to exercise in the airport.
I mean, come on, 3 hours? I got a little antsy, and it turns out that Denver airport has quite the perfect little alcove to work off the lethargy should you so need it. So, down at the end of baggage, behind the elevators, I did lunges, push-ups and dips against the empty chairs, squats, and a modified version of V-ups. I loved it! And it got me to thinking...maybe the next time I am waiting in an airport for a while and I want to get moving I will, and will invite others to join me. I wonder if I could get anyone else to do push-ups with me...I'm pretty sure others get as bored as I do.

I was the only one to get an already wet wetsuit.
The river guide outfit provided black wetsuits, blue kayaking jackets, and yellow helmets and life vests so that as we boarded the buses we looked like a family of wasps escaping the elements to the safety of their hive. My wetsuit, had evidently been on the river earlier since it was sopping wet and so gave me some misgivings about putting it on. Don't worry, though, once I got it on it was quite bearable and I was very grateful for it for the rest of the trip. Especially given the next "I was the only one."

I was THE ONLY ONE TO FALL IN THE RIVER!
Can you believe it? I totally fell in. Funny thing, balance, you think you've got it, you're pretty sure, you're holding on, and then, "Whoops!", out of the boat and into the river. Gratefully I knew exactly what to do since they'd given us a safety schpeal on our way there. I immediately turned around, grabbed the boat and did my best to keep my feet off the bottom of the river. It was pretty funny, I'll admit, but I sure wished the guy next to me would stop laughing long enough to get me back into the boat. He did eventually gain composure enough to pull me into the boat...then everyone laughed...all at me. Ok, fine, I laughed too, as I well should have knowing that I'd have laughed if anyone else had fallen in. However, in my defense I was in the front, a very bouncy position on a raft. And I guess that's all the defense I have.:)

At least we didn't totally tip over.

I'd say I was the only one to get in the river at all, only it isn't true. My dear friend who planned this outing acted like she'd like to swim the last little bit of our trip and since I'd already been in, what's once more? I told her I'd go too and we both swam in. We were very very cold on the way back, but hey, no toes lost, and we swam in the river. What can I say: Pain is Temporary, Glory is Forever.

I was the only one to tour Budweiser.
I stayed a day longer than most my comrades to see some cousins in Fort Collins who happen to live within minutes of this huge Budweiser factory. So we took a tour and it was kind of interesting, smelly but interesting. And we got to see some of the Clydesdale horses. They are HUGE. Their hooves are like dinner plates, it's amazing. And don't worry, we didn't partake of the free samples at the end.

I was the only one to go kayaking.
So, have I mentioned yet that I love Colorado and want to live there? Well I do, and one huge reason is the easy accessibility to small lakes on which it is heaven to kayak around. I just love that. Even if my traps did get really sore.

Like I said, it was a great weekend. Here's to Colorado.

beat box, french style

This is full on amazing. After watching it I wanted to walk around trying to make those sounds all day...or at least dance to them.

bring it on

So, this weekend I attended my new ward where I am living now. I'll admit that I hadn't committed myself to switching wards as of Sunday, but I went to their orientation and meetings, enjoyed myself, and filled out a transfer records form. Then, before you know it, I had met with the bishop, they had my picture, and I was on my way home with a pleasant sense of incredulity bouncing around inside somewhere between my shoulders and my bellybutton.

Hm, crazy, I'm really changing wards.

Then I started to get kind of excited about the idea. Especially the idea of living within 5 minutes of all my meetings and activities. Hallelujah! What have I been missing all these years? So, in celebration of my new found convenience, I went to my first ward activity Monday night. It was a barbecue (yes, and it was cold for the first day in like three weeks...oh the irony, but I won't vamp on that just now) and I had a very nice time. Mostly, I think, because I am determined to jump in with both feet, make friends, meet boys, and get into it like I've already been there for years. It took me a long time last time, but I am a new person now. This is gonna be so much fun! So I talk to people I'd never met and one whom I had, and even got invited to a social not-ward activity! Woah! I'm sure my cute younger sister is used to experiences like that, but it is a new one for me. So there you have it. I had a great time and am fully excited for this new chapter in my singles wards experience. Bring it on, baby, bring it on. :)

sometimes dayplanners fail you

Yeah, so this weekend I moved. Woo hoo, that is basically done. Through the course of that Saturday we took a bunch of my stuff to a storage unit and I went in to rent it and the man asked to see my drivers license. Ok, no prob, I am a vigilant law abider, I have my license right here...he takes my license and starts recording things. "Oh," he says, "it looks like your license is expired." "Really?" I say. I think that's a little odd given that I am a vigilant law abider. Hm, I must have just recently missed my mail in which is the notice that I need to renew. Hm, well, let's look at the date on which my vigilantly legal drivers license has expired...probably a day or two ago...APRIL 3, 2007! ACK! I've been driving on an expired license for OVER A MONTH?! (Little mini freak out session)

Yeah, so evidently they had my wrong address because I received no notice of my soon-to-be delinquent document in the mail. And I obviously never wrote such an event as this expiring in my dayplanner...hm...and I'm usually so diligent about that. So anyway, I followed all traffic laws for the past few days and went this morning to renew my license. Turns out I didn't even have to retest or anything. That was a relief. So, here I am 23 bucks lighter (the license is only $20, but I made a couple donations), and a lot more aware of how nice it is to operate automobiles on a legal footing.

...and with a picture that's not quite as flattering as the last, but who really looks at those anyway?

restroom signs should really be bigger

So, I had a somewhat interesting experience this Saturday. I went Latin dancing with a Mexican in my ward who is totally cool and nice and with whom I've talked about going dancing for a while. Incidentally, I have decided, once again, that Latin dancing is not for me. But that's beside the point.

There was a point in the evening that I, as a water drinking female who also happened to want to go home yet wanted to hold out for the sake of my date who was obviously enjoying having a partner who could actually dance, took an opportunity to go take a small trip to the restroom. Therefore, in a somewhat dazed and tired state I entered the restroom, focused on the first stall, made it in and leisurely went about my business. Toward the end of my visit I seemed to hear what seemed to be male voices...hm...maybe I heard wrong. Then, upon glancing at the floor just outside my stall I saw a shoe (a guy's shoe) facing the opposite direction of how my feet were placed...hm...how odd...ha! poor guy, he totally came in the woman's restroom! Ha ha, little chuckle to myself (I obviously did not eat enough that day since I was clearly not thinking right).

So, laughing at that poor guy's expense, I left my stall and approached the sink, soaped my hands, and looked up at the mirror where I saw two men standing with their backs toward me at two of three urinals mounted on the opposite wall...right next to the stall I had just exited. How I didn't see those urinals on my way into the restroom we will never know. What could I do? I rinsed my hands, chuckled to myself again, and left as speedily as possible...wiping my hands on my pants (there were no paper towels and I was not going to stand around and dry them under one of those stupid air-dry things).

I said to my date when I got out, "Why didn't you come get me?" Evidently he had but I was already about my business. So we laughed and kept dancing. Eventually he did let me go home, and I was no worse for wear from my little humorous episode, though I do wonder if those guys noticed my gaucherie. Guess I'll never know.

Now I just have to figure out how to avoid ever going Latin dancing again for the rest of my life (unless I have an absolutely amazing partner whom I happen to be in love with too, of course). :)

My advise, look VERY carefully at any restroom signs before entering...some of them are a little androgynous.

i love bean burritos

So, I work almost everyday of my life. Coincidentally, I eat lunch almost everyday of my life. Admittedly I sometimes wish I didn't have to eat. I mean, I spend so much time planning, preparing and eating meals that I would love to commit to hiking, writing, shopping, or just getting my workday over with sooner. Alas, that is not to be, so I continue my daily struggle to nourish myself sufficiently at the lunch hour.

Which brings me to Albertson's, or rather the yummy little mini bean burritos they sell in their deli section. They are delicious. So, every other week or so I will trot (ok, maybe I don't quite trot, but I definitely walk in a sprightly manner) over to Albertson's to purchase some mini bean burritos and various sides. I might get some cheese and a Bolthouse smoothie or carrot juice. Just lately I got some sugar snap peas and red grapes. Then I take it all to work, leave it in the fridge and have it all for lunch for about 4 days. It's a delicious little combination and I highly recommend it. Tell you what, those little burritos make lunch almost worth having.

life changes

Well, so I'm moving. Crazy, I know. I'm gonna miss my little river in the backyard, but I'm gonna love living with Deanna. Yay for family is all I can say. So I'm half packed, my place is a mess, my dryer should be fixed this week so I can clean all my clothes. Then I want to get rid of half of them...I'm really going to try and do it. If nothing else it would mean I wouldn't feel bad about buying new clothes...and it'd bee really fun to buy new clothes. :)

And I'm determined to be positive about the whole situation. To know and believe that everything is working exactly as it should to bring me the greater good. I'll tell you what, though. Stuff like this certainly makes me realize how attached I am to stability. Ha! It'll be good.

Stacy London

By the way, anyone who's ever seen my most favorite show ever, What Not to Wear, Stacy's grey shock is real. She's had it since she was about 12. Whether or not you see it depends on where her hair is parted. Hm. Cool.

cheap is just cheap

So, I just have to tell you about a date I had this weekend. It was our first time meeting in person, we had basically an alright time. Then, at the end of the date...first you need to know that I will regularly offer, on a first date, to split the check. I figure it's a nice gesture that conveys to the guy I'm not just after his money, and gives him the opportunity of communicating merely-friends interest. I have NEVER had a guy take me up on it, they ALWAYS say somewhat gallantly, "No, I've got it."...that is until this weekend.

That's right, when I made my customary offer he totally said "Oh yeah, that'd be good." HA HA HA! I couldn't believe it! What's more, he suggested going out again! I'm convinced he thought he'd made a find going out with a girl who'd pay for herself; without realizing how tacky his behavior was. It wasn't even an expensive restaurant! HA! Poor guy, so clueless.

So, lesson for all you daters out there, everyone appreciates it when someone is smart with their money...but come on, cheap is just cheap.

phones and thirteens

Yeah, so, I forgot my phone at home today. I got to work (can't believe I made it that far without realizing, I mean, I usually get about a million calls between 8 and 9 in the morning ;) and went to put it on silent and it wasn't there...so it will be very silent. I expected to feel a lurching, gasping sensation in my chest when I made the realization, but I'm fine.

You know, though, today IS Friday the 13th. I think that must be why I forgot it. Man, I'm surprised nothing else has happened so far. I mean, I could have done something tragic, like forgotten my make-up or something. Oh wait! I did that too! HA! Oh dear, I had better write down everything I need to do this very second so I don't forget to use the restroom and mess myself or something. LOL! Ok, I'm gonna go knock on some wood now.

P.S. should you need to call me, please do, then when I get home and find those million messages on my phone I will feel extra loved.

mountains are pretty

So I finally hiked to Angel's Landing in Zion's! This is what it looks like from the top. Woo hoo! I've been trying to get there for a long time. I'm sure my parents would want you to know that they wanted to take me once and I said something like, "No, I don't want to go hiking." Well, that was true at the time, but as I've grown into a greater age and maturity, I have started to understand the joys of marching up mountains till your glutes, calves, and feet are tired to then walk down the mountain on jelly legs...then waking up the next morning and realizing which muscles you evidently don't workout enough at the gym.

It was beautiful and so fun to spend time with parents. It's just sad my little sister and brother couldn't make it that day.

I think I need a power suit

So yesterday I had a pretty neat experience. I was interviewed in the process of applying for grad school. I showed up in navy blue slacks that had small white pinstripes, white shoes, a white collared shirt with pin tucks down the front over an aqua undershirt and topped with a purple corduroy jacket. I thought I looked pretty cute, sufficiently professional, but I also thought I should stand out a bit. Yeah, well, stand out I did...and was almost frightened when I walked in the room and saw all the other applicants wearing dark colored power suits. Hm, did someone forget to send me the memo? :) Well, there was no changing now so I figured all that was left was for me to own my difference and have a great time.

I think I did alright. I enjoyed all my interviews and discovered (or rediscovered) things that I thought I would like about genetic counseling. Part of me wants to make a decision right now about the rest of my life, but I guess I should wait till I see if I actually get accepted. Hm, so there you go.

water in the sky

Ok, so a week or so ago I saw these clouds and they were so amazing that I automatically wanted to show them to everyone. I love clouds anyway, but these were so perfectly like waves...even more so than this picture captures (it took me a second to get my camera out). I was awed...it's not quite like seeing, say, Kevin Bacon, but it was exciting for me! ;)

Happy Birthday To Me!

That's right, today I am the big two-eight...and I'm feeling good about it. So good that I decided to start my long anticipated blog. It might not be all that cute right now, but give me time to figure it all out.

So yeah, I have a feeling that 28 is going to be a good year. 27 was alright, full of trying to accept. 26 was pretty hard cause it meant I would now be the oldest sister to marry. But now I'm 28, in my upper twenties, I'm a full grown woman with talent and experience to my credit and lots of awesome people in my life.

This weekend I had an extended birthday party with my little brother. His birthday was last weekend, so we binged on ultra-yummy chocolates and watched 3 episodes of "Trick My Truck." Both very worthy slumber party pursuits, but I think my favorite thing was jamming on the harmonica while Aaron played the guitar. No, I don't really play the harmonica all that much, but I sure have a lot of fun trying. And I'm sure those minutes spent making carefree music with a person I love are an omen of good fortune for the year ahead. Bring it on 28!