just so's you's knows

I've created a new blog for my pictures. Anyone interested can look. It's a little sparse right now, but more will come, i promise.

See "it's worth a shot" on the sidebar.

Good News!

As some of you may know, I'm going to be an auntie again (one of my favorite jobs). Yesterday my sister called to tell me that she is having a baby girl! Girls are hard to come by in my family. Out of the 9 grandkids there are a total of 2--this little one will bring it up to 3. Yay!

Right now, Baby Girl M looks like an alien skeleton (according to her brother) but I'm sure she will be adorable like the rest of the gang!

And in case my sister is reading this I think you should name her Lillian.

Yay for babies!!!

i am not elizabeth...anymore

Apparently this week, I'm Fanny Price. According to the strangegirl quiz, I am "quiet, faithful, and moral, but those around [me] may think [me] priggish (a word which means -- one who offends or irritates by observance of proprieties-as of speech or manners-in a pointed manner or to an obnoxious degree). [I] love deeply...and jealously."

Ironically, that sounds about right.

Take the Quiz here!

7 More Random Tidbits...Courtesy of the latest game of "Tag"

#1) I threw the 9th grade "Geography Bee" (class level) -- Why? Because I didn't want the other kids to know (or think) I was a "smarty-pants." I had the answer but hesitated just long enough to let the "new kid" get out out before I did.

#2) I was once borderline anorexic. (For future reference, eating dry, white toast for two out of three meals of the day is not a good idea.)

#3) I would love to study architecture - I don't think I want to be an architect, but I love drawing straight lines with rulers and I love the little stencils and fabulous pens they get to work with.

#4) My dream is to go to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography -- They have this 11 week Summer Intensive program where they teach you everything about photography. (What could be better than 11 weeks in Montana?)

#5) I miss making "hollyhock dolls" and playing "Charlies Angels" with my sister.

#6) I gave Felton Spencer (former Utah Jazz Player) a temporary tattoo of Plucky Duck one summer while working at Lagoon --- and can I just say he was HUGE!

#7) I have a major weakness for Mr. Darcy, as played in the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice. I melt every time I see the "Your hands are cold" scene.

Five Things...

Months ago Dizzy Miss Lizzy "tagged" me with this little gem...So here are my answers (finally) -- For the record, I won't be tagging anyone, I'd hate to give anyone a guilt-complex for not following through on the "Tag"...so relax and enjoy.

Five Things I was doing 10 years ago-

#1) Suffering from major allergies (for the first time in my life)

#2) Learning how not to be anorexic

#3) Kicking myself at least once a day with my new Doc Martens

#4) Serving a mission in Georgia

#5) Getting to know my best friend

Five Things on my to-do list today-

#1) Finish processing the rush book my superviosr gave me last Thursday

#2) Work on presentation for the Family History EXPO in St. George

#3) Drink enough water

#4) Go to Spanish Class

#5) Exercise

Five Snacks I enjoy (in no particular order)-

#1) Chocolate anything

#2) Wheatables

#3) Popcorn

#4) String Cheese

#5) Cereal

Five things I would do if I were a Billionaire-

#1) Buy my parents a new house, Pay off my siblings houses (or buy one for those who don't have one)

#2) Track down and reclaim my "Bebo"

#3) Travel to Europe with all my closest friends

#4) Never go to work again

#5) Spoil the people I love

Three of my bad habits-

#1) Nail biting

#2) Lack of Follow through

#3) Falling in love

Five places I have lived-

#1) Kaysville, UT

#2) Bountiful, UT

#3) Macon, Georgia

#4) Columbus, Georgia

#5) Statesboro, Georgia

Five jobs I’ve had-

#1) Lagoon -- Face Painter, Tattoo Artist, Sand Creature Maker

#2) ZCMI Gift Wrap Department -- Gift Wrapper

#3) Missionary Emporium -- Book Seller

#4) Ruby's -- Housekeeper/Bell Duster

#5) Nanny

Five things people probably don’t know about me-

#1) I once ate a grasshopper

#2) I wrote a book

#3) I love folding laundry

#4) I used to be a big NBA fan and could name many of the players -- I even had a crush on Christian Laitner

#5) I definitely have a "type" when it comes to looks -- my perfect--in my dreams--man would look just like Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious, Timeline, Eight Below) -- However if he's not available I'd take "Eddie" in The Prince and Me or "Johnny Storm" from The Fantastic Four.

My Presidential Campaign, cont'd.

I have heard the voices of the people and will do all in my power to ensure that there are Chimichangas for everyone at lunchtime.

I will also talk to Apple and make sure that everyone receives the iPod of their choice.

When I Become President

My first act will be to make every 3-day weekend a 4-day weekend. And there will be a 4-day weekend every month.

There will also be free smoothies every morning.

Have I Ever Mentioned...

I hate to be cold.

Definitely NOT Business As Usual

As some of you know I get the opportunity to travel from time to time with my job. It's usually to far off exotic places like Mesa, Arizona or Cheyenne, Wyoming which while they are fun to visit there's no real appeal to going there, especially for work. As it usually happens, you get on a plane or in a car, arrive at your location to do your job and then return home the same way you came. On occasion I get to go somewhere good, like St. George in the winter or Seattle, Washington (which is right next door to my leetles) but those times are few and far between.

On Monday I went to a business lunch with the my bosses and the distributor of one of the scanners we use to get books ready to go online. During the course of the meal (no pun intended) we learned that someone could be easily trained to learn to fix the machine and avoid a yearly maintenance contract. My boss has great faith in my abilities (though sometimes I think he's a little nuts). By the end of the lunch my boss had given me the thumbs up for a trip to France (that's where the machines are made). Bordeaux, France. here I'm sitting thinking, WHAT THE HECK!!!!

I'm still reeling and can't quite believe it. I've been assured that it's pretty much a done deal, we just have to wait on passports and the factory in France to let us know when we can come.

Yesterday I applied for my very first passport, which was pretty exciting, but I don't think it will really sink in until I have the tickets in my hand. I hate to get my hopes up, just in case...after all I never did get that trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana last fall (though I'm sure France would be a lot more disappointing if it doesn't pan out).

Please keep it won't be all fun and games (only some if it), there will be work involved. I will be visiting Paris (on my own dime, of course) with Toby, as she has decided to do all in her power to come along with me. I'd do the same if the situation were reversed.

For those of you who are bound to feel some jealousy, make sure I have your address and I'll send you a genuine French Postcard with a genuine French Stamp.

What the Heck!
I'll keep you posted.

Relax, Sit Still, and Breathe

I've decided that the best thing I could do for myself in 2008 would be to learn 3 things:

Relax: In recent past this word has been hard to locate in my vocabulary. When somebody asks me "what do you do to relax?" I often give them a quizzical look and dodge the question. When asked what I like I have been known to respond by saying something like "I like plants." (true story). I'm also a worry-wart and am always thinking about might happen next. Tobz often says to me, in the midst of a worry session, "or a toilet could fall out of the sky and hit you on the head." So, needless to say, learning to relax and maybe even have a little fun in the process might go a long way.

Sit Still: I think this idea goes hand in hand with relaxing, sort of... I've discovered that just sitting still can make a big difference (though I rarely do it). I was genetically gifted with a "wiggly leg" so it is virtually impossible for me to sit still without making a concentrated effort. The other night as I was watching "Wheel of Fortune" I sat myself on the floor in a pseudo-yoga position (legs crossed, arms over my head with palms together) and I just sat there for about 20 minutes. I've tried yoga videos before but they always have really soothing music and I end up so relaxed I want to go right to sleep...so I've invented Wheel of Fortune yoga -- it's great! (which reminds me...who knew Pat Sajak had a twin)

Breathe: Most people take this one or granted, but sometimes I forget to breathe. Perhaps its the tendency to procrastinate almost everything or a combination of the aforementioned issues that are at the root of this bizarre phenomenon. When I was in 5th grade Mrs. Smith, a prehistoric educator, used to teach us health in the afternoons and I remember one lesson where she talked to us about how our bodies do things automatically, for instance we don't have to tell our hearts to beat or our lungs to breathe...turns out, she lied. (i probably should have never trusted a woman who would beg rolls off of student's in the lunch room). Somewhere in the 30+ years of my existence I have forgotten how to breathe. I intended to remember how.

Maybe if I can master these 3 simple things my life will be so much more (in the good ways) and less in the bad ways.

And maybe my hair will stop falling out...

The First Step...

They say the first step is admiting you have a problem.

I'm addicted to http://www.etsy.com/.

(If you are a fan of the eclectic you should avoid it like the plague.)

If temptation gets the better of you and you just have to go there, whatever you do don't create a username, then you won't be tempted to buy anything.

Don't say I didn't warn you.