So Far So Good and Some Not So

This week I received some good news and some bad news.

The bad news first -- chewing on ice really can crack your teeth (turns out I should have listed to that Kid in high school who told me it was a bad idea). So, next Monday I get to go have two fillings replaced and the cracks in my teeth repaired. (I know y'all are jealous).

And now the good news -- my brother Norm and his wife are expecting their first baby in July!!! This is the best news I've had in a while (yippee!!!!) Does this mean Lizzie and I get to start planning a baby shower!?! (yay!)

But what if I don't have spare change to put in the Salvation Army guy's bucket???

Christmas time is one of those seasons where you are always trying to decide what you want other to give you for Christmas...how many of us consider the fact we can give to others without even spending a single penny? (not that buying other people presents isn't fun -- because it is!)

I love this quote from Marvin J. Ashton, it helps me better understand what I can to have the true Christmas spirit...

"Charity is, perhaps, in many ways a misunderstood word. We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.

Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again...

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."

(Marvin J. Ashton, “The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, May 1992, 18)

Alot 2 B Thankful 4

I've been contemplating all week how to write a blog that would sum up everything I am thankful for--but I think that would be impossible, so I'll just share a few...

· Growing things: the teeny little stalks on my lucky bamboo plant, the delicate pink leaves just starting to grow on the plant I’ve somehow managed to keep alive for 3 years now and crispy fall leaves.
· Children: I don’t have any of my own (yet) but I love spending time with the kids in my life, whether my own nieces and nephews, or the cute kids at primary, or Toby’s nephews and niece.
· Good Health: Today I can finally feel the cough going away and my nose if far less stuffy (or runny) than it’s been for weeks.
· Popcorn: sometimes it’s the only thing that sounds good to eat.
· Clothes: my new coat sure was nice at the chilly bus stop this morning.
· Family: Every year as the holidays come around it means family time. I'm grateful for this because I'm so bad at keeping in touch the rest of the year.

It’s all a blur to me

The past few weeks have flown by faster than I could ever manage to keep up. Here are my vague recollections of the past few weeks…

• Homework – there's been a lot, including one assignment I missed completely because I was sick and not thinking clearly – I honestly thought I had one more week – A test I bombed (68% -- yikes). I keep telling myself if I keep up on my homework the scores will even out.
  
• Wished a Happy Birthday to Bug.
  
• I do remember going to Denver for a little vacation, to see Wicked (it was just as good, if not better the second time!)
  
• Dressed up as a gypsy for Halloween.
  
• Forgot to wish a Happy Birthday to Becca.
  
• Bit off all 10 of my perfectly manicured fingernails.
  
• Went to Hale Center Theater to see "Curtains!" – A delightful musical comedy with a murder mystery twist.
  
• Managed to lose a whopping 3 pounds during my stint as a Biggest Looser.
  

I warned you my recollections were vague.

Harry-isms: The Way I See It

#1 - Bicycle shorts is just a fancy name for cushy pants.

#2 - You should never tell a bride she looks like a cupcake (or an ice cream cone) even if it is true.

#3 - If life hands you a lemon, check the hood for a VW symbol.

#4 - If you name your child Farquhar what do you call him for short?

#5 - Never ask a man to do something when a woman can get it done quicker.

#6 - I believe that it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all. I just wish the "lost" part didn't have to hurt so much.

A Bit of a Rough Patch

I obviously didn't get around to the September wrap up blog before the month got away from me, much to my mom's disappointment, but I was able to chat with her in person so I guess that sort of makes up for it, although she was looking forward to the month in review. Here's the best I can do (thank goodness for calendars that remember stuff I can't).

• Went with Lizzy and JR to see the Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale Center Theatre and paid way too much for dinner at the Ruby Tuesdays.
  
• Wished a Happy Birthday to Mrs. Awesome, the Freckled Nephew, and Baby Matilda.
  
• Spent Labor Day rearranging my bedroom furniture. I'm not yet quite sure what Gus the Cat thinks of the shift. He's had to rearrange his mach-speed racing to fit the new setup.
  
• I was also in charge of an activity for the Primary Quarterly activity. I ended up making a Prophets Memory game for the kids to play. It turned out quite well.
  
• Pila (my flatmate's mum) spent a week in the hospital with a rather bizarre blockage in her colon.
  
• Attended the "Taste of Home" Cooking School – Fell in love with a dual-flush European style toilet which would have been perfect in our tiny bathroom (which I didn't win), learned how to make Snickerdoodle Chex mix (yum!), and saw JR's cute mom (it took me a while to figure out who she was, I kept thinking I know that cute little lady, finally it dawned on me).
  
• I finished the blessing dress (it's SO cute) – haven't decided to make the bonnet yet, since the last two babies that wore the last two dresses didn't seem to go for the bonnet idea.
  
• I've done a lot of Geology homework, which here means I've tried to read the text book which is really confusing (even though it's for beginning Geology) and have taken 3 quizzes always managing to miss at least 3 not matter how hard I try to find the answers.
  
• The best part of Geology so far, reading the side notes in the book about cataclysmic volcanic eruptions, such as Mt. St. Helen's and this island somewhere in the ocean where the people didn't escape in time and their brains literally melted in their skulls (gross, but SO wickedly awesome). I love volcanoes. If that makes me a weirdo, so be it. I'm thinking of getting a bumper sticker made. As a side note to the sister who lives in the path of Mt. Reiner, no worries, the lahars only actually reach about 100 degrees – just keep the kids away from the river when the mountain goes.
  
• Received yet another "I've got the perfect person to line you up with" offer and acquired an unsolicited admirer from the Africa who doesn't seem to understand that "I'm not interested" means "No" (completely unrelated).
  
• Joined a Biggest Looser team to see if I can burn off a few of the extra pounds I've gained over the past 9 and ½ years of sitting in an office chair. So far so good! (Last week I managed to lose 3 pounds) It's amazing what a little competition and the lure of a cash prize will do to get you back on the exercise bike.
  
• Clipped 2 of Gus the Cat's claws (only 16 more to go!) I'll hear no guff from anyone on this one, have you ever tried giving a cat a manicure?
  
• With the help of the 1911 UK census which is available online I was able to help mom find the wife of one of my dad's ancestors! Cool Beans!
  

Since October's started I've managed to do the following:

• Picked up a sore throat which quickly turned into a full-fledged, stuffy nosed head cold and subsequently kept me from a Sister's Reunion, Girls Night Out, Ice Cream and Scones. (What fun!)
  
• Watched all 4 sessions of General Conference without falling asleep!
  
• Read 3 whole books: A Countess Below Stairs by Evva Ibbotson, Dad: The Man Who lied to Save the Planet by James Michael Pratt (a gift from my Grandma) and James Herriot's Cat Stories by (of course) James Herriot.
  
• Narrowed down the search for a new coat – the last nice on I had got too small and the interim everyday coat made me feel a bit like a hobo. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have made the final decision.
  

What I've got to look forward to…

• An end to this cold (my nose is SO raw from the tissues)
  
• A fun and relaxing trip to Denver at the end of October (anybody want to look after Gus while we're away?)
  
• Possibly a trip to Nashville in November to see my "hillbilly" nieces and nephew ;) (crossing my fingers)
  

Now that you're up to date I'll go one living obliviously until I realize another month is gone!

The August Rush

Where did August go? It feels like it was yesterday that I was doing the rush summary of July; my how time flies. I had the best intentions of blogging in August, really I did – especially considering it is my birthday month and all. So here's my offering for the month of August, I apologize for the fact it's a day late and a dollar short. I do apologize for the randomness of it all…

• To start off the month I turned another year older, yes that makes me 33 now – my plan was to write a clever blog about the number thirty three---however it turns out the only "clever" thing about thirty-three is that the Smashing Pumpkins recorded a song by that name many years ago. Unlike most years when I take the day off to celebrate (something to do with the fact that as a kid I NEVER once had to go to school on my birthday) I went to work and mourned the passing of another year in relative silence. Luckily there were many who wished me a happy day, I even got to go to the Cracker Barrel and have pork chops and applesauce for dinner (one of my favorite meals). One of my favorite things about my birthday is that my mom always calls me at (or around) the time I was born – 11:38am to be exact --- and she always sings to me…I'm just thankful my birth hour was at a decent time. Other than that it was a relatively normal day…I just think birthdays ought to be a little on the special side.
  
• The Annual Campout – Toby's family likes to take an annual camping trip – 3-days in the wilderness with no plans. I don't mind camping, but I don't like sitting around with nothing to do. I'm the kind of person who has to be doing something even when I'm watching television—like crochet or something. But you can't crochet in the woods, there's too much dirt there. I did have a good time playing with the fire, reading a book and taking naps though. I even got brave enough to venture out on a little hike. It was pretty chilly, but it wasn't altogether awful. I got to play with my new camera a little too.
  
• I finished 2 more courses towards my Bachelor's degree and discovered that I have a mere 30 credits left to get my degree --- that's a number that actually sounds do-able. That's only 10 classes – what I wouldn't give for a rich benefactor to help me pay for it!
  
• To celebrate the two B's I got, Toby and I bought some tiny cupcakes – I even took a picture of them in the shape of a B to add to the blog, but that obviously didn't happen.
  
• I've almost finished the crocheted blessing dress I've been working on for months. I've only got about 6 more rows to finish it off. Again, I was going to post pictures of that progress as well.
  
• I got to go attend the dedication for the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. It is always a memorable experience to attend a temple dedication.
  
• I ate a lot of Pila's homemade fudge—I think I gained at least two pounds.
  
• Spent a long weekend in St. George with Toby and Pila. We went to Cedar City to see the Utah Shakespearean Festival's production of "The Secret Garden" which was wonderful. The Secret Garden has always been one of my favorite books and the musical is worth investigating if you haven't seen it. This time as I watched I couldn't help but think what a sad story it is…so many sad people who've lost people they loved very much and they are all trying to learn to live without them. We had dinner at Chili's which was really good, though I ate TOO much – but I must recommend the baby back ribs with the Memphis Dry Rub --- YUMMY! We shopped at the outlet stores – spent way too much money on some new clothes and had a wonderful time eating and laughing and just having a ball. We to see "Aida" at Tuachan – one word – AWESOME! This was the best production I've seen (second only to Wicked). The people at Tuacahn have certainly figured out how to captivate their audience…especially if it can (almost) make you forget its 100 degrees at 8:30pm. Another food recommendation: cinnamon roasted cashews --- yummy! Gus was SO happy to see us when we got home.
  
• Visited two of the top ten scariest bathrooms on this trip but the Ephraim cemetery takes the cake – picture if you will hundreds of flies buzzing everywhere and no soap – and then to top it off there were at least 2 dozen large crows circling above it in the air – any sane superstitious person would have taken that as a sign to stay away.
  
• As a side note – August was also a month for crazy bugs – we saw a huge beetle creature near our driveway one night as we went out walking. At one of the cemeteries we visited on Sunday I was attacked by a crazy black bug that flew mach speed at my and smacked into my face, startling me and causing me to let out a screech. I then found myself being attached by these tiny flying creatures---Toby so kindly called them chiggers, so chiggers they became, they were all over me and I swear I could feel them burrowing into my skin. Yikes!
  
• School started AGAIN – this time I'm taking Physical Geology --- I decided it would be nice for a change to take a class where there was only one right answer – literature and professors can be so subjective sometimes.
  
• And to round out the month, Toby and I spent last night re-organizing out pantry, discovering expired boxes of food we didn't even know we had…how is it that pantries can become magical and make stuff disappear?

Goodbye July

Here's a little taste of my month…

Week 1:

Fourth of July – the hometown parade was pretty much a big WHA-WHA – there was only one real float in the whole she-bang, but I did get to hang out with my family for a while. We (mom, tob, liz, john and becca) went to the City's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which I quite enjoyed. I had seen it before at the Capital Theatre but couldn't see or hear much so it was a lot better the second time around.

Week 2:

My niece Erin came to visit. We had a birthday party for her and hung out with the family again. It's weird that she just turned 13! It was also cute to hear her touch of a southern accent…it did my hear good to hear the proper pronunciation of "sumthin." It's amazing when your nieces and nephews start becoming these grown up (albeit still little) people.

I also learned I need to become cleverer in my birthday/Christmas gift giving. For years I've been sending books to my kids thinking they MUST love to read…but I learned that that's not the case. Erin apparently hates reading…um, oops..though she does loves math, Sudoku and playing the clarinet (which I almost got her to admit that she LOVES playing it. Maybe I'll start sending her math books or clarinet reeds.

Week 3:

Went with aforementioned niece and my parents to the Oquirrh Hills temple open house. We had a nice time there and ate sandwiches in the car on the way home.

Spent the afternoon at the DI (Erin's favorite place to visit in Utah) because they don't have them in Tennessee. Should have spent more time looking for an extra set of jeans while I was there—I guess that's what tomorrow afternoon is for.

Saw Harry Potter #6 and have to admit I was less than impressed—too much snogging, not enough action.

The McDermott family reunion – another hot day, but it was nice to see cousins and my grandma. I made my favorite baked beans. Yum!

Week 4:

Handcarts days! I love watching the Handcart Days parade, but this year I didn't get to watch, I got to participate. Our Primary was invited to walk with the Stake's float. We had all of two kids show up but we had a fun time even though it was the hottest day of the year so far (103 degrees). I couldn't help but wonder why the pioneers couldn't have come to the Valley when it was a little cooler.

I also got to have my favorite treat – Cotton Candy!!! (Don't tell anyone I ate 2 of them myself! No wonder the Wii Fit just laughs at me lately). Cotton Candy incidentally (Amber) was invented for the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 (is that Tob I hear breaking into song?) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_candy)

I also apparently missed my sister and her kids who were supposed to have shown up for hotdogs and marshmallows in the back yard on the 23^rd. I guess they must have stayed in Washington. Too bad, I really would have loved to see them.

Week 5:

Sent out my littlest nephew's birthday gift late (I'm sensing a theme this year, everyone's b-day gifts have been late). Started taking the stairs down from the 14^th floor for a little exercise in the day – since I can't seem to get to done at home. Every day this week, except Thursday I've climb down 24 flights of stairs, each consisting of 12 steps). By the end of the week my legs have stopped feeling like jelly when I get back to my desk.

Along with that there's been the usual: laundry (at least 4 loads every week), homework (always waiting 'till the last minute), church stuff (never-ending), work.

 

My Week So Far...

As some of you know I decided to do the unthinkable and take a week off from work. I was in dire need of a BREAK so I broke down and took the whole week off! Here I am at Wednesday and thought I'd share what I've been up to so far...

Sunday -

Missed Father's Day because I had no gas in my car and never got around to calling. So Happy Father's Day dad! I love you!

Monday -

Slept in (if you can call 7:30am sleeping in -- lately my eyes have been popping open at 10 minutes to 6 every morning.

Went to the dentist by 7:50 to get my semi-annual cleaning. This time I even got x-rays (yee haw). And thankfully NO CAVATIES!

Went for a much needed oil change - found out I needed new tires. Bought new tires (thank heaven for a third paycheck in July).

Started and finished reading "A River Runs Through It" (quite an accomplishment for me to start and finish reading anything over 20 pages in one day). In case you're wondering, the books is just as sad as the movie -- Paul still dies.

Weeded the vegetable patch. We have 3 tomato plants, two cucumbers, 2 yellow squash, 2 zuchinni plants and a raspberry bush.

Helped Toby load all the gear into her dad's trailer for Girls camp (she's headed out all this week). Would you believe both girls and leaders were still bringing stuff at 11pm?!?

Discovered two cute kittens in the neighbor's back yard -- resisted all temptation to jump over the fence and adopt them. (gus would have liked to have them as a snack.) Luckily no adoption was needed, the neighbors decided they needed two kittes, so I get to watch them run up and down the tree and run in circles next door and I don't have to feed them. :) I've named them Jasper and Horace. (And for the record they are not NEARLY as cute as Gus).

Tuesday -

Packed a small bag for an overnight camping trip. Waited for Toby's dad to come fetch the trailer, bid farewell to the kitty-cat (who incidentally is sleeping with his head on my right had as I type this having been "Abandoned" for 24 hours) and headed for the mountains nearby Strawberry reservoir. After a quick and not-all-too-satisfying lunch at Chick's Cafe in Heber we found a suitable campsite and settled in. I spent most of the afternoon playing StarWars legos with Mason (my nephew-by-association) and trying not to fall asleep in the peaceful quiet of the mountians. Toby and her mom (and later her dad) saw a bear that had ripped a hole in a tent further down the canyon and couldn't convince Mason that it was something he needed to see.

We got a fire going, had delicious tin-foil dinners and I told Mason scary stories (which here means I tried to retell the entire saga of StarWars to a 5 and 1/2 year-old's liking) then we played tag around the campfire while the rest of the gang chatted around the campfire. I've come to the conclusion that I don't get nearly enough kid time. For whatever reason I have a far easier time communicating with kids than I have with grown-ups. After I wore Mason out -- he headed off to bed with the grandparents and Toby and I followed shortly there after. We only saw one star last night, what with the clouds, but it was wonderful to just sit in the middle of nowhere and not have a care in the world. I found myself taking a couple of mental vacations--haven't done that in a while.

Did I mention the great fire? It was a pity we weren't prepared with Marshmellows or peeps as we had PERFECT roasting coals. I guess we'll have to pull out the fire pit and try to convince someone to come hang out with us on the 23rd after the parade to roast marshmellows and watch fireworks from our front yard.

Wednesday -
Woke up bright and early helped Toby unload the trailer in preparation for the girls who were leaving to come up to camp this morning.

Played a round of ring toss.

Loaded up the truck and headed out with the parent's and Mason leaving Toby alone in the woods with a trailer, a pile of gear, a Honeybucket (aka port-a-potty), and a bear somewhere in the woods. We're hoping the blue van we passed on the way out was on its way to keep her company.

Stopped on the way home so Mason could go fishing. Dan stopped at the Provo river walk and tried a cast or two, Mason was successful in discovering a Muskrat hole with his foot and wasn't too happy about that. Luckily we had an extra pair of shorts in the truck to replace his soggy jeans. (Mental note: when walking along a river bank watch out for muskrat holes.)

Arrived home safely to a sullen cat. Showered and took a quick snooze with aforementioned cat (I think he missed me). Ate a peanut butter sandwich and couple of cookies, got the mail, chased the cat who escaped while getting the mail and then started in on my homework -- which is still not qutie done (what with blogging and all).

That's my week so far -- the day's not over yet, so there may be more to come. Stay tuned.

The Sound of Music

While reading for one of my classes I have been introduced to John Muir one of the early Transcendentalists (akin to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau)--you could say they were the original tree-huggers. Being a tree-hugger (and poet) at heart I was impressed by this passage from one of Muir's books, the chapter it comes from is called "A Wind-Storm in the Forests"

“I drifted on through the midst of this passionate music and motion, across many a glen, from ridge to ridge; often halting in the lee of a rock for shelter, or to gaze and listen. Even when the grand anthem had swelled to its highest pitch. I could distinctly hear the varying tones of individual trees,—Spruce, and Fir, and Pine, and leafless Oak, —and even the infinitely gentle rustle of the withered grasses at my feet. Each was expressing itself in its own way,—singing its own song…”

I have always felt that music has a way of touching the deeper part of one’s soul much like being alone in nature does. I love the way Muir intertwines these two elements in this passage. It isn’t hard to imagine the kind of music trees and grasses might make if they had a voice (or if we truly listened)—Muir was in tune enough to hear their symphony.

Room for a Gnome?

You know it's a bad sign when even your mom comments on the fact that there's never anything new on your blog. So here's what's on my mind today...

I have this recurring dream that I'm getting married--should be a good dream, right? But it's not...the wedding (or rather the events leading up to it are always a fiasco -- the gown is never ready (or even one I'd actually wear, I rarely have a veil (last time I tried to convince Toby that it would be okay if I made a veil from the toile curtains in the dressing room, and the groom is either a complete unknown or nowhere to be found. Sounds like underlying commitment issues--at least that's what I recall Scratz dream book saying, something along those lines.

Maybe those commitment issues come from the fact that I need to commit to a man in my life -- a little smiling man made of resin who will watch over my flower garden -- yes, folks, a lawn gnome.

As many of you know I have a sort of love/hate relationship with lawn gnomes (remember Gjerry). Now that I've got a well-established yard I'd like to find the perfect gnome to live in the back yard. Let's face it some gnomes are just downright creepy. I've been looking fro a while now and I've seen several contenders that I would approve of...

#1 - the travelocity gnome... very cute, and not at all creepy. Sticker price $69.99 not including taxes and shipping. (even on ebay)

#2 - the Robert's craft gnome -- very cute, painted in muted shades, kind of stone looking with a nice little lantern. Sticker Price $70.00 (ack!)

#3 - the Smith's Marketplace gnome -- a very traditional looking gnome, although not as menacing as some I've seen, nor too whimsical -- even at 40% off he was still $40.00.

I guess I need to decide what my gnome commitment level is. I like gnomes, but why are they so pricey? Could I really commit to a gnome that I didn't really love? This is my dilemma. I need some serious help.

What is your favorite...

Color? Red
Movie? Big Fish
Band? U2
Song? Missing You by John Waite (add Allison Krauss for a match made in heaven)
Car? VW Beetle
Truck? Toyota Tacoma
Food? Black Bean and Salsa Chicken
TV show? Bones, Chuck, Psych or The Closer
Animal? Elephant
Sport? Hockey or Baseball (live and in person)
Dessert? Chocolate cake or Apple Pie
Item of clothing? jeans
Accessory? my perfectly sized silver hoop earrings -- could not live without them
Number? 17
Past time? crocheting or taking photographs
Season? fall
Holiday? Independence Day
Shape? pear
Drink? Dr. Pepper
Gum? Trident - the green kind
Candy? Chocolate Riesens
Day? January 8th
Actress? Jennifer Garner
Piece of Jewelry? My Celtic knot pendant
Restaurant? Jimmy John's
CD? Recurring Dream - Crowded House
Store? Quilted Bear or Hallmark
Hair product? Fructis Cream Gel
Time of day? right before bedtime
Vacation spot? Nashville
Actor? Ewan McGregor, Rufus Sewell, David Boreanaz, Paul Walker, Chrs Evans and James Roday (Are you sensing a theme? All very attractive men in my book)

just a few thoughts...

One of my very best friends in the entire world is having a very bad week. Last Saturday I got a text message from my little sister as I was on my way up to Logan for a genealogy conference. Her “little sister” Lariann was in critical care at the U of U hospital and “it didn’t look good” at that moment my heart started breaking and I started praying. A little over two hours later, as I was on my way home, I got another text which broke my heart completely, Lari was gone. I started crying (luckily I wasn’t driving) and have cried off and on since receiving the news. There is nothing as hard as feeling completely helpless in a situation like this.

One Down, One To Go

I just finished my Tech Writing project (yes, it is due tomorrow for those of you who know I'm a master procrastinator). Up next, finishing the Modern British Literature paper on The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (and yes it's due on Thursday). Once Thursday night is through I'll be done with school for roughly 18 days before the Summer semester begins. YeeHaw! Hopefully I'll have time to slip a real blog in...

And sorry Mom, for missing your call, I was in the middle of finishing my homework. Perhaps we'll catch up on Friday...?

Beware the Llamas

Last night I had a very odd dream: There was a herd of hostile llamas headed toward us (although I only saw two of them). Everyone was worried about what would happen if the llamas got to close. Luckily, a stranger with a border collie showed up to save the day. Apparently border collies are naturally trained to herd llamas. My brother Z even showed up with his border collie, who was instantly obedient to the stranger's every command and helped the stranger wrangle the llamas, thus saving the world.

I can only guess this strange dream was brought on by the slice of coconut cream pie I ate yesterday afternoon.

I guess you might say the moral of the story is to make sure you have a Border Collie in cause of a llama attack.

Tragedy in the Laundry Room

Last night I threw a load of laundry in to get the suitcase emptied from my trip to Independence, Missouri.

The load included my nice work shirts ("official" and un-official), several of my favorite t-shirts, my black cardigan, jeans, nice work pants (though I only get to wear them when I'm traveling for work) etc, etc.

Threw the batch in the dryer then I sat down to watch "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" (I'd only give it 2 stars and probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone, there are other much better Holocaust movies out there -- I didn't even manage a good cry out of it, which if you know me at all is saying A LOT). The dryer was terribly noisy, like something was thunking around in there...I just figured it was the buttons on my jeans or something.

Upon unloading the dryer I discover the source of the noise...I forgot to double-check the pockets of my best jeans and missed the Burt's Bees Pomegranate lip balm in the pocket! (Please note: I pride myself on my laundry skills -- this is the first mishap I can think of!)

So now, not only do my clothes have melted lip balm all over them, I'm out a Burt's Bees lip balm. Really I'm not sure what's more tragic.

*Does any one know how to get melted lip balm out of your clothes? Or perhaps the location of an abandoned gold mine where I could get the funds to buy new clothes???

And in other news...

I'm training a couple of "missionaries" for the digital project here in Independence. This morning one of the sisters asks if I'm related to my mom and I said yes, turns out she's Jimmy Christensen's (yes, Cousin Jimmy's) sister-in-law, Bonnie. How weird is that?

This One's for Mom

Yesterday I came across an obituary for the elusive Patrick McDermott -- yes, that Patrick McDermott. It reads as follows from the Galesburg, Illinois Republican-Register:

McDermott, Mr. Patrick died in his home Rio, Tuesday morning after a long illness of several weeks of dropsy. Has been resident of Rio many years. He raised a large family, not one of whom was with him during his last illness. Rio, Nov. 20, 1886

I can't help but wonder where the rest of his family was -- and think of Mrs. Mears (from Thoroughly Modern Millie) who would say, "Sad to be all alone in the world." Poor guy.

But perhaps not, turns out there may be some kind of probate record for him. I'll have to wait 'til I get back to SLC to check the film at the Library.

Here I go again on my own...

Years ago when I bought my first real car ( a light blue 1985 Honda Civic - affectionately know as Clark) I decided it was my adventure-mobile. I dubbed myself "Adventure Girl" and I even had a faithful sidekick called "Tadpole" we went on what we thought were adventures but never really travelled too far from home...I honestly can't remember traveling farther than Lagoon, but nevertheless we had a good-time.

Now as a grown up I find myself on more adventurous adventures. I've even crossed the wide Atlantic Ocean. But I not longer have a sidekick. Tadpole has long since been married and is usually off on adventures of her own. Last night as the panic set in (which it always does before a trip) I found myself wishing and hoping I had a travel buddy. But alas, Marge is working, Mr. Right is nowhere to be found and let's face it, Gus the cat would not make the best travel buddy, he meows pathetically on the 3 minute drive to the vet.

So, Here I am, in Independence, Missouri on my own. Though I've got to say there's something to be said about going on one's own adventures. Today I boarded a plane, acquired a rental car and drove to my hotel all on my own (almost). I did have to call Marge to get directions to my hotel. I'd made one wrong turn at the end of my journey and got all off course. But now, after venturing out to find some groceries and some much needed lotion I'm back in my suite for the night watching "August Rush" and eating Ramen Noodles with Velveeta cheese.

I can do hard things, I just wish I didn't always have to do them alone.

25 Things --

this has been kicking around awhile, but i finally found the inspiration this morning thanks to an old friend...she had this posted on her "about me" portion of her website...i have obviously changed her responses to mine. i found it so much easier to have a starting point, i had a hard time coming up with 25 things about myself, then there are those who are already up to 50! here goes, in no particular order...

I AM in love with the idea of being in love. Not just the silly boyfriend/girlfriend type love, but the deep romantic, worthy of a Jane Austin novel type love.

I WANT to wake up one morning and realize I don’t have to get up and go to work ever again.

I HAVE a cat that sleeps on my bed every night, a best friend who loves me no matter how crazy I get and a family that loves me (at least I think they do).

I KEEP just about everything: Sand from beaches I’ve been to, crayon drawings from my nieces and nephews, stuffed animals from my childhood, fortune cookie fortunes, favorite clothes that don’t fit anymore...

I WISH I COULD paint like VanGogh.

I HATE making decisions especially about what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I FEAR that some of my perceptions of reality have been clouded by the number of movies and television programs I’ve seen (take bowling for example, I’ve seen it on TV dozens of times, therefore because of the time spent watching other people bowl I should be able to do it without any help).

I HEAR that the Pineapple whips at Disneyland are “to die for” but I’ve never had one.

I DON’T THINK people “get” me.

I REGRET that I don’t write in my journal like I should, that I sold my VW Beetle and that I didn’t get a stamp in my passport when I went to France.

I LOVE rainstorms, butterflies, chocolate cake, Scottish accents, napping in the sunshine, baking cinnamon rolls, gum, men's eyelashes and sleeping babies.

I AM NOT the shy person people tend to think of me as being. It takes a while for me to warm up to people—most of them are surprised to discover I’m a rather witty and delightful person.

I DANCE when no one is watching. Mostly in the kitchen, usually to Norah Jones, Michael Bublé, or some random 80’s super hit.

I SING rather well actually, but I only do it around the house or in the car. I get self conscious with an audience. I love singing along with Wicked, Little Women and Aida at the moment.

I NEVER remember nephew #1’s birthday is it on the 3rd or on the 6th?

I RARELY enjoy eating seafood, unless it’s that delicious sea bass I had at Chez Diego on the seashore in France.

I CRY WHEN I WATCH just about anything. Spirit : Stallion of the Cimarron, Eight Below, (any movie with any animal in it), LOST, Any movie where there’s a happy ending, a romantic storyline, you name it I probably cried at some point while watching it.

I AM NOT ALWAYS the nicest person. As they say in the South sometimes I can be downright “ugly” – have you seen me on a Saturday morning before 9:00am?

I HATE THAT school takes up so much of my life. There are so many other things I’d rather be doing--Like photography or even just breathing normally would be nice.

I’M CONFUSED ABOUT the whole dating thing. I’ve been told that I give off “negative dating signs.” I don’t know what that means.

I NEED to take bowling lessons. I love bowling, but I’ve seen 5 year olds who bowl better than I do.

I SHOULD visit my grandmother more often, call my sisters once in a while and eat more vegetables.

I THINK LL Cool J is completely adorable. (Have you seen Last Holiday?)

I KNOW I am an emotional eater. When I'm frustrated or stressed all I want is chocolate cake, when I'm depressed, eating is my last priority.

I BELIEVE that one day everything will make perfect sense.

Cheeses of the World (or Favorite Find of the Week #1)

I was looking for some pubic domain images for a presentation I have to give tomorrow and ran across this little gem of a site. They have free pictures you can use for whatever you want.

I was immediately drawn to the CHEESE section for so many reasons.

Once again, it cannot be denied...I'm kind of a weirdo.

I probably should clarify -- there will be no photos of cheese in the presentation.

goodnight.

A Busy Day

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the day my flatmate and I met. It's hard to believe it's really been that long and we still can stand the sight of one another.

Today also marks what would have been Elvis's 74th birthday. (I still hold to the idea that the World was just not quite big enough for both Elvis and me, that's why he died just over a year after I was born). If you're completely in the dark and know nothing of Elvis, you can learn everything you ever wanted to know at www.elvis.com (there's even a live camera feed of Graceland, so you can watch and see the exact moment Elvis comes back home). Have I ever mentioned I've been to Graceland? Not actually inside, but my flatmate and I took our picture at the gates and signed our names (along with at least 6 million others) on the walls around Graceland. (This is one place I'd like to go back to and spend a lot more time exploring the city with my camera, maybe make a photo-documentary of the gates of Graceland--but now that I've said it, some one else will beat me to it--or maybe they already have).

The semester started again this week. I've got two classes: Technical Writing and Modern British Literature, which means I'll be in class on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with homework most other nights, throw in a lot of homework and my new church calling (Primary Secretary) I'm thinking the next 15 weeks are going to be a little on the crazy side.

And finally a question for you readers who travel I-15 past Centerville on a daily basis -- Is the traffic just worse on Thursdays? I drove the same route yesterday, same time of day, today it took 20 minutes longer than yesterday. Maybe Thursday is just a bad day for I-15.