right of way

...loves...

2010-09-14T11:43:00.007-06:00

...There is a lot of love in my life... And a lot that I love...My cup runneth over...

take two

2010-08-28T17:26:00.003-06:00

So I did my second trail run of the year yesterday. I chose to wear a running skirt so that if I tripped again I wouldn't ruin a pair of pants... just add scars to my already beat up knees.

I can say that I did NOT hit the ground on my second attempt. I can't say that I didn't trip and catch a little air. However, miraculously I was able to catch myself from falling. I actually really enjoy running on the trails but I fear that it might prove too difficult a feat for me. I guess I'll have to see how attempt three goes (whenever that may be).

i don't blog anymore...

2010-08-09T21:09:00.002-06:00

Rocky and mskaz have both reminded me that I don't blog anymore... but it really isn't because of Buddy. After years of blogging, I've slowly lost the fire.

Sure, I still think of blogging... like the time a ceiling fan hit me in the head. When Buddy asked me to step on his back to try to crack it I told him to lie on the floor. He said "No the bed will be fine." Neither of us thought about the low ceiling and the fan on full blast. I sure as heck thought of it as I felt a blow to the back of the head followed by another blow before I fell on the bed writhing in pain. And compassionate Buddy brought me a huge frozen elk stick (it looked like a HUGE oval package of ground beef) when I asked for a bag of ice. He told me "The meat stick will be funny in the morning." I wasn't laughing as I went to the freezer to get my own ice. However, the next day I decided he was right. The Elk stick thing was funny as were the multiple goose eggs.

I even thought about blogging the other day when Buddy sat on a seat in a change room only to stand up and say "My pants are wet, this seat is still wet. It's not a stain." As he rushed to the men's department holding out his shorts so they didn't touch his leg I silently laughed. When we smelled his shorts it wasn't as funny as it smelled like urine (okay, it was funny to me but like the meat stick, in the moment it wasn't funny to him). However, sitting in someone else's urine will bag you a nice pair of Docker pants for $15. This might just be a good method to getting deals at stores. If you see me walking around with a spray bottle, it isn't to wheel and deal store managers.

So I think of blogging about once a week but then the feeling passes. Maybe it's time for a change. Maybe it's time to lay this blog to rest. Or maybe I'll start typing my thoughts again.

But for now, just picture ceiling fans and urine.

home...

2010-07-01T07:18:00.002-06:00

I'm coming home to you Canada. Sorry I will miss your birthday today but I will make sure you know how much you are loved! See you Friday...

say what?

2010-05-31T21:25:00.003-06:00

I'm not clumsy... right? Right! I've never mentioned falling over on my bike, dropping a screwdriver on my head, multiple wipe outs on my first mountain bike ride, tripping over carpet. Never. I'm graceful.

So today it was a TOTAL shock when I went on my first trail run ever and ended up FLYING when my left toe caught the tip of a very large, very obvious rock. I was just about to say to my friends "Wow, this view is gorgeous but I'm afraid if I don't look right in front of me I'll biff it." Well, before those words could come out of my mouth, I flew through the air in such a way that would make Superman jealous.

The double tragedy? I ripped my very nice, pricey compression tights. However, I am thinking the long sleeved and capri pants saved me from major skin damage.

Tonight I'm nursing my tender knee and tender ego.

help!

2010-05-23T17:09:00.004-06:00

So this year I decided to plant a vegetable garden. We'll see how it turns out. My friend and I planted everything and were feeling quite proud... and then her husband told us we did it all wrong! Ha. If half of the stuff comes up I will count that as a success.

I've never been one for gardens but liked the idea of fresh produce. Well now that I've done that, I'm starting to look at my garden beds at home and thinking a change is in order. I've never been a green thumb or even interested in it. My mom has always had beautiful gardens. I always wondered why she would go to so much trouble even though they were nice to look at. Maybe I'm getting older because today when I looked at the garden beds (that came with my house) I was appalled at how ugly they were.

Dear readers, if there are any of you left, please give me advice. What should I do with them? The shrubs came already planted. I don't know if I want to rip them up but what flowers should I plant or what would spruce the beds up a bit??

funny

2010-05-19T21:01:00.003-06:00

This site is funny (thanks Belmomma for this)

This video is freaking funny (and I think this could also apply to Republicans... had to get that in!!!)

And this dude, well he's freaking funny times two (thanks Pops for this link).

I'm doing a lot of laughing lately, but not a lot of blogging. Hope you're all laughing too!!!

lines

2010-04-17T20:17:00.003-06:00

Things overheard in Target:

Older middle age man to his wife "Those are WAY cute... way cute!" (This was in reference to pillows. He said it about three times and I snickered each time. There is just something sort of wrong with a man saying "way cute.")

"Do you have chopsticks for kids?" Guess this family finds it important to train their kids up right in the way of Asian utensils. I wanted to tell them to just stick an elastic at the end of regular chopsticks but I didn't. And strangely enough, Target didn't even SELL chopsticks. Then again, Utah isn't the mecca of Asian cuisine.

I got nothing else. My creative juices haven't been flowing so it's quiet on the blogging front.

goodbye lively house

2010-03-28T22:32:00.003-06:00

I've had my little brother and his family in town for a week. The little kids have been so cute and so sweet. Little Jack is always full of smiles and snuggles. Emma is a chatterbox, which I appreciate, and likes to play pretend "Pegasus", "dog" or "unicorn." I think that kid needs a pet.

Tomorrow they're headed back home and I have a suspicion the house will sound eerily quiet when I get home from work. This week it was a lively home, the way a place should be. I'm far too quiet! I think I need to get some loud toys or musical instruments and keep the sound going! But then again, perhaps I should enjoy the peace and quiet because maybe one day my future will hold busy bees who make lots of noise, and then I'll be dreaming for silence.

Happy travels! Love you guys.

my vent

2010-03-26T15:59:00.007-06:00

Since the new health care reform bill passed I have been inundated with the heavily biased rhetoric from the far right. A teacher came to school with a black band around his arm because one of his civil liberties died the day the bill was passed. I'm seriously considering a Facebook hiatus because of status updates and comments. I cannot believe how ridiculous some of the comments are. (Note that the typos are from the original authors, not me).

Things like:

"So they just passed a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he didn't understand it, passed by a Congress that exempts themselves from it, signed by a president who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese."

"It's supposed to be like Canada. I'm told people that can't get medical attention there are coming here because the waiting lists are years out for the treatment they need. I don't want the government to control weather I need health care or who I'm covered by, and I don't definitely want to pay for other's health care. No thanks!"

"But now the govt. will control and regulate hospitals (we know how much we all love HMOs!), doctors, pharmacies, everything! It's going to be great! It will be like going to the DMV or the post office! That's the level of efficiency we will have. We have the best care in the world right now, second to none. Say goodbye! PLUS-we all know the biggest 'fear mongerers' are congress and the Speaker of the House and our President trying to scare the hell out of people about all these people that have died because they had no insurance. All you have to do is check out these stories and they are bold-faced lying."

I mean no disrespect to the people that have written these comments but I am SO freaking annoyed and it's my blog so I'll do what I want to! I don't mind debate if it is balanced and rational. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. What drives me crazy is the regurgitation of what the spin doctors on the far right are saying (and yes, I realize the far left has it too). The new bill will not resemble Canadian health care at all. The United States does not have the best health care... far from it. They continually rank as the worst industrialized nation in preventable deaths. The government has NO plans to control and regulate hospitals. READ THE FREAKING BILL.

And here is what rankles me most... (even though I know it shouldn't) but in a highly Christian state I am shocked that many people are more concerned with dollar signs than what is the RIGHT thing to do... which is to provide insurance to those with pre-existing conditions and the lower middle class that can't afford it or have companies that don't provide it. I want to look in to the faces of some of these people and yell "WHAT WOULD JESUS DO!?!?"

I really want to ask some of them "Can you please outline the new health care bill for me?" "And what is it that you are strongly opposed to?" "What civil liberty was taken away?" "How does this compare and contrast to Canada's health care?" "How many American's die per year due to preventable deaths compared to the French?" "If your child was born with dwarfism, how would you currently pay for his/her bills and surgeries?" "How much of your insurance is subsidized by your company? Could you afford that all on your own?"

But I don't. I silently fume because I know that it doesn't matter what I say, they will only hear and believe what they want to. So I rant on my little blog. And I am openly pleased that health care reform is on its way.... because even though I'm far from being like Jesus... I think it's the right thing to do... and I think He's on my side too! Ha ha.

fantasy

2010-03-09T22:28:00.005-07:00

I wish every day could be as pretty as this:

As fun as this:

And as happy as this:

proud

2010-02-28T21:50:00.004-07:00

Canada I love you! Hockey I love you!

Gold medal in Hockey for Canada... I LOVE IT!

Today I really miss home.

I have fond memories of hockey games with my dad... listening as he taught me about off-sides, icing, penalties, and then plenty of high fives when the Flames scored. We would share nachos and I would scarf down a malt. Mostly I felt pretty special to get "dates" with my dad on a school night. Because of him it's the one sport that I actually understand. And it's the only sport that can get me all tied up in knots.

Gratefully today ended with a smile and not a frown...

awesome

2010-02-24T22:42:00.002-07:00

When work is totally not awesome, getting flowers from great friends IS awesome. More awesome is the mistake on the card...

"Your homos

Love Penny and Jennie"

I assumed they meant to write "your homies" but what's totally hilarious is that my friends ONLY asked that the card say "Love" and their names. Not sure how the order clerk heard "your homos" but it made the gift even better.

I love the tulips. They are my favourite flower. And I love my totally awesome friends!

should nots

2010-02-15T22:26:00.002-07:00

Unless you're Michael Phelps, you should not wear this

I spent a week in Maui... but currently I only feel like posting things that make me sick to my stomach.

8 weeks...

2010-01-25T22:46:00.003-07:00

of Hip Hop class starts tomorrow. Yes, this awkward, uncoordinated, clumsy gal will be seeing if she really can dance! HRH and I signed up for an eight week course in "Introduction to Hip Hop".

So what if it says previous dance experience helpful (hey, I did ballet and tap as a young child)! So what if I ain't got rhythm! So what if HRH isn't going to be there for the first, very uncomfortable first class!

At least the music will be awesome. And at least, in my head, I'll be awesome.

signs

2010-01-18T21:31:00.005-07:00

(Parents: Do not let Children Play or climb on top of Dinosaur)

In the space of 2 minutes I saw at least 15 kids on top of the dinosaur. Who knew there were so many illiterate parents in the city I live!

not sweet

2010-01-01T21:19:00.004-07:00

A few weeks back I told a good friend that she was "nice but not sweet." At first she was a wee bit offended until I explained that it was not an insult, and in fact I was neither sweet nor nice.

Case in point...

A insignificant friend from junior high posted a status update on Facebook that read

"Who wants to be my 1000th friend?! The prize is you get to be my friend!!!"

And right then I decided it would be highly amusing to delete him as a friend so that he would now have to get TWO more friends to reach the elusive 1000! When you have that many "friends" you won't know who did the deleting. I entertained myself with the thought of him realizing he lost a friend but unsure of who the cruel person was... and the fact that I haven't spoken to him since I was 14 I wasn't too worried about hurt feelings.

Today I remembered that I de-friended him. Much to my pleasure I found out his profile is public! So I was able to snoop on his page. The day I deleted him this was his status update:

"Someone unfriended me! WTF? Now they will miss out on abundant witticisms, glorious commentary and incessant creeping:(" (However, anyone can creep on his page without being his friend, and I have yet to miss his witticisms and glorious commentary).

I laughed and laughed and laughed. See? I'm not sweet or nice but I sure can entertain myself.

that's right, eh?

2009-12-24T15:06:00.003-07:00

10 Things I love about being home...

1. Hearing the accents all over again. House, about, flag, bag, tag. Awesome.
2. Hearing "eh" on a regular basis, especially from my eldest sister.
3. My nieces and nephews. So cute, so funny, and sometimes so cuddly.
4. Reconnecting with old friends... especially engaged ones.
5. Snow covered mountains.
6. Eating chocolate upon chocolate.
7. Having mom make breakfast, most dinners and generally spoiling us with food.
8. Roast beef dinner with yorkshire puddings (thanks sis).
9. Going to a hockey game (oh how I miss that sport).
10. It actually feels like Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.

May your day be Merry and Bright!!!

only me

2009-12-10T22:28:00.002-07:00

Thank you all for your well wishes... I am on the mend... so much so that I was able to go ice skating with my girls at work today.

The recreational therapist asked if I would show her how to do a "hockey stop" on skates. Seeing as I was an experienced skater (thanks to my heritage), I happily obliged. Midway through the stop the blade of my skate flew off... which meant I fell down. All I could do was laugh. And although I was shocked, of course something like that happened to me. I'm naturally clumsy so it makes perfect sense to have a skate malfunction. She had to help me off the ice as I'm not quite talented enough to skate on one foot.

Now to find out how much it costs to replace the blade.

baby

2009-12-08T21:49:00.002-07:00

I've been bragging most of the Fall that I hardly ever get the flu. They were doing vaccines on Friday and when the nurse asked if I was getting it, I said "No, I don't believe in those things." Well, I still don't believe in them but my bragging days are over.

For the most part I consider myself a grown up. I own my own place, my own car, and have a good job. But when I'm lying on the floor of my bathroom and praying that this will be the last time I will throw up all I can think of is "I want my mommy." Funny how being ill takes you back to your childhood days of Mom taking care of you, rubbing your back, getting you Gingerale. I revert back to being a baby. To make matters worse, I was so sore from my run on Saturday. So walking down my stairs was painful... on top of being weak from losing any kind of fluids or nutrients in my body. That is when a split-level house truly bites you in the a**. Gratefully it was a short-lived flu. I thought I was well enough to return to work today but after 3 hours of being there, I realized I could have used another day of rest. In that short time I had kicked a girl out of my office after only 5 minutes and spent another family session in a total haze. I came home with some paperwork to do and the only thing I managed to get down was take a 3 hour nap. I've eaten some toast and soup and think I'll be able to return to work tomorrow. Hopefully this means that I won't get sick at Christmas.

And I know that I will always call out for Mommy when I'm sick.

things that must go

2009-11-30T22:56:00.003-07:00

Well the only thing I have energy to write about is one thing that really must go...

Public groups on Facebook for people getting married

Sure there are lots of clever ways to state they're getting hitched. Recent ones I've seen "So and So and their Carnival of Love", "So and So are getting married!!!!", "Team So and So. We're getting married!!!" And no, I am not a bitter single woman. I just don't understand why people will give out their address in a group that is public content. Anyone can access it.

People... make your group private or better yet, send a personal email or phone call asking for addresses you don't have. I guess I still believe that weddings should be for close family and friends so getting an address shouldn't be too difficult OR too public.

There I said it.

*If you, or someone close to you, has had one of these groups, this is not a personal attack. But really, it must go!

before and after

2009-11-22T21:24:00.008-07:00

So I still need to hang pictures and decorate, but here are some photos of the paint job.

Living room (many thanks to my folks for helping me with this huge task)

Before:

After:

Bedroom Before:

After: (Sis, please note the bed is made better... just for you!)

nothing but the truth

2009-11-15T22:00:00.003-07:00

There are times when I sit in therapy wondering what important details my clients are omitting from their stories. Details that would likely help them (and help me help them) in making some changes. Changes that would make their life better. I can't force it out of them. I can't always be sure my intuition is right. But I choose to believe I'm brilliant so I must be right!

And there are times outside of my work life when information would enlighten a situation. It seems like this week was full of unknown details that came to light. It isn't anything I want to publicly write about... I guess I too want to omit certain details in this forum. I do know that I'm grateful for a new week and I hope for less surprises. I hope for more loose tongues and upfront, straightforward discussions in all spheres of my life.

distracted or clumsy?

2009-11-08T22:20:00.003-07:00

I have always stated that I am just clumsy. But lately I've been wondering if the real problem is being distracted... which leads to clumsy. Regardless, a screwdriver hitting me in the head still &%*$# hurts.

The good news... my bedroom is finally painted!

A handy painting tip for high walls - don't leave a screwdriver on top of the ladder. When you move the ladder you could end up with a very nasty surprise.

giggles

2009-10-23T22:38:00.003-06:00

Usually my house is quiet and peaceful... except when some unwanted visitors paid a visit two weeks ago (not my parents, but the mice they so lovingly disposed of for me). I loved having my parents around. I don't think I've eaten that well in months. And they even helped me paint the place. I couldn't ask for better parents.

But tonight was a special night filled with little kid laughter. My two nieces christened my home with giggles and dancing and singing. We snuggled under blankets, they each ate their chocolate treat of choice and introduced me to the world of High School musical. Parker managed to set off a mouse trap which gave her a good fright and me a good reason to say "probably time for bed." As Parker snuggled in super close in the bed, with her arm draped across my stomach and her stuffie (aka stuffed animal) wedged between us, digging in to my back, I could only smile. Tonight this place felt even more like a home.

On the agenda tomorrow: Lucky Charms. Isn't it every Auntie's job to sugar them up before the folks pick them up???

time to sleep

2009-10-11T22:59:00.003-06:00

It's a sign that you should have been asleep an hour ago when you use nail polish remover instead of eye makeup remover.

My right eye is not burning anymore and I seem to be able to see out of it okay. But about 10 minutes ago as I swiped my cotton ball on my eye I quickly realized I hadn't used to the right bottle. It burns folks, it burns.

One of these days I am going to seriously hurt or maim myself.

what do you call it?

2009-10-07T22:42:00.002-06:00

It's not irony... I think... since Alanis Morrisette's song does not apparently contain "ironic" situations. But definitions are not my strong suit.

So readers, tell me what you would actually call this true event:

A person spends an hour talking with teenage boys about how to be mature and appropriate in relationships. She takes some time and effort in telling them that communication is key, and that you have to learn how to have real discussions. Texting, IM'ing is not really talking. You can mask your insecurities, show more courage and boldness without having to face the person. She hopes they have taken just a kernel of what she said to develop healthy, mature relationships.

An hour later she receives a text message from a man she has never met. He could be a perfectly nice person. He was given her information by a mutual acquaintance... a set-up of sorts. He asks her out over text. They don't even know what their voices sound like. She wishes he had listened to her advice that she gave to teenagers just an hour ago... and wondering if this is really what the adult dating world has also come to.

So, is this irony? Word aficionados please help.

This is not meant to slam this person or make fun or be cruel. It's just a huge pet peeve of mine when people use impersonal means to start/initiate relationships or hide behind their fears or insecurities. I worry that the younger generation is losing all of their communication skills because they don't even talk on the phone anymore. I'm a fan of the text, don't get me wrong... but timing and situations need to play a role in to when it is used.

posse

2009-10-03T12:40:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I envision a posse of past pets (dogs) roaming around Heaven. Maybe not crazy Jiggs or nutty Ben... but Albert and Breta would be the best of friends... The top dogs of all the pets we've had. Ted's iguanas and geckos might be tagging along when they're not "too cool for school." And if Jiggs has learned to quit barking up in Heaven, the head honchos might let him play. That dog could be so annoying, but it was nice to finally have a dog I could put on my lap!

I might be off my rocker, but yesterday I had this image of my sister's dog Charlie jumping and licking and playing with the rest of the crew up there. His hair would still be in his eyes, and he would be as lovable and hugable as ever.

My sister once told me that getting Chuckie was the best decision of her single life. He adjusted well to her marriage and loved her kids... and they all loved him. As hard as it is to say goodbye to a sweet member of the family, I wonder how enriched my life would be if I could come home to an unconditionally loving pup. But saying goodbye is hard, really hard. And when it came to saying goodbye to our past dogs, I had a hard time remembering "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." (Oh Dr. Seuss, so wise)

As far as becoming a pet owner, I haven't decided yet. But one thing I do know is that all dogs DO go to Heaven.

when bad things happen to good people...

2009-09-16T22:30:00.003-06:00

...who procrastinate.

Due to some bad business practices of my "former" bank surrounding my past potential mortgage with them, I decided to switch banks once I actually bought my home with a new lender. I pulled out most of my money and left just a little bit to cover the last automatic withdrawals that would happen before I could switch it all over. That was several months ago. I kept thinking I should close the account but it wasn't on my priority list, and hey, I do procrastinate. So, I was going through my secondary email accounts that I don't check every day when I saw an alert that I was in overdraft with my former bank. What the heck?! Having never been in overdraft I was mortified and confused as to how that could happen.

Turns out that a year ago I authorized my AAA account to use automatic withdrawal. Well, that yearly payment from my OLD bank account put me in to overdraft. Awesome. To top it off, I continued to get a daily charge for each day I was in the red. And because I don't often check that one email account, I've been in debt for three days. So I decided to deposit a cheque tonight to clear it all up and to once again feel like a financially responsible person... until I remembered that my debit card from that bank had expired. I shredded the new card last month because I was closing the account. Are you all following me here? So, now I get another daily charge until I can go in to the bank and deposit the necessary money. Then can you guess what I'm going to do? Yup, close that damn account... which I should have done months ago.

Lesson learned.

Oh, and I still hate that bank. Yes, I hate you WELLS FARGO.

late nights

2009-09-07T23:49:00.002-06:00

I have this bad habit that I stay up late when my schedule changes. Since I'm going camping with my work girls tomorrow I suddenly think I'm on vacation. I'm forgetting that I'm going to be camping with them for three day and will be "working" 24 hours a day rather than my usual 8-9. I'm thinking this night owl routine is going to kick me in the butt tomorrow at about 3 p.m. Either that or the girls. Ha ha.

Wish me luck!

i'm the king of the world...

2009-08-30T21:30:00.009-06:00

You know it's a good vacation when it involves Titanic re-enactments. I went to Vancouver Island earlier this month to spend some quality time with my folks, sister and her two adorable kids. It was what a vacation should be.

We rode a ferry (and saw Orca's on the way back)

Went to Sooke and went on some cool ziplines

Enjoyed the scenery in Sooke

Checked out Victoria Harbour

Sailed!

And rode some rides in Seattle.

This picture really epitomizes how fun the trip was.

Other non-pictured highlights...
-Watching Parker catch rain with her mouth which resulted in a soaking top
-Finally getting ice cream at the Big Moo
-Running by the ocean
-Being told by the Sushi man that I have a "nice shape and beautiful."
-Retelling family sailing stories, especially those involving my little brother
-Having my sister catch me from gossiping about a stranger that happened to be on the same bus as us

timp

2009-08-23T20:05:00.008-06:00

Timpanogos at sunrise... need I say more?

Well, I will... For those of you that don't know Timpanogos is the looming peak just up Provo Canyon. I have wanted to hike this mountain for years and this summer WAS the year. We started our hike at 2 a.m. with our headlamps, toques, and snacks. We reached the summit just as the sun came up and it was spectacular... and cold! We decided to go down the glacier but at 7 a.m. the snow was more ice than snow which made for a dangerous trek down (Chris's back is living proof).

Great company and great views. I loved it!

biking aftermath!

2009-08-10T22:33:00.005-06:00

Pictures don't quite do justice to this spectacular bruise! I'm kind of proud of it. My own badge of honour.

And to give you a size perspective:

mountain falling

2009-08-02T21:15:00.007-06:00

Yesterday Aaron took me on my first mountain biking adventure at Sundance. While my road biking skills helped me know how to clip in to my pedals, that's about all it helped me with! I found it harder to clip out of my pedals, which resulted in some spectacular crashes. We started out by riding the lift and then biking down. After the first ride down the trail I was ready to quit! I had managed to hit a tree, scratch up my hip, arm and ego!

Aaron took a different approach and took me up a trail first, coaching me to "pedal, pedal, pedal." The second trail was beautiful but scary. There were several parts where I had to avoid looking to the left as there was nothing to stop me from falling down a steep ledge if I wiped out (which wasn't too difficult a task for me).

I gained a bit more confidence and the view was definitely worth the work.

Aaron did "force" me to practice going over a tree root. I did it, but looking at the picture reminds me that I clearly have some biking form to work on.

My last spill put me out of commission. I was able to stand up and laugh it off but my elbow wasn't laughing. Today I have some pretty impressive bruises and scratches. It was definitely an experience. I'm not sure I'm a convert yet, but I'm glad I finally tried it out. It will take a lot more practice to feel like I can conquer it... but maybe... maybe I'll go again...

ridin' low

2009-07-26T13:33:00.001-06:00

Another reason to pull your pants up to a proper fit (this one's for you J-Bug)!

surprise!

2009-07-20T22:55:00.005-06:00

I really wasn't going to come home... but I knew I couldn't resist if everyone else was there. So just over a week before the Bostonians were coming, I booked a flight with my points. With my sister as my accomplice I decided to surprise the family. There were some double takes, a punch in the arm, and maybe a few tears (crier will remain anonymous). The surprises were fun... but not as fun as the whole week.

Highlights:
1. The stampede with the kids. Smiles, holding hands, screams on the rides, allergies in the barns.

2. The stampede with the adults. Chuck wagons, rides, brother screaming like a girl on rides, sister laughing so hard she was crying on the ride, caramel apples x 2.
3. Mocha mud pies, laughing so hard on the way home, kid wearing my glasses with a fake smile.

4. Sunday afternoon drive, Kananaskis country, renewed love of my homeland.
5. Games, laughs, brain scars, more laughs.

Lowlights:
1. Feeling sick from so much junk food.
2. Two days of pouring rain, no beach days, nasty tan lines still in force.
3. Running out of time.
4. Saying goodbye to everyone for another year.

The time always goes so quickly. I always have intentions to see others or do something different but in the end I want to absorb as much of the family as possible. The kids are so funny and always changing... and I want to be a part of that as much as possible. I love every one of them.

uh oh

2009-06-29T22:33:00.002-06:00

Bad Idea:

The AC is out in my car. It's pushing 90F/32C outside. I am driving home and talking on the phone with the windows rolled up so my friend doesn't feel like he is in a wind tunnel. I'm sweating profusely but I need to finish this conversation. It lasts about 20 minutes. I get home and am a hot, sticky mess.

Result:
My keypad is no longer working properly. Too much moisture. Maybe it will work tomorrow. Some users on the internet said it might.

Probably my Result:
I'll have to get a new phone.

But hey, at least I wasn't texting!

when in rome...

2009-06-25T22:04:00.002-06:00

Do you have to do as the Romans?

I have been solicited three times to donate to my local scouting troop. For $35 I will have the American flag placed on my lawn each holiday. I want to support the scouts but I don't really have a desire to have the flag. While I know I am living in the USA, I'm Canadian... so I am not really patriotic to the country or the flag. Don't get me wrong, I have amazing friends, love my job, love many things about where I'm living. I just don't really have warm feelings when I hear the anthem or see the flag.

So tonight when a man came by yet again, I said "Well, I'll think about it but I'm not American... so..." And his response?

"When in Rome, do as the Romans."

Sorry man, that's not a selling point. In fact it reiterated why I don't want it. When in Rome, I can love the history, the food, the people, the weather and that I'm a Canadian hanging out in Rome.

busy body

2009-06-13T11:57:00.004-06:00

I will admit that I was "technically" breaking Utah's new law of texting and driving. However, sitting at a stoplight does not "technically" mean you are driving. So, I took advantage of a very long red light and started texting a friend back. An old bird, with a dyed black coif, in a huge white SUV with a Utes sticker plastered on her door honks her horn at me. I look over and she's shaking her head and finger and me. Not one to be told what to do, especially from strangers, I roll my eyes at her, shake me head back and go back to texting.

As the light turns green, she is straining her neck to try and read my license plate. When it dawns on her that I don't have a front plate, she slows down to 15 mph. I laugh and slow down too. Not only is she a bossy, busy body but she thinks I'm stupid enough to pass her. Realizing that her tactics are greatly slowing traffic she speeds up a bit. At the part when it is clear we will be going different directions she tries to slow down again. No luck lady, I'm on to you.

I guess I should have let her get my plate just for kicks. Maybe her vigilante tactics would have helped her feel better about herself. The cops couldn't do anything about it if she did call... and I'm sure they have more important things to deal with... like forcing people to water their lawns.

Oh busy bodies. Life would be so much better without them.

read...

2009-06-09T00:21:00.002-06:00

If you have a moment, click on the "I read Nie Nie" icon on the side of my blog. I usually tear up when I read her posts, but today especially. Her life puts my own in to perspective. I would only hope to have her faith and optimism if I were to experience a near death tragedy that left me burned that badly.

I try to explain to my girls at work that life will be full of ups and downs. The least of their struggles will be in a residential treatment centre... but I know full well that they rarely believe this. For most up to this point, this is the biggest challenge they have faced. They can't fathom that life after 18 does not magically erase any hardship or obstacle. Some will live life with goodness and hope, while some will sadly continue their destructive path to a sad and tragic life.

It's about choice and what we do with the one thing we have control over. Even my fortune cookie had it right today!

"Your choices at the moment will be good ones. Trust yourself"

4:28:04

2009-05-25T20:43:00.004-06:00

I may not be the fastest, but I'm not the slowest. On May 16th, 2009 I completed my first marathon. That's 26.2 miles (42km) of running.

And for a former lazy, excuse making asthmatic that was an accomplishment. Three years ago I couldn't run more than a mile without huffing and puffing. I thought about that as I ran the beautiful Ogden course. The sun was out, there was a slight breeze and I felt strong. About mile 17 the song on my iPod came on "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough..." and all I could do was smile. I knew I would finish the race. I knew I still had energy to burn.

Kristina joined me about mile 20 and it was awesome to see a familiar face. She kept me sane for the last two miles and cheered me on as I ran to the finish. My quads were on fire but all I could think of was "I am finishing a freaking marathon. I did it. I could do it. I AM doing it." I came in under 4 hours 30 minutes, which was my goal. And I even felt good enough to know this wasn't going to be my last marathon. Now I have a time to beat.

There are a few life moments that make me feel pretty damn proud. My master's, my new house... and finishing a marathon. Because there really is no mountain high enough.

only something i could do

2009-05-12T22:16:00.003-06:00

Have I mentioned that I'm clumsy? Probably every other month.

Tonight?

I was going to sit down with a glass of water to meet my marathon hydration needs (t-4 days) when I hit the cup on the couch. The glass flew out of my hand and right in to my purse. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Water quickly spilled to the bottom. I pulled out my wallet, keys, phone, gum, receipts, gas bill etc etc. ALL WET. The purse is now inside out drying on the counter. The other things are almost dry. I'm pretty suave. I know.

family

2009-05-10T15:03:00.004-06:00

Today I have been feeling rather sentimental and not just because it's Mother's Day. I've had one of those weeks where my preference is to hang by myself, stew in my thoughts and curl up in bed with a good book or my laptop. Today as I browsed old photos I thought back to all sorts of childhood memories. The biggest fights I had with my siblings back then was not being included to play or being told I had to stay on my half of the room. The eldest sister just plain out ignored most of us (I think my one brother was occasionally included in a conversation). I don't remember fighting much with my older brothers until probably the teenage years. And little brother, he was just the thorn in my side who took my spot as the youngest child. Talk about a blow to my little four year old self. That took 15 years to get over.

Now we're all grown and they all have families of their own. Sometimes it's hard to believe that they also go by Mom and Dad. We've all become different people, relationships have changed but we're still connected because of our Mom and Dad. That family bond can't really break, regardless of the grown up problems that do exist. I still marvel at my parents raising six of us. Babysitting more than two kids can make me feel insane. I can't even image having one of my very own running around, screaming, yelling, laughing, telling me no. But my parents did that SIX times over. They have six times the stress and six times the joy that I have. I'm not sad that I'm not a mother, I'm not even jealous. Sometimes I am actually relieved that I don't have kids. But I do wonder what it feels like to be so in love and so responsible for another person. It must be worth it because people don't usually stop at one.

The bottom line is that I am happy to have such a functionally dysfunctional family. Grown ups that will compete in Indian leg wrestles or jump rope competitions. Siblings that still get heated over forgotten mashed potatoes or no pumpkin pie. Parents that will send me a house warming card. A SIL that sets me up on a random date because she wants me to move closer to them. Nieces and nephews that put on "talent" shows.

We're our kind of crazy, which fits me just just right.

lowbrow

2009-05-05T22:23:00.002-06:00

I can't help it, but after spending 20 minutes on failblog.org, this one made me laugh the hardest and the loudest. Just thinking about it cracks me up.

see more pwn and owned pictures

sometimes a sister knows

2009-04-15T21:18:00.004-06:00

This week has been hectic with all the deadlines and unknowns. As I sat in my office feeling rather deflated my sister sent a link that brightened my day...

WOW

If you take a few minutes it might brighten your day too. I know that Boston will for sure brighten my week. Until then, I will just watch this on repeat. Enjoy!

flexibility is the name of the game

2009-04-12T20:44:00.011-06:00

Early in March, the Smiths decided to take a bunch of newbies on a rappelling trip to St. George. Problem was... snow. While we waited for Chris and his sidekick to check out the road conditions, Mike built a fire in the middle of the road. Jennie showed it off beautifully even if she was a wee bit mad that she was in the photo. Too bad we didn't have marshmallows.

The boys came back and thought the road might be a bit too sketchy (well, if they were without the first-timers they would have braved on) so we turned back and decided to hike Angel's Landing.

After this point Penny decided to wait while the rest of us trucked on. We made it to the top alive with just a bit of tingly hands and feet.

Then we ate a little lunch with Penny, headed back to the condo, and then crossed State lines for a little entertainment. It was one of those places where there is a lot of smoke, things called "chips" and all sorts of games. I met an "interesting" man from Canada who lived in an RV. He wanted to dance and I didn't. He wanted to give me his business card and I didn't want it (thank goodness he didn't have one on him). There are some Canadians I don't care to hang out with. We had a lot of laughs and even though we only did one rappel, I hope I get invited again.

Thanks for a great weekend Smiths!

march is madness

2009-04-05T21:44:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it's April, partly because we've had more snow the last few weeks than most of January or February. And well, life has been hectic. When I move in to my house, I can actually unpack the box that has my camera cord. With that handy little device I can charge my dead camera battery and upload photos from my trip to St. George and Moab... and my completed house. There have been hikes, baby rappels, and a half marathon. My house is done, long story but I'm not in in yet. Hopefully a week or two more.

Until then, you can all enjoy a fabulous sign my friend HRH spied at Venice Beach way back in the day (November 2008 seems eons ago).

The idea of men's bikinis is almost as frightening as the grammar. You think the sign company would have told the owner that they were puffing on the ganja a bit too much and make the necessary correction.

And even when you live in the USA, there is always a little taste of home kicking around.

things seen at church

2009-03-09T20:18:00.002-06:00

1. A helium balloon make its way up to the chapel. I'm still not sure where the blue balloon came from but I think it was really wanting a shot at the pulpit.

2. A woman tripping over something in the aisle during Sunday school. Although I could feel her mortification, I was impressed that she ran through the trip and never hit the ground. It was actually something to be proud of. I would have gone down HARD.

3. Then in the final hour (seriously, who came up with three hours worth of church!?!?!), the teacher's button on her blouse came undone. The bra looked supportive, yet cute but didn't quite match her hot pink top. I'm not exactly sure when she noticed it was undone because I was distracted by the flirting 1 year olds, but I was relieved when it was re-buttoned. I wonder if anyone ever told her that it was over 10 minutes.

what house?

2009-03-08T22:20:00.008-06:00

I'm sure everyone is bored with the house posts... but my head just can't wrap around other subjects these days. If all goes according to plan, THIS will be mine in two weeks.

The flooring is in, tomorrow will be cabinetry, and then the bathroom tiles.

And hopefully when it's all done, I'll be hosting friends even more!

laminate and carpet and tiles... OH MY!

2009-02-23T22:23:00.004-07:00

Yes folks, I finally committed to a (town)home. After much deliberation I went with a new home which means I get to decide on carpet, flooring and bathroom tiles. Although it's extremely exciting, it's also exceptionally stressful. For those that know me, I am indecisive by nature. So imagine the joy it is for those around me as I try to debate on what I should do. All that echos in my mind is "What if you screw up and the place looks awful?" This is a house, not just an outfit I wear for a day. If it doesn't come together, it's not a cheap fix. I'm relying heavily on some friends to use their expertise and steer me in the right direction. I will post pictures when there are some... until then, my mind is pretty focused on all of this. But by the end of March, I hope to have my wits about me AND my new home. So be patient and stay tuned.

I'm all (mostly) grown up!!

la la love

2009-02-17T23:03:00.002-07:00

I'll tell you what love is... my friends. Oh boy did I feel the love this Valentine weekend.

Friday night I had dinner made for me, Saturday night the same. And it wasn't anything out of the box. It was homemade goodness. Both nights the movie rental was out of their pocket. Movie and dinner. Boyfriend? Pish.

My friends listen to me rehash the same concern (ahem-home ownership) over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. And they still love and listen to me anyway.

Maybe I'm not married, but I'm sure not navigating this world alone.

kids kids kids

2009-02-09T22:23:00.004-07:00

Remember when you couldn't wait to be an adult? You were convinced that life would finally get good when you could make ALL your own decisions. Working with teens I am frequently reminded of the naive fantasies of being a grown up. Oh, to be a kid again. I can't quite convince them to enjoy being young but I wish I could.

When I was about 7 there was this crazy snowstorm that hit in May. All the schools were closed and people were stuck in their driveways. I was devastated when my mother told me that I could not walk to school and would have to stay home. (Lest you worry about me being a keener,* come junior high my parents had to bribe me to go to school. I was the queen of excuses as to why I sick this time. Once when my mom was on to me, I drank a concoction of pickle juice and raw eggs to try and make me throw up. Sadly it didn't work and tasted awful). What I wouldn't give for a snow day now!

If I had my very own snow day I think I'd sleep in, curl up in my bed and read all day.

Other ideas or snow day dreams are welcome!

*Keener is an underused word in the US of A, so to those readers here you go

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2009-02-01T00:08:00.010-07:00

There was a long period in my life when I hated the winter. I couldn't wait for Spring to arrive... until I rediscovered my love for skiing.

One of my earliest ski memories is plowing in to a hay bail at Canada Olympic Park when it was known as Paskapoo (such a cooler name). I'm still unclear as to why they had them but leave it to me to run in to one. All I know is that I was more intent on waving at my mom at the bottom of the hill than I was on looking ahead. Gratefully this crash didn't finish off my ski affair.

The next fond memory I have is skiing in Windermere with Mel and family. Well, it's not so much a skiing memory because if I recall correctly, I got irritated on the hill. But I do remember singing and dancing in our bedroom to Milli Vanilli. Imagine my shock and dismay when I later learned they were merely scam artists and not just bad musicians. Blame that on the rain! And how can I forget the time my mom let me play hooky from school so Keltie and I could ski Sunshine on a Friday. She even fed us homemade scones that day. My parents were and are cool. Again, I don't remember much about the skiing but I do remember losing track of my speed as we sung along to the Cranberries in my dad's truck. (Hey, it was a V-8... I didn't know what to do with so much power!!). Apparently I have a theme of singing and not so much skiing.

Probably one of my last ski memories until three years ago, was going up a tow rope with my dad on the now defunct Fortress mountain. Somehow we crossed our tips and I graciously broke my father's fall. We weren't thinking quite straight after we untangled ourselves from skis, poles and each other, so when we got upright we decided we'd hike the rest of the way up. Trudging through deep powder in ski boots was one our collectively stupidest ideas in our child-parent relationship. Skiing back down would have added 5 minutes to our total time. Fifteen minutes later we got to the top, huffing and puffing and sweating. Maybe that was the second to last nail in my dad's skiing coffin. Not too long after he took a nasty spill and sat in the lodge the rest of the day. Months later he discovered that he had actually dislocated his shoulder from the fall. Tough man, still is.

In my 20's I started to try my hand at snowboarding but never went enough to get good (along with my intense fear of getting hurt... and that's why you start at 5). After one particularly bad spill I realized I could ski, not board. And that's when I rediscovered my true love for the sport. I have never looked back.

On Saturday I felt happier than I have in quite some time. I have been determined to conquer moguls and last week I got one step closer. Maybe this year will be the year. Whether I improve or not isn't really the point. I just love hearing my skis carve in to the powder. I enjoy the thrill of attempting a jump, even if I only catch 2 inches of air. Being with good friends and laughing till my stomach hurts is a pretty good bonus too.

But mostly I love breathing in the fresh mountain air, feeling the sun beat down on me, taking in the beauty of Creation. Yes, life is good.

what's worse?

2009-01-31T18:59:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I saw two different trucks with two different phrases pasted across their back window. I couldn't decide which I thought was dumber so I'm taking a poll.

1. Give War a Chance

or

2. Silly boys, trucks are for girls.

Polls are now open, voters may only vote once.

one step closer

2009-01-28T08:36:00.005-07:00

I've been consumed by houses. It's most of what I think about and so blogging has not featured prominently in my brain. As for a quick update, I will likely know by Friday if my offer is accepted. There are two other offers on the table. If I don't win, I'm leaning toward another place. Yup, little Aisy is becoming a grown up. The other good news is that I'm starting to sleep again. I'm hoping that's a good sign.

And to clarify my last post, I meant that buying a house was more expensive than a wedding NOT marriage. I'm hoping to milk as much money as I can from my future husband... ha ha. JUST KIDDING.

parallels

2009-01-12T23:12:00.002-07:00

House hunting is a lot like dating. It takes awhile to fall in love with one, then you worry if you're making the right choice, never fully comprehending the risk you are taking until you commit. You might even find the PERFECT match but then you get rejected... or you find out it isn't so perfect after all so you walk away.

But then you analyze it over and over and over again in your head. You weigh out all the pros and cons, you try to justify why it might work. Your friends are expressing their concerns, not sure if it/he is the right one for you. You listen, but secretly you don't want to give up the dream. You want to believe it's the right thing.

You lie awake at night thinking about it, stressing about it, wanting it to be the perfect match. But it's never perfect, only "pretty darn close."

The only difference I've seen through this whole process is that a house is going to cost a helluva lot more than getting married. And while it can't break up with me, it could lose a lot of equity. Ah relationships.

best moment of the day

2009-01-06T19:38:00.003-07:00

The most amusing thing happened to me today and I was at a loss for words. Yes, me! SILENCED.

As a good tenant/manager, I braved the snowy roads after work to deposit the rent cheques for my landlord. I quickly scrawled out my cheque in the car, headed in to the bank and handed the bank teller the deposits. She laughed out loud and said to me "Some people should take handwriting lessons." I looked at the three cheques in her hands, noticing how neat my roommates were and then it dawned on me that she was talking about mine. She then said "I mean, do these even look like fours to you?" I looked at her, looked at the cheque and looked back at her. I said nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I didn't laugh and act like it wasn't mine. I didn't say "Well, I wrote it so yes, I think they look like fours." I didn't even defend myself and say "I wrote it in the car, in a rush."

My silence was not enough to clue her in to her social faux pas, but I wasn't sure that shaming her in to it was the best option either. I was just plain flabbergasted.

Echoing in my brain was my mother's famous quote "Well your scrapbook would look nicer if you worked on your penmanship." (Only a true Brit can say that. I think it must be required to have neat, legible handwriting over there because even my boy cousins write like girls). Damn you elementary school teachers for not forcing me to be neat and tidy with my printing. And damn me for being so taken aback that I missed a perfect opportunity to humiliate her back.

what'd you get for christmas?

2008-12-29T22:00:00.007-07:00

I remember when Christmas was measured on how many cool gifts you received. The first thing a friend would ask "So what'd you get?" There were times that I felt deflated at what I received when compared to their haul. I am sure I had friends that felt the same after they got off the phone with me. How grateful I am that as the years have progressed I stopped measuring my Christmas by things but rather on the experience.

The pure excitement and awe that Santa will arrive. The joy I have blackmailing my nieces in to being nice because the man in red is watching their every move. The letter carefully written to this magical man, along with cookies and of course a carrot for Rudolph.

The competitive games on the Wii fit. Sibling rivalry never dies... thank goodness!

The grown-up dinner with my grown-up friends. Seeing their families expand and realizing that highchairs will be a necessary addition next year.

And how often do I get to have a 9 night sleepover with a pretty special 8 year-old? Last night as I crawled in to bed I felt a tinge of sadness that her hand wouldn't softly touch my head or nestle in to my neck. I even longed for her kicks and bed hogging. The day after her baptism we woke up at the same time, turned and looked at each other and then laughed. Then she snuggled in and I said "I bet you won't miss me sharing your bed tonight." And she smiled and said "Nope, you snore!" Love that stinker...

Despite the ups and downs, the differences, the stress, the madness, the noise, the cooking and cleaning, the chaos, I wouldn't change it for anything. Nothing beats Mum's stuffing, the gut-busting laughter that only comes from interactions with people that have known you your whole life, the joy on kids faces as they witness the magic of the season, seeing the personal attention and detail that my very loving parents put in to their gifts and being accepted for my imperfect self. I hit it big this year.

So, what did you get for Christmas?

on my top 10

2008-12-18T23:35:00.004-07:00

One of the things I hate the most, that would be in my top 10, is packing. I have been working on my bag for about 1 1/2 hours and expect I'll be done in another 30. I hate trying to decide what I might want to wear in five days. It shouldn't take me 10 minutes to decide between shirts but it does. I'm not even fussy about clothes. I just like to do things last minute, like deciding in the morning what I'm going to wear. I also hate guessing if a top is going to be too warm or not warm enough. And then what I hate most is trying to cram it all in to my suitcase.

Confession: I am spatially challenged. I suck at depth perception and am even worse with dimensions. So you can understand the chore that packing is. So while I should be finishing up my packing I am writing this boring post.

But the light at the end of the tunnel is that packing means I am going somewhere. And in less than 24 hours it will all be worth it because I'll be heading to this!

the sign

2008-12-16T23:06:00.002-07:00

The crush is over when he texts and you actually forget to write back. It's not that you wait so you don't look too eager or over think what to write... you actually don't even think twice about it!!! Ah emotional freedom.

For you single folks, what is your sign that it's over for you?

celebrating the american way

2008-11-25T22:00:00.005-07:00

and

will be together for four days here:

for

Who knows what might happen....

the long slumber

2008-11-22T10:43:00.003-07:00

Last night I think I slept about 14 hours. I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of the 8 p.m. show of What Not to Wear. I stumbled out of bed around 10:45 to brush my teeth, go to the bathroom and turn off the lights. There was another stumbling out of bed this morning to go to the potty, then briefly woke up to a text message and then drifted back to sleep. Just before 10 I woke up for the day. While part of me feels rather sluggish for sleeping so long, the other part was in desperate need. It's been one of those weeks. My body and mind desperately needed a break. Maybe bears have it right. Perhaps we should all spend a period of time hibernating.

I'm excited to head down to sunny Phoenix for American Thanksgiving. I'm sure Jo and I will find plenty of mischief.

Also, you'll note I put comment moderation on. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Obama post... I promise! There was a post I wrote a long time ago that someone wrote some pretty nasty stuff on. Sorry for the inconvenience.

it's time for a change

2008-11-04T21:07:00.003-07:00

From this:

To this:

Perhaps one step closer to what MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Today I'm a proud Canadian living in America...

it was a trick

2008-11-02T12:11:00.010-07:00

On Monday my sister directed me to a website that sold a sash that said "Miss Diagnosed". I thought it was a perfect costume for a therapist working at a treatment centre. I was excited when the website had a bold, flashing sign that said "Order by Monday for guaranteed delivery by Halloween." PERFECT!!! I quickly ordered and waited in excited anticipation. I started feeling antsy when it still hadn't arrived by Thursday. I went back to the website and after a bit of investigation noted that the fine print said "Guaranteed by 7 p.m. on the 31st" What the eff? Fried with their false (misleading) advertising I was determined to find a backup plan. Thursday night I hit up the local fabric store for ribbon and iron-on letters. Then I made a pit stop at the Disney store where I scored a tiara for half price. Wal-mart was still open at 11 where I managed to get some fake eyelashes and fake nails. The only thing I wasn't able to find was a tacky 80s dress. So, I rummaged up an old bridesmaid skirt and VOILA

Here is the result...
If you click on the photo, you can see the fake nails. They had these ugly black tips, with silver flowers.

The staff got a kick out of the outfit but sadly only about half the kids understood the humour. I got home after work to see this sitting on my bed.

SO TYPICAL

Lessons I learned this Halloween:
1. Always read the fine print. I can't even return this stupid thing because returns had to be postmarked by October 16th. So now i have two Miss Diagnosed and spent double the money for the same costume.
2. Never ever bother with fake nails. I could hardly type at work, texting took an inordinate amount of effort (like watching my mom type), and my skin crawled every time the sound of my nails hit something. Plus taking them off was a painful and long process.
3. Trying to find an 80s dress is harder than you might think... so start early.
4. Fake eyelashes rock. I think I should wear them all the time because they make my eyes look so pretty!
5. You have to back comb more than you think to get big hair.

So readers, since American elections are just around the corner here is your chance to practice a bit of democracy. Time to rock the vote.

Is it better to go store bought

OR

Homemade

(had to show off my "niece" in her monkey suit)

a thing called love

2008-10-28T23:00:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I'm a cynic. Sometimes I'm a romantic. But just when I wonder if this dating and marriage thing is really worth it, I read a very simple thing from someone I admire... and a relationship that I envy.

She made me a delicious chicken soup and I just love her all the more the way she is so good to me.

And then I know that waiting for someone that I will be good to, and that will love me more because of it, is indeed worth the wait.

whitney and i

2008-10-11T23:38:00.002-06:00

The other night I had a Tommy Boy moment minus Richard and the out of control driving. All the radio stations were playing obnoxious songs or ads. So when I heard The Greatest Love of All, I paused... and then I sang. Who can resist a duet with Whitney Houston? I don't know what the people passing me thought as I belted it out, nor do I care. All I could hear was my perfect pitch and rich vibrato. Thankfully no one was there to tell me otherwise.

But it got me thinking of when I was younger and much more insecure. I would never have sung out loud in my car for fear of being seen. I also hated going through drive through restaurants by myself. Now I've actually eaten alone in a REAL restaurant. Apparently I have made progress in my adult life.

So, what things used to mortify you that you've outgrown?

is it just me?

2008-09-30T18:30:00.003-06:00

I am maybe wiling to admit I've become an anal roommate. However, I think I have just been cursed.

So, help me to decide (keep in mind that we are ALL renters. No one in the house actually owns the place):

Would you be confused/annoyed/grossed out by multiple framed pictures of your roommate and her boyfriend in the living room?

Even if you all decide I am just anal, I think it's time for me to live on my own.

my kind of kids

2008-09-24T21:34:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I'm glad I'm watching TV live and can't fast forward commercials. If I was six, I'd run with this crowd.

politics

2008-09-21T22:12:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I saw an old gal with an Obama pin on her jacket lapel. I thought "Wow, isn't that progressive for an older Utahn." Then I saw her get in to a car with Minnesota plates. Guess I thought too soon.

i don't need to get laid*

2008-09-17T22:03:00.006-06:00

*In response to my good friend Dub, I actually do find some things amusing. So, contrary to his popular belief, my agitation has little to do with the amount of action I am getting in my life. I had a great day today. I might blog about it later, I might not. However, this little exchange from a precious gal (and her mother) in my life left me laughing and laughing.

START SCENE

The other night while laying down with Parker, this conversation came out of NOWHERE. Like we had said prayers and goodnight and all was quiet:

Parker: Mom, I can't marry Dallin because he's my cousin.

Me: that's right, you can't.

Parker: Yeah too bad, but you can't marry cousins even if you love them.

Me: Yes, too bad, Dallin will be a very good husband.

Parker: But I can marry Joshie!

Me: Yes you can (really trying not to laugh at this convo).

Parker: He'd be a good husband because we both have blond hair and we like
the same things! Like, I like singing and so does Josh and I like playing in
the gym and so does Josh and I like just doing stuff and so does Josh!

Me: Yes, that would be great. I like Josh, he'd be a good husband, because
he's a good friend.

Parker: Did you know girls can marry friends that are girls?

Me: Yes, I did know that.

Parker: Yeah, like if I had a friend that was a girl, I could marry her.

Me: Um, yes. But you should marry a boy. It's better for a girl to marry a
boy.

Parker: Yeah. But Teigan was saying that a girl can marry a girl and she
said it's complicated to explain.

Me: Oh yeah? When was this?

Parker: We were on the swings and then Uncle Ted took Maren and Spencer into
the wild, so we ran off to go with them, so we just stopped talking about
it! (**this scene was obviously when Denise and family were at Steeds the
night we had family here!)

Me: Oh very interesting. But yes, girls CAN marry girls. But Heavenly Father
wants girls to marry boys.

Parker: Yeah, too bad I can't marry Dallin. But I can marry Josh!

Me: Yes honey, good night.

END SCENE

This kid is five and I think she might be one of the funniest people I know.

something to be grouchy about*

2008-09-14T15:53:00.005-06:00

I have blogged about this issue before BUT it never stops annoying me.

So, one last time... DO NOT SEND ME REQUESTS FOR ISSUES THAT I DO NOT SHARE A SIMILAR FEELING ON. Even though I "share" your same religious beliefs, I am not interested in helping you telephone people in California to help ban same sex marriage. In fact, if I were to help with this cause, I would be arguing the other side. Not only that but I don't even know who you are. Your friend is listed as my friend (but more like an acquaintance) on Facebook. Seriously people, try to enlist people you know want to help you with your cause. Don't send out mass mailings. It just makes some folks pissed off.

Oh, and this isn't something to be grouchy about but more mystified... There is a room for rent in my place and rather than calling me, some random person texted me. They also use "u" instead of "you" . They either have major social anxiety or poor social skills. Either way I don't want them living with me. Pick up the phone and woman up.

*I just want Rocky to know what REALLY makes me grouchy and not just snarky

bullseye

2008-09-08T22:47:00.002-06:00

Today is my running partner's birthday so I stopped by the red bullseye store to get her a birthday card. I found a card that seemed perfect as it joked about Prozac and hallucinogens, seeing as she's a school counselor and I'm a therapist. I was quite pleased with my choice as I headed to the register. The clerk fiddled with the card for a bit, so I assumed she was trying to find the price. In fact, her delay was due to her keen desire to read the card. Perhaps I wouldn't have minded the delay, but she stated "Oh, that's so mean." To which I responded "I think it's funny." What I really wanted to say was "Lady, you're paid to ring up my items not poke your nose in to my stuff and give me your unsolicited opinion."

As a side note, I also had to remind her twice that I did not need a bag.

the gods must be crazy... or just angry

2008-09-04T19:26:00.002-06:00

I'm still healing from my traumatic Monday and can only now write about it. Excited for Labour day, I decided to work a half day. My plan involved riding my bike to work and then going for a long ride up the canyon. Sunday night there were some clouds and threats of a storm the next day. I woke up to rain so I packed my bike in my car and drove to work, knowing the weather can shift rapidly in Utah. I was in the middle of a family session watching the clouds get darker and darker. The rain came hard, the lights flickered and then the power went out. I didn't take that as a good sign. By noon things weren't looking any better. I gave up my brilliant idea of biking and went out to eat with a friend.

Of course the sun came out as we hit the road. I ignored the obvious slap in the face from Mother Nature or the gods or whomever orchestrated this little joke. When I got home from eating and shopping, I hopped on my bike to finally get the ride I deserved. I had hit my turn around point when I noticed something in my front tire. I stopped, got off, and stupidly pulled out the biggest thorn/burr I had ever seen. The air shot out of the tire. I panicked, stuck the burr back in, but it was too late. I was by myself with my flat tire. Feeling that this wasn't my day to bike, I called a friend. She was amazingly close by and kindly picked me up.

Maybe next holiday I'll try again, but I don't think I'm too excited about riding to work on Thanksgiving.

relief...

2008-08-31T22:05:00.002-06:00

As of today, the worst roommate in my history of shared living existence is gone. My one regret is that I didn't get a chance to photograph some of her decorative gems. The stainless steel pigs ran a close second to the fake grapes. The fridge is no longer littered with Napoleon Dynamite magnets. The permanently fixed dish rack is a thing of the past. The dozens (note the pluralization) of dishes have been packed. I don't trip over furniture in the living room. The drama that was her life is now for the ears of her new roommate. It's all gone. GONE, GONE, GONE.

I can breathe again. Inhale, exhale. Wonderful. God is Good.

good times

2008-08-23T12:20:00.005-06:00

Three years ago, almost to the day, I swam in the Great Salt Lake with this girl.
It was sort of gross and sort of fun. The brine shrimp got all stuck in your swimsuit and were very difficult to rinse off. That was the gross part. The fun part was floating rather seamlessly with one of my closest friends. Sadly, she moved to Arizona less than a year later so this swimming tradition died.

She is "prombly" one of the coolest digital photography teachers they have seen in those parts. But it's sad to have her so far. We've shared the same style in dance pants, the same taste in beauty, even the same taste in men (ahem, my bad on that one). So, on this very awesome August 23, I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO. Love yo' guts (you know, I figured since you loved birthdays SO much, I would make it as public as possible for ya. Plus, you're not around to kick my butt for it).

fatigue

2008-08-19T21:30:00.002-06:00

Is it possible to get Olympic fatigue? Just as I started to get over-saturated on swimming and gymnastics, track and field starts. So now my interest has been rekindled. Yet, I find most of the sprinters much more arrogant than the other athletes. It's not as though there is anything of interest on television, so I appreciate this over re-runs. And although I find these athletes incredibly inspiring, I can honestly say that I'm glad there will be another two years before I endure 24 hours a day of Olympics. Am I alone in this?

PS-Brilliant idea that they began alternating Summer and Winter Olympics. I couldn't imagine doing this twice in a year.

Would you rather...

2008-08-15T23:41:00.002-06:00

-Get punched in the arm?
-Stub your toe?
-Bite your tongue?
-Hit your head on a door frame?

I stubbed my toe so badly yesterday that it still hurts. I'd rather get punched. I do enough of the other three that getting punched is a novelty.

I strongly believe that stubbing your toe is one of the worst pains EVER.

who needs poopy boys anyway?

2008-08-13T21:03:00.003-06:00

The title of this post is a direct quote from a dear friend in response to an email I sent today. I don't intend this as a single woman's rant about men. I rarely fill this blog with "whoa is me" diatribes. I suppose I am hoping that some emotional vomiting will somehow fix things.

There are days, weeks and even months when I feel as though I have everything together. I'm confident, strong and fiercely independent. Then out of nowhere, it quickly comes crashing down around me. So it's not really about "poop"-y boys. It's my own frustration at how easy it is to decorate my room with streamers and balloons for my personal pity party. At the pity party my cynicism of single males takes flight. I can berate all the single men I know, the ones I don't, the ones dating my friends or not dating my friends, and all imaginary 20-30 something men. I categorize them in to commitment-phobes and full of issues that none of my friends or I could ever possibly struggle with. And yet, stereotypes and generalizations are a pet peeve of mine.

So, I look at my decorated room and know deep in my heart that I have to take them down but I don't want to... because this is my party and I'll cry if I want to. This party is a waste of time and never enjoyable. It's like those parties you go to where you look at your watch, wondering when you can leave without looking rude. You cringe as each minute ticks by, knowing it is sucking another minute of your precious life. You start to think that waterboarding would be more fun than this party. You plan your escape and take a deep breath as you leave the festivities. Gratitude flows through you because you are free. You vow never to get sucked in to one of those things again and kick yourself that you got bamboozled in to yet another crappy party.

Soon this party will end. I'm just looking for my escape route.

my broken heart

2008-08-07T23:46:00.005-06:00

My new love is gone for another year and my heart is aching. It is too much for this single girl to bare. I said goodbye several hours ago and am trying to avoid the natural despair that comes from pangs of loneliness. This love caught me by surprise. I entered feeling somewhat skeptical but quickly fell madly in love. Now my only solace will be watching my love over and over again on YouTube. Farewell So You Think You Can Dance.

I will dream of this:

I will smile at this:

And this will always take my breath away:

forced touch

2008-08-06T22:21:00.003-06:00

Every summer, EFY descends upon P-Town. This morning I saw many of these fine youth strolling arm and arm up the street. I thought it was sort of silly to make the kids link arms but thought they were being trained in the art of chivalry. However, driving home I saw several more groups of kids all linked arm and arm, and then I thought it was just plain stupid. I've never been fond of forced touch with the opposite sex. So, I would have hated to be told that I had to link arms with some random dude that I would have met 24 hours earlier... only to be required to publicly walk down a busy street. This does not teach teenagers how to be respectful to each other. It just teaches them how to deal with public humiliation.

things i hate this week (and always)

2008-08-02T22:56:00.010-06:00

1. Vacations ending... especially when they involve family and a good friend. My trip to Canada was much too short. It was chock full of fun, so it was sad to say goodbye. (See Wind in the Hair blog for more amazing photos)

Love this kid (and the other 12 too)

Love this place, especially when I see nuns canoeing.

Love this girl!

2. Thinking I have the house to myself for a whole weekend only to have a roommate return home Saturday night. I guess eating breakfast naked is out. Blast!
3. Sunday nights because it means I have work the next day. Why can't every job have four day work weeks? I guess I would then hate Monday nights.
4. Sore knees. Ice, ibuprofen, repeat. Argh.
5. War. I watched War Dance this weekend. There are some things that are unforgivable and some of those things happened to these innocent kids. The children in this movie had some of the most horrible, unimaginable things happen to them and yet, they were still able to find moments of happiness in their life. It reminds me how much I take for granted. It makes me want to do more in my life and help those that are truly suffering.

What are you hate-or-ating on this week?

cash folks

2008-07-17T20:55:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I did a little shopping at Costco while I had my tires rotated (safety first when you are roadtripping it). After I purchased my things, I went to the in-house food place to get a drink to quench my thirst. It came to $1.56 and I only had 79 cents on me, so I pulled out my debit card. I was informed that they only take cash or cheque. Seriously??? I could see the credit card machines behind the counter. I had just spent 70 bucks on four items and this guy is telling me I can't use my card? So, my little drink went to waste and I left miffed. Once the drink has been poured, it's only going to get chucked. They should have just given it to me for free to aid in my irritation AND embarrassment. I know I should carry cash, but who the crap carries cheques anymore?

Ridiculous.

uh

2008-07-10T23:43:00.002-06:00

Clearly I need a life because conquering all the levels of brickbreaker tonight was the highlight of my week. My cell phone came with this game and it has been driving me crazy for almost a year. When I finally conquered all 34 levels I was surprised to find out you just start back at level one and keep going. I also discovered there are numerous sites dedicated to brickbreaker... like ways to cheat the game (if only I found this earlier) and then there is this dude who has a whole site dedicated to his brickbreaking games.

because, seriously...

2008-07-07T22:14:00.004-06:00

... they're so blessed.

Since I haven't been writing too much, you ought to check out my new favourite blog. The writer is "seriously so blessed." If you get a good chuckle at Utah County Mormon culture, are "greatful" for friends/families cheesy blog posts, and appreciate satire then this blog's for you.

Seriously, So Blessed

I'm stoked because today the author announced that she is "pregnant." Ahhh, more things to laugh at.

why i shouldn't be allowed outside

2008-06-29T22:19:00.003-06:00

These are two separate burns on two separate weekends

Every year I think my white white white skin can handle the sun. And every year I burn. I might be one of the top candidates for skin cancer in the nation.

Maybe next week I'll remember the sunscreen.

wasatch back

2008-06-25T21:45:00.004-06:00

On Friday I raced with Team Sweetness in the Ragnar Series Wasatch Back. It was the most incredible experience. We covered 181 miles of some of the most beautiful mountain passes in Utah. We had a team of 12 runners each running three legs. My van was full of fun, encouraging people. My first leg was in 94F (34C to my Canadian readers) weather. It was hot, hot, hot. My teammates did an awesome job of cooling me down with water. After a failed attempt at sleep for all of us, we got the call from the other van that they were an hour away from our next exchange point. So we hopped in the van bleary eyed but excited. We hopped ourselves up on caffeinated Gu and Propel water. My next leg of the race was the most beautiful. It was about 1 a.m. and the moon was shining brightly. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could make out a lake and beautiful rock formations. It was one of the most amazing runs I have experienced. After our leg was done, we drove to a high school gymnasium to try to finally sleep. I think I managed at least an hour nap before we had to get moving again. My last leg of the race can only be described as pure hell. I was exhausted, it was hot and the hill was a beast. I think I walked most of it desperately trying not to cry. My quads were on fire and my heart felt like it might explode. Jessica killed the second half of the hill. She is my new hero! She has the bragging rights of running her whole leg. Our team finished the race in about 28 hours and 27 minutes and I was damn proud of us. Most of my friends can't understand how running that much on such little sleep was fun but it just was. The camaraderie was amazing. My teammates were exceptionally encouraging and so fun. I came home exhausted and had one of the best sleeps of my life. Crazy thing is... I can't wait to do it next year.

If you're curious, check out the slide show. Jessica also has more on her blog.

sometimes i am mean

2008-06-11T23:16:00.005-06:00

And sometimes I don't care that I'm mean. Take for instance this quote from a mass email sent from somebody from my church:

Again we are sooooo sorry I hope none of you loose your testimony of the church over this or are offended and never come back to church because I really won't have any sympathy for you if you do jk. We are not perfect but the church is so please forgive us.

I may not lose my testimony over an activity that was cancelled without due notice (probably because I wouldn't go anyway) but the sentence itself sure does make me want to "be free from obligation" toward such future activities. (Please see the this definition to catch my not so subtle joke)

Reading this sort of email when I am tired is a bad idea because I think such wicked thoughts. I know I've made plenty of mistakes with words but the loose/lose mistake was so much more ridiculous due to the whole tone of the email.

Now I'm off to bed wondering if tomorrow I'll still snicker unkindly when I think of this.

if i were going to buy a knife...

2008-06-01T21:17:00.003-06:00

I run by this sign twice a week. Every time I look at it I think of murder. The name "Krazy Dave" reminds me of butcher knives and such. I still haven't been able to figure out where the store is to buy the knives but Dave, the Krazy one, might be the guy that sells them. I don't know but it kind of scares me.

clumsy

2008-05-28T18:57:00.004-06:00

There are three reasons why a clumsy person should NOT use clipless pedals.

1. Bruised knee
2. Bruised bum
3. Bruised ego

My friend who told me that I'll only fall once on my bike and never do it again is a LIAR. Perhaps she meant to say I'll only fall once per year.

My right butt cheek has hurt all day and I can't cross my left leg over my right.

Le sigh.

memorial

2008-05-26T21:26:00.012-06:00

Memorial Day is an American holiday that I appreciate. Americans have a beautiful tradition of bringing flowers to the cemetery of their buried loved ones. These photos don't quite do justice to the impact that this actually makes.
When I walked through the Pioneer Cemetery I couldn't help but think of three people that I love.

My Grandma Kelly is my modern day heroine.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in her 50s. She made a killer cucumber sandwich and taught me just how tasty marshmallows in a freezer can be. She died far before her time but fought her cancer as much as she could. I am forever grateful for this painting of me that she left as part of her legacy.

My Granddad and Grandma Rock met during WWII. My Granddad was a firefighter in London and my Grandma was a dispatcher. My Granddad loved to spoil us whenever we saw him. He had a terrific wit and loved to tease. My Grandmother left a legacy of service. I don't know if she ever said a harsh word in her life. She also never failed to send a letter for small events like a cello recital to large ones like my university graduation. She died before I graduated from my Masters but I know I would have gotten a letter for that too. Although I wish they were both still here, I'm glad that my Grandma only had to live 6 months after my Granddad died. Perhaps she's still bringing him breakfast in bed up in Heaven.

They each touched my life in ways that cannot always be expressed in words. I'm thankful for days like today that remind me of my amazing grandparents.

something i never aspired to

2008-05-22T22:45:00.003-06:00

Tonight the local news featured a Senior that didn't miss a day of school since Kindergarten. She wanted to outdo her father who had not missed a day of school after starting junior high.

My goal as a child was to see how much school I could miss. I remember one year my parents told me that if I wanted to go to England I could only miss a certain number of school days. Being bribed not to fake sick in junior high... Wow, I was a winner. I also have a not so fond memory of drinking pickle juice mixed with raw egg and peanut butter in hopes it would induce vomit. My mother was rightly convinced that I was faking yet another day of school and I was trying to prove her wrong. I didn't throw up but the smell of pickle juice can still make my stomach turn. Moms win every time.

Sometimes it surprises me that being a chronic skipper of school actually had little correlation with my educational attendance post high school. Thank goodness or I'd never hold down a job.

What are your favourite or least favourite school memories?

hot momma

2008-05-11T11:41:00.004-06:00

I have one awesome Mum. She has one almost awesome dog. The dog gets awesome walks almost every day.

I have five awesome sisters (in-laws). They all have awesome kids, with two more on the way.

Happy Mother's Day to all those mommy's that I love. It feels pretty awesome to have you all in my life.

blah

2008-05-08T22:36:00.001-06:00

Blah blah blah work. Blah not enough sleep blah blah blah. Blah blah stress.

One big blah

white and nerdy

2008-05-04T16:11:00.007-06:00

I have already expressed my recent love for hip-hop... and have been "immersed" in the culture the last couple of months (meaning that I listen to it and hang out with someone that is much more an aficianado). I'm pleased to report that Auntie's love is starting to rub off on some kids that she loves. Parker still needs a bit of help throwing it down but at least she's got the CD in hand. Next step is sending some bling, working on slang and practicing our krumping. Still, I think they're on the right track.

shake it out...

2008-05-04T15:58:00.004-06:00

How would you like to have this little present left on your floor by a stranger?

Back in March my sister-in-law had a carpenter come over to give an estimate on work. As they were talking she noticed something hanging out of his pant leg. These are her words from the true and hilarious story.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a pair of UNDERWEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! He must have take off his pants the night before, and left his undies in them, then forgot about it, and they fell to the bottom of his leg - OR, while doing laundry they got mixed up - I think it was the former. Anyway, as he was walking along, they kept falling more and more out of his pants, I was scared they'd fall out when we were both standing there and he would be REALLY embarrassed that his panties (editors note: I hate the word she used here to describe his tighty whities) were sitting on the ground! I always walked in front of him in case they fell out and he noticed then he could pick them up without me 'seeing'. So they kept getting more and more out, then he sat at out table to write out the info, and when he got up, they fell out on my floor! Lucky for him, he didn't notice, and went on his merry way and was none the wiser. BUT, I had a gift on my dining room floor!

Lucky for him? She was the one that I had to dispose of them. So people, shake out your pants if you decide to wear them the next day. Needless to say he didn't get the job... although it may have had nothing to do with him leaving a pretty white present behind.

If the carpenter that owns these happens to be reading this post, you can find them at the house where these cute munchkins live.

venice...

2008-04-20T18:45:00.005-06:00

I went to Venice.

Not this one:

But this one:

I had the privilege of going with Her Royal Highness. She had the privilege of experiencing a Venice beach washroom. If you follow her link, you'll see one of the fine places one can use to drain their bladder. Having experienced this once before I was more mentally prepared than her. However, I was unprepared to have a man tell me I was "stunning" as I washed my hands. I must have looked rather shocked, as he quickly followed it up with "I mean that in the most G-rated sort of way." It was flattering but "stunning"? Not an adjective I'm used to hearing about my looks. Cute, pretty... sure. But stunning? Hmm, that's stretch.

Of course, when you're surrounded by mountains it is important to always get your feet wet when you see the ocean (even if it is freezing cold).

Always a sucker for beautiful men, especially ones playing b-ball or skate tricks, HRH caught me in the act.

She allowed me to pollute her ears with sinful hip-hop music and I allowed her to pollute my body with In-N-Out burgers and fries. Overall we were a pretty good balance for a work/fun trip to LA. Cause this is why, this why, this is why we're hot.

i'm a slacker

2008-04-16T22:32:00.002-06:00

I want to blog, I really do. But when I get home, it's the last thing on my mind. This past month has been a whirlwind of work visa, taxes, and craziness at work. I've likely lost all my readers and maybe one day I will redeem myself.

Today I started race season preparation. I am now a proud owner of my very own wetsuit and aerobars for my bike. My first race is this Saturday but involves neither of those items. It's the SLC half marathon. All it requires is my legs (and my head game). Let the racing begin.

when life happens

2008-03-20T18:48:00.002-06:00

Ever have a week where you get punched, either figuratively or literally?

Sunday night I slept peacefully not fully anticipating the storm about to hit Monday. Boy did it ever hit. I've slept fitfully ever since. Today I pondered if this was the most stressful week of my life. And even if it is, I know I will have harder ones to come. The beauty of this week is knowing I am strong enough to weather the storms of my life. I know I will get through them. I also know that life is pretty darn good despite all the weight I am currently carrying.

That is the most peaceful thing I know at this point in my life. Storms can come but I've got enough of my emergency kit in place to survive.

confessions of a 30-something music snob

2008-03-16T17:18:00.008-06:00

SONG HAS BEEN UPDATED... let's hope it works now.

There was a time in my life when I spent inordinate amounts of time perusing music sites in search of the coolest, newest, independent music. Then my life became an explosion of busyness as I started building my career and music searching went by the wayside. My work commute consisted of listening to NPR and I soon became an aficionado of world financial issues and American politics. I still listened to my indie music, went to a multiple of excellent shows, such as Of Montreal, Arcade Fire, Dandy Warhols, Regina Spektor, Mason Jennings, Rhett Miller and on and on.

I've worked with kids for 2 1/2 years that LOVE the hip-hop and R&B genre. The school vans seem permanently stuck on these radio channels. Most of the kids we work with are from California, so when I was out there last month I felt a wave of nostalgia for my former and current clients. In honour of them all, I listened to hip-hop all weekend. However, it had me so hooked that my station now fluctuates between NPR and hip-hop. While some songs enrage my feminist sensibilities, other ones get me smiling more than usual and dancing in my car. Give me a good beat and silly lyrics and I might just be your next shorty.

There, it's off my chest. I like "Kiss, Kiss", "The Anthem", "Stronger", "Superstar" and the list goes on. I'm no longer a closeted hip-hop listener. Coming out feels better than I could have imagined. I no longer have to hide my true self... an indie loving, NPR listening and occasional hip-hop enjoyer.

And as a treat to my loyal readers, please enjoy "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown. This song gets my jiggy on more than any.
http://www.mediafire.com/?pde0y18nyy2

feet

2008-03-09T20:55:00.003-06:00

Yesterday a salesman told me that my feet are "sisters not twins." He chose to throw this line out when I was feeling frustrated over the left shoe not fitting properly. I thought it was the lamest line I had heard in a long time but I ended up buying the shoes. So, who's lame now?

I'm just hoping the heel grip will actually keep my skinny left heel in to the shoe. They were just too cool to pass up.

Don't you agree? (I bought the black ones).